| Howard growing frustrated with walks | Friday 10/3, 6:03 PM CT |
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MLB.com reports that twice in this NLDS, the Brewers have intentionally walked Ryan Howard with a man on second base and first base open. Twice, they have unintentionally walked him with no one on base. And though so many free passes may seem to be an unnecessary precaution, the strategy has worked. "It's still a little bit frustrating," Howard said of the way the Brewers have pitched around him. "But having gone through it, you have the understanding for it. You know how to deal with it."
Our View: Howard hit .352 with 11 home runs and 32 RBIs, coming through for the Phillies in nearly every critical situation. Expect teams to continue and pitch around the slugger for the remainder of the playoffs. |
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| Manuel re-signs with Mets | Friday 10/3, 5:29 PM CT |
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The New York Post reports that Jerry Manuel has re-signed with the Mets for two seasons with a club option for a third.
Our View: Manuel went 55-38 after taking over for Willie Randolph on June 16, but the Mets went 6-9 in their final 15 games to fall one game short of the playoffs again. |
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| Helms re-signs with Marlins | Friday 10/3, 4:33 PM CT |
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MLB.com reports that the Marlins and third baseman Wes Helms agreed to terms on a two-year, $1.9 million contract. He joins Hanley Ramirez as the only two Marlins under multi-year deals.
Our View: The 32-year-old, batted .243 with five home runs and 31 RBIs in 132 games this past year. He projects to provide veteran leadership while being a spot player at either third base or first base and does not have much fantasy value as of now. With Jorge Cantu heading towards arbitration, Helms could find himself starting at third next season. |
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| St. Louis signs pitching coach Duncan | Friday 10/3, 3:13 PM CT |
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The St. Louis Cardinals have signed pitching coach Dave Duncan to a one-year deal with an option for another season, according to Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Our View: If Duncan isn't the best pitching coach in the game, you'll have to convince us who is. Who else could turn Kent Bottenfield into a 18-win pitcher? Or turn Jeff Weaver into a dominant postseason pitcher? |
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| Fukudome a joke at O'Hare | Friday 10/3, 1:06 PM CT |
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Cubs outfielder Kosuke Fukudome has been so bad, even the PA announcer at O'Hare Airport is having fun at his expense, according to the Chicago Tribune. Over the loudspeaker, this is what the announcer blared out: "Paging Kosuke Fukudome, paging Kosuke Fukudome ... Please report to the Cincinnati Reds. You have been traded for a player to be named later."
Our View: You know it's rough when you're the public butt of jokes in large airports. Cubs manager Lou Piniella has basically given up on him after the Japanese import when 0-8 with four strikeouts, saying he was out of the lineup. |
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| Cubs tie fielding record | Friday 10/3, 11:33 AM CT |
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Errors by each of the team's infielders on Thursday - third baseman Aramis Ramirez, shortstop Ryan Theriot, second baseman Mark DeRosa and first baseman Derrek Lee - tied a 74-year old postseason record, according to Cubs.com.
Our View: Only the 1934 Tigers have also accomplished the feat, and they lost their World Series game against the St. Louis Cardinals and eventually lost the series in seven games. |
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| Yankees interested in Cameron | Friday 10/3, 10:33 AM CT |
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The New York Yankees may be interested in having current Milwaukee center fielder Mike Cameron man the same position for them next season, according to the New York Post.
Our View: Milwaukee won't pick up the $10 million option on Cameron's contract after the season, which will make him a free agent. Still a quality defender, Cameron also hit 25 home runs and stole 17 bases this year. |
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| McLouth to Yankees? | Friday 10/3, 10:30 AM CT |
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The Yankees need a center fielder and the Pirates are trying to rebuild their farm system, so the name Nate McLouth has surfaced in trade rumors, according to the New York Post.
Our View: Though Andrew McCutchen will likely be the Pirates center fielder next season, we still find this proposition extremely difficult to believe for a number of reasons. McLouth can simply move to a corner outfield spot next to McCutchen; he is still not eligible for salary arbitration (translation: cheap); and the two teams already made a deal this year for Yankees prospects. And it isn't like the Yankees have a boatload of premium young players coming through. Chalk this one up to pure speculation. |
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| Smoltz, Glavine healing | Friday 10/3, 10:19 AM CT |
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The Atlanta Braves believe both Tom Glavine and John Smoltz will be healthy come spring training, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I think in both cases [for Smoltz and Glavine], they’re ready for spring training. We won’t know for sure until they increase the intensity on their throwing programs later in the winter, but I think both of them are on track to be ready," said Braves GM Frank Wren.
