Morrow's better off starting, but not like this

Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

It's been a long, long time since Brandon Morrow had himself a decision. It's been even longer since that decision has been a victory

Morrow's season has been very much a strange one and while the Mariners are doing the right thing in making him a starter, they're doing it in all the wrong ways. They should have committed to Morrow as a starter at the end of last year and had him conditioning for the position during the offseason. Instead, even though he has constantly said he wants to be a starter, the Marriners made him their closer again this year. Then Morrow played the good teammate and said he was happy relieving. It was only after he struggled, went on the disabled list, came back, struggled again and ultimately lost his job to David Aardsma did the M's consider him for a starting spot when he went begging to them to allow him to start.

What should have happened is a prolonged trip to AAA Tacoma to build up arm strength. Instead, he spent a whole four days in AAA, then was brought up to the majors. He's been a mess since.

Going into today's game against the Red Sox, Morrow had had four starts, going 16.2 innings (an average of just over four per start), allowing nine runs. He's walked 11, while striking out 18. Not an incredible ratio.

Today's start was his most encouraging as he went six innings, allowing three runs in six innings. Most importantly, he walked only one. Still, is this the way you want to break a promising young pitcher into starting in the big leagues? Have him struggle through five or six innings per start for a team that can't promise to win a game for him? Seems more like a way to destroy a pitcher's confidence than anything to me.

Don't get me wrong. I like the idea of moving Morrow to the rotation. I am one who believes Jonathan Papelbon would be a sure-fire ace if the Red Sox had inserted him in the rotation as they had originally planned going into the 2007 season. There was a time when Papelbon was considered a superior starting pitching option than any the Red Sox had in their farm system, including Jon Lester. Sure, he's topped the Red Sox' saves list, but I am a firm believer that saves are a vastly overrated stat (Holds and range factor top the list of overrated stats).

Having one of your best pitchers pitching one inning in a game you hold a three-run lead in is just a waste if you ask me. There are a lot of guys who can protect a three-run lead for an inning.

It's too late for Papelbon. He's too firmly entrenched as the closer for the Red Sox. For Morrow, it's not too late, but the Mariners just aren't going about it the right way.

Bring 'Sheed to Boston; who's really gotten better?

By Brendan Hall
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Here's what I love about the level of transparency in this Golden Age of information: yesterday we learned that Celtics management flew out to Detroit to meet with free agent Rasheed Wallace and offer him the mid-level exception.

But as the story develops, we learn that it wasn't just Sheed, Wyc Grousbeck, Danny Ainge, and a couple cups of coffee. They brought the frig'n posse. Reportedly in attendance to woo Sheed were Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Nick Naylor, Cousin Skeeter and Don Vito Corleone.

Kidding aside, this is a deal that should have happened six years ago, when then-general manager Chris Wallace had the opportunity to trade Antoine Walker to the Trail Blazers in exchance for Sheed. But like most incompetent GMs in this league (and that's 75 percent of the league), he sat on his hands.

Love him or hate him, Sheed is a proven winner at every stop, dating all the way back to his days as a high schooler in Philadelphia. His arrival in Portland keyed a run to the 2000 Western Conference Finals, and his mid-season arrival in Detroit spawned an unheralded championship.

Sheed's polarizing personality and defensive mean streak fit like a glove in Boston. And not only that, he'd be an instant fan favorite in a city that patronizes guys with a mean streak. And, as an added bonus, he's one of the few guys in the league whose cuss-bombs actually bear some weight, in that sort of social commentary way. Brandon Jennings should take notes.

If and when Sheed makes his decision, I'll have more to say. But for now, let's look at the other happenings around the league in what has become an unexpectedly busy offseason. Who got better, who's taking a gamble, and who's staying the same?

Detroit Pistons: Better
Joe Dumars is by no means in hot water, but you have to admit you were taken aback by his mystifying draft picks (you knew what you were getting with Rodney Stuckey -- the jury's still out on Darren Daye's kid). By getting rid of his buddy Michael Curry (not a day too soon) and signing Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva to long-term deals worth a combined $90 million, he quickly settled any and all doubters.

