So the Ravens are about to face off against the Titans in Nashville. The Titans, who own the AFC's number 1 seed are 3 point favorites, but many actually consider the Ravens favorites. If you love defense, tune in!

DeMarcus Ware won the Dick Butkus award for best linebacker. Apparently, it was expanded this year to include professional and high school athletes as well as college athletes. 

As somebody personally affected by the war in the Middle East, I don't want to say anything inflammatory here because I'll probably get too pissed off about it (besides, I've already battled people on Facebook, that was a mistake). But Yahoo provided some pretty distressing news today in a blurb in this article. 

"In other serious, sad news, this week Amy Winehouse and her superstar producer Mark Ronson, both of whom are Jewish, were allegedly targeted by Islamic extremists. U.K. newspaper The Sun reported that a post in a forum on Ummah.com called for users to compile "a list of top Jews we can target," and the list included both Amy and Mark's names. British anti-terror expert Glen Jenvey told The Sunthat these threats should not be taken lightly: "The Ummah website has been used by extremists. Those listed should treat it very seriously. Expect a hate campaign and intimidation by 20 or 30 thugs." As if Amy Winehouse didn't have enough troubles..."

 

I've obviously been following the overall situation closely, this is just pretty sad.

In the same article there is also a blurb about Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari, the daughter of late Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. She has written and produced a rap about her mother and it's been uploaded on youtube, here.

Check out mycityscrewups, a new website attempting to serve as a forum for your local community. The goal is to make an account and upload any complaints or issues in your community, or promote positive things and advertise local events and such. Disclaimer: I'm advertising this because it is my parent's startup. But I actually figured that the people of Athletics Nation are just the kind of people who would appreciate a website like this.

Finally, Go Bears! As a freshmen at Cal right now, I'm ecstatic with the way this team is playing and with the way the program is evolving. Our overall record is 14-2, with an 8 game win streak. We just swept the Arizona schools (including 17th ranked ASU) and are going for a road Washington sweep today at 3 against UW. It's early, but we might actually be tourney bound this year!!

Don't have a link yet, but just saw this on the ESPN Bottomline:

An MRI revealed that a piece of bone from Alex's Smith shoulder broke off during his prior surgery, if I remember correctly. He is gonna see the doctor who performed the surgery, James Andrews.

Another case of bad luck in this drawn out saga. I still haven't decided whether or not I believe this is still affecting his play, most notably his horrible accuracy that we have seen. Thoughts?

A's prospect fans, rejoice. Trevor Cahill has finally been called up to the Midland Rockhounds, the A's AA affiliate. In turn, Scott Moore has been sent down to Stockton.

He's a pretty controversial prospect, as their is a differing opinion in the prospect community about his potential as a major leaguer.

Some believe that his amazing numbers indicate ace status: he is among the leaders in the minors in strikeouts, in groundball/flyball ratio, he doesn't walk too many guys, and he is great at limiting hits.

Others believe that his stuff isn't good enough.This is entirely based on his fastball velocity, which sits around 89-92. The counter to that argument is that it has so much sink on it (compared by an A's official to Brandon Webb or Roy Halladay) that it doesn't need to be faster than that.

Anyway, the jump to AA from A+ is usually thought of as one of the best indicators of a prospects true ability. So now we, the fans, can finally find out how his stuff will translate to the next level. I'm excited and confident that he will continue to dominate.

I recall a user comment here suggesting that the A's will have a bunch of minor league roster moves right after the all star break. That sounds about right so far. Danny Borrell was sent down to Midland (edit: thanks, Andeux), in place of Jason Glushon, who was sent back to Stockton. Javier Herrera is also finally back for Midland, taking up an empty roster spot. I haven't found any more transactions yet (cough Craig Italiano to Stockton cough) but I'm hoping they come soon. I'm also looking for an organizational boost of second baseman, pushing Larry Cobb up to Stockton again and Jesus Guzman to AAA.

And by the way, since Brett Anderson has returned to Stockton from his injury: 4 GS, 23.2 innings, 3 ER, 16 hits, 27/1 K/BB (!), and I believe 2 HBP's. As we can see, those horrific outings before going on the DL can be written off to injury

Please post up in this thread any more transactions that you can find.

Hello all. It's been a while since i wrote a fanpost/diary. I don't post frequently anymore either. But I do check AN like 45 times a day, and luckily next year at UC Berkeley I'll be able to track my beloved A's (and AN of course) no problem.

I was doing my daily www.firstinning.com check. What that means is that on that exceptional minor league baseball website with all your conventional stats and then the stathead ones as well, I have a list of A's players saved on my player tracker that I monitor. Among them is Trevor Cahill, who is pitching today in a pitchers duel against Texas' Casey Kiker. It inspire me to write this fanpost about A's prospects today.

As we speak, in the top of the fifth, the score sits at 0-0. Matt Sulentic just lined a single up the middle (I'm actually listening to the game on the internet). Anyway, one of the things that inspired me to write this was to not that:

Andrew Brown began his rehab assignment. He started this game in front of Cahill, pitching two innings with no baserunners and no strikeouts. As far as I'm concerned, he's throwing the ball well. He'll be back in Oakland soon. Hopefully that means goodbye to Dallas Braden.

Anyway, Cahill has thrown two innings, giving up two hits while striking out 5. Midland really wants him to come up. 

