Baseball Insider: March 1, 2009 - March 7, 2009
Adam Dunn: USA HR Hero (Mr. Personality?)
I hope that some Nats fans got to see Adam Dunn's two walks and two-run home run in the sixth inning which provided the eventual margin of victory in the U.S.'s 6-5 win over Canada in Toronto this afternoon in the WBC. Oh, he was the TV star, too. Lot...
By
Thomas Boswell
|
March 7, 2009; 5:09 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (7)
Save & Share:
The Netherlands Beat the Dominican Republic?
Yup, it really did. Three runs in the first inning off young Reds starter Edinson Volquez (two of them unearned) stood up thanks to a throwback performance from Sidney Ponson, who looked just as plump but significantly more effective than he did when he was pitching for the Orioles. More...
By
Cameron Smith
|
March 7, 2009; 3:26 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (0)
Save & Share:
New Team, Same Problems
Former Baltimore pitcher Daniel Cabrera got his first crack at his old team Friday afternoon as the Nationals took on the Orioles and appeared to be the same ol' Cabrera. Cabrera was slated to go three innings but reached his pitch count of around 50 in two innings. Cabrera struck...
By
CJ Holley
|
March 7, 2009; 11:09 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (3)
Categories:
Nationals
,
Orioles
Save & Share:
The Wrap: Friday Fun Games
No intro here folks, it's a Friday and we've all got places to be and things to do. Let's just get to the action, shall we? Dodgers 5, Cubs 4 -- Box -- The Gist: No, Manny didn't bat. He's taking it slow, remember? But Doug Mientkiewicz, somewhat shockingly, had...
By
Cameron Smith
|
March 6, 2009; 7:07 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (1)
Save & Share:
Moment of Levity: The Big Picture
WRONG SPORT ALFREDO Yes, this is Marlins infielder Alfredo Amezaga, not a linebacker. But his eye black does seem reminiscent of John Randle, doesn't it? Or maybe the entire Mexican team at the World Baseball Classic is using sythe-shaped eye black? We're very confused....
By
Cameron Smith
|
March 6, 2009; 3:31 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (0)
Save & Share:
A Twist On A-Rod Injury
Regardless on what happens going forward, we now know that Alex Rodriguez will now play the 2009 season at less than full strength, either fighting through an injury or missing significant time because of hip surgery. No matter how you slice it, there's a reasonably good chance the Yankees will...
By
Cameron Smith
|
March 6, 2009; 1:52 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (1)
Categories:
Yankees
Save & Share:
Schuerholz Won't Be Nats' Next GM
From the way things are developing, all signs are that Mike Rizzo is the most likely candidate to be the next general manager of the Nationals. Everything we've read from Chico, whether it's the original announcement that Rizzo would be the acting GM for day-to-day affairs, or this terrific profile,...
By
Cameron Smith
|
March 6, 2009; 12:12 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (2)
Categories:
Braves
,
Nationals
Save & Share:
The Cal Ripken Interview
Today I got to speak with Hall of Fame shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. Ripken is launching a new web site in conjunction with Major League Baseball called getgreat.com which officially debuts today. In our interview, the former Oriole great discusses the site, the Orioles, the Nationals and the state of...
By
CJ Holley
|
March 6, 2009; 10:46 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (4)
Categories:
Nationals
,
Orioles
Save & Share:
Cardinals Sign Reliever Dennys Reyes
We're getting deeper into spring training, and we're getting lighter on the number of left-handed relievers on the market. According to Buster Olney of ESPN and the Associated Press, the Cardinals reached an agreement with free agent lefty-specialist Dennys Reyes to a two-year, $3 million deal. Because Reyes was a...
By
Cameron Smith
|
March 6, 2009; 9:47 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (1)
Categories:
Cardinals
Save & Share:
A-Rod Has Torn Labrum in Right Hip
Update: According to Peter Abraham of the The Journal News, Alex Rodriguez actually has a torn labrum in his right hip. As a result, any surgery to correct the condition would require a four-month rehab, something the Yankees aren't willing to do without giving rest and rehab a try first....
By
Cameron Smith
|
March 5, 2009; 8:18 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (14)
Categories:
Yankees
Save & Share:
Moises Alou Will Retire After WBC
Speaking from Jupiter Fla., where he's preparing for the World Baseball Classic with the Dominican Republic team, outfielder Moises Alou told Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that he's almost sure to retire at the end of the 2009 Classic. Alou, a career .303 hitter, will exit baseball with...
