Can New York Yankees get inside Zack Greinke’s head? And an invitation to the Mastersball
The Kansas City Royals are dangling Zack Greinke. Ken Rosenthal is the latest to share the 27-year-old's reported feelings about his eventual destination; sources say that Greinke told KC he'll go to any team. The Toronto Blue Jays, after dealing Shaun Marcum, became the initial hottest spot, but they're put off by the asking price.
Ewww, gross
This seems like the perfect time for the New York Yankees to acquire the right-handed uppercut to complement the jabs and hooks that make up ace CC Sabathia.
Reynolds rap, Puma probs Tap your mouse here for more »
An exasperated Cy Young Award, and some fantasy baseball infielders stuck in the middle
Felix Hernandez is your American League Cy Young Award winner. No complaints here. He had a spectacular season.
A Weeks worth of D
Hernandez wasn't an overwhelming favorite, but he won handily. The sabermetric evaluations which support the argument that the King was the best pitcher in the Junior Circuit have great merit. The formula in ESPN's Cy Young Predictor needs revision; no one accounted for (or counted on) this paradigm shift.
And, the statistical importance of a win might still be overstated. A victory, however, isn't meaningless.
Utilitarian triumphs Tap your mouse here for more »
Philadelphia Phillies need Ben Francisco treat, and one fantasy baseball message
Raul Ibanez is hitless in the NLCS. He had a fine second half, but the Philadelphia Phillies' rear ends are pretty close to contact with that second coat of semi-gloss, and it's not even dry yet.
Raul is playing it too cool
The San Francisco Giants will send Madison Bumgarner to the hill in Game 4, which presents Charlie Manuel with the perfect opportunity to give Ibanez a night to clear his head. The 38-year-old isn't a poor hitter versus southpaws, but there's still a lapse. (Then again, there's no drop-off from zero hits in 15 at-bats.)
Francisco in Frisco? Tap your mouse here for more »
Chris Tillman makes a decision, and the Texas Rangers could use a fine Cuban
There are really only two ways a dude can go.
On Saturday, the Baltimore Orioles recalled Chris Tillman for the third time in less than a year. The right-hander's last stint in the minors lasted for only three starts - about two weeks - and B-more recalled him because they needed someone to fill in for Kevin Millwood (forearm).
Tillman took things into his own hands
It's not that he didn't perform well in that trio of outings. In 21 2/3 frames, Tillman allowed a meager 10 hits and four earned runs, with five walks and 13 strikeouts. He hurled a nine-inning, one-hit shutout in his final tilt.
Tillman's 'tude, peachy pair, marketing Mets Tap your mouse here for more »
A meeting of the Baltimore Orioles' minds
On Thursday, Nick Markakis had lunch with Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos. Topic of conversation: the state of the franchise. The meeting took place at the behest of Markakis.
Nick's moves right on the Markakis
This was an essential step in the Markakis Matters I discussed last week. "I wanted to give him my input and tell him the things I thought we lacked and needed, and what we needed to change," Markakis told The Baltimore Sun.
Nick's next notch, notes Tap your mouse here for more »
With two left feet, the Baltimore Orioles dance the Fox trot
I don't think this is what Nick Markakis had in mind when, publicly, he lamented the Baltimore Orioles' woeful approach at the plate and urged the club to take a smarter path - in many ways.
The O's completed with the Oakland Athletics a trade for notorious hacker Jake Fox. The move that likely spells doom for Garrett Atkins, according to multiple team observers.
Fox hunt, Reds' revolving door Tap your mouse here for more »
A fool, I says, for Raul Ibanez, and … the Nick Markakis of a champion?
You're running out of time to trade for Raul Ibanez.
Do you even bother with Ibanez?
The geezer? On the Philadelphia Phillies? Who's hitting .245 and slugging .389? Whom Philly fans want to see in a platoon, at the very least?
Yep. That dude.
Rauuuuul, Markakis, Pirate booty Tap your mouse here for more »
A taste for seared Akinori Iwamura, paired with a fine micro-Brewer
The Pittsburgh Pirates have called up the entire cavalry (welcome, Pedro Alvarez), so they designated Akinori Iwamura for assignment. They'll attempt to trade him in the next week and a half.
Aki isn't part of the Bucs' movement, but he's not useless. He might not contribute at all this year, but he might give some contender solid depth.
Fried Iwamura, Fox, Lucroy Tap your mouse here for more »
How much is a CC Sabathia-note worth? And will Jake Peavy please put a Sox in it?
A slow start for my Tout Wars ace, CC Sabathia? Happens that way for him every year, right? He's turning it around, slowly but surely, isn't he? Back-to-back W's, 15 K's and four walks in 14 innings... It's a snap.
Four of CC's six wins (including that last pair) have come against the Baltimore Orioles. He has a 2.73 ERA and 1.25 WHIP against them.
Sabathia's average fastball velocity has been up and down. The burly southpaw has yet to experience injurious fallout (as in, an injury) from his buildup of seasons of 230-plus innings, at least. Is he hiding one? Is he fatigued?
Vote on CC! Plus Peavy, Masterson... Tap your mouse here for more »
All the X's are now Teix's, so who has the O's? And Pat Burrell just needs a home
In May, we shouldn't have been worrying about Mark Teixeira, because he always struggles in April. How do we feel now? He has struggled through April and most of May. June ain't lookin' too good, either.
Poll: What would you take for Teix?
Teix is an excellent hitter. The New York Yankees have an outstanding lineup and a knowledgeable hitting instructor. But has the price come down?
Vote! Plus more on Galarraga, Lincoln, Ollie… Tap your mouse here for more »
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