Around the Horn - 3/3

Jon Heyman is reporting that talks are heating up again concerning a Brian Roberts deal between the Orioles and Cubs.

The Giants' Noah Lowery had a Monday to forget today, walking 9 batters in just over an inning pitched. Choke on that Chris Russo.

Alfsono Soriano is expected to miss about a week of action with a fractured finger.

Has any team had as many collisions over the years as the Mets? We don't even want to think about the Mike Cameron-Carlos Beltran disaster in '05. This time it was 2nd Baseman Marlon Anderson and right fielder Ryan Church this past Saturday. Church ended up with a Grade 2 concussion.

The Mets also have to be holding their breaths concerning Carlos Delgado. The big 1st Baseman missed a lot of time last season due to a hip flexor problem. He was aching again this spring, but an MRI showed an impingement and he's listed as day-to-day.

Andrew Miller's Marlins debut was definitely not a memorable one. The highly touted prospect, acquired in the Miguel Cabrera deal, walked 5 batters in 3 innings.

The Nats Elijah Dukes hit his 1st HR of the spring and didn't attack or impregnate anyone after the game...though it's still early.

The A's Bobby Crosby homered in both weekend games, but in typical Bobby Crosby fashion, had back spasms today.

Our thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery go out to Phillies coach and former big league speedster Davey Lopes who has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

The Red Sox Bartolo Colon was clocked at 90 mph in his Monday bullpen session. Colon threw 42 pitches that were a combination of fastballs and changeups.

Around the Horn - 3/3

Jon Heyman is reporting that talks are heating up again concerning a Brian Roberts deal between the Orioles and Cubs.

The Giants' Noah Lowery had a Monday to forget today, walking 9 batters in just over an inning pitched. Choke on that Chris Russo.

Alfsono Soriano is expected to miss about a week of action with a fractured finger.

Has any team had as many collisions over the years as the Mets? We don't even want to think about the Mike Cameron-Carlos Beltran disaster in '05. This time it was 2nd Baseman Marlon Anderson and right fielder Ryan Church this past Saturday. Church ended up with a Grade 2 concussion.

The Mets also have to be holding their breaths concerning Carlos Delgado. The big 1st Baseman missed a lot of time last season due to a hip flexor problem. He was aching again this spring, but an MRI showed an impingement and he's listed as day-to-day.

Andrew Miller's Marlins debut was definitely not a memorable one. The highly touted prospect, acquired in the Miguel Cabrera deal, walked 5 batters in 3 innings.

The Nats Elijah Dukes hit his 1st HR of the spring and didn't attack or impregnate anyone after the game...though it's still early.

The A's Bobby Crosby homered in both weekend games, but in typical Bobby Crosby fashion, had back spasms today.

Our thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery go out to Phillies coach and former big league speedster Davey Lopes who has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

The Red Sox Bartolo Colon was clocked at 90 mph in his Monday bullpen session. Colon threw 42 pitches that were a combination of fastballs and changeups.

Nats 'Larkin' Back to Better Days

We're not going to into the details of the troubles that Elijah Dukes has run into his life. It would take too much time and too much bandwidth. Dukes was dealt to the Nats on December 3 after the Rays could no longer put up with his shenanigans. Now the Nats are taking a proactive approach to giving Dukes an attitude adjustment.

GM Jim Bowden has brought in his former shortstop Barry Larkin to mentor Dukes prior to spring training. Ironically, Larkin had never heard of Dukes prior to Bowden's quest for help. Now Larkin is working with Dukes on every aspect of the game, both on and off the field.

"It's a matter of showing this guy some love. That makes for a very healthy environment to compete and do well regardless of what your personal issues are or may have been," Larkin said. "He smiles when he is here. I think he really enjoys it. I want him to be ready for Spring Training and be in shape. This guy is a physical monster -- strong, fast, quick and all that kind of stuff. He is a stud."

Larkin feels Dukes, who is still just 23, has the potential to be a 30-30 (HRs-SB) player.

"Physically, he is strong enough to hit 30 to 40 home runs. He's probably fast enough to steal 30 to 40 bases. Physically, this dude is gifted," Larkin said. "I think it will be important that he feels like part of [the team] early as it is with any young player that has been traded."

Mentoring is nothing new to Larkin who worked with several of his younger Reds' teammates while in Cincinnati. Larkin's professionalism throughout his career is just one of the reasons he could be a future manager.

Source

Nats 'Larkin' Back to Better Days

We're not going to into the details of the troubles that Elijah Dukes has run into his life. It would take too much time and too much bandwidth. Dukes was dealt to the Nats on December 3 after the Rays could no longer put up with his shenanigans. Now the Nats are taking a proactive approach to giving Dukes an attitude adjustment.

GM Jim Bowden has brought in his former shortstop Barry Larkin to mentor Dukes prior to spring training. Ironically, Larkin had never heard of Dukes prior to Bowden's quest for help. Now Larkin is working with Dukes on every aspect of the game, both on and off the field.

"It's a matter of showing this guy some love. That makes for a very healthy environment to compete and do well regardless of what your personal issues are or may have been," Larkin said. "He smiles when he is here. I think he really enjoys it. I want him to be ready for Spring Training and be in shape. This guy is a physical monster -- strong, fast, quick and all that kind of stuff. He is a stud."

Larkin feels Dukes, who is still just 23, has the potential to be a 30-30 (HRs-SB) player.

"Physically, he is strong enough to hit 30 to 40 home runs. He's probably fast enough to steal 30 to 40 bases. Physically, this dude is gifted," Larkin said. "I think it will be important that he feels like part of [the team] early as it is with any young player that has been traded."

