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RedMagma Sat Jan 12, 2008 3:51 pm
Sources: A's to trade outfielder Kotsay to Braves for pitcher Devine
By Buster Olney
ESPN The Magazine
(Archive)
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3193556
The Atlanta Braves have reached a preliminary agreement to acquire center fielder Mark Kotsay from the Oakland Athletics, filling the hole created by the departure of Andruw Jones. The deal will be finalized once Kotsay passes a physical for Atlanta, where he is expected to fly to on Sunday, and assuming the Commissioner's Office approves the cash negotiated to be exchanged in the deal, sources say.
Joey Devine
Devine
Mark Kotsay
Kotsay
In return for Kotsay, the Braves are trading pitcher Joey Devine, and Oakland will assume $5.325 million of the $7.325 million owed to the center fielder for this year.
Kotsay, 32, played in 56 games in 2007 after having back surgery, hitting .214 with 15 extra-bases hits in 206 at-bats. In 2005, before Kotsay began having serious back trouble, he batted .280, with 51 extra-base hits and a .325 on-base percentage.
He has generally rated very highly as a center fielder, and the Braves are in a position in which they are trying to find a temporary center fielder for at least the start of the 2008 season, or until they deem top prospect Jordan Schaefer ready to take over the position permanently.
Devine, a 24-year-old right-hander, was a first round pick in 2005, and has pitched 19.2 innings in the majors, compiling a 6.86 ERA.
Kotsay becomes the third veteran player traded away by Oakland, as the Athletics continue what is a major reconstruction of their team. They already have dealt pitcher Dan Haren to Arizona and outfielder Nick Swisher to Chicago this winter, and it is expected that they will seriously weigh offers for starting pitcher Joe Blanton and closer Huston Street sometime before the July 31 trade deadline.
Buster Olney is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine.
By Buster Olney
ESPN The Magazine
(Archive)
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3193556
The Atlanta Braves have reached a preliminary agreement to acquire center fielder Mark Kotsay from the Oakland Athletics, filling the hole created by the departure of Andruw Jones. The deal will be finalized once Kotsay passes a physical for Atlanta, where he is expected to fly to on Sunday, and assuming the Commissioner's Office approves the cash negotiated to be exchanged in the deal, sources say.
Joey Devine
Devine
Mark Kotsay
Kotsay
In return for Kotsay, the Braves are trading pitcher Joey Devine, and Oakland will assume $5.325 million of the $7.325 million owed to the center fielder for this year.
Kotsay, 32, played in 56 games in 2007 after having back surgery, hitting .214 with 15 extra-bases hits in 206 at-bats. In 2005, before Kotsay began having serious back trouble, he batted .280, with 51 extra-base hits and a .325 on-base percentage.
He has generally rated very highly as a center fielder, and the Braves are in a position in which they are trying to find a temporary center fielder for at least the start of the 2008 season, or until they deem top prospect Jordan Schaefer ready to take over the position permanently.
Devine, a 24-year-old right-hander, was a first round pick in 2005, and has pitched 19.2 innings in the majors, compiling a 6.86 ERA.
Kotsay becomes the third veteran player traded away by Oakland, as the Athletics continue what is a major reconstruction of their team. They already have dealt pitcher Dan Haren to Arizona and outfielder Nick Swisher to Chicago this winter, and it is expected that they will seriously weigh offers for starting pitcher Joe Blanton and closer Huston Street sometime before the July 31 trade deadline.
Buster Olney is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine.
RedMagma- Posts : 3654
Join date : 2007-12-24
Re: gvh
RedMagma Sun Jan 13, 2008 2:39 am
Why Hot Stove went cold
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/2008/01/13/2008-01-13_why_hot_stove_went_cold.html?page=0
Sunday, January 13th 2008, 4:00 AM
A baseball winter of mostly unrealized expectations grinds inexorably toward spring training with Johan Santana still a Twin, Erik Bedard still an Oriole, the Mets still without a bona fide top-of-the-rotation starter and the Cubs still without a much-needed top-of-the-order bat.
Will it all sort out before pitchers and catchers? There have been rumblings of late, but given the way the winter meetings in Nashville turned out to be a big nothing after so much anticipation, and the snail's pace of activity since, you have to wonder if teams are now content to wait until spring training - when injuries lead to heightened desperation - before pulling the trigger on deals for the signature players that have been on the market.
In the case of Santana, I'm beginning to think the Yankees, by indicating they're out of contention, have sounded the call of sanity that, to the Twins' dismay, may well be echoed by the Red Sox and Mets. Think of it: The Twins are looking to get four legitimate prospects back for their free agent-to-be lefthanded ace, after which the acquiring team will then have to reach a long-term contract agreement with Santana, who is said to be looking for six years at $25 mil per. Even if sanity prevails and the acquiring team holds the line at five years and $20 million (which would still make Santana the highest-paid pitcher in baseball), that still would amount to four top prospects plus $100 million - for one player!
Much as Santana's presence at the top of the rotation would seemingly solidify any team as a World Series contender, the money plus the prospects is an astronomical risk.
That's pretty much why the Mariners dropped out of the Santana sweepstakes and have instead concentrated their efforts on Bedard, who cannot be a free agent until after 2009. Although Orioles president Andy MacPhail has stated that he expects Bedard to be the Orioles' Opening-Day pitcher, talks with the M's have intensified. Like the Twins with Santana, the Orioles are looking for a package of four top prospects, centered around outfielder Adam Jones, and possibly including reliever Brandon Morrow and 17-year old wunderkind shortstop Carlos Triunfel. The Mariners have lots of appealing prospects and realize their weak starting rotation needs a lot more of an upgrade than Carlos Silva if they are to think of themselves as legitimate October challengers to the Red Sox, Tigers, Angels and Indians.
