MLB with Jerry Crasnick
ESPN.com baseball writer Jerry Crasnick is here every week to give you his insight into what's happening on and off the baseball diamond.
Who has the best beard in Baseball?
Andrew, Scouting director Eddie Bane's recent comments suggest a deal will be done before Monday's deadline. I checked around today, and I expect most of the unsigned first round picks (Bryce Harper included) to sign. Everybody is just playing chicken over money at the end.
Any rumbling on the Angels' negotiations with Cowart? Is a deal going to get done? Thanks!
Rob, I assume that Bud Selig finds it hard to tell the Reds they can't have a celebration involving Pete Rose -- and thereby deprive them of a huge crowd. You may remember that MLB also allowed Pete to appear at the All-Century festivities a while back. That said, I don't think the commissioner is going to change his mind on allowing Rose back into baseball. It ain't happening.
Your thoughts on the Reds celebrating Pete Rose on the anniversery of breaking Cobb's record and that the commissioner's office may allow his participation?
Mark, Yes, I think you're safe. As I mentioned earlier, I went to see the Dodgers in Philly last night, and I didn't sense a great vibe around that team. Not so much discord as a sense that this isn't their year. (And the Matt Kemp and Manny situations certainly aren't helping matters).
Trying to figure out my plans for the fall. Is it safe to say that I won't be attending any Dodgers games this October?
Jason, I had a few minutes to look this up, and I was shocked by the answer: It happened in 1992, when Milwaukee, Boston, KC and California all failed to hit 100 HRs. Mike Macfarlane led the Royals with 17 bombs that year, and Tom Brunansky topped the Red Sox with 15. Unless I'm wrong, that's the last time any AL clubs failed to hit fewer than 100 HRs in a season. Thanks for the question.
The A's, Royals and Mariners each may not hit 100 Homers. Has an AL team never hit 100 Homers before?
Ed, I heard a lot of that in May and June, but not so much lately, especially after Jed Hoyer went out and got Ludwick and Tejada for the stretch run. And the Rockies and Dodgers, the teams generally considered as the class of the NL West way back in spring training, don't seem to have any kind of run in them. People I've talked to definitely take the Padres seriously because of their pitching.
What will it honestly take for someone to give my Padres some love?? Do we have to sweep the Giants to get more than a "yeah, they've been nice...BUT..."
Utley4God, You could certainly make a case for them, although the bullpen is always cause for concern and Joe Blanton certainly hasn't inspired much confidence in the No. 4 spot. But that team has a certain swagger about it after two straight WS appearances. I think they feel like they can turn it on in September when they need to.
With Utley/Howard coming back and Oswalt in place, The Phils are the best team in the NL right?
A D U B, It pains me to say this, since I picked the Rockies to win the World Series this year (hey, it was way back in February), but I just don't think they're gonna get it done.
Are my Rockies done?
Lee, There are an awful lot of names floating around out there, from Brandon Inge to Wes Helms to Chone Figgins. I'm not sure that most of them are a significant upgrade from what the Braves already have. I don't see GM Frank Wren making a panic move. If it's clear in a week or two that they need something, he'll go for it.
Jerry, do you think the Braves get someone off waivers to play 3rd?
Justin, It's kind of hard to make that case after the Cardinals wiped the floor with them last week, isn't it? The Cards rotation isn't that deep, but any rotation with Wainwright and Carpenter at the top has to be taken very seriously.
How can the Cardinals be considered the favorite in the NL Central when the Reds have a far deeper rotation and better offense?
Bobby, The only difference now is that players have to clear waivers. Some players get claimed and are pulled back off waivers. Other players get claimed, and then Team A and Team B have a couple of days to work out a deal. You basically just have to jump through more hoops now.
How can teams make trades past the July 31st trade deadline (i.e. Giants acquiring Guillen)?
Phil, At this point, it's just a question of giving manager Bruce Bochy some more options. One issue I see is that they won't be very good defensively in the OF, especially in that big park. But if coming to SF can have the same effect on Guillen that it's had on Burrell and Huff offensively, he'll probably help win them a game or two down the stretch.
Any thoughts on the Giants acquisition of Guillen? I'm assuming they'll slide Huff back to 1B and start Guillen in the outfield. I like it because it gets Ishikawa back to being a pinch hit threat plus late inning defensive replacement.
Hi everybody, I spent last night at the Phils game with Jayson Stark, and we decided to leave early to beat the traffic. Nice call, huh? Let's begin the chat.
CHAT LINEUP
Friday, August 13
- 10:00 AMThe Morning Buzz
- 10:00 AMYour Take on First Take
- 11:15 AMN.Y. Jets' Nick Mangold
- 12:00 PMBoxing with Dan Rafael LIVE!
- 12:00 PMESPNNY's Wally Matthews
- 1:00 PMNFL with Pat Yasinskas
- 1:00 PMEPL with Ravi Ubha
- 2:00 PMNCAAF with Bruce Feldman
- 3:00 PMNFL with Bill Williamson LIVE!
- 3:00 PMMLB with Jerry Crasnick LIVE!Live chat page »
- 3:30 PMBoxer Bernard Hopkins
- 4:00 PMKC Joyner on Fantasy FB
Saturday, August 14
- 11:45 PMRafael After Dark
Sunday, August 15
- 9:30 AMFantasy NASCAR Focus
FROM BUZZMASTER'S DESK
I don't think we've talked about it much so far, but now that I've looked more into it, I think that we need to. I'm talking about the new Pop Tarts World in Times Square. This place appears to be total awesomesauce. Next to Disney World, this just might be the greatest tourist destination ever created.
OVERHEARD
“How big a distraction is the Revis situation for the NYJ?
” -- Sean (Hudson)
“I think it might be starting to become a little distraction. Some players have told me that it comes up in conversations around the dorms and, of course, it was one of the major storylines last night on "Hard Knocks." The players have been following the mudslinging, but today's so-called truce should change the tone. I think both sides got all the rhetoric out of their systems, and now are trying to work toward an agreement.
” -- Rich Cimini, ESPNNewYork.com writer
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