Mentoring is nothing new to Larkin who worked with several of his younger Reds' teammates while in Cincinnati. Larkin's professionalism throughout his career is just one of the reasons he could be a future manager.

Source

Winter Meetings Update

Brewers' GM Doug Melvin confirmed that he turned down an offer from Nat's GM Jim Bowden that would have landed him closer Chad Cordero for Richie Weeks. Whatever happened to silent negotiations? Source

The Nats love to go after prospects, especially those that have fallen out of favor. First, Bowden got Lastings Milledge from the Mets. Now it appears he's about to acquire Elijah Dukes from the Rays for a minor leaguer. Source

The Padres seem to be going after every pitcher out there not named Santana. They've reportedly offered journeyman Brett Tomko a 1-year, $1.5 million deal. Source

ESPN.com is reporting that the Dodgers have made a 2-year, $32 million offer to Andruw Jones.

The Mariners are hoping to deal Richie Sexson during the winter meetings, unloading his $14 million salary in the process. We can't imagine the M's getting much back unless they eat the chunk of that deal. Source

Winter Meetings Update

Brewers' GM Doug Melvin confirmed that he turned down an offer from Nat's GM Jim Bowden that would have landed him closer Chad Cordero for Richie Weeks. Whatever happened to silent negotiations? Source

The Nats love to go after prospects, especially those that have fallen out of favor. First, Bowden got Lastings Milledge from the Mets. Now it appears he's about to acquire Elijah Dukes from the Rays for a minor leaguer. Source

The Padres seem to be going after every pitcher out there not named Santana. They've reportedly offered journeyman Brett Tomko a 1-year, $1.5 million deal. Source

ESPN.com is reporting that the Dodgers have made a 2-year, $32 million offer to Andruw Jones.

The Mariners are hoping to deal Richie Sexson during the winter meetings, unloading his $14 million salary in the process. We can't imagine the M's getting much back unless they eat the chunk of that deal. Source

Around the Horn (6/13)

Yankees fans are still reeling from the memory of the Red Sox hitting 4 straight home runs against Chase Wright back in April. The reeling Mets will be thinking about John Maine's performance last night for a while. Facing the Dodgers, Maine gave up 3 straight home runs. To Wilson Betemit, Matt Kemp and pitcher Hong-Chih Kuo. Kuo's HR was additionally irritating because of the manner in which Kuo flipped the bat away after hitting the ball. Mets skipper Willie Randolph noted it in his post game remarks.

Elijah Dukes won't be getting a good citizen award any time soon. The Devil Rays outfielder was recently in the news for a dispute with his ex-wife, that had him allegedly threatening the children teaches. Now a 17-year old foster child that lives with a friend of Dukes, has said she is pregnant with Dukes' child. When she told Dukes, with whom she says she had consensual sex with, he threw a cup of Gatorade in her face. The Devil Rays need to dump this bum while they can.

One Devil Ray player that is getting positive attention is veteran 1st Baseman Carlos Pena. Pena has built up a reputation over the years as a great glove, and he'll either hit a HR or strike out. After spending last season toiling in the Yankees minor league system and a short stint with the Red Sox, Pena signed a minor league deal with the D-Rays during the off-season. He seemed to be the same old Pena, hitting .194 on May 4th, but everything has changed since.
After last night's grand slam, 5 RBI game, Pena is now hitting .311-14-38 with a 1.055 OPS.

Oakland may be without closer Huston Street for a lot longer than originally anticipated. Street has already missed more than month with a nerve irritation in his elbow. He began throwing again last week, but has been shut down due to pain in the area. Angel's doc Lewis Yocum found no damage, but Street will be getting a second opinion.

Blue Jay's starter A.J. Burnett has had persistent arm woes and it cropped up again last night. Burnett had to leave in the 5th inning of a game with the Giants due to a strained shoulder. For now, the team is categorizing it as not serious.

Around the Horn (6/13)

Yankees fans are still reeling from the memory of the Red Sox hitting 4 straight home runs against Chase Wright back in April. The reeling Mets will be thinking about John Maine's performance last night for a while. Facing the Dodgers, Maine gave up 3 straight home runs. To Wilson Betemit, Matt Kemp and pitcher Hong-Chih Kuo. Kuo's HR was additionally irritating because of the manner in which Kuo flipped the bat away after hitting the ball. Mets skipper Willie Randolph noted it in his post game remarks.

Elijah Dukes won't be getting a good citizen award any time soon. The Devil Rays outfielder was recently in the news for a dispute with his ex-wife, that had him allegedly threatening the children teaches. Now a 17-year old foster child that lives with a friend of Dukes, has said she is pregnant with Dukes' child. When she told Dukes, with whom she says she had consensual sex with, he threw a cup of Gatorade in her face. The Devil Rays need to dump this bum while they can.

One Devil Ray player that is getting positive attention is veteran 1st Baseman Carlos Pena. Pena has built up a reputation over the years as a great glove, and he'll either hit a HR or strike out. After spending last season toiling in the Yankees minor league system and a short stint with the Red Sox, Pena signed a minor league deal with the D-Rays during the off-season. He seemed to be the same old Pena, hitting .194 on May 4th, but everything has changed since.
After last night's grand slam, 5 RBI game, Pena is now hitting .311-14-38 with a 1.055 OPS.

Oakland may be without closer Huston Street for a lot longer than originally anticipated. Street has already missed more than month with a nerve irritation in his elbow. He began throwing again last week, but has been shut down due to pain in the area. Angel's doc Lewis Yocum found no damage, but Street will be getting a second opinion.

Blue Jay's starter A.J. Burnett has had persistent arm woes and it cropped up again last night. Burnett had to leave in the 5th inning of a game with the Giants due to a strained shoulder. For now, the team is categorizing it as not serious.