Links for Tuesday, as Hanley Ramirez digs himself into an even bigger hole after last night's jog…
- R.J. Anderson of FanGraphs examines Austin Kearns' resurgent season and says it's possible that the outfielder appears in trade rumors this summer. It certainly wouldn't be a surprise to see the Indians shop Kearns.
- FOX Sports Arizona profiled agent Jonathan Maurer, who represents Brandon Webb, among others.
- Dave Sheinin of the Washington Post has a profile of top amateur Bryce Harper that's well worth reading. Baseball America's Nathan Rode chatted with Harper and found that the prospect loves to catch and play the outfield.
- Mike Lowell doesn't see a role for himself on the Red Sox and wonders if the team would be better off without him, according to Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald (via Twitter). Lowell explained his frustration to Rob Bradford of WEEI earlier today.
- I joined Jeff & Jeff on KFNS St. Louis earlier today; click here to listen.
- Jeff Fletcher of AOL FanHouse (Twitter link) talked to Eric Chavez, who said Jermaine Dye is "at peace being at home" and is not working out. This counters a quote from Dye's agent Bob Bry from May 11th, when Bry said Dye "continues to work out every morning and hits most days and is still waiting for an opportunity with a team that has a chance to advance to the playoffs."
- Mark Zuckerman of Nats Insider wonders if Stephen Strasburg will make his big league debut June 4th against the Reds at Nationals Park. SI's Tom Verducci contrasts the Nats' careful handling of Strasburg to the Reds' approach with Mike Leake.
- Jim Margalus of Sox Machine presents his guide to a White Sox fire sale.
- AOL FanHouse's Steve Phillips explains the many responsibilities of a general manager.
- David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News notes that "the possibility of Cliff Lee falling into the hands of a rival faction [of the Phillies] is something that, at the very least, is worth pondering."
- Free agent lefty Brian Shouse hopes to continue his Major League career, writes Stan Morris of The Journal Star.
So many responsibilities he had as GM, but Steve Phillips still found time to diddle interns. Man among boys he is.
The Tigers could use Lowell’s bat in that RBI rich 6th spot so that teams stop pitching around Cabrera and Boesch to get to Inge:
Tigers could have this lineup:
Ajax .828
Damon .794
Ordonez .884
Cabrera .930
Boesch 1.101
Lowell .810
Guillen .805
Laird .666
Everett .644
Here’s what the Tigers have now:
Ajax .828
Damon .794
Ordonez .884
Cabrera .930
Boesch 1.101
Inge .667
Laird .666
Sizemore .586
Everett .644
I wish Hanley understood how good he would be if he just showed up to the park and put in as much work as a normal player. He has so many tools and so little heart.
I agree with Lowell, he doesn’t have a role there. It’s nice to have that right-handed bat to balance off Ortiz’s struggles against lefties, but as Ortiz starts to heat up, the more he’ll be playing against lefties again. Plus, Lowell is clearly unhappy with the lack of rhythm he’s dealing with, by only coming in to pinch-hit or to start against nasty lefties. And he’s an old guy taking up a roster slot that could be better used. Plus they’re paying him 12 mil, although that’s unlikely to change much even if he left. If I were the Red Sox, I’d talk candidly to Lowell about all this, and discuss trading him. If there is really not a single trade partner available, they need to considering DFA or releasing (or whatever makes more sense here; I’m not too learned on the logistics of things like this). They need the flexibility that roster slot gives them, and now with Ortiz hitting again you don’t have the argument of needing the second DH.
That flexibility spot would serve 2 things. 1st, would allow them to unload Billy Hall as well. have a feeling this will not happen until Boston gets closer to Jed Lowrie making his appearance and that could be quite some time, or they make a move for another decent utility guy who can play the middle infield positions. Willie Bloomquist would be REAL NICE at this point, if they could move Lowell to a team needing a little P/T offensive support and eat most of his salary.
Very true. Didn’t think of the Bill Hall angle; that would be great, he’s been extremely frustrating to watch.
Jed Lowrie is on track to become a free agent by like 2022 at this point.
I’d guess the Twins as the most likely landing spot for Mike Lowell. Twins have a lefty heavy lineup which Lowell would add balance to and 3B is really their main position where they need to upgrade offensively.
Plus, Lowell is a Yankee (.890 OPS career against) and White Sox (.926 career) killer.
Agent Jonathan Maurer? That’s a hell of a name to have in the baseball industry.
I don’t get it?
Sorry. That wasn’t meant to be a question but rather a statement.
Maurer sounds like Mauer, as in Joe Mauer, and his name is Jonathon. Funny to me anyway.
Nobody seems to have pointed out to Verducci the fact that Leake threw 161 innings last year and Strasburg only threw 128. The rule of 30 inning increases tells us that Leake is ready to throw 190 innings this year, and Strasburg should be held to 160. So it makes sense that the Nats want to make those innings last.
I wrote that not even remembering that I was talking about the Verducci effect!
Oh, Dusty, whose career will you ruin next?
50 bucks says Leake’s arm gets blown out by September.
I got 50 on August.
Well, someone is a gambler!
A playoff contender? Dye’s list of demands keeps growing:
1. No less than $5m.
2. Everyday player.
3. No DH – everyday OF.
4. Play for a contender.
Enjoy your couch.
I can see him on it right now, playstation controller in hand, editing up his player attributes on MLB 10 The Show and forcing a contender to give him 3 years 45M with a player option.
Read somewhere that Red Sox’s Epstein & White Sox Willams talking …..
Martinez, Cameron and Hermidia for Pierzinski and Rios…
thanks for the laugh.
Your welcome.
Now get control of yourself…. This is one that I especially like..
The two Japanese pitchers, Dice-K and Okajima to Seattle for Cliff Lee. Then, promote Dustin Richardson. The Mariners are Japanese owned and Lee wants out of Seattle after 2010.
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Can I hire you for my next party as our comedian for the night?
(Note that I am and was aware you were joking all along. I’m not ridiculing you =p)
You are pretty funny yourself…..maybe we should do a standup?
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