Win or Lose, Ichiro Keep Spoiling Seattle With 200-Hit Campaigns

by John Hickey

Filed under: Mariners, MLB Milestones

Finally unburdened of the expectations of yet another 200-hit season, Ichiro was able to smile after Thursday's game in Toronto where he had a double and a single to become the first player in major league history to record 200 hits in 10 consecutive seasons.

Of course, he would have been able to wear a bigger smile if his 200th hit hadn't come in yet another Seattle loss. And he would have been able to smile more if No. 200 hadn't come in a game hard-luck pitcher Felix Hernandez hadn't lost 1-0.

But, sad to say, Hernandez is used to it -- four times the Mariners have been shut out in his starts and in 15 times his club has scored two runs or less when he's started.

So Hernandez wore a big smile when he walked across the visitor's clubhouse in Rogers Centre Thursday, extended his hand and offered a hearty "Congratulations."

 

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Garrett Jones Kila Ka\'aihue Paul Konerko Casey Kotchman

FanHouse TV: What's Next for Rays, Twins After Playoff Losses?

by FanHouse TV

Filed under: Blue Jays, Rays, Red Sox, Royals, Twins, MLB Video, The MLB Hour

The Rays and Twins came up short in the Division Series, and changes are in store for both. FanHouse MLB editor Andrew Johnson discusses what the future holds for the other two AL playoff teams and picks some dark horse candidates to make the playoffs from the AL next season. Click below to watch:

 

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Paul Janish Derek Jeter Jeff Keppinger Felipe López

Which McCourt Will Blink First in Dodgers Divorce Case?

by Jon Weinbach

Filed under: Dodgers, Sports Business and Media

LOS ANGELES -- It's the most expensive question in baseball right now: can Frank and Jamie McCourt make peace?

On Friday in a closed Los Angeles courtroom, attorneys for the estranged spouses appeared before a mediator in an attempt to negotiate a settlement and end their ownership battle over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The mediation talks came on the heels of another dramatic session in the couple's divorce trial, which has centered on a marital property agreement they signed in 2004, shortly after the McCourts -- or maybe just Frank -- purchased the Dodgers from News Corp. for about $430 million.

Both sides have a lot to lose by leaving a decision up to Judge Scott Gordon, who has given few visible clues regarding his leanings. Gordon could order the couple to sell the club, which would be an undesirable -- and unlikely -- event for the McCourts and for Major League Baseball, since a forced sale could depress the value of the Dodgers, one of the most prized franchises in professional sports.

The sides have had several previous rounds of settlement talks, including pre-trial meetings with a mediator and a pair of out-of-town negotiation sessions -- one in New York and another in Colorado -- that were unsuccessful. (According to one person familiar with the situation, a pre-trial negotiation session in New York was called off because Jamie never showed.)

 

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Kevin Kouzmanoff Mike Lamb Matt LaPorta Jeff Larish

Kirk Gibson Expected to Return as Diamondbacks Manager in 2011

by Pat Lackey

Filed under: Diamondbacks, MLB Transactions

The Diamondbacks have called a press conference for Monday in which they're expected to announce that interim manager Kirk Gibson will return as the club's manager in 2011.

Gibson took over for A.J. Hinch on July 1, when Hinch and general manager Josh Byrnes were both fired. With Kevin Towers taking over for interim GM Jerry Dipoto last week, the chance that he'd want to bring his own manager in existed, but apparently Gibson has sufficiently impressed Towers to keep his job.

Towers is also expected to keep Dipoto on his staff (that announcement is also forthcoming), so it's really not a surprise that he wants to keep Gibson around too. Towers indicated in his introductory press conference that he thought Gibson deserved a full season, and now Gibson will get that chance in 2011.

