Baseball 12Bet Guide: 12BET MLB News 12/29: A-Rod fine after treatment on knee, shoulder NEW YORK (AP)—The New York Yankees say star third baseman Alex Rodriguez is totally fine afte...
12BET MLB News 12/29
A-Rod fine after treatment on knee, shoulder
NEW YORK (AP)—The New York Yankees say star third baseman Alex Rodriguez is totally fine after having special treatment on his right knee and left shoulder in Germany earlier this month.
The 36-year-old Rodriguez had plasma-rich platelet injections following a recommendation from Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Wednesday that the team gave its permission after vetting the process.
Rodriguez’s treatment was first reported by the New York Post.
Cashman says the therapy is in “complete compliance” with WADA and Major League Baseball regulations. He also said the treatment is performed in the United States. The Yankees say Rodriguez went to the doctor in Germany because he’s at the top of this field.
Rodriguez had surgery on his right knee last July and saw his power drop in the second half and postseason. He played in 99 games and hit 16 home runs. He has 629 career homers.
Cashman says Rodriguez is “100 percent” right now and that there are “no red flags” going into spring training. Cashman says he expects Rodriguez to be able to play every day.
The Yankees also said they’ve reached agreement with 37-year-old lefty Hideki Okajima for a nonroster invite to spring training. Once a staple of the Boston bullpen, he spent most of last year in Triple-A for the Red Sox. The Yankees envision him as a possible lefty specialist.- http://sports.yahoo.com
12BET Baseball News 12/28
Cuban Free Agent Is Next Hot Commodity
Now that the Texas Rangers have won the right to negotiate with the Japanese pitching phenom Yu Darvish, Major League Baseball has turned its attention to Yoennis Cespedes, a captivating Cuban outfielder with running back’s body whom scouts have been following for years.
Cespedes is within days of gaining his residency in the Dominican Republic. Once he does, Major League Baseball will declare him a free agent and the bidding can begin.
“Then anyone can make an offer who wants to,” said an American League executive who was not authorized to speak publicly about a free agent. “Compared to Darvish, this is going to be the Wild West.”
At least a dozen teams covet the 26-year-old Cespedes, who is built like Bo Jackson and has Vladimir Guerrero’s swing. He could command a contract worth more than $50 million, and the teams who may pursue him include the Miami Marlins, the Philadelphia Phillies, the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Baltimore Orioles, the Toronto Blue Jays and, of course, the Boston Red Sox and the Yankees.
None, however, want to reveal their strategy regarding Cespedes’s impending free agency or publish their own scouting reports.
“We’ve seen him in international competitions and in workouts,” Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman said. “We have our opinions and are aware of what he can do, but other than that, I wouldn’t comment any more.”
Certainly, all 30 clubs are well aware of Cespedes’s exploits: his speed in the 60-yard dash, his ability to track balls in center field and, most of all, his power to all fields as a right-handed slugger. Although Cespedes (pronounced CES-ped-es) has had only a few at-bats against major league pitching, in the World Baseball Classic, many talent evaluators think he could eventually separate himself from all previous position players who have defected over the past two decades from Fidel Castro’s Cuba. - http://www.nytimes.com
Baseball 12Bet Guide: 12BET MLB News 12/27
Baseball 12Bet Guide: 12BET MLB News 12/27: Rangers C Torrealba suspended by Venezuelan league CARACAS, Venezuela (AP)—Texas Rangers catcher Yorvit Torrealba was suspended Monday fro...
12BET MLB News 12/27
Rangers C Torrealba suspended by Venezuelan league
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP)—Texas Rangers catcher Yorvit Torrealba was suspended Monday from Venezuela’s professional baseball league for 66 games for striking an umpire.
Torrealba issued an apology, saying he was embarrassed about his argument with a home plate umpire after striking out Friday. He angrily put a hand on the umpire’s mask and shoved him. He was then ejected.
“I wanted to express my sincere apologies to all parties for my actions,” Torrealba said in his statement. “I have extended an apology to the Rangers organization as well. I am embarrassed for my conduct, and personally relayed that feeling to the umpire after that night’s game.