By
Cameron Smith
|
March 5, 2009; 5:46 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (1)
Categories:
Mets
Save & Share:
Moment of Levity: The Big Picture
GUESS WHICH ONE IS THE MAYOR OF LAS VEGAS! If we had things our way, we'd drop Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman into every baseball photo while he drinks a martini flanked by showgirls, like a political "Where's Waldo?". After all, this is clearly the only time this year...
By
Cameron Smith
|
March 5, 2009; 4:01 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (4)
Save & Share:
Giants Release Dave Roberts
An interesting and somewhat surprising move broke this afternoon when the Giants -- after passing on an open shot at Manny Ramirez -- released outfielder Dave Roberts, whom they'll owe $6.5 million for 2009. Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News broke the story, adding that the move was...
By
Cameron Smith
|
March 5, 2009; 3:11 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (1)
Categories:
Giants
Save & Share:
A-Rod Out Till May
Alex Rodriguez's spring just keeps getting worse. He's having hip surgery and will be out until May. ESPN broke the story....
By
Tracee Hamilton
|
March 5, 2009; 11:35 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (0)
Categories:
Yankees
Save & Share:
Anyone Want Barry Bonds? Evidently, No
Update: Still no takers, though a couple more teams have weighed in and officially pulled themselves out of the running for the home run king. Reds manager Dusty Baker says that he can't see where Bonds would possibly fit with the Reds, in an interview with the Cincinnati Enquirer's John...
By
Cameron Smith
|
March 5, 2009; 2:31 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (3)
Categories:
Nationals
,
Twins
Save & Share:
The Wrap: Hump Day Harumph
It's a Wednesday, but do baseball players ever have real weekends? It doesn't seem like it. In fact, by far, the most common day off during the season is Monday, which is kind of the anti-weekend isn't it? What does that make Wednesday? Just another day at the office. Giants...
By
Cameron Smith
|
March 4, 2009; 7:27 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (1)
Save & Share:
Uehara, O's Handcuff Dominican Republic
Baltimore 6, Dominican Republic 1. That's not a typo. The Orioles bested a Dominican lineup that featured David Ortiz, Miguel Tejada and Hanley Ramirez but not Alex Rodriguez who has been diagnosed with a hip injury. Leading the charge was Koji Uehara who, in his second spring training start, pitched...
By
CJ Holley
|
March 4, 2009; 6:06 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (2)
Categories:
Orioles
Save & Share:
Manny Ramirez, Dodgers Have a Deal
One final update: The actual, total value of the deal is now being reported at around $43.6 million, because of interest free deferrals on Manny's money. Evidently the money deferred was still less than the Dodgers originally offered, which is pretty stunning considering that a total of $25 million of...
By
Cameron Smith
|
March 4, 2009; 4:44 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (9)
Categories:
Dodgers
Save & Share:
Moment of Levity: The Big Picture
NO, LIKE THIS Padres pitcher Wilton Lopez watches the opening inning of a spring training game against the Brewers, all while under the watchful eye of a ad making a pitch for army -- or Arizona police force -- recruitment. Something tells us Lopez didn't join the Marines shortly...
By
Cameron Smith
|
March 4, 2009; 3:21 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (1)
Save & Share:
Matt Wieters: Future First Baseman?
No prospect currently in the Orioles system has drawn more interest than 2007 first rounder Matt Wieters, a 6-foot-5 switch-hitting catcher that seems to possess equal parts talent and poise. So far no one has doubted his ability to play after his torrid 2008 split between Class-A and AA but...
By
CJ Holley
|
March 4, 2009; 10:38 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (7)
Categories:
Orioles
,
Twins
Save & Share:
The Wrap: Tuesday Tussles
Tuesday's most fascinating games, and plenty of duds. It is spring training after all. Cubs 6, A's 4 -- Box -- The Gist: The Cubs bats got going -- Alfonso Soriano and Aramis Ramirez both homered -- and so did Sean Marshall, who was scoreless in three innings pitched. Brewers...
By
Cameron Smith
|
March 3, 2009; 8:21 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (0)
Save & Share:
Moment of Levity: The Big Picture
WAIT, HE'S NOT CHINESE! No, Team China manager and former major leaguer Terry Collins is not Chinese, but he is leading the People's Republic's team in the impending World Baseball Classic, which is why you see him in the scarlet and gold garb. No word on whether he's figured...
By
Cameron Smith
|
March 3, 2009; 3:21 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (3)
Save & Share:
Happy Birthday From the Baltimore Orioles
If you're alive you can get a free ticket to an O's game. No, this is not a statement about paltry attendance at Camden Yards, this is about a new Orioles promotion that will make getting out to The Yard easy for Baltimore fans that have a Mora-sized family. The...
