On this date 12 years ago, Diamondbacks manager Buck Showalter ordered closer Gregg Olsen to intentionally walk Barry Bonds with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the 9th. Arizona was leading the Giants 8-6 at the time, and the move not only forced in a run, but also put the winning run in scoring position. The next batter, Brent Mayne, flew out to deep center field to end the inning and give the D'Backs the 8-7 win. It was just the third time in history that a batter was intentionally walked with the bases loaded, though the Rays' Joe Maddon turned the same trick with Josh Hamilton in August 2008.
Coincidentally, Bonds hit his 715th career homer to pass Babe Ruth for sole possession of second place on the all-time list on this same date back in 2006. Anyway, here's a collection of links from around the baseball blogiverse…
- Prospect Insider examines the Cliff Lee trade market.
- Capitol Avenue Club lists six players the Braves could select with their first pick, #35 overall, in next month's draft. Atlanta sent their first round pick, #20 overall, to the Red Sox as compensation for signing Billy Wagner.
- Mets Paradise looks at the internal candidates the Mets could turn to if they need to fill another rotation spot.
- Yankeeist reviews some players the Yankees either let go or passed on last offseason, plus some players they could pursue next winter.
- Dodger Dugout tries to figure out what Ned Colletti might be thinking as the trade deadline slowly approaches.
- Meanwhile, The Baseball Opinion speculates about Roy Oswalt landing with the Dodgers.
- The Bottom Line says that John Lackey's curve has been lacking with the Red Sox.
- River Ave. Blues takes a deeper look at some draft prospects the Yankees have been linked to.
If you have a suggestion for this feature, Mike can be reached here.
That Billy Wagner trade may be Theo’s greatest move, ever.
Yeah, your farm system sure needs it with all the big trades you made last year and still lost in the first round of the playoffs.
Hey! that sure has nothing to do with Wagner! Thanks for playing though. And the reason I say it’s so great is because: A. Wagner pitched great for the Sox. B. He cost a lifetime AAA player in Chris Carter and a low prospect in Lora. C. He became the #20 overall pick in the draft.
In the end, it’s like Theo traded Carter and Lora for the #20 pick and got the services of Wagner down the stretch.
“The next batter, Brent Mayne, flew out to deep center field …”
Mike – I may be wrong, but my recollection was that Mayne hit a hard line drive “atom ball” to the right fielder who was perfectly placed. But I guess it all looks the same in the box score.
No way the Yankees or Red Sox are in on Lee at the trade deadline, the Yankees have their ace and Boston has 2 (possibly 3 if Lackey pitches the way he has in the past), there is just no way that either of these teams gives up prospects (unless somehow they convince Jack Z to take garbage prospects) when it’s a known fact that he wants to test the FA market.
On another note, I hope the Yankees stay away from this Ranaudo kid, his injuries are worrisome and from what I’ve read his ceiling is a #3. I wouldn’t mind seeing them take Asher Wojciechowski, if he is available, and this Zach Lee kid does sound like he’ll be unsignable, so I don’t think spending a 1st round selection on him would be wise.
Prospect Insider sure likes Lee to Minnesota.. Boy would I jump up and down, he is a perfect fit. I just don’t know how much more the twins front office would push up the payroll. 9 million more is a lot to tack on and although its a buyers market, it’s just not the Twins style to give up solid prospects for rental players. But ya never know, this year things have kind of changed for Twins fans. I would be all for giving up Ramos in that deal. Lee would give us the sure ace to go against the Yankees, Rays and Red Sox. Pair him with Liriano and Baker when they’re on, and that would be a very good top of the rotation.
Lee’s total salary for the year was 9MM, if the Twins were to trade for him near the deadline they’d have to pay ~4.5MM, which isn’t all that much.