Fan News

This year, Toronto has had to deal with more injuries and problems than usual.

Stay there for a moment, I need to unfurl my list and get my reading glasses.

Shawn Marcum, Dustin McGowan, Jesse Litsch have become casualties of the rotation. B.J. Ryan has been having troubles, and the Jays bullpen has been reshaped accordingly.

Rookies Brett Cecil and Bobby Ray were chased from the rotation, getting rocked and injured in the process. Ricky Romero and Scott Richmond have had their share of struggles lately. 

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It was destiny. There were few who suggested the Nats may pass on Strasburg but they mostly were trying to add suspense to the biggest no-brainer since LeBron James went first overall to the Cleveland Cav’s in 2003.

The Nationals selected the 6'5" righty out of San Diego State and in doing so may have marked a historic day, and perhaps a turning point in Washington Nationals history.

Strasburg comes to Washington after one of the most successful college career’s in history.

The Daniel Murphy/Fernando Tatis platoon perplexes me. It’s not just because Murphy already looks to be a better defensive first baseman, although that does help.

It seems Tatis hasn’t been solid defensively anywhere he’s played this year. He’s not a liability, but he’s not good either. Sometimes you have to look at the upside.

The best case scenario for Tatis is that he’s a solid guy off the bench, and can spot start at first or in the outfield a couple of times and contribute offensively.

Here are some players that would help the San Francisco Giants win today and, for some, into the future. 

8) Jack Wilson

Age 31

139 AB, .266 BA, 1 HR, 12 doubles

UZR/150 (’07-’09) = -0 .3, 16.7, 27.2

Through the first three-plus innings Sunday, Tommy Hanson looked every bit the future ace that he is destined to become. After that first time through the order he quickly crashed down to earth.

After Hansen struck out the side in the second, a lot of the Braves faithful were beside themselves with excitement.

Then in the fourth the wheels started to slowly come off.

Ryan Braun took a misplaced fastball after a leadoff walk to J.J. Hardy and calmly deposited it into the stands to tie the game at two.

It was expected to be the second coming. A 22-year-old with a slider rivaling that of future Hall-of-Fame pitcher John Smoltz and a fastball similar to Nolan Ryan.

Had it rained Sunday, Brave fans would have expected rookie hurler Tommy Hanson to have walked on water to get to the mound.

However, much like the Braves' season so far, reality was far from the truth.

It has been a long time since I have contributed to this site; I've been busy with work and school.  But I have run across a headline that I knew I had to write about and share my thoughts.  The headline involved former Cleveland Indians owner and multi-millionaire, Dick Jacobs.

Dick Jacobs passed away on Friday, and I knew it would be inappropriate not to mention his legacy in the city of Cleveland.

Mr. Jacobs bought the Indians in 1986 when they were the laughing-stock of baseball, media, and movies.

Entering the 2009 season, not many people were confident about the Yankees' bullpen situation. Outside of Mariano Rivera, the team lacked a true workhorse, someone who could do whatever the team asked at any time.

Enter Alfredo Aceves.

Now, people outside of New York might be scratching their heads and asking each other, "Who the heck is this guy?"

Two years ago, scouts were asking the same thing.

Pitching in the Mexican League for six years, Aceves was a solid starter, going 34-23 with a 4.06 ERA with the Yucatán Leones and Sultanes de Monterrey.