“On the field, I strive to be an example for children, especially those in my native Venezuela, and I regret my actions,” he said. “I understand the reactions to the incident and will make every effort to set a positive example in the future.”
League President Jose Grasso Vecchio called Torrealba’s behavior unacceptable and a violation of league rules.
Torrealba plays for the Caracas Lions when not playing in the majors.
His agent, Melvin Roman, said Torrealba acknowledged he got carried away in the heat of the moment.- http://sports.yahoo.com
Baseball 12Bet Guide: 12BET MLB News 12/26
Baseball 12Bet Guide: 12BET MLB News 12/26: A’s signal surrender by shipping Gonzalez to Nats Over a few months last season the Oakland Athletics trundled from dark-horse contender i...
12BET MLB News 12/26
A’s signal surrender by shipping Gonzalez to Nats
Over a few months last season the Oakland Athletics trundled from dark-horse contender in the AL West to also-ran, and now over 13 days they have traded two of their better starting pitchers, and so begins yet another rebuild under Billy Beane.On Thursday they agreed to send 26-year-old left-hander and 16-game winner Gio Gonzalez to the Washington Nationals for four minor league prospects, three of them pitchers. The trade is pending physicals, so is not yet official. On Dec. 9, they traded Trevor Cahill, who won 18 games in 2010, to the Arizona Diamondbacks for three prospects, two of them pitchers.
So, while the A’s again charted a course for some future opening day in a ballpark they don’t know will be built in a city they don’t know they can live in, first the Diamondbacks and now the Nationals benefit from the fruits of Beane’s past rebuilding efforts.
In the NL East with the superpower Phillies, sturdy Atlanta Braves and emerging Miami Marlins, the Nationals gave up four of their top 10 prospects – right-handers Brad Peacock and A.J. Cole, left-hander Tom Milone and catcher Derek Norris (as first reported by ESPN.com) – in order to deepen their rotation with Gonzalez.
Ace Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, Gonzalez and John Lannan give the Nationals a competitive one through four and a youthful staff that complements a maturing core of everyday players, among them Ryan Zimmerman, Wilson Ramos, Ian Desmond, Danny Espinosa and, perhaps this season, Bryce Harper. Strasburg, Zimmermann and Gonzalez won’t be free agents until after the 2015 season.
When the A’s let it be known they again were stripping down, primary interest around the league turned to Gonzalez, 31-21 over the past two seasons. The talented left-hander does have a tendency to lose the strike zone – his 92 walks in 2011 led the American League – and it’s part of the reason he has been traded four times in six years.- http://sports.yahoo.com
Baseball 12Bet Guide: 12BET Baseball News 12/25
Baseball 12Bet Guide: 12BET Baseball News 12/25: Reds trade Wood, 2 others, to Cubs for Marshall CINCINNATI (AP)—The Cincinnati Reds acquired left-handed reliever Sean Marshall from the Ch...
12BET Baseball News 12/25
Reds trade Wood, 2 others, to Cubs for Marshall
CINCINNATI (AP)—The Cincinnati Reds acquired left-handed reliever Sean Marshall from the Chicago Cubs on Friday for young lefty starter Travis Wood and two other players.It was the second time in a week that the Reds gave up several prospects for pitching help. They earlier sent four players, including Edinson Volquez, to San Diego for starter Mat Latos.
The 29-year-old, 6-foot-7 Marshall was 6-6 with a 2.26 ERA last season. He had five saves. The Reds have been in talks to try to re-sign closer Francisco Cordero, who became a free agent after last season.
“Sean has been one of the best and most durable relievers in baseball the last couple of seasons,” Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said in a statement.The 24-year-old Wood made 35 starts for the Reds over two seasons. He finished 6-6 with a 4.84 ERA in 2011, with a stint in Triple-A after struggling early in the year.The Cubs also get 24-year-old outfielder Dave Sappelt, who batted .243 in 38 games with the Reds, and 19-year-old infield prospect Ronald Torreyes, who batted .356 in 67 games for Class-A Dayton.
“Twenty-four-year old left-handed starters who have already had success in the big leagues don’t grow on trees,” Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said. “We had to give up a great relief pitcher in Sean Marshall and someone we were proud to call a Cub, but we think to acquire Wood and the two young guys, it was worth doing.”
