That's All You Can Get?
Well, the Reds traded Griffey to the White Sox for pitcher Nick Masset and infielder Danny Richar. Do not be ashamed if you have no idea who these players are, I did not either. Nick Masset has appeared in 32 games this season with a 4.63 ERA. Nick Masset is hitting .262 in Triple-A Charlotte. Also, the Reds will split Griffey's remaining salary and the buyout on next year's option with the White Sox. So, to recap the deal, in return for a future Hall of Famer, the Reds get a mediocre relief pitcher, a mediocre minor league infielder, and have to pay half of his remaining salary. This deal does not look good. Even if they wanted to just get rid of his salary, surely they could have gotten more. Also, will what they save in payroll offset a possible drop in revenue from ticket sales and merchandise.
Manny's Out Of Boston
Manny Ramierez has been traded to the Dodgers in a 3 team deal that also includes the Pirates. The Dodgers get Manny, Boston gets Jason Bay from the Pirates, and the Pirates get four prospects.
Showing posts with label Ken Griffey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ken Griffey. Show all posts
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Saturday Commentary: Can A Position Be Cursed, And Other Questions
Jolbert Cabrera severely dislocated a finger in last night's win against the Yankees. He joins Alex Gonzalez, Jeff Keppinger, and Jerry Harriston Jr. as Reds shortstops currently on the disabled list this year. Is it possible that someone within the organization angered a witch doctor in Florida during training camp, and they put a curse on the position? It is as if it were the professor of dark arts position at Hogwarts. Perhaps the Reds should bring back Barry Larkin to perform an exorcism on the position.
Has a pitcher on a team with a losing record ever had a 20-win season, started the All-Star game, or won the Cy Young Award? Last night, Edinson Volquez pick up his 10th win of the season, bringing his record to 10-2. He also leads the league in the majors with an 1.71 ERA and 110 strikeouts. Unfortunately, I doubt he will be considered by many for the Cy Young. These type of awards usually go to the best pitcher on a good team. I just hope he fares better than Harang did a couple years ago, where he became the first pitcher ever to lead the league in strikeouts and not receive a single vote.
Are people in the New York Mets' organization complete jackasses? Based on the way they handled the Willie Randolf situation, I would say yes. Well, not all of them, but whoever decided to fire Randolf at 3 a.m., while he is on a road trip to Los Angeles definately is. And people that did not stand up and say that they thought it was a bad idea.
When is Griffey going to be traded? After listening to one of the out-of-town Fox announcers during last saturday's game, one would come away from it thinking that it was already a done deal. I am not so certain that he will be traded. He has a no-trade clause in his contract, and can veto any trade he does not like. There is also still the sentimental fact that he grew up in Cincinatti. Yes, Griffey is in the the last year of his contract, with it being unlikely that the Reds will pick up next year's option and pay him $16.5 million. However, a new contract is not out of the question.
Should baseball start using instant replay? Hell yes. Actually, let me clarify that. Baseball should start using it in close plays to determine if a ball is a home run or not. They should not use it to determine if a player was out or safe at a base. And they should absolutely not use it to determine balls and strikes. Let those decisions stay with the umpires on the field. Fortunately, after a breakout this season of hard to determine home runs, the MLB is going to test it in fall ball leagues and possibly Spring Training. Hopefully, it will work out.
Has a pitcher on a team with a losing record ever had a 20-win season, started the All-Star game, or won the Cy Young Award? Last night, Edinson Volquez pick up his 10th win of the season, bringing his record to 10-2. He also leads the league in the majors with an 1.71 ERA and 110 strikeouts. Unfortunately, I doubt he will be considered by many for the Cy Young. These type of awards usually go to the best pitcher on a good team. I just hope he fares better than Harang did a couple years ago, where he became the first pitcher ever to lead the league in strikeouts and not receive a single vote.
Are people in the New York Mets' organization complete jackasses? Based on the way they handled the Willie Randolf situation, I would say yes. Well, not all of them, but whoever decided to fire Randolf at 3 a.m., while he is on a road trip to Los Angeles definately is. And people that did not stand up and say that they thought it was a bad idea.
When is Griffey going to be traded? After listening to one of the out-of-town Fox announcers during last saturday's game, one would come away from it thinking that it was already a done deal. I am not so certain that he will be traded. He has a no-trade clause in his contract, and can veto any trade he does not like. There is also still the sentimental fact that he grew up in Cincinatti. Yes, Griffey is in the the last year of his contract, with it being unlikely that the Reds will pick up next year's option and pay him $16.5 million. However, a new contract is not out of the question.
