BBTF 2014 Softball Game

Time again for Softball!

Cliff Lee Re-Injures Elbow

Press on, Lee.

Cliff Lee walked off the mound during his start against the Nationals today, indicating that he was dealing with elbow discomfort. The veteran has experienced the same injury that just cost him two months — a flexor pronator strain — according to a tweet from MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki…

Lee is owed $25MM next year and his deal includes a $27.5MM club option for 2016 (with a substantial $12.5MM buyout).

The District Attorney Posted: July 31, 2014 at 08:40 PM | 9 comment(s)
  Beats: cliff lee, injuries, phillies

Minnesota Twins sign Kurt Suzuki to two-year contract extension

Apparently hoping no one will notice…

On a busy non-waiver Trade Deadline day around Major League Baseball, the Twins took care of some in-house business.

The team announced Thursday afternoon that it signed catcher Kurt Suzuki to a contract extension through the 2016 season with a vesting option for ‘17.

Suzuki will earn $6 million in 2015 and ‘16.

Mariners acquire outfielder Chris Denorfia from Padres

I prefer to call him Abe “The Alien” Almonte.

A Mariners team looking for an offensive boost acquired Padres outfielder Chris Denorfia on Thursday in exchange for two Minor Leaguers about two hours before the non-waiver Trade Deadline.

Seattle sent outfielder Abraham Almonte, who opened the season with the Mariners, along with right-handed reliever Stephen Kohlscheen to the Padres…

Denorfia has hit .275/.335/.397 over parts of nine seasons with the Reds, A’s and Padres. Denorfia is earning ...

Orioles acquire left-handed reliever Andrew Miller from Red Sox

Package him and Maybin for Cabrera?

The O’s acquired left-handed reliever Andrew Miller from the Boston Red Sox, a deal that adds a solid piece to the back end of the bullpen. But it also cost them one of their top pitching prospects in left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez..

A free agent at season’s end, Miller has a 2.34 ERA and has struck out 69 in 42 1/3 innings this season. The 29-year-old has held righties to a .180./.279/.258 line and lefties to a .150/.203/.217 line…

Rodriguez missed more than ...

Cubs deal Emilio Bonifacio, James Russell to Braves

Hey, sounds even, they’ve got the same batting average.

The Cubs dealt… left-handed reliever [James Russell] and infielder Emilio Bonifacio to the Braves on Thursday in exchange for 20-year-old catching prospect Victor Caratini, who was batting .279 at Class A Rome.

Russell, 28, has been a workhorse for the Cubs the last three seasons, and had appeared in 44 games this year with a 3.51 ERA…

Bonifacio, 29… who has played second, third and center field, was batting .279 in 298 plate appearances. ...Read More...

The District Attorney Posted: July 31, 2014 at 07:17 PM | 7 comment(s)
  Beats: braves, cubs, emilio bonifacio, james russell, trades, transactions, victor caratini

Brewers acquire outfielder Gerardo Parra from D-backs

gerardo parra
@88_gparra

Les’t go @Brewers

The Brewers like [Gerardo] Parra’s defense at all three outfield positions and his left-handed bat, so they parted with a pair of Minor League prospects to pry him from the D-backs on Thursday, about two hours before the non-waiver Trade Deadline…

Headed to Arizona in the Parra trade was Double-A Huntsville outfielder Mitch Haniger, who was ranked No. 8 on MLB.com’s list of the top Brewers prospects before the deal, plus 20-year-old left-hander ...

Marlins acquire Jarred Cosart from Astros in six-player deal

Is that Hernandez thing like when you nickname a huge guy “Tiny”?

The Marlins announced shortly after the non-waiver Trade Deadline passed that they sent three prospects, including Colin Moran—their top pick in the 2013 First-Year Player Draft—and a 2015 Competitive Balance pick to Houston in exchange for Astros starter Jarred Cosart, utility player Kiké Hernandez and outfield prospect Austin Wates…

Outfielder Jake Marisnick and right-hander Francis Martes were also sent to Houston.

...Read More...

The District Attorney Posted: July 31, 2014 at 06:57 PM | 5 comment(s)
  Beats: austin wates, colin moran, francis martes, jake marisnick, jarred cosart, kike hernandez, trades, transactions

Nationals acquire infielder Asdrubal Cabrera from Indians

Wasn’t this guy supposed to be able to field? That was weird.

