Holy schnikes. If that's all it took, according to Jon Heyman... Doug Melvin continues, saying they haven't decided yet who's gonna do what.

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So sayeth ESPN's Tony Jackson, with the Dodgers paying the rest of Scott Podsednik's salary. The cost? Lucas May and Elisaul Pimental.

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So says MLB Trade Rumors, which has Brandon Morrow shipping north of the border for Brandon League and "a prospect." Yep.

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Indians fans, correct me if I'm wrong here, but is the appropriate reaction "aw geez"?

As seen on ESPN's spring training blog for the 18th:

Reliever Adam Miller is facing career-threatening reconstructive finger surgery if he is unable to find a new way to pitch effectively. Indians trainer Lonnie Soloff said Miller, who underwent surgery on his right middle finger last year, will spend the next seven to 10 days throwing to see if he can command his pitches without pain. If Miller can't, he will have a procedure where a tendon will be taken from his wrist to reattach the tendon in his finger. Soloff said the operation would cost Miller this season and perhaps end his career. Soloff said a buildup of scar tissue could make it impossible to pitch. The hard-throwing 24-year-old Miller came to training camp with a chance to win a job in Cleveland's bullpen.

Maybe he could borrow one of Antonio Alfonseca's? I'm sure he could spare a digit or two.

So says his former girlfriend, in a lawsuit...

In papers filed in state and federal court, Dall said Alomar finally got tested in January 2006 while suffering from a cough, fatigue and shingles.

"The test results of him being HIV-positive was given to him and the plaintiff on or about Feb.6, 2006," the $15 million negligence suit says.

Nine days later, the couple went to see a disease specialist who discovered a mass in the retired second baseman's chest, the court papers say.

Alomar's skin had turned purple, he was foaming at the mouth and a spinal tap "showed he had full-blown AIDS," the suit says.

Alomar couldn't be reached for comment, according to the NY Post, but some of the further details seem to be more damning and, well, less batshit insane, such as a physical taken at the behest of Tampa Bay revealing thrombocytopenia purpura, which could be related to AIDS.

I... er, really have no clue what to say about this, to be honest, especially if it's true.

Remember how we were wondering why Chicago wanted Garrett Olson for Felix Pie? (Of course you do.)

Well, the Cubs have shipped Olson and Ronny Cedeno to Seattle for The Immortal Aaron Heilman. Yes, really.

Cubs general manager Jim Hendry, who was returning from a trip to Italy on Wednesday, couldn't be reached for comment. But one baseball person said Hendry has been an admirer of Heilman's "since he pitched at Notre Dame.''

Olson had been mentioned as a potential trade chip if the Cubs decided to make another run at San Diego's Jake Peavy. The Cubs' deal with Seattle could put an end to speculation about the team trying to acquire Peavy.

As per the article, Heilman and Sean Marshall are going to compete for the fifth starter spot, while Olson is one of (roughly) eight trillion rotation candidates for Seattle, behind Felix Hernandez, Erik Bedard, Carlos Silva, Brandon Morrow, Jarrod Washburn, Ryan Rowland-Smith and... well, you.

ESPN reported on their transaction wire that the Tigers inked Fu-Te Ni to a minor-league deal. 'Kay.

Okay, seriously. As per The Detroit Tigers Weblog, Ni's expected to start the year in AAA and work out of the bullpen. He's a lefty, and... well...

Ni is 26 and from the above video his fastball appears to top out at 87 mph. It looks like he has a breaking ball that sits in the mid 70’s. It appears that he had garnered some interest from the Mariners as well. Ni is billed as The Taiwanese Okajima.

That video, seen here, shows some highlights of Ni starting in the 2008 Olympic Qualification Tournament against Canada, and he makes a few Canuckistani hitters look foolish. (He'd get a no-decision after Taiwan blew a 5-4 lead in the ninth when Mike Saunders drove in The Immortal Stubby Clapp.)

He's the first CPBL player to sign with an MLB team, although a few players out of that league have done well in Japan. Another take from Taiwan Baseball:

In 2008 CPBL play, the two-year pro had 5 wins and 12 losses to go with a 3.34 ERA over 145.1 IP. He led the league in K's with 132 and allowed 35 BB's. Ni throws comfortably in the mid to upper 80's (he's topped out at 93 mph) and throws a slider, curve, changeup, and forkball.

So what're your hopes for the guy? Bullpen arm? Possible starter? Okajima (pre-2007 All-Star break) or Okajima (post-2007 All-Star break)?

An AP story just came across the wire about the Pirates signing Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel. Who are these guys, you're asking? Good question...

