Yankees Talking To Several Teams About Robinson Cano: ‘He’s Good And We’re Going To Keep Him’

I guess this is one rumor we can put to bed:

“Brian Cashman called me up this past week and asked what we’d be willing to give up for Robinson Cano, but before I could even answer, he said, ‘Whatever it is, it wouldn’t be enough, because we just love the guy,’” an executive within the Blue Jays organization told reporters.

Good thinking.

Beltran to Giants

@TBrownYahoo Tim Brown
Looks like Beltran is indeed going to SF, according to source. Logistics being worked out.

The newest star of The Franchise!

espn.com: Yankees HOPE Week makes big splash

The Yankees signed autographs, posed for the pictures with the kids, and even engaged in a couple games of ping pong.

But then things really got interesting. After taking a big group photo—including all the Yankees, and all the children—water balloons were distributed to everyone. Now, I had seen the buckets of water balloons earlier, and (naturally?) assumed we were going to play a harmless game of water balloon toss—you know, to see which pair could toss and catch the balloon the longest ...

White Sox trade Jackson, Teahen to Blue Jays; Rasmus Toronto-bound?

CHICAGO—The Chicago White Sox have traded starting pitcher Edwin Jackson and infielder Mark Teahen to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for reliever Jason Frasor and minor leaguers, which is expected to be the precursor of a deal that would send Cardinals center fielder Colby Rasmus to Toronto.

No word on the prospects.

Is it Rasmus or La Russa in St. Louis?

Soap operas are being taken off network TV, but at least we still have baseball.

By the way he’s portrayed, you’d expect St. Louis center fielder Colby Rasmus to be the guy with the badly dyed goatee and have ominous music every time he appears on screen. That’s at least the way Cardinals manager Tony La Russa (speaking of bad dye jobs) keeps playing it.

The latest barb? Speaking to KSDK-TV in St. Louis, La Russa said Rasmus doesn’t listen to the team’s coaches.

“No, he doesn’t listen to the ...

Kernan: Yankees’ Sabathia looks twice the ‘Cys’

Those who ignore history are bound to repeat Kernan.

Sabathia won his major-league-high 15th game. That is what aces do, and this is why Sabathia has the edge over all other AL starters this year, including the incredible Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander.

You can point to Verlander’s statistical advantages over Sabathia, and the Angels’ Jered Weaver is rolling, but give CC the edge. If Verlander or Weaver outduels CC the last nine weeks, give ‘em the Cy Young, but right now it is ...

Kilgore: The Nationals, in last place and Davey Johnson’s close to a ‘boiling point’

Beat the NL? They can’t even Beat Takeshi!

One month ago today, on an idyllic day in Southern California, Davey Johnson walked into the Washington Nationals dugout and managed his first baseball game in 11 years. He loved every minute, he said afterward, even though they lost. He savored the challenge and could not wait for more.

After the 10-game stretch coming out of the all-star break, some of that verve, at least outwardly, has drained from Johnson. It is hard to love every minute of ...

Baseball kissed by Marilyn Monroe and signed by Joe DiMaggio to be sold at auction

Monkey Business starring Miss Lois L’oreal! (and look for the blonde bombshell in the sequel The Sixty Year Pitch!)

It’s been locked in a box and stored in a closet for the best part of half a century. But this baseball is expected to fetch at least $20,000 when it is sold at auction

This is no ordinary baseball. Not only is it signed by the New York Yankees baseball team – including legend Joe DiMaggio – it also still bears the lipstick of Marilyn Monroe from when the blonde bombshell ...

Schoenfield: We have a new worst call ever

Last night’s Meals on Weals game that will forever leave a mark on Pirate fans…

Did I stay up until 2 a.m. watching the Pirates-Braves game that ended on the most controversial call since Jim Joyce ruined Armando Galarraga’s perfect game?

Yes, I did.

And it was something.

Twitter exploded immediately, with sympathy coming from across the country for America’s team. A Pirates fan who has lived in Italy for 19 years was watching the game and tweeted me in horror. Other Pirates fans called it ...

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 7-27-2011

Deseret News, July 28, 1987:

The longest winning streak in professional baseball history is history at 29 games.  The Billings Mustangs…outlasted the [Salt Lake Trappers] 7-5 Monday night in Cobb Stadium before 4,219 fans.

...

The Trappers are now a remarkable 32-4 in the Pioneer League.

The Trappers actually had a losing record that year in games not played during the 29-game streak.  Other odd facts about the 1987 Salt Lake Trappers:  They pulled off the streak without the benefit of a Major ...

Sullivan: Brendan Ryan Delivers Heroics In Mariners’ Latest Loss

Remember July 5th?  That is the last time the Mariners won a game.

At some point later in the game, I happened across the following tweet from Joe Posnanski:

You get the feeling the Mariners will remember Loss No. 17 as the “time we got that hit off C.C. Sabathia.”
...
That single felt like a win. Of course that sounds stupid. Of course that sounds humiliating. But the loss was already all but official, and for me it was the first triumphant moment in weeks. It felt better than Miguel Olivo’s ...

