Around the Horn - 8/9

Update 3:15

The Cincinnati Reds continued their push for the NL playoffs by acquiring Todd Hollandsworth from the Cleveland Indians this afternoon. The Indians will receive the well worn "player to be named later".

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The Los Angeles Dodgers stood 7.5 games back of the 1st place San Diego Padres in the NL West after losing to them on July 26. They looked dead in the water. But since that time they acquired Wilson Betemit, Julio Lugo, Greg Maddux, and got Jeff Kent back from the DL. It has all added up to an 11 game winning streak that has the Dodgers just 1/2 game back of the lead.

One prospect down, one up. The Minnesota Twins have lost super rookie Francisco Liriano to the DL with a sore elbow, but have called up another stud prospect Matt Garza to take his place. Garza, who will make his MLB debut on Friday vs. Toronto, was 14-4 at 3 different minor league levels. He recorded 154 strikeouts in just 135 2-3 innings.

Richie Sexson's walk-off home run for the Mariners last night came with the bases loaded. It was his 4th grand slam of the season.

Josh Hamilton has had a rough go since being drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays with the #1 pick in the 1999 draft. Hamilton finally was reinstated this season and had played 15 games for the Rays Single-A Hudson Valley team in the NY-Penn league before it was announced yesterday that he would have season ending knee surgery.

One Ray’s prospect is on the fast track. Evan Longaria, not to be confused with the desperate housewife, was the Rays 1st pick in this year's draft. After hitting .424 in 33 games at Hudson Valley, Longoria was moved up to higher 'A' Visalia in the California League. Longoria hit .327-8-28 in 28 games there before being promoted to Double-A Montgomery yesterday. The third baseman could make B.J. Upton expendable.