Yankees Would Be Making a Mistake in Acquiring Kemp

The rumor mill has the Yankees and the Boston Red Sox in hot pursuit of LA Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp. If true, the Yankees should bow out and bow out fast. Kemp is a talented, banged up, streaky player who is guaranteed $128MM over the next six years.

Perhaps this is all part of a ruse to throw a scare into Robinson Cano; to test his claim that he wants to remain in New York. If the Yankees are really pursuing Kemp the cost would not necessarily be high in the players sent to LA..if LA were to pick up much of the monies owed. If that's not the case, the Yankees are going to take a big hit to wallet, something they claim they do not want to do.

The 29-year old has always been loaded with potential and he reached new heights when he lost out (some would say robbed even before Braun got caught cheating) to Ryan Braun for the 2011 NL MVP. Kemp played all but one game that year, hit 39 dingers, drove in 126 runs, scored 115, and amassed 353 total bases. The latter four stats all led the National League and were career highs, as was his .986 OPS.

Kemp followed up his near MVP campaign with a solid 2012 season, but it was limited to 106 games due to an injured hammy. Problems with his shoulder, hammy, and ankle lmited him to 73 games this past season with and his numbers (.723 OPS) reflected it.

With Kemp on the precipice of turning 30, a (not necessarily earned) reputation of going through the motions at times, and going from laid back LA to the pressure cooker in New York, the Yankees should remember, "Let the buyer beware."

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Yankees fans will rejoice at a minor matter that took place a short time ago Monday- catcher Chris Stewart was shown the door, traded to the place where ex-Yankees go to die play, Pittsburgh. The Yankees will receive a player to be named later or cash from the Pirates in return.

An ex-Yankees catcher is returning to the AL East. Dioner Navarro, who at one time the Yankees had high hopes for, has signed a two year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. It's reportedly worth $8MM. Navarro began his career in the Yankees farm system, but never got a shot to show what he could do in the Bronx. He played with the Dodgers, Rays, and Cubs and had a bounce back offensive season in 2013. The Blue Jays are reportedly shopping current starting catcher J.P. Arencibia, who either hits a home run or makes no contact.

Cardinals Have Plenty Of Confidence in Wacha

Wacha may look 16, but he pitches like a veteran ace.

Entering the 2013 season the St. Louis Cardinals knew they were going to have to rely on their highly touted young right-hander to help them win the NL Central or capture one of the two National League wild card spots.

Not only did the rookie help win the division, but the Cardinals would not have advanced to the World Series without him. Oh, you though I meant Shelby Miller. While Miller's regular season performance was a big factor in the Cardinal's 2013 success, it was the pitching of fellow rookie Michael Wacha that got them to the fall classic for the fourth time since 2004.

Wacha (pronounced wok-kuh - think Fozzy Bear - wok-kuh wok-kuh) was the 19th overall selection out of Texas A&M University in the 2012 amateur draft and made his Major League debut on May 30 of this year. Passed over in the draft during his high school days, it is remarkable Wacha made it to the 19th pick when he was drafted after a stellar three year collegiate career. His numbers as an Aggie were a 27-7 record, a 2.78 ERA, 8.6 K's per 9 innings, and a 1.06 WHIP. He came into this season with a fastball that topped out at 95-mph, a strong curveball, and a low 80's changeup. Wacha also knew how to pitch.

Coincidentally, Miller was the 19th overall pick out of Texas' Brownwood High School in 2009. After six appearances, all but one in relief, in 2012, Miller made 31 starts for the Cards this year. He finished 15-9 with a 3.06 ERA and a 1.206 WHIP. But with about a 180 regular season innings limit, Miller made his last start on September 25 and was moved to the bullpen for the post-season.

Meanwhile, Wacha made three starts for the Cardinals between his May debut and June 11 before he was returned to Triple-A Memphis (PCL). He put together an outstanding season for the minor league Redbirds, going 5-3, 2.65 in 15 starts with an average of 7.7 K's per 9 innings. The Cardinals took note and recall him in the second week of August.

