BD Hot Stove: Stuck In The Middle With You | Baseball Digest

It's time to take a look at the middle infielders not named Derek Jeter in this year's free agent class.

BD Hot Stove: Stuck In The Middle With You | Baseball Digest

Christian Guzman, Orlando Hudson, David Eckstein, Ty Wiggington, Miguel Tejada, Orlando Cabrera

Vintage Pettitte Gives Yankees 2-0 Edge

Andy Pettitte was concerned about his back and a lack of sharpness in his last two regular season outings. But his performance tonight against the Minnesota Twins should alleviate any of those fears. Pettitte gave up a 2nd inning run, but shut down the Twins the rest of the way as the Yankees won 5-2 for a commanding 2-0 ALDS series lead.

With the game tied 2-2 in the 7th, the Yankees took control against former teammate, if you can really call him that, Carl Pavano, but not before a bit of controversy. Lance Berkman got an extra chance to hit after an apparent called third strike was ruled a ball by home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire was ejected from the game and the former Astro took advantage of the situation, drilling an ankle high pitch to deep center for a go ahead RBI double. The Yankees added an insurance run later in the inning when Derek Jeter's liner dropped in front of a diving Jason Kubel for a 4-2 lead.

The Twins had a chance to break the game open early when they loaded the bases in the 2nd inning on singles by Delmon Young and Jim Thome and a one out walk to Kubel. Danny Valencia gave the Twins a 1-0 lead with a sac fly, but Pettitte got out of further trouble when J.J. Hardy lined out to Robinson Cano.

Alex Rodriguez tied the game with a sac fly in the 4th, but Pavano got out of his own jam by inducing an inning ending double play from Nick Swisher.

Berkman drilled a 423-ft home run in the 5th inning for a 2-1 Yankees lead, but the Twins tied it back up in the 6th on Orlando Hudson's round tripper.

Kerry Wood and Mariano Rivera recorded the final six outs in a row to put the Twins' backs up against the wall for Game 3 in New York on Saturday.

Teixeira Home Run Takes ALDS Opener

Written for BaseballDigest.com.

If you have ever watched a professional wrestling match you know that the guy in the, oh let’s say white, blue striped trunks, pounds away mercilessly on the guy in the, oh let’s say grey trunks. It appears the guy in the grey trunks is done for, but suddenly the tide turns and the guy in grey gets off the mat and delivers his own monumental blows. Then it is anyone’s contest. That was the case tonight in Game 1 of the ALDS series between the white, blue striped clad Minnesota Twins and the New York Yankees, wearing their road greys. In the end the Yankees rode a Mark Teixeira 2-run, 7th inning home run to a 6-4 win and a 1-0 advantage in the best of five series.

Twins starter Francisco Liriano started out Wednesday night’s game like the ace of the Twins staff he has become. But just as he faltered down the stretch of the regular season, Liriano wore out as his pitch count rose in the 6th inning.

The Dominican born left-hander was dominant early, making Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, and Jorge Posada look silly for three of his seven strikeouts. He had retired nine straight and cruised into the 6th inning up 3-0. After Nick Swisher was Liriano’s 10th straight victim, Teixeira ripped a double into the left field corner and the tide began to turn. Alex Rodriguez fought his way to a full count walk and Robinson Cano showed why he’s a top AL MVP contender when he delivered an RBI single to right to get the Yankees on the board. Liriano bounced back to strike out Marcus Thames for the second out, but Jorge Posada roped a single to right to cut the deficit to one. Curtis Granderson, who had been criticized all season for his at-bats against left-handers, drove a 94-mph fastball off the wall in deep right-center for a 2-run triple that put the Yankees on top for the first time, 4-3. It also ended Liriano’s night.

Minnesota’s offense had given Liriano support early when Michael Cuddyer hit a 2-run bomb off CC Sabathia for a 2-0 lead in the 2nd inning. A frame later, aggressive base running by Orlando Hudson helped manufacture a third run. The O-Dog singled through the left side and a batter later advanced all the way to third base when Teixeira had to dive to beat Joe Mauer to first base to record the out on Mauer’s tapper. The O-Dog’s hustle paid off when Posada mishandled a Sabathia sinker for a run producing passed ball.

Sabathia couldn’t maintain the lead in the home half of the 6th after he retired the first two hitters. The Twins loaded the bases and Sabathia, showing a rare lack of control, walked rookie Danny Valencia to force in the tying run.

Teixeira’s mammoth go-ahead blast off of Jesse Crain stayed just inside the right field foul pole and allowed Girardi to begin mixing and matching with his bullpen. Boone Logan, David Robertson, Kerry Wood, and Mariano Rivera shut down the Twins the rest of the way and guaranteed the Yankees at least a split when they head home for Game 3 on Friday in New York. Rivera recorded a four out, four broken bat save, getting Denard Span to ground out with the tying runs on base to end the 8th inning and Jim Thome to pop out as the tying run in the 9th.

From Joe Girardi’s press conference,

On Sabathia: “..it’s odd that he walked that many guys, but I threw the ball decent.”

On Granderson: “Grandy’s been a different guy since August in Texas. He made that little adjustment..he’s a different guy.”

From Ron Gardenhire’s press conference:

On leaving Liriano in to face Granderson: “Granderson was hitting like .188 against him. We wanted to let Liriano try to work his way out of it.”

Milestone Monday

Nick Swisher pitching for the Yankees was just one of the memorable things that took place yesterday. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Swisher became only the third non-pitcher since divisional play began in 1969 to both pitch and hit a home run in the same game. The Pirates Keith Osik (May 20, 2000) and the Rangers Jeff Kunkel (May 20, 1989) are the other two. Apparently Swidher is the first player not to do it on May 20.

