Baseball vs Football

Remember that old George Carlin routine?

Well we can add something else to Mr. Carlin’s list. In football, we really don’t care if you cheat. In fact we reward you with accolades. Bill Belicheat was awarded the AP’s Coach of the Year honor today. Now this is hardly surprising, considering the Patriots’ unbeaten regular season, but how is it that a guy who was caught cheating can be named the best at what he does? Yes, I understand that they may have never actually received any benefit from the filming of the Jets’ sideline this year. But are we naive enough to believe this was the first occurrence?

This isn’t the first time a cheater has been rewarded either. Remember Shawne Merriman? Merriman was rewarded the year he tested positive for steroids with an invite to Hawaii, named first team all-pro by the AP, Sports Illustrated, the Sporting News, etc. He finished 3rd in voting for the AP’s DPoY.

Quite a contrast from baseball. In baseball if there is a hint of any type of cheating, whether it be steroids or a corked bat, the media will hunt you down and kill you. That may be a little overboard, but you get the idea. There is a witch hunt in baseball, and maybe even worse are these reporters who wave their hall of fame ballots around like they mean anything. “He won’t get my vote!” Well let me ask you a question- who the heck do you think you are? Why should I care if player x gets ‘your vote’ or not?

“Several prominent Yankees” to be named

I guess that rules out Carl Pavano and Shelley Duncan.

ESPN reports today that Roger Clemens’ trainer is ratting him out. He spoke to the Mitchell investigation and reportedly gave Clemens steroids while Clemens was in New York and before. He went on to say that there will be several prominent Yankees named in the report.

Perhaps it is only a coincidence that Alex Rodriguez saw his contract finalized yesterday. Maybe A-Rod was nervous about being named, and wanted his deal done quickly, so he went around Boras to get the deal done. Then again, if this Yankee trainer was looking to cash in this morning, and he had supplied A-Rod, that would be the bigger bombshell.

So far, in all the guessing games and lists floating around the internet there have been no Indians aside from Betancourt and Byrd, who both had tested positive before. Rafael served his suspension, and for the record denies that what he took was any type of steroid. We’ll have to wait and see like the rest of the country.

Here is an excellent recap of players that have already been linked, tested positive, or admitted to using steroids or HGH. That list totals 64 players. If the Mitchell report contains only these names… what a waste of everybody’s time.

Happy Mitchell Report Eve!

For those who are baseball fans, tomorrow is poised to be a flurry of information. The Mitchell report, now in the hands of Major League Baseball, is expected to be released Thursday. Would it surprise me if one of the major media outlets got their hands on it early? Of course not. But everyone will have access when it is released.

I’m usually not a Howard Bryant (ESPN columnist) fan, but his story about the Mitchell report is must read if you are interested at all in what will happen after the report is released. I warn you, it is a long read however. My favorite part of that piece is this-

While much of the emphasis regarding steroid use has focused on West Coast teams such as Oakland, San Francisco and San Diego, three players who admitted to using steroids — Canseco, Jeremy Giambi and Paxton Crawford — spent time with the Red Sox. Another, the former American League MVP Mo Vaughn, admitted that in 1998 he used Pro-HGH, an oral form of human growth hormone. In 2000, Boston police found steroids and syringes in a car owned by shortstop Manny Alexander that had been loaned to the team batboy.

I have written before, and make no apologies for the fact that I am openly rooting for a dozen Red Sox players to be named here. Including MVPapi himself. But seriously, do you think Mitchell will allow that to happen? According to this ESPN report, there will be 60-80 player names in that report. With that many players, we would have to assume that nearly every team will have someone represented. Though some teams might escape, seeing as how California labs and the Mets clubhouse attendant seem to be major players in the report. You would think that an AL Midwest team like Kansas City might escape scrutiny, but then they go and sign players that have already tested positive. After the jump, fun with the Mitchell report scoreboard!

How about this blockbuster trade?

Yeah, it’s a rumor, and not really a solid one, but hey…I can dream too!

Buster Olney reported today that there may be a surprise team in the Dan Haren lottery. Oh please, let it be true.

But there is an interesting sleeper in the Dan Haren sweepstakes: the Cleveland Indians, who clearly would have the prospects and the motive to finish a deal.

Cleveland is loaded with young starting pitchers who it could put in the deal, from Jeremy Sowers to Adam Miller to Aaron Laffey. And if the Indians become convinced that they are not going to be able to re-sign C.C. Sabathia, who is eligible for free agency after next season, they may view Haren as a low-cost replacement for Sabathia for 2009 and 2010 near the front of their rotation.

And with Haren in 2008, the Indians would field arguably the best rotation in the majors, assuming that Johan Santana doesn’t land with the Red Sox.

