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Mets management has decided not to fire any coaches in the wake of a 2-9 West Coast road trip, the New York Daily News and ESPNNewYork.com report.
The decision was made during an organizational conference call Monday. On Sunday, general manager Omar Minaya refused to stop speculation that hitting coach Howard Johnson would be let go in an attempt to shake up the slumping club.
New York scored 23 runs in the 11 games and was shut out four times, one less than the club record for a single trip.
Mets management has decided not to fire any coaches in the wake of a 2-9 West Coast road trip, the New York Daily News and ESPNNewYork.com report.
The decision was made during an organizational conference call Monday. On Sunday, general manager Omar Minaya refused to stop speculation that hitting coach Howard Johnson would be let go in an attempt to shake up the slumping club.
New York scored 23 runs in the 11 games and was shut out four times, one less than the club record for a single trip.
ESPN’s Jayson Stark reports the Royals have "no interest" in making a multiplayer trade with the Mets.
Stark quotes an unnamed source who shot down reports the teams were contemplating a swap of bad contracts before Saturday’s nonwaiver deadline. Players such as Jeff Francoeur, Oliver Perez, Luis Castillo, Gil Meche, Jose Guillen and Kyle Farnsworth were mentioned in the reports.
Kansas City, though, has expressed interest in acquiring Francoeur, who was drafted by the Braves when current Royals general manager Dayton Moore was in charge of Atlanta’s farm system.
ESPN’s Jayson Stark reports the Royals have "no interest" in making a multiplayer trade with the Mets.
Stark quotes an unnamed source who shot down reports the teams were contemplating a swap of bad contracts before Saturday’s nonwaiver deadline. Players such as Jeff Francoeur, Oliver Perez, Luis Castillo, Gil Meche, Jose Guillen and Kyle Farnsworth were mentioned in the reports.
Kansas City, though, has expressed interest in acquiring Francoeur, who was drafted by the Braves when current Royals general manager Dayton Moore was in charge of Atlanta’s farm system.
Veteran cornerback Dre Bly, 33, is returning for his second tour with the Lions. A two-time Pro Bowl player whose best days clearly are behind him, Bly could play a pivotal role on the rebuilding Lions, who open training camp Friday. Bly — an instinctive veteran who should man the nickel role and come up with more than his share of big plays — recently talked with Sporting News’ Ryan Fagan about his return to Detroit, the Lions’ new vibe and franchise QB Matthew Stafford.
Q: So you’re back with the Lions. You spent four years there in the mid-decade. How different are things now?
A: That’s where I played my best ball. I was active in the community. If you know anything about me, you know I’m not a quitter, and when I was there I had hope, I had faith that we would turn it around. We’d have games or spurts where I thought we were on our way, and it didn’t work out that way. Then I was traded off, and they had different coaches come in and stuff like that. But from what I’ve heard, it’s a new attitude, it’s a new change.
I’ve been blessed, I’ve accomplished all my dreams, playing in Pro Bowls, won a Super Bowl, so I’ve done everything I needed to do. But I’m telling you, this is the way to go out, to have the chance to be back in Detroit. Coach (Jim) Schwartz has come in and changed the attitude. I’ve heard great things about Stafford, an up-and-coming strong guy. I really feel, based on what I’ve heard, this team is going in the right direction and I want to be a part of it.
Q: Detroit is one of the few teams never to reach a Super Bowl. That goal must seem so far, far away for fans. Give us some reasons for hope.
A: For one, it is a football town. It’s way more of a football town than anyplace I’ve been. I think it’s more of a football town than Denver is. With Michigan and Michigan State, all the diehard people in Michigan, it’s a football town. They’re just dying for a winner. That has to excite you being a member of the team. As many years as they’ve struggled, they still sell out the games. When I was there the first time, we struggled and sold out every home game just about. Fans were there — tailgating and supporting the guys. Then after two or three quarters when, you know, we weren’t playing to their standards, you’d see the signs come out and hear the boos. But for the most part, they came out every Sunday and supported us.
That’s why I feel this team can turn it around, will turn it around, and it’s just a matter of time. And hopefully it’s this year. It’s like they’re due. There are places where you’ve got to try to find people, you’ve got to lower the prices to try to find people to buy tickets. In Detroit, because it’s a football town, they don’t have a lot of problems like that. I really feel like it’s due time, and it’s definitely going to be soon.
Q: What are your first impressions of QB Matt Stafford?
A: I saw how he performed last year, watched the clippings. Most quarterbacks are mentally tough, but physically? You’ve got some that can take poundings like that, but when you’ve got a separated shoulder or whatever he had and he didn’t pull himself out of the game? Me, I played with a Grade 2 A.C. sprain and I didn’t take myself out of the game, but as a cornerback I can avoid contact. As a quarterback, he can’t avoid contact. As a D.B., I’m covering and I can tackle with the other shoulder, so it’s a little different for me. But as a quarterback? That shows something, his heart.
You have to have heart, and that’s the first thing he showed. And then you watch some of the clippings, see his arm strength and the small window he needs, he has all the tools. But the hardest thing to find is heart. If you’ve got that from the jump, all the other stuff will come.
Q: Tell me about your battles with Calvin Johnson. What unique challenges does he pose?
A: They call him Megatron. He’s just a freak. You put a quarterback around him who can get him the ball and I think he has the chance to be one of the best receivers in the game. He’s the closest thing to Randy Moss that we’ve had come up the last 10 years, as far as his physical size and speed. But I think he runs better routes than Moss.
Ryan Fagan is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at rfagan@sportingnews.com, and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ryan_fagan.
Veteran cornerback Dre Bly, 33, is returning for his second tour with the Lions. A two-time Pro Bowl player whose best days clearly are behind him, Bly could play a pivotal role on the rebuilding Lions, who open training camp Friday. Bly — an instinctive veteran who should man the nickel role and come up with more than his share of big plays — recently talked with Sporting News’ Ryan Fagan about his return to Detroit, the Lions’ new vibe and franchise QB Matthew Stafford.