When the hot-stove season began, MacPhail vowed a major makeover of the Orioles, geared around procuring a core of young players to offset a barren farm system. It started with the trading of Miguel Tejada to Houston for five prospects and, besides Bedard, who was put on the trade mark after rebuffing the O's efforts to sign him to a longterm contract, MacPhail is looking to move second baseman Brian Roberts. The Cubs desperately need a speed/on-base/contact player at the top of the lineup so that Lou Piniella can move Alfonso Soriano down to the three-hole, and with talks with the Angels about Chone Figgins having gone nowhere, GM Jim Hendry has renewed negotiations with his old boss, MacPhail, about Roberts.
This is a deal that will probably get done - the key return for MacPhail being the Cubs' best two young starting pitchers, Sean Marshall and Sean Gallagher, plus infielder Ronny Cedeno.
Meanwhile, on the south side of Chicago, White Sox GM Kenny Williams probably went into the offseason with the biggest expectations of all, but was forced to retrench somewhat after Torii Hunter spurned his attentions to take that staggering five-year, $90 million deal with the Angels. Like MacPhail, Williams had promised his fans a major shakeup of the team that has regressed mightily since the '05 world championship, especially with the lineup that ranked last in the AL in runs last year. Hunter, who would only have cost money, was supposed to be the centerpiece of the makeover, but when his price tag proved too much, Williams was forced to sacrifice his two top pitching prospects, 22-year-old lefty Gio Gonzalez and 21-year-old righty Faustino de los Santos, to get party animal Nick Swisher from the A's.
Although not nearly as good with the glove, Swisher is five years younger than Hunter, hit just six fewer homers last year (22 to 28), had a considerably higher (.381 to .334) on-base percentage and will earn about $13 million less. Williams' earlier acquisition of shortstop Orlando Cabrera from the Angels for 10-game winner Jon Garland figures to spark the offense, so it may just be mission accomplished after all. But with the additional sacrificing of his top power prospect, first baseman Chris Carter, for .214-hitting fourth outfielder Carlos Quentin from Arizona (a curious deal, to say the least), Williams has stripped an already-thin White Sox system bare.
Goose cookin' with quotes
It was pure heat and intimidation as baseball's most feared closer that got Goose Gossage to the Hall of Fame, but he often took no prisoners with his words as well. Indeed, there may not be a more colorful "quote" in the Hall of Fame than Goose. Here are just some of the ones that deserved to be bronzed somewhere in Cooperstown:
"Negative bull----! Everything you guys write. These dumb mother------- in the seats read. You mother------- with the f---ing tape recorders. Go on. Turn it on and take it upstairs to the fat man!" - His legendary Aug. 16, 1982, clubhouse vent at reporters over George Steinbrenner's continual blasting of the Yankee players.
"Joan Kroc is poisoning the world with her hamburgers and we can't even get a lousy beer." - Part of a June 1986 tirade in protest of San Diego Padre ownership's decision to ban beer in the clubhouse for the players. (Kroc's husband, Ray, built the McDonald's empire.)
"It's a joke that Kirby Puckett went in on the first ballot and Jim Rice is still not in. If Jim Rice had played in the Metrodome, he'd have torn the place down and that's nothing against Kirby Puckett. That's just the way it is." - His opinion on the 2006 Hall of Fame election after fellow closer Bruce Sutter made it and Jim Rice finished second (just ahead of him) at 64.8%.
"I couldn't pitch today. It's a soft game. When was the last time Barry Bonds got knocked on his (butt)? They want to play home run derby. They should just take the pitcher off the mound and set the ball up on a tee because that's what they're playing - tee ball." - On today's baseball.
"They weren't around in my time, but if they were, who am I to say I wouldn't have tried them. The money temptation is too great." - When asked about steroids at his Hall press conference on Wednesday.
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/2008/01/13/2008-01-13_why_hot_stove_went_cold.html?page=0
Sunday, January 13th 2008, 4:00 AM
A baseball winter of mostly unrealized expectations grinds inexorably toward spring training with Johan Santana still a Twin, Erik Bedard still an Oriole, the Mets still without a bona fide top-of-the-rotation starter and the Cubs still without a much-needed top-of-the-order bat.
Will it all sort out before pitchers and catchers? There have been rumblings of late, but given the way the winter meetings in Nashville turned out to be a big nothing after so much anticipation, and the snail's pace of activity since, you have to wonder if teams are now content to wait until spring training - when injuries lead to heightened desperation - before pulling the trigger on deals for the signature players that have been on the market.
In the case of Santana, I'm beginning to think the Yankees, by indicating they're out of contention, have sounded the call of sanity that, to the Twins' dismay, may well be echoed by the Red Sox and Mets. Think of it: The Twins are looking to get four legitimate prospects back for their free agent-to-be lefthanded ace, after which the acquiring team will then have to reach a long-term contract agreement with Santana, who is said to be looking for six years at $25 mil per. Even if sanity prevails and the acquiring team holds the line at five years and $20 million (which would still make Santana the highest-paid pitcher in baseball), that still would amount to four top prospects plus $100 million - for one player!
Much as Santana's presence at the top of the rotation would seemingly solidify any team as a World Series contender, the money plus the prospects is an astronomical risk.
That's pretty much why the Mariners dropped out of the Santana sweepstakes and have instead concentrated their efforts on Bedard, who cannot be a free agent until after 2009. Although Orioles president Andy MacPhail has stated that he expects Bedard to be the Orioles' Opening-Day pitcher, talks with the M's have intensified. Like the Twins with Santana, the Orioles are looking for a package of four top prospects, centered around outfielder Adam Jones, and possibly including reliever Brandon Morrow and 17-year old wunderkind shortstop Carlos Triunfel. The Mariners have lots of appealing prospects and realize their weak starting rotation needs a lot more of an upgrade than Carlos Silva if they are to think of themselves as legitimate October challengers to the Red Sox, Tigers, Angels and Indians.
When the hot-stove season began, MacPhail vowed a major makeover of the Orioles, geared around procuring a core of young players to offset a barren farm system. It started with the trading of Miguel Tejada to Houston for five prospects and, besides Bedard, who was put on the trade mark after rebuffing the O's efforts to sign him to a longterm contract, MacPhail is looking to move second baseman Brian Roberts. The Cubs desperately need a speed/on-base/contact player at the top of the lineup so that Lou Piniella can move Alfonso Soriano down to the three-hole, and with talks with the Angels about Chone Figgins having gone nowhere, GM Jim Hendry has renewed negotiations with his old boss, MacPhail, about Roberts.