One deal made, one deal dead

Yesterday was a busy day at the baseball winter meetings. Unfortunately for the Tribe, ‘busy’ does not mean ‘good’.

The Tigers pulled off the trade of the year, getting 24 year old Miguel Cabrera and 25 year old Dontrelle Willis. Both players have won a World Series, and both have multiple all-star appearances. The Tigers parted with two of the top prospects in all of baseball, Cameron Maybin and Andrew Miller, and four other minor leaguers.

The Indians in the meantime were rumored to be working on that Jason Bay deal. Well, reports from ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick aren’t good-

You can rule out any talk of Pittsburgh trading Jason Bay to Cleveland for a Kelly Shoppach–Cliff Lee package. That one is dead. Bay is Pirates GM Neal Huntington‘s main trade chip, and the Bucs aren’t going to give him away after he’s coming off such a down year.

Winter meetings are certainly not boring…

The latest trade rumor to come from the winter meetings in Nashville is being reported by Peter Gammons. It involves the Tigers and the Marlins. The proposed deal is for Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis. The Marlins would get a plethora of prospects in this package. Can you imagine that offense? Start with Granderson and Polanco, then hit Ordonez, Cabrera and Sheffield. Wow. That is serious power. Scary power. And if Willis can return to form, that would be a significant improvement to the rotation. I guess we’ll have to pay more attention to this one as the meetings continue.

Indians continue to pursue Jason Bay

We’ve mentioned this before, but it seems that talks are heating up at the winter meetings between the Indians and the Pittsburgh Pirates. The names involved for the Indians are Cliff Lee and Kelly Shoppach. This report is from MLB.com. Here is one from ESPN.com (scroll down to 3:09).

As I said previously, I would give up Lee and Shoppach for Bay. He is certainly worth that type of investment. If that deal is made I wonder what might happen to the surplus of outfielders we have? Certainly there would be no need for Nixon, Michaels, Gutierrez and Francisco. I would assume that Franklin has the upper hand for the RF job. Perhaps you keep Michaels around for his experience? I would say that Nixon and his salary would be more likely to be released. Ben Francisco would probably start the season at Buffalo. Here’s hoping Shapiro can get this deal done. Maybe he throws Michaels in the deal and gets a prospect in return? Keep an eye on this one.

The rich getting richer

Buster Olney is reporting that “the framework for a deal” is being constructed between Boston and Minnesota. Here’s a hint- the Red Sox aren’t looking at Nick Punto.

As it is being reported, the deal is Johan Santana for Coco Crisp, Jon Lester, and minor leaguer Jed Lowrie. A fourth player is being discussed. Obviously, this deal would be dependent on Santana agreeing, and possibly reaching an extension with the Red Sox.

Seriously, do you think Santana says no to this trade? And Minnesota, is that the best you can fleece from Boston? They have been looking to dump Crisp, Jon Lester is a great story, but not a great pitcher, and how good could Jed Lowrie be that great if he couldn’t beat out the corpse they have at ss now?

Of course there is a chance this deal never gets done. If another team beats the Red Sox offer who do you think it will be? Right. The Yankees, who would have to dangle Phil Hughes and Melky Cabrera to entice the Twins away from Boston’s proposal. Either way, it looks very unlikely that Santana is pitching for the Twins again next year. If Boston lands the lefty, it looks like they have their one two punch set for a few years with Beckett and Santana, with Dice-K and Schilling rounding out the rotation.

Tribe signs Kobayashi!

Yes!!! Does this mean we get Nathan’s dogs at the Jake?

What…you mean there is another Kobayashi? Oh. Never mind.

It’s Cy Young for CC

Indians starting pitcher CC Sabathia edged out Boston’s Josh Beckett for the American League’s Cy Young Award. Congrats Sabathia!

It’s official. Sabathia has become the first Indian since 1972 to win the AL Cy Young. (Gaylord Perry was the last Cleveland hurler to take home the prize.) MLB.com did not publish the final tally, but ESPN reports that the Big Lefty won 19 of the 28 first place votes. Beckett indeed finished second, and Lackey finished third, receiving only 1 first place vote.

I speculated earlier in the season that because of Sabathia’s success this year it will be more difficult to keep him in Cleveland. I stand by that appraisal. Hitting the open market with a recent Cy Young Award will mean major bucks. Look at the money being thrown at lesser pitchers recently. There is no reason to believe that C.C. won’t be thrown Barry Zito type dollars. No way that offer is coming from Ontario St.

But instead of focusing on the negative today, let’s take a minute and celebrate a great season for Sabathia. 

AL Cy Young Announcement at 2 pm…

CC Sabathia, Josh Beckett, or John Lackey…who ya got?