Wood made 17 starts for the Reds in 2010, going 5-4 with a 3.51 ERA. He took a perfect game into the ninth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies before giving up a double to Carlos Ruiz, and left after finishing the ninth with the game scoreless.Wood began last season in the Reds’ starting rotation, made 10 starts for Louisville, then returned to Cincinnati. He also had four relief appearances for Cincinnati.
“He had a little bit of a down year last year, a little bit of a sophomore slump, but we still think all the ingredients are there to make him an excellent starting pitcher in the big leagues and you tend to not be able to get guys like that after their strong rookie years,” Epstein said. “But sometimes you have a chance to get them after they take a little bit of their lumps on the learning curve.”Wood said he relied too heavily on his cutter last season and “lost the ability to really stick that four-seam (fastball) in there.” His control was off, but he also sees a shot at redemption in Chicago.- http://sports.yahoo.com/
Baseball 12Bet Guide: MLB news 12BET update 12/23
Baseball 12Bet Guide: MLB news 12BET update 12/23: The Giants’ thumb-twiddling act is starting to wear on their fans It was just over a year ago that we looked at Brian Sabean's vacation of...
MLB news 12BET update 12/23
The Giants’ thumb-twiddling act is starting to wear on their fans
It was just over a year ago that we looked at Brian Sabean's vacation of an offseason and wondered if the San Francisco Giants could really afford to stand so pat after winning a World Series championship.
Halfway through this hot stove season, it's looking like we could swap a few names and pretty much run the same post.
The biggest difference, of course, would be that Giants fans are no longer drunk from the post-title celebration and are instead getting a bit ornery.
While the fans' outlook in 2010 was optimistic about getting full seasons from Buster Posey and Freddy Sanchez, as well as a breakout year from Brandon Belt, the feeling for 2011 is a lot different (even if they can still get those three things) .
Meaningful reinforcements for the lineup are needed, yet they don't seem to be on their way Cwik should be prepared to get his angry on, because Beltran is said to be close to signing somewhere and the Giants aren't one of the five rumored landing spots.
Not that Beltran would be the ultimate answer for the Giants' offense in 2012. Truth be told, I'm not sure there's anyone still out there — short of giving Prince Fielder the Bay Bridge for the next eight or nine years or his life — that would prove to be the magical solution. If the Giants offense is to improve in 2012, it will likely come as a result of Posey, Sanchez and Belt providing what they couldn't — or in the case of Belt, were prevented from — in 2011.
Still, you can understand why Giants fans like Wendy Thurm over at Fangraphs are so frustrated. Melky Cabrera and Angel Pagan are not enough to get anyone excited and they can't even take solace in a contract extension for Tim Lincecum or Matt Cain as a quasi-consolation prize. While the defending division champs get better in Arizona with the addition of Trevor Cahill and the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate the emergence of Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw as a power core for the next decade, Giants fans are left to experience déjà vu all over again. - http://sports.yahoo.com
12BET MLB News 12/22
MLB notes: Nats talking 4-for-1 trade
The Washington Nationals are dangling some top prospects as they attempt to pry coveted left-hander Gio Gonzalez from the Oakland A's, MLB.com reported Wednesday.The deal reportedly is a priority for the Nationals, who would give up four players including right-handed pitcher Brad Peacock and catcher Derek Norris.Peacock, 23, was 15-3 with a 2.39 earned-run average at double-A and triple-A this year. Norris, 22, had an off-year at the plate, hitting just .210, but had 20 homers.The Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox are also in the mix for Gonzalez, 26, who was 16-12 this past season with a 3.12 ERA and 197 strikeouts in 202 innings.Roy Oswalt, a 34-year-old right-hander, is said to be a secondary target for both the Nationals and Red Sox.
