We hadn’t gotten to Milwaukee yet in our pre-trade-deadline rundown of what all 30 teams need. But word has just gone forth that the Brewers are shipping prospects to Cleveland in exchange for reigning Cy Young pitcher C.C. Sabathia. This is precisely what Milwaukee needed.

Not only is this a fantastic deal for Milwaukee, it’s a pretty good deal for Cleveland, too. Milwaukee is giving up yet another of their young sluggers who can’t play defense in the person of AA prospect Matt LaPorta—he’s totally superfluous to them, given that they already have Prince Fielder at first and Ryan Braun in left, and there’s not really anywhere else to stick a guy like that on an NL team. Cleveland, currently 14 games out of first and dead last in the AL Central, is getting the pieces it needs to rebuild, and getting them more quickly than if they’d had to settle for the compensatory draft picks they’d have gotten if they’d just let CC walk at the end of the season. Perhaps as soon as next year, LaPorta will jump-start their ailing offense by replacing designated hitter Travis Hafner, he of the .350 SLG (now if only they could find a way to dump his salary). And the Brewers, currently tied with St. Louis for second place and 3.5 games behind the first-place Cubs, are getting the ace starting pitcher they’ve missed since Yovani Gallardo’s freak ACL-tearing accident near the start of the season. They’re giving up prospects, but let’s face it—they have plenty of those to spare. And even if they can’t sign C.C. to a long-term deal at the end of the year, they’ll get compensatory picks for him anyway.

Congratulations, Milwaukee, on making a bold and canny move that is exactly what you need.

And Chicago, watch your back.

-What They Need Index-

The Angels are in first place in the AL West and have a fine record of 52-34, third best in the majors behind the Rays and the Cubs, but they are going to be hard pressed to maintain that pace if they don’t start getting more offense.

Although they Angels are 6th in the major leagues in ERA, they are way down at 23rd in runs scored. And the biggest reason is their underperforming, overcrowded outfield/DH situation.

When the Angels tried to cram Torii Hunter into what was already an overcrowded situation, we knew that some guys would get left out, and predictably the Angels have gone with a rotation of highly-paid established veterans Hunter, Vlad Guerrero, Gary Matthews Jr., and Garrett Anderson.

Guerrero has shown some signs of emerging from an unusual early season slump, but Matthews and Anderson have been handed starting roles and 300 at-bats each, and have posted OPS figures of .678 and .697, respectively. Matthews’ OBP is only .319, and Anderson’s is even worse, at only .297. And these numbers are being put up in crucial corner outfielder/DH at-bats, where a team really needs to get a sizeable proportion of its offense.

In some sense it is understandable why the Angels keep running these two out there. Anderson has been a franchise centerpiece for more than a decade, and Matthews was awarded a huge 5-year $50 million contract two years back.

But it is time for the Angels to face reality and cut their losses by sending these guys to the bench. Anderson has been in steep decline at the plate for many years now, and is no longer even adequate on defense, while Matthews has never been more than a fourth outfielder at best, except for that one fluky, hGh-fueled free-agent walk year with the Rangers.

Meanwhile, Reggie Willits posted a .391 OBP last season, and Juan Rivera batted .310 and OPS’d .887 in his last full season in 2006. While it is uncertain whether either player would match those numbers if given an everyday starting job, both would almost certainly best what Matthews and Anderson are currently providing.

The Angels organization has been a model of stability and has not fired any of its front-office personnel in 9 years. But while that sort of patience and stability in the front office is an asset, major league ball players need to be evaluated more objectively.

If the Angels really want to get back to the World Series, the need to stop basing their lineup on sentimentality.

- What They Need Index -

The discussion going on in Coley’s post regarding designated hitters got me curious -

Does the American League really have an advantage during interleague and World Series games because of the DH? And if so, by how much?

So I was trying to figure this out by examining who would have been that ninth hitter had each National League team made the World Series in 2007. Then I would take those 16 players and match them up against the DHs of the American League and see how large the difference would be. Problem is, even after a good deal of time spent on the issue, I just couldn’t figure some of these “ninth hitters” out.

Take Cincinnati for example. Would they have DHed Adam Dunn? Who would have played left in his stead? Norris Hopper? Would Jerry Narron have trusted Joey Votto in a World Series game? Would they have DHed Griffey to keep him fresh? Would Ryan Freel have started at third while Edwin Encarnacion DHed? The possibilities were just too much.

Consequently, I’m asking for your help.

If your favorite team had made the World Series in 2007, who would have DHed? And if this guy was a regular starter in non-DH games (like Adam Dunn), who would have replaced him in the lineup?

