Baseball

I'll admit it, I initially freaked out about sending Vazquez and Logan to New York for Cabrera, Dunn, and Vizcaino.  However, after I thought it over in a calm manner, I came to the realization that it was actually a very thoughtful and rational move by Frank Wren. 

In analyzing Javier Vazquez, it's a wonder he was able to pitch so well last year.  In his 12 full seasons in the bigs, he's only posted an ERA under four a head scratching five times.  On top of that, last year was his only season ever under three. 

Yesterday, a number of Braves fans gathered up their torches and pitch forks and started to load up a wagon bound for the Mexican beach on which Frank Wren is vacationing.

"Why did we trade our ACE for a fourth outfielder?!?!

"We need power!!!  Not a s%*##y Yankee scrub!!!"

Well, today I hope that at least a few have jumped off of that wagon, as the Braves acquired their big right-handed bat that all of us Braves fans have for so long sought.

Sort of.

A survey of over 1.3 million people across the country has just been released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ranking the 50 states and Washington D.C. on how happy the residents of each locale are.  It used data collected over four years.  Out of the 51 states and D.C., New York came in last at 51st, Connecticut second to last at 50th, and New Jersey came in at 47th. 

It has been becoming more and more frustrating. The Dodgers have come so close the last two years, only to fall short of the World Series both times at the hands of the Phillies.  We have waited too long.

In the offseason, much is made of the comings and goings of established major league players in free agency.

But many often overlook the same thing happening in the minor leagues.

In the "Recapping Minor League Free Agent Losses" series, I'll be looking at what, if anything, each team is losing at the minor league levels.

I'm not going to bother covering every player, because not all of them are very important and I have little to say about many of them. I'll just be touching on those who I think could be of value to another team in free agency.

Angel management used to be very forthcoming with fans in the past.  Whether it was real or imagined we fans always felt as if we understood the direction the team was going.  That could mean something non-baseball related, like the clubs desire to improve our experience in the stadium, to the intricacies of player movement.

When the club signed Mark Teixeira the risks were spelled out to fans.  Where Teixeira was plan A, Kendry Morales was plan B.  It was clear, it was spelled out it was, and it remains a good way to do business.

According to Buster Olney of ESPN.com , the Washington Nationals are about to sign former Pirates' closer Matt Capps to a one-year deal. Capps' agent, Paul Kinsler, is denying any deal is close, but Olney says "multiple sources" are confirming the story.

Why would Capps, who was courted by a dozen teams, want to play for Washington?

With Christmas a couple of days away, Ruben Amaro Jr. has finished the majority of his shopping.

He signed Placido Polanco as his new third baseman, retooled the bench with Juan Castro, Ross Gload and Brian Schneider, and traded for Roy Halladay.

The only item left on Amaro's to-do list is to solidify a bullpen that blew 22 saves and had a 3.91 earned run average last year, which ranked ninth in the National League.

We have all been aware of the changes the Yankees made so far in the nearly two months removed since they won the 2009 World Series.

They brought in Javier Vazquez, Nick Johnson, and Curtis Granderson, while Hideki Matsui and Phil Coke departed to other teams.

As of right now, Johnny Damon's status is unknown.

Some feel like he might be back with the Yankees, and some feel like he won't be coming back.

According to the New York Daily News, the Yankees are not interested in bringing Damon back, especially with his contract demands.