The two 20-year-old pitchers, neither of whom had picked up a baseball until earlier this year, signed free-agent contracts Monday with the Pirates. They are believed to be the first athletes from India to sign professional sports contracts outside their country.

Singh and Patel came to the United States six months ago after being the top finishers in an Indian reality TV show called the "Million Dollar Arm" that drew about 30,000 contestants. The show sought to find athletes who could throw strikes at 85 miles per hour or faster.

While neither pitcher threw hard enough to earn the $1 million prize, Singh made $100,000 from the contest and Patel made $2,500, plus his trip to the United States.

The show was sponsored by a sports management agency, under the principle that someone in a country of India's size has to have an MLB-caliber arm. No word yet on if Patel (5-11, 185 lbs, RHP) or Singh (6-2, 195, LHP) are those players, but Patel hit 90 MPH in tryouts, while Singh topped out at 84. Neither of them have been in game situations, but they've scrimmaged against juco teams. Holy untapped markets, John.

source: ESPN

Josh Willingham and Scott Olsen are, according to Peter Gammons, headed to the Washington Nationals for Emilio Bonifacio, P.J. Dean and Jake Smolinski.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3694827

In three full seasons, as well as bits of two others, Willingham's a career .266/.361/.472 hitter, but he hasn't quite matched his 2006 season (.852 OPS, near-.500 SLG, 26 HR). Meanwhile, Olsen's had a rocky tenure with the Marlins, but still had a 4.20 ERA in 33 starts.

Bonifacio's arrival more'n likely means Uggla's FINALLY moving off 2B, but is that all there is to this deal?

Just came across on ESPN's transaction wire that the Marlins claimed Dan Meyer off waivers from Oakland. Being one of the centerpieces of the Tim Hudson deal, one would think they would've made more of a move to keep him, buuuuut... apparently not. Did he just stall out at AAA? Certainly didn't look like he did much to distinguish himself in the majors, going off the numbers (those being an 0-4 record in 11 appearances, four starts, 7.48 ERA, 1.77 WHIP).

Whoever he is, he just took Mike Lowell's place on the Red Sox playoff roster. All I gather is he's spent 10 years in the minors, and made his major-league debut in late September, getting a whole eight regular-season AB's. Oh, and the player tag says he's a SS. So what'll he be? Defensive replacement if Jedediah Springfield Lowrie has to play 2B/3B? Emergency bullpen arm? 25th man?

Perusing the recap of tonight's Red Sox/Rays game (ef a dumb Tampa), a couple names jumped out to me: Dan Johnson, who had the game-winning hit off the bench, and Irvin Vigo Joel Guzman, who got D'edFA by Tampa Bay.

Which begs the question: what went wrong with those two guys?

A quick search through the archives turns up the Carlos Quentin/Joel Guzman Smackdown where Guzman was noted to have Miguel Cabrera-type ability "if he can gain sufficient command of the strike zone" but a comment in 2006 compared him to (ack) Richie Sexson (admittedly, in the Richie Sexson prospect retro). I'm assuming he just hasn't gotten that command, but has he been THAT bad that he couldn't get a chance to prove himself at the major-league level? Coming into the year, he'd only had 56 AB's between LA and Tampa Bay and put together a sparkling .232/.306/.321 line, but he's also only 23. Is there any hope for him (not like they're moving him back to SS, ha ha)?

Which brings us to Daniel Ryan Johnson. He was ready to come up in 2005, did so, and this here review points out that his power and patience were expected to be useful (he did kinda go .275/.355/.451 in 109 games for the A's). Aaaaaaaaand so far, in 1000+ AB's, he's gone .249/.344/.419. Matter of fact, tonight's pinch-hit appearance was his first at-bat since April 2. He was hurt in 2006, stunk out loud in 2007... just a question of old player skills?

Lay off of me, it's production day and I wish I could put a headline like that in the paper. ;)

As per ESPN, Charlie Zink's getting the call-up to take Tim Wakefield's place in the rotation. He's 13-4, 2.89 ERA at Pawtucket.

"Charlie has been throwing real good," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said before Monday night's game against the Chicago White Sox. "I think that everybody felt like it was a breakout year for him."

It might only be a spot start situation (Boston's off the 21st and 25th, and Wakefield's only expected to miss two starts) but it's good to see him finally get the chance.

Source: ESPN

Or, "This Is The AB That Never Ends/It Just Goes On and On, My Friend".

Y'all probably remember Venditte as the switch-pitcher for Creighton. The Yankees picked him in the 20th round this year, and he came into tonight's game (7-2 win for Staten Island) in the 9th inning. Coincidentally, I was reading a bunch of comments on the Uni Watch Blog about what might happen when he faces a switch-hitter.