But really, did the Pistons get that much better? Sure, the Iverson debacle led to a misleading record -- I thought they were the fourth-best team in the Eastern Conference -- but does Detroit leap-frog anybody? I'd say Orlando, and that's about it.

Dumars shored up the frontcourt -- it's looking like Jason Maxiell at the five, Villanueva at the four, and Tayshaun Prince at the three, with two very underrated Walter's (Herrmann and Sharpe) off the bench. Will Bynum figures to be a backup guard, in the one or two spot. But here's the problem: you've committed $55 million to a guy, so there's no way you put him on the bench. But Rodney Stuckey is the proven point guard, and Rip Hamilton can't play the three. Do you really want Ben Gordon coming off the bench? Better yet, after his explosive playoff series, does Ben Gordon want to go back to being a sixth man?

Come to think of it, that's not exactly a bad conflict to have.

Orlando Magic: Jury's out
The Magic traded their sixth-best guy (Courtney Lee) to New Jersey for their best guy (Vince Carter), and have made a firm statement that they're going all in after their NBA Finals dud last month. But in the long-term, the Nets might have gotten the better end of this deal. This is not the Vince Carter of the early 2000's, dunking over 7-foot-2 Frenchmen and faking an injury so he could dance on stage at a Nelly concert. And after all these years, Carter still has a reputation as a malcontent. This is a big roll of the dice.

Still, I can't wait for the infinite "Vince comes home to Florida" angles that ESPN will put out of their sleeves the next three months.

Cleveland Cavaliers: Better
The Cavs signed a 38-year-old Shaquille O'Neal -- again, another statement move. The media is calling this a statement on GM Danny Ferry's behalf -- "we're committed to you, and to prove it, we're giving you Shaq" -- but I'm not sure I agree all the way. Shaq is still effective in his old age, as evidenced by his surprisingly great season this year with the Suns, but how many more miles does this guy have left? His arrival in Phoenix was supposed to kick-start a complacent franchise; but even with him, Amare Stoudemire, Steve Nash and Raja Bell, the Suns made an early exit in 2008 and didn't even make the playoffs this year. LeBron is other-worldly, but you have to take that into consideration.

Los Angeles Lakers: Showtime v2.1
The signing of Ron Artest makes them the odds-on favorite to win the Finals in 2010. Artest gives them everything they had in Trevor Ariza and then some. He's always been known as a defensive beast, but also showed some flair for the highlight reel during the Rockets' surprising postseason run (well, not surprising to me -- I had them in the Finals losing to the Celtics, before the season). And not to mention, he's gotten a semi-grip on himself. No more applying for jobs at Circuit City, no more requesting time off to promote rap albums, no more dumb quotes like the "my favorite saying is 'I will s*** on you'" controversy in DIME, and best of all, no more inciting riots. He's always been good about quotes, and smiles. Now, he's molded his personality that blends in with Hollywood.

Houston Rockets: Busting out the duct tape
With Yao's career in jeopardy and Tracy McGrady entering the final year of his contract, the Rockets are bracing themselves for impact (no pun intended). They lost their best defensive player in Artest, so they picked up the Laker that killed them the most (Trevor Ariza). Not a bad move, but also a move out of necessity. If Yao really does have to call it a career, that changes the team's dynamic on so many levels.

Fantasy Baseball: Frozen Ropes

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

It's Friday, so you know what that means on Fan Fanatic Sports. Yes, it's the Friday Fantasy column!

The Good:

1. Albert Pujols - .474, 4 HR, 7 RBI, 5 R, 1 SB

Big Al is a monster beast. He hit another 4 homers this past week to give him a total 30 with a good week and a half before the All Star break. If he can keep the average up, he's currently hitting .335, he has an amazing chance for the Triple Crown. I've always wanted to see someone do it in my lifetime, so I'll be rooting hard for Pujols.

2. Hanley Ramirez - .500, 2, 11, 4, 1

Han the Man has been on fire this past month, not just this week. He has the most RBI in the majors, 33, over the past month as well. The only person close to him is Albert Pujols. As I mentioned last week, he's done exactly what the Marlins wanted him to do when they put him 3rd in the order. He's driving in runs.

