Links for Thursday, as Travis Wood prepares to make his first major league start….
- Chase Utley's injured thumb requires surgery, tweets MLB.com's Peter Gammons, and MLB.com's Todd Zolecki adds that the second baseman will go under the knife later today. After Utley and Placido Polanco hit the disabled list, MLBTR's Ben Nicholson-Smith examined the Phillies' infield options. Jim Bowden of Sirius XM Radio also has some ideas for the Phils (Twitter link).
- Bobby Valentine on how the Marlins handled their managerial search: "It's very disturbing, confusing and it was insulting at times, but it's over." Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post has the details.
- Fangraphs' Dave Cameron offers his opinion on the Giants' next move, concluding that David DeJesus is "exactly what the doctor ordered."
- The Mariners' performance at Yankee Stadium this week is what Jack Zduriencik envisioned when he acquired Cliff Lee to complement Felix Hernandez, writes Joel Sherman of the New York Post. However, this recent surge doesn't change the fact that the M's will move Lee, writes Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times.
- David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News breaks down the reasons why a Dan Haren trade appears unlikely for the Phillies.
While it doesn’t help any that Hughes was too strong against Cliff, it is a shame for the M’s that things didn’t work out for Jack Z the way he had hoped when he set up that 1-2 punch. Hopefully he doesn’t suffer any consequences for a lost season.
Despite all the fanfare, I guess I’m not surprised Bobby Valentine wasn’t hired as many people predicted. I may not be a Marlins “insider” but I’ve always gotten the impression that Jeffrey Loria is a major control freak and meddler. Valentine on the other hand, is his own man and needs to lead the team the way he sees fit. While they may be friends outside the organization, as a working relationship Loria + Valentine = oil and water.
The Phillies should be fine. It sounds like Polanco will be back after the All Star break and Wilson Valdez has been tremendous. Utley will be back by mid-August, and if Rollins, Victorino, Howard, Werth, Ibanez, and Ruiz cant keep them in contention until then, then this team has bigger problems than injuries.
Utley is the best 2nd baseman in baseball. Wilson Valdez has a .668 OPS and a 1.4% walk rate. To surmise that you’ll be “fine” without Utley is delusional.
Rollins, Victorino, Howard, Werth, Ibanez, Ruiz.
I feel for Jack Zduriencik. He finally gets a taste of what he was hoping for just before he has to trade Lee. Also, I’d like to hear what u guys are thinking as far as where he might end up.
“It’s very disturbing, confusing and it was insulting at times, but it’s over.”
Cut out the last three words and you’ve got the experience of being a Marlins fan.
The recent managerial process made the Marlins look extremely pitiful. We are being criticized by the national media and last week’s debacle was a PR nightmare. They did not do their homework on Bobby V and they came up empty. They fired their manager with no plan in place and as a result we ended up with a manager that has absolutely no Major League experience whatsoever. Loria and Sampson have made this team the laughing stock of the entire league. I guess Jeffrey Loria is the new George Steinbrenner with confederate dollar bills and coupon clippings! The way the team handled the entire process was an absolute embarassment to the entire organization. I have always had a tremendous amount of pride for my favorite team. I have always admired and respected the way they have remained competitive with a low payroll and I have always been amazed with our two World Series championships in the 18 years since our inagural season. Ever since Fredi lost his job and ever since the PR disaster which resulted in misleading the entire fan base into believing Valentine was going to get the job; I have been absolutely disgusted. Right now I am ashamed to be a Marlins fan and I am ashamed that we have this kind of unprofessional and claseless organization here in South Florida. I will never give up on the Marlins and I will continue to support the team through thick and thin and good and bad. The bottom-line is that this organization needs to get its act together and as far as im concerned, a baseball team will only truly thrive in South Florida with a new ownership willing to invest the neccessary amount of money to put a consistent winner on the field. Today I am embaraased to be a Marlins fan. Today I am embarassed to have this kind of professional sports franchise in South Florida.
But Steinbrenner wasn’t an idiot. He was just crazy.
Good thing for my fantasy team that O-Dog was still on the waiver wire.