By
CJ Holley
|
March 3, 2009; 1:32 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (0)
Categories:
Orioles
Save & Share:
Garciaparra Close to Deal With A's
Well, that answers this question. According to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal, infielder Nomar Garciaparra is nearing a deal with that A's to be a backup corner infielder and designated hitter for Oakland in 2009. Rosenthal is reporting that the deal will be worth somewhere between $1.5 and $2 million for...
By
Cameron Smith
|
March 3, 2009; 12:41 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (1)
Categories:
Athletics
Save & Share:
Pedro Martinez Talks Pedro Martinez
Leave it to Pedro Martinez to upstage an international event full of celebrity athletes, one of whom is reeling from an admission of steroid use yet still showed up for the Dominican Republic's World Baseball Classic driving a $350,000 car (A-Rod rolled into the Jupiter, Fla. training center in a...
By
Cameron Smith
|
March 3, 2009; 10:27 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (1)
Categories:
Mets
Save & Share:
Schilling Provides More Melodrama
Let's face it: Curt Schilling doesn't know how to stay out of the media spotlight. In the final stages of an offseason in which all analysts seemed to think Schilling would fade off quietly -- at least relatively -- into retirement, the longtime ace instead piped up as spring training...
By
Cameron Smith
|
March 2, 2009; 4:24 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (2)
Categories:
Cubs
,
Rays
,
Red Sox
Save & Share:
Moment of Levity: The Big Picture
BUT WE THOUGHT THE RIDE WAS ABOUT TOYS! Yankees pitchers CC Sabathia and Joba Chamberlain seemed to get in way too deep while riding the Toy Story Mania! 3D ride at Disney World on Sunday. Whether they're allowed to ride 3D attractions per their Yankees contracts is unknown, but...
By
Cameron Smith
|
March 2, 2009; 3:21 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (3)
Categories:
Yankees
Save & Share:
A's Ink Cabrera
The Oakland A's and free agent shortstop Orlando Cabrera have reached an agreement on a one-year, $4 million deal, according to ESPN's Buster Olney. Cabrera spent 2008 with the Chicago White Sox where he hit .281 with eight home runs and 57 RBI but had his best years while playing...
By
CJ Holley
|
March 2, 2009; 2:41 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (2)
Categories:
Angels
,
Athletics
,
White Sox
Save & Share:
Dave Trembley: Giddy With Excitement
As mentioned earlier today, the Orioles young pitchers appear to be a bright spot on the horizon for a long-suffering franchise and Manager Dave Trembley couldn't be happier. Trembley was effusive in his praise of the Orioles' young arms, so much so that he took to using some rather amusing...
By
CJ Holley
|
March 2, 2009; 1:58 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (3)
Categories:
Orioles
Save & Share:
WFAN's Francessa Under Fire From Mets
There are perils and reasons for plaudits when media pundits open up and admit their inner fandom. For most of his career with New York's WFAN, arguably the most successful regional sports radio station in the country, Mike Francessa has predominantly received the latter. He's a Long Island-born Yankees fan...
By
Cameron Smith
|
March 2, 2009; 11:37 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (11)
Categories:
Mets
,
Yankees
Save & Share:
Pitching Carousel Continues and Wieters Homers
For the Orioles, Sunday saw one pitcher go down, one pitcher get added and another shine. Rich Hill was slated to start for the O's against the Nationals on Sunday but stiffness in his elbow and forearm forced him to sit out. Hill, who has been slated as being a...
By
CJ Holley
|
March 2, 2009; 9:06 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (0)
Categories:
Mets
,
Nationals
,
Orioles
Save & Share:
Moment of Levity: Pat Burrell, Hitchhiker
Yes, the man in your rear view mirror might actually be a left fielder. At least that was the case last week, when new Rays addition Pat Burrell ran out of gas en route to Charlotte Sports Park, Tampa Bay's spring training home, and had to hitchhike to a local...
By
Cameron Smith
|
March 1, 2009; 7:19 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (1)
Categories:
Phillies
,
Rays
Save & Share:
Orioles Sign Adam Eaton
Remember when we pondered whether anyone else would take a chance on former Phillies pitcher Adam Eaton? Well, right on cue, someone did, and the team happens to be from the area. That's right, on Sunday the Orioles came to agreement with Eaton on a minor league deal, a move...
By
Cameron Smith
|
March 1, 2009; 5:50 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (2)
Categories:
Orioles
Save & Share:
