First of all, I thought the All-Star game was terrific. It had the feel of a very interesting game. Most baseball games really take off once the teams reach the seventh inning, then the wheels start turning and the tension of a baseball game takes hold.

Obviously, this game was played with the idea of getting most of the players into the game. It worked out where the relievers actually were the ones who determined the outcome of the game. Just like during the season.

Hank Blalock simply crushed the ball Eric Gagne threw, another loss for Gagne in a non save situation, something that plagued him against the Giants earlier in the season too.

The players were scrutinized more carefully than ever before in an all star game. There was no room for frivolity. I don’t buy the fact that they were not aware of the consequence of the game, however trivial they would like to make that seem.

The fans took the action more seriously, and the way the players approached the game was clear to me. The atmosphere in the park was electric at the end of the seventh inning, you just had the feeling that this game wasn’t over.

One thing, in a “real” game I think Dusty would have brought in a lefty to face Blalock, but then again Smoltz was out there and available.

Or how about Dontrelle Willis in relief, now I would have enjoyed seeing Willis face Blalock, that would have been an all star moment.

Click below for more on the game and the second half! [Read more →]

“This Time It Counts”

Reads the promos for

the 74th All Star Game

this tuesday July 15 at

US Celullar Field (actually

New Comiskey Park)Chicago.

By Amaury Pi-González

San Francisco [Read more →]

The A’s need go for it now, because next year they won’t have Tejada and they won’t have Foulke. The missing link now is Brian Giles.

Here’s what they do: the Pirates can have Bobby Crosby and any other two prospects they want except Harden. That means Joe Blanton, Nick Swisher, Bill Murphy. Anyone. I’d maybe even give em a fourth prospect, if they will also send along some cash to pay Giles.

Now, this leaves the A’s with no heir apparent at shortstop next year. No problem. At the end of the season they get Khalil Greene from the Padres. He’s in Triple A and has numbers very much like Crosby. The A’s wanted to draft Greene last year in the first round, but the Pads took him. The Padres, opening their new ballpark, are probably going to go after a big name shortstop (Tejada or Aurilia?), so Greene will be expendible. The A’s could also sign some journeyman shortstop to be a fallback if Greene doesn’t work, but they would have had to do that with Crosby anyway.

The A’s also have the option of trading Giles over the winter to get their shortstop. Giles makes $9 mil a year for 04 and 05. Obviously they’d be better off keeping Giles and trading Jermaine Dye, but it would harder to trade Dye.

This also leaves the A’s farm system a little bereft. No problem again. When Tejada and Foulke leave, the A’s will get four more comp draft picks in the first two rounds. That’ll refill the cupboard.

I recognize this proposal from a very astute baseball analyst who shall remain anonymous.
Thanks,
Marty [Read more →]

Marty; The Giants have just concluded three games with Arizona, winning two of them at Arizona’s home field. In assessing the significance of this short series, is it an overemphasis to call it a microcosm of the remainder of the season?

Click Below for Ed’s Analysis.
Marty [Read more →]

If anyone out there reads the NY Times, you will see an excellent example of Yankee arrogance and some questionable journalism.

The Times quotes two Yankees sources (unnamed) saying they are trying to work a deal to send prospects to the NY Mets for Armando Benitez, who would then be sent to the Giants for Felix Rodriguez AND a prospect.

That the Yankees would actually believe the Giants would do this is off-the-chart ridiculous.

First of all, Benitez isn’t much better than F-Rod, if at all. But he makes $7 mil compared to F-Rod’s $3 mil. Plus, FRod has a deal for another two years at $3 mil a year (although it goes up if he becomes the closer). Benitez is a free agent. With Worrell also a free agent, FRod is the Giants only fallback plan if Robb Nen is unable to pitch in 04, which is a distinct possibility. To think that the Giants would make this deal AND throw in a prospect boggles the mind. [Read more →]

Tim Hudson is the best pitcher on the A’s staff right now. Mark Mulder is the best pitcher on the A’s staff right now. Barry Zito is the third best pitcher on the A’s staff right now.

They all are what they are. The best three pitchers on any staff in baseball.

This weekend is strikingly familiar to the Arizona series two years ago when the A’s played an amazing three game set against the Diamondbacks just before the all star game and rode their pitching all the way to the playoffs.

Friday night was the Giants night, the rest of the weekend they will be tested facing Curt Schilling, for at least five innings, and then the hot rookie Brandon Webb.

How far can Minnesota slide, the A’s are hoping very far because they go to Minneapolis for four games beginning Thursday.

Lloyd McClendon gets an extension in Pittsburgh and Randall Simon gets suspended for knocking over a sausage in Milwaukee. How would you like to be a Pirate fan this week?

