Rumors for May, 2010
Bernie Carbo's goons almost broke Keith Hernandez's arms?
Posted by: | CommentsLeonard Greene of the New York Post
talks about Mets broadcaster Keith Hernandez and how his career could have been ended sometime in the mid-80’s after he ratted out former teammate Bernie Carbo for introducing him to cocaine.
Carbo was best known for a pinch-hit home run he hit for the Boston Red Sox in 1975, sending Game 6 of the World Series against the Cincinnati Reds into extra innings.
Hernandez testified during a 1985 trial that Carbo had turned him onto cocaine and at the time Carbo wanted to punish his former teammate. He called thugs off after they convinced him that he would be easily implicated.
“I knew some people, and I had $2,000, and I asked them to break his arms,” Carbo told ESPN’s “Outside the Lines,” in an interview airing Sunday.
“When I went to an individual to have it done, he said, ‘We’ll do it in two or three years if you want it done, but we’re not going to do it today, Bernie. If we went and broke his legs today, or broke his arms, you don’t think they would understand that you are the one that had it done?’ ”
Iowa's Field of Dreams is for sale for $5.4 million
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to the Des Moines Register, the Field of Dreams is for sale.
Don and Becky Lansing are asking $5.4 million for the field and surrounding farmland plus the house used in the movie, two souvenir stands and six other farm buildings.
“We love the land and the field, but it is time for us to head to the locker room,” said Becky. She added “we are getting up there in years and it is time to think about retirement.”
The land is being sold without stipulations so the new owner could plow down the baseball field.
The site is annually visited by an estimated 65,000 people.
Roy Oswalt Trade Rumors: Going to a contending team?
Posted by: | CommentsHouston Astros pitcher Roy Oswalt
talked to MLB Network Radio on XM/Sirius (via the Houston Chronicle) about his status with the team and the possibility of going to a contender.
MLB: Is it something you just try to put off and say it’s out of my control, all the trade rumors and speculation that if Houston stays the way they’re going that actually your value to the team would be to bring four or five guys back to the Astros in return for your services?
Oswalt: ”I understand that part and I’ve told Houston before when they get ready to do that that I would be open to it. Some of the other guys, probably not. But with me, you know, Houston has been great to me. They drafted me and I’ve come all the way through the organization and been there since ‘97. So I understand the process. When you get to a point where you need to start rebuilding they’re going to start with a guy that’s got a lot of value and I understand that if I’m throwing well that they maybe can get two or three guys that can fill holes that they need. I told them from the very beginning when they get to that point I would be open to do it.”
MLB: You’re obviously amenable to a trade. Are there any limitations to what you would accept if something like that happened?
Oswalt: ”Oh, yeah, there would be only certain teams that I would want to go to. I don’t want to get traded and get put in the same situation that we’re in right now. I would want to go to a contender that’s a true contender, not someone that just kinda has a chance, a far chance to get there, you know, if every card was played right you’d make it. I would want to go to a contender. You know, I only have this year and next year on the contract so hopefully try to get a ring before that one’s over.”
MLB: How much longer do you want to pitch?
Oswalt: ”Well, I have two more years and then I don’t know. I’m going to play those two years and then we’re gonna see what happens.”
Frank Catalanotto Retirement Rumors: 14 year career done?
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According to the New York Daily News, former New York Mets Frank Catalanotto is likely headed for retirement.
“I don’t necessarily know that it came as a surprise – I wasn’t getting a chance to play much. I knew eventually it may happen, especially if I wasn’t helping the team out and producing,” said Catalanotto, who was 4-for-25 (.160) in 25 games. “I don’t know what’s going to happen. Chances are this is the end of my career.”
Catalanotto was designated for assignment on Tuesday. Catalanotto, 36, is a lifetime .291/.357/.445 hitter in 14 Major League seasons with the Tigers, Rangers, Blue Jays, Brewers and Mets. You can see Catalanotto’s statistics here.
Kevin Kennedy talks about subduing airplane terror suspect
Posted by: | CommentsYou may recall last month’s horoic efforts of former Major League manager and current Tampa Bay Rays broadcaster, Kevin Kennedy. Kennedy was among a group of eight men who subdued Dwayne Sheffield, 46, who threatened to blow up the Delta airplane that they were all on.
Kennedy said the suspect told the cabin, “I am going to blow this plane up.” The group of men then charged Sheffield, took him down and hog tied him. Here’s the Sirius Radio interview:
Kennedy, 55, managed the Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox in the mid-90’s. He may be best remembered for his time from 1999-2008 with Fox with co-host Jeanne Zelasko. He is currently a part-time television analyst for the Rays.
VIDEO: Texas Rangers baseball fan giving the finger to others after home run
Posted by: | CommentsHere’s a funny Friday video to warm up your day from the Texas Rangers game with the Oakland A’s. Fast forward to the 45 second mark of Max Ramirez’s homerun to see the Ranger’s #1 fan.
Here’s the still picture:
Thanks to Deadspin.
Ryan Garko put on waivers
Posted by: | CommentsRyan Garko didn’t make a very good impression on the Rangers, as he hit just .094 in 37 plate appearances. According to T.R. Sullivan up MLB.com, Garko will be optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City and then put on outright waivers. The Rangers want to give Garko a chance to see if he can be picked up by another team. If not, he’ll be outrighted to Oklahoma City and play there.
The move was necessary as Nelson Cruz will be returning from the DL.
Jarrod Washburn rumors: Not pitching this season?
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Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports says that free agent pitcher Jarrod Washburn is not going to sign with a Major League team anytime soon, and he may not pitch at all this season.
He has said that he’s healthy after off-season knee surgery. But his desire to pitch remains in doubt.
When asked if he was going to pitch this year, Washburn said by email, “Never say never, but I am very happy at home with my family.”
Morosi says that teams interested include the Mariners, Twins and the Brewers. He adds that the Tigers, Red Sox, Reds and Dodgers could benefit with the addition of Washburn.
Washburn, 35, has a career 107-109 record with a 4.10 ERA and 1.301 WHIP. He pitched for the Seattle Mariners and Detroit Tigers last season where he made $10.35 million in the last year of a four year contract. You can see Washburn’s contract history and statistics here.
Orioles Rumors: Jim Johnson Injury
Posted by: | CommentsAfter visiting with Dr. James Andrews, Orioles RHP Jim Johnson will miss at least 8-10 weeks with a strained ulnar collateral ligament, with what looks like small tear in the elbow as well. If Johnson’s condition does not improve at the four-week mark, he will most likely face Tommy John surgery.
Johnson, who has been playing through arm troubles since the beginning of the season, had allowed opponents to score seven runs and hit .349 in 9.2 innings this year. After being sent down to Triple-A last month, it appears that the Orioles reliever is probably done for the year, and could be for 2011 as well.