The Nationals solved their second-base problem by acquiring infielder Asdrubal Cabrera from the Indians for infielder Zach Walters on Thursday about an hour before the non-waiver Trade Deadline…

The Nationals made this move after learning that third baseman Ryan Zimmerman would be out for at least the regular season because of a Grade 3 hamstring injury. Anthony Rendon will continue to serve as the everyday third baseman.

Walters, ...

Yankees land infielders Stephen Drew, Martin Prado at Deadline

Welcome to succeeding Derek Jeter, Stephen Drew. Hope you survive the experience!

With the Red Sox taking part in a full-scale roster makeover on Thursday, the Yankees took the opportunity to get in on the action and upgrade their infield, completing their first trade with Boston since 1997.

Stephen Drew will suit up in Fenway’s visitors’ clubhouse when the American League East rivals meet on Friday evening, having been acquired by the Yankees in exchange for infielder Kelly Johnson.

The ...

Ruben Amaro Jr., on standing pat at deadline

Ruben and the Jets had more movement on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts.

There was less than a half hour remaining unit Thursday’s trade deadline and Ruben Amaro Jr. remained attached to his phone. He continued to talk through scenarios with teams.

But 20 minutes later, he sat on the bench in the visiting dugout at Nationals Park and explained why, for the second straight year, he stood pat.

“Our goal all along was to try to improve the club,” Amaro said, “and there really wasn’t a ...

Jim Bowden Caught Stealing From Fake Twitter Account, Deletes Everything

Bowdense strikes again!

Jim Bowden, former MLB executive, has fashioned himself a second career as a baseball pundit for ESPN and SiriusXM radio. Today, baseball’s biggest day for movement, trade deadline day, Bowden appears to have gotten caught stealing a scoop without attribution. We know because he unwittingly stole it from a fake account.

At 1:48, someone impersonating the New York Post’s Joel Sherman tweeted that the Yankees have acquired Marlon Byrd from the Phillies. It is a fake ...

Tigers To Acquire David Price

The Tigers have agreed to acquire David Price from the Rays, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The deal is a three-way trade between the Tigers, Rays, and Mariners.

Austin Jackson will go to the Mariners, per a tweet from Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, with Nick Franklin and Drew Smyly heading to Tampa, according to Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune (via Twitter).

Cardinals Acquire John Lackey

My mouth is open in shock!

The Cardinals acquired John Lackey from the Red Sox, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.

Athletics, Twins Swap Tommy Milone, Sam Fuld

Is “guys who read Moneyball” the new market inefficiency?

The Twins have acquired lefty Tommy Milone from the A’s in exchange for outfielder Sam Fuld, the teams have announced.

Milone… lost his rotation spot with the Athletics earlier this month when the team acquired Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel… Milone had pitched to a solid 3.55 ERA with 5.7 K/9, 2.4 BB/9 and a 38.4 percent fly-ball rate in 96 1/3 innings this season. He owns a 3.84 ERA with 6.5 K/9, 2.0 BB/9 and 36.8 percent ...

A’s Acquire Lester, Gomes For Cespedes

Cespedes for Mabry???

The Athletics have acquired Jon Lester from the Red Sox, according to Alex Speier of WEEI.com (Twitter links). In what will be a blockbuster deal, Jonny Gomes and Yoenis Cespedes will head to Boston. Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports first reported that Lester had been traded to an unknown club.

Passan tweets that Oakland is also sending a competitive balance draft pick to the Red Sox in the trade, and Boston is sending cash to Oakland. The A’s landed the second pick in Comp ...

WEEI: Lester, Gomes to A’s… for Cespedes

According to multiple industry sources, the Red Sox have sent Jon Lester and Jonny Gomes to the Athletics in exchange for power hitting outfielder Yoenis Cespedes.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 7-31-2014

Virginia [MN] Enterprise, July 31, 1914:

ENGLAND WANTS BASEBALL

Writing on the subject a well known American athlete now abroad states there is evidence that cricket is loosing [sic] some of its popularity among English sports devotees.
...
“...the English appreciated the speed of our game as compared to cricket; that they marveled at the accurate throwing and catching and liked the idea of the game being completed in one afternoon instead of three days as cricket does. I am told that cricket ...

Hardball Talk: Calcaterra: Nationals-Orioles TV Money Dispute about to Explode

This could be interesting.

