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Now official: Jason Marquis a Rockie

By Tom Stephenson | January 7, 2009 | Up in the Rockies

Jason Marquis Warms Up. Uploaded on June 22, 2008 by flickr user Hillarie.

As was rumored last week, Jason Marquis is now a Rockie, completing a trade that sent Luis Vizcaino to the Cubs. Reportedly, no other players changed teams; this is a straight Vizcaino-for-Marquis trade.Marquis comes to the Rockies as a career 79-70 pitcher, including 23-18 the last two years with the Cubs. Of course, as we all know about a pitcher's won-loss record, Marquis's record is misleading. Marquis has pitched all or part of nine different seasons in the major leagues, and he's managed to pitch for nine division winners, including four different teams that won 100 games. Yes, you're reading that correctly: Marquis has played for a division winner every year he's been in the majors.If that trend continues, I'll be a happy man, of course. Undoubtedly, though, Marquis has just had the good fortune of playing for some very good teams (and the 2006 Cardinals and 2007 Cubs, division...

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Initial Thoughts of MLB Network

By Alan Smodic | January 6, 2009 | MVN Outsider

Much like DirecTV's MLB Extra Innings package, the MLB Network is more baseball than one can handle. -- programwitch/Flickr.com

On January 1, Major League Baseball followed in the footsteps of the NFL and NHL by unveiling its own channel -- the MLB Network.If you don't already know what this exactly is, MLBNetwork.com's about page helps:MLB Network stands for Major League Baseball Network, which means access to more baseball than America's ever seen! This new 24-hour network delves into the world of baseball, going far beyond the field. Fans can tune in at any time for fresh perspectives, current news, the latest trade rumors, pre and post-game banter, highlights and more.Again, if you've seen the NFL or NHL networks, just picture those and think baseball. I wasn't sure if I'd receive the channel (I get the NFL network, but not the NHL), so I was surprised to see it coming in through my satellite. Obviously, I checked it out.I was impressed with my first viewing. The first show I saw...

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Top Fits for Andruw Jones

By Evan | January 5, 2009 | MVN Outsider

Andruw Jones - kla4607/Flickr.com

With word that the Los Angeles Dodgers have restructured outfielder Andruw Jones' contract to an affordable $5 million deal (with the rest of the $15 million deferred over the next six years without interest) and a pledge by the Dodgers to release or trade Jones so he can land with a new team, which teams seem like fits for Jones?There are a couple criteria that need to be met to fit for Jones. One is that Jones is primarily a centerfielder, although we won't let that play too much into our fits -- outfielders, centerfielders most notably, tend to move around the outfield corners more often than infielders do.Secondly, Jones has expressed a desire to start and will control his fate if he is released. Only through the trade market would a team be able to secure him as a fourth outfielder if they promised to give him ample playing...

Read more | 4 Comments | Tags: Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates, Texas Rangers

Cubs sign Aaron Miles

By Bryan | December 31, 2008 | Out of Right Field

According to Paul Sullivan, the Cubs have signed infielder Aaron Miles to a 2 year deal.Sullivan says that it gives the Cubs a potential leadoff man to finally replace Alfonso Soriano, but did the Cubs really sign Aaron Miles to be their starting 2nd baseman then? It's seems, barring a few more moves involving Mark DeRosa or Mike Fontenot, Sullivan is a bit off on the direction of the Cubs with this deal.With Aaron Miles on board now, does Mark DeRosa become the starting rightfielder? What happens if the Cubs do close on Milton Bradley? All this means is that somebody is on their way out, stay tuned....

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Cubs about to send Jason Marquis to the Rockies

By Bryan | December 30, 2008 | Out of Right Field

According to the sources of Ken Rosenthal, the Cubs are very close to sending Jason Marquis and cash to the Colorado Rockies for reliever Luis Vizcaino.According to his report, the Cubs would only be sending $1 million to the Rockies. With Vizcaino's '09 salary at $3.5 million, the Cubs would be freeing up over $5 million on their payroll. Hopefully that free up will go towards the signing of a left-handed bat in Milton Bradley....

