Valadius

It's not a smart idea to refer to the city you play in as a "horse-shit city". ]Orioles angered by Huff's controversial comments November 15, 2007 BALTIMORE (TICKER) -- The Baltimore Orioles are considering disciplining Aubrey Huff for comments he made during a recent radio appearance, the Baltimore Sun reported on its web site Thursday. Huff appeared on satellite radio's "Bubba The Love Sponge" show on November 8 and, during the 90-minute spot, referred to Baltimore as a "horse (expletive) city" in addition to discussing other racy topics. Team officials reportedly are furious with Huff, who signed a three-year, $20 million deal with the Orioles in January. "I just think it was tasteless and offensive, and you can count me among those offended," Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail told the Sun. Despite the team's disappointment, two longtime baseball executives - who requested anonymity - told the Sun on Wednesday that it is unlikely the Orioles will be able to do much to punish Huff. A .280 hitter with 15 home runs and 70 RBI last season, Huff took to the local airwaves in Baltimore on Wednesday to apologize for the remarks, stating he was "acting" and that he was surprised about the attention. "Is it the smartest thing in the world to say that stuff? No. But nobody has ever accused me of being smart," Huff told ESPN Radio 1300. "For the people who are offended, I apologize. For the people who aren't offended, I hope they got a tremendous laugh, because that's what it was meant for. "We're not politicians. We're baseball players. There are certain things you can or cannot say. Was it over the line? Maybe a little bit. But it was all in good fun. Hopefully, it didn't offend anybody. If it did, so be it." Huff used profanity often during his appearance with "Bubba" and discussed, among other topics, waking up with a hangover in the early afternoon before games and watching pornography in his hotel room on the road. Huff's assessment of Baltimore was anything but a hit with fans, who have been blasting the 30-year-old designated hitter on various Internet message boards and in the local media.

]Mets sign Castro, Torrealba decision Thursday Thursday, Nov 15, 2007 7:26 am EST The New York Mets are close to finalizing their catching situation the New York Daily News reported. The Mets locked up No.2 catcher Ramon Castro Wednesday. The agent for Yorvit Torrealba of the Colorado Rockies said his client will decide whether to accept a New York offer today. The Castro deal is for $4 million the Daily News said. He must pass a physical before the contract becomes official. The agent for Torrelba, Mevlin Roman, may have provided the status of the negotiations when he told the Daily News: "All I can say is Omar (Minaya) and the Mets have done a tremendous job." The deal is rumored to be for at least three years guaranteed at $5 million per season. One executive from a rival suitor speculated the Mets' offer could cover 2011 and possibly have some provision for 2012. Source: New York Daily News

On Kobayashi - what the heck is a "shuuto"?

Micah Owings is unlike probably any pitcher in baseball in that he hits so well that you'd consider batting him in the heart of the order. He's 24 years old, and he's only going to get better. He went 8-8 with a 4.30 ERA, 106 K against 50 BB in 152 2/3 innings. It wouldn't be a stretch to think that he might achieve a 3.80 ERA or something next season, possibly win 13 or 14 games. He also threw 2 complete games, including a shutout. We could use more of those. Then we come to his hitting. As a freaking rookie, he won the NL Silver Slugger for pitchers. He batted .333 with 4 homers in only 60 at-bats. He also had 7 doubles and a triple. He had 15 RBI. His OPS was 1.033! It's hard to believe that he's a pitcher! He has the offensive credentials to pinch-hit on his off-days and DH when we play interleague. Because he fills all these roles, it allows us to essentially carry an extra player. And again - he's only 24, and he'll only get better!

It could have been. But did you know that what we've come to know as "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" is actually only the chorus of the song? There's more to it! ]Katie Casey was baseball mad, Had the fever and had it bad. Just to root for the home town crew, Ev'ry sou* Katie blew. On a Saturday her young beau Called to see if she'd like to go To see a show, but Miss Kate said "No, I'll tell you what you can do:" Take me out to the ball game, Take me out with the crowd; Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack, I don't care if I never get back. Let me root, root, root for the home team, If they don't win, it's a shame. For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out, At the old ball game. Katie Casey saw all the games, Knew the players by their first names. Told the umpire he was wrong, All along, Good and strong. When the score was just two to two, Katie Casey knew what to do, Just to cheer up the boys she knew, She made the gang sing this song: (Repeat chorus.) * A "sou" was common slang at the time for a low-denomination coin.

From the AP: ]For Mets, lots of options, no decisions November 14, 2007 NEW YORK (AP) -- While pursuing Yorvit Torrealba and trying to re-sign Ramon Castro, the New York Mets still may want to keep Paul Lo Duca as their No. 1 catcher. It's just not clear how much they want him. "We have Plan A, Plan B, Plan C," general manager Omar Minaya said. "He is definitely in our radar. Where he is, I'd rather not comment on that." Now that free agents can sign with any team, Minaya is being guarded in his comments. He acknowledged meeting Monday with Jorge Posada before the catcher agreed to stay with the Yankees. "I thought that was going to be a long shot," Minaya said. "It was a good chance he was going back all along." Minaya also said the team has not spoken with free agent pitcher Tom Glavine. The Braves want the two-time Cy Young Award winner to return to Atlanta, where he first gained fame. "He seems to want to play," Minaya said. "At some point in time I'm pretty sure we're going to hear from him as far as what his plans are." If Glavine leaves New York, the Mets need to find another starting pitcher. While the free-agent market is thin, New York would pursue Johan Santana if the Minnesota Twins can't re-sign him and make him available. "We could be players in some of the pitching that might be traded this winter," Minaya said. New York also is interested in re-signing second baseman Luis Castillo. "Castillo is a guy that we said all we're talking to but I don't want to kind of say where," Minaya said. "I just don't want other clubs to kind of know who we're targeting or as far as the level of interest because that would put me at a disadvantage."