Q: So you’re back with the Lions. You spent four years there in the mid-decade. How different are things now?
A: That’s where I played my best ball. I was active in the community. If you know anything about me, you know I’m not a quitter, and when I was there I had hope, I had faith that we would turn it around. We’d have games or spurts where I thought we were on our way, and it didn’t work out that way. Then I was traded off, and they had different coaches come in and stuff like that. But from what I’ve heard, it’s a new attitude, it’s a new change.
I’ve been blessed, I’ve accomplished all my dreams, playing in Pro Bowls, won a Super Bowl, so I’ve done everything I needed to do. But I’m telling you, this is the way to go out, to have the chance to be back in Detroit. Coach (Jim) Schwartz has come in and changed the attitude. I’ve heard great things about Stafford, an up-and-coming strong guy. I really feel, based on what I’ve heard, this team is going in the right direction and I want to be a part of it.
Q: Detroit is one of the few teams never to reach a Super Bowl. That goal must seem so far, far away for fans. Give us some reasons for hope.
A: For one, it is a football town. It’s way more of a football town than anyplace I’ve been. I think it’s more of a football town than Denver is. With Michigan and Michigan State, all the diehard people in Michigan, it’s a football town. They’re just dying for a winner. That has to excite you being a member of the team. As many years as they’ve struggled, they still sell out the games. When I was there the first time, we struggled and sold out every home game just about. Fans were there — tailgating and supporting the guys. Then after two or three quarters when, you know, we weren’t playing to their standards, you’d see the signs come out and hear the boos. But for the most part, they came out every Sunday and supported us.
That’s why I feel this team can turn it around, will turn it around, and it’s just a matter of time. And hopefully it’s this year. It’s like they’re due. There are places where you’ve got to try to find people, you’ve got to lower the prices to try to find people to buy tickets. In Detroit, because it’s a football town, they don’t have a lot of problems like that. I really feel like it’s due time, and it’s definitely going to be soon.
Q: What are your first impressions of QB Matt Stafford?
A: I saw how he performed last year, watched the clippings. Most quarterbacks are mentally tough, but physically? You’ve got some that can take poundings like that, but when you’ve got a separated shoulder or whatever he had and he didn’t pull himself out of the game? Me, I played with a Grade 2 A.C. sprain and I didn’t take myself out of the game, but as a cornerback I can avoid contact. As a quarterback, he can’t avoid contact. As a D.B., I’m covering and I can tackle with the other shoulder, so it’s a little different for me. But as a quarterback? That shows something, his heart.
You have to have heart, and that’s the first thing he showed. And then you watch some of the clippings, see his arm strength and the small window he needs, he has all the tools. But the hardest thing to find is heart. If you’ve got that from the jump, all the other stuff will come.
Q: Tell me about your battles with Calvin Johnson. What unique challenges does he pose?
A: They call him Megatron. He’s just a freak. You put a quarterback around him who can get him the ball and I think he has the chance to be one of the best receivers in the game. He’s the closest thing to Randy Moss that we’ve had come up the last 10 years, as far as his physical size and speed. But I think he runs better routes than Moss.
Ryan Fagan is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at rfagan@sportingnews.com, and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ryan_fagan.
Alabama head football coach Nick Saban recently raised eyebrows when he bluntly compared some pro football agents to pimps. NFL agent, and former NFL player, Ralph Cindrich joined The Morning Show on 93.7 the Fan in Pittsburgh to discuss Saban’s comments, and agents’ role in the college football world.
To listen to the interview, go to Sports Radio Interviews.
Responses below have been edited for clarity and brevity.
What does Cindrich think of Saban’s wondering how agents are "any better than a pimp"?
Cindrich: First off, that’s taken a little bit out of context, because he said, "some of them." Certainly, I would agree with him in some respects. At the same time, any time Nick Saban wants to put his record up against mine, I’m happy to do that in any form.
Is there a difference between how college coaches and agents recruit players?
Cindrich: No. And old Nick knows that. I’ve seen him out on the road a time or two. He’s maybe contacted a client of mine, or a family member of a client of mine. I know what goes on out there, and he knows that I know. The bottom line is that to stand up on a pulpit and start preaching that way – and maybe I’m doing it, take a shot at me – that bothers me, especially when it comes from a guy like Nick Saban.
Look, this is a billion dollar business, college sports, and it has an unbelievably strong congressional lobby. You’re not going to change it, and there’s no empathy for the agents, nor should there be.
Should the University of Florida be held responsible if allegations former player Maurkice Pouncey accepted money from an agent are true?
Cindrich: Could they have known, or reasonably known, with any diligence on their part? If so, yes. Why shouldn’t they be responsible? Urban Meyer got up on his pulpit, too.
People know what goes on. The guys that are on the recruiting trail out there know where all the dead bodies are… The commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a joke when it comes to enforcing rules. I screw around with them every year just to jerk them around and say, "Look, why should I be paying my fee? You are not doing anything. I’ve reported problems to you before." All they do is shuffle back and forth. If there is one state that needs Viagra it’s Pennsylvania.
Is this concern about agent relationships with players new, or has it been building over time?
Cindrich: It’s been building. And hey, don’t put USC in your rear view mirror. There is a lot more going on there. Those guys out there, from neighborhoods that are deprived, who are driving Range Rovers and the Mercedes and all the rest, they just earn that on their own on the weekends in the off-season.
What is Cindrich’s policy for approaching NFL prospects?