Difference of opinion on baseball stats as Derek Jeter climbs all-time hits list

I listen to more soulless Jonathan Elias synth-pap than I do The Elias Sports Bureau. Oh, and B-Ref’s Explaining the Honus Wagner Career Hits Discrepancy...

Steve Hirdt, executive vice president of Elias, said, “Major League Baseball for as far back as I know has dated its origins to 1876, the first year of the National League. The National Association is regarded as the first professional league but not major league.” As for statistical differences related to Wagner, Hirdt said, “As good a ...

JULY 31 2014 OMNICHATTER/TRADE DEADLINE CHATTER

IT’S THE OMNI-CHATTER!

Eric Chavez Retires

Eric Chavez. Including 123 OPS+ from 2012-2014! (648 PA)

Third baseman Eric Chavez has retired, effective immediately, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports (Twitter link)...

He’s battled knee trouble this season and also has a long history of back issues as well.

Cubs Acquire Felix Doubront

The Cubs have acquired Felix Doubront from the Red Sox…

The Red Sox will receive a player to be named later in return for the 26-year-old lefty, Jim Bowden of ESPN.com reports on Twitter.

Vin Scully To Return

The Los Angeles Dodgers are proud to announce that Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully will be returning for his 66th season.

http://m.mlb.com/lad/video/topic/8010468/v34916389/?c_id=la

Why the Mets Are Right to Save the New York State Pavilion

If the Mets are going to save an old relic like Bobby Abreu, they should save an old relic like this.

Buy a ticket to see the Mets take on the Giants on Friday, and you’ll be giving directly to preserve an architectural giant. No, not Citi Field—certainly not Citi Field. That’s the Queens ballpark that, according to The New Yorker, was erected as a temple to the Brooklyn Dodgers. The same ballpark that Deadspin describes as “a monument to the Mets’ modern futility and clumsiness.” ...Read More...

RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: July 30, 2014 at 03:10 PM | 16 comment(s)
  Beats: baseball history, citifield, mets, shea stadium

The Atlantic: How Athletes Ensure Immortality

Quisenberry’s letter to me focused on three questions I asked about how I, too, could become a professional ballplayer. He shared that he used to frequently throw a tennis ball against a wall and practiced his batting swing or pitching delivery in front of a mirror when no one was around to play catch. He wrote that he developed his stamina from throwing alone and not from lifting weights, adding “or else God just made it that way because I don’t think I am strong compared to other ...

Cameron: Why a July 31 trade deadline just doesn’t make sense anymore

Jack Z. needs more time to do something stupid.

The Rays are a perfect example of why the league should consider moving the deadline back a couple of weeks. It’s probably in the long-term best interests of the organization to trade David Price, as they will get a much larger return for him now—when the acquiring team could get two postseason runs with Price as their ace—than they will if they hold him and make a trade this winter.  However, they’ve clawed back into the playoff race, ...

Posnanski: Four theories about Hall of Fame voting changes

Theory 1: Because they don’t want performance enhancing drug users in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

...The Hall leadership may not want [Barry] Bonds or [Roger] Clemens elected, but it never really looked like they would be anyway. And I don’t think the Hall of Fame directors are manipulative in this way. I’m sure they’re not weeping for Bonds or Clemens, but I don’t believe that was the impetus here.

Theory 2: The Baseball Hall of Fame wants to maintain exclusivity.

... My sense in ...

Cardinals To Acquire Justin Masterson

Robbin’ Masters?

The Indians and Cardinals have agreed to a deal that will send Justin Masterson to St. Louis, Peter Gammons reports (on Twitter). Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that top outfield prospect James Ramsey is headed to Cleveland (Twitter link).

Masterson, 29… [has] battled a knee issue for most of this season, which could very likely have contributed to his 5.51 ERA and bloated walk rate (5.1 BB/9).

Masterson’s fastball velocity has declined significantly this season, ...

Red Sox trade rumors: ‘Very good chance’ John Lackey and Jon Lester are traded - Over the Monster

What kind of package could they get if they traded both of them together?

Trading John Lackey doesn’t make sense for the Red Sox unless they are getting a massive return that they can’t turn down. That’s what makes Ken Rosenthal’s latest a little frightening: there’s a “very good chance” the Red Sox actually ship both of Jon Lester and John Lackey out, not as a package deal, but in separate transactions.

Edit: Link fixed. Jim.