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Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Trade Penny?

By Brendan Hall
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff


For those of you with the common sense not to have your car stereo's presets on Howie Carr and Dale & Holley, you're missing out on one of the city's biggest much-ado-bout-nothing controversies. And no, I'm not talking about the Rondo and Allen to the Pistons nonsense that has no substance to it.

Every time Brad Penny pitches and isn't brilliant, expect to hear a plethora of table-topped trade scenarios for the head-bopping, Marilyn Manson-loving, Watertown-dating, occasional TMZ casualty from Blackwell, Oklahoma.

With that in mind, take a look at tonight's pitching line: 5.2 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 112 pitches, 68 strikes.

Solid stuff. Not fantastic, not terrible, but enough to get the job done in a no-decision tonight, an 11-3 Red Sox win over the godawful Nationals. That extends the Sox' AL East lead to five games, brings his ERA to a marginal 4.93 and his WHIP to a mundane 1.55.

Meanwhile, the Sox sport the league's best bullpen (a combined 2.84), and two starters waiting in the AAA wings -- John Smoltz and Clay Buccholz -- have made strong cases for a call-up. Smoltz will get the ball Thursday night, and there has been talk of going to a six-man rotation. To which I say...you people are out of your minds. This isn't Japan.

Every time you bring up Smoltz or Buccholz for starting duty, or if you choose to put Smoltz in the bullpen, you have to bring somebody down. Is it the flamethrowing Daniel Bard? Manny Delcarmen? Lefty assassin Takashi Saito? Hideki Okajima? Do you break up a good thing just to appease the wealth of pitching talent on the front end?

Or, do you field trade offers for Brad Penny, seeking out a shortstop more effective than Julio Lugo (which at the moment is a decent-sized pool)?

As long as there is an abundance of starting talent, and a menacing bullpen, Penny's name will continue to surface in trade rumors, no matter how little substance there is to back up the claims. Just know this: Penny, like most power pitchers these days, has a recent history of injuries. He is 31 years old, which means he is coming out of his peak years and must learn to adjust accordingly. Sure, Smoltz still has some heat, but now it's about where he's locating his low-90's fastball that's making all the difference for him.

There are alot worse guys you can have at the bottom of your rotation (this guy would be at the top of the Nats', don't you think?). But keep in mind that this is a guy that could end up on the Disabled List tomorrow, with no rhyme or reason. If and/or when Theo Epstein decides to act on a trade, he must do it swiftly. Don't drag it out, just push the button.

If you're going to do it, do it now before it's too late.

A Dodgers Fan's take on Manny Ramirez

By Jim Ingram
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
First and foremost, I want to let everyone know I am a die hard LA Dodgers fan. In response to what Chad wrote this morning, I'd like to counter a few things as well as bring to light the view from a die hard Dodgers fan. Manny Ramirez has been an absolute beast at bat in his career. What we don't know is if he's been a beast because of long term steroid/PED use or not. I would bet on the fact this isn't the first time he's used an illegal substance to help further his career. You can argue all you want about steroids and PED's not being against the rules for Major League Baseball, but it's a simple fact that steroids were illegal to use in the United States. Therefore it's is, and always has been cheating in my eyes.
I do agree with Chad that everyone in the country will be eagerly awaiting the return of Manny come July 3rd. A good number of people will be watching to see if he can return to his former self, or if he falls on his face without the use of PED's. Most Dodgers fans can't wait because they love him and think he can do no wrong. That's pretty much what I expect from one of the worst group of fans for any Major League team. Yes, I say this despite being a huge LA Fan. Personally, I'd rather just forget about him and move on with the team I have. I know this sounds stupid, but I'd rather take my chances with Juan Pierre and the rest of the Dodgers team than potentially winning it all with Manny in left field. I have real concerns that his return will upset the chemistry of the team. It's not like he's ever done that before. Luckily for the Dodgers organization, Manny still needs to be on his best behavior, play hard and perform as best as he can.
Is he good for the game of baseball? No, he's not. Even before being suspended for 50 games he was bad for the sport. It's not good when a sure fire hall of famer can shoot his way out of Boston. It's not good for baseball when a player says his 14th grandmother has passed away so he can miss parts of spring training, or create a fake injury to miss time because he's mad at an organization. It's also not good for baseball when a player pushes down a 65 year old club attendant and is not reprimanded for it. I say all this and haven't even mentioned the time last season when he protests pinch hitting against the New York Yankees by keeping his bat on his shoulder and takes three straight pitches down the middle.
Manny Ramirez is a no good scumbag who just happens to be the best right handed hitter of his generation and one of the best of all time. My question now is can he still be that hitter without help? Only time will tell.