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MLB Top 10: Baseball's Best Stories in 2008

By Jaymes Langrehr | December 29, 2008 | MVN Outsider

Evan Longoria - Keith Allison/Flickr.com

We're just a few days away from ringing in 2009, so it's time to look back on the year that was 2008. Major League Baseball provides us with tons of memories every season, but only so many can make it into a Top 10 list -- here are the Top 10 moments from this past year in Major League Baseball. Feel free to share your own in the comments section.10. This is the game that never ends...The final All-Star Game played at Yankee Stadium lasted nearly 5 hours (4 hours, 50 minutes), and would have lasted longer if Justin Morneau wasn't able to beat Corey Hart's throw home on a sac fly by Michael Young. The game tied the record for innings played in the Midsummer Classic, matching the 15 innings played in the 1967 affair. With so many innings being played, a number of records fell -- the 2008...

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers, MLB, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers

So what ever happened to Les Lancaster?

By Bryan | December 23, 2008 | Out of Right Field

Remember Les Lancaster, the only Cubs pitcher to register a win in the 1989 NLCS? He's managing the Sioux City Explorers and just recently signed a 3 year extension to continue managing the team.Now go ahead and wow the family members with this bit of former Cubs knowledge at this week's Christmas parties....

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Pay 25 cents to see the Cubs play

By Bryan | December 23, 2008 | Out of Right Field

According to the NY Post, the first game ever at the new Yankee Stadium will cost you only 25 cents to sit in the bleachers. The Cubs will be the Yankees opponent in the final exhibition games before the start of the '09 campaign.The Yankees will be reverting to 1923 pricing for the bleacher seats, which is when the original Yankee stadium opened. Apparently they won't be trying to regain any of the money spent on their '09 salary in that first game. ...

Read more | 1 Comment | Tags: Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees

Initial Thoughts of MLB Network

By Alan Smodic | January 6, 2009 | MVN Outsider

Much like DirecTV's MLB Extra Innings package, the MLB Network is more baseball than one can handle. -- programwitch/Flickr.com

Read more | Discuss | Tags: MLB

Top Fits for Andruw Jones

By Evan | January 5, 2009 | MVN Outsider

Andruw Jones - kla4607/Flickr.com

MLB Top 10: Baseball's Best Stories in 2008

By Jaymes Langrehr | December 29, 2008 | MVN Outsider

Evan Longoria - Keith Allison/Flickr.com

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers, MLB, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers

See you in five years, Greg

By Alan Smodic | December 6, 2008 | MVN Outsider

Dave Nelson/Flickr.com

If you're around the same age as I am, then you grew up as a youngster watching baseball in the 90s. And if you were the type of player I was, then you weren't idolizing the long ball. You didn't tune into games to watch Barry Bonds or Mark McGwire.I was a pitcher. I first started pitching at age nine. By that time, Greg Maddux had already entrenched himself as arguably the best in the game. It was around then when Maddux became my favorite player.I grew up outside of Pittsburgh and have always been a Pirates fan. I wasn't on a Braves bandwagon. In fact, I still disliked the Braves for my first MLB memory -- the slide. But I loved Maddux.I tuned into TBS to watch the Braves every time he pitched. My parents got me tickets to Pirates/Braves at Three Rivers Stadium anytime he was scheduled to start. He...Read more

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, Greg Maddux, Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB, San Diego Padres

Could Orioles make Peavy trade happen?