Thanks, Ralph Henriquez, for hitting from both sides of the plate.

They showed a clip of the at-bat on ESPNews, dunno if it's anywhere else. But every time Venditte picked an arm, Henriquez would switch sides. I'm not sure how many times it happened, but eventually the home plate ump had to intervene, with both Venditte pitching and Henriquez hitting right-handed. Henriquez struck out swinging to end the game. :)

As per ESPN and the AP, the Reds GM has been canned and replaced by Walt Jocketty.

Krivsky knew his job was in jeopardy when owner Bob Castellini hired Jocketty as a special consultant in January. The two were friends from Castellini's days in the Cardinals' ownership group.

When the Reds got off to a 9-12 start, Castellini made the switch that was expected at some point. Krivsky, who was hired before the 2006 season, was in the final year of his three-year contract.

Since your world outside of my safe little AL East bubble frightens and confuses me (;)) what does this mean for Cincy's organizational direction? Krivsky did pull off a nice trade to get Brandon Phillips, but suffice to say, other moves haven't worked out so well (hiya Felipe Lopez and Austin Kearns!).

I just saw Improv Everywhere's latest effort, Best Game Ever. The idea was to turn a Little League game in Hermosa Beach into a major production, featuring vendors, programs, shirtless fans, a Jumbotron and Jim Gray on NBC's dime... oh, and the Goodyear blimp filming the festivities. There's a video on the site, as well as a very appreciative email from one of the parents. Kind of wish that happened when I was playing... ;)

Our Fearless Leader just dubbed Jeremy Brown a "Triple-A catcher" in the look back at 2003's top prospects. Well, that's all he'll be, now that he's retiring...

The A's said Friday that Brown would not report to spring training after telling them Tuesday he planned to retire for personal reasons. In response, they agreed to terms with free agent catcher Matt LeCroy on a minor league deal to help fill the void of Brown's departure. He was due to arrive at spring training Saturday. The A's will leave open the opportunity for the 28-year-old Brown to come back to the organization if that's something he decides he wants down the road. "It's a shame. The kid could really hit. We certainly understand his family's more important at this point," Beane said. "It caught us a little by surprise. Things like this, personal issues, come up. ... It's absolutely an open door."

(as per: ESPN)

Brown retires with a .300/.364/.500 line in the majors. In five games, that is.

(When I said "bust", I meant in baseball terms. If he can get his family affairs in order and come back, good for him, but the family's gotta come first.)

Picked the wrong week to quit amphetamines.

"The one thing I wanted to make sure was explained is, no steroids," Cameron told AM 1090, the Padres' flagship radio station. "I never took nothing like that before in my life. That would be 50 games, and that would affect me a whole lot more."

Further proof it wasn't steroids: he only got 25 games.  But it's also his second positive test.  Note to self: don't get advice from Neifi Perez's trainer.

So how'd Chris and Shelley Duncan both get hernias?  Trying to out-lift one another.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3031839

"I'd go and then he would put another plate on, then I would go and I'd try to slip one on, and the next thing you know we're like blown out," Chris Duncan said. "We can't work out together, it gets too competitive."

Chris is done for the year, and Shelley's had precisely three at-bats in the last 17 days.  Methinks they won't be doing this again?

In classic TheoElDio fashion, the Wily Mo Pena/ham sandwich trade isn't over yet.  The Red Sox are trying to get the Nationals to include the Diamondbacks in hot three-way trade action.  Pena would still go to Washington, but in this scenario, the Nationals would send a pitching prospect to Arizona, and Diamondbacks 1B prospect Chris Carter would go to the Red Sox.

Source: http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2007/08/17/pena_goes_to_nationals/

Seems he's posted up a .330/.385/.534 line in Tucson this year, and has torn up AAA pitching for a few years now.  Is he for real, and is there any chance of this happening?

Covering the New Britain/Akron game right now, and we're a-stretchin'.  Trevor Crowe looks gooooood... he's currently 2-4 with a double, triple, and stolen base (third, no less).  Shaun Larkin also clubbed a two-run homer to right, and he's 3-4 with 3 RBI.  Michael Aubrey's not so hot right now, 0-3 with a walk and 2 K's.  Is Aubrey in the plans any more?  Also, I searched for Crowe and turned up nothin' since the preseason top 20... how's he lookin' this season?

Oh, we're back and Reid Santos is making New Britain look foolish.  Only baserunner's on an infield single by Garrett Guzman, Certified Banger (he homered in the fourth).

Hey kids, remember Neifi Perez?  Ya know, serving a 25-game suspension for banned stimulant usage?  Tack on another 80 games, becuase he tested positive again.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2960193

(Bolding mine.)