 

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Yonder Alonso Lars Anderson Garrett Atkins Willy Aybar

Black or Baker as NL Manager of the Year? You Might Be Surprised

by Tom Krasovic

Filed under: Braves, Giants, Padres, Red Sox, Reds, NL West, MLB Awards

SAN DIEGO, Calif -- West Coast Bias smiles when the Evil Coast transplants to the Golden State have their first Eureka moment.

Not when they look at the stupendous redwood trees near Eureka, or Malibu's inviting waters, or Yosemite's splendor.

Rather, when they discover they're now on Jupiter in terms of national sports perception.

Friday, before his San Diego Padres faced the Cincinnati Reds in a playoff race duel, Jed Hoyer had his first Eureka moment.

Hoyer is a New Englander and former Boston Red Sox staffer who became general manager of the San Diego Padres only 10 months ago, and during batting practice Friday, he looked like I'd just told him that two plus two equals five, or that ESPN won't air another Yankees-Red Sox game in his lifetime.

"You know, there's a chance that Bud Black won't win Manager of the Year," I said.

And that's when incredulity overcame the hard-to-surprise native of Plymouth, N.H.

Hoyer replied with a few words of astonishment. Then he gave me a comment that I could use here.

"In my mind," he said, "the race for Manager of the Year has been over for a long time."

 

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Mark Trumbo Matt Tuiasosopo Troy Tulowitzki Justin Turner

Playoff Pulse: Twins, Rays Fight to Extend Series

by FanHouse TV

Filed under: Rays, Twins, MLB Video

Both ALDS series continue on Saturday, and desperation is the word that comes to mind.

In the current format, only four teams have ever come back from losing the first two games of the series to win, the last being the 2003 Red Sox.

FanHouse TV's Steve Phillips reports on what the Twins and Rays need to do to avoid a sudden end to their seasons in Saturday's "Playoff Pulse".

Click to Watch:

 

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Yamaico Navarro Chris Nelson Jayson Nix Eduardo Núñez

Twins vs. Yankees: Granderson, Teixeira Spark Rally as New York Wins Game 1

by John Hickey

Filed under: Twins, Yankees, MLB Playoffs, American League Division Series

MINNEAPOLIS -- History says that the Yankees usually beat the Twins in the postseason, and history wasn't about to be undone even after Minnesota took a 3-0 lead after three innings in Game 1 of the American League Division Series. An unexpected triple by Curtis Granderson put the Yankees ahead, 4-3, in the sixth, but the Twins tied it.

Minnesota left the bases loaded after tying it in the sixth, though, and that proved fatal when reliever Jesse Crain was scorched for a two-run homer in the seventh inning by Mark Teixeira that proved to be the game-winner at 6-4.

o. Turning Point: Curtis Granderson was 4-for-24 with 13 strikeouts against Francisco Liriano when he tripled off the scoreboard in right-center field. It was basically a fly ball that carried farther than the Twins thought it would, and it gave the Yankees their first lead at 4-3 in the sixth.

 

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Álex Cora Chris Coste Craig Counsell Bobby Crosby

Utah Vs. Air Force: Tim Jefferson Goes To The Air To Cut Utah Lead

Ryan Howard Aubrey Huff Rhyne Hughes Travis Ishikawa

Astros Land Desperately Needed Upside for Roy Oswalt

by Frankie Piliere

Filed under: Astros, Blue Jays, Phillies, Prospects, MLB Trade Deadline, Advanced Scouting

When it comes to the Houston Astros, it has been a consistent struggle in recent years to develop or acquire young, high-upside talent. By trading Roy Oswalt, they took an enormous step in the right direction in landing a proper level of high-impact type talent in return.

Houston hasn't exactly been known for outstanding trades, but in this particular case score one for the 'Stros. In Jonathan Villar, the Astros took a necessary gamble on a talented low-level player and also got themselves a quality young lefty with big league experience in J.A. Happ. We've seen quite a bit of Happ at the big league level, but the real difference-makers could end up being Villar and Brett Wallace (pictured at right) -- the latter coming over from the Blue Jays in exchange for Anthony Gose, another part of the package in the Oswalt deal, who in turn bolsters Toronto's rapidly improving farm system.

