The Official 2008 MLB Thread

That was a close one today, almost got it.

Adios, Frank Thomas!

Yup. The Jays are on the hook for not-quite-$7 million for the rest of this season but avoid the option year. Apparently they both agreed that neither Frank nor the team would benefit from having him be a part time player. One of the most trusted journalist (among Jays fans) covering the team had said that Frank had been very difficult in the clubhouse (though it's not been reported why yet) and went so far to call him a "cancer" (not sure if that means he had been or he would be as a part timer) and there's a lot of buzz that the team doesn't think his swing is going to come back as in previous years but in any case, the race is too tight for them to carry him for a month hitting every day waiting on production.

LF Adam Lind is hitting .368 with a 1.000+ OPS in AAA and will be up as soon as he gets over a pesky stiff neck. Scott Rolen started his rehab today and might be up by the end of the week to DH until he's ready for the field again.

I hope Frank gets a job elsewhere because I'd like a definitive answer to whether or not his bat was done for good or not. Seattle seems a likely destination.

My only issue here is that the other Jays players feel this was the right move and not just a financial decision - early reports seem positive in that regard.

Need to get on a little rool here. The Tigers are featuring a nobody from the minors on the mound tomorrow, that usually means trouble for the Jays, but Marcum has been aces this year.

Then it's two good pitching matchups out of three games in each of the next two series. It would be nice to go into Boston with a shot at 1st place next week.

He called in to Baseball Tonight last night and said it was all good now - no hard feelings or anything. He simply wasn't happy with being a part timer. Wilner was off this weekend for Passover so I'm not sure whether he was saying the situation would become a clubhouse caner or had been. He was apparently irate about hitting 5th instead of 4th but it hadn't been news before.

As Hawk Harrelson is fond of saying you're gonna win 1/3 and lose 1/3, it what you do with the other 50 games

Frank was a handful with the Sox. Still he may be the best offensive player in club history. All things considered Id still rather have Big Jim

Mike Wilner was back for the Fan590 today and he writes that Thomas was - in relation to the media, a swell guy who was always polite and friendly - a reporter's dream.

In the same paragraph he said he didn't think he would be missed around the clubhouse.


Also, despite Jays management repeatedly denying it, everyone else seems to be all abuzz at the presumed opening which now exists for a Barry Bonds signing.

I'm torn on that idea. I like his bat but I have to wonder if he's any more likely to be a team player than Thomas was.

Diamondbacks won again last night. Micah Owings is pitching beyond expectations so far. They have a nice "big three" going right now----Webb (4-0, 1.86), Haren (3-0, 1.80), and Owings (4-0, 2.42).

With Baltimore's track record of signing disgruntled sluggers, I wouldn't be surprised to see the O's test the waters for him. But right now, they have no real reason to, as they are playing pretty good right now.

But the Nats stink. Most folks were expecting Washington to be better than Baltimore this year, but it hasn't panned out that way.

If Randy Johnson can get his shit together (which I still have full faith that he will), this is going to be among the best pitching rotations ever put out there.

Add the fact that neither Webb, nor Haren, nor Owings are going ANYWHERE for a LONG TIME makes the future look VERY bright indeed!

Hopefully by the time the young posititon players reach their arbitration years the D-Backs will have quite a bit more debt off of the books and will be able to pay these guys.

Smoltz gets his 3000th career strikeout!!!!!!!!

..but the Braves snap the 5-game win streak

A sweep! 37 Runs!

Dodgers unveil four-year upgrade plan for Dodger Stadium


LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Dodgers unveiled a four-year upgrade plan for Dodger Stadium on Thursday that owner Frank McCourt said amounts to a new home for the team built around the nearly 50-year-old core of the old.


The plan includes a tree-lined entrance to a landscaped grand plaza beyond center field that will connect to a promenade of restaurants, shops and a Dodgers museum.


Acres of parking around the stadium will be turned into a perimeter walkway, which the team is calling "the green necklace," allowing fans to move outdoors around the ballpark while inside the gates.


One plaza will have views encompassing downtown, the Pacific Ocean and mountains.


"We're creating a new stadium without tearing down the old," McCourt said in a statement. "That may take more effort and more resources, but we're talking about Dodger Stadium."


It's all planned to be completed by opening day in 2012, with a price tag of about $500 million, according to a news release from Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's office.


The changes require approval from the city council, expected to be a formality.


The announcement should help bring an end to speculation about a new stadium for the Dodgers, which had increased as more of the stadiums of the 1960s are torn down for newer, more neoclassical venues.


"We are very pleased to see the Dodgers commit to remain at a 'new' Dodger Stadium," baseball commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement.


The Dodgers summarized the changes for community groups and season ticket holders earlier in the week, and formally announced the facelift Thursday at a news conference.


The stadium, in use since 1962, will be the third oldest in Major League Baseball after the New York Yankees move to their new home next year. Only Boston's Fenway Park and Chicago's Wrigley Field will be older.


This is the fifth phase of renovations since McCourt and his wife Jamie purchased the Dodgers in 2004.


Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press


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I don't like the Dodgers, but I'm glad to see that they're doing this instead of building a new park.

I'm really looking forward to the Diamondback, Dodgers, and Cardinal series.

Hmmm, the Astros are on a 5 game winning streak. Berkman once again ass raped the Reds. I think he's recorded 48 home runs against them in his career.

Starting pitching has been surprisingly solid, and the line up has started to live up to expectations. If the starters hold up and the bullpen comes around this could be another playoff year for the 'Stros.

Jays are now in free fall with nothing - save the bullpen - working right for them.

My one consolation is that playing this far below their ability CAN'T last.

The only question is, will there ever be a corresponding hot streak to compensate for it?

The O's absolutely pwn Seattle so far this season!

Randy Johnson got his first win (#285 for his career). Hopefully when he's inducted to the Hall of Fame he'll go in as a Diamondback.

15 more to go!

I can't imagine any other way.

Perfect Game: As a Diamondback
World Series Win: As a Diamondback
4 Consecutive Cy Young Awards: As a Diamondback
20 Strikeout Game: As a Diamondback

If you are asking yourself (as i often do) "What's wrong with the blue Jays?"

One big thing is they are, as of tonight, 11 for their last 98 AB with runners in scoring position.

That's freakishly, abberationally, astoundingly, unexplainably, bad.

I'll be very glad when it's over.

Micah Owings went out with a sprained ankle after doubling in the 6th inning. Hopefully it isn't too severe.

Brandon Webb outdueled Jake Peavy--the D-Backs beat the Padres 2-1. Webb is 6-0 now.

Scotty "Messiah" Rolen is here to save us!

He went .364 .462 .818 1.280 against the Royals in his first series back!

Today's the 25th anniversary of Lee Elia's memorable rant against the Cubbie fans (he was the manager at the time). Here's the transcript from ESPN:

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It'd suck if Smoltzie couldn't start anymore but with the injuries to Gonzalez, Moylan and Soriano the bullpen could really use the stability that his return to the closer's role would bring with it.

and some unbelievably stupid decisions by Cox lead to the the Braves' 9th one run loss of the year!



It's getting hard not to laugh at how inept this team is in clutch late innings situations.