This is a deal that will probably get done - the key return for MacPhail being the Cubs' best two young starting pitchers, Sean Marshall and Sean Gallagher, plus infielder Ronny Cedeno.
Meanwhile, on the south side of Chicago, White Sox GM Kenny Williams probably went into the offseason with the biggest expectations of all, but was forced to retrench somewhat after Torii Hunter spurned his attentions to take that staggering five-year, $90 million deal with the Angels. Like MacPhail, Williams had promised his fans a major shakeup of the team that has regressed mightily since the '05 world championship, especially with the lineup that ranked last in the AL in runs last year. Hunter, who would only have cost money, was supposed to be the centerpiece of the makeover, but when his price tag proved too much, Williams was forced to sacrifice his two top pitching prospects, 22-year-old lefty Gio Gonzalez and 21-year-old righty Faustino de los Santos, to get party animal Nick Swisher from the A's.
Although not nearly as good with the glove, Swisher is five years younger than Hunter, hit just six fewer homers last year (22 to 28), had a considerably higher (.381 to .334) on-base percentage and will earn about $13 million less. Williams' earlier acquisition of shortstop Orlando Cabrera from the Angels for 10-game winner Jon Garland figures to spark the offense, so it may just be mission accomplished after all. But with the additional sacrificing of his top power prospect, first baseman Chris Carter, for .214-hitting fourth outfielder Carlos Quentin from Arizona (a curious deal, to say the least), Williams has stripped an already-thin White Sox system bare.
Goose cookin' with quotes
It was pure heat and intimidation as baseball's most feared closer that got Goose Gossage to the Hall of Fame, but he often took no prisoners with his words as well. Indeed, there may not be a more colorful "quote" in the Hall of Fame than Goose. Here are just some of the ones that deserved to be bronzed somewhere in Cooperstown:
"Negative bull----! Everything you guys write. These dumb mother------- in the seats read. You mother------- with the f---ing tape recorders. Go on. Turn it on and take it upstairs to the fat man!" - His legendary Aug. 16, 1982, clubhouse vent at reporters over George Steinbrenner's continual blasting of the Yankee players.
"Joan Kroc is poisoning the world with her hamburgers and we can't even get a lousy beer." - Part of a June 1986 tirade in protest of San Diego Padre ownership's decision to ban beer in the clubhouse for the players. (Kroc's husband, Ray, built the McDonald's empire.)
"It's a joke that Kirby Puckett went in on the first ballot and Jim Rice is still not in. If Jim Rice had played in the Metrodome, he'd have torn the place down and that's nothing against Kirby Puckett. That's just the way it is." - His opinion on the 2006 Hall of Fame election after fellow closer Bruce Sutter made it and Jim Rice finished second (just ahead of him) at 64.8%.
"I couldn't pitch today. It's a soft game. When was the last time Barry Bonds got knocked on his (butt)? They want to play home run derby. They should just take the pitcher off the mound and set the ball up on a tee because that's what they're playing - tee ball." - On today's baseball.
"They weren't around in my time, but if they were, who am I to say I wouldn't have tried them. The money temptation is too great." - When asked about steroids at his Hall press conference on Wednesday.
RedMagma- Posts : 3654
Join date : 2007-12-24
Santaba
RedMagma Sun Jan 13, 2008 2:58 am
The Boston Globe
No 'roid rage in clubhouses
http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/articles/2008/01/13/no_roid_rage_in_clubhouses/?page=1
January 13, 2008
There will be a strange phenomenon in spring training this year.
Camps will be full of players who have been named in the Mitchell Report. They will play among players who weren't caught and maybe never will be caught. They will play alongside players who never used. They will play among players who might still be using HGH because there's no test for it.
Many teams will have players wearing an imaginary "M" (for "Mitchell") on their chests. On the Yankees, Andy Pettitte, HGH user, will play alongside Jason Giambi, steroid user. The Orioles will have Brian Roberts at second base, Jay Gibbons in the outfield. The Jays will have Gregg Zaun and Troy Glaus. On and on.
The stigma will fade in time for some lesser players. They will become folded into the landscape, much as the remaining replacement players have been. When you see Ron Mahay or Brendan Donnelly or Kevin Millar or Damien Miller, you don't immediately think of replacement players, do you?
You'll notice them this year, maybe next, but after that, they will have to be pointed out to you as an old "Mitchell guy" or a "steroid guy." Big fish like Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Mark McGwire will never escape.
Whether it's an edict from baseball or from their respective owners, it is hard to find a general manager in the league who will say anything on the record about the Mitchell Report.
One National League GM put it bluntly: "I want nothing to do with this issue on the record, but off the record, these guys will have no problem in the clubhouse with the other players. I think the players understand that it was a messed-up time and players made mistakes and these are the guys who will pay the price.
"I do think the high-profile players - Roger Clemens, if he comes back, Andy Pettitte, Barry Bonds - those guys will be the subject of ridicule by the fans. I'm sure they'll be enduring some things, especially the guys on the big-market teams."
Red Sox GM Theo Epstein has indicated he will not comment on anything pertaining to the Mitchell Report, even the parts in which he is cited as having conversations about Donnelly and Eric Gagné using performance-enhancing substances. J.P. Ricciardi in Toronto and Billy Beane in Oakland, two GMs unafraid to speak their minds, issued no comments on all things Mitchell.
The feeling is that the less talk there is, the easier the transition will be for the accused players. Teams are trying to get into the "moving on from this" phase, even with a congressional hearing looming.
"I think transitioning these players is going to be up to the individual clubs and managers and GMs and owners," said commissioner Bud Selig. "If there's some sensitive things that have to be dealt with, it really has to be done at the team level. My focus has to be on the [testing] program, and I believe we have strengthened our program."Continued...