Here's a breakdown of the prospects on the move Thursday:

 

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Brandon Inge Joe Inglett Travis Ishikawa Aki Iwamura

Team USA Dismantles Bartolo Colon, Dominican Republic

by Jim Henry

Filed under: Angels

CAROLINA, Puerto Rico - Facing a former Cy Young Award winner -- even past his prime and with an expanded waistline -- provided more than enough motivation for Team USA here Tuesday night.

Bartolo Colon, say hello to potentially future players of Major League Baseball.

"He's a former Cy Young winner and had a phenomenal career," Team USA first baseman Eric Hosmer told FanHouse. "You get the extra juices going when you come out and see his name on the lineup card. We are facing a Cy Young Award winner, so let's see what we can do."

The Yanks did plenty.

Hosmer, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2008 major league draft by the Kansas City Royals, went 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI to help lead Team USA past Colon and the Dominican Republic, 8-3, in the Pan Am Qualifying Tournament.

Colon, now 37, won the American League Cy Young Award with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2005. He went 21-8 with a 3.48 ERA and became the first Angels pitcher to win the Cy Young Award since Dean Chance in 1964.

Colon was a two-time All-Star, winning 153 games over a 13-year career that saw him pitch for five teams, including the Chicago White Sox last year.

Of course, it's a long way from Roberto Clemente Stadium to U.S. Cellular Field.

 

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Jerry Hairston Jr. Bill Hall Mark Hamilton Jack Hannahan

Josh Beckett, Two Others Ejected After Red Sox-Indians Scuffle

by Anthony Olivieri

Filed under: Indians, Red Sox

Boston Red Sox starter Josh Beckett was among three who were ejected from the Red Sox's 3-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians after a benches-clearing incident that looked like it might be a brawl, but turned out to be nothing more than a minor scuffle.

Cleveland's Jensen Lewis and third base coach Steve Smith also were booted.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Lewis threw behind Boston's Adrian Beltre, prompting the benches to empty and Beckett to get in the face of Cleveland reserve outfielder Shelley Duncan -- a mismatch in name recognition, at the very least. There was pushing and shoving, but no punches were thrown.

The Indians were upset at Beckett, who hit Duncan and Shin Soo-Choo earlier in the game. Cleveland made several attempts at brushing back Boston's hitters -- including one high and tight to David Ortiz in the seventh -- with tempers finally boiling over in the eighth.

 

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Logan Morrison Daniel Murphy Donnie Murphy Xavier Nady

Bryce Harper Tasting Failure in Debut, Not Ready for Arizona Fall League

by Frankie Piliere

Filed under: Nationals, Prospects, Advanced Scouting

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- It was going to happen. Bryce Harper was going to run into hurdles at the professional level. Although it's being taken for granted as simply a small stepping stone to begin his career, the fall instructional league presents a challenge to even the most gifted young players.

As it turns out, even Harper isn't above the challenges instructional league can present. Harper is no doubt rusty, as he's just a few games into the fall schedule, but there are clearly adjustments he's going to have to make. He was given a significant and early test on Saturday, getting to square off against Braves star pitching prospect Julio Teheran.

It was an interesting first look at Harper, and sometimes it can be easy to forget just how young he is. But the message here is to not get ahead ourselves when it comes to him. While he may be an impressive talent, he is not ready for competition like the Arizona Fall League later this year as some have speculated.

That is in no way a slight to his abilities. He is, quite simply, just as vulnerable as any other highly touted teenager taken in the first round. He is not super human. He has flaws and he will have to make adjustments as he advances. In that sense, he is no different than big-time draftees like Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas, who are elite hitting prospects now, but had their holes coming out of high school and were certainly not ready for a league like the AFL straight out of the draft.