"Under baseball's labor contract, a player cannot be disciplined multiple times for a positive test stemming from the same use of a banned substance, meaning Perez had to take a prohibited stimulant more than once.

Another positive test would lead to a suspension to be determined at the discretion of commissioner Bud Selig, with Perez having the right to have an arbitrator review the penalty."

Somehow, I don't see it getting to that point.  He's going to end the year with a sparkling line of .172/.221/.266, although he did turn that one double play in Verlander's no-hitter.  Think anyone's even going to consider signing him in 2008?

The Rangers are looking to move Mark Teixeira, sez Buster Olney:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2947494

"Executives with other teams believe that the Texas Rangers are definitely intent on trading first baseman Mark Teixeira before the July 31 trade deadline, which would make Teixeira the most prominent player dealt.

The rival executives say that the Rangers' demands for Teixeira have come down bit by bit. In addition, the Rangers feel they can get one or more of the targeted prospects that they can ask for from the targeted teams."

So, the question is, if you were your chosen franchise's GM, would you trade for Teixeira and what prospects would you move that would realistically get a deal done?

Just wondering if this guy's on anyone's radar at this point.  He's an outfielder at Quinnipiac University (Hamden, CT), and was just named the NEC's player of the year.  Here's his stats as a senior: .425/.488/.564, 76 hits, 15 2B, 40 R (he leads the conference in batting average and OBP, he's third in hits, sixth in SLG, seventh in doubles, and 10th in runs scored).  He also broke Quinnipiac's career records in hits (242) and doubles (47), and he's third in career runs scored (134) and ninth in career RBI's (115).  Haven't seen him play, so I don't know anything about his defense.  I also think he may have pitched in college, but I'm not sure.  Is he a prospect of any note?

Just saw on the transactions that the Rangers shipped Daniel Haigwood to Boston for righty Scott Shoemaker and cash money.  What's Haigwood's deal, anyways?  He's 23, got sent to Tejas for Fabio Castro, and until this year hasn't pitched above AA (which is where he'll be now, as well as on the Red Sox 40-man).  So why'd the Rangers D him FA?  And I remember seeing Shoemaker precisely nowhere, besides looking him up right now.  All the official site says is he's got a 10.80 ERA this season at Portland, two appearances, 3.1 IP.  Soxprospects adds: "Makes use of a solid fastball and an above average slider.  Also has a workable curve and a change in his arsenal.  Gets ahead in the count well.  High strikeout totals.  Very relaxed and mature on the mound. Good fielder and athlete.  Excellent k/bb ratio.  Showed the ability to go deep into games in college."  Oh, and he's 25.

Ken Rosenthal's reporting on FoxSports.com that the Royals are "close" to trading for Tony Pena Jr.  Sounds like they'll be sending Atlanta a pitching prospect, and plan on planting Pena at short to replace Angel Berroa.  Considering the surplus of middle infield prospects the Braves have, as well as the fact that Pena's out of options (both acknowledged by Rosenthal), what would it take to get him in Kansas City?  And how much of an upgrade would he be over Berroa?

From the AP:

"A burst water pipe in the Phillies dugout caused a momentary delay in the second inning of their spring game against Cleveland in Winter Haven, Fla.

Indians minor league first baseman Michael Aubrey lined a foul ball into the Phillies dugout, hitting a pipe underneath the bench. Phillies players began jumping out of the dugout to avoid the gushing water -- drawing laughter from the sun-drenched fans.

Players and maintenance workers covered the leak with towels and the game resumed, only to be interrupted twice more when the spurt resumed. All the Phillies crowded into the other end of the dugout."

If I'm playing against him, I'm wearing a full suit of armor in the dugout.  ;)  Where does he stand with the Indians, anyway?

Well, whoever called it called it.  It seems John Henry confirmed in an email to the Associated Press that Matsuzaka's on a plane back to Boston with the rest of Team Red Sox Front Office.  Boras said he wouldn't allow it without at least a preliminary agreement.  Seeing as the last word was that they had agreed on length, but were just $3M/year apart, it's not totally inconceivable.  Haven't looked for a link, but they're talking about it right now on ESPNews.

I love it when Steve Phillips looks stupid.

Remember all that discussion of "oh, it's probably nothing" when people (okay, me) were commenting on Jon Lester going in to get tested for his enlarged lymph nodes?  Turns out it's anaplastic lymphoma.  Eminently treatable, thankfully.  Confirmation here.

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So, in my professional capacity, I got to check out last night's (8/22) Rock Cats/Defenders game.  Although I made it late (due to scheduling conflicts, covering the Pilot Pen tournament as well) I managed to come away with a few observations.

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