July 9, 2010
Link-O-Rama
• Internet declares: "The feeling is mutual, Prince."
• I'd like to believe a large number of these were purchased ironically.
• I've once again missed my chance with Jenna Fischer.
• Basketball-playing brothers Scientific Mapp and Majestic Mapp think this guy's name is silly.
• Whatever rare condition this woman has, I have the exact opposite.
• Lori Loughlin is the Jamie Moyer of good-looking women, still getting it done at age 46.
• It seems like Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert took the LeBron James news kind of hard.
• My take on James: I have absolutely no problem with him choosing Miami, but he went out of his way to make the entire experience as painful as possible for Cleveland. In hindsight a guy from Akron, Ohio being a Yankees and Cowboys fan probably should have been a pretty huge tipoff, but it takes a special kind of man to go from the most beloved to the most hated athlete in the history of his home state by his own doing (and with Stuart Scott/Jim Gray involved).
• Delmon Young is having a much better year than his older brother.
• Johan Santana bounced back pretty nicely from losing to the Twins.
• My favorite headline of this week: "Lindsay Lohan punched by waitress on 24th birthday." Hey, it's the thought that counts, right?
• Speaking of Lohan, she apparently only dates Jewish girls now, which means my mom would be thrilled to have her as a son.
• New team. New plate discipline. Same old Torii Hunter throwing teammates under the bus.
• Sadly the Arrested Development movie likely will never be made, although perhaps Hollywood will reconsider after seeing Buster Bluth, action star:
That show getting canceled still upsets me.
• One of the craziest Win Probability Added graphs you'll ever see.
• As if the first two episodes of Louis C.K.'s new FX series Louie weren't spectacular enough, Ricky Gervais guest-starred on this week's show. And here's another hilarious scene from the previous episode.
• Jake Peavy is likely out for the year with a gross-sounding "detached" shoulder muscle and Gordon Beckham has been terrible, but the White Sox have won 22 of 27 games and are now reportedly looking to trade for Adam Dunn.
• I've thankfully never watched the show, but my new goal in life is to be able to this.
• It'll be tough to blame Jim Joyce for this one.
• I actually know someone who was in the Duluth prison with Jerry Koosman and he was sad to see him leave because the former Twins pitcher was such a nice guy and good story-teller.
• As a big Sara Bareilles fan I enjoyed her live, streaming interview with the Associated Press.
• Ozzie Guillen may be sick of Twitter, but I'm more addicted than ever.
• As always, the easiest way to ensure a link here is to say something nice about me.
• Now that I'm no longer writing the "Daily Dose" column at Rotoworld each day I've expanded my duties at Hardball Talk on NBCSports.com, pumping out an average of a dozen blog entries per day this week alongside Craig Calcaterra's usual 500. Some of the highlights:
- Don't look now, but the Royals are winning with Ned Yost
- Josh Johnson quietly moves past Ubaldo Jimenez as first half's top pitcher
- Brandon Webb still hoping to make 6-8 starts this season
- Cubs closer Carlos Marmol piling up strikeouts at historic rate
- Matt Stairs ties MLB record with 20th career pinch-hit homer
- Does a three-homer game mean Drew Stubbs is destined for stardom?
- Jonathan Sanchez is first pitcher since 1999 to win with 6+ walks and 3+ wild pitches
- Jordan Zimmermann takes first step on long road back from Tommy John surgery
- Marlins demote struggling starter Chris Volstad to Triple-A
• Finally, this week's AG.com-approved music video is the aforementioned Bareilles doing a live version of "Many the Miles":
I heard LBJ’s PR people were seen having dinner with Tiger Woods tonight.
Stay classy lebron.
Comment by sports pr guy — July 9, 2010 @ 12:29 am
What sort of career numbers would Torii Hunter have to put up to be considered for the Hall of Fame? I’ve always thought there was no way, but what if he plays into his early 40s as a DH, hits 400+ home runs, 500 doubles, and wins 12 gold gloves? Would his media-friendly style and squeaky-clean image endear him to the sportwriting crowd? I’d like to see him go in–but it seems like a long shot.
Comment by Dan — July 9, 2010 @ 6:27 am
That letter from the Cav’s president was embarrassing.
Comment by Ted — July 9, 2010 @ 7:43 am
JENNA FISCHER IS 35???
Comment by jesse — July 9, 2010 @ 8:07 am
That might be throwing guys under the bus, but I don’t know that it’s always a bad thing. If your offense comes out and appears to mail it in, someone should call them on it. All the more effective coming from one of your premier players. Sure seems like the Twins could someone like Hunter right about now.
Comment by David — July 9, 2010 @ 10:20 am
*could use
Comment by David — July 9, 2010 @ 10:23 am
Looks like the Yanks will win out and get Lee. Plus, chances are they re-sign him in the offseason, right?
This makes me a bit sick to my stomach.
Also, it makes the Santana trade look even worse, as the Yanks seem willing to trade for Lee as though he is a rental (even though they could likely re-sign him), yet are still giving up more than Smith got from the Mets.
Comment by Ted — July 9, 2010 @ 10:51 am
Take back the Prince crack.
Comment by Walter Solbchek — July 9, 2010 @ 4:31 pm
ESPN reporting Cliff Lee to the Rangers.
Here is the question I am interested to hear from all you about:
In a vaccuum – ignoring the fact that Ramos is blocked by Mauer and Morneau would block Smoak. Woul you rather have Aaron Hicks and Wilson Ramos or Justin Smoak, Blake Beavan, Josh Lueke and Matthew Lawson?
Comment by Karl — July 9, 2010 @ 4:44 pm
Karl: The latter.
Lee to the Rangers makes me less sick to my stomach. But now I fear that the Yanks get a win-win-win: They are still favorites to win the AL, or if not, still among the favorites; they now keep a top prospect; and they might still sign Lee in the off season.
Comment by Ted — July 9, 2010 @ 4:50 pm
Ted: I agree and I don’t even think it’s close.
While it was enjoyable to read all of the Twins trade fantasies and other fans reactions to those “rumored deals” when the chips were down – whatever package we could have offered – even our “#1” prospect and another of our “top 5” doesn’t hold a candle to the three Rangers prospects and a major league ready switch hitting power first baseman.
Let me say that again: Major League Ready Switch Hitting Power First Baseman. How many of those are ever available as part of a trade?
Now there is no guarantee that Smoak becomes the next Eddie Murray or even the next Mark Grace or even the next Doug Mientkewicz. What is clear is that the Rangers package as of July 09, 2010 was far superior in value than any rumored Twins package.
Comment by Karl — July 9, 2010 @ 5:35 pm
love the music..
Comment by sara b — July 10, 2010 @ 11:24 pm
it’s one thing to say “we’re not playing aggressive, etc.”
It’s another thing entirely when you’re saying “THEY’RE not giving a full effort, like I am.”
Hunter almost always does the latter.
Comment by BD57 — July 11, 2010 @ 9:30 pm