On this date in 2009, the Pirates lost to the Cubs and became the first team in baseball history to clinch their 17th consecutive losing season. They eclipsed the 1933-1948 Phillies for the longest streak of futility in baseball history. Pittsburgh ran that streak to 19 straight last season, but they need to win just ten of their final 24 games this year to clinch their first winning record since 1992. Here's the latest links from around the web…
- District on Deck is okay with the Nationals shutting down Stephen Strasburg.
- MLB Reports thinks the Red Sox should be cautious about pursuing Josh Hamilton.
- Wahoo's on First says Melky Cabrera would be a great fit for the Indians.
- Yanks Go Yard wrote about Curtis Granderson's eventual free agency.
- NASORB mused about Hisashi Iwakuma and his impending free agency.
- Sodo Mojo listed some offseason targets for the Mariners.
- Burning Down The Yard analyzed the Orioles payroll flexibility.
- Rising Apple thinks the Mets should bring Mike Pelfrey back in 2013.
- Blogging Mets wonders if the Mets can swing a Red Sox-type of dump trade.
- Rays Colored Glasses wrote about B.J. Upton's walk year.
- MLB Injury News tries to figure out what's wrong with Ian Kennedy.
- MLB Prospect Watch wrote about the D'Backs' dilemma with Adam Eaton.
- Full Spectrum Baseball has some thoughts on the waiver trade period.
If you have a suggestion for this feature, Mike can be reached here. Only one email per week, please.
mike 124
Melky is still a giant as far as I know.. we will have to see in the playoffs of hes worth extending, or not.
karkat
Wasn’t there a quote from the Giants management a while ago that basically said that under no circumstances would he be activated for the NLCS, if they made it that far?
FrnchDp
I very much doubt he gets reactivated for the playoffs as he’ll be rusty, and we’ll have a good team without distractions. As for resigning him.. it’s possible, but we have no way of knowing what he’s actually capable of without “help”. The Giants will likely be looking for a LF in the off-season. Taking a gamble on Melky may not be worth the PR that comes with.
MLB_in_the_Know
The Met’s proposed “Red Sox-type dump” is Santana, Bay and R.A. Dickey for nothing but cash relief.
So let’s get this straight…they think it’s possible some team will want at 38 year old, one year wonder, knuckelballer in R.A. Dicky for 1 year at $55 million (Santana, Bay Dickey’s contracts + buyouts).
rainyperez
I wouldn’t call R.A. Dickey a one year wonder. Maybe his potential Cy Young season this year might not be repeatable but since 2010 he’s been pretty serviceable and good.
FrnchDp
knuckleballers have a tendency to have longer MLB careers as well
Matt Johnson
I doubt Giants even consider extending Melky. He burned bridges with his teammates and management. More then likely Giants will now go after Bourn
rainyperez
Well, we’ll see. The Giants are weary of Bourn because of Boras and I’m weary of him only because of his high K rate and the contract he wants.
I might be in the minority in the Giants fan base but I think the Giants give Melky a 2nd chance. If Manny Ramirez gets 2 chances than Melky deserves at least one chance after his punishment.
I don’t think they bring him back in NLCS but next season who knows? Especially for a value one year deal.
Whoahhhh
I think That is the wrong Adam Eaton
jonkk1
The Adam Eaton link goes to the former pitcher.
ugotrpk3113
Let me fix something for the MLB Reports:
MLB Reports thinks the Red Sox shouldn’t even think about pursuing Josh Hamilton.
Alex Mednick
The economics of the sport have dictated that nowadays if you want to sign a premier free agent, you are going to have to offer them 6+ years. Their agents won’t settle for anything less…and they will receive what they want from someone eventually. Tends to usually be worth it for the first half of the contract…and not so good of a deal after that.
Just to be frank…I would think that going to Boston would be the WORST thing for Josh Hamilton’s baseball career. Sure, he is guaranteed the money whether he performs on the field or not…but Boston is a party town, infested (or blessed) with hot, drunk, co-eds.
If you are Nomar Garciaparra, David Ortiz, or even Weasel Boy Pedroia…you can be certain that around every corner there is some drunk college “bro” offering to buy you a drink and offer up his girlfriend as a sacrificial lamb.
Boston is a FUN place filled with twenty-something debauchery and all the fun that comes with it…Think of it as a New Orleans North…but with more children of priviledge drinking and doing drugs with their parents money and not a care in the world.
Boston would be a horrible place for Josh Hamilton…temptation around every corner…a great place to be famous and live a rock star lifestyle. A horrible place for an athlete who relies on his body and has the shadow of “relapse” constantly poking him in the shoulder.
Dennis
The Red Sox and Hamilton? Forget about it. The Sox need pitching. They’re number two in MLB in hitting and their starters average an era over 5.00. That should point the way.