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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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Cordero to audition for teams.

By Sean Heyboer | January 6, 2009 | Trumbull and Michigan

Chad Cordero is feeling healthy and will throw for a few interested teams in the very near future it seems. According to the report, the interested teams are the Angels, Mets, Rangers, Cardinals, Diamondbacks and Tigers. I am hoping the Mets and Angels will pass on him due to their Fuentes signing and K-Rod/Putz signing respectively. I have said it before, but Cordero could be a great fit - if healthy.-s...

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Arizona Diamondbacks, Chad Cordero, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Angels, MLB, New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals, Texas Rangers, Tigers

the true story of the Gerald Laird trade

By Samara Pearlstein | January 6, 2009 | Roar of the Tigers

This is the true story, exactly as it happened. I mean, let's be honest, it's precisely this sort of piercing insight into front office maneuvers that brings you here to Roar of the Tigers again and again, or at least once and then very occasionally thereafter. Two pages, pure lazy refusal to use a ruler, 100% of FACT! Click for bigger, as per usual. And, for no particular reason, here's Guillermo Moscoso, aka the old cheese for which Gerald Laird was traded. Wearin' his old cheese hat. Boring offseason is boring....

Read more | 9 Comments | Tags: Detroit Tigers, MLB, Texas Rangers

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

Fourth Outfielder Candidates: Brad Wilkerson

By Ryne Crabb | December 30, 2008 | Fire Brand of the American League

Can Wilkerson rebound in 2009? Photo by P. Meidinger

Brad Wilkerson will turn 32 next season, and is attempting to rebound from one of his worst statistical seasons of his career. Wilkerson was designated for assignment by the Seattle Mariners on April 30th and signed by Toronto on May 9th after they lost Frank Thomas. A career 2.47 hitter, his numbers have not been the same since leaving the National League, where, from 2002-2005, he averaged 20 homeruns playing for the Montreal Expos and Washington Nationals. Considering his offensive ability, versatility in the outfield and first base, plus a little personal bias, I think Brad Wilkerson could be a great sign as a fourth outfielder for the Boston Red Sox in 2009.

Read more | 10 Comments | Tags: Boston Red Sox, MLB, Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers

Shopping on a budget

By The Southpaw | December 30, 2008 | The Southpaw

So then, laying aside fantasies about sneaking in and grabbing Manny, and taking JP at his word on the budget (which, if we assume it's $85 million he has about $4 to play with unless he sheds someone) and avoiding the silly doom & gloom notion that we're not going to make ANY moves the rest of the off-season, why not let's look around the league and see if we see some obvious targets to acquire. These players are in three groups: 1. young players which the current team may be willing to deal because of positional crowding; 2. unheralded free agents; 3. Minor league guys who are non-prospects and blocked with their current team, both free agents and guys you'd have to make a trade for. For the sake of length, I'll make each group a separate column.Young up-and-comers1. Chin Lung Hu, SS, Dodgers - Now that the Dodgers...

Read more | 25 Comments | Tags: Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays

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...

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Dock Ellis, RIP: The Edges

By Jeff Kallman | December 22, 2008 | Community

What you probably remember is the militant stare down from the mound, the strangling slider, the no-nonsense posture---against batters, against managers, against, well, just about everyone he thought stood athwart his mission---and the mammoth bomb off the Tiger Stadium light...

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Billy Martin, Dan Driessen, Danny Murtaugh, Dock Ellis, Eddie Stanky, Frank Lucchesi, Jack McKeon, Joe Morgan, Johnny Bench, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, Pete Rose, Pittsburgh Pirates, Reggie Jackson, Texas Rangers, Tony Perez

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

Hot Stove Dishes - November 22, 2008

By Brian Joseph | November 22, 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: The Giants are the dark horse to be big time players this offseason.Out of nowhere, rumors swirled that the Giants would be inserting themselves into the CC Sabathia chase. San Francisco already went out and signed one of the better lefty relievers on the market. Besides Sabathia, the Giants are after Edgar Renteria and might jump into the fray on another higher end infielder to fill their middle infield needs. If the Giants land Sabathia, they would instantly be contenders in the National League West. Mike Mussina retires!We can move on from the discussion of will Mike Mussina return to the Yankees or not for 2009 since he officially announced his retirement this week. The 270-game winner now will be discussed based on his merits for Hall of...Read more