3. BJ Upton - .316, 2, 7, 7, 3

It's about time the older Upton brother hits this list. His average is still only .246, but he does have 29 stolen bases on the year. Over the past month he's hit .308 which would indicate he's finally turned his season around. Look for him to continue his pace, increase his power numbers and put together a fine season.

4. Ichiro Suzuki - .385, 0, 2, 7, 5

Ichiro has played so far under the radar this season. Just because he doesn't hit home runs and doesn't drive in a ton of runs, many fantasy players may forget about him. What they don't realize is that his .370 average leads the majors. They also don't realize that his 6 home runs this season is nearly on pace to eclipse his career high of 15 in 2005. His stolen base numbers are down a bit, but he still has 17.

5. Bobby Abreu - .308, 2, 8, 8, 1
Rounding out the top 5 this week is Bobby Abreu. He's really been the steal of the 09' free agents. For only $5 million, the Angels got a guy who's hitting .299, 6, 48, 39, 17. Yes, that last number is the total of stolen bases this season. He's doesn't hit a lot of homers anymore, but he's a complete player. He still plays a very good Right Field and has that great throwing arm.

The Bad:

1. Shane Victorino - .217, 0, 1, 4, 1

The Flyin' Hawaiian has been anything but lately. He's only driven in 7 RBI in his last 92 at bats. Not good, but he has been either 1 0r 2 in the lineup, so they're not really asking him to drive in runs. That's what Utley, Howard and Ibanez are for.

2. Ian Stewart - .190, 1, 1, 2, 1

Is Stewart back in his slump? I doubt it. He won't hit for a high average, but has been knocking the ball out of the park and driving in runs, so the low average doesn't bother me too much. Of course he's losing a bit of playing time as the Rockies showcase Garrett Atkins for a trade.

3. Mark Teixeira - .208, 0, 3, 4, 0

Big Tex has hit a bit of a slump lately, but it hasn't hurt the surging Yankees. If he and Arod can ever hit their stride at the same time, than the rest of the AL better watch out. Don't worry too much, he'll be back to his old self in no time.

4. Cody Ross - .158, 1, 3, 2, 0

Normally I wouldn't include Ross in this part of the article, but he's having a pretty darn good season so far. .274, 14, 48, 40, 3 is nothing to scoff at. So, why did I include him here? For one he's having a bad week, and two I just traded for him. He's a very streaky player, but has been pretty consistent this season. Of course he hits the skids as soon as I get him.

5. Casey Blake - .150, 1, 1, 3, 0

Let's talk about another player I just traded for. Blake has been terrible since he entered my lineup. Am I worried? Heck no! Why? As much as I can't stand it, Manny Ramirez makes his "triumphant" return to the lineup tonight, so it's about time for Blake to see some better pitches. Also watch our for Andre Eithier to take off with Manny's return as well.

Under the Radar:

In case you didn't realize it, Adam Laroche has started his yearly second half surge a bit early. Over the past month he's hit .323, 5, 16 & is only owned in 36% of leagues. Now's the time to pick him up, or make a low end trade. I've mentioned Casey McGehee (god I love that name, it just makes me giggle) before and it's about time you start looking at him for fantasy baseball. He's eligible at 2B & 3B, and over the past month has put up a .355 average with 5 home runs and 17 RBI. He's only owned in 19% of leagues. Get him now! Some might think this is a stretch, but keep an eye on Lasting Milledge. He's in a new city, and is going to get the opportunity to play full time. He has all the tools, but just needs to mature. Maybe the low lights of Steel City will allow him the opportunity to blossom. If you pay attention to baseball, you should know the name Nolan Reimold. He's the young left fielder for the Orioles. He's also been playing pretty well too. He's hitting .287 on the year and has 9 home runs in only 143 at bats. He's also driven in 20 RBI already.

(Stay tuned for Part 3, AL West, of the Trade Season review on Saturday)

MLB Trade Season: Part 2 American League Central

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Welcome back to the Fan Fanatic Sports in depth analysis of the approaching trading deadline for Major League Baseball. Yesterday we delved into the needs of the AL East, so today we'll venture into the AL Central. Once again it's a tight race with three teams within 3.5 games of the division lead.