Elsewhere, Sean Doolittle is begging to be called up. He hit another homer yesterday, which gives him 15, with 15 doubles and 2 triples. He has 70 hits in 212 at bats. His OPS sits at a round 1050. As I noted in Grover's minor league thread, he has identical OPS's against both lefties and righties. A great sign. Tommy Everidge is the current first baseman in AA, but I wouldn't hesitate to DH him and call up Doolittle. Everidge is a decent prospect, but not much more.

In the Midland Rockhounds 9-3 thrashing of Corpus Christi, the A's had a couple good prospects perform. Jesus Guzman went 4-5 with his 11th homer. His OPS sits at .971. Stunningly, the A's could have found their second basemen of the future on the waiver wire this offseason. 28 year old Brooks Conrad is sucking in AAA, and he is the 2B in Sacramento. I don't see any reason to prohibit Guzman from taking over the spot by the All Star Break.Vince Mazzaro pitched into the 8th inning, giving up just 2 hits and 1 run, with a 6/3 K/BB. He induced 8 groundouts to 9 flyouts. He lowered his ERA to 2.31.

In AAA, Cliff Pennington is surging. Its kind of weird. He went 1-3 with a double and 2 walks today, and now his stats since getting called up a week ago. 6/23 with 2 doubles, 1 homer, 6 walks and 2 strikeouts. That leaves his OPS just over 850. He's controlling the strike zone, and he's hitting gaps in a very small sample size. If he continues this, he'll find himself among the top 10 prospects that Oakland has again. Landon Powell: He had another hit today to stretch his hit streak to 4 games. Doesn't seem like much, but he's hitting .192 thanks to a similarly low BABIP.. So I've been waiting for his BABIP (and average) to go up, and it looks like the hits are starting to fall.

And finally, another update in the Stockton Ports game: Its now the bottom of the 8th, Sulentic lined another single in the top of the 8th. Cahill is absolutely manhandling to this point: In five innings of relief he has faced 18 batters: 3 hits, 3 ground outs, and 12 strikeouts. Cahill is keeping his fastball low and getting his strikeouts with the slider. A magnificent performance.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/s...

Ensberg used to be a good power hitter, but has really sucked the past two seasons.

Stats: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/player...

Lately, he has represented a Jack Cust type player, with a low average but a very large number of walks. But just 2 years ago he was an all star, with a line of 283/388/557. According to the article, he has never been the same since tearing a tendon in his shoulder.

The point is.. Is this a good guy to buy low on?

Just a thought. Keep in mind that this is quite spontaneous and probably are a myriad of reasons why this can't happen. And there is also some part of me that realizes and wants to preserve the AL/NL tradition of the all-star game. After all, the AS Game gives me another day to root against Barry Bonds.

Continue reading this post »

First off a little background on Windsor. He's been well chronicled here but this year is pretty out of the blue.

In 44.2 Innings, 8 starts, Windsor has compiled a 5.24 ERA. He has given up 51 hits and 19 walks, while striking out 31. Good for a 3.83 BB/9, 6.25 K/9 and a horrible 1.57 WHIP. He has only given up three home runs though. Opponents have an .821 OPS against him. Simply put, he is getting raked. He has been much better of late, despite continued struggle with his control.

Here's the point: Try Windsor out as closer. Whether Street is back on time or not. Make Windsor a closer. He has got the mentality that we have all heard about, that bulldog type/Huddy/cliche mindset. He also projects as a reliever with his pitches, using his great changeup to offset an average fastball, mixed with the breaking ball. His changeup is the only above average pitch, and, as a reliever, he would only need two pitches.His stuff may not be considered good enough, but it's worth a shot making him a reliever right now. Even if Street's injury is only short term, he could move back to starting or become a set up man.

A little crazy, but i'm willing to try anything.

Per Rotoworld:

Athletics released first baseman Erubiel Durazo.
Durazo didn't show that his power was all the way back this spring, and he also struggled with the glove at first base. We'd still probably take him over Todd Walker, but the A's weren't willing to sacrifice the defense. Walker now looks like a $3-$4 pick in AL-only leagues.

Also, Donnie Murphy was assigned to AAA and Kurt Suzuki to minor league camp.

Finally, it looks like Loaiza will start the year on the DL

More potential big news for the Niners, as word is out that start DE Jared Allen has requested a trade from the Kansas City Chiefs.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2779135

Allen is a three year veteran, just 25 years old. Over his career he has compiled 145 total tackles (126 solo), 22.5 sacks, 10 forced fumbles and 15 pass deflections. And his rookie year he didn't start.

Jared Allen would be a great addition to the Nolan 3-4 scheme in my opinion.

The Chiefs  denied his request for a trade, instead they are going to tender him.

Allen's agent, Ken Harris, told the Star that the Chiefs plan to high tender Allen. Kansas City would receive a first and third round draft choice if another team signed him to an offer sheet. If that happens, Allen, would earn $2.35 million as a high tender in 2007 according to the Star.

That block made my whole game. Azubuike came out of nowhere and absolutely crapped on JR Smith, shoving his attempt at a flashy dunk spinning away. The amazing part was that this took place 1 foot above the rim! God, i have to see that again! Can somebody  please find some footage of it? Cause i can't find any..