Daily Archives: July 15, 2008
The Game:
The National League All Stars take on their American League counterparts in the 79th All Star Game tonight at Yankee Stadium, starting at 8:00 pm EDT.
The Lineups:
NL: SS Hanley Ramirez (Marlins), 2B Chase Utley (Phillies), 1B Lance Berkman (Astros), DH Albert Pujols (Cardinals), 3B Chipper Jones (Braves), RF Matt Holliday (Rockies), LF Ryan Braun (Brewers), CF Kosuke Fukudome (Cubs), C Geovany Soto (Cubs)
AL: RF Ichiro Suzuki (Mariners), SS Derek Jeter (Yankees), CF Josh Hamilton (Rangers), 3B Alex Rodriguez (Yankees), LF Manny Ramirez (Red Sox), DH Milton Bradley (Rangers), 1B Kevin Youkilis (Red Sox), C Joe Mauer (Twins), 2B Dustin Pedroia (Red Sox)
The Pitchers:
RHP Ben Sheets (10-3, 2.85 ERA) starts for the National League.
LHP Cliff Lee (12-2, 2.31 ERA) starts for the American League.
The Notes:
The American League is unbeaten in the last 11 mid summer classics (10-0-1).
How To Catch It:
Tonight’s game can be seen nationally on FOX.
The Bleachers:
Tagged Mike Nichols |For a live chat, head over to The Hot Foot Bleachers.
Brad Lidge suggested he was tipping his pitches in Houston.
Dan Uggla believes the Marlins have gained respect:
“I definitely think everybody takes us seriously,” Uggla said Monday before competing in the Home Run Derby. “We were in first place for a month. We just got some guys off the DL. I think everybody knows we’re not a fluke.”
If you were surprised to see Cristian Guzman on the All-Star team as Washington’s representative, he does lead the NL in hits.
Brian McCann is happy to be at the All-Star Game:
He’s not one of those guys who tell you he’d rather have the three days off. He appreciates the honor for exactly what it is and exactly what it does, which is admit him into the very select club that includes the best players in the game.
…
I asked him if anything about the All-Star experience has become routine after three straight trips to the Midsummer Classic.
“Absolutely not, because you don’t know how many of these you get to go to,” McCann said. “And with this one at Yankee Stadium, it makes that much more special to be at.”
For more real-time information, news, links and stats from around MLB, check out Baseball Musings.
According to Brian Costello at the New York Post, Willie Randolph will be a guest of George Steinbrenner’s tonight at the All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium.
Costello writes:
“George never walked away from the friendship he had with Willie,” said Howard Rubenstein, Steinbrenner’s spokesman. “George has said he’s a terrific guy and he wanted him to be part of this great moment at Yankee Stadium.”
…i’m sure some will say that this is another example of how willie was always more of a yankee than a met, but i don’t see it that way…i think it’s simply a nice gesture by george, something i don’t often say…
Tagged Regis Courtemanche, Willie Randolph |In his latest column for SI.com, Joy Heyman takes a look at the market for Rockies OF Matt Holliday and lists five logical destinations for the slugger.
According to Heyman, the Mets are one of the logical choices, but the team apparently balked when Rockies GM Dan O’Dowd started negotiations by asking for Carlos Beltran.
Heyman believes the Mets may be able to construct a deal for Holliday with OF prospect Fernando Martinez being the center piece, but believes the Mets are a ‘major long shot’ to acquire Holliday.
Last week on Metsblog, Matt Cerrone stated buzz from around the league suggested Rockies want the absolute-best possible prospect they can find, preferably a pitcher, who is ready to go, highly-touted and under contract.
Cerrone also stated the Rockies do not have to trade Holliday this season, as he is under contract next season.
Holliday is batting.337 with 14 HR and 51 RBI this season.
…obviously holliday would be the ultimate right-handed, corner outfield acquisition for the Mets this season, but i’m not sure he’s worth mortgaging the minor league system for…the farm system, which is by all accounts below average at this point, would probably become one of the worst in the league if the Omar Minaya made another four-for-one type deal again, such as he did in the Johan Santana trade…
…i’ve always had the philosphy that trading away unproven prospects for proven major league talent is a no-brainer, but with limited prospects available at this point, i’m not sure that would be wise…
…with that beiing said, there are pros to pulling off a deal to acquire holliday…filling a void in the outfield, especially with a mvp-caliber talent like holliday is obviously…but another pro would be if the Mets could not come to an agreement with holliday by the end of next season, the team could let him walk, which would net the team two draft picks…
…with the Mets being ‘long shots’ this all may be a mute point, but the national media also thought the Mets were long shots for johan, as well, so you never know, but i think its certainly something worth monitoring…
Tagged Mike Nichols |Steven Goldman of the New York Sun believes, with both the Mets and Yankees having ‘obvious vulnerabilities,’ this season is reminiscent of 1987.
Over at Mets Geek, Alex Nelson examines the longest winning streaks in Mets history.
Brooklyn Met Fan makes a case that “General” Jerry Manuel should be an All Star.
Greg at Faith and Fear in Flushing takes a look at the Mets All Star snubs.
Tagged Mike Nichols |
To watch Billy Wagner and David Wright talk to SNY’s Matt Yallof about Yankee Stadium, the All-Star Game and the Mets’ recent resurgence, click play below:
Tagged Ted Berg |
Today, from 1-3 pm, more than 110 of baseball’s greatest current and retired players will drive by in the fourth annual All-Star Game Red Carpet Parade.
The parade will start at 40th Street and Sixth Avenue and end at 58th Street. More than one million spectators are expected to attend.
For more info go to MLB.com.
…my question is, will mr. met be there wearing his tux…
Tagged Regis Courtemanche |Joel Sherman of the New York Post examines the Mets major obstacles as the organization plans how to go about to improving the team as they enter the final two weeks before the July 31 trade deadline.
According to Sherman, the Mets best options to improve may come within the organization, with the likes of Fernando Martinez and Jon Niese.
Mets GM Omar Minaya, according to Sherman, believes the team can no longer afford the ‘four-for-one deals,’ as they did with them Johan Santana trade, since the team needs to protect the farm system.
Sherman believes the Mets have ‘cooled’ on their interest in OF Raul Ibanez, due to the team’s need of a right-handed hitting outfielder, and the prices for Matt Holliday and Xavier Nady are too steep at this point.
Tagged Mike Nichols |In an article for the New York Post, Joel Sherman writes that the Mets are one of nine teams that are eyeing Freddy Garcia as he continues to rehab from shoulder surgery.
Garcia’s agent Ed Greenberg, says that he does not anticipate allowing a club to negotiate a 2009 option.
…with the way the rotation has solidified of late, i’m not sure where garcia fits in, but i think if he is available for cheap he is worth acquiring especially since you never know how pedro’s health will hold up…
Tagged Regis Courtemanche |