Jermaine Dye and Paul Konerko became the first teammates to reach a "double zero" milestone in career home runs in the same game. Not only did Dye and Konerko both hit their 300th home runs in Monday's game, but they also hit them back to back.

Orlando Hudson became the first Dodger since Wes Parker in 1970 to hit for the cycle. Hudson's Dodgers beat Randy Johnson's Giants. It marked first time the Big Unit has ever lost a game in eight decisions at Dodgers Stadium.

Jody Gerut led off the Padres-Mets game with a solo home run off of Mike Pelfrey. It marked the first time that a lead off man christened a brand new ball park (Citi Field) with a home run in the first at-bat.

Finally, Koji Uehara was awful for the Orioles yesterday, but still improved to 2-0 in the Orioles 10-9 win over the Rangers. He joined Kaz Ishii and Hideki Irabu as the only two Japanese imports to win their first two decisions. Hopefully for his sake he has a better career than either one of them.

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.

Doesn't Anybody Want Me?

Oliver Perez found welcoming arms back with the Mets yesterday, to the tune of 3 years, $36 million, but it's been a long Fall and Winter for a number of free agents this off-season. Manny Ramirez, Adam Dunn, Bobby Abreu, Orlando Hudson, and Ben Sheets are among the names still out there looking for a home. With teams not run by Steinbrenners cutting back on expenditures these players and more still do not have jobs with pitchers and catchers reporting in just over a week.

Manny Ramirez

The biggest name out there. We've talked about the highs and lows of "Manny Being Manny" many times. While we don't believe he hasn't received any offers, we do believe his agent Scott Boras has not received the expected offers. The Dodgers are still the favorites to land him, and today it was reported they made a new 1 year, $25 million offer. But Manny foolishly rejected it.

The Giants are said to be in contact with Manny, but will only do a deal if it's right for them.

Albert Pujols has publicly campaigned for the Cardinals to pursue Ramirez, but we don't see the Cards forking over that kind of money. St. Louis would certainly embrace Manny, so maybe a 1 year discounted amount would do. That and the thought of batting behind Pujols.

The Mets continue to insist they aren't going to sign him, while Mets fans continue to call in radio shows imploring the Mets to snatch Manny up. While taking part in some recent charity work, manager Jerry Manuel said he'd love to have Manny.

Some of our fellow Yankees fans continue to insist that the Yankees sign him and then deal Swisher and Nady. Enough free agent signings already.

We've said it before and we'll say it again. The Orioles should sign Manny. He would destroy Camden Yards and help bring in fans.


Adam Dunn

Dunn's lack of a deal is partially due to the lack of a deal by Manny. Dunn is the Plan 'B' to the Plan 'A' of Manny. Dunn would like to play for the Dodgers, but that won't happen unless Manny goes elsewhere. The Washington Post reported on January 19th that Dunn wanted 4 years, $56 million. That is a mere pittance by today's standards.

There are clearly teams that would go to Dunn now, but you can bet Dunn and his agent are waiting to see when and if Manny gets a deal done. But the longer the wait, the less Dunn is going to end up with. He could conceivably still be sitting out there once position players report to Spring Training.

Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman hopes his team can sign his buddy to a deal. He recently spoke with Pete McElroy of the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network.

"I know Adam real well and I've talked to him a few times. He's excited about his situation. Obviously it's a business and that stuff has to work itself out, but he loves it here and a lot of the guys on this team. He's told me he'd like to play here, but I'm sure he's told people in Milwaukee or whoever else is going after him that he'd like to play there too. That's all part of the game and the business, but hopefully one of them or both [second baseman Orlando Hudson] will be here. [Dunn] is a good guy and he knows how to play the game and he's a great baseball talent. We'll see what happens."

Bobby Abreu

Bobby Abreu has driven 100 runs and scored 100 runs in each of the last 6 seasons. Only Alex Rodriguez and Albert Pujols have done the same. And while Abreu is not in the same class as those two, he and his agent, Peter Greenberg, are baffled by the lack of offers coming Abreu's way this off-season.

Abreu made $16 million while with the Yankees last year and, as it turns out, Brian Cashman wisely did not offer Abreu arbitration this off-season. Had Cashman done so, the Yankees would have been saddled with a large, one year contract.

Abreu still puts up good offensive numbers, but his defense has slipped and he has a reputation as a soft player. Still there are teams that could use his offense. But Greenberg told the Times' Tyler Kepner that some offers are predicated on other free agents or teams being able to move bulky salaries.

Such is the case in Seattle, where the Mariners need to move Jarrod Washburn and his $10.5 million income before signing some offensive help.

UPDATE - 2:28 PM EST - Roger Rubin of the Daily News reported that the White Sox have made a 1 year, $8 million offer to Bobby Abreu.


Orlando Hudson

This slick fielding second baseman can't find a home to turn double plays. We've repeatedly heard that the Mets covet him, but not before moving Luis Castillo. Of course, no one is willing to help the Mets out by taking an overpaid guy with bum wheels.

Hudson told the MLB Network that 4 teams are interested in him - the Yankees, Mets, Dodgers, and Nationals. Hudson said none of the team said he would need to change positions.

As for the Yankees, we still think it's crazy at this point to deal Robinson Cano. The Dodgers have Blake DeWitt to step into Jeff Kent's cleats in LA, but are said to be thinking of spending money on Hudson and Dunn in place of Manny.


Ben Sheets
Other than the Texas Rangers, there isn't a whole lot of action out there for the oft-injured right-hander. Andy Pettitte's signing meant one less team to get into a bidding war for Sheets' services.

Ken Rosenthal, for one, thinks that Sheets and some of the other free agents could get better deals by actually waiting until the season is underway.


So there you have it- the names above and others - Frank Thomas, Jim Edmonds, etc. - continue to play the waiting game. And spring training is just 9 days away.