The 22-year old made six starts and six relief appearances down the stretch to finish 4-1, 2.78 with 9 K's per 9 innings and a 1.098 WHIP. With Miller moved to the pen, Wacha was the logical selection to take the baseball in Game 4 of the NL Division Series.

The Pirates held a 2 games to 1 lead in the best of five, but a Wacha-led victory meant St. Louis had ace Adam Wainwright for the fifth game. To say that Wacha was successful is an understatement.

The former Texarkana, TX high schooler (he and Miller lived equidistant from Dallas in opposite directions.) retired the first 15 men he faced. Pirates’ catcher Russell Martin finally drew a walk to lead off the 6th inning, but Wacha retired the next six hitters in order and took a no-hitter into the 8th inning.

Wacha retired Marlon Byrd to start the next to last "regular" inning, but National League home run leader Pedro Alvarez broke up the no-hitter and the shutout with a solo shot to halve the lead. Matheny only pulled his starter when Wacha followed it up with another walk to Martin. The bullpen closed out a 2-1 win and then took the night off to watch Wainright's complete game victory in Game 5 to advance to the NLCS.

After an exciting 13-inning, 3-2 win in Game 1, the Cardinals went back to Wacha to face the best pitcher in baseball, Clayton Kershaw in Game 2. The Dodgers left-hander held the Cards to two hits...and lost thanks to Wacha's performance.

It only took LA two batters into their lineup before they got their first hit, but the next 12 Dodgers went down in order. A.J. Ellis broke the string with a 2-out double in the 5th inning, but was stranded there. John Jay's sacrifice fly gave the Cards a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the inning, but it looked like Wacha's magic had ended when the Dodgers loaded the bases in the 6^th.

Kershaw and Carl Crawford reached on back to back singles and one out later Adrian Gonzalez was given an intentional free pass. Wacha battled phenom Yasiel Puig to a full count before he struck out his fellow rookie for the second out. Wacha then got veteran Juan Uribe swinging at a third strike to escape the jam. Wacha was pulled after he allowed a 2-out hit in the 7th, but once again the rookie pitched deep into the game and the Cardinals held on for a 1-0 triumph.

The Cardinals held a 3 games to 2 advantage when Wacha and Kershaw met for a rematch in a crucial Game 6. If you had no knowledge of the outcome and just heard the statistics, you would have been crazy not to think the Dodgers had evened the series up and forced a seventh and decisive game. But you would have been wrong.

Wacha may have been even better than in his first two post-season appearances. Crawford reached on an infield single to start the game, but was quickly erased by a double play. Outside of a 4th inning walk, no Dodgers’ batter would reach safely via a base hit until Ellis led off the 6th with a double. He was stranded there of course, and Wacha retired the next six hitters to finish with seven innings of 2-hit, shutout baseball.

The Cardinals jumped all over Kershaw and went on to a 9-0 win though they probably would have won the game had they managed just one run, thanks to Texas' Michael Wacha.

World Series Game 2 Note

Wacha faces John Lackey with the Cardinals in desperate need of a good performance after Game 1's poor pitching, poor hitting, and poor fielding performance. The rookie has allowed one earned run in 21 innings pitched (0.43 ERA), with 9.4 K's per 9 innings, a 0.57 WHIP and just eight hits allowed.

Piazza Damaging His Legacy

Maybe Piazza can get into the Italian Baseball Hall of Fame..if one exists.

On the surface, Mike Piazza looks like a sure shot to be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Most home runs by a catcher, 12 All-Star selections, NL Rookie of the Year, 10 straight Silver Slugger Awards, and a lifetime .308 average. That's just a sampling of Piazza's offensive prowess. However, in his first year of eligibility (2013), Piazza only garnered 57.8% of the Hall vote.

There were whispers of performance enhancing drug use even though there have been no accusations or failed tests (Not that passing a test means anything these days.). Jeff Bagwell knows exactly how Piazza feels - condemnation with no proof - but Piazza may have done further damage to his cause with his new book.