RANGERS ADD CATCHING HELP
The Texas Rangers added catching depth Wednesday, trading pitcher Ryan Kelly to the San Diego Padres for Luis Martinez.Martinez, 26, was added to the Rangers' major-league roster, joining fellow catchers Mike Napoli and Yorvit Torrealba. Martinez played in 22 games over three stints with San Diego in 2011, hitting .203 with one home run and 10 RBI. In 58 games at triple-A Tucson, Martinez batted .323 with one homer and 28 RBI.Kelly, 24, went 3-6 with a 3.95 ERA in 40 appearances (five starts) for single-A Myrtle Beach in 2011.
12BET MLB News 12/21
Philly sportswriter accused of abuse decades ago
PHILADELPHIA (AP)—A veteran sportswriter and columnist for the Philadelphia Daily News was accused in a newspaper report Tuesday of molesting three girls and a boy in the 1970s, including his niece, who is now a prosecutor.Authorities said no criminal charges would be pursued against Bill Conlin because the allegations of abuse happened too long ago.Conlin, a Hall of Fame baseball writer and author, retired just ahead of the story’s publication online by The Philadelphia Inquirer, his former editor said. Conlin’s lawyer said his client would not comment about the story (http://bit.ly/sow9jx ) but would fight the claims.
“Mr. Conlin is obviously floored by these allegations which supposedly happened 40 years ago. He’s engaged me to do everything possible to bring the facts forward to vindicate his name,” said attorney George Bochetto.The newspaper reported that the four accusers claim Conlin groped and fondled them in the 1970s, when they were ages 7 to 12.Kelley Blanchet, a niece of Conlin’s who is now a prosecutor in Atlantic City, N.J., and others told the newspaper they were speaking out in part because of the child sex abuse allegations being faced by Jerry Sandusky, a former Penn State University assistant football coach. Like in the Sandusky case, people aware of the allegations involving Conlin years ago did not go to police, the newspaper said.
“This is a tragedy,” Blanchet said. “People have kept his secret. It’s not just the victims, it’s the victims’ families. There were so many people who knew about this and did nothing.”
Prosecutors in Gloucester County, N.J., took videotaped statements from the four accusers last year but said no charges would be pursued because assaults that occurred before 1996 fall under the statute of limitations. The alleged victims said they also came forward to highlight the shortcomings of those time limits.
Conlin had worked at the newspaper for more than four decades, starting in 1965 and becoming the beat writer for the Phillies the next year. He held that job for 21 years and became a columnist in 1987. He also was a commentator on the ESPN program “The Sports Reporters” and wrote two baseball-related books, the “Rutledge Book of Baseball” and “Batting Cleanup, Bill Conlin.”He received the 2011 J.G. Taylor Spink Award presented at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., and is honored in the hall’s “Scribes and Mikemen” exhibit. The Baseball Writers’ Association of America said the allegations would not affect his award.
Baseball 12Bet Guide: MLB news 12BET update 12/20
Baseball 12Bet Guide: MLB news 12BET update 12/20: Rangers win Darvish rights with record bid The Texas Rangers won the rights to negotiate with star Japanese right-hander Yu Darvish by plac...
MLB news 12BET update 12/20
Rangers win Darvish rights with record bid
The Texas Rangers won the rights to negotiate with star Japanese right-hander Yu Darvish by placing a record $51.7 million bid in a posting auction.
Darvish’s team in Japan, the Nippon Ham Fighters, will accept the bid, which means the Rangers have 30 days to negotiate a contract with Darvish. If they cannot work out a deal, Darvish would return to Japan for the 2012 season and the Rangers would be refunded the posting fee.
The 25-year-old Darvish, considered the best pitcher from Japan to try to play in MLB, has posted five consecutive seasons of a sub-2.00 ERA. His best season came last year, when he went 18-6 with a 1.44 ERA and struck out 276 in 232 innings.
Just how much the Rangers are willing to spend on Darvish is the question that will consume them well into the new year. Their American League West rivals, the Los Angeles Angels, dropped $254 million for Albert Pujols and stole Texas’ top starter, C.J. Wilson, for $77.5 million.
Darvish is expected to command a bigger contract than Daisuke Matsuzaka, who signed with the Boston Red Sox for six years and $52 million after they paid the previous high posting fee, $51.1 million.