N.Y. Times: Sandomir: Trustee for Victims of Madoff’s Scheme Hones Arguments Against Mets’ Owners

The high-stakes arguments — the trustee is seeking $1 billion from Wilpon and Katz — are set to be heard, and perhaps decided, by Judge Jed S. Rakoff in United States District Court in Manhattan on Aug. 17. ...

Picard’s argument appears to result in part from the successful effort by Wilpon and Katz to transfer the trustee’s lawsuit from bankruptcy court to district court — a procedural victory for them.

Wilpon and Katz wanted the change so their dealings with Madoff might be ...

Clippers: Germano throws perfect game against Chiefs

27 up, 27 down!

[Justin] Germano had a 5.65 ERA in 10 relief appearances for Columbus after struggling in the Indians bullpen this season. He gave up a Clippers’ season-high 12 hits in six innings during his start on Thursday.

Those woes didn’t affect him tonight. Germano, a 28-year-old righthander, threw a perfect game in Columbus’ 3-0 win at Syracuse. He struck out seven, including getting Corey Brown looking with his final pitch, in winning his first game of the season.

It is the first ...

Reds trade Gomes to Nats, promote Alonso

It was clear from the moment he was drafted that prospect Yonder Alonso’s bat would eventually force the Reds’ hand into getting him to the Major Leagues.

That time came on Tuesday when the Reds traded veteran left fielder Jonny Gomes to the Nationals for two Minor League players. In a corresponding move, Alonso—a left fielder and first baseman—was recalled from Triple-A Louisville.

“We actually had a couple of clubs that inquired about Jonny’s services, but Washington was probably the most ...

Fox Sports Net adds web features to Reds TV broadcasts

Like Brennamanna from heaven…

Here’s something that could make your experience watching the Cincinnati Reds on TV even better.

No, it’s not a guaranteed 10-game winning streak. Or even three, for that matter, which the Reds haven’t done since June 15.

This comes to you courtesy of Fox Sports Net Ohio, the Reds’ TV broadcast network. It just launched Game Connect.

It features live stats for each player, including batter vs. pitcher career info. It also offers a built-in Twitter feed, ...

Statis Pro Baseball: An Instruction Manual

Eleven is the age at which athletics begin to evolve from a communal gathering into a selective pursuit. At 11, Little League is nearing its end and giving way to real baseball, with 90 feet between the bases and 60 feet, six inches to home plate, and those of us who possess the desire but lack the physicality and coordination are shunted aside. And so we seek substitutes, a way to replicate the experience that is still somehow tethered to reality. In the modern age, of course, this is the ...

‘Duk: Yes, someone just compared Bryce Harper to Jackie Robinson

Woo-hoo! Can’t wait for the Bryce Harper: Rookie on Trial comic book to come out!

Straight from the files of Terrible Perspective 101 comes this unbelievable gem: Two members of the Washington Nationals organization tell Sports Illustrated’s Tom Verducci that Bryce Harper is baseball’s most scrutinized prospect since ... Jackie Robinson.

Let’s go to the tape, shall we?:

  Nats director of player development Doug Harris: “This is really unfair and it’s totally different, but if I can make a ...

Gleeman: Astros fall down a lot in loss to Cardinals, blame U2 and Bono

Or…Bono anti-Bourgeois!

U2 had a concert at Busch Stadium on July 17 and in preparation for the event the Cardinals had to strip the field and then afterward bring in new grass from Colorado, with the recent high temperatures making the re-sodding effort very difficult.

Before last night’s game groundskeeper Bill Findley told Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post Dispatch that the new grass “wasn’t healthy enough to put a pattern on it” and then during the game the visiting Astros fell ...

ESPN: Szymborski: Cheap relief key for Bucs and Tribe (INSIDER)

While they're not among the best teams in baseball, you'll be hard-pressed to find fans of the Cleveland Indians or Pittsburgh Pirates who are disappointed with how the season has gone so far. Neither club was expected to be serious contenders yet now find themselves in striking distance of a trip to the playoffs. Other than being rebuilding franchises, one thing both have in common is that they have put together inexpensive, overachieving bullpens that have done a lot of fuel their teams' ...

Remarks by the President in Welcoming the 2010 World Series Champion San Francisco Giants

And then there’s the guy with the beard.  Where’s he?  (Laughter.)  I do fear it.  (Laughter.)  Have you guys seen the SportsCenter ad where it’s—ESPN—where it starts doing a dance?  (Laughter.)

Now, underneath Brian’s beard, and the spandex tuxedo—(laughter)—and the sea captain costume, and the cleats with his face on them—is also one of the most dominant closers in baseball.  (Applause.)  And I do think, Brian, you should know that Michelle was very relieved that the press was going to ...