Keep in mind that the ballots were cast before the playoffs began. Obviously, had the ballots been sent after the playoffs this wouldn’t even be a contest. 14 of 20 ESPN baseball contributors picked C.C. to win. The numbers for each-

C.C. Sabathia- 19 wins (2nd), 3.21 era (5th), 209 strikeouts (5th), 1.14 whip (5th), 241 Innings pitched (1st), 4 complete games (2nd).

Josh Beckett- 20 wins (1st), 3,27 era (6th), 194 strikeouts (7th), 1.14 whip (6th, percentage points behind Sabathia), 200 innings pitched, 1 complete game.

John Lackey- 19 wins (2nd), 3.01 era (1st), 179 strikeouts (11th), 1.21 whip (11th), 224 innings pitched (4th), 2 complete games (2nd).

Do I think Sabathia deserves to win? Yes, as much as either of the other two at least. The most important numbers are very close. What might push the vote toward C.C. is the number of innings he pitched. Ironically, that may have hurt the big guy in the postseason, but should win him the award for the year.

Attention shoppers! Some meat may be tainted…

Here’s the report from the ESPN newswire…

Eleven current free agents will be named in former Senator George Mitchell’s report on steroids use in baseball and all 11 players have been notified by the commissioner’s office, The Boston Globe reported on its Web site Thursday afternoon.

The newspaper, citing two agents who attended Wednesday’s union meeting in New York, said the agents confirmed this news Thursday.

Jose Guillen, a free-agent linked to a Florida anti-aging clinic at the center of a federal investigation into illegal steroid sales, is one of the 11 players who allegedly bought steroids, The Globe reported.

Baseball team officials were told last month to be prepared for Mitchell, a former Senate Majority Leader and director of the Boston Red Sox, to issue his report by the end of the year.

Mitchell’s staff sent lawyers representing some players with ties to the BALCO investigation letters that notified them of the deadline, CBS News reported Wednesday, citing a lawyer who received the letter.

So…I think that any free agent signings might be delayed a bit. Would you sign someone right now? I understand if it was one of your guy, but I certainly wouldn’t touch a guy I didn’t know right about now.

Indians report- Sizemore honored, trade possibilities?

First thing- Congrats to Grady Sizemore on winning his first ever Rawlings Gold Glove Award.

Grady makes the routine plays, and every once in a while makes the impossible one. I think he has earned a Gold Glove. There are those in the media (I would link to the Rob Neyer article for ESPN, but it’s an insider piece) who apparently don’t think that Grady does, and they have used his mis-play of a ball in the Boston series as evidence. What a great argument. One time he didn’t get to a ball and make the ‘Gold Glove’ catch. Over the course of the season, Grady makes more of those plays than most other fielders. I’m not going to say that there could be others out there who would be as deserving, but hey, one went our guy’s way. Good job Grady.

Some interesting names coming up in trade rumors. The big name everyone is talking about of course is Miguel Cabrera. Rumors have him involved in trades to the Yankees, White Sox, and Tigers. The Marlins have typically been asking for the moon for their guys (like D-Train Willis) and I suppose it wouldn’t surprise me if he began the season in Florida again.  A more realistic possibility after the jump.

Indians exercise option on Paul Byrd, Shapiro wins executive of the year

ESPN radio is reporting that the Indians have picked up the option on Paul Byrd. Byrd, Jow Borowski and Aaron Fultz all have club options that need to be decided upon this week. I would be surprised if all of those options didn’t get renewed by the Tribe.

More importantly, congrats are in order for Indians GM Mark Shapiro. At the GM meetings in Florida on Monday, Mark was given the Sporting News Baseball Executive of the Year award. It was his second, having won the award in 2005. We have always been impressed with Shapiro. He has made some gutsy moves in his tenure here. Some have not worked out, but on the whole he has turned the Indians into a winning club again. And he did it by changing the style of the team. Instead of assembling a team of sluggers, he has focused more on pitching. Shapiro knows that in order to win championships you have to have better pitching. Starting with the farm system, Shapiro has focused on pitching and stockpiling young arms. The result- probably the deepest staff in the majors.

I’m kind of numb right now…

Watching last night’s game was very painful. Kind of like last year’s National Championship game. I thought Sizemore’s rocket foul ball/could have been a home run might be a sign of good things to come. Kind of like Ginn’s kick return. In both instances I spent the next 3 hours getting punched in the gut. The Indians have one game to win. 172 games into the season, and if they don’t win today they are finished.

Now, ESPN is reporting about Paul Byrd and HGH use back in 2002. I don’t even want to talk about that today. I’ll post in the next week sometime concerning that issue. The more pressing trouble is a game 7 at Fenway Park. Here’s hoping the Indians get back on track today behind Jake Westbrook.