Look Ahead: Tigers to test mettle against stiff AL Central
The Weekend Buzz while you were remembering the great Walter Cronkite ...
1. A Halladay trade Brewing? We're officially deep into trade season, but no one seems to be talking about anyone but Roy Halladay. The latest news is that the Brewers were set to have two high-level emissaries at the Rogers Centre Sunday, when Halladay faced (and beat) the Red Sox.
|
|
| Former starter Phil Hughes has lent a helpful hand to the Yankees' ailing bullpen. (US Presswire) |
The Phillies, who have long been considered the most likely Halladay suitor, were also represented in Toronto this weekend, by former Phils (and Jays) general manager Pat Gillick. With Gillick and Brewers assistant GM Gord Ash (also a former Jays GM) in town, one rival official quipped: "They're either trying to negotiate for Halladay or going for the Blue Jays president's job."
The uncertain front-office situation in Toronto has also caught the attention of other teams, and there was a lot of talk among baseball people over the weekend that current Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi could be in trouble and that upper management may not allow him to make any Halladay trade this month.
As if there wasn't enough Halladay confusion already, there's also the question of whether the Rangers are a serious player. Texas has ownership and money problems, but the Rangers' top big-league scout was in Toronto this weekend.
2. Winning, not worrying? The Phillies look at Halladay as the pitcher who could put them over the top in the National League East, and also in October. But more and more it's looking like they don't need him to win the East. The Phils swept three games in Florida over the weekend (with one game rained out), and pushed their lead over the Marlins to seven games.
There are those in Philadelphia who worry that a rotation featuring Cole Hamels, Joe Blanton and Jamie Moyer won't play well in the playoffs. But there are also those who decided after last year that as long as you get into the postseason, you have a real chance of winning.
The Phillies, who have won eight in a row and 12 of 13, will be adding one pitcher. Pedro Martinez threw a 55-pitch bullpen session Saturday in Miami, and could begin a minor league assignment late this week.
3. Playing games in the Bronx: The Yankees won three straight tight games from the Tigers, proving once again how important an addition Phil Hughes has been to their bullpen and also allowing general manager Brian Cashman to continue to suggest to people that he doesn't have to make a move before the July 31 non-waiver trading deadline.
One thing to remember about Cashman and the Yankees: He's a master at disguising his interest right up until the moment he gets a deal done. Last winter, even the Red Sox were sure the Yankees weren't pursuing Mark Teixeira, right to the last minute.
4. A deadline is a deadline: Cashman and others have suggested that the July 31 deadline won't be as meaningful this year, because the weak economy will scare teams away from making so many waiver claims and blocking deals in August.
Not everyone is convinced.
"The reality is there are going to be some players that if you want them, you'd better get them by the 31st," Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski said. "I'm sure there will be some claims. In fact, I know there will be some claims."
Sounds like he'll be one of those doing the claiming, doesn't it?
5. No more Lugo, and no deal for Bay: Two developments with the Red Sox this weekend. One, Julio Lugo was designated for assignment, pleasing Sox fans. Two, Jason Bay contract talks were put on hold until after the season, pleasing any number of teams that would love to sign him as a free agent.
Bay still seems intent on staying in Boston, but every month without a new deal makes it more possible that he won't.
6. S.F. Oh. The Giants continue to lead the National League wild-card race, but it can't be a good sign that in the first 28 innings after the All-Star break, the Giants had just one extra-base hit and no earned runs.
Or maybe it is a good sign, because maybe the drought will push Giants management to finally trade for a hitter.
7. Bobby and Yunel: Last winter, when the Braves were trying to trade for Jake Peavy, there was talk that manager Bobby Cox was no fan of shortstop Yunel Escobar. Fast forward to Saturday, when Escobar missed a sign, and didn't swing on a hit and run with the Braves down 2-1 in the eighth inning.
Asked by Atlanta reporters about the play, Escobar's response, through interpreter/teammate Mike Gonzalez: "Talk to me when I get three hits."
Not the right answer.
8. Losing games, losing money, losing players: It's been quite a summer for the Mets, who are in danger of falling completely out of the NL East race. Not only that, but last week Larry King told GQ magazine that Mets owner Fred Wilpon lost $700 million in Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme.
Good time for some humor, right? Manager Jerry Manuel thought so.
Asked about the injury that knocked Gary Sheffield out of the lineup, Manuel responded: "They're calling it cramps -- surgery on Thursday."
9. Could you close that roof? Sure enough, on the same day that the Marlins finally broke ground on their new ballpark, which will have a retractable roof, they were rained out at unroofed Land Shark Stadium. The previous day, they had a 75-minute rain delay.
10. A third year for Trey: Saying he believes in continuity, Royals general manager Dayton Moore told the Kansas City Star that manager Trey Hillman will definitely return next year.
With the Royals now 37-54 and riding another six-game losing streak, continuity in one form seems assured. The Royals will have a sixth straight losing season, and will avoid the playoffs for the 24th consecutive year.
