SB Nation User Blog: sanchez96

The Curse of Mike Myers: DFA'ed

sanchez96 — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 03:08:50 -0000

As per Pete Abraham over at LoHud, Brian Cashman has decided to end the nightmare that has been Mike Myers vs. lefties. He's been DFA'ed.

This raises all sorts of questions:

Does this mean the Joba era starts in Toronto? Or is Giambi simply going to take his place on the roster?

If they release Cairo (or demote Duncan) to make room for Giambi, and they don't call up Joba, are they going to recall Henn?

Also, what team signs Myers to poison their bullpen?

MLB: Giambi to be suspended next week if he does not cooperate with Mitchell investigation

sanchez96 — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 03:12:55 -0000

From USA Today and ESPN Radio:

"Commissioner Bud Selig is heading toward suspending Jason Giambi next week if the New York Yankees slugger does not cooperate with former Sen. George Mitchell's investigation on steroid use, according to a high-ranking Major League Baseball official."

"The official, who talked with Selig but has not been granted permission to speak publicly because of ongoing talks, said Selig wants Giambi's decision by Tuesday."

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/al/yankees/2007-06-13-giambi-facing-suspension_N.htm

While I assume this would be overturned through appeal, what kind of nonsense is this? Bud Selig should be horsewhipped...

The Extra Innings package will be exclusive to DirecTV in 2008

sanchez96 — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 21:48:10 -0000

Major League Baseball is close to announcing a deal that will place its Extra Innings package of out-of-market games exclusively on DirecTV, which will also become the only carrier of a long-planned 24-hour baseball channel.
Skip to next paragraph

Extra Innings has been available to 75 million cable households and the two satellite services, DirecTV and the Dish Network. But the new agreement will take it off cable and Dish because DirecTV has agreed to pay $700 million over seven years, according to three executives briefed on the details of the contract but not authorized to speak about them publicly.

InDemand, which has distributed Extra Innings to the cable television industry since 2002, made an estimated $70 million bid to renew its rights, more than triple what it has been paying. Part of its offer included the right to carry the new baseball channel, but not exclusively.

The baseball channel is scheduled to start in 2009.

Here's the link to the story.

This won't make much of a difference to me, I have DirecTV and the Extra Innings package, but how is this going to impact those of you outside the NY region?

2008 All-Star Game will be at Yankee Stadium!

sanchez96 — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 17:40:49 -0000

From ESPN:

Yankee Stadium will be the site of the 2008 All-Star Game, sources in baseball said, in the last year of the ballpark.

The new Yankee Stadium is scheduled to open in 2009, and old Yankee Stadium closed, 86 years after the ballpark was first built in 1923, and 33 years after the ballpark was remodeled on the same site in 1976. With the All-Star Game slated to be in an AL park in 2008, officials chose Yankee Stadium for the site, believing it to be an appropriate way to usher out the historic building.

The All-Star Game has been held in Yankee Stadium three times previously, the last time in 1977.

I guess my questions are:

Why has it taken 30 years for the All Star game to return?

Will the New Yankee Stadium have to wait almost 30 years before the game is played there?

Angels Sign Shea Hillenbrand

sanchez96 — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 02:21:18 -0000

From ESPN:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2708779

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Angels didn't waste much time finding another hitter after Juan Rivera broke his left leg playing winter ball in Venezuela.
The Angels agreed with free-agent first baseman Shea Hillenbrand on a $6.5 million, one-year contract on Tuesday.
Hillenbrand, who split last season between Toronto and San Francisco, gets $6 million next year, and the Angels hold a $6.5 million option for 2008 with a $500,000 buyout. The option could become guaranteed based on his plate appearances next season.
The 31-year-old Hillenbrand hit a combined .277, with a career-high 21 home runs and 68 RBI in 141 games last season. He finished with 73 runs and 27 doubles.

I certainly don't think he's worth $6.5 million, especially with his reputation as a clubhouse cancer and general malcontent. The Yanks are in the process of dumping one (Tiny Unit), why bring in this loser, for this money? Good non-move.

Octavio Dotel activated today

sanchez96 — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 21:10:57 -0000

Is he going to be key? At the very least, he'll give a break to Farnsworth and Proctor. If returns to the same form as a setup man that he showed with the Astros, the Yankees bullpen will be great. ESPN

Octavio Dotel was activated Wednesday by the New York Yankees, 14 months after the reliever had a ligament replaced in his right elbow. To open a roster space, the Yankees optioned reliever Jose Veras to Triple-A Columbus of the International League.

