BD Hot Stove: Millwood’s Pitch Is Off Key | Baseball Digest

BD Hot Stove: Millwood’s Pitch Is Off Key | Baseball Digest

With Andy Pettitte retiring, Kevin Millwood may think he has a shot at signing a deal with the New York Yankees, but Buster Olney tweeted this morning that Millwood is looking for $4M-$5M per season. That’s not happening. Just as worrisome to any Yankees fan is Olney’s notion that the Yankees may be interested in the Phillies’ Joe Blanton.

Former Mets’ much hyped prospect Lastings Milledge has signed a minor league deal with the Chicago White Sox. The contract includes an invite for the now 26 year old outfielder, who is already with his fourth organization.

The Royals have signed veteran 3rd baseman Pedro Feliz to a minor league deal. Feliz struggled last season, but this move could be a low risk/medium reward venture for KC.

Mlb.com’s Scott Merkin writes that Matt Thornton is the early favorite to emerge as the White Sox closer. The position became available when Chicago let go of Bobby Jenks.

SI.com reports that Jim Edmonds is awaiting the results of a physical before deciding whether to return in 2011.

SI’s Jon Heyman reports the Angels are in the market for a lead off hitter.

Fox’s Ken Rosenthal reports that Jermaine Dye, who sat out all of last season, is likely to officially retire.

The Nationals signed reliever Cla Meredith to a minor league deal.

Mark Cuban told reporters that he is not interested in buying/investing in either the NY Mets or the LA Dodgers.

Damon's Heads Up Play Gets Y ankees One Step Away

The Yankees have a decision to make this winter concerning free agent to be Johnny Damon, whose four year contract is up after this season. Damon's skills in the outfield have decreased considerably, but he showed this season that he can still be offensive force. It was Damon's play at the plate and on the bases last night that helped put the Yankees one win away from their 27th World Championship.

The Yankees scored three runs in the 9th inning and beat the Philadelphia Philles 7-4 before a sold out, raucous Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies had gotten off the mat in the bottom of the 8th when Pedro Feliz hit a game tying solo home run off of Joba Chamberlain. But after Brad Lidge retired the first two Yankees in the 9th, Damon lined a single on the 10th hit of the at-bat.

With Mark Teixeira up, the Phillies employed their usual shift with third baseman Feliz positioned more like a shortstop. Damon took off for second, beating catcher Carlos Ruiz's throw. After a momentary hesitation, Damon broke off for the unoccupied third base and reached it uncontested.

The play was huge. With Damon on third, Lidge would be more reluctant to throw his slider in the dirt. Lidge, who appeared to have turned his regular season struggles around during the post-season, hit Teixeira. Alex Rodriguez then drilled a fat fastball off the left field wall to give the Yankees a 5-4 lead. Jorge Posada provided some insurance with a 2-run double and Mariano Rivera nailed down the save.

Damon's defense had come into question earlier in the game when he play Feliz's catchable ball on a hop and made a weak throw home as Ryan Howard scored to tie the game at two apiece.

In actuality, Howard never scored as he never touched home plate. It was just part of a bad night for home plate ump Mike Everitt who had a wandering plate all night.

Cheesesteaks for Everyone

The Philadelphia Phillies captured their second ever World Series title, and first since 1980, by downing the Tampa Rays tonight, 4-3. The game picked up where it left off on Monday, with the Phillies batting in the bottom of the sixth. With the score tied 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh, Pedro Feliz singled home pinch-runner Eric Bruntlett with the go ahead run. Then it was up to Brad Lidge to close things out in the ninth. After allowing a broken bat single to Dioner Navarro, Lidge retired pinch-hitter Ben Zobrist on a line drive and struck out pinch-hitter Eric Hinske before dropping to his knees in celebration. The win closed out the series in five games as the Phillies won all three home games.

Pat Burrell led off the bottom of the seventh with a double that nearly left the yard off of J.P. Howell. With Chad Bradford on in relief, Shane Victorino failed in two attempts to get a sacrifice bunt down, but then pulled a Bradford delivery on the ground to first baseman Carlos Pena to move Bruntlett to third base. (Bradford was an odd choice by Joe Maddon since he's a ground ball pitcher and the Phillies needed a bunt or pulled groundball.) With the infield in, Feliz singled back through the middle to put the Phils up 4-3. A great diving stop by Aki Iwamura prevented a possible bigger rally.

The Phillies had taken an immediate lead when play resumed. Geoff Jenkins doubled to lead off the sixth against Grant Balfour and moved to third on Jimmy Rollins sac bunt. Jayson Werth brought Jenkins home with a single to shallow center.