Cindrich: First off, I’ve not had an allegation of impropriety. Not one allegation in 33 years. To be competitive nowadays, you really can’t operate within the framework of all the rules. I’m talking about state laws, the NCAA and the NFL Players Association…
In a lot of states, you have to pay a $1,000 fee before you contact a guy. You don’t know if he is bought already, whether he is interested or not. And then you have to contact the athletic director to get permission, and the head coach to get permission. That’s just not going to happen. So what you invite is that you invite parasites…
If you really want to clean it up, make the agents liable under criminal law like they are right now. Make it a felony like it is right now. But also include the boosters, who are dirty, the head coaches, who are dirty, the others associated with the player, the parents if they joined in and received money, the runners for the financial people. All you have to do is a simple amendment. If you want to know what’s going on or what has just gone on, all you have to do is go to the former high school stars who didn’t make it in college, the college stars who didn’t make it in the pros, and you pay a bounty… If you want to clean it up, that chills the guys out there who want to break the rules.
More from SRI
Marvin Lewis talks about getting through to the Bengals
Jason Campbell discusses the upcoming season with the Oakland Raiders
Alabama head football coach Nick Saban recently raised eyebrows when he bluntly compared some pro football agents to pimps. NFL agent, and former NFL player, Ralph Cindrich joined The Morning Show on 93.7 the Fan in Pittsburgh to discuss Saban’s comments, and agents’ role in the college football world.
To listen to the interview, go to Sports Radio Interviews.
Responses below have been edited for clarity and brevity.
What does Cindrich think of Saban’s wondering how agents are "any better than a pimp"?
Cindrich: First off, that’s taken a little bit out of context, because he said, "some of them." Certainly, I would agree with him in some respects. At the same time, any time Nick Saban wants to put his record up against mine, I’m happy to do that in any form.
Is there a difference between how college coaches and agents recruit players?
Cindrich: No. And old Nick knows that. I’ve seen him out on the road a time or two. He’s maybe contacted a client of mine, or a family member of a client of mine. I know what goes on out there, and he knows that I know. The bottom line is that to stand up on a pulpit and start preaching that way – and maybe I’m doing it, take a shot at me – that bothers me, especially when it comes from a guy like Nick Saban.
Look, this is a billion dollar business, college sports, and it has an unbelievably strong congressional lobby. You’re not going to change it, and there’s no empathy for the agents, nor should there be.
Should the University of Florida be held responsible if allegations former player Maurkice Pouncey accepted money from an agent are true?
Cindrich: Could they have known, or reasonably known, with any diligence on their part? If so, yes. Why shouldn’t they be responsible? Urban Meyer got up on his pulpit, too.
People know what goes on. The guys that are on the recruiting trail out there know where all the dead bodies are… The commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a joke when it comes to enforcing rules. I screw around with them every year just to jerk them around and say, "Look, why should I be paying my fee? You are not doing anything. I’ve reported problems to you before." All they do is shuffle back and forth. If there is one state that needs Viagra it’s Pennsylvania.
Is this concern about agent relationships with players new, or has it been building over time?
Cindrich: It’s been building. And hey, don’t put USC in your rear view mirror. There is a lot more going on there. Those guys out there, from neighborhoods that are deprived, who are driving Range Rovers and the Mercedes and all the rest, they just earn that on their own on the weekends in the off-season.
What is Cindrich’s policy for approaching NFL prospects?
Cindrich: First off, I’ve not had an allegation of impropriety. Not one allegation in 33 years. To be competitive nowadays, you really can’t operate within the framework of all the rules. I’m talking about state laws, the NCAA and the NFL Players Association…
In a lot of states, you have to pay a $1,000 fee before you contact a guy. You don’t know if he is bought already, whether he is interested or not. And then you have to contact the athletic director to get permission, and the head coach to get permission. That’s just not going to happen. So what you invite is that you invite parasites…
If you really want to clean it up, make the agents liable under criminal law like they are right now. Make it a felony like it is right now. But also include the boosters, who are dirty, the head coaches, who are dirty, the others associated with the player, the parents if they joined in and received money, the runners for the financial people. All you have to do is a simple amendment. If you want to know what’s going on or what has just gone on, all you have to do is go to the former high school stars who didn’t make it in college, the college stars who didn’t make it in the pros, and you pay a bounty… If you want to clean it up, that chills the guys out there who want to break the rules.
More from SRI
Marvin Lewis talks about getting through to the Bengals
Jason Campbell discusses the upcoming season with the Oakland Raiders
Have you ever walked down a city street and seen a guy wearing pants with one leg up around the knee? Drive a few blocks away and you see another guy with almost the exact same look, only this time it’s the other pant leg that’s up. I found out — thanks to a wife in criminal justice — that’s more than just a fashion statement. The pant leg in the air is code: one short pant leg means you’re buying; the other short pant leg means you’re selling.
Don’t be surprised if you see Phillies GM Ruben Amaro walking around in a pair of clam-diggers this week. The Phillies are one of a few teams who are buying and selling.
Go ahead, let the visual of Amaro patrolling the streets with pants rolled up to both knees marinate for a few minutes. "Who’s got pitchers? Anybody got pitchers? You got pitchers? You need outfield? I got great deals on outfield."
With the MLB trade deadline looming, the Phillies are in a rather unusual position of being buyers and sellers at the same time. Of the six divisions in baseball, there are four in which the lead — heading into Monday’s games — is less than five games. But it’s the other two divisions that seem to be making most of the trade headlines.
First, to clean up the goings on in the AL West, the Rangers traded for Cliff Lee a few weeks ago and have extended their division lead over the Angels since the All-Star break. The Halos answered yesterday, despite being seven games out of first place and nine out of the wild card. That didn’t stop them from trading for Dan Haren from the Diamondbacks to try and make a late-season run to get back to the playoffs.
The other division making noise without a close race is the NL East. Phillies are just 5-5 in their last ten, but that includes four-straight wins after a moribund start to the second half. All the talk around who the Phillies might trade for — especially with Haren now dealt to the Angels — is Roy Oswalt, while all the talk of who they might trade away starts and ends with Jayson Werth.
First, let’s look at the Phillies prospects as buyers. Oswalt said he wanted to go to St. Louis, but the Astros threw a giant price tag on his front window, a clear indication that they did not anticipate giving their divisional rival any sort of discount. So now that Oswalt has already said he’d be willing to restructure the $16-million he wants guaranteed in 2012 for one team, would he be willing to do it for another? And, as news broke that St. Louis is apparently pulling themselves out of the running for Oswalt’s services – coupled with the fact that the Astros have yet to lower their price despite the fact that Haren was traded for far less than the Astros are looking to deal their ace – are the Phillies suddenly the only team left dealing with Houston?
Does that Help Amaro find an equitable price to bring a second ace with a giant price tag, less than a year after he traded Lee to Seattle for 60 cents on the dollar in a clear salary dump? Is Amaro looking to buy just to make up for his seller’s remorse?
Of course, we mustn’t forget about the other pant leg up around the knee. If Werth is dealt, it opens the door for rising star Domonic Brown, rated the top prospect in all of baseball – now that half the minor leagues has been called up this season – by more than one reputable source. The Phillies didn’t trade Brown last year and clearly won’t now, as he’s been pegged as the future of the franchise in the outfield. The Phillies would love to dump Raul Ibanez’s albatross of a contract but there’s no GM in the league dumb enough to take that on at this point.
So, even if they’re only five games out of the division that they’ve won three years in a row and they’re suddenly playing solid baseball, now may, in fact, be the best time for the Phillies to part ways with Werth. The alternative, of course, is letting him walk after the season when they’ll get nothing in return. So can Werth get enough value back for the Phillies to make trading him, ahem, worth it?
Every team in the league knows that Werth wants to test the free-agent market, so trading for him would be nothing more than a playoff rental with a theoretical chance to have first dibs on signing him after the season. No team is going to mortgage their future on a three-month rental player, let alone a guy who has been as streaky as Werth. It’s important for Amaro to shop Werth – keep that pant leg rolled as high as it goes, Rube – but that doesn’t mean he has to sell. Todd Zolecki of MLB.com thinks the Phillies can still go after Oswalt and keep Werth for the rest of this season:
There have been numerous reports the Phillies would have to trade Jayson Werth to clear salary and gain prospects for Oswalt. But I have heard recently that is not the case. While the Phillies are exploring trade partners for Werth, they could acquire Oswalt and keep Werth. And if I’m the Phillies, that’s exactly what I do, unless I get an incredible offer for Werth. I know fans would love to see Domonic Brown up here, but I think it would be unfair to expect him to do what Werth has done the past couple seasons. Plus, as I have written many, many times before, Werth is an incredibly streaky hitter. He is hitting .387 (12-for-31) with five doubles and three RBIs in his last nine games.
Werth has been dreadful this season with RISP, but can Phillies fans expect a player who started the season in Double-A to slot right into a power-production spot in the lineup and not struggle in his own right? Zolecki is right in thinking the Phillies should hold out for a great offer and if that doesn’t come, keep Werth, bring up Brown in September and let him play left field while Ibanez becomes the most expensive pinch-hitter in baseball history for a month. Then, when (if?) Chase Utley eventually comes back into the lineup, there’s another productive bat that gives you an offensive boost to justify going after Oswalt to get stronger on the mound.
The Phillies have been as injured as any team in the league, outside of maybe the Red Sox. But unlike the Red Sox who are eight games out and in third place in their division, the Phillies are still in striking distance to win the NL East, or the wild card. The next few days can clearly change the entire trade-deadline landscape, and for the Phillies, determine which pant leg Amaro pulls down first. Everyone in Philadelphia hopes it’s just not both.
You can read/listen to more from Dan Levy at OntheDLpodcast.com and follow him on Twitter @onthedlpodcast
Have you ever walked down a city street and seen a guy wearing pants with one leg up around the knee? Drive a few blocks away and you see another guy with almost the exact same look, only this time it’s the other pant leg that’s up. I found out — thanks to a wife in criminal justice — that’s more than just a fashion statement. The pant leg in the air is code: one short pant leg means you’re buying; the other short pant leg means you’re selling.
Don’t be surprised if you see Phillies GM Ruben Amaro walking around in a pair of clam-diggers this week. The Phillies are one of a few teams who are buying and selling.
Go ahead, let the visual of Amaro patrolling the streets with pants rolled up to both knees marinate for a few minutes. "Who’s got pitchers? Anybody got pitchers? You got pitchers? You need outfield? I got great deals on outfield."
With the MLB trade deadline looming, the Phillies are in a rather unusual position of being buyers and sellers at the same time. Of the six divisions in baseball, there are four in which the lead — heading into Monday’s games — is less than five games. But it’s the other two divisions that seem to be making most of the trade headlines.
First, to clean up the goings on in the AL West, the Rangers traded for Cliff Lee a few weeks ago and have extended their division lead over the Angels since the All-Star break. The Halos answered yesterday, despite being seven games out of first place and nine out of the wild card. That didn’t stop them from trading for Dan Haren from the Diamondbacks to try and make a late-season run to get back to the playoffs.
The other division making noise without a close race is the NL East. Phillies are just 5-5 in their last ten, but that includes four-straight wins after a moribund start to the second half. All the talk around who the Phillies might trade for — especially with Haren now dealt to the Angels — is Roy Oswalt, while all the talk of who they might trade away starts and ends with Jayson Werth.
First, let’s look at the Phillies prospects as buyers. Oswalt said he wanted to go to St. Louis, but the Astros threw a giant price tag on his front window, a clear indication that they did not anticipate giving their divisional rival any sort of discount. So now that Oswalt has already said he’d be willing to restructure the $16-million he wants guaranteed in 2012 for one team, would he be willing to do it for another? And, as news broke that St. Louis is apparently pulling themselves out of the running for Oswalt’s services – coupled with the fact that the Astros have yet to lower their price despite the fact that Haren was traded for far less than the Astros are looking to deal their ace – are the Phillies suddenly the only team left dealing with Houston?
Does that Help Amaro find an equitable price to bring a second ace with a giant price tag, less than a year after he traded Lee to Seattle for 60 cents on the dollar in a clear salary dump? Is Amaro looking to buy just to make up for his seller’s remorse?
Of course, we mustn’t forget about the other pant leg up around the knee. If Werth is dealt, it opens the door for rising star Domonic Brown, rated the top prospect in all of baseball – now that half the minor leagues has been called up this season – by more than one reputable source. The Phillies didn’t trade Brown last year and clearly won’t now, as he’s been pegged as the future of the franchise in the outfield. The Phillies would love to dump Raul Ibanez’s albatross of a contract but there’s no GM in the league dumb enough to take that on at this point.
So, even if they’re only five games out of the division that they’ve won three years in a row and they’re suddenly playing solid baseball, now may, in fact, be the best time for the Phillies to part ways with Werth. The alternative, of course, is letting him walk after the season when they’ll get nothing in return. So can Werth get enough value back for the Phillies to make trading him, ahem, worth it?
Every team in the league knows that Werth wants to test the free-agent market, so trading for him would be nothing more than a playoff rental with a theoretical chance to have first dibs on signing him after the season. No team is going to mortgage their future on a three-month rental player, let alone a guy who has been as streaky as Werth. It’s important for Amaro to shop Werth – keep that pant leg rolled as high as it goes, Rube – but that doesn’t mean he has to sell. Todd Zolecki of MLB.com thinks the Phillies can still go after Oswalt and keep Werth for the rest of this season:
There have been numerous reports the Phillies would have to trade Jayson Werth to clear salary and gain prospects for Oswalt. But I have heard recently that is not the case. While the Phillies are exploring trade partners for Werth, they could acquire Oswalt and keep Werth. And if I’m the Phillies, that’s exactly what I do, unless I get an incredible offer for Werth. I know fans would love to see Domonic Brown up here, but I think it would be unfair to expect him to do what Werth has done the past couple seasons. Plus, as I have written many, many times before, Werth is an incredibly streaky hitter. He is hitting .387 (12-for-31) with five doubles and three RBIs in his last nine games.
Werth has been dreadful this season with RISP, but can Phillies fans expect a player who started the season in Double-A to slot right into a power-production spot in the lineup and not struggle in his own right? Zolecki is right in thinking the Phillies should hold out for a great offer and if that doesn’t come, keep Werth, bring up Brown in September and let him play left field while Ibanez becomes the most expensive pinch-hitter in baseball history for a month. Then, when (if?) Chase Utley eventually comes back into the lineup, there’s another productive bat that gives you an offensive boost to justify going after Oswalt to get stronger on the mound.
The Phillies have been as injured as any team in the league, outside of maybe the Red Sox. But unlike the Red Sox who are eight games out and in third place in their division, the Phillies are still in striking distance to win the NL East, or the wild card. The next few days can clearly change the entire trade-deadline landscape, and for the Phillies, determine which pant leg Amaro pulls down first. Everyone in Philadelphia hopes it’s just not both.
You can read/listen to more from Dan Levy at OntheDLpodcast.com and follow him on Twitter @onthedlpodcast
Rays manager Joe Maddon says the club could use top prospect Jeremy Hellickson in the bullpen down the stretch, not the rotation, much like it did David Price in 2008. Hellickson is 12-3 with a 2.51 ERA for Triple-A Durham. His future is as a starter but he could have an immediate impact on the bullpen.
"You saw he had a little taste of it in spring training; he came out with guys all over the place and he got out of it (against the Yankees)," Maddon told the St. Petersburg Times. "Very casually in a sense, he was not offended by the moment or overwhelmed by the moment. You’re going to see the same kind of approach from him.
"Out of the bullpen, that’s a possibility, and I would not be opposed to that at all. But eventually he’s going to be one of the starters, there is no doubt. To get a taste, I think he could do it, and it would serve him well, and us."
Rays manager Joe Maddon says the club could use top prospect Jeremy Hellickson in the bullpen down the stretch, not the rotation, much like it did David Price in 2008. Hellickson is 12-3 with a 2.51 ERA for Triple-A Durham. His future is as a starter but he could have an immediate impact on the bullpen.
"You saw he had a little taste of it in spring training; he came out with guys all over the place and he got out of it (against the Yankees)," Maddon told the St. Petersburg Times. "Very casually in a sense, he was not offended by the moment or overwhelmed by the moment. You’re going to see the same kind of approach from him.
"Out of the bullpen, that’s a possibility, and I would not be opposed to that at all. But eventually he’s going to be one of the starters, there is no doubt. To get a taste, I think he could do it, and it would serve him well, and us."
More trade candidates were injured than dealt during the past few days but don’t fret. The moves are coming.
The Angels made a big one Sunday afternoon by dealing for Diamondbacks right-hander Dan Haren. As Saturday’s nonwaiver deadline approaches, look for more clubs to get busy. As White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen says, "The closer it gets, the more talks there will be, the more intense they will be."
Three players rumored to be available could be off the market after being hurt. Royals outfielder David DeJesus broke his right thumb and is out for the season, A’s starter Ben Sheet reinjured his right elbow and missed his scheduled start (and figures to miss more), and Brewers slugger Corey Hart injured his right wrist running into a wall and did not play over the weekend.
One reason for the slow shopping: The asking price for impact players has remained high. Put another way, by the ever-blunt Guillen: "All those general managers out there are crazy for what they’re asking." Count on that to change, too.
Sizing up possibilities for four potential difference-makers:
With Cliff Lee landing in Texas and Haren now in Anaheim, Oswalt is the best starting pitcher available. He says he wants to be traded to a contender. Easier said than done: The 32-year-old’s contract, his no-trade protection and the Astros’ demands are proving to be stumbling blocks. Oswalt has told reporters he wants his $16 million option for 2012 guaranteed if he is traded, but has since softened that stance.
The Astros are looking for a starting pitcher to put in their rotation and a young, right-handed hitting first baseman. Oswalt’s No. 1 choice, the Cardinals, might not be able or willing to meet that price. A trade for Oswalt’s teammate, Brett Myers, makes more sense in many ways because Myers is on a one-year contract and has pitched well.
Prediction: The Phillies, hot on Oswalt’s trail last week, end up getting him. The deal, however, will mean the end of Jayson Werth’s time in Philadelphia.
A scout says Werth has let his impending payday as a free agent affect his play, which has resulted in an up-and-down season in which he often has pressed. Werth is not sure about his future. "I haven’t heard anything," he said the other day. His hitting, meanwhile, has warmed up. He has 10 hits in his past seven games, putting his season numbers at .286/.379/.506.
The Phillies could move the 31-year-old Werth because they are unlikely to meet his asking price next winter (which figures to be more than the $66 million for four years Jason Bay got from the Mets). Prospect Domonic Brown is hitting in Triple-A and playing like he’s ready to assume Werth’s spot in right field.
Prediction: The Phillies move Werth to the Rays, then send the players they receive from Tampa Bay to the Astros for Oswalt.
Dunn, one of the game’s premier sluggers, is in the last year of his contract. The Nationals have said they want to keep him but they have not extended his deal, making him a hot name in trade speculation.
The Nationals’ asking price has remained high — they reportedly want the White Sox to include highly regarded infielder Gordon Beckham in a deal.
Prediction: The Nationals won’t come down enough on their asking price and Dunn stays in Washington, and eventually re-signs.
He’s a 26-year-old, lefty-hitting slugger who has Scott Boras as his agent and does not figure to be in Milwaukee when he becomes a free agent after the 2011 season. When Boras goes looking for that megadeal for Fielder, the uber-agent can sell his client’s power — Fielder already has seasons of 50, 46 and 34 homers — but will have to convince clubs that Fielder’s size will not hurt his future. Listed at 5-11 and 270 pounds, Fielder probably is closer to 300, and he never has been a good fielding first baseman.
Prediction: The Brewers hang onto Fielder, for now.
Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.
More trade candidates were injured than dealt during the past few days but don’t fret. The moves are coming.
The Angels made a big one Sunday afternoon by dealing for Diamondbacks right-hander Dan Haren. As Saturday’s nonwaiver deadline approaches, look for more clubs to get busy. As White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen says, "The closer it gets, the more talks there will be, the more intense they will be."
Three players rumored to be available could be off the market after being hurt. Royals outfielder David DeJesus broke his right thumb and is out for the season, A’s starter Ben Sheet reinjured his right elbow and missed his scheduled start (and figures to miss more), and Brewers slugger Corey Hart injured his right wrist running into a wall and did not play over the weekend.
One reason for the slow shopping: The asking price for impact players has remained high. Put another way, by the ever-blunt Guillen: "All those general managers out there are crazy for what they’re asking." Count on that to change, too.
Sizing up possibilities for four potential difference-makers:
With Cliff Lee landing in Texas and Haren now in Anaheim, Oswalt is the best starting pitcher available. He says he wants to be traded to a contender. Easier said than done: The 32-year-old’s contract, his no-trade protection and the Astros’ demands are proving to be stumbling blocks. Oswalt has told reporters he wants his $16 million option for 2012 guaranteed if he is traded, but has since softened that stance.
The Astros are looking for a starting pitcher to put in their rotation and a young, right-handed hitting first baseman. Oswalt’s No. 1 choice, the Cardinals, might not be able or willing to meet that price. A trade for Oswalt’s teammate, Brett Myers, makes more sense in many ways because Myers is on a one-year contract and has pitched well.
Prediction: The Phillies, hot on Oswalt’s trail last week, end up getting him. The deal, however, will mean the end of Jayson Werth’s time in Philadelphia.
A scout says Werth has let his impending payday as a free agent affect his play, which has resulted in an up-and-down season in which he often has pressed. Werth is not sure about his future. "I haven’t heard anything," he said the other day. His hitting, meanwhile, has warmed up. He has 10 hits in his past seven games, putting his season numbers at .286/.379/.506.
The Phillies could move the 31-year-old Werth because they are unlikely to meet his asking price next winter (which figures to be more than the $66 million for four years Jason Bay got from the Mets). Prospect Domonic Brown is hitting in Triple-A and playing like he’s ready to assume Werth’s spot in right field.
Prediction: The Phillies move Werth to the Rays, then send the players they receive from Tampa Bay to the Astros for Oswalt.
Dunn, one of the game’s premier sluggers, is in the last year of his contract. The Nationals have said they want to keep him but they have not extended his deal, making him a hot name in trade speculation.
The Nationals’ asking price has remained high — they reportedly want the White Sox to include highly regarded infielder Gordon Beckham in a deal.
Prediction: The Nationals won’t come down enough on their asking price and Dunn stays in Washington, and eventually re-signs.
He’s a 26-year-old, lefty-hitting slugger who has Scott Boras as his agent and does not figure to be in Milwaukee when he becomes a free agent after the 2011 season. When Boras goes looking for that megadeal for Fielder, the uber-agent can sell his client’s power — Fielder already has seasons of 50, 46 and 34 homers — but will have to convince clubs that Fielder’s size will not hurt his future. Listed at 5-11 and 270 pounds, Fielder probably is closer to 300, and he never has been a good fielding first baseman.
Prediction: The Brewers hang onto Fielder, for now.
Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.
A 2-9 West Coast road trip may cost at least one Mets coach his job Monday, and it may also result in a roster shakeup.
New York general manager Omar Minaya on Sunday would not guarantee the coaching staff would be intact when the Mets resume play Tuesday.
"I don’t want to talk about that," Minaya told reporters after Sunday’s 1-0 loss to the Dodgers in Los Angeles. "I feel everybody here is trying hard. I could tell you the staff is trying hard. If you ask me [about] the overall performance that has happened, of course I’m not happy. Nobody is happy.
"Guys are doing the best they can. But we’re going to continue to sit down with Jerry and continue to evaluate how we can get better."
Media speculation is growing that hitting coach Howard Johnson could be on his way out. The Mets were shut out four times during the trip and scored 23 runs in the 11 games.
"We’re going to get back on the plane, me and [manager] Jerry [Manuel], and talk some," Minaya said. "Everything is fair when you have a trip like this. You have to sit down and assess how you’re going to get it right and what needs to be done to get it right. We’re just not going to sit back. All of us are going to work hard, and we are working hard to find a way how to get it straight."
As for who will be playing at Citi Field on Tuesday, FOXSports.com and SI.com report the Mets and Royals may be discussing a multiplayer swap of bad contracts. Both sites report the Royals have interest in right fielder Jeff Francoeur, and that he could be packaged with left-hander Oliver Perez and second baseman Luis Castillo for right-handers Gil Meche and Kyle Farnsworth and right fielder Jose Guillen.
FOX adds the deal might not be a straight 3-for-3 swap and not all of the players being mentioned may be included in the deal. In fact, the New York Daily News reports Kansas City might be interested in Francoeur only if it ships out Guillen in a separate trade to another team.
A 2-9 West Coast road trip may cost at least one Mets coach his job Monday, and it may also result in a roster shakeup.
New York general manager Omar Minaya on Sunday would not guarantee the coaching staff would be intact when the Mets resume play Tuesday.
"I don’t want to talk about that," Minaya told reporters after Sunday’s 1-0 loss to the Dodgers in Los Angeles. "I feel everybody here is trying hard. I could tell you the staff is trying hard. If you ask me [about] the overall performance that has happened, of course I’m not happy. Nobody is happy.
"Guys are doing the best they can. But we’re going to continue to sit down with Jerry and continue to evaluate how we can get better."
Media speculation is growing that hitting coach Howard Johnson could be on his way out. The Mets were shut out four times during the trip and scored 23 runs in the 11 games.
"We’re going to get back on the plane, me and [manager] Jerry [Manuel], and talk some," Minaya said. "Everything is fair when you have a trip like this. You have to sit down and assess how you’re going to get it right and what needs to be done to get it right. We’re just not going to sit back. All of us are going to work hard, and we are working hard to find a way how to get it straight."
As for who will be playing at Citi Field on Tuesday, FOXSports.com and SI.com report the Mets and Royals may be discussing a multiplayer swap of bad contracts. Both sites report the Royals have interest in right fielder Jeff Francoeur, and that he could be packaged with left-hander Oliver Perez and second baseman Luis Castillo for right-handers Gil Meche and Kyle Farnsworth and right fielder Jose Guillen.
FOX adds the deal might not be a straight 3-for-3 swap and not all of the players being mentioned may be included in the deal. In fact, the New York Daily News reports Kansas City might be interested in Francoeur only if it ships out Guillen in a separate trade to another team.
Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski said Sunday he won’t trade top prospects — specifically, pitchers Andy Oliver and Jacob Turner — to fill holes created by the team’s recent injuries.
"Other clubs look at us and say, ‘Well, they are desperate so maybe they will trade us Oliver and Turner,’ " Dombrowski told MLB.com. "Well, we aren’t. I’m not meaning to say that anyone is untouchable. I’m not going to give away blue-chip young players for a guy for two months. It just doesn’t make sense. Will we be active in talking to people? Yes. If there is a deal that we think can be made that can help us, will we? Yes. Are we going to mortgage our future? No."
Detroit lost right fielder Magglio Ordonez (broken ankle) and second baseman Carlos Guillen (calf strain) on Saturday and third baseman Brandon Inge (broken hand) earlier in the week. The team also is without reliever Joel Zumaya (broken elbow). The Tigers are third in the AL Central, 2 1/2 games behind the White Sox pending the second game of Detroit’s doubleheader with Toronto.
Rumors surfaced Sunday that the Tigers are looking at Nationals first baseman Adam Dunn, while reports Saturday said Detroit may have interest in Red Sox infielder Mike Lowell as a fill-in for Inge.
Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski said Sunday he won’t trade top prospects — specifically, pitchers Andy Oliver and Jacob Turner — to fill holes created by the team’s recent injuries.
"Other clubs look at us and say, ‘Well, they are desperate so maybe they will trade us Oliver and Turner,’ " Dombrowski told MLB.com. "Well, we aren’t. I’m not meaning to say that anyone is untouchable. I’m not going to give away blue-chip young players for a guy for two months. It just doesn’t make sense. Will we be active in talking to people? Yes. If there is a deal that we think can be made that can help us, will we? Yes. Are we going to mortgage our future? No."
Detroit lost right fielder Magglio Ordonez (broken ankle) and second baseman Carlos Guillen (calf strain) on Saturday and third baseman Brandon Inge (broken hand) earlier in the week. The team also is without reliever Joel Zumaya (broken elbow). The Tigers are third in the AL Central, 2 1/2 games behind the White Sox pending the second game of Detroit’s doubleheader with Toronto.
Rumors surfaced Sunday that the Tigers are looking at Nationals first baseman Adam Dunn, while reports Saturday said Detroit may have interest in Red Sox infielder Mike Lowell as a fill-in for Inge.
Maurice Jones-Drew loves to carry the football, gaining 1,391 yards last season. However, Jones-Drew also loves fantasy football. So during the upcoming season, Jones-Drew will host a show every Friday on SIRIUS/XM Fantasy Sports Radio, taking calls from listeners and managing his own fantasy team. During a recent visit to New York, Jones-Drew spoke with Sporting News’ Clifton Brown and other reporters about his passion for fantasy football and the state of the Jaguars heading to Thursday’s opening of training camp.
Q: On your fantasy football show, how will you avoid giving out privileged information about yourself and other players?
A: I have to feed my family first. I’ll give out as much info as I can, but I might not come out and say it. You have to kind of read between the lines.
Q: Have you had any conversations with Jaguars management about doing a fantasy football show during the season?
A: They’re excited about it. I’m not going to say anything—like if a player is hurt or something—but I’ll make sure fans get the real insight.
Q: Many people see this as a pivotal season in Jacksonville, for coach Jack Del Rio and for the franchise in general. Do you see it that way?
A: I think every season is significant. Every year is a make-or-break year. Obviously, the way we finished the last two seasons means some pressure is heaped on us. But we can perform under pressure, and I think we have a great chance of doing some great things this year.
Q: You are coming off your best season ever, gaining almost 1,400 yards. Do you have any personal goals for the ’10 season?
A: I was taught that when you win and do great things as team, the individual accolades come with it. All I’m worried about is getting my team to the playoffs and doing everything I can to help the Jaguars win a Super Bowl.
Q: There continues to be speculation that the Jaguars franchise eventually will leave Jacksonville. Is the talk about the franchise’s uncertain future a distraction for the players and coaches?
A: It’s out of our control. If it was up to the players, that would be something different. But it’s a business; it’s about fans and money. That’s out of our control. We have to perform and play like we can, and hopefully people will want to show up.
Q: On paper, the AFC South is one of the NFL’s toughest divisions with the Colts, Titans and Texans all having playoff aspirations. Do you agree that the division could be even tougher than last season?
A: Every game is tough in the NFL, but the quarterbacks and the defense that we have in our division makes it one of the toughest. But I still think we have shot at winning it. That’s our goal.
Q: Why do you play fantasy football?
A: I get to be the owner. I get to run stuff for once. Can’t run my house, can’t run the team in Jacksonville. If I get to run my own team, why not?
Q: How much talk is there about fantasy football in the locker room?
A: Tons of talk. You’ve got to understand we’re all playing, and everybody has somebody on our team. If somebody doesn’t do well, they get harped on. It’s all in good fun.
Q: Last season against the Jets, you were about to score a touchdown late in the game. Instead, you unselfishly took a knee at the 1-yard line and allowed more time to run off the clock before the Jaguars kicked a game-winning field goal. How much do you still hear about that from fantasy players?
A: I have to thank the Jets. If that would have never happened, I probably would never have gotten my own show. I appreciate them trying to let me score, and the (Jaguars) coaches for telling me to take a knee.
Q: Who are some of the other players around the NFL who are big fantasy players?
A: Steven Jackson is a big player. Peyton Manning plays I heard. A lot of guys like to talk about it. Hopefully, Peyton doesn’t do so well when he plays the Jaguars.
Q: Is there a fantasy sleeper on the Jaguars we should be keeping an eye on this season?
A: Listen to my show.
Clifton Brown is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at cliftonbrown@sportingnews.com.
Maurice Jones-Drew loves to carry the football, gaining 1,391 yards last season. However, Jones-Drew also loves fantasy football. So during the upcoming season, Jones-Drew will host a show every Friday on SIRIUS/XM Fantasy Sports Radio, taking calls from listeners and managing his own fantasy team. During a recent visit to New York, Jones-Drew spoke with Sporting News’ Clifton Brown and other reporters about his passion for fantasy football and the state of the Jaguars heading to Thursday’s opening of training camp.
Q: On your fantasy football show, how will you avoid giving out privileged information about yourself and other players?
A: I have to feed my family first. I’ll give out as much info as I can, but I might not come out and say it. You have to kind of read between the lines.
Q: Have you had any conversations with Jaguars management about doing a fantasy football show during the season?
A: They’re excited about it. I’m not going to say anything—like if a player is hurt or something—but I’ll make sure fans get the real insight.
Q: Many people see this as a pivotal season in Jacksonville, for coach Jack Del Rio and for the franchise in general. Do you see it that way?
A: I think every season is significant. Every year is a make-or-break year. Obviously, the way we finished the last two seasons means some pressure is heaped on us. But we can perform under pressure, and I think we have a great chance of doing some great things this year.
Q: You are coming off your best season ever, gaining almost 1,400 yards. Do you have any personal goals for the ’10 season?
A: I was taught that when you win and do great things as team, the individual accolades come with it. All I’m worried about is getting my team to the playoffs and doing everything I can to help the Jaguars win a Super Bowl.
Q: There continues to be speculation that the Jaguars franchise eventually will leave Jacksonville. Is the talk about the franchise’s uncertain future a distraction for the players and coaches?
A: It’s out of our control. If it was up to the players, that would be something different. But it’s a business; it’s about fans and money. That’s out of our control. We have to perform and play like we can, and hopefully people will want to show up.
Q: On paper, the AFC South is one of the NFL’s toughest divisions with the Colts, Titans and Texans all having playoff aspirations. Do you agree that the division could be even tougher than last season?
A: Every game is tough in the NFL, but the quarterbacks and the defense that we have in our division makes it one of the toughest. But I still think we have shot at winning it. That’s our goal.
Q: Why do you play fantasy football?
A: I get to be the owner. I get to run stuff for once. Can’t run my house, can’t run the team in Jacksonville. If I get to run my own team, why not?
Q: How much talk is there about fantasy football in the locker room?
A: Tons of talk. You’ve got to understand we’re all playing, and everybody has somebody on our team. If somebody doesn’t do well, they get harped on. It’s all in good fun.
Q: Last season against the Jets, you were about to score a touchdown late in the game. Instead, you unselfishly took a knee at the 1-yard line and allowed more time to run off the clock before the Jaguars kicked a game-winning field goal. How much do you still hear about that from fantasy players?
A: I have to thank the Jets. If that would have never happened, I probably would never have gotten my own show. I appreciate them trying to let me score, and the (Jaguars) coaches for telling me to take a knee.
Q: Who are some of the other players around the NFL who are big fantasy players?
A: Steven Jackson is a big player. Peyton Manning plays I heard. A lot of guys like to talk about it. Hopefully, Peyton doesn’t do so well when he plays the Jaguars.
Q: Is there a fantasy sleeper on the Jaguars we should be keeping an eye on this season?
A: Listen to my show.
Clifton Brown is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at cliftonbrown@sportingnews.com.