 

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Adam Rosales Brendan Ryan Angel Sánchez Ramón Santiago

Angels' Erick Aybar Done for Season

by FanHouse Staff

Filed under: Angels, MLB Injuries

Angels shortstop Erick Aybar will not play again this season, manager Mike Scioscia told reporters Monday evening.

Los Angeles believes Aybar, who has not played since last Wednesday, is suffering from a sports hernia, but he still needs to consult a specialist to confirm that diagnosis.

Either way, he won't be appearing on the field over the final two weeks of the season.

 

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Steve Pearce Dustin Pedroia Carlos Peña Ramiro Peña

Josh Johnson Will Miss Next Start, Could Be Shut Down for Season

by FanHouse Staff

Filed under: Marlins, MLB Injuries

Marlins ace Josh Johnson missed a bullpen session Sunday, meaning he will not make his next scheduled start on Wednesday either.

The Florida right-hander has been bothered by back pain over the last week-plus and has not made a start since Sept. 4.

Manager Edwin Rodriguez told reporters he, pitching coach Randy St. Claire and general manager Michael Hill would meet soon to discuss shutting down Johnson for the season, a conclusion he seems to be leaning toward.

"We've been talking about (that possibility), and my opinion has been the same," Rodriguez said. "If there's any indication that he's not getting any better, that it's going to get any worse, we should shut him down. But that's only my opinion. We have to sit down, maybe tomorrow ... and make a decision. But it has to be an organizational decision."

 

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Chipper Jones Garrett Jones Kila Ka\'aihue Don Kelly

Sidney Crosby Launches Batting Practice Home Run at PNC Park

by Pat Lackey

Filed under: Pirates, NL Central

A world-class, 23-year-old athlete blasted a batting practice home run that bounced out of PNC Park yesterday afternoon. Unfortunately for the Pittsburgh Pirates, the athlete in question was crosstown hockey star, Sidney Crosby. Crosby was there with eight of his teammates as a guest of former Pirate and Pittsburgh native Sean Casey.

Crosby's blast was estimated at 360 feet and it skipped over the top wall of PNC Park's right field grandstand and down onto the stadium's River Walk. After hitting the homer, Crosby gave a brief interview to PittsburghPenguins.com (you can see both the homer and the interview in the video embedded below the jump) and tried to downplay the homer by mentioning that he played baseball until he was 13 and that it's easy to hit a homer to right in PNC.

 

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Tony Abreu Brandon Allen Yonder Alonso Pedro Alvarez

The Starting Rotation: Vazquez's Value, How the Rangers Lost 300 Runs

by Pat Lackey

Filed under: Cardinals, Nationals, Phillies, Rangers, MLB Milestones, MLB Free Agency

Get your weekend off on the right foot with an eclectic look around the major leagues from Pat Lackey and Andrew Johnson in The Starting Rotation.

The Ace: Javier Vazquez, Frontline Starter?

For all but five teams in the National League, the last few gasps of the 2010 regular season are really all about next season.

That's what had Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo talking to reporters in Washington earlier this week about his offseason plans. Like many other GMs around baseball - even those who will watch their teams play in the postseason - starting pitching is a primary concern.

"We need a guy to head the rotation, a front-of-the-rotation guy to put everybody in what we feel is their proper place in the rotation," Rizzo said Wednesday. "That's the No. 1 priority going into the offseason."

Rizzo said he would explore every avenue to get that starting pitcher. There is Cliff Lee, of course, and Rizzo likes the idea of acquiring that ace in free agency because "all it costs is money."

But if we're being honest -- as Rizzo probably is with himself when he's not addressing a horde of reporters -- Lee isn't coming to D.C. The Lerner Family will not loosen the pursestrings far enough to best the Yankees or Cubs or Angels or any of the other big boys expected to enter the bidding for the Cy Young Award-winning left-hander. And anyway, Washington remains a baseball backwater associated with tepid fan support and losing. Seven Strasmases weren't nearly enough to alter that perception and make it an attractive destination to this year's most prized free agent.

