Odds and Ends: Bowden, Strasburg, Draft

Quickly Leatherpants, sign up as many ex-Reds and troubled young players as you can.

I have to agree with a couple of the comments in the hardball blog about Sherman's suggestions. Particularly the, what is he smoking.

The first trade basically is a "here's how to beat ortiz" which is a bad arguement for building a team. The second trade he's overestimating Kennedy's value and underestimating what Beane will sell for. The third trade, Sanchez is practically untouchable right now. The fourth trade brings up the question of why. The fifth trade seems to think the White Sox will intentionally allow themselves to be screwed.

Jon Heyman heard rumblings that Nationals GM Jim Bowden "could be in trouble."

Cause he read it here first.

I thought the draft suggestions were pretty interesting. I'd certainly be for all of them.

One suggestion I'd like to add is this: A pre-draft special. Now, MLB has (to my knowledge) no control over the baseball programming ESPN does, but it doesn't speak well of the draft if viewers are hearing of these players for the first time when they get drafted.

NCAA baseball also has to do their part in creating buzz around their athletes.

The biggest problem facing the league though, is trying to sell these athletes to sports fans as being "legit" when after all of this buzz around them, you wouldn't hear from them for several years.

People can say what they want about prospects coming to the majors too quickly, but I personally think it's best for the league that these kids get their faces on TV.

IMO, I think that the Yankees should make a run at Milton Bradley.

Low risk/high reward player. They can trade from their strength (minor league pitching) which is the Texas Rangers weakness as well.

He brings in switch-hitter who can play all three OF positions and is having a monster year so far.

Finally! Mickey has guts to stand behind Bowden. He is doing a great job with a shoe string budget and a manager with no big league experience. The guy who should be held responsible is Stan Kasten. He always claims credit when things go right and finds scapegoats when they do not. I bet he started these rumors. Contrary to what he has tried to sell, he was a disaster in Atlanta and attendance went down every year he was with the Braves. He will do the same thing in Washington unless he is replaced!