Dontrelle Willis will make the all star game worth watching.

The Orioles need two more starting pitchers and one big bopper in the lineup and they might be able to play in the AL East. Problem for them is deciding what to do with free spirit Sidney Ponson. They don’t want to sink 40 million into this potential headcase who right now is one of the best pitchers in the league.

Someone will and will get one helluva pitcher.

The Angels keep winning, don’t discount the talent on this club.

Former Cardinal Bill White described how the Cards sneaked to the pennant in 1964. He said they were so far back, about ten games in August, that no one noticed them. All of a sudden, the leaders (Phillies and Reds) faltered in September and they found themselves in the race. They just kept playing solid baseball along the way and the flag fell into their lap.

Take heed: Florida, Colorado, and Anaheim all may not be lost.

That’s baseball.

See you on the 17th.

Marty Lurie [Read more →]

During the past 29 games the leading

Mariners have scored three or fewer

runs 19 times.

Yet General Manager Pat Gillick

says their is no panic here in

“coffe town”.

This weekend Lou Piniella

is in town, the best Mariners

manager in history.

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

Seattle [Read more →]

I’ll be starting my all star break on Saturday, so the Daily Dish will regroup and return on Thursday July 17th.

But, now let’s talk some baseball.

Last season Lou Piniella was managing the highflying Seattle Mariners. Heading into the 2002 all star break Lou had the lead in the AL West, but the A’s and the Angels were showing signs of life.

Lou realized that his team had some trouble on offense and implored his bosses to pick up another big time hitter, preferably a left fielder.

The brass disagreed, leading to an irrevocable split between Lou and his GM.

Lou now resides in Tampa Bay and brings his lowly Devil Rays into Safeco Field this weekend.

This season the Mariners are off to another good start. Guess what? Even though Ichiro is hitting .350 and Bret Boone looks like an MVP so far, they still have trouble on offense.

Tampa Bay is no great shakes either, but Lou’s team will play some close games with the Mariners starting tonight.

The A’s miss Baltimore’s best pitcher Sidney Ponson who added to his top billing by throwing a complete game against Seattle last night.

The Angels get the hapless Twins for the weekend.

This AL West will tighten up very quickly after the break, you watch and see. Seattle is very much the same bunch Lou analyzed very well at the break last year. Great defense, solid pitching, but an offense that won’t put anyone away, and if the pitching slips they become a very catchable team.

Click below for more! [Read more →]

Marty,

After writing the latest article on the state of the Giants’ pitching I searched for an appropriate title and gave consideration to describing it as a “shambles”. I decided that such a description might be too disheartening and,instead, settled on describing it as being in disrepair and asking whether it could be salvaged. On picking up this morning’s paper, I discovered that Glenn Dickey had no such cumpunctions and reasonably described the present pitching plight as a “shambles”. There could have been no greater justification for the use of such appelation than reading in the same paper that the Giants had just called up a heretofore remarkably unsuccessful pitcher, when pitching in the majors, from the Fresno farm. Giants fans, who have consistently been supporting the club with record breaking attendance deserve better. The earlier announced justification for for disposing of Ortiz was to save the money it would have cost to retain him, thereby forcing Sabean to look around for the best deal. That coming up with Moss was the best solution is open to question but the primary culprit is management. The Giants, if they are to have a successful year, are probably going to have to spend as much money as they saved by getting rid of Ortiz. It is exceedingly unlikely that any new face they come up with is going to be as good a pitcher as Ortiz. Further, to compound the lack of foresight on management’s part, their actions may end up costing them a pennant and the resultant income benefits that would produce. Ed [Read more →]

During this time of year don’t be surprised when your favorite pitcher gets knocked around. Most pitchers who have been working in the regular rotation have now logged over 100 innings. The weather is warming up in the midwest and east, so get used to seeing your guy getting knocked out of the box.

The real test of the 2003 season will begin after the all star break. Most teams will have played over 90 games by next week’s all star game, this means there will be around 70 games to go until the end of the season. With ten weeks to play seventy games, there won’t be many off days, meaning the standings can change dramatically as teams wilt during the dog days of summer.

Arizona is playing real well right now. Everytime they go to the minors for a player, they come up with what looks like a gem. Last night was no exception as sidewheeling lefty Chris Capuano threw seven major league innings at the Padres for his first major league win.

What’s up with the Padres Jake Peavy? He gave up four homers last night. I pointed out last week that the veterans are doing the job for Arizona and that one shouldn’t look at the Diamondbacks as some rookie heavy team. Homers last night from Craig Counsell, Luis Gonzalez, Steve Finley, and Shea Hillenbrand, all established major leaguers should open the Giants eyes, if they aren’t open already.

Click below for more!

[Read more →]