More MLB Links posted by Erick Pacheco

http://atdhe.net/7388/watch-mariners-vs-yankees    Yankees vs Mariners

http://atdhe.net/5632/watch-rays-vs-blue-jays : Blue Jays and Rays

  http://atdhe.net/5711/watch-red-sox-vs-orioles   Red Sox vs Orioles

  http://atdhe.net/5546/watch-rockies-vs-dodgers  Dodgers vs Rockies

Tigers and Athletics :   http://atdhe.net/6246/watch-tigers-vs-athletics

Jose Canseco to bring full circus to court, plans to sue MLB and MLBPA posted by Matthew McCabe

Disgraced former MLB slugger Jose Canseco apparently has one more trick left up his sleeve to help keep himself in the limelight, well beyond his 15 minutes of fame. Canseco wants to get together with fellow disgraced steroid users Sammy Sosa and Rafael Palmeiro to file a lawsuit against Major League Baseball and the Players Association to seek compensation for loss of wages and defamation of character.

Canseco stated in a telephone interview that:

"Because I used steroids and I came out with a book, I was kicked out of the game, but I have not been inducted into the Hall of Fame. A lot of these players have not been inducted into the Hall of Fame: Mark McGwire and so forth. They're losing salaries, because obviously when you're inducted into the Hall of Fame, you get asked to do certain, you know, appearances and shows and so forth, which incorporates income. So there is a major income loss. Not even that, baseball blackballs you from their family, meaning you can't have a future proper reference from them, a job, no managerial jobs, no coaching jobs, nothing. They completely sever you."

Clearly Canseco is grasping at straws in his life. It is hard to know where to begin in criticizing Canseco, so in the interest of time we'll keep it brief. Canseco had a bright career when he broke into baseball, but his career was cut short by diminishing skills after roughly 10 seasons. His numbers went downhill and few people wanted him. In 2005 he wrote a tell all book, mostly in an attempt to make money, about the use of steroids in baseball in which he claimed as many as 85% of MLB players used steroids.

Rosenthal’s Picks to Improve Yankees Bullpen before the trade deadline posted by Cesar Valverde

Hazel Mae interviewed Ken Rosenthal from Fox Sports the other night on MLB Network’s show Quick Pitch. Mae brought out the point that the Yankees needed to improve their bullpen. Ken mentioned that the Yankees are all set with Brian Bruney and that they expect improvement in their bullpen upon his return. He also brought out some possibilities considering that Brian has been on the DL twice this season. Here are his picks along with my personal reaction to each pick:

Jose Valverde (Houston Astros) – Valverde is the closer for the ‘Stros. Last year he had over 40 saves for them for the 2nd year in a row. Last I read, he’s only got 3 saves this year so far. He’s been hampered by an injured calf and an injured foot from a comebacker hitting off his leg against the Dodgers earlier this year. He tried his best to work through it but ended up on the disabled list and ex-Yankee LaTroy Hawkins filled in for him. Do you think Houston will give him up if they fall out of contention? At first I thought, “He is their man. He is their closer. He’s their version of Mariano Rivera. He’s had 40+ saves the previous 2 seasons. They’re keeping him.” Then I looked at their place in the standings and found that they were in the cellar 6 games behind the 1st place Cardinals in the NL Central. If they fall out of contention by the trade deadline, I believe they might trade him to a team looking for a reliever.

Huston Street (Colorado Rockies) – The 2005 AL Rookie of the Year with the Oakland A’s, Street is now the closer for the Rox. He recently got his 100th career save. In the series against the Tampa Bay Rays that MLB.com called the battle of the 2 hottest teams in baseball, Street was lights out against the Rays. He was called in to close those last 2 games and did not disappoint: 2 games, 2 saves. I believe that if the Rockies continue to win and move up the standings, Street will be the key to close out their ball games. They may not be able to catch up to the Dodgers in the NL West. L.A.’s running away with that division this year. But they may be able to catch up to the Brewers in the Wild Card and Street will be key in those close games.

The Sports Don's 2009 AL West Preview posted by Christian Mielcarek

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim won the American League West by 21 games in 2008, a margin 13 1/2 games wider than the next largest difference which was the Chicago Cubs’ 7 1/2 game lead over National League Wild Card winner Milwaukee. With the departures of some key Angels and the acquisitions of some big name players by the other teams in the West, the race will tighter, but don’t expect Texas, Oakland or Seattle to leapfrog Los Angeles who should capture their fifth division title in six years.