Our View: Smoltz had his shoulder repaired with surgery, and Glavine had both shoulder and elbow surgeries this season. The team would like to bring both back, but counting on them - along with Mike Hampton - to be healthy all season is a dangerous proposition. |
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| Braves want to re-sign Hampton | Friday 10/3, 10:15 AM CT |
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The Atlanta Braves have told pitcher Mike Hampton that they would like to re-sign him, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Our View: With the age and health status of their other hurlers, this seems like a risky move, but Hampton did throw well down the stretch. The only question is if he can stay healthy, which, obviously, he has not been able to do for a number of years. |
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| Hoffman wins award | Friday 10/3, 9:50 AM CT |
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Padres closer Trevor Hoffman won the Branch Rickey Award, which is given out to a player who displays exceptional community service, according to the Denver Post.
Our View: Hoffman is involved with the National Kidney Foundation, something that is near to him because he lost a kidney when he was a child. |
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| Hudson to Mets? | Friday 10/3, 9:46 AM CT |
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The New York Mets may take a run at signing second baseman Orlando Hudson in the offseason, according to the New York Times.
Our View: The Mets signed Luis Castillo to a four-year, $25 million contract last offseason, and he predictably struggled to live up to the deal. Realistically, it would be difficult for the team to sign Hudson without trading Castillo, but they would still have to eat a big part of his contract. |
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| Maddux or Lowe to start Game 4 | Friday 10/3, 9:29 AM CT |
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If the NLDS between the L.A. Dodgers and Chicago Cubs gets to a Game 4, either Derek Lowe or Greg Maddux will get the start, according to the L.A. Times.
Our View: Lowe would be throwing on three days' rest. Maddux was used out of the bullpen for one inning during Game 1, and is still an effective pitcher, despite his 8-13 record this season. |
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| Mets, Yanks will fight it out for CC | Friday 10/3, 8:50 AM CT |
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The New York Yankees and New York Mets are likely going to get into a bidding war for pitcher CC Sabathia, according to the Bergen Record.
Our View: Despite Sabathia's continued overuse by the Brewers and subsequent 3.2-inning performance, he will easily be the most coveted free agent on the market, and the Yankees and Mets will have to fight with California clubs for his services. |
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| Fukudome will sit | Friday 10/3, 8:18 AM CT |
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Cubs manager Lou Piniella said that outfielder Kosuke Fukudome will not play Game 3 of the NLDS, according to the Baltimore Sun. "The kid's struggling. There's no point in putting him out there anymore," Piniella remarked.
Our View: Fukudome is 0-for-8 in the series, and has struck out in half of his at-bats. The Japanese import signed a deal worth $48 million over four years, but really struggled this season, and if he doesn't improve next season, he'll be labeled a bust. |
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| Pirates, LaRoche working on deal | Friday 10/3, 8:15 AM CT |
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The Pittsburgh Pirates and first baseman Adam LaRoche are working on a new contract, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "As we pencil our club forward. Adam is the guy we pencil in there," said Pittsburgh GM Neal Huntington.
Our View: LaRoche hit .270 with 25 home runs and 85 RBI this season. His OBP was .341 and he struck out 122 times in 492 at-bats. He will once again be a useful player for fantasy owners, though far from an upper-echelon option. |
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| Surgery could have affected Carpenter off of field | Friday 10/3, 7:39 AM CT |
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Cardinals starter Chris Carpenter did not have surgery to deal with the nerve problem in his shoulder because it could have affected his day-to-day lifestyle, possibly limiting the use of his right arm in the future, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "There was a risk of significant complications," said St. Louis team doctor George Paletta.
Our View: Carpenter and other doctors believe the condition will heal with rest. He will be an extremely risky pick for fantasy owners next season. |
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| Ramirez crushes second homer | Friday 10/3, 12:13 AM CT |
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Manny Ramirez went 2-for-4 with two RBI in Thursday's convincing 10-3 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field in Game 2 of the NLDS. He hit a single and a homer, his second of the playoffs. Los Angeles leads the series 2-0 and will head home to try and close it out.
Our View: Acquiring Manny from the Red Sox is paying off big time for the Dodgers. He is aiming for his third World Series in five years. |
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| Billingsley shuts down Chicago | Friday 10/3, 12:06 AM CT |
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Chad Billingsley pitched a gem in Thursday's 10-3 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field in Game 2 of the NLDS, as he only surrendered one earned run on five hits over 6.2 innings, with one walk and seven strikeouts. His strong effort helped lead the Dodgers to a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series.
Our View: Billingsley won 16 games in the regular season with a 3.14 ERA and 1.34 WHIP for the AL West champion Dodgers, and he did not disappoint under the pressure of the postseason. |
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| DeRosa collects two RBI in loss | Friday 10/3, 12:01 AM CT |
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Mark DeRosa went 2-for-4 with two RBI in Thursday's 10-3 loss to the Dodgers in Game 2 of the NLDS at Wrigley Field. Both of his knocks were doubles. He committed a fielding error in the loss as well, which was one of four by Chicago.
Our View: The Cubs are down 2-0 to Los Angeles in the best-of-five series, but DeRosa cannot be faulted, as he has contributed four RBI over the two losses. |
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