Rumors for May, 2010
VIDEO: Red Sox David Ortiz record slow 30 second home run trot
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to a Marquette University study (via Darren Everson of the Wall Street Journal) the average home-run trot takes 21.89 seconds. David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox did not have a problem upping the average with a record slow 30.59 second home run “walk” around the bases last night versus the Tampa Bay Rays. Here’s the video:
Former MLB pitcher Hideki Irabu arrested
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According to the Associated Press, former Yankees, Expos and Rangers right-handed pitcher Hideki Irabu was arrested for alleged drunken driving in suburban Los Angeles.
Gardena police Lt. Steve Prendergast says Irabu was stopped May 17 when officers saw him drifting outside traffic lanes and he nearly collided with a parked car.
Irabu last pitched in the Major Leagues with the Rangers in 2002. He has a career 34-35 record with a 5.15 ERA. He returned to Japan and the Kochi Fighting Dogs in 2009 before suffering a knee injury.
The 41-year-old Irabu posted the $5,000 bail.
Texas Rangers still owe Mickey Tettleton $1.4 million and other players they owe money
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The Texas Rangers are trying to complete the sale of their club by filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. In doing so they listed their top 30 unsecured creditors – in other words players and companies that they owed money.
No surprise was Alex Rodriguez and the $24.8 owed to him. One surprise was their #5 – former catcher Mickey Tettleton. The team owes him $1.4 million. We’re assuming it’s deferred salary, but that’s a stretch being 13 years removed from the game.
Another debt to note is that former Ranger Mark McLemore is 11 years removed from his playing days in Texas, but he’s owed almost one million.
Here are the players that are or should still receive checks from the Rangers:
- Alex Rodriguez – $24.8 million
- Kevin Millwood – $12.9 million
- Michael Young – $3.8 million
- Vicente Padilla – $1.6 million
- Mickey Tettleton – $1.4 million
- Mark McLemore – $970K
The documents filed in U.S. Banckruptcy Court were obtained by Anthony Andro of The Dallas Morning News. You can see them here:
Creditors 002
Buster Posey Rumors: No playing time for him with the Giants yet
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Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle says the Giants are not ready to call up prospect Buster Posey despite the team’s poor offense and the injury to Mark DeRosa.
The team is getting creative with the pieces they have including the possibility of shifting Freddy Sanchez to third base and moving Pablo Sandoval to first.
GM Brian Sabean said the Giants want to promote their future catcher only if Posey is ready and if he will get significant playing time in San Francisco.
As to Posey being ready, Sabean said, “There are a lot of sides to it. He is catching, he is playing first base and he is swinging the bat in a (hitters’) league where it’s tough to evaluate a high average.”
Bengie Molina, the incumbent catcher, is slumping offensively, but is a favorite among the pitching staff including back-to-back Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum.
“Under those circumstances, we can’t see how Posey would immediately fit in as regards to playing time,” Sabean said. “We want an idea that he’s going to get significant time. In this snapshot, it’s not presenting itself yet.”
Yankees Andy Pettitte on Roy Oswalt's next team – not the Mets?
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to New York Yankees Andy Pettitte, best friend of Houston Astros pitcher Roy Oswalt, says “Roy doesn’t want to guess. He would only leave to take a real shot at the World Series.” Pettite may have indirectly implied that Oswalt will not accept a trade to the New York Mets who have been rumored to be interested in the right-handed pitcher unless they are are sure contender.
“He could handle New York because he is comfortable with who he is and what kind of pitcher he is,” Pettite said. But we went to the World Series in ‘05, and he wants to go someplace that he can get to the World Series.”
This can obviously change if the Mets can switch gears and get back into contention. Joel Sherman of the New York Post cites Jake Peavy and how he declined the first trade to the Chicago White Sox. It was not until late July that Peavy felt the White Sox had a chance and he approved the trade.
Sherman says that teams that could be in play for Oswalt include the Yankees, Braves, Dodgers and Rangers.
Boston Red Sox designate Darnell McDonald for Assignment
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ccording to Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe, Darnell McDonald has been designated for assignment by the Red Sox in order to make room for Mike Cameron who is returning from an abdominal injury.
McDonald, 31, hit a surprising .263/.320/.400 when he was called up to fill in for Jacoby Ellsbury and Cameron.
Pictures and images of Empire State Building to honor New York Mets for Subway Series
Posted by: | CommentsIn honor of the Mets taking the lead of the 2010 Subway Series versus their cross-town rivals the New York Yankees, the Empire State Building will be lit in the team’s colors of orange and blue tonight. It’s not known if they will light up the building next month when the Subway Series continues.
Here are some pictures (courtesy of 213 Miles From Shea) of what the Empire State Building looked like during the start of the Subway Series. We’ll see if we can get images of the building from tonight.
Kazuo Matsui signs Minor League contract with Colorado Rockies
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to Thomas Harding of MLB.com
, the Colorado Rockies have and former Astros second baseman Kazuo Matsui have agreed to a Minor League contract pending a physical.
Matsui, 35, is re-joining a club that he played with in 2006-2007. He cleared waivers on Monday and will join the Rockies Triple-A club. He was hitting .141 in 27 games this season before being released by Houston last Wednesday.
Cameron Diaz getting along with the Yankee "wives"
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The New York Post says that Alex Rodriguez’s new girlfriend Cameron Diaz is getting along with the Yankee “wives”. She was recently spotted at Barneys with Nick Swisher’s actress girlfriend, Joanna Garcia.
The Post’s source added, “While Kate Hudson was considered to be a good-luck charm, the jury’s still out on Cameron.”
Diaz was also spotted at Rodriguez’s Central Park West apartment Thursday night while A-Rod was at Yankee Stadium and again the following morning.
