Saturday, November 20, 2010

Gonzalez Cut by D-Backs


It is end of an era - The Arizona Diamondbacks announced today that they have released lefty outfielder Luis Gonzalez. Gonzalez's career with Arizona spanned 7 seasons and 1024 games. In that period, Gonzalez hit .282 with 182 HR's and 638 RBI's. He was a member of all three of Arizona's league championships: 2000, 2002 and 2003. Luis' best season was in 2001 - when he hit .301 with 53 HR's and 125 RBI's.

Buccos Obtain Aaron Cook


Pittsburgh (AP) - The Pittsburgh obtained righty starter Aaron Cook and a second rounder from the every busy Chicago White Sox for their first round pick (16th pick overall). Cook finished 13-7 with a 4.49 ERA in 200 innings pitched for Chicago last season. In five seasons with Chicago, Cook has a career 22-23 record.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Twins Acquire Hart From D-Backs


The Minnesota Twins, seeking to bolster their lineup, added a big bat by acquiring Corey Hart from Arizona. Hart hit .322 with 6 HR's and 37 RBI's last season. Young right hander Jered Weaver was traded to Arizona in the deal. Weaver, the 17th player selected in the 2006 draft, finished last season with a 7-7 record and a 4.92 ERA. Both young players should serve their new teams well.

3-Way Trade Between Cardinals, Mariners and White Sox


The St. Louis Cardinals, Seattle Mariners and Chicago White Sox completed a three-way deal which also included several draft picks changing hands. Details of the trade:


Seattle trades IF-Prince Fielder to
Chicago and their Round 5 Pick (2007) to St. Louis; St. Louis trades IF-Stephen Drew and their Round 3 Pick (2007) to Chicago; Chicago sends IF-Brandon Phillips and their Round 1 Pick (2007) acquired in the 11/11/2010 trade to Seattle; Chicago sends their Round 1 Pick (2007) acquired in the 11/10/2010 trade to St. Louis.

2006 Stats:

Fielder, SEA (.288, 31 HR, 105 RBI)

Drew, STL (.335, 4 HR, 18 RBI in 161 AB's)

Phillips, CHI (.242, 17 HR, 62 RBI)

Braves Snag Two Pitchers - Ready to Make Another Run

Atlanta (AP) - The Atlanta Braves finished the regular season with a record breaking 110-52 record. Unfortunately, the postseason did not turn out as well as the Twins knocked out the Braves in the first round.

Atlanta acquired righty starters John Maine (6-6, 5.10 ERA in 2006) and Kelvim Escobar (8-7, 5.29) from Seattle for veteran Mike Mussina (14-5, 3.40) and Anibal Sanchez (4-4, 3.07).

"Great hitting lineup, and three very good SP's. We're looking for at least one more guy in the rotation." said Brave skipper Melt. Looks like Atlanta just got their wish. . . .

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

White Sox Deal Hernandez to Dodgers

Chicago (AP) - The Chicago White Sox have announced that they have traded young righty starter Felix Hernandez and their #1 round draft pick (15th overall) to Los Angeles in exchange for the Dodgers #1 round draft pick (5th overall) and second baseman Kelly Johnson.

Hernandez, the third player selected in the 2005 draft, has a 16-16 career record with a 4.46 ERA in 41 starts for Chicago.

Kelly Johnson missed the entire 2006 season due to injury. Johnson was initially selected by Seattle in the second round of the 2005 draft.

Angels Win in Six

Anaheim (AP) - Corey Patterson was an excellent No. 9 hitter for the Angels all season. He had almost been an after-thought in a deal that brought Bobby Abreu to Anaheim in the offseason. But he had been relatively quiet in the postseason (2 RBIs) until the crucial Game 6 vs. Minnesota. His 2-run HR in the 9th snapped a 4-4 tie and lifted the Angels to their first MSL title. Also in that game, Patterson tripled home a run and threw a runner out at the plate.

Congrats to Bob Petersen on guiding the Twins to a fine season. We had fun playing a very hard-fought series. The Angels were thankful that it didn't go a seventh game because waiting in the wings was Johan Santana, who had beaten Anaheim twice and was 5-0 in the postseason.

GAME 1
Minnesota 4, Anaheim 2
Johan Santana, with relief help from Todd Jones, thwarts the Angels. Carlos Lee drives home all four Twins runs; the big blow being a 3-run HR in the 5th. The Angels hit into three double plays.

GAME 2
Anaheim 12, Minnesota 8
The Angels rallied from a 6-3 deficit against Roy Halladay. Down 7-6 in the 6th, Anaheim bounced back on a 2-run HR by Bobby Abreu. Bengie Molina's grand slam in the 8th added insurance runs.

GAME 3
Anaheim 6, Minnesota 2
The Angels snapped a 1-1 tie with three runs in the 6th. Alfonso Soriano hit a solo HR and Abreu added a 2-run double. Noah Lowry allowed 5 hits in 6 innings for the victory.

GAME 4
Minnesota 2, Anaheim 1
Santana struck out 8 and tossed a 7-hitter for his 5th victory of the postseason. Aubrey Huff hit a HR in the 1st and Ichiro added an RBI single in the 5th. Molina pulled the Angels within 2-1 with an RBI single in the 7th. But the losers again hit into three DPs, including one by Josh Barfield with the bases loaded an one out in the 3rd.

GAME 5
Anaheim 4, Minnesota 3
The Twins jumped to a 2-0 lead in the 2nd on a Huff HR and an RBI double Tony Graffanino. But the Angels responded in the 3rd on an RBI by Abreu and a 2-run single by Adam Lind. Abreu's RBI double made it 4-2 in the 4th. Brett Myers, who allowed only 5 hits in 8 innings, maintained that lead until giving away to Joe Nathan in the 9th. But, Aaron Hill doubled, went to third on a groundout, and scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-3. Corey Koskie followed with a single, but Jack Wilson hit into a DP to end the game.

GAME 6
Anaheim 6, Minnesota 4
The Angels scored three times in the 3rd on a 2-run single by Mike Lamb and a sac fly by Carlos Delgado. Corey Patterson's RBI triple upped the lead to 4-0 in the 4th. But the Twins started to chip away on RBIs by Hill in the 4th and Wilson in the 7th. But after Wilson's hit, he tried to score from first on a double by Hill -- only to be nailed at the plate by Patterson. Set-up ace Takashi Saito came on in the 8th for the Angels, but was greeted by solo homers from David Ortiz and Carlos Lee. With the game tied going into the bottom of the 9th, pinch-hitter Maicer Izturis led off with a walk. Patterson was asked to sacrifice, but with a two-strike count, the bunt was taken off. And, he responded with his Series-winning HR.

Saturday, November 06, 2010

Game 5 Set For Tropicana Field


The Minnesota Twins and the Anaheim Angels are all tied up at two games a piece in the 2006 Millennium World Series. Game Five will be played at Minnesota's home park - Tropicana Field.