Help is on the way!!!

sanchez96 — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 16:55:15 -0000

This guarantees the 27th Championship!

Carl Pavano, who has not pitched in a Major League game since June 2005, will make a rehab start with the Class A Tampa Yankees on Thursday.
Pavano threw batting practice to several of his teammates last week, including Saturday, and will throw a bullpen session Monday in Tampa, Fla. Thursday will be the first of a series of rehab starts, which will allow Pavano to rebuild his arm strength and endurance.
"He's ready to go," Torre said. "We're very enthused about what we saw yesterday."
Pavano also said he was very excited to be pitching in a game. If his rehab outings go well, Pavano could make a few starts with the Yankees down the stretch in September.
"That's what we're building toward," Torre said.
Pavano was sidelined last season after 17 games due to rotator cuff tendinitis. He's been battling back from a series of injuries, which includes surgery to remove a bone chip in his right elbow.

Click on the comments to vote

Poll

How will Carl Pavano get hurt this week?

Hit by meteor.

9 votes

Falls on butt. Again.

8 votes

Eats bad shellfish.

5 votes

Burns himself in icebath after start.

8 votes

He doesn't get hurt and is an ace again.

3 votes

Ebola/Hanta Virus.

5 votes

38 votes | Poll has closed

Predictions on Corey Lidle

sanchez96 — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 05:18:30 -0000

How do you guys and gals think Corey Lidle will perform? I have to admit being nervous about his start but after two years of a combination of Ponson, Chacon, May, Redding, Erickson, Wilson and on and on, I have to believe Lidle is going to be batter.

My less than educated guess is 6+ innings 2 runs and a Yankees win.

I want Lidle to do well for two reasons. Obviously to help the Yankees, but also to stick it in that schmuck Chris Russo's eye.

You?

Abreu and Lidle Bronx Bound?

sanchez96 — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 21:26:18 -0000

From ESPN Insider:

Is Abreu Yankee-bound?

Jul 29 - The odds are becoming greater that Abreu will be moved before the deadline, and the Yankees are the most likely match for a trade, reports ESPN.com's Jayson Stark.

The Phillies and Yankees spoke about Abreu all day Friday and into the night, discussing different variations of a deal that would send the outfielder to New York.

The two teams are looking at other options Saturday that could include a package for Abreu and pitcher Cory Lidle or just for Abreu. The Phillies want both big-league talent and prospects in return, especially reliever Scott Proctor, whom they could eventually convert into a starter.

The Phillies have backed off in their demand for either top pitching prospect Philip Hughes or outfield prospect Jose Tabata and instead would settle for other prospects, like third baseman Eric Duncan or pitcher Tyler Clippard.

Abreu is set to make $15 million in 2007, and he also has a $16 million option on his contract for 2008.

Trade Rumors from the NY Times

sanchez96 — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 02:45:59 -0000

According to this, thank God, the Yankees have NO interest in that Burnitz stiff and minimal interest in Jose Guillen.

From the Times:

For the moment, Cashman is waiting. The Phillies are on the fringes of the National League wild-card race, but the season has turned sour and the team is likely to unload veterans near the July 31 nonwaiver trade deadline.

As a left-handed outfielder who reaches base often, Abreu, 32, is in some ways an ideal fit for the Yankees. But he has never led the Phillies to the postseason in nine seasons in Philadelphia and is due to make $15 million next year. Abreu also has a $16 million option for 2008 that would most likely have to be exercised for him to approve a trade.

The more money the Phillies are willing to absorb, the better talent the Yankees would be willing to trade. But the Yankees insist they will not deal their top prospects, pitcher Phil Hughes and outfielder José Tabata.

If the Phillies ask the Yankees to pay all of Abreu's salary, the Yankees would be unlikely to offer much talent in return. Detroit, Boston and the Mets could also have interest in Abreu.

The Phillies would rather move outfielder Pat Burrell, just as Washington would rather move outfielder José Guillén than Alfonso Soriano. The Yankees have no interest in Burrell and minimal interest in Guillén. They like Soriano, but the Nationals have been trying to trade him to the Angels, who have a deeper farm system than the Yankees.

The Yankees have also spoken with the Pittsburgh Pirates, who are shopping outfielders Craig Wilson and Jeromy Burnitz and relievers Roberto Hernández and Salomon Torres. But talks have gone nowhere because the Yankees have no interest in Burnitz and the Pirates would want to include him in any deal.