Page 2 of 5 --
Veteran Astros catcher Brad Ausmus agrees there will be no problem for the players in the clubhouse.
more stories like this
"I think in the case of the replacement players way back, they had a lot tougher time blending back into the clubhouse," Ausmus said. "This is totally different. I certainly am not going to demonize a player who was on the Mitchell Report. I feel badly for all of those guys.
"At the very worst, if all the allegations in that report are true, we're not talking about murder here. They aren't bad people. Throughout time, and in different sports, you've always had people trying to beat the system. They didn't do it to hurt anybody else, they did it because they wanted to get stronger and better."
Ausmus said he hasn't talked to Clemens since the Mitchell Report, but he understands it will be those with the great accomplishments who take the heat.
"No question," Ausmus said. "I think Roger and Barry Bonds and anyone who was closer to a record or had a record will bear the brunt of the fans' wrath. They'll take it for everybody else."
As for Clemens, in particular, Ausmus said, "It's just amazing to me how someone's reputation and everything he's worked so hard for can be ruined by the word of one shaky witness. How could that ever stand up in a court of law?"
Asked about Clemens's full-court defense since the allegations, Ausmus said, "If someone said something that was untrue about me, I'd pull out every stop in the book. If that's what Roger's doing, I can't blame him for that."
Outfielder Dave Roberts, who went through the entire Bonds Watch with the Giants, said, "I think the players, the management, and the fans want to get on with this. You're not going to see the players dwell on this."
A few questions for 2004 Red Sox playoff hero Dave Roberts, now the Giants' left fielder:
You're moving to left field to accommodate Aaron Rowand, recently signed by the Giants. How do you feel about that?
DR: "First of all, it's going to be hard to replace No. 25 [Barry Bonds], and I hope Giants fans don't expect me to hit home runs like that, but I think it's a good move in that in Aaron we really have one of the premier center fielders in the game, not only defensively, but a guy who can drive in runs and sets a tone with the way he plays the game. I think our team will be stronger and our lineup with be better."
Do you think all of that attention toward Barry and the home run record and steroids took away from your team last year?Continued...
Page 3 of 5 --
DR: "People often say that, but I resist that because the bottom line was when we were on the field playing baseball, we were away from that stuff. That stuff was the farthest thing from our minds. We just went out and played baseball. Unfortunately, we just didn't play it very well. We didn't play good baseball so we deserved to end up where we did."
more stories like this
Do you think the Giants can compete with a tough Arizona team, Colorado's lineup, San Diego's pitching, and an improving Dodgers team?
DR: "I really do. First of all, we have a very good young pitching staff. We have a lot of talented arms. Secondly, we're not done yet. We're still making moves and I'm sure we're going to address some other needs here in the next month before spring training. If we can figure out our first base and third base situation in our lineup - and I think we will - I think we're going to be fine. I don't think people realize the high level of play in the National League West now. This is traditionally a winning franchise and I think we'll do the things to get back to that."
How different is it going to be without Bonds and do you think he'll play again?
DR: "Of course, it will be different because he was an icon here. People came to watch Barry's every at-bat. I've talked to Barry this offseason, but we talked mostly about our families, but I know that he has the desire to play, but whether he has the desire to play with everything going on around him is another matter. I just don't know."
The Great Debate
Do the other Washington senators belong in this game?
Should Congress be spending valuable time and assets holding hearings on Major League Baseball and steroids? We asked commissioner Bud Selig and longtime baseball agent Alan Nero.
Selig: "Well, considering I'm going before Congress, I probably should not answer the question directly. What I will say is I think we've strengthened the program. The program is working. We are working with the NFL and UCLA is working hard in coming up with a test for human growth hormone, which is a great source of frustration for me right now. But we're doing all we can on that front to hopefully make sure we will have a test in place at some point in the future. I think everyone in baseball is working together to make certain that we can put this era of baseball behind us with continued efforts to make sure that everyone understands that there's no place for performance-enhancing drugs in our sport. We have joined with the United States Olympic Committee and contributed $3 million to join an anti-doping collaborative. I think we all look forward to the day when we can just focus on baseball and talk baseball."Continued...
There will be a strange phenomenon in spring training this year.
Camps will be full of players who have been named in the Mitchell Report. They will play among players who weren't caught and maybe never will be caught. They will play alongside players who never used. They will play among players who might still be using HGH because there's no test for it.
Many teams will have players wearing an imaginary "M" (for "Mitchell") on their chests. On the Yankees, Andy Pettitte, HGH user, will play alongside Jason Giambi, steroid user. The Orioles will have Brian Roberts at second base, Jay Gibbons in the outfield. The Jays will have Gregg Zaun and Troy Glaus. On and on.
The stigma will fade in time for some lesser players. They will become folded into the landscape, much as the remaining replacement players have been. When you see Ron Mahay or Brendan Donnelly or Kevin Millar or Damien Miller, you don't immediately think of replacement players, do you?
You'll notice them this year, maybe next, but after that, they will have to be pointed out to you as an old "Mitchell guy" or a "steroid guy." Big fish like Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Mark McGwire will never escape.
No 'roid rage in clubhouses
http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/articles/2008/01/13/no_roid_rage_in_clubhouses/?page=1
January 13, 2008
There will be a strange phenomenon in spring training this year.
Camps will be full of players who have been named in the Mitchell Report. They will play among players who weren't caught and maybe never will be caught. They will play alongside players who never used. They will play among players who might still be using HGH because there's no test for it.
Many teams will have players wearing an imaginary "M" (for "Mitchell") on their chests. On the Yankees, Andy Pettitte, HGH user, will play alongside Jason Giambi, steroid user. The Orioles will have Brian Roberts at second base, Jay Gibbons in the outfield. The Jays will have Gregg Zaun and Troy Glaus. On and on.
The stigma will fade in time for some lesser players. They will become folded into the landscape, much as the remaining replacement players have been. When you see Ron Mahay or Brendan Donnelly or Kevin Millar or Damien Miller, you don't immediately think of replacement players, do you?
You'll notice them this year, maybe next, but after that, they will have to be pointed out to you as an old "Mitchell guy" or a "steroid guy." Big fish like Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Mark McGwire will never escape.