In the tome "Long Shot", Piazza states that he tried every type of then legal substance, but never touched steroids. Amphetamines? Yes Andro? Yes Steroids? No. This will undoubtedly put even more doubt in the minds of those members of the Baseball Writers Association of America as well as the fans.

If Piazza took only non-banned substances, why would he not take steroids? They were not banned at the time either. Piazza's claim of innocence don't seem plausible.


Don't mess with those that are beloved: Perhaps it's the unwritten 12th commandment. The beloved in this case being Vin Scully, the voice of the Brooklyn Dodgers since their days in Brooklyn. Piazza states that Scully had it in for him and turned the LA fans against him during Piazza attempt to wangle a new high priced contract.. Piazza also felt Scully promoted opponents on the air for the NL MVP Award instead of Piazza.

Scully responded by basically saying, " I don't know what he's talking about."

There have been many over the years who thought Piazza was a total goof and his admission of taking Karate lessons in the wake of being beaned by Roger Clemens does nothing to dissuade the notion. Piazza was going to attack Clemens should they have a rendezvous on the field again. Of course they did, but that's when Clemens threw a broken bat at Piazza during the 2000 World Series and totally through the Karate Kid's plan off track. (Ala Seinfeld, I can see Piazza driving home and making a quick U-ie when he's thought of a great insult. - "The jerk store called, and they're running out of you!")

While Piazza's offensive numbers are as good, if not better, than any other catcher that came before him, it would not be a surprise to see his voting percentage dip in next year's Hall election. That may be the price Piazza pays for an ill-timed, ill-advised book.

MLB Doesn't Care About the Fans

Seriously, I've been down this road before with other things MLB has done. This time it is the scheduled times for the ALCS. Specifically Games 2 and 6, which both have a 4:13 p.m. ET start.. Even more specifically Game 2, which is scheduled for Monday, October 19.

Game 2 is being played out in Anaheim, which means Angels fans have a 1:13 p.m. PT start. So..if you're at work, school, in your commute...you're screwed.

Game 2 of the NLCS is no better. That's this Friday, the 16th, at 4:07 p.m. ET. Obviously, the early start times are because of both league championship series occuring on the same day (TBS has the "fisted" coverage of the NLCS, while those "stalwarts" at Fox have the ALCS).

Why not schedule them even one hour later on the east coast. 5:00 for the early game and then move the later game back a half hour to 8:30.

Here are the complete schedules:

ALCS

Series begins Friday
Game	Matchup	Day	Date	Time ET	TV
Gm 1	LAA @ NYY	Fri	Oct. 16	7:57 pm	FOX
Gm 2	LAA @ NYY	Sat	Oct. 17	7:57 pm	FOX
Gm 3	NYY @ LAA	Mon	Oct. 19	4:13 pm	FOX
Gm 4	NYY @ LAA	Tue	Oct. 20	7:57 pm	FOX
Gm 5*	NYY @ LAA	Thu	Oct. 22	7:57 pm	FOX
Gm 6*	LAA @ NYY	Sat	Oct. 24	4:13 pm	FOX
Gm 7*	LAA @ NYY	Sun	Oct. 25	8:20 pm	FOX

NLCS

Series begins Thursday
Game	Matchup	Day	Date	Time ET	TV
Gm 1	PHI @ LAD	Thu	Oct. 15	8:07 pm	TBS
Gm 2	PHI @ LAD	Fri	Oct. 16	4:07 pm	TBS
Gm 3	LAD @ PHI	Sun	Oct. 18	8:07 pm	TBS
Gm 4	LAD @ PHI	Mon	Oct. 19	8:07 pm	TBS
Gm 5*	LAD @ PHI	Wed	Oct. 21	8:07 pm	TBS
Gm 6*	PHI @ LAD	Fri	Oct. 23	8:07 pm	TBS
Gm 7*	PHI @ LAD	Sat	Oct. 24	8:07 pm	TBS

Breaking News: Manny and Dodgers Reunited

ESPNdeportes.com's Enrique Rojas is reporting that the LA Dodgers and Manny Ramirez have agreed to terms on a two year deal. No financial terms were disclosed.

