According to Jon Heyman, the Phils are looking to unload Joe Blanton so they can possibly bring about a return of Cliff Lee. Blanton has been a decent innings eater with a relatively clean injury history. He is signed for the next two years(age 30 and 31)  at $8.5 M/year. Does anyone thing that he could be a good addition to the Bucco rotation? What would it take to get him? I'd imagine that if NH calls and is willing to pick up most of the salary, the Phils would take any warm body the Bucs would offer.

Thoughts?

So, the S/WB Yanks are trolling the waters for a new stadium in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area. The author went to a State College Spikes and an Altoona Curve game  and had some minor notes on the stadium and the 2010 third rounder. Nothing too in depth, but i thought that maybe somebody might find it interesting. The also states that the ballpark counts more than the affiliation.

http://www.timesleader.com/pittstondispatch/opinion/Mel_Rojas_and_the_35-foot_sac_fly_08-21-2010.html

Apparently the Great Raul Mondesi, a two term member of the Dominican Republic Chamber of Deputies (basically think the US House), is running in the primary election for Mayor of his hometown, San Cristobal, against  Jose Rijo of the Washington Nationals bonus scandal. Apparently in the Dominican name recognition plays a big part in politics and one just has to toe the party line.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-fg-dominican-mondesi23-2009dec23,0,105815.story

As a good deal of us Pirates fan already know, today is the 50th anniversary of the greatest game ever pitched. While I am sure that pretty much everyone on here has read the story in the Post-Gazette. I would like to offer an auditory aspect to the story. Last year I picked up Frozen Ropes and Dying Quails by The Baseball Project. Not only is the entire album is a great listen; it features a particular song detailing Ol’ Harv’s extraordinary feat.  I found a video of the song performed live at the MLB.com studios to share with you all.

Harvey Haddix

I just read on MLB Trade rumors that the Chief has been traded to the Yankees for Eric Hacker, a 26 year old RHP with an injury history including TJ in 2004 and shoulder work in 2006. He's been a starter for AAA S/WB but has struggled mightily this year with a 7.88 ERA. In a strange move for the front office, Hacker is a groundball pitcher and not a fireballer with control problems.

But the most important point: I guess this means any chance of a Romulo bobblehead night is moot.

mlb trade rumors

I found this article about the Buc's own Ian Snell concerning his presence on the WBC roster for Puerto Rico to honor his stepfather and wife. It really doesn't have much to do about baseball itself- just mostly Snell's background and why he wanted to play for PR. Apparently, Ian is thinking about changing his name yet again by adding his stepfathers name to his. I didn't see it linked on here previously, so here it goes.

Snell in WBC

According to Dejan, Nate and the Bucs reached a three year deal with a club option for a fourth year.

I was pretty sure they were going to make a deal to avoid arbitration, but not a multiyear deal  - which talks of had gone badly early on, and in all thoughts, abandoned.

Good for the Bucs. Good for Nate.

UPDATE by Charlie: It's three years, $15.75 million, plus an option for 2012 for, basically, $9.4 million ($10.65 million minus a $1.25 million buyout, which I've already included in the cost of the contract). The key here, as with the contracts for Ryan Doumit and Paul Maholm, is the 2012 option. Thanks to these contracts, the Pirates will have a considerable amount of flexibility that year, and they could cobble together a pretty good team by then if they play their cards right. Nice move by the Bucs.

After much too short of a time, the illustrious Mr. Bob Smizek is back to the Post Gazette as a blogger - and preaching to the PG's "I Love Doug" choir.

I'm not to sure what I think about this, I won't have to read his columns anymore, but as a blogger, he has the ability to post more drivel.

Finally, i give you Bob's first blog post concerning the Buccos...

Why not Mientkiewicz?

Due to his infamous slide into home during the '92 NLCS and ushering in the beginning of the Pirates decade plus of futility, I was wondering what are the views of the Pirate faithful on his return to the Pirate organization? A welcome return or some sort of negative opinion? http://statecollegespikes.com/news/index.html?article_id=456