Whether it's an edict from baseball or from their respective owners, it is hard to find a general manager in the league who will say anything on the record about the Mitchell Report.
One National League GM put it bluntly: "I want nothing to do with this issue on the record, but off the record, these guys will have no problem in the clubhouse with the other players. I think the players understand that it was a messed-up time and players made mistakes and these are the guys who will pay the price.
"I do think the high-profile players - Roger Clemens, if he comes back, Andy Pettitte, Barry Bonds - those guys will be the subject of ridicule by the fans. I'm sure they'll be enduring some things, especially the guys on the big-market teams."
Red Sox GM Theo Epstein has indicated he will not comment on anything pertaining to the Mitchell Report, even the parts in which he is cited as having conversations about Donnelly and Eric Gagné using performance-enhancing substances. J.P. Ricciardi in Toronto and Billy Beane in Oakland, two GMs unafraid to speak their minds, issued no comments on all things Mitchell.
The feeling is that the less talk there is, the easier the transition will be for the accused players. Teams are trying to get into the "moving on from this" phase, even with a congressional hearing looming.
"I think transitioning these players is going to be up to the individual clubs and managers and GMs and owners," said commissioner Bud Selig. "If there's some sensitive things that have to be dealt with, it really has to be done at the team level. My focus has to be on the [testing] program, and I believe we have strengthened our program."Continued...
Page 2 of 5 --
Veteran Astros catcher Brad Ausmus agrees there will be no problem for the players in the clubhouse.
more stories like this
"I think in the case of the replacement players way back, they had a lot tougher time blending back into the clubhouse," Ausmus said. "This is totally different. I certainly am not going to demonize a player who was on the Mitchell Report. I feel badly for all of those guys.
"At the very worst, if all the allegations in that report are true, we're not talking about murder here. They aren't bad people. Throughout time, and in different sports, you've always had people trying to beat the system. They didn't do it to hurt anybody else, they did it because they wanted to get stronger and better."
Ausmus said he hasn't talked to Clemens since the Mitchell Report, but he understands it will be those with the great accomplishments who take the heat.
"No question," Ausmus said. "I think Roger and Barry Bonds and anyone who was closer to a record or had a record will bear the brunt of the fans' wrath. They'll take it for everybody else."
As for Clemens, in particular, Ausmus said, "It's just amazing to me how someone's reputation and everything he's worked so hard for can be ruined by the word of one shaky witness. How could that ever stand up in a court of law?"
Asked about Clemens's full-court defense since the allegations, Ausmus said, "If someone said something that was untrue about me, I'd pull out every stop in the book. If that's what Roger's doing, I can't blame him for that."
Outfielder Dave Roberts, who went through the entire Bonds Watch with the Giants, said, "I think the players, the management, and the fans want to get on with this. You're not going to see the players dwell on this."
A few questions for 2004 Red Sox playoff hero Dave Roberts, now the Giants' left fielder:
You're moving to left field to accommodate Aaron Rowand, recently signed by the Giants. How do you feel about that?
DR: "First of all, it's going to be hard to replace No. 25 [Barry Bonds], and I hope Giants fans don't expect me to hit home runs like that, but I think it's a good move in that in Aaron we really have one of the premier center fielders in the game, not only defensively, but a guy who can drive in runs and sets a tone with the way he plays the game. I think our team will be stronger and our lineup with be better."
Do you think all of that attention toward Barry and the home run record and steroids took away from your team last year?Continued...
Page 3 of 5 --
DR: "People often say that, but I resist that because the bottom line was when we were on the field playing baseball, we were away from that stuff. That stuff was the farthest thing from our minds. We just went out and played baseball. Unfortunately, we just didn't play it very well. We didn't play good baseball so we deserved to end up where we did."
more stories like this
Do you think the Giants can compete with a tough Arizona team, Colorado's lineup, San Diego's pitching, and an improving Dodgers team?
DR: "I really do. First of all, we have a very good young pitching staff. We have a lot of talented arms. Secondly, we're not done yet. We're still making moves and I'm sure we're going to address some other needs here in the next month before spring training. If we can figure out our first base and third base situation in our lineup - and I think we will - I think we're going to be fine. I don't think people realize the high level of play in the National League West now. This is traditionally a winning franchise and I think we'll do the things to get back to that."
How different is it going to be without Bonds and do you think he'll play again?
DR: "Of course, it will be different because he was an icon here. People came to watch Barry's every at-bat. I've talked to Barry this offseason, but we talked mostly about our families, but I know that he has the desire to play, but whether he has the desire to play with everything going on around him is another matter. I just don't know."
The Great Debate
Do the other Washington senators belong in this game?
Should Congress be spending valuable time and assets holding hearings on Major League Baseball and steroids? We asked commissioner Bud Selig and longtime baseball agent Alan Nero.
Selig: "Well, considering I'm going before Congress, I probably should not answer the question directly. What I will say is I think we've strengthened the program. The program is working. We are working with the NFL and UCLA is working hard in coming up with a test for human growth hormone, which is a great source of frustration for me right now. But we're doing all we can on that front to hopefully make sure we will have a test in place at some point in the future. I think everyone in baseball is working together to make certain that we can put this era of baseball behind us with continued efforts to make sure that everyone understands that there's no place for performance-enhancing drugs in our sport. We have joined with the United States Olympic Committee and contributed $3 million to join an anti-doping collaborative. I think we all look forward to the day when we can just focus on baseball and talk baseball."Continued...
There will be a strange phenomenon in spring training this year.
Camps will be full of players who have been named in the Mitchell Report. They will play among players who weren't caught and maybe never will be caught. They will play alongside players who never used. They will play among players who might still be using HGH because there's no test for it.
Many teams will have players wearing an imaginary "M" (for "Mitchell") on their chests. On the Yankees, Andy Pettitte, HGH user, will play alongside Jason Giambi, steroid user. The Orioles will have Brian Roberts at second base, Jay Gibbons in the outfield. The Jays will have Gregg Zaun and Troy Glaus. On and on.