Scott Boras, Ramirez's agent, did not return a phone call to confirm or deny the information.

UPDATE 8 AM 3/4 - Scott Boras denied any deal last night, but it is believed the two teams are now very close. Manny flew to LA last night.

UPDATE 4:05 PM 3/4 - It's for real this time; Manny Ramirez has reached agreement with the Dodgers on a 2 year, $45 million deal. It includes a clause to opt out after one year.

Boras the Puppet Master

Manny Ramirez has rejected the Dodgers latest offer. $25 million guaranteed for one year, with a $20 million player's option for a second year. And Manny said, nah.

Though it would significantly damage their offense, the Dodgers should just say, it was nice knowing you, and move on. They're only bidding against themselves right now.

Scott Boras, Manny's agent, is waiting for something to happen this spring. Specifically, a major injury to a big time hitter. That's the best scenario for Manny to get the four year deal he is seeking. Desperate times call for desperate, and sometimes panicky, measures.

The Giants are said to be monitoring the situation and they certainly aren't afraid to make bad deals (Barry Zito, Aaron Rowand).

Perhaps Manny sits out the start of the season and a team, such as the Mets, gets off to a slow start due to lack of production from the corner outfielders (a very real possibility). Would they then make an "offer you can't refuse" to the Man-child?

Apparently, Boras is willing to wait and see.

Breaking News: O-Dog Close to New Home

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports is reporting that second baseman Orlando Hudson and the LA Dodgers are close to terms on a 1 year deal. Hudson would replace Jeff Kent, who retired after the 2008 season.

Hudson, coming off left wrist surgery, is one of the best defendesr in the majors at his position. The signing would cost the Dodgers a draft pick and it also means that Blake DeWitt, for the moment, is out of a starting job.

I Don't Give a Damn 'bout my Bad Reputation

Pitchers and catchers report to Florida and Arizona just over a month from today, and Manny Ramirez is still unemployed. Perhaps the man-child is finally paying the price for his erratic behavior, and immense immaturity. There was no hiding the fact that he tanked it this past season to get out of Boston. But his roughing up of an older Red Sox employee may have been the straw that broke the camel's back.

In case you had forgotten, back in June the Red Sox were playing a series in Houston. Ramirez requested 16 tickets from traveling secretary Jake McCormick, who informed him that he may not be able to get that many tickets. Ramirez screamed at McCormick to do his job. An argument ensued and Ramirez shoved McCormick, who is in his 60s, to the ground. Ramirez later would apologize, but the damage was done. An already questionable reputation had worsened.

The proof is in pudding - Ramirez has been practically begging for contract offers. Other than the Dodgers' 2 year, $45 million, offers have been few and far between. Ramirez may want a 5 year deal, but he may have to take a 1 year deal to prove himself- not his baseball skills, but his dedication to his team.

You get what you pay for.

We still think Joan Jett's favorite team, the Orioles, would be a good fit for Manny.

Donnie Baseball Steps Down

Citing family reasons, Don Mattingly stepped down as the LA Dodgers hitting instructor earlier this evening. Donnie Baseball will remain on the Dodgers' payroll as a special assignment coach. Mike Easler has been named as the new hitting coach.

Mattingly released the following statement through the team:

"I'm very grateful that the Dodgers have allowed me to take care of these family matters and I hope that everyone can respect our privacy during this time," Mattingly said in a statement issued by the team. "I truly appreciate the support of all Dodger fans since joining the organization and I look forward to helping the team win in 2008 and beyond."

We wish Donnie and his family all of the best! We were hoping perhaps he saw himself in a Dodgers uniform and thought better of it.

Donnie Baseball Steps Down

Citing family reasons, Don Mattingly stepped down as the LA Dodgers hitting instructor earlier this evening. Donnie Baseball will remain on the Dodgers' payroll as a special assignment coach. Mike Easler has been named as the new hitting coach.