1. Detroit Tigers - To be perfectly honest, I am very surprised the Tigers are even in the conversation right now. Even with the likes of Granderson, Cabrera & Ordonez I didn't think they'd have enough offense to contend. I also didn't think they'd have enough starting pitching.

Needs - I'll deal with the offense first. The serious lack of production from Magglio Ordonez has nearly crippled that lineup at times. Placido Polanco has also been struggling all year with a .259 average. That is his lowest since his first season in the bigs when he hit .254 in only 114 at bats. A big thumper is what they need, but I doubt they'll have the payroll flexibility to make a big splash. Verlander, Edwin Jackson & the young Rick Porcello are a solid 1-2-3, but after that, they'll struggled. Armando Gallaraga has been awful, but pitched pretty well last night, and Jeremy Bonderman is hurt. I doubt they'll add another starter though.

Potential Targets - I would have said Eric Hinske would've been a good fit, but he's already gone to the Yankees. Instead, watch for them to ask about Garrett Atkins. I think he'll go to the Red Sox, but one never knows. What about Ryan Spilborghs of the Rockies? He's been rumored to go for weeks, and would really add a little punch at left field. The economy has been killing Detroit, so I wouldn't expect them to do too much.

Trade Strengths - Not much to talk about here from the minor league standpoint. Now that Porcello is entrenched in the majors, the Tigers don't have a top notch prospect to really make a splash.

2. Chicago White Sox - If you read Chad's article, you'll understand one of the reasons why Jake Peavy used his no trade clause earlier this season. Of course you can also attribute the homer friendly park as a reason. With that being said, GM Ken Williams loves to trade so you never quite know what can happen

Needs - It's already been established they want more starting pitchers. I doubt they'll kick the tires again on Jake Peavy, but look for them to be in the hunt for any starter out there. They may also take a look at a stop gap at 3rd base or OF. There have been so many Jermaine Dye rumors, so they better get some good pitching in return.

Potential Targets - Much like the Phillies, name a starting pitcher and they will be a target. Don't be surprised if they take a longer look at current free agents like Pedro Martinez, Ben Sheets and Tom Glavine. The White Sox could also look down in Houston for Russ Ortiz, Mike Hampton, or really pile it on for Roy Oswalt. On the offensive side, Ty Wigginton could be a decent pickup to play 1st, 3rd and a bit of the OF and provide a little pop.

Trade Strengths - With Josh Fields and Gordon Beckham already on the big league club, they can part with young 3rd base prospects like Dayan Viciedo or Brent Morel. They have a decent system, and certainly the pieces to pull off a big deal.

3. Minnesota Twins - I absolutely love the way the Twins' organization is run. They rarely spend money, draft well, trade well and are always in contention. They also never make a big splash at the deadline, so look for them to make one, or two, small deals.

Needs - As always, the Twins are pretty much set for the starting rotation. What they need is bullpen help getting to Joe Nathan. Jose Mijares, R.A. Dickey and Matt Guerrier are all having good seasons, but they'd like to add someone else into the mix to solidify that pen. I guess they can live with 11 homers and 35 RBI from Joe Crede at 3rd base, but ultimately another infield bat is what they need on offense.

Potential Targets - on offense, Kevin Kouzminoff would be a target of mine. The Mariners are already talking to the Padres about him, so you know he's available. The Padres are in need of pitching, and everything else besides a first baseman, and the Twins have plenty of major league ready depth. What I'd do is build a deal for him as well as Cla Meridith and shore up your two biggest needs at the same time. Former Twin LaTroy Hawkins could also be on their radar.

Trade Strengths - Major League ready starting pitchers. The Twins have plenty of it, and could depart with someone, like Scott Baker or Glenn Perkins. The Twins would be very happy to include Delmon Young in any deal. They have very good center field prospects, Ben Revere & Aaron Hicks, on the horizon so the departure of Young would help open a spot for either of them.