The stigma will fade in time for some lesser players. They will become folded into the landscape, much as the remaining replacement players have been. When you see Ron Mahay or Brendan Donnelly or Kevin Millar or Damien Miller, you don't immediately think of replacement players, do you?
You'll notice them this year, maybe next, but after that, they will have to be pointed out to you as an old "Mitchell guy" or a "steroid guy." Big fish like Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Mark McGwire will never escape.
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Re: gvh
RedMagma Sun Jan 13, 2008 2:59 am
Whether it's an edict from baseball or from their respective owners, it is hard to find a general manager in the league who will say anything on the record about the Mitchell Report.
One National League GM put it bluntly: "I want nothing to do with this issue on the record, but off the record, these guys will have no problem in the clubhouse with the other players. I think the players understand that it was a messed-up time and players made mistakes and these are the guys who will pay the price.
"I do think the high-profile players - Roger Clemens, if he comes back, Andy Pettitte, Barry Bonds - those guys will be the subject of ridicule by the fans. I'm sure they'll be enduring some things, especially the guys on the big-market teams."
Red Sox GM Theo Epstein has indicated he will not comment on anything pertaining to the Mitchell Report, even the parts in which he is cited as having conversations about Donnelly and Eric Gagné using performance-enhancing substances. J.P. Ricciardi in Toronto and Billy Beane in Oakland, two GMs unafraid to speak their minds, issued no comments on all things Mitchell.
The feeling is that the less talk there is, the easier the transition will be for the accused players. Teams are trying to get into the "moving on from this" phase, even with a congressional hearing looming.
"I think transitioning these players is going to be up to the individual clubs and managers and GMs and owners," said commissioner Bud Selig. "If there's some sensitive things that have to be dealt with, it really has to be done at the team level. My focus has to be on the [testing] program, and I believe we have strengthened our program."
Veteran Astros catcher Brad Ausmus agrees there will be no problem for the players in the clubhouse.
"I think in the case of the replacement players way back, they had a lot tougher time blending back into the clubhouse," Ausmus said. "This is totally different. I certainly am not going to demonize a player who was on the Mitchell Report. I feel badly for all of those guys.
"At the very worst, if all the allegations in that report are true, we're not talking about murder here. They aren't bad people. Throughout time, and in different sports, you've always had people trying to beat the system. They didn't do it to hurt anybody else, they did it because they wanted to get stronger and better."
Ausmus said he hasn't talked to Clemens since the Mitchell Report, but he understands it will be those with the great accomplishments who take the heat.
One National League GM put it bluntly: "I want nothing to do with this issue on the record, but off the record, these guys will have no problem in the clubhouse with the other players. I think the players understand that it was a messed-up time and players made mistakes and these are the guys who will pay the price.
"I do think the high-profile players - Roger Clemens, if he comes back, Andy Pettitte, Barry Bonds - those guys will be the subject of ridicule by the fans. I'm sure they'll be enduring some things, especially the guys on the big-market teams."
Red Sox GM Theo Epstein has indicated he will not comment on anything pertaining to the Mitchell Report, even the parts in which he is cited as having conversations about Donnelly and Eric Gagné using performance-enhancing substances. J.P. Ricciardi in Toronto and Billy Beane in Oakland, two GMs unafraid to speak their minds, issued no comments on all things Mitchell.
The feeling is that the less talk there is, the easier the transition will be for the accused players. Teams are trying to get into the "moving on from this" phase, even with a congressional hearing looming.
"I think transitioning these players is going to be up to the individual clubs and managers and GMs and owners," said commissioner Bud Selig. "If there's some sensitive things that have to be dealt with, it really has to be done at the team level. My focus has to be on the [testing] program, and I believe we have strengthened our program."
Veteran Astros catcher Brad Ausmus agrees there will be no problem for the players in the clubhouse.
"I think in the case of the replacement players way back, they had a lot tougher time blending back into the clubhouse," Ausmus said. "This is totally different. I certainly am not going to demonize a player who was on the Mitchell Report. I feel badly for all of those guys.
"At the very worst, if all the allegations in that report are true, we're not talking about murder here. They aren't bad people. Throughout time, and in different sports, you've always had people trying to beat the system. They didn't do it to hurt anybody else, they did it because they wanted to get stronger and better."
Ausmus said he hasn't talked to Clemens since the Mitchell Report, but he understands it will be those with the great accomplishments who take the heat.
RedMagma- Posts : 3654
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Re: gvh
RedMagma Sun Jan 13, 2008 3:00 am
"No question," Ausmus said. "I think Roger and Barry Bonds and anyone who was closer to a record or had a record will bear the brunt of the fans' wrath. They'll take it for everybody else."
As for Clemens, in particular, Ausmus said, "It's just amazing to me how someone's reputation and everything he's worked so hard for can be ruined by the word of one shaky witness. How could that ever stand up in a court of law?"
Asked about Clemens's full-court defense since the allegations, Ausmus said, "If someone said something that was untrue about me, I'd pull out every stop in the book. If that's what Roger's doing, I can't blame him for that."
Outfielder Dave Roberts, who went through the entire Bonds Watch with the Giants, said, "I think the players, the management, and the fans want to get on with this. You're not going to see the players dwell on this."
Answers out of left field
A few questions for 2004 Red Sox playoff hero Dave Roberts, now the Giants' left fielder:
You're moving to left field to accommodate Aaron Rowand, recently signed by the Giants. How do you feel about that?
DR: "First of all, it's going to be hard to replace No. 25 [Barry Bonds], and I hope Giants fans don't expect me to hit home runs like that, but I think it's a good move in that in Aaron we really have one of the premier center fielders in the game, not only defensively, but a guy who can drive in runs and sets a tone with the way he plays the game. I think our team will be stronger and our lineup with be better."
Do you think all of that attention toward Barry and the home run record and steroids took away from your team last year?
DR: "People often say that, but I resist that because the bottom line was when we were on the field playing baseball, we were away from that stuff. That stuff was the farthest thing from our minds. We just went out and played baseball. Unfortunately, we just didn't play it very well. We didn't play good baseball so we deserved to end up where we did."
