-When will Nick Cafardo stop writing the baseball notes in the Sunday Boston Globe? Gordon Edes is on the staff after a strange contract tussle with the Globe. Cafardo seems like a nice enough guy, but Edes is the superior writer and should be writing the notes and commentary pieces during the week.
-If I haven't mentioned it already: I love the blogosphere, but I love the newspaper as well. Pick up a paper everyday, keep that industry running.
-The Red Sox could trade for Sabathia. It would probably cost them Clay Buchholz. I believe Buchholz to be expendable with Michael Bowden about to join Pawtucket and Justin Masterson pitching well in Boston. Buchholz is a nice player, a top prospect who did throw a no-hitter in the majors last year. A Sabathia deal, though, would really help solidify the Red Sox's position as the best team in the American League. Boston has the resources to sign him long-term, as well. If there is a deal to be made that can win your team a championship, you should always make it if you are the GM.
-The NHL free agent market opens up on July 1st. There are a lot of exciting names out there. Marian Hossa seems after all to be just a rental for Pittsburgh, it seems like he could jump ship to Detroit, the rich just got richer. The New York Rangers love to throw money at any name that comes on the market, and I'd be surprised if they didn't at least take a flier on Hossa. Mats Sundin might sign with the Canadiens. Mr. Maple Leaf, the embodiment of Toronto hockey, suiting up for the Habs? It feels wrong. This is ten times worse than Wade Boggs and Johnny Damon leaving Boston for New York. This could kill hockey in Toronto next year, only to be revived when Brian Burke comes aboard as GM next year (Worst kept secret in professional sports).
-Sergei Federov managed to revive himself last year playing with Ovechkin in Washington. It is doubtful that another team will offer him one last undeserving bloated contract, but if it happens, I hope he doesn't take it (Not that I wouldn't if I were him), because it was great to see him relevant again last year.
-Ray Emery is a pretty unpopular name in personnel circles right now, but he is only 25 and a free agent after clearing waivers courtesy of Ottawa. He had a strong run for a Stanley Cup finals team not too long ago. There are greater risks to take, at what should be short money... Right? I am waiting for Carty to correct me here... Oh right, it's just me here... Let's just move on...
-The Mets and the Yankees split a four-game series this weekend, with the Yankees winning the two middle games. If you are a Mets fan, I think should be encouraged. And Yankees fans should be disappointed. The Yankees currently seem like the better team, going 15-11 so far this month, and the Mets began the month at 28-27, and are currently 40-41, so they've been treading water. Pitching match-ups, be damned, this was a weekend for the Yankees to take the big stage of a Subway Series and prove they are the stronger team, and they didn't do it. Let the debate continue.
-With the Tampa Bay win today, coupled with the Boston loss, Tampa Bay is now in first place in the American League East by .5 games. And starting tomorrow, the Rays and the Sox will begin a three game series in Tampa. It's biggest series of the year so far for both teams. Both Tampa and Boston have held court over their home fields. It will be interesting to see how the Rays respond to a rivalry that has grown more contentious with every passing game this season. Also, with summer in full swing, Tropicana Field should be filled with Red Sox fans. I would think the Rays' players would be even more perturbed to have the crowd rooting against them in the heat of a pennant race than they are when they play meaningless series this late in the season in previous years. After this, the Red Sox head to Yankee Stadium for the 4th of July weekend. Huge week for the Sox, no other way to put it.
-Marc J. Spears (The Boston Globe) had a quote from an anoymous scout regarding the James Posey free agency situation: "Players don't leave a team after they won a championship with them." I hope he is right. And I have a misleadingly high level of confidence concerning the situation after reading that statement.
-Some other series to keep a close eye on this first half of the week: Oakland-LA Angels, Milwaukee-Arizona, Washington-Florida, and NY Mets-St Louis. Los Angeles has the A's at home with a five game lead, can really put away the AL West with a tidy three-game sweep. It will be a tough task for LA in the second game facing Rich Harden, who has been sensational to begin his season at 5-0 with a 2.15 ERA.
-Florida needs to beat up on the crappier teams in the NL if they are going to hang around in the race, they are not as strong as their record indicates. The Marlins now have a -18 run differential, and their starters rank 14th in the league with a 5.03 ERA. The weaknesses for Florida will become more evident if they don't continue to dominate their sub-.500 portions of the schedule. The starting pitching figures to receive an upgrade when Josh Johnson is activated, maybe as soon as after the All-Star break.
-Milwaukee has crept into the picture in the NL Central, two back of the Cardinals, five back on the Cubs, it's a three-team race now. I didn't see that happening. Milwaukee faces a slumping Arizona team that despite a 3-7 slide is still atop the NL West by 2.5 games with only one serious contender in the Dodgers.
-The Mets and the Cardinals are three games back in their respective divisions. Both teams have picked up ground not because they've played especially well, but because their divisional front runners have hit rough patches. The Phillies are an abysmal 2-8 in their last ten, and the Cubs have been underwhelming at 4-6. Whichever team, the Cards or the Mets, win the series, figure to pick up some ground in their divisional races.
-Last year Carlos Quentin began his season with the Diamondbacks, he hit .210, with 5 HR, and 28 RBI in 66 games. He was demoted and never heard from again that season, as Eric Brynes was permanently installed as the team's left-fielder, and finished the year leading the team in RBI with 83. This offseason, Arizona decided to offer Byrnes a hefty extension, 3 years and 30 million dollars, and part with Quentin for a top-shelf prospect in Cris Carter from the White Sox. Byrnes has a .205 BA, and a horrific .263 OBP in limited time this season (he has been injured). Quentin has matured into the big-time slugger the Diamondbacks thought they had last year as he has hit .288 with 19 HRs and 61 RBI. If the Arizona slide continue and they lose the pathetic NL West, a lot of people will point to this trade.
Miscellaneous Video of the Day:
J.R. Giddens and the most original post-dunk celebration
I love the first two picks for the Celtics this year in Giddens and Bill Walker. Two freakish athletes with mean steaks defensively. Check out the clip: Giddens following up a dunk with the Carlton Banks dance from Fresh Prince. I love him already.
Old School Rap Video of the Day:
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five - The Message
I couldn't possibly go more old school than Kurtis Blow, could I? Well, I did it. I hadn't heard the song in a while. Love it. Still one of the best hooks ever. Some credit it as the first socially conscious rap/hip-hop song ever. I don't know if that is fair, but it's a milestone nonetheless because of its popularity.
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