 

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José Bautista Mike Baxter Gordon Beckham Josh Bell

Adam Dunn Optimistic He Will Return to Nationals Next Season

by Tom Fornelli

Filed under: Nationals, MLB Rumors, MLB Free Agency

Will Adam Dunn be back in Washington next year or not? It's a question that's been asked pretty often this season, and one that Dunn has had to change his answer to more than a few times. Dunn had hoped to work out an extension both in spring training and during the season, but when the trade deadline rolled around and it hadn't happened, he seem resigned to the fact that his days in Washington were numbered.

Only the Nationals did not move their most valuable trade chip at the deadline, and now it seems Dunn's feelings about next year have changed once more. Not only does he want to be back in the nation's capital next season, he thinks he will be.

"I do (think I'll return to the Nationals)," Dunn told the Washington Post. "More than I did a month ago. Talks have picked back up. We'll see what happens. We're obviously talking. We're going to work something out, I think."

 

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Scott Sizemore Justin Smoak Brandon Snyder Eric Sogard

Oakland Goes Hollywood With Brad Pitt's 'Moneyball' Production

by Jeff Fletcher

Filed under: Athletics

OAKLAND, Calif. -- There has been a buzz around the Coliseum this week that has nothing to do with Trevor Cahill or Kurt Suzuki or Andrew Bailey.

It's about guys like Scott Hatteberg, Miguel Tejada and -- who are we kidding? -- Brad Pitt.

For the past week, Hollywood has taken over the Coliseum, where they've been shooting the long-awaited film "Moneyball," based on the book that chronicled Billy Beane's innovative methods of building the 2002 A's.

Pitt, who is playing Beane, has already left quite an impression on the A's employees who have spent a little time with him.

"Is he a good me?" Beane said. "We'll see."

 

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Micah Hoffpauir Ryan Howard Chin-lung Hu Orlando Hudson

Ken Macha Out as Brewers Manager; Takes Parting Shots at Braun, Fielder

by FanHouse Staff

Filed under: Brewers

The Brewers told Ken Macha on Sunday that they wouldn't be picking up his 2011 option, and the official announcement came Monday.

It surprised no one, and Macha's comments Monday morning to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel shed even more light on the disconnect between the manager and his players.

Macha understandably noted the difficulty of living up to expectations after management got rid of CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets, then acknowledged some communication issues with Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder -- who just happen to be the best players the Brewers have. Macha said he tried to reach his two stars but apparently never could.

"If the effort wasn't reciprocated, then there's not a whole lot I can do about it. You can't force guys to do that," Macha said. "Some guys were open to discussion and some guys weren't, I guess, but that's the same with every club."

The former A's manager compiled a 157-167 record in his two seasons at the helm in Milwaukee. The Brewers said no decision had been made about the fate of Macha's coaching staff.

 

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Garrett Atkins Mike Aviles Erick Aybar Willy Aybar

Indians' Shin-Soo Choo Will Put Everything on Line in Asian Games

by John Hickey

Filed under: Indians

SEATTLE -- Save for the very closest followers of the sport, most fans know little or nothing about baseball's role in the Asian Games.

But for at least one major league ballplayer, the 2010 version of the international multi-sport competition, to be held in Guangzhou, China starting on Nov. 12, could be the biggest competition of his life.

Cleveland right fielder Shin-Soo Choo is Korean, and is extremely proud of that fact. In his pursuit of a baseball career, however, he has not yet served in the South Korean army, and it's possible that after this year he will be asked to give his mandatory two years of service.

There is a catch, however. If Choo and the South Korean team win the gold medal at the Asian Games, his military service requirement will be waived. If not, then he'll be just another soldier, and in all likelihood sooner rather than later.