But there are some rules here so it’s not a free-for-all:

1. This is for the World Series - the end of the season - not interleague, where another 1/2 season remains afterwards.
2. Even if this player was on your team’s roster at the beginning of the year, if he was traded/released/optioned before the post-season, then he’s not eligible. For example, Mark Sweeney can’t be the answer for San Francisco since as of 10/1/07, he was a Dodger. I have to do this or else two teams may claim the same “ninth batter”. Which would just be carayzee.
3. Despite rule #2, I’m counting injured players as eligible. Some guys whose teams aren’t in the playoff hunt shut down their seasons in September. I didn’t want to lose these guys in the exercise.
4. (ADDED) I had three rules, now I’m at four. This isn’t for the 2008 season. It’s for 2007. I’m doing this because I wanted the bigger sample size.

So let me know in the comments! I promise to take all of this information soon and write something up showing the results as well as the AL vs. NL comparison.

Thanks guys and gals!

While I contemplate making “The wisdom of Ichiro” a regular feature, enjoy today’s choice quote from Seattle’s colorful corner outfielder.

Ichiro on the prospect of being traded:

“I haven’t heard that, but what I think about it is that when things are not going well, many people have different ideas, and that’s only natural,” he says. “If a crow has thought it, it would surprise me. But since it’s human beings, it does not surprise me.”

Q: Who holds the record for the single longest relief outing in major league history?

Answer after the jump… Read the rest of this entry »

Check out the hat that the Philadelphia Phillies will be wearing over July 4th! Philadelphia freedom, I love-love-love you. Yes I do!

Via The 700 Level.

There are few issues that divide us like the designated hitter rule. It’s a debate that shows no signs of dying down. Here’s the latest argument in favor of using the DH in the NL, via Splice Today:

Last weekend, for example, while watching a slew of inter-league contests via the MLB “Extra Innings” package … I finally switched gears and figured it was time for the National League to acquiesce and adopt the still-controversial designated hitter rule.

Heresy, I guess, but what the hell; if you’re a Milwaukee Brewers’ devotee, wouldn’t it be delightful to see the world’s tubbiest vegetarian, Prince Fielder, in the dugout, contemplating his next plate appearance, instead of anchored at first base? One league’s dominance over the other usually runs in cycles, but the N.L. seems mired in a slump that’s likely to run longer than the Great Depression, and this was evident once again over the weekend. Sure, the strategy required of an N.L. manager is more intricate than A.L. counterparts with double-switches and more sacrifice bunts, but the two leagues might be more competitive if older free agents (or crummy fielders) could extend their careers as a DH.

I think the above argument in favor of the DH is weak and poorly articulated. But I do think it raises a valid question: is the DH giving the AL an advantage over the NL in interleague games? And, if so, does something need to be done?

I have absolutely no data to back this up, but it seems to me that the presence of the DH allows AL teams to build better rosters. Quite simply, if I’m a free agent, I’m going to sign with an AL team if possible, because AL teams have one more position and that means one more chance for me to crack the starting lineup.

If the DH does confer an advantage on the AL, then something needs to be done. Bud Selig could stop scheduling interleague games, but the problem would still rear its head in the World Series.

So I guess there’s only two options: give the NL the DH, or take it away from the AL.

My buddy Dan, despite being an otherwise intelligent person, is passionate in his support of the DH. He thinks it’s boring watching pitchers hit. And, of course, with the exception of Micah Owings, he’s right. I appreciate the beauty of a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt as much as the next guy, but I’m not about to tell you that it’s as exciting as watching Big Papi swing for the fences.

Still, it seems to me that just because pitchers can’t hit, that isn’t a good enough reason to mess with a rule that is at the heart of the game: everyone hits, everyone fields. After all, shouldn’t America’s pastime value equality?

What do you think? Does the DH confer an advantage on the AL? Does something need to be done? Let’s settle this in the comments.

Averaging 4.84 runs scored per game, the Pittsburgh Pirates offense has been better than what many had expected going into 2008. In fact, their starting OF has been stellar, averaging an adjusted OPS of 138, which is tops in MLB*. You read that correctly. You could easily make the argument that the 2008 Pittsburgh Pirates have the best offensive outfield in Major League Baseball. I’m going to give you a second to let that sink in.

That’s better than Boston (Manny-Ellsbury-Drew = 127), St. Louis (Schumaker-Ankiel-Ludwick = 126), White Sox (Quentin-Swisher-Dye = 129), and even Detroit (Thames-Granderson-Maggs = 136).

Consisting of Jason Bay, Nate McLouth and Xavier Nady, each member of this Pittsburgh outfield trio have OBPs north of .350 and slug at least .510.

Which is why it’s really too bad that the Pirates are still pretty far out in the playoff hunt, 11.5 games behind the Cubs for the division lead. And the long-term outlook for the Bucs would be improved if they broke up their outfield in preparation for 2009 and beyond.