With a fastball around 92-95 mph, a top-shelf slider and an array of other off-speed pitches, the 6-foot-5, 225-pound Darvish cuts the figure of a No. 1 starter. While the success of Japanese pitchers in the major leagues has varied, Darvish is viewed by scouts and executives alike as a potential frontline pitcher.
The Rangers, back-to-back AL champions, will slot him in their rotation alongside Colby Lewis, Derek Holland, Alexi Ogando, Matt Harrison and Neftali Feliz, whom they have said they intend to move from closer to starter. - http://sports.yahoo.com
12BET MLB News Update 12/19
AP sources: Rollins, Phils agree on 3-year deal
PHILADELPHIA (AP)—Jimmy Rollins is bringing his swagger back to the Phillies.
Three people familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press that Rollins has agreed to a 3-year, $33 million contract with Philadelphia. The deal includes a vesting option for a fourth year.
The people spoke on condition of anonymity Saturday because the agreement is pending a physical.
“Gotta deal with me for 3 (4) more years!” Rollins wrote on Twitter. He also thanked former Philadelphia Eagles safety Brian Dawkins, who tweeted congratulations to Rollins and the Phillies.
Rollins is a three-time All-Star shortstop and the 2007 NL MVP. He has spent his entire career with the Phillies after being selected in the second round of the 1996 amateur draft, and was a free agent for the first time.Rollins, who turned 33 last month, sought at least a five-year deal. The Phillies didn’t want to go that long, and were able to reach an agreement after the market for Rollins lessened.
From the start, Rollins said he wanted to stay in Philadelphia. He has been the heart and soul of a team that has won five consecutive NL East titles and the 2008 World Series. Rollins is undeniably the team leader, a charismatic personality who brings a special confidence to the clubhouse.
Rollins was the guy who boldly proclaimed the Phillies were the team to beat in the division before the 2007 season, even though Philadelphia hadn’t won anything in 14 years. He backed that up by having an MVP year, and leading the Phillies to their first postseason appearance since 1993.Rollins hasn’t come close to matching the numbers he put up in 2007—.296 average, 30 homers, 94 RBIs, 20 triples, 41 steals. But he remains one of the best defensive players at his position, and is still an offensive threat atop the lineup.He hit .268 with 16 homers, 63 RBIs and 30 steals this year. He has been plagued by leg injuries in three of the last four years, and played in a career-low 88 games in 2010. He started 135 this year.- http://sports.yahoo.com
Baseball 12Bet Guide: MLB news 12BET update 12/18
Baseball 12Bet Guide: MLB news 12BET update 12/18: Crew reportedly wins negotiating rights for Aoki The Brewers reportedly submitted a winning $2.5 million bid to negotiate with Japanese ou...
MLB news 12BET update 12/18
Crew reportedly wins negotiating rights for Aoki
The Brewers reportedly submitted a winning $2.5 million bid to negotiate with Japanese outfielder Norichika Aoki, a three-time Central League batting champion with the Yakult Swallows.
According to a tweet by Yasuko Yanagita of Hochi Shimbun, the Swallows announced that they accepted the Brewers' bid for Aoki. The Brewers now have negotiating rights for Aoki for the next 30 days.
The Brewers have not commented on the report or confirmed their status in the Aoki posting.
The 5-foot-10, 170-pound left-handed hitter slipped to a .292 average and four homers in 2011, after going for career highs of a .358 average and 209 hits in 2010. He was the 2005 Central League Rookie of the Year, batting .344 in his first full season.
Aoki will turn 30 on Jan. 5, and could join a Brewers outfield that includes Ryan Bruan, Corey Hart, Nyjer Morgan and Carlos Gomez. Braun is appealing a possible 50-game suspension for a reported positive drug test, but general manager Doug Melvin said the Brewers are "counting on Ryan being in the lineup." - http://mlb.mlb.com
Baseball 12Bet Guide: MLB news 12BET update 12/14
Baseball 12Bet Guide: MLB news 12BET update 12/14: Lou Piniella set to rejoin the Yankees organization It looks like Lou Piniella's homecoming to the Bronx is finally becoming a reality. At...
MLB news 12BET update 12/14
Lou Piniella set to rejoin the Yankees organization
It looks like Lou Piniella's homecoming to the Bronx is finally becoming a reality. At least officially.