To read Monday’s AL East Preview, click here.

To read yesterday’s AL Central Preview, click here.

1. LOS ANGELES ANGELS (100-62, first place and lost in the ALDS in ‘08)

The golden prize of free agency left the West Coast when Mark Teixeira signed a megadeal with the New York Yankees rather than returning to the Angels which has left a gapping hole in the middle of Los Angeles’ lineup. Kendry Morales will step in at first base but will only put up half the power numbers Teixeira did. The Angels signed Bobby Abreu late in the offseason to aid the offense, and a lot of people think this will be the year Howie Kendrick will display his potential. Vladimir Guerrero produced the lowest numbers of his career last season and is perhaps showing his age despite hitting 27 homeruns and driving in 91.

Francisco Rodriguez saved a major league record 62 games in ‘08 and departed for the New York Mets as a free agent. He has been replaced by former Colorado Rockie Brian Fuentes, and although Fuentes’ name may not have the same cache as K-Rod, he did save 88.2% of his chances which was only 1.7% less than Rodriguez last season. The bridge to Fuentes, who has been awful this spring, will be Jose Arredondo (10-2, 1.62 ERA, 1.05 WHIP in 61 innings pitched in ‘08) and Scot Shields, perhaps the best setup man in the game. The starting rotation is hampered by injury, but assuming John Lackey, Ervin Santana and Kelvim Escobar return in late April and early May and pitch effectively, the Los Angeles staff, front to back, is a fearsome bunch.

No Clemens: Just Stupid Deals posted by Nicholas O'Malley

I would love to have a nice piece about Roger Clemens right here. A nice, satirical gut-shot at Major League Baseball. The only problem is, I already wrote it, and stipulation from The Daily Collegian (www.dailycollegian.com Search: Boys will be boys) prevent me from putting it here.

So instead, let's look at one of the stupedist deals in baseball for a while. The return of a Boston "Foulke" hero. Ah, I'm good.

The Oakland Athletics signed Keith Foulke to a one year deal. It's right here, Bam:

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?y

 If you'll recall, the last we saw Keith Foulke, he was walking off into the sunset after injuries debilitated him the year after he masterfully closed games in the World Series. Oh, I'm sorry, he attempted to pitch in any relief role possible as his ERA shot up to reach Eric Gagne numbers. Speaking of Gagne, how can a former Cy Young winner pitch so terribly and still be linked to steroid use? It's like getting a 48 on a test and then the teacher finding your cheat sheet.

 How this guy can get a roster spot at this point is beyond me. the only explanation is that he's living off of his glory days and Oakland and gets paid for sitting on the bench and being liked. Think Gabe Kaplar, but worse.

Sreet, Blanton sign; Is stability on the horizon? posted by StomperSays

To be an A's fan means that one absolutely must expect the unexpected - with a lot of blind faith. Got a young switch-hitting outfielder whose adored by fans on the roster? And he's at the beginning of a big contract? Unload him. What's that? One of your arms is a strikeout machine who started the All-Star game las season? Trade him for prospects.

While many teams would have eyeballed Nick Swisher and Dan Haren as cornerstones in their team's future, Billy Beane and the Oakland Athletics felt that restocking the team with fresh talent was the better long term solution for the Oakland Athletics, netting a Who's Who of prospects from the White Sox and Diamondbacks, respectively, for the two beloved players. But if you're a diehard A's fan, you've been down this road before - and you've shared in the success.

 While both Swisher and Haren are gone, Oakland chose to sign Joe Blanton and Huston Street to one-year extensions, giving fans a better idea of what the staff will look like come Opening Day. This, of course, barring A. injuries and B. More trades. But should the team stay put - and rumor has it that even Shannon Stewart may don th green and gold again - then fans are in store for a season that could mirror what the Diamondbacks and Rockies were able to achieve last season. Both were young teams that overachieved before running into the juggernaut that is the Boston Red Sox.

So rather than a team of no names, as the media would have you believe, a healthy 2008 squad will carry the likes of Eric Chavez, Bobby Crosby, Mark Ellis, Travis Buck, Dan Johnson, Street, Blanton, Kurt Suzuki, and Rich Harden. Not a shabby line-up.

Kotsay, we'll miss you! posted by StomperSays

One of the most underrated outfielders in baseball is no longer a member of the Oakland Athletics. Mark Kotsay was traded to the Atlanta Braves for a couple of young arms, in a move that will ensures that Travis Buck will have the most experience in the outfield next season barring a return from Shannon Stewart.