The Rays came right back in the top of the seventh on Rocco Baldelli's game tying home run off of Ryan Madson. But this was not to be the Tampa Rays night.

We chose the Rays to win the series in six games due to their starting pitching, but we did say the Phillies had an advantage in the bullpen and that certainly played out.

Congratulations to the Phillies, especially manager Charlie Manuel.

Is is Spring Training yet?

Cheesesteaks for Everyone

The Philadelphia Phillies captured their second ever World Series title, and first since 1980, by downing the Tampa Rays tonight, 4-3. The game picked up where it left off on Monday, with the Phillies batting in the bottom of the sixth. With the score tied 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh, Pedro Feliz singled home pinch-runner Eric Bruntlett with the go ahead run. Then it was up to Brad Lidge to close things out in the ninth. After allowing a broken bat single to Dioner Navarro, Lidge retired pinch-hitter Ben Zobrist on a line drive and struck out pinch-hitter Eric Hinske before dropping to his knees in celebration. The win closed out the series in five games as the Phillies won all three home games.

Pat Burrell led off the bottom of the seventh with a double that nearly left the yard off of J.P. Howell. With Chad Bradford on in relief, Shane Victorino failed in two attempts to get a sacrifice bunt down, but then pulled a Bradford delivery on the ground to first baseman Carlos Pena to move Bruntlett to third base. (Bradford was an odd choice by Joe Maddon since he's a ground ball pitcher and the Phillies needed a bunt or pulled groundball.) With the infield in, Feliz singled back through the middle to put the Phils up 4-3. A great diving stop by Aki Iwamura prevented a possible bigger rally.

The Phillies had taken an immediate lead when play resumed. Geoff Jenkins doubled to lead off the sixth against Grant Balfour and moved to third on Jimmy Rollins sac bunt. Jayson Werth brought Jenkins home with a single to shallow center.

The Rays came right back in the top of the seventh on Rocco Baldelli's game tying home run off of Ryan Madson. But this was not to be the Tampa Rays night.

We chose the Rays to win the series in six games due to their starting pitching, but we did say the Phillies had an advantage in the bullpen and that certainly played out.

Congratulations to the Phillies, especially manager Charlie Manuel.

Is is Spring Training yet?

Thursday Hot Stove

The Mets negotiations with Johan Santana continue as the left-hander's agent, Peter Greenberg, is reportedly seeking a 6-year, $150 million deal. The Mets are also heavily into talks with Kyle Lohse. And they've added reliever Ruddy Lugo to the bullpen mix, picking him up off of waivers from the A's.

MLB.com reported earlier today that the O's were considering trying to sign Erik Bedard to an extension. ESPN.com has countered that with a report that Bedard's agent, Mark Pieper, said that the O's were not considering a new contract. ESPN also reports that the O's and M's are still talking deal and working on the "language" of the deal concerning physicals for Adam Jones and George Sherrill.

Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports is reporting that veteran outfielder Luis Gonzalez has reached agreement with the Florida Marlins on a 1-year deal worth $2 million, plus another $1 million in incentives.

Much bounced around reliever Jorge Julio has agreed to a 1-year minor league deal with the Cleveland Indians.

The Phillies officially completed their signing of free agent 3rd Baseman Pedro Feliz. The former Giant will get $8.5 million for 2 years. The club also has an option for 2010.

Thursday Hot Stove

The Mets negotiations with Johan Santana continue as the left-hander's agent, Peter Greenberg, is reportedly seeking a 6-year, $150 million deal. The Mets are also heavily into talks with Kyle Lohse. And they've added reliever Ruddy Lugo to the bullpen mix, picking him up off of waivers from the A's.

MLB.com reported earlier today that the O's were considering trying to sign Erik Bedard to an extension. ESPN.com has countered that with a report that Bedard's agent, Mark Pieper, said that the O's were not considering a new contract. ESPN also reports that the O's and M's are still talking deal and working on the "language" of the deal concerning physicals for Adam Jones and George Sherrill.

Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports is reporting that veteran outfielder Luis Gonzalez has reached agreement with the Florida Marlins on a 1-year deal worth $2 million, plus another $1 million in incentives.

Much bounced around reliever Jorge Julio has agreed to a 1-year minor league deal with the Cleveland Indians.

The Phillies officially completed their signing of free agent 3rd Baseman Pedro Feliz. The former Giant will get $8.5 million for 2 years. The club also has an option for 2010.