 

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José López Mike Lowell Jed Lowrie Julio Lugo

Jose Bautista Homers Twice for 54 as Blue Jays Pound Liriano, Twins

by FanHouse Newswire

Filed under: Blue Jays

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Jose Bautista hit home runs No. 53 and 54, including a grand slam, and the Toronto Blue Jays went deep six times in a 13-2 victory over the stumbling Minnesota Twins on Thursday night.

Edwin Encarnacion hit two homers and Jose Molina and Travis Snider added long balls for the big-swinging Blue Jays, who have hit 253 homers this season, the fourth-highest total in baseball history.

Bautista's second homer went to right field, his first this season that didn't go to either left or left-center.

Francisco Liriano (14-10) gave up five runs and six hits, including three of those homers, with six strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings in his final start before the playoffs. The left-hander is scheduled to start Game 1 of the ALDS on Wednesday at Target Field.

The AL Central champions have lost six of their last seven games and missed a chance to tie the Rays and Yankees for the best record in the American League.

 

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Marco Scutaro Drew Sutton Miguel Tejada Ruben Tejada

Breaking Down World Series Game 1

Filed under: Giants, Rangers, MLB Playoffs, MLB Video, World Series, Executive Take

SAN FRANCISCO -- Everything went right for the Giants hitters and wrong for Cliff Lee and the rest of the Rangers in San Francisco's 11-7 Game 1 win. FanHouse TV's Dan Graziano and Steve Phillips break down how it all happened and what it means going forward in the World Series from AT&T Park.

 

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Jorge Cantú Mike Carp Jamey Carroll Chris Carter

Josh Beckett, Two Others Ejected After Red Sox-Indians Scuffle

by Anthony Olivieri

Filed under: Indians, Red Sox

Boston Red Sox starter Josh Beckett was among three who were ejected from the Red Sox's 3-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians after a benches-clearing incident that looked like it might be a brawl, but turned out to be nothing more than a minor scuffle.

Cleveland's Jensen Lewis and third base coach Steve Smith also were booted.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Lewis threw behind Boston's Adrian Beltre, prompting the benches to empty and Beckett to get in the face of Cleveland reserve outfielder Shelley Duncan -- a mismatch in name recognition, at the very least. There was pushing and shoving, but no punches were thrown.

The Indians were upset at Beckett, who hit Duncan and Shin Soo-Choo earlier in the game. Cleveland made several attempts at brushing back Boston's hitters -- including one high and tight to David Ortiz in the seventh -- with tempers finally boiling over in the eighth.

 

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Steve Pearce Carlos Peña Buster Posey Albert Pujols

Umpire Watch: Posey's Steal That Wasn't, Young's Check Swing, Twins Squeezed

by Andrew Johnson

Filed under: Braves, Giants, Rangers, Rays, Twins, Yankees, MLB Playoffs, MLB Umpires, American League Division Series, National League Division Series

Controversial calls have become as much a part of the Major League Baseball postseason as Derek Jeter and patriotic bunting. In Umpire Watch, we intend to document those calls, at least until commissioner Bud Selig puts us out of business.

So you thought Day 2 of the postseason couldn't be any worse for the umpires than Day 1? I did, and like the umpires in three high-profile spots I was wrong -- dead wrong.

One Is the Loneliest Number

The Situation: No one out and a man on first -- Buster Posey -- in the bottom of the fourth inning after Posey's leadoff single.

The Play: After Derek Lowe strikes out Pat Burrell, Braves catcher Brian McCann throws down to second base in an attempt to nab Posey as he tries to swipe the bag.

The Call: Second base umpire Paul Emmel calls Posey safe at second.

The Fallout: Lowe gets the next hitter, Uribe, on a swinging strikeout, then, somewhat bizarrely, intentionally walks Pablo Sandoval to get to Cody Ross. The outfielder takes two balls from Lowe before sneaking a grounder through the left side for a single that scores Posey from second, giving the Giants the one and only run in Game 1 of the NLDS.

 

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Adam LaRoche Andy LaRoche Derrek Lee Brent Lillibridge