While the old manager made an appearance at Old Timers Day in 2011, Sweet Lou surprised many by taking a consulting job with the San Francisco Giants in his first post-managerial gig instead of working for the New York Yankees as was rumored.
But with the Giants wishing to increase Piniella's role in 2012 and the old skipper wanting to spend more time in Florida instead of on the West Coast, Piniella is reportedly on the verge of taking a job with the Yankees. He'll appear on the team's YES Network during game broadcasts and work as a spring training instructor. Both jobs would allow the 68-year-old to log a lot of time in his hometown of Tampa.
Piniella's last TV gig came with Fox in 2006, when Steve Lyons got himself fired after making a joke about stealing wallets. The N.Y. Daily News also points out that this will be his second go-round in the Yankees' booth as he worked as an analyst in 1989 to fulfill the last remaining year of his contract after getting fired in 1988. (That's a fact that I had either forgotten and didn't know about in the first place.)
After a very nomadic 20 years for Piniella, it'll be good to see Lou back in pinstripes. He's a treasure trove of Bronx is Burning-era stories — I heard a few of them myself after pregame interview sessions at Wrigley Field — and he should make for a better YES Network broadcast. Even if he does preface every sentence or statement with an imperative "look." - http://sports.yahoo.com/
Baseball 12Bet Guide: MLB news 12BET update 12/13
Baseball 12Bet Guide: MLB news 12BET update 12/13: Rockies agree to 2-year deal with C Hernandez The Colorado Rockies bolstered their depth at catcher, agreeing to a two-year deal with vete...
MLB news 12BET update 12/13
Rockies agree to 2-year deal with C Hernandez
The Colorado Rockies bolstered their depth at catcher, agreeing to a two-year deal with veteran Ramon Hernandez.
Hernandez played the last three seasons with the Cincinnati Reds. He hit .282 with 12 home runs and 36 RBIs last season.
The Rockies were in the market for another catcher after trading Chris Iannetta to the Los Angeles Angels for right-hander Tyler Chatwood late last month.
The 35-year-old Hernandez is joining his fifth major league organization. He also has spent time with Oakland, San Diego and Baltimore.
Hernandez will compete for the starting job with Wilin Rosario and Jordan Pacheco. - http://sports.yahoo.com/
Baseball 12Bet Guide: MLB news 12BET update 12/12
Baseball 12Bet Guide: MLB news 12BET update 12/12: A’s send pitchers Cahill, Breslow, cash to D-backs OAKLAND, Calif. (AP)—Kevin Towers sees an opportunity for the Arizona Diamondbacks to de...
MLB news 12BET update 12/12
A’s send pitchers Cahill, Breslow, cash to D-backs
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP)—Kevin Towers sees an opportunity for the Arizona Diamondbacks to defend their division title, and he isn’t about to sit still.
The NL West champion D-backs added a front-line starter Friday and boosted their bullpen, acquiring pitchers Trevor Cahill, Craig Breslow and cash from the Oakland Athletics. And Towers isn’t done—he still hopes to add another starter, though it’s unclear if that will be Joe Saunders with the sides still far apart in negotiations.
The A’s received starting pitcher Jarrod Parker, outfielder Collin Cowgill and reliever Ryan Cook in the trade Friday, all players the A’s envision could be on the major league roster in 2012.
Towers has been committed to winning with pitching since he took the job as Arizona’s general manager, and it paid off in his first season. Cahill will complement a talented rotation featuring 21-game winner Ian Kennedy and 16-game winner Daniel Hudson. Arizona won 94 games—29 more than in 2010—under manager Kirk Gibson on the way to a surprising division title over the 2010 World Series champion San Francisco Giants.
“We see a window after winning the NL West. We’re in a go-for-it mode to stay on top of the division,” Towers said. “We feel we’ve got a young starter to go along with Daniel Hudson, Josh Collmenter and Ian Kennedy. Hopefully, we can keep this rotation together for a long time. We’ve got four starters we feel are as good as anybody in the NL West. With Trevor in the fold we feel our rotation is that much better.” - http://sports.yahoo.com
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