"Take Me Out To The Ball Game" turns 100 next year: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071113&content_id=2299367&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

I really am jealous of the D-Backs for having Owings. As I've remarked before, he changes the dynamic of every game he pitches. He's like Brooks Kieschnick, except much better and a starting pitcher. He can be a pinch-hitter on his off days.

Pass. Oh, and ask them what they'd want for Micah Owings. I would LOVE to get Micah Owings.

I'll trade Humber and Gomez for Montero and Hudson.

Yeah, but Boras making him look like an ass in front of America during Game 4 of the WS and then finding that no one outside of perhaps the team he was playing for before can pay him $35 million a year but even they might draw the line could make him rethink his relationship with Boras.

I believe that. I'm hoping that Rodriguez woke up and realized that Boras was hurting him.

If we do sign Torrealba, I'd want to probably platoon him with Castro, considering his numbers away from Coors Field last year. I am encouraged, though, that he gets rave reviews from his pitchers.

Don't get me started on the Billy Taylor trade.

We're close to re-signing Ramon Castro to a 2-year deal. http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AorDRLqjHF41CR6mejx0pJYRvLYF?slug=ap-mets-castro&prov=ap&type=lgns

Jeff Passan ranks Silva over Lohse. Here are his rankings of 144 free agents: http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=Apps9JuCo59h.XyIbGip5gsHU84F?slug=jp-freeagentrankings111207&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Edgy DC wrote: What would Kevin Kiernan say? I can't come up with anything better than what Yancy/Grimm did.

The voting: 1. C.C. Sabathia 2. Josh Beckett 3. John Lackey 4. Fausto Carmona T-5. Johan Santana T-5. Erik Bedard T-5. Roy Halladay T-5. Justin Verlander

Congrats to Sabathia. If only we could find a pitcher who can go 241 innings in a season.

Craig Monroe traded from the Cubs to the Twins for a PTBNL.

I'm willing to give Gomez another chance, but he did not fill me with any kind of confidence at the plate last season.

That may be the ugliest beanie hat I've ever seen.

If we got Orlando Hudson, we'd have a dream infield. Not only is he a Gold Glover with decent offensive numbers, but he's apparently a great clubhouse presence.

From the AP: ]A-Rod or not, Mets star David Wright preparing to stay put at third base By MIKE FITZPATRICK, AP Baseball Writer November 12, 2007 NEW YORK (AP) -- David Wright already started his offseason workouts -- and, yes, they're at third base. "I don't own any other gloves," the New York Mets star said with a smile Monday. Wright recently had his chat with general manager Omar Minaya and is preparing to stay put at third next season -- whether or not the Mets try to sign Alex Rodriguez. "When I spoke to Omar," Wright said, "he told me, `Be prepared to be the third baseman in 2008. That's what I took from it and that's the way I'm going about it. "Alex Rodriguez's name did not come up at any point." Wright, who won his first Gold Glove last week, had said he would like to speak with Mets management to gauge whether the team might want him to consider switching positions. Minaya obliged, and Wright appreciated the gesture, calling it a "courtesy." "I think it got kind of twisted the wrong way. By no way, shape or form do they have to go through me about anything," Wright said. "Those guys are the bosses. I just go out and play the game. "I don't keep in touch with the front office, nor should they feel obligated at all to let any of the players know what's going on," he added. "I think it's good to have that separation there. But as a fan and, obviously, as part of the team, I'm interested." One of the game's brightest young stars, the 24-year-old Wright batted .325 with 30 home runs, 107 RBIs and 34 stolen bases this year, his third full season in the majors. His .416 on-base percentage ranked fifth in the NL. Wright also won a Gold Glove despite committing 21 errors. Still, the Mets are thought to be interested in Rodriguez, the free-agent prize who played the past four seasons at third base for the Yankees. With their own lucrative regional sports network and a new ballpark on the way in 2009, the Mets are one of the few major league clubs that probably could meet A-Rod's price tag without emptying the piggy bank. But if they lure Rodriguez across town, where does that leave Wright? A-Rod, of course, was a Gold Glove shortstop before switching to third base when he was traded from Texas to the Yankees. The Mets, however, have another young All-Star at shortstop in speedy Jose Reyes. The Mets do have an opening at second base, but Wright has never played there. "If shortstop opens up, I played shortstop in high school," he said. Minaya has been guarded about the team's potential interest in Rodriguez, who hit .314 with 54 homers and 156 RBIs this season and is likely to win his third AL MVP award next week. The Mets have other issues to deal with this offseason as well. For one, they need a starting catcher after Wright's buddy, Paul Lo Duca, filed for free agency. "I have zero sense about Paul," Wright said. "I haven't talked to him in a couple weeks." New York also is waiting to hear whether Tom Glavine wants to return, retire or pitch for his hometown Atlanta Braves. "If he wants to go back to Atlanta, we'll try our best to beat him up," Wright said, adding he hopes Glavine will stay with the Mets. "I think every team, not only us, needs pitching." Wright visited kids at NYU Medical Center on Monday, and his foundation will host its third annual "Do the Wright Thing" gala Thursday night. The two-time All-Star said most fans have been supportive this offseason, even though the Mets collapsed in September and missed the playoffs. "You'll get a few people every now and then that come up and will throw in what we did wrong or what they think we did wrong. But we knew that we didn't get the job done," Wright said. "We have to accept responsibility for that. We didn't expect all offseason to go around and nobody say anything and pat us on the back and say it's all right. "It's tough to say we'll get 'em next year because we had an opportunity to get it done this year," he added.

Todd Jones re-signed with the Tigers on a one-year, $7 million deal.