Trade Deadline is Here

The trade deadline is at 4:00 PM today but August 31 is the real deadline because a player has to be on a roster by August 31 to make the playoff roster. Every year you see a player traded after the July 31 deadline. A description of how the waiver process works is below

"The waiver wire is a secret within the personnel of the Major League Baseball clubs; no announcement of a waiver is made until a transaction actually occurs. Many players are often quietly waived during the August "waiver-required" trading period to gauge trade interest in a particular player. Usually, when the player is claimed, the waiving team will rescind the waiver to avoid losing the player unless a trade can be worked out with the claiming team."

Other News:

-SI has a story on David Price (Sperl) in this weeks issue. Price is 5-0 with a 2.20 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP in 7 starts at AA. He has let up a couple a HRs lately but they are the only hits he is giving up. He will up up for the Rays this season and it might be in the bullpen to start especially if the Rays don't get a lefty specialist before the deadline.

-On the front page of the Sports section of USA Today there is a story about how teams do not want to move top prospects in deadline deals. I think this stems from the success that so many young players are having early in their careers. Also, GMs don't want to look stupid when you trade Bartolo Colon for Grady Sizemore, Cliff Lee and Brandon Phillips as the Expos did prior to the 2002 deadline.

- Max Ramirez (AP) was sent back to AA. He only amassed 43 ABs
- Phillip Hughes (Sperl) threw 3 scoreless innings on Tuesday during his rehab.
- Max Scherzer (Lotocki) has returned from the DL and is a contender to return to the rotation.
- Clayton Kershaw (Russ) got his first career win and is about to exceed the 50 inning mark.
- Fernado Martinez (Scott) is out again with the same hamstring problem that had him out 5 weeks earlier this season. The Mets say that he is "untouchable" but I think this kid is a bum and the Mets have one of the worst farm sysyems in the Majors need something of hyped prospect in their system.

I will keep you updated if any prospect worth mentioning is moved today.

2008 Olympic Roster

Below is a link to the 2008 Olympic Roster and our farm system only has two representatives with Trevor Cahill and Matt LaPorta. Colby Rasmus was originally on the team but was replaced when he sprained a ligament in his left knee. Rasmus will be out 4-6 weeks with his injury. The Phillies have two players on the team with Lou Marson and Jason Donald making the trip to China.

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/downloads/y2008/2008_olympic_roster.pdf

Other News:

Jose Tabata (NYY) was traded to the Pirates in the Nady/Marte deal. Tabata has been very disappointing this season but he is the 1st 19 year old Yankee to reach AA since Jeter. The Yanks have Austin Jackson (Chad) to become the future outfielder for New York.

Jeff Samardzija, yes that Samardzija who played for Notre Dame, was recalled by the Cubs and blew a victory for Dempster. I hate ND so much that I refuse to mention him any more. Brad Lidge is the only ND alumni I will root for in baseball.

Tim Beckman, who was the #1 pick in this years draft, is struggling at the plate to begin his career. He is hitting .195 with 3 extra base hits in 77 ABS. He is very young and watch to see if the Rays move SS Brignac (Naff) who sucked it up when he was called upon to replace the injured Bartlett.

The Pirates called up Steve Pearce to replace Nady. Pearce was the 2007 Minor League Player of the Year while hitting .328 with 31 HR 54 RBIs. This season he is hitting .258 with 11 HR and 54 RBIs in 93 games. With Jason Bay on the block I would expect Andrew McCutchen to replace him if he is moved.

2008 Draft Picks

Below is a list of the 1st rd draft picks and their contract status. They have until August 15 to sign or they wait until next draft (college seniors), go to college, or college Jrs can go back to school.
Note: Lotocki owns #4 and #11

2008 Draft Update:
1. Tim Beckham (SS, TAM) Signed
2. Pedro Alvarez (3B, PIT) Unsigned
3. Eric Hosmer (1B, KC) Unsigned
4. Brian Matusz (LHP, BAL) Unsigned
5. Buster Posey (C, SF) Unsigned
6. Kyle Skipworth (C, FLA) Signed
7. Yonder Alonso (1B, CIN) Unsigned
8. Gordon Beckham (SS, CWS) Unsigned
9. Aaron Crow (RHP, WAS) Unsigned
10. Jason Castro (C, HOU) Signed
11. Justin Smoak (1B, TEX) Unsigned
12. Jemile Weeks (2B, OAK) Signed
13. Brett Wallace (3B, STL) Signed
14. Aaron Hicks (OF, MIN) Signed
15. Ethan Martin (RHP, LAD) Signed
16. Brett Lawrie (3B, MIL) Unsigned
17. David Cooper (1B, TOR) Signed
18. Ike Davis (1B, NYM) Signed
19. Andrew Casher (RHP, CHC) Signed
20. Josh Fields (RHP, SEA) Unsigned
21. Ryan Perry (RHP, DET) Signed
22. Reese Havens (SS, NYM) Signed
23. Allan Dykstra (1B, SD) Unsigned
24. Anthony Hewitt (SS, PHI) Signed
25. Christian Friedrich (LHP, COL) Signed
26. Daniel Schlereth (LHP, ARI) Signed
27. Carlos Gutierrez (RHP, MIN) Signed
28. Gerrit Cole (RHP, NYY) Unsigned
29. Lonnie Chisenhall (3B, CLE) Signed
30. Casey Kelly (SS, BOS) Signed Injuries:

Trevor Cahill joins High Heat

Scott has picked up Trevor Cahill for his farm system. Every pundit compares him to Brandon Webb becuase he induces so many grounds outs as Webb does. Cahill was drated out of high school in the 6th rd in 2006 by the Oakland A's. He currently is playing for Midland RockHouds of the AA Texas League. So far this season he has posted a 9-5 record with a 2.76 ERA and has fanned 126 while walking 42 in 114.1 IP. He is a GB specialist and has 2.55X more ground outs then fly outs. In 2006 he was 11-4 with a 2,73 and had over a K per IP with 107 K in 105.1 IP. He pitched in the year's future game and has been selected to represent the US in the Bejing.

Other Notes

Rick Porcello (Russ) combined with his bullpen to throw a no-hitter against the Mets in single A. The game only went 7 innings.

Greta Van Sustern is a Packers shareholder and season ticket holder and maybe that is why he broke the story with her.

The Rays gave Tim Beckham, the overall #1 pick this year, a record $6.15 million dollar signing bonus. That is $500,00 more then the previous record held by Justin Upton in 2005

Austin Jackson is a Chili Dog

Chad has picked up Austin Jackson for his Farm System. Jackson is a right handed outfielder from Denton, TX. He was selected by the Yankees in the 8th rd of the 2005 draft. He is currently playing for the Trenton Thunder of the AA Eastern League. Jackson is hitting .282 with 23 2B, 5 3B, 8 HR, 54 RBI. He has swiped 14 bags while getting caught 5 times. He is listed as the #1 OF prospect for the Yankees ahead of Tabata. In 2007 he hit .304 with 13 HR and 33 SBs. He also is improving his plate discpline with a 47:73 BB:K in 2008 compared to a 48:109 ratio in 2007. The Yankees seem more protective of their prospects as of late and with Damon nearing the end of his career it will be interesting to see who takes over in the OF for the Yanks with Jackson, Tabata and the current LF Brent Gardner all looking to earn the spot.

Switching Subjects:

How much $ did FoxNews have to pay Farve to have him break his silence to Greta Van Susteren? With all the great sports writers and TV hosts he picks a lady who looks like she got hit in the face with a bag of nickels and resembles the guys from the movie Mask!

World Tops Us in Futures Game

The World team defeated the US team 3-0 in the Futures Game. Carlos Carrasco (Scott) got the win for the World team. The game was a bore and pitching dominated as there were only 2 extra base hits in the whole game. The World team attempted 5 SBs and were thown out 4 times. Fernando Martinexz (Scott) and LaPorta (Kyle) had a hit a piece. Below is a link to the boxscore.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/futures-game/2008/266509.html

Dallas McPherson is Going Deep Often

Dallas McPherson leads all of the minor leagues in HR and he really doesn't make many headlines because he is 28 years old. He has spent time already in the majors, with the Angels, and I think he was rushed to the show. He currently is playing in AAA for the Pacific Coast Albuquerque Isotopes and has already has 31 HR this season. He is hitting .301 with 53 BB, 108 K and posting an impressive 1.093 OPS YTD.

Wade Davis (CO) will be promoted to AAA after he pitches in the AA All-Star game. I think he will be traded before the deadline and I think the Rays want to showcase him against better talent.

Travis Snider (Allied Powers) may get called up due to the injury of Wells but Adam Lind will see some of the ABs. He is only hitting .195 in his last 10 games. In my opinion he will be better served staying in the minors for the time being.

Colby Rasmus (Jim) was placed on the 7-Day DL with a strained groin. He has no chance to see any real time this season with Ludwig and Ankiel dealing for the STL right now.

Max Scherzer (Lotocki) has been shut down due to right shoulder inflammation and fatigue. This is a shame for ARI because they really could use bullpen help right now.

Adam Miller (CO) has been shut down with a serious finger injury.

Gio Gonzalez (Kyle) tossed a 1 hitter with 13 Ks on July 4th. Gonzalez has been up and down this season with his 4.56 ERA but has 110 Ks in 102 IP.

Wierd Fact of the Day:
Ervin Santana's real name is Johan Santana. Prior to 2003, Santana went by the first name Johan, but decided to change it due to the success of then Minnesota Twin Ace Johan Santana. According to Ervin Santana, "I just came up with Ervin...Ervin Santana, that sounds good