Should baseball start using instant replay? Hell yes. Actually, let me clarify that. Baseball should start using it in close plays to determine if a ball is a home run or not. They should not use it to determine if a player was out or safe at a base. And they should absolutely not use it to determine balls and strikes. Let those decisions stay with the umpires on the field. Fortunately, after a breakout this season of hard to determine home runs, the MLB is going to test it in fall ball leagues and possibly Spring Training. Hopefully, it will work out.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Saturday Commentary: What Would You Do?
On Monday, Ken Griffey hit his 600th career home run in Florida against the Marlins. A fan caught the ball. Griffey would like to keep the ball. The fan wants to auction it off. What would you do?
I agree with Gene Wojciechowski, in that the fan should give the ball to Griffey. I do not say this because I am a Griffey fan, but I say this because it is the right thing to do. Sure, giving the ball to Griffey is not the profitable thing to do, but doing the right is not usually profitable.
First off, he should have never been in a position to catch the ball in the first place. The man you caught the ball is a season ticket holder, who's tickets are not in right field. There is reserved seating for a reason. I know that he was probably not the only one that was out of his seat, but that does not make it right.
Secondly, I do not believe that people should make money off of the work of others. This person that caught the ball did not spend 20 years of his life playing professional baseball to reach the milestone. Why should he be compensated for this accomplishment?
I would probably look more favorably on this person if it weren't for a couple things. He's a season ticket holder. It is not likely he is hurting very much for money. I may be wrong here, but just sticking with probabilities. He also brought along an extra ball, just in case he caught the home run ball. When he did catch it, he threw the ball on the ground, and let people fight over it, trying to get to it, while he made an escape. Another thing going against this guy is that the person who caught Manny's 500th home run immediately gave it to him, without being asked, because he knew it was the right thing to do.
I hope that if it were I in this situation, I hope that I would do the right thing. What would you do? Would you try to profit off of history, or would you do the right thing?
I agree with Gene Wojciechowski, in that the fan should give the ball to Griffey. I do not say this because I am a Griffey fan, but I say this because it is the right thing to do. Sure, giving the ball to Griffey is not the profitable thing to do, but doing the right is not usually profitable.
First off, he should have never been in a position to catch the ball in the first place. The man you caught the ball is a season ticket holder, who's tickets are not in right field. There is reserved seating for a reason. I know that he was probably not the only one that was out of his seat, but that does not make it right.
Secondly, I do not believe that people should make money off of the work of others. This person that caught the ball did not spend 20 years of his life playing professional baseball to reach the milestone. Why should he be compensated for this accomplishment?
I would probably look more favorably on this person if it weren't for a couple things. He's a season ticket holder. It is not likely he is hurting very much for money. I may be wrong here, but just sticking with probabilities. He also brought along an extra ball, just in case he caught the home run ball. When he did catch it, he threw the ball on the ground, and let people fight over it, trying to get to it, while he made an escape. Another thing going against this guy is that the person who caught Manny's 500th home run immediately gave it to him, without being asked, because he knew it was the right thing to do.
I hope that if it were I in this situation, I hope that I would do the right thing. What would you do? Would you try to profit off of history, or would you do the right thing?
Monday, June 9, 2008
Countdown to 600
The countdown is over. In the first inning of Monday's game against the Marlins, Griffey hit 413-foot, 2-run shot for the 600th home run of his career.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Countdown to 600.....And It's All Part of the Plan, Again
In the first inning of Saturday's game against the Braves, Griffey hit a 2-run home run for his 6th of the season, and 599th of his career.
1 to go.
Also today, the Reds blew an early 3 run lead to come back and tie the game in the ninth inning. Then in the bottom of the 10th, rookie Jay Bruce, who was called up Tuesday, as you may recall, hit his first major league home run to win the game. It was his first walk-off home run at any level.
1 to go.
Also today, the Reds blew an early 3 run lead to come back and tie the game in the ninth inning. Then in the bottom of the 10th, rookie Jay Bruce, who was called up Tuesday, as you may recall, hit his first major league home run to win the game. It was his first walk-off home run at any level.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Countdown to 600
In the top of the first inning, against the San Diego Padres, Griffey hit a two-run home run for his 5th of the season, and 598th of his career.
2 to go.
2 to go.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Countdown to 600
Last night, in a loss to the Astros, Griffey hit his 4th home run of the season, 597th of his career.
3 to go.
3 to go.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
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