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Arizona Diamondbacks, Atlanta Braves, CC Sabathia, Chase Utley, Edgar Renteria, Francisco Rodriguez, Joe Beimel, Los Angeles Dodgers, Mike Hampton, Mike Mussina, MLB, MLB Playoffs, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Ramon Vazquez, St. Louis Cardinals, Texas Rangers, Trever Miller

Being the GM: 2009 Texas Rangers

By Evan | November 14, 2008 | MVN Outsider

Ben Sheets - Scott Ableman

The Texas Rangers had the league's most explosive offense. Unfortunately, they had the league's most explosive pitching, and I don't mean the good kind. The Rangers have a lot of changes in store for them... at least they would if I was at the helm of the Rangers.Read more

Read more | 1 Comment | Tags: MLB, Texas Rangers

What about Sheets and Dunn?

By EJ Fagan | November 8, 2008 | MVN Outsider

A lot of attention has been paid to speculation about the big name free agents: Manny Ramirez, C.C. Sabathia, and Mark Teixeira. While they are surely important players, I'm amazed at how little ink we've seen regarding two very attractive but lesser free agents in Ben Sheets and Adam Dunn. Both have their flaws, but also their upside. In Sheet's case, the flaw is injury. He's been chronically unable to stay healthy over the past few seasons, and finished his spectacular 2008 campaign on the shelf with a minor elbow injury. He should be ready for spring training, but he obviously brings a lot of uncertainty.Sheets is unlikely to be able to command a major long term commitment. No team expects his body to hold consistently over 4 or 5 years. That said, he's also an excellent gamble: Sheets is an ace when healthy. It seems to be like we...Read more

Read more | 2 Comments | Tags: Adam Dunn, Ben Sheets, Hot Stove, MLB, Oakland Athletics, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays

Friday's Hot Stove Dishes - November 7, 2008

By Brian Joseph | November 7, 2008 | MVN Outsider

Check MVN Outsider ever Friday for the ten hottest rumors during the Hot Stove League and a recap of all of the latest moves in Major League Baseball: Peavy's days numbered in San Diego. Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves highlight possible destinations. As San Diego Padres GM has stated, the Jake Peavy "train has kind of left the station." Since the Peavy rumors started, he has informed the Padres that he will lift his no-trade clause for seven teams -- the Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees. Of that group, the Braves and Cubs have emerged as the front-runners. The Braves seem to be dangling Yunel Escobar and young pitching but not prospect Tommy Hanson who the Padres have been rumored to be interested in. Also, the talk of Escobar being part of the deal has Peavy concerned about Atlanta's...Read more

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Andy Sonnanstine, Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Coco Crisp, Colorado Rockies, Edwin Jackson, Hot Stove, Jake Peavy, Jason Varitek, Junichi Tazawa, Matt Holliday, MLB, New York Mets, Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers

MLB Power Rankings

By Daniel Rathman | September 22, 2008 | MVN Outsider

The MLB Power Rankings will run on Outsider every Monday night until the conclusion of the regular season.� This is the second-to-last edition of the Rankings; next Monday's edition will be the last.� The final week of the regular season is upon us.� Yeah, already.� Hard to believe, isn't it?� The Halos, Rays, and Cubs are into the playoffs.� The Dodgers and Red Sox are, for all practical purposes, in.� Two of the Mets, Phillies, and Brewers will make it, as will either the White Sox or Twins.� All the other teams will be hitting their La-Z-Boys when the final outs of their games are recorded on Sunday.� Here's how the league stacks up in the penultimate edition of the Power Rankings. Note: some of the statistics and records below are through SATURDAY's games. 1.� Los Angeles Angels, 95-59 With the AL West division locked up and home-field advantage essentially...Read more

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