Besides being an exceptional outfilder, Kotsay will perhaps best be known for his inside-the-park home run during the 2006 playoffs against Minnesota.

"By far, my fondest memory is the postseason," he said in an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle.

So now the question is, who are the most likely projected starters in the outfield come Opening Day?  Buck, in the Chronicle artcle, indicated that with the team being so young, nobody will expect much from them, giving Oakland nothing to lose. One can sense that this "nothing to lose" attitude will be a common them around the clubhouse in 2008.

And it will be Bob Geren's job to make sure the attitude stays that way, even if the 2008 team does nothing but lose. 

Pledging Allegiance posted by StomperSays

To be an Athletics fan, one has to understand why Billy Beane makes the decisions that he does, that until Cisco Field in Fremont is built, the Elephants will be a small market, low revenue team that is constantly in the position of being unable to sign our big name free agents to extensions and coax others to move to the East Bay.

Yet, we still pledge allegiance to the green and gold, no matter who is on the field. But what about the former players off of it, and with this question, I specifically talk about Mark McGuire and Jose Canseco.

Known as the "Bash Brothers," the two will forever be a part of Athletics lore, however, the two have taken serious hits to their images over the last few years.

As a player, Canseco ran afoul of the law, had spousal abuse claims, crashed his sports car into a tree, which his then wife, Esther, claimed he was really gunning for her. There were even rumors of steroid use. But with victories and success comes the magical wand that waves and allows us to see through such transgressions so long as we continue to win.

McGuire remains as stoic a figure now as he was as a player, but he is a laughing stock amongst sportstalk radio hosts and even politicians everywhere. Once an intimidating figure in the batter's box, he was a chicken in front of Congress, backpedaling and sidestepping more than a Broadway dancer during the Tony Awards. Oh, but those moonshots into the left field deck...

Today, both players will find it extremely difficult to make the Hall of Fame. Once considered a virtual lock for the honor, McGuire was recently voted out for the second straight year - and there was no change in voting from last year.

The Duke Signs On For Another Year posted by StomperSays

Reliever Justin Duchscherer avoided arbitration, agreeing to a $1.2 million, one-year deal with the Oakland Athletics, according to the Associated Press.

This is excellent news for both the team, as well as Duke. The A's get to hang on to one of their top pitchers from the last few years - Justin made the All-Star game in 2005 - and Duke gets a year to show the organization and the rest of baseball that he can be a starter. Pending any more trades (and injuries), a rotation with Joe Blanton, Rich Harden, Cahad Gaudin, and Duke could bode well for a team in rebuilding mode.

Before he can be successful as a starter, Duke has to stay healthy. He missed most of last season with a strained right hip but was an All-Star in 2005, going 7-4 with a 2.21 ERA in 65 games. Duchscherer appeared in 17 games last season, going 3-3 with a 4.96 ERA before going on the disabled list in the middle of May and having hip surgery on July 11.

Duchscherer's signing reduces the arbitration-eligible players on the Oakland roster down to three. The rest are Joe Blanton, Chad Gaudin and reliever Huston Street.

Duchscherer has spent parts of six seasons in the majors, including the last five with Oakland. He has a career record of 21-16 with 14 saves and a 3.44 ERA in 197 games, and has pitched only in relief since 2004.

Welcome A's Fans! posted by StomperSays

There's a special feeling you get when you walk into the Coliseum and you here the ultra smooth voice of Roy Steele, aka The Voice of God, utter the words, "Welcome A's Fans!"

We'll be hearing those words sooner than later, as The Cactus League gets underway in March, and pitchers and catchers reporting in February. Barring any more trades - and with Billy, it can happen at any time - this year's version of the 2008 Athletics is going to be full of youth and exciting to watch.

Recent trade activity has virtually restocked the minor league cupboards, as both Dan Haren and Nick Swisher have brought top prospects back into the fold, prospects that will help contribute to this team for many years to come. Health remains a key issue for any team, but your 2008 Oakland Athletics need to utilize the disabled list far less than they did in 2007. However, injuries allowed the ball club to take a long look at players such as Donnie Murphy, Daric Barton, and Andrew Brown. 

While there remains a slew of questions in 2008 - Will Rich Harden complete a season without getting injured, is a big one right off the bat - it sure will be interesting to find out those answers  this season. And it's going to be even nicer getting to write about them this season.

So, "Welcome A's Fans!" and let the fun begin!