Do you think the Giants can compete with a tough Arizona team, Colorado's lineup, San Diego's pitching, and an improving Dodgers team?
DR: "I really do. First of all, we have a very good young pitching staff. We have a lot of talented arms. Secondly, we're not done yet. We're still making moves and I'm sure we're going to address some other needs here in the next month before spring training. If we can figure out our first base and third base situation in our lineup - and I think we will - I think we're going to be fine. I don't think people realize the high level of play in the National League West now. This is traditionally a winning franchise and I think we'll do the things to get back to that."
How different is it going to be without Bonds and do you think he'll play again?
DR: "Of course, it will be different because he was an icon here. People came to watch Barry's every at-bat. I've talked to Barry this offseason, but we talked mostly about our families, but I know that he has the desire to play, but whether he has the desire to play with everything going on around him is another matter. I just don't know."
The Great Debate
Do the other Washington senators belong in this game?
Should Congress be spending valuable time and assets holding hearings on Major League Baseball and steroids? We asked commissioner Bud Selig and longtime baseball agent Alan Nero.
Selig: "Well, considering I'm going before Congress, I probably should not answer the question directly. What I will say is I think we've strengthened the program. The program is working. We are working with the NFL and UCLA is working hard in coming up with a test for human growth hormone, which is a great source of frustration for me right now. But we're doing all we can on that front to hopefully make sure we will have a test in place at some point in the future. I think everyone in baseball is working together to make certain that we can put this era of baseball behind us with continued efforts to make sure that everyone understands that there's no place for performance-enhancing drugs in our sport. We have joined with the United States Olympic Committee and contributed $3 million to join an anti-doping collaborative. I think we all look forward to the day when we can just focus on baseball and talk baseball."
Page 4 of 5 --
As for Clemens, in particular, Ausmus said, "It's just amazing to me how someone's reputation and everything he's worked so hard for can be ruined by the word of one shaky witness. How could that ever stand up in a court of law?"
Asked about Clemens's full-court defense since the allegations, Ausmus said, "If someone said something that was untrue about me, I'd pull out every stop in the book. If that's what Roger's doing, I can't blame him for that."
Outfielder Dave Roberts, who went through the entire Bonds Watch with the Giants, said, "I think the players, the management, and the fans want to get on with this. You're not going to see the players dwell on this."
Answers out of left field
A few questions for 2004 Red Sox playoff hero Dave Roberts, now the Giants' left fielder:
You're moving to left field to accommodate Aaron Rowand, recently signed by the Giants. How do you feel about that?
DR: "First of all, it's going to be hard to replace No. 25 [Barry Bonds], and I hope Giants fans don't expect me to hit home runs like that, but I think it's a good move in that in Aaron we really have one of the premier center fielders in the game, not only defensively, but a guy who can drive in runs and sets a tone with the way he plays the game. I think our team will be stronger and our lineup with be better."
Do you think all of that attention toward Barry and the home run record and steroids took away from your team last year?
DR: "People often say that, but I resist that because the bottom line was when we were on the field playing baseball, we were away from that stuff. That stuff was the farthest thing from our minds. We just went out and played baseball. Unfortunately, we just didn't play it very well. We didn't play good baseball so we deserved to end up where we did."
Do you think the Giants can compete with a tough Arizona team, Colorado's lineup, San Diego's pitching, and an improving Dodgers team?
DR: "I really do. First of all, we have a very good young pitching staff. We have a lot of talented arms. Secondly, we're not done yet. We're still making moves and I'm sure we're going to address some other needs here in the next month before spring training. If we can figure out our first base and third base situation in our lineup - and I think we will - I think we're going to be fine. I don't think people realize the high level of play in the National League West now. This is traditionally a winning franchise and I think we'll do the things to get back to that."
How different is it going to be without Bonds and do you think he'll play again?
DR: "Of course, it will be different because he was an icon here. People came to watch Barry's every at-bat. I've talked to Barry this offseason, but we talked mostly about our families, but I know that he has the desire to play, but whether he has the desire to play with everything going on around him is another matter. I just don't know."
The Great Debate
Do the other Washington senators belong in this game?
Should Congress be spending valuable time and assets holding hearings on Major League Baseball and steroids? We asked commissioner Bud Selig and longtime baseball agent Alan Nero.
Selig: "Well, considering I'm going before Congress, I probably should not answer the question directly. What I will say is I think we've strengthened the program. The program is working. We are working with the NFL and UCLA is working hard in coming up with a test for human growth hormone, which is a great source of frustration for me right now. But we're doing all we can on that front to hopefully make sure we will have a test in place at some point in the future. I think everyone in baseball is working together to make certain that we can put this era of baseball behind us with continued efforts to make sure that everyone understands that there's no place for performance-enhancing drugs in our sport. We have joined with the United States Olympic Committee and contributed $3 million to join an anti-doping collaborative. I think we all look forward to the day when we can just focus on baseball and talk baseball."
Page 4 of 5 --
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Re: gvh
RedMagma Sun Jan 13, 2008 3:02 am
Do you Yankees have a similar type of program that Redsox have for their young pitchers?
http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/articles/2008/01/13/no_roid_rage_in_clubhouses/?page=4
Building him up
According to Sox pitching coach John Farrell, Clay Buchholz is entrenched in the team's strength program - and not the witness protection program. He will be seen in the second week of the rookie development program, which starts this week. "Physical gains have been made throughout the offseason with core and shoulder strength," Farrell reported. "He has also added 7 pounds. He's currently 190 pounds."
http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/articles/2008/01/13/no_roid_rage_in_clubhouses/?page=4
Building him up
According to Sox pitching coach John Farrell, Clay Buchholz is entrenched in the team's strength program - and not the witness protection program. He will be seen in the second week of the rookie development program, which starts this week. "Physical gains have been made throughout the offseason with core and shoulder strength," Farrell reported. "He has also added 7 pounds. He's currently 190 pounds."
RedMagma- Posts : 3654
Join date : 2007-12-24
Re: gvh
RedMagma Sun Jan 13, 2008 3:10 am
Huston Street To Beantown
No link, but I just saw Peter Gammons on WEII.