CSTB: Consider If You Will, What “A Movie About The YES Network” Might Possibly Entail

I’d tilt heavily toward Tom Woodruff Jr. myself…

Wait, those are my choices?  Is this the moment where for the first time in human history, we actually wish to see Frank Caliendo doing something besides running from an angry mob?

Smug, bloated, ferociously unfunny.  But enough about Vince Vaughn…

Cuddyer pitches: First time for Twins position player in 21 years

“Cuddyer Mak’er is All In!” I’ll say!

“It was probably the worst I’ve had here as a manager as far as runs scored against us,” said Ron Gardenhire, the Twins manager since 2002.

Kinsler had four of the Rangers’ league-best 27 hits as Texas became the first team to score 20 runs since Milwaukee beat Pittsburgh 20-0 on April 22 last season. The Rangers had 18 runs by the fifth inning as they scored three runs in each of the first three innings. Texas added five in the fourth and four in the ...

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 7-26-2011

AP, July 26, 1936:

In a riotous doubleheader that saw Umpire Bill Summers felled and injured by one of more than a hundred missiles hurled upon the field by enraged fans, the New York Yankees overpowered the Chicago White Sox twice today.

..

A pop bottle hurled by an unidentified fan in the upper grandstand back of third base, where Summers was stationed, hit him in the groin and he collapsed.

That could have been one of the great viral videos of all time.  Only thing that could have made it ...

Dave Parker still believes he should be in Hall of Fame

Yeah…and I still believe I should be reviewing sizzlin’ punk 45’s for the New York Rocker’s Disques Du’ Mondo column.

“I figure I was the most dominant player through my era,” he said. “I’m not in the Hall of Fame, but all the Hall of Famers know what I brought to the table. My numbers are as good as most Hall of Famers who went in over the last five or six years. I just hope I get in while I’m vertical.”

...The knock on Parker most likely dates to his part in a drug scandal. He ...

OTM: Botched: Red Sox Fail Spectacularly, Fall To Royals In Fourteen

The first eight innings of the game were bad enough, but what transpired was truly the stuff of legends. Pathetic, pathetic legends.

Let’s review RISP we had that could have won the game at any time:
9th inning: Navarro on third, 1 out
11th inning: Gonzalez on second, 2 out
12th inning: Reddick on third, 1 out
13th inning: Ellsbury on third, 1 out
14th inning: Reddick on second, 1 out

And I will tell you what you must already know when I say not a one of those batters scored.

...But really, ...

Stats Geek: How does Karstens do it?

And O’Neill…hiding within the Post-Gazette without me finding him.

Jeff Karstens shouldn’t be this good. All the cool stats say so.

Look beyond Karstens’ 8-5 record and 2.28 ERA, second-lowest among National League starters. Take his strand rate, for instance.

That’s the percentage of guys Karstens leaves on base. It’s 86.6 percent. That’s just ridiculous. It’s the lowest among all of baseball’s starting pitchers. The only one close is former Pirate Ryan Vogelsong, now making the greatest ...

Hall of Fame sticking with five-year waiting period for potential inductees

HEADLESS BODY IN POST SPORTS SECTIONED!

Contrary to a report in Monday’s New York Post, the National Baseball Hall of Fame is not considering dropping the waiting period for players to be eligible for induction from five to three years.

Post columnist Kevin Kernan didn’t quote anyone from Hall but wrote: “One reason Hall officials would want to shorten the waiting period is to make it a more ‘immediate’ event. There is a lot to be said for that because, why should sure-fire, first-ballot Hall ...

Stone: Is this the most embarrassing point ever for Mariner franchise?

Why…is today’s game rained out?

To answer my original question, I’d say that this is indeed the low point for the franchise in my memory. Perhaps you can point to off the field moments involving their long, painful quest for a new stadium, when it looked for sure like they were headed out of Seattle. But as far as the product on the field, I can’t think of anything to match this. There have been painful losses in the past, to be sure, but those were in the context of successful seasons that ...

Mariners lose 16th in a row with little suspense

What are you talking about? There was a lot of suspense! Do the Mariners lose by 5 runs? 6?

Seattle loses 10-3 and drops No. 16 in a row. That ties the 1944 Brooklyn Dodgers for the eighth longest streak in baseball history (seventh-longest if you go 1900 and later) and leaves them one away from the 1962 New York Mets at 17 in a row.

Megdal: Play Bay Everyday, Though Play in Disarray, Due to Pay, Resume

Deal. May I.

Increasingly, it has become fashionable to ask the question, in columns and on Twitter, “How long can the Mets go on playing Jason Bay on a regular basis?”

The answer, of course, is: for the rest of the 2011 season, at least.

As usual, the question is usually framed in a binary fashion: Bay, or no Bay? From that perspective, the answer seems easy. Bay has been just awful this year, with a .632 OPS in 307 plate appearances. That would be terrible at any position, but ...