With all three players performing at such a high level, any of them should interest teams looking for an offensive boost for the stretch run. Xavier Nady is the one who will most likely get dealt, which makes sense. He’s a 29-year old in the last year of his contract. Based on his current performance this season, he’s going to get quite the raise from his $3.35MM salary. In addition, with a very strong .284/.387/.531 line and a pretty budget friendly contract ($5.75MM in ‘08, $7.5MM in ‘09), Jason Bay will most likely be among the top names we’ll be hearing about as we approach the trade deadline. There’s been word that Pittsburgh intends on keeping Bay for now, and if this is their sincere intent, then I think they’re making a mistake. Not only will the Pirates still be near the basement in 2009 with or without him, this is the perfect sell-high moment. With one more year left on his contract, teams would be more inclined to make an offer, much like the Rangers were able to do last year with Mark Teixeira.

The only one that the Pirates ought to keep for 2009 is McLouth and they ought to ink him to a long-term contract extension very soon (arbitration eligible at the end of the year), despite the fact that Pittsburgh management seems very wary of committing financially to players over the long haul. Although many small market teams have been quick to lock up their young talent in recent months, the Pirates have been late to that party. In fact, the only player on the roster with a guaranteed Major League contract two seasons from now (in 2010) is Ian Snell. To be fair, they haven’t exactly had the kind of young talent that’s really worth locking up, but I think McLouth’s bat is worth the risk.

And if Bay and/or Nady can be dealt, the Bucs have a pretty good prospect waiting in the wings named Andrew McCutchen. Currently playing for AAA-Indianapolis, McCutchen is a five-tool centerfielder whose skills at the position should allow the team to move McLouth over to left (Nate currently sports a pretty ugly .866 RZR in center). But since he’s only 21 years old, I’d understand it if the Pirates waited just a bit longer to call him up.

Now if they could only figure out this “pitching” thing, they’d be going somewhere…

*One caveat so that Rangers fans won’t jump me - on those days when Texas goes with the trio of Milton Bradley-Josh Hamilton-David Murphy, they’re better (OPS-Plus of 142). But Bradley’s mostly a DH these days (48 games at DH, 17 in OF).

- What They Need Index -

About six weeks ago, I suddenly realized what I wanted to do with my summer vacation: drive around the steamy-hot Carolinas with gas at $4.50 a gallon in a 10-year old Nissan Sentra with a bad muffler, an air conditioner that smells like something died in it (but only for the first couple minutes of use), and an engine that’s making a sound like a bird trapped in a tin can.

In other words, PURE AWESOMENESS.

Why, you ask, is this pure awesomeness? Because I will be tootling from ballpark to ballpark, bearing witness to the unspoilt beauty and unfettered fun of minor league baseball. With your help, and after many a happy hour of noodling around on the interwebs when I should have been doing better things, I have narrowed down my original list of 29 teams to a more manageable 13 contenders:

Greensboro Grasshoppers (A)
Hickory Crawdads (A)
Durham Bulls (AAA)
Asheville Tourists (A)
Greenville Drive (A)
Zebulon Mudcats (AA)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans (A)
Lynchburg Hillcats (A)
Tennessee Smokies (AA)
Chattanooga Lookouts (AA)
Johnson City Cardinals (Rookie)
Forest City Owls (CPL)
Fayetteville Swampdogs (CPL)

Like a big dork, I mapped out all the localities on this custom Google Map:

I still won’t get to all of these teams, but at least we’re now entering the realm of the possible. Any advice about pretty roads to drive, great places to eat, cheap places to stay, or ways to cut this list down a little more are, of course, appreciated. Leave ‘em in the comments or email me!

Nick: Wow, shoving front office types to the ground appears to be becoming quite popular!

Paul: wasn’t george costanza the yankees’ traveling secretary? or was he the assistant to the traveling secretary?

Coley: I’m pretty sure he was the assistant to the traveling secretary. Though this latest Manny being Manny incident does seem like it was ripped from a Seinfeld episode.

Sarah: Manny certainly has a much hotter temper this year.

Paul: is it wrong for me to say that i hope he and shields go alien vs. predator on each other tonight?

Coley: if hoping that Manny and Shields come to blows is wrong, then I don’t want to be right.

Sarah: It’s times like this when I really do miss having Pedro and Trot Nixon on the team.

Paul: well, the mets currently have both. and i kind of wish we didn’t.

Sarah: Oh, yeah. That’s weird. Well, they make a great duo. Pedro will throw at some guy’s head, the guy will charge the mound, and Nixon will sprint all the way in from right field, get there before anyone else does (seriously, he DOES have wheels, but only in fights), and flatten the enraged batter with one punch. Ahhhh, those were the days.