Are you on Manny's side?

By Chad Garner
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
Manny Ramirez is a cheater, but he's still a big draw.
Is that a bad thing?
Granted, getting suspended from Major League Baseball for 50 games for violating the drug policy doesn't help his image --not that that hasn't been wrecked over the years with his lack of hustle, needing days off, faking injuries, etc. -- but there's no arguing that he's one hell of a hitter. 
That's what he is, he's a freak --just like Randy Moss catching touchdowns -- with a bat in his hand.
It's not my problem if you forgive him for all that's he's done with tarnishing his image, but that baseball talent that he has still makes us want to watch.
He can homer at any time, in any count, in a game, plus you get the added bonus of what will Manny do next? Will he hustle out a ground ball? Will he loaf it in the outfield? Will he even show up at the ballpark? It's the great mystery of Manny Being Manny.
Now, even though he's suspended from the Dodgers and isn't eligible to be reinstated until July 3, fans are flocking to the ticket booths in Albuquerque, N.M., in hopes of seeing Manny suit up and play in some minor league games to get ready for his return to the Dodgers.
Those fans probably don't agree with Manny's choices which got him suspended in the first place, but they obviously want to see the talented Manny on the field. 
There's no doubt that Manny can put on a show when he's got his uniform and spikes on and digs into the batter's box.
He's got the star power that makes people want to watch him.
Is he good for the game? That's debatable (post your comments, I'd like to hear what you think!), but he's a box office draw.
There's a reason the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes' tickets for this week's series versus Nashville --where Manny may be suiting up to shake off some of the rust from serving a hefty suspension --are selling faster than hot cakes.
Yes, he's cheated the game, but he doesn't ever get cheated in the batter's box.
What's more important to the fans --being a clean ballplayer or hammering a homer to win a game?
You make the call!

Q&A with Ryan Durand

By Chad Garner
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
(This is the second of several question and answers with Tennessee Titans 7th-round draft pick Ryan Durand. If you have a question for Durand, please email me at cgarner.fanfanaticsports@gmail.com and I'll try to get your question into the next edition).

FFS: Best advice you've ever received?
Durand: Play every down like it's your last because you never know which play will be your last.

FFS: Do you trash talk to opposing players?
Durand: Rarely

FFS: You went to St. Bernard's Central Catholic High School, which mascot do you like better -- Saints or Bernardians?
Durand: Saints

FFS: What are you a fan of?
Durand: Red Sox

FFS: What team did you think was going to draft you?
Durand: Cleveland Browns

FFS: Do you like country music yet?
Durand: Yes, I started listening to it in college

FFS: Favorite video game?
Durand: Metal Gear Solid

FFS: Biggest difference from college to pros?
Durand: You are not on scholarship anymore and do not automatically make the team

FFS: How many people have gotten in contact with you since you were drafted that you hadn't spoken to in years?
Durand: Many have said congrats via facebook

FFS: Who is Tennessee's starting quarterback -- Vince Young or Kerry Collins?
Durand: I don't know, I'm just a lineman

FFS: What gets you fired up to play football?
Durand: Listening to Metallica

FFS: What are the facilities like as a member of the Titans?
Durand: Fantastic, they are top notch

FFS: Have you had a "Welcome to the NFL" moment yet?
Durand: Not yet but I'm sure there will be one

FFS: Do you like signing autographs?
Durand: I do, but I don't think anyone knows who I am ... ha, ha