He said the Red Sox might be willing to trade Coco Crisp, Justin Masterson, and Jed Lowrie to the A's for Huston Street. http://www.prosportsdaily.com/forums/showthread.php?t=180250 Of course, if the A's acquired Crisp he would be dealt in a 3 way so that would give us RHP Masterson (#6 prospect according to Sickels, B), SS Lowrie (#3 , A-) and the assets from the Crisp deal for Street
No link, but I just saw Peter Gammons on WEII.
He said the Red Sox might be willing to trade Coco Crisp, Justin Masterson, and Jed Lowrie to the A's for Huston Street. http://www.prosportsdaily.com/forums/showthread.php?t=180250 Of course, if the A's acquired Crisp he would be dealt in a 3 way so that would give us RHP Masterson (#6 prospect according to Sickels, B), SS Lowrie (#3 , A-) and the assets from the Crisp deal for Street
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Re: gvh
RedMagma Sun Jan 13, 2008 3:11 am
The Coco Crisp for Huston Street rumor got shot down. Wonder if the Boston writers just think all the other teams are stupid?
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/indexn?blogid=21
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/indexn?blogid=21
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Re: gvh
RedMagma Sun Jan 13, 2008 3:16 am
Kotsay trade hinges on physical
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/01/13/SPTAUEHGQ.DTL
Susan Slusser, Chronicle Staff Writer
Sunday, January 13, 2008
(01-12) 19:32 PST --
The A's and the Braves edged closer to completing a deal that would send center fielder Mark Kotsay to Atlanta in exchange for right-handed reliever Joey Devine.
Oakland also could receive a Class-A pitcher in the deal, according to a Braves source. Oakland will pay $5 million of Kotsay's $7 million salary for 2008, and the A's also will pick up the $325,000 relocation bonus Kotsay is to receive for being traded.
Kotsay is expected to have a physical in Atlanta on Monday, the Braves source said. When the A's acquired Kotsay from San Diego before the 2004 season, his medical history and the physical delayed things for several days; he has a history of back trouble and he had surgery to repair a disk in his lower back in March. "That's why this is still kind of a tentative thing," the Braves source said.
Kotsay said he has been hitting for the past month, the earliest he's been able to do so in years, and he said he feels great. If the Braves are convinced he's fine, the deal could be announced as soon as Monday.
Devine, 24, was the Braves' first-round pick in 2005 and he was brought up later that year, but he had a rough time, giving up grand slams in his first two big-league appearances, then he gave up Chris Burke's walk-off homer in the 18th inning of Game 4 of the 2005 NL Division Series against Houston, ending Atlanta's season.
"He was rushed to the big leagues," one major-league scout said. "He's got great makeup, but that kind of left him shell-shocked. A change of scenery will be good for him."
Two industry sources speculated Saturday that if the A's land Devine, they will look to move closer Huston Street. General manager Billy Beane has made no secret that he's rebuilding the team, "full bore."
Beane was not available for comment Saturday. He and his wife, Tara, welcomed twins, a boy and a girl, Jan. 4.
E-mail Susan Slusser at sslusser@sfchronicle.com.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/01/13/SPTAUEHGQ.DTL
Susan Slusser, Chronicle Staff Writer
Sunday, January 13, 2008
(01-12) 19:32 PST --
The A's and the Braves edged closer to completing a deal that would send center fielder Mark Kotsay to Atlanta in exchange for right-handed reliever Joey Devine.
Oakland also could receive a Class-A pitcher in the deal, according to a Braves source. Oakland will pay $5 million of Kotsay's $7 million salary for 2008, and the A's also will pick up the $325,000 relocation bonus Kotsay is to receive for being traded.
Kotsay is expected to have a physical in Atlanta on Monday, the Braves source said. When the A's acquired Kotsay from San Diego before the 2004 season, his medical history and the physical delayed things for several days; he has a history of back trouble and he had surgery to repair a disk in his lower back in March. "That's why this is still kind of a tentative thing," the Braves source said.
Kotsay said he has been hitting for the past month, the earliest he's been able to do so in years, and he said he feels great. If the Braves are convinced he's fine, the deal could be announced as soon as Monday.
Devine, 24, was the Braves' first-round pick in 2005 and he was brought up later that year, but he had a rough time, giving up grand slams in his first two big-league appearances, then he gave up Chris Burke's walk-off homer in the 18th inning of Game 4 of the 2005 NL Division Series against Houston, ending Atlanta's season.
"He was rushed to the big leagues," one major-league scout said. "He's got great makeup, but that kind of left him shell-shocked. A change of scenery will be good for him."
Two industry sources speculated Saturday that if the A's land Devine, they will look to move closer Huston Street. General manager Billy Beane has made no secret that he's rebuilding the team, "full bore."
Beane was not available for comment Saturday. He and his wife, Tara, welcomed twins, a boy and a girl, Jan. 4.
E-mail Susan Slusser at sslusser@sfchronicle.com.
RedMagma- Posts : 3654
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Re: gvh
RedMagma Sun Jan 13, 2008 3:19 am
Huston Street is available?
A Redsox Fan posted this in Espn Forums
Crisp and couple of prospects for Street?
Huston Street To Beantown?
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/01/13/SPTAUEHGQ.DTL
Two industry sources speculated Saturday that if the A's land Devine, they will look to move closer Huston Street. General manager Billy Beane has made no secret that he's rebuilding the team, "full bore
E-mail Susan Slusser at sslusser@sfchronicle.com.
A Redsox Fan posted this in Espn Forums
Crisp and couple of prospects for Street?
Huston Street To Beantown?
No link, but I just saw Peter Gammons on WEII.
He said the Red Sox might be willing to trade Coco Crisp, Justin Masterson, and Jed Lowrie to the A's for Huston Street. http://www.prosportsdaily.com/forums/showthread.php?t=180250 Of course, if the A's acquired Crisp he would be dealt in a 3 way so that would give us RHP Masterson (#6 prospect according to Sickels, B), SS Lowrie (#3 , A-) and the assets from the Crisp deal for Street
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