By Evan | December 1, 2008 | MVN Outsider

Garrett Olson - Evan Brunell

According to Jeff Zrebiec and Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun, (I bet poor Peter got razzed in junior high for that last name) the Baltimore Orioles may be the third team that San Diego Padres' GM Kevin Towers needed in order to ship Jake Peavy to the Chicago Cubs.Towers is looking for young pitchers and hitters in return for Peavy and while the Cubs can offer third base prospect Josh Vitters, they don't have the pitching needed to make the deal on their own.Enter the Orioles, who last year almost matched up with the Cubs on a deal involving second baseman Brian Roberts heading to Chicago for, amongst other things, centerfielder Felix Pie. Club president Andy McPhail acknowledged that the Orioles are looking at Pie as a way to bolster their depth in outfield.Pie, 23, supposed to be the future long-term centerfielder for the Cubs, has struggled these...Read more

Read more | 5 Comments | Tags: Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs, MLB, San Diego Padres

Hot Stove Dishes - November 14, 2008

By Brian Joseph | November 14, 2008 | MVN Outsider

The latest buzz served up from baseball's Hot Stove League. Ten of the hottest stories, moves and rumors from the past week: Yankees out to buy back in to playoffs, offer Sabathia record deal The New York Yankees are tired of missing the playoffs. The one-year absence has driven them to offer CC Sabathia a six-year, $140-million contract to bring his talent to the Bronx. The Brewers want to keep Sabathia but can they afford the price of competing with the Yankees in the free agent market. Better yet, can anyone? Padres go one way with offering Peavy, Braves go the other At some point in the past seven days there was buzz that the Braves and Padres were very close to a deal that would send Padres ace Jake Peavy to Atlanta. After an entire offseason of talks, the Braves announced that they were calling off their pursuit of...Read more

Read more | 1 Comment | Tags: Atlanta Braves, BBWAA, CC Sabathia, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, Dayan Viciedo, Hot Stove, Jake Peavy, Kerry Wood, Kevin Gregg, Los Angeles Dodgers, Manager, Manny Ramirez, Milwaukee Brewers, MLB, New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, Scott Boras, Trevor Hoffman

When the team you root for is at the bottom

By Patrick Patterson | November 13, 2008 | MVN Outsider

When a team is flying high, the ranks of their fans swell to epic proportions. (See also 1990's Dallas Cowboys.) The new fans that arrive are often derided by the long time fans as "bandwagoners." These long time fans are the ones who suffered through the down times, and can truly taste the joy of the winning seasons. There are some teams that do not know what it is like to have a true down cycle such as NCAA's University of Kentucky Wildcats in basketball (One losing season in the last several generations.) Other teams such as the Detroit Lions or Kansas City Royals (One world series appearance) don't have the history of up times to have acquired a bandwagon. When a team that has a history of domination, such as the Oakland Raiders falls on hard times, it takes its toll on the fan base. The Raider Nation is...Read more

Read more | 5 Comments | Tags: Chicago Cubs, Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Royals, Kentucky, MLB, NCAA, NCAA Basketball, NFL, Oakland Athletics, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, University of Kentucky Wildcats

MVN Awards: Best Bench Players - Mike Fontenot, Sean Casey

By Ryan Armbrust | November 12, 2008 | MVN Outsider

Boston's Sean Casey, pictured on the far left, was the best bench player in the American League this season, as voted on my MVN's staff writers. / Photo by SoxyLady (flickr).

A baseball team is often referred to as "the home nine," referring, of course, to the nine starters on the field. Those nine players account for a large part of the success of the team, but a manager can't field a winner without some depth and quality on his bench. Baseball is a game of inches, and having a quality player ready to pick up the slack from an injury or take an important pinch-hit at bat is often the difference between making the playoffs and watching them from home.Both of the players that we at MVN have tabbed as the best bench player in each league come from teams that got to the postseason. Neither player had even 300 plate appearances. Both hit over .300. Each was invaluable to his club.--- -- --- -- ---In the National League, the Chicago Cubs' Mike Fontenot started the year slowly, hitting just .237...Read more

Read more | 1 Comment | Tags: Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Mike Fontenot, MLB, Sean Casey

MVN: Most Valuable Network