MLB Trade Season: Part 1 American League East

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports

Well, July is here and that means one thing for the MLB: The trade season is open. Actually, the Cardinals and Indians kicked it off for us last weekend. The Cardinals made a very good moving picking up Mark (Chad & I love you) DeRosa to fill their season long void at third base, while only giving up giving up Chris Perez and a player to be named later. Yesterday saw another two trades as the Nationals traded Lastings Milledge to the Pirates for Nyjer Morgan. The Pirates weren't done, as they sent Eric Hinske to the New York Yankees. 2. What I'll do in part one of this article is look at the AL East contenders and break down their needs and potential targets. I will only cover teams in that are within 5 games in the standings. With that being said, there are still a good number of teams in the race

American League East:

1. Boston Red Sox - The Red Sox have been very hot of late, but so have the Yankees and Rays. They hold only a 2.5 game lead right now, so it will be a long, hard fought Summer in the AL East.

Needs - With the uncertainty of Mike Lowell's hip, and David Ortiz's bat, the Sox's biggest need is another bat, preferably a power bat that plays a corner infield position or a right handed hitter that can play right field.

Potential Targets - Garrett Atkins is potentially a good fit for the Red Sox. He can play third & first and obviously fill in at DH. He just started to hit this season, and it looks like the Rockies are starting to showcase him with more playing time. Theo Epstien seems like he's a big fan of Nick Johnson. If Nick is healthy, then he's just the type of hitter the Sox like due to his patience at the plate and high OBP. Victor Martinez would fill several holes long term for the Sox. He could play first and DH this year and next and take over for Jason Varitek after next season. He would also cost Boston a ton of major league ready prospects. A smaller deal could get done for Mark Teahen. Teahen can play 1st, 3rd and the OF, but he's left handed hitter.

Trade Strengths - Pitching, pitching, pitching. They have amazing depth at the Major and Minor league level. I doubt they'll part with the likes of Clay Bucholtz or Michael Bowden though, but do have enough lower level talent to entice other clubs.

2. New York Yankees - The Yanks already picked up Eric Hinske to provide another bat off the bench, but they'll need more than that to fend off the surging Rays and overtake the hated Red Sox.

Needs - The #1 need is the bullpen, but they also need another starter. Mariano Rivera is in the midst of another great year, but they've had a terrible time getting to him. Brian Bruney is back from the DL. The Yankees bullpen has been much better of late, but there isn't a reliable veteran arm in the pen. Even with CC, AJ, Joba and Petitte, they still need another starter. Wang has been inconsistent at best, and there are even trade rumors circling about Wang. Don't be surprised if the Yanks pick up another outfield bat as well because it looks like Xavier Nady is done for the season.

Potential Targets - The Yankees won't be the only team looking for bullpen help, but they have the ability to pick up larger salaries than any other team. Houston Street would be their first choice, but the Rockies may choose to hold on to him. Chad Qualls would be a very solid pickup for the pinstripes. He has been very good closing games for the Diamondbacks this season, but has also had success as a set up man. Cla Meridith is on the trading block, again, and would be another good fit that shouldn't cost much. With the Indians poised for a fire sale, keep an eye out on Rafael Bettencourt. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see the Yankees join the rumor mill for Matt Holiday. They now have a deep enough farm system to make the trade, and Holiday would almost certainly put up Coors Field type numbers at the New Yankee Stadium.

Trade Strengths - They have a much better farm system than the past few years. They can also take on any amount of salary.

3. Tampa Bay Rays - The defending AL champs have been surging of late. They've won 9 of the last 10, and just got Scott Kazmir back. They are only 4 games behind the AL East leading Red Sox.

Needs - They absolutely need help in the bullpen, especially at closer. JP Howell picked up his 6th save the other night, but is not a closer. He's blown 5 save opportunities, and is much better suited as a set up man. They are also on the look out for another bat that can play the outfield and DH.

Potential Targets - Houston Street would make a lot of sense if the Rockies decide to trade him. The Rockies are looking for starting pitchers and the Rays have very good major league ready depth at the position. Heath Bell may also be on the market. He's been great as the Padres closer this season, and now would be a good time to sell high for a starting pitcher from the Rays. Also look for the likes of George Sherill, Latroy Hawkins, and Chad Qualls to be on their radar. They Rays would also like to pick up another bat, and Gary Sheffield would make perfect sense. He has already said he would like to finish his career in Tampa. He could play a little right field and DH for the Rays.