Mattingly released the following statement through the team:

"I'm very grateful that the Dodgers have allowed me to take care of these family matters and I hope that everyone can respect our privacy during this time," Mattingly said in a statement issued by the team. "I truly appreciate the support of all Dodger fans since joining the organization and I look forward to helping the team win in 2008 and beyond."

We wish Donnie and his family all of the best! We were hoping perhaps he saw himself in a Dodgers uniform and thought better of it.

Does HGH Use Matter?

After seeing his name in the Mitchell Report, catcher Gary Bennett admitted to using HGH in 2003. Today, he signed a 1 year, 850 grand contract to be the back up catcher for the Dodgers. Apparently this is baseball's moving forward process.

And since there is still no definitive urinalysis to discover HGH, who really thinks its usage will come to an end?

Does HGH Use Matter?

After seeing his name in the Mitchell Report, catcher Gary Bennett admitted to using HGH in 2003. Today, he signed a 1 year, 850 grand contract to be the back up catcher for the Dodgers. Apparently this is baseball's moving forward process.

And since there is still no definitive urinalysis to discover HGH, who really thinks its usage will come to an end?

Photo of the Day

Joe Torre shows the LA media that he even trimmed his nose hairs for the occasion.

Photo of the Day

Joe Torre shows the LA media that he even trimmed his nose hairs for the occasion.

Torre Announced, Bowa Along for the Ride

Joe Torre was officially announced as the LA Dodgers manager earlier today. In a ceremony that took place in centerfield in Chavez Ravine, it was also announced that Don Mattingly and Larry Bowa will join Torre's coaching staff. It has not be determined if Mattingly will be hitting or bench coach, or if Bowa will be bench or 3rd Base coach.

"Wow! This has been wild here. The last two weeks have been a whirlwind for my wife Ali and me," Torre said. "You say goodbye to one prestigious organization and you say hello to another prestigious organization."

Source

Torre Announced, Bowa Along for the Ride

Joe Torre was officially announced as the LA Dodgers manager earlier today. In a ceremony that took place in centerfield in Chavez Ravine, it was also announced that Don Mattingly and Larry Bowa will join Torre's coaching staff. It has not be determined if Mattingly will be hitting or bench coach, or if Bowa will be bench or 3rd Base coach.

"Wow! This has been wild here. The last two weeks have been a whirlwind for my wife Ali and me," Torre said. "You say goodbye to one prestigious organization and you say hello to another prestigious organization."

Source

Torre, Dodgers Make it Official

It didn't take Joe Torre long to find himself a new gig. As rumored, he and the Dodgers agreed to a 3 year deal to make him their new manager. The deal will pay him a little more than $4 million per season. And yes, it's all guaranteed.

Remarkably, Torre is only the 8th Dodgers manager since the team moved to LA in 1958.

We love ya Joe, but we hate the Dodgers.

Sauce

Torre, Dodgers Make it Official

It didn't take Joe Torre long to find himself a new gig. As rumored, he and the Dodgers agreed to a 3 year deal to make him their new manager. The deal will pay him a little more than $4 million per season. And yes, it's all guaranteed.

Remarkably, Torre is only the 8th Dodgers manager since the team moved to LA in 1958.

We love ya Joe, but we hate the Dodgers.

Sauce

Torre to Manage Dodgers

The Journal News is reporting tonight that Joe Torre has agreed to manage the LA Dodgers next season and Don Mattingly will join him as bench coach. An announcement could come as soon as tomorrow.

The Dodgers had to buy out current manager, Grady Little, who lost his last job with the Red Sox, in part, due to Joe Torre.

Source

Torre to Manage Dodgers

The Journal News is reporting tonight that Joe Torre has agreed to manage the LA Dodgers next season and Don Mattingly will join him as bench coach. An announcement could come as soon as tomorrow.

The Dodgers had to buy out current manager, Grady Little, who lost his last job with the Red Sox, in part, due to Joe Torre.

Source