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VIDEO: Line drive striking LHP Tom Gorzelanny in his throwing hand
Posted by: | CommentsHere’s a scary video of a line drive coming straight back at Chicago Cubs’ left-handed pitcher Tom Gorzelanny off the bat of Pittsburgh Pirates’ outfielder Jose Tabata. Luckily it didn’t strike Gorzelanny in the head, but unfortunately it hit him on his throwing hand.
Minnesota Twins send RHP Loek Van Mil to Angels
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To complete the trade for left-handed pitcher Brian Fuentes, the Minnesota Twins have sent right-handed pitcher Loek Van Mil to the Los Angeles Angels, according to Joe Christensen of the Star Tribune.
Van Mil, 25, is best known for being the tallest pitcher in the Minor Leagues at 7′1″. He was designated for assignment by the Twins on August 28.
He has not played in the Major Leagues, but was added to the Twins 40-man roster last November. In High-A and Double-A in 2010, Van Mill is 1-3 with a 6.15 ERA in 26 games. He has a 1.960 WHIP and 1.23 SO/BB ratio.
| Team | Acquires |
| Los Angeles Angels | RHP Loek Van Mil (PTBNL) |
| Minnesota Twins | LHP Brian Fuentes |
Update – No deal to trade Mike Napoli from Angels to Red Sox
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8/29 14:14: According to a source close to Alex Speier of WEEI says the Red Sox and the Angels did not reach an agreement to trade catcher Mike Napoli despite the Sox being awarded a waiver claim.
A second source close to Speier said the Angels were “not really looking to move” Napoli right now.
8/29 17:21: The Angels will likely pull Napoli back as they can create more of a trade market for him over the winter, a league source told John Tomase of the Boston Herald. The Red Sox had interest in Napoli but also needed to put a claim in to block the Rays from obtaining him.
8/29 14:50: According to ESPN’s Joe McDonald, the Boston Red Sox have claimed Mike Napoli. McDonald adds that is is unlikely the Red Sox will complete a deal.
8/28 23:01: Major League sources close to FOXSports.com say that Los Angeles Angels catcher/first baseman Mike Napoli was claimed on trade waivers by an unknown team. The Angels and the claiming team now have until Monday afternoon to work out a deal.
Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports says the team is probably another American League club. Possible candidates include the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, Minnesota Twins, Chicago White Sox and the Texas Rangers. All of those teams could use help at catcher, first base and/or designated hitter.
Since the return of catcher Jeff Mathis from the disabled list in June, Napoli has spent more time at first base.
Napoli is earning $3.6 million this season and is on track to be a free agent after the 2012 season. He is hitting .249 with 21 home runs and 60 RBIs in 112 games.
Billy Wagner to retire after this season despite $6.5 million guarantee
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Despite triggering his vesting option last night with his 30th save and 50th game finished, Atlanta Braves’ closer Billy Wagner will retire after this season.
“I’m retiring,” the 38-year-old lefty said today, according to David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I don’t know how to say it in a politically correct way, that anybody’s going to believe me.
His $6.5 million option automatically vests by finishing his 50th game, so he’s walking away from a lot of guaranteed money.
Despite putting up very impressive numbers – 1.68 ERA, 30 saves, a .170 opponents’ average, 77 strikeouts and 15 walks in 52 2/3 innings, he’s ready to hang it up to spend more time with his wife and four kids.
“Me and my family have made plans for retirement,” he said. “I don’t need it anymore. I’m tired of the expectations, tired of the criticism, tired of people who never played trying to tell me how to play.
“And I enjoy my family, unlike [some others]. So I want to be there for them. I want to get to see them play ball, and be a dad.”
However, there may be a stipulation for Wagner to change his mind. “[manager Bobby Cox] asked me a couple of times, ‘Are you sure?’ Wagner said, smiling. “I said, well if you don’t retire, I won’t retire.”
Cox will also retire after this season.
Cincinnati Reds designate Micah Owings for assignment
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According to John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer, the Reds have designated Micah Owings for assignment to make room for newly signed draft pick Yasmani Grandal.
Luis Castillo on Mets – I know I’m not going to be here next year
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New York Mets’ second baseman Luis Castillo is frustrated with his lack of playing time. So much so that he wasn’t afraid to publicly express his future plans.
“I can’t be here anymore,” the second baseman told The New York Post, as reported by Dan Martin. “I know I’m not going to be here next year
Castillo has one year left on his four-year, $25 million contract. He has not requested a trade, but the team is aware of his desire to play everyday. He likely would not have too many teams interested because of his diminished skills, according to Martin.
“I know I can play every day,” said Castillo, who was benched in favor of rookie Ruben Tejada. “I’m not a bench player. I can still play.”