Trade Strengths - With the return of Scott Kazmir, they have a log jam at starter. In addition to Kaz, the Rays have Matt Garza, James Shields, David Price, Andy Sonanstine and Jeff Nieman. I haven't even mentioned their mild interest in Pedro Martinez. My guess is that either Sonanstine or Nieman go. They also have good depth at the position in the high minors as well as a very good shortstop prospect in Reid Breignac.

(Stay tuned for the breakdown of the AL Central tomorrow)

So anyways, about that bullpen...

By Brendan Hall
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

No sooner was I about to write the words "Justin Masterson's slider was dirty" did the flamethrowing righty reliever proceed to implode.

Masterson struck out four batters over the fifth and sixth innings -- including one on, yes, a hella nasty slider -- and then proceeded to give up four runs with no outs in the top of the seventh. From there, things unraveled quicker than a poorly-written movie plot. Manny Delcarman, Hideki Okajima and Takashi Saito combined for five more runs, and then Jonathan Papelbon proceeded to blow the save in the eighth. Nick Markakis doubled off him two score two runs, for the final 11-10 score.

John Smoltz didn't qualify for the win, since the game went to rain delay in the middle of the fourth, but his strong statement for a rotation spot was wasted anyways. This was vintage Smoltz, his slider whizzing across the plate like it did a decade ago, in a game where the rest of the lineup was anything but over the last four innings.

Tell me something, was it an omen when all four infielders and Masterson began to walk off the field with two outs? Because the rest of the game, they played pretty stupid.

OK, OK, I could go on and on with turns of the phrase about what a FedEx job the Sox did last night. But let's put this into perspective before the worrywarts on WEEI and the Boston.com messageboards go palookas over trade ideas.

I'm not going to say this was bound to happen, because I'm not that naive. But it's just as naive to now think that this is an illumination of a growing problem, too. This is not "a nightmare", as Dennis Eckersley repeated verbatim over the last two innings, but just a sober reminder that, hey, we're not even at the All-Star break yet. So enough chirping about that "luxury" in the bullpen.

Could a little shakeup be in the works? With Dice-K and Mike Lowell on the Disabled List, I'm thinking Smoltz will fill that rotation spot for now. But after a game like this, I'd love to see what Clay Buchholz can do.

Don't look at this game as a barometer of the team's bullpen struggles. How they respond today -- with Lester on the mound, no less -- will tell you all you need to know about how tough this team truly is.

No thanks, I'd rather play for someone else

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Some managers are player type coaches -- Boston's Terry Francona no doubt is -- and other managers do things that players just don't really like and makes them not want to play for them.

What makes a good manager?

Well, putting players in a position to succeed should top the list. Then get into game management, strategy, knowledge of how to use each player to their maximum, the ability to get players to play hard for you, etc. Those are just some of the things that should make a manager very good.

But some managers, regardless of how successful they are, will never get the proper respect from players because of their demeanor and attitude.

Look no further than Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen. This guy seems to rub just about everyone the wrong way --especially his players.

He apparently is unpopular with major leaguers, according to an espn.com story.

Should it surprise anyone that players don't enjoy playing for him or that other players from around the league wouldn't want to play for him? I'm more shocked that Chicago Cubs' Lou Piniella won the poll for the manager for which players would least like to play for.

Guillen, he may be a good in-game manager, but he comes off as an arrogant you-know-what. He's clearly the cockiest manager in the game and he's always chirping about something on the television. But it's always priceless when he lays into his own players --he seems to do that at least once a week. This guy has a funny way of motivating, right?

It's one thing to get on players, but do you have to go in front of the media and minimize them-- the same guys that play for you every day?

When you do that kind of stuff --and mind you, that act is so old already --you don't tend to get much respect. 

So is it really a shock that other players would rather not player for him? No way.

You know once Guillen sees this poll in Sports Illustrated, he'll puff out his chest and crank up his act even louder because he likes for others to see how important he is.

We see you Guillen, we don't get what your act is all about and it's sad, but we get it.

Who are you going to belittle next? Maybe Jim Thome? I doubt it, you even should know better than that.

Lose the act and more people will appreciate your baseball knowledge. There is a reason why you won the World Series in 2005.

What manager would you least like to play for?