Just before the July 31st trade deadline, the Mets offered Castillo and pitcher Oliver Perez to the Chicago Cubs for Carlos Zambrano. The Cubs declined the offer.
Castillo, 34, is hitting .241/.335/.286 in 62 games for the Mets this season.
Brandon Inge pulled back from waivers – staying in Detroit
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Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports points out that one possible replacement for the injured Chipper Jones is Brandon Inge. However, in the process of the the Detroit Tigers trying to clear Inge through waivers, a team claimed him, and the Tigers pulled him back. Inge is now ineligible to be traded until the season is over.
Earlier this morning we talked about possible trade targets the Braves may go after if the team decides to go with an external option at third base. One other option Rosenthal adds is the Tigers’ Jhonny Peralta. The team has yet to try to clear him through waivers, but they may soon since they are 9 1/2 games out of AL Central.
The Braves are in need of third base depth since Jones was declared out for the season due to a torn ACL.
The waiver process doesn’t make sense? No worries. We have a write-up that explains how players can be traded in August. Check it out here.
VIDEO: Brandon Morrow loses no-hitter after 8 2/3 inning
Posted by: | CommentsRight-handed pitcher Brandon Morrow of the Toronto Blue Jays pitched 8 2/3 inning of no-hit ball versus the Tampa Bay Rays. Check out the video:
Morrow eventually got the 1-0 shutdown with his 17th strikeout. Check out that video:
The only no-hitter in Toronto Blue Jays’ franchise history was thrown by Dave Stieb on September 2, 1990. He had three potential no-hitters broken up after pitching 8 2/3 inning. (Source: Wikipedia)
Seattle Mariners giving manager Don Wakamatsu vote of confidence
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On Monday we heard that there was speculation that Seattle Mariners’ manager Don Wakamatsu could be fired based on the team’s performance and the lack of internal support of their skipper.
CBSSports.com says that GM Jack Zduriencik is sticking behind his manager despite the worst July in the franchise’s history. Zduriencik and Wakamatsu spoke before the team’s series against the Texas Rangers this week.
“Don is our manager,” Zduriencik said. “Don and I, and his son went out to dinner last night. We had a very nice evening, spent like three or four hours together and talked about a lot of things. We talked where we’re headed with the club, about Don and Don is our manager.”
When Zudriencik was asked if Wakamatsu would return in 2011 he responded:
“Everybody is evaluated at all times. As we go forward, you have to realize there is always an evaluation process going on at all times. You take a week at a time, a month at a time, a season at a time with everyone.”
Bob Nightengale of USA Today recently said the team may have already quit on Wakamatsu. Read More→
Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe highlights the winners and losers of this year’s MLB Trade Deadline. Here’s the skinny:
Texas Rangers (winner): “go bankrupt and you can make your dreams come true.”
Philadelphia Phillies (winner): “Once the Phillies get Shane Victorino back, their lineup should be cranking again, and the only issue will be the bullpen.”
Toronto Blue Jays (winner): “They stuck to their guns on Scott Downs and Jose Bautista, not settling for pennies on the dollar.”
Arizona Diamondbacks (winner): “Jerry DiPoto looks like a guy who wants ownership to remove “interim” from his general manager title. Over time, obtaining Joe Saunders and two pitching prospects for Dan Haren will be a good move.”
Kansas City Royals (winner): “Seems as if they got rid of a guy (Alberto Callaspo) they should have kept.”
New York Mets (losers): “They came away with no improvements for a team that needed them”
St. Louis Cardinals (losers): “[Ryan] Ludwick is a tough loss.”
Chicago White Sox (losers): “… Ken Williams may pay for giving up so many young arms, but when Jake Peavy went down, he acted and got Jackson.”
Los Angeles Angles (neutral): “They traded six young pitchers to obtain [Dan] Haren and [Alberto] Callaspo, and yet never addressed their major need — a power hitter. Perhaps there’s more to come in the waiver period.”
Minnesota Twins (neutral): “Just wondering if [Wilson] Ramos should have been saved for an even bigger deal this offseason”
Boston Red Sox (neutral): “Excellent deal for Jarrod Saltalamacchia, but they failed to get a bullpen piece, though they may during the waiver period.”
Cafardo says no-trade clauses are starting to annoy the teams who have given them out like “jelly beans.”
Cliff Lee has made it clear that he wants a no-trade clause in his next deal.
Buck Showalter should take over the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday, and he’ll continue evaluating the team and make recommendations as to what the O’s should do in the off-season.
It appears that Jim Edmonds could retire after the season because of his score Achilles, but he hasn’t made that decision. The Brewers would love to have him back if he’s able. Read More→
