-Dexter Sports
6:19 PM
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I have finally completed the Andy MacPhail trade profile. It was a very interesting experience, and I think I will try and do it again. Throughout the project I found out a couple things about MacPhail that I found interesting.

Download or view the the Andy MacPhail Trade Profile.

• He is actually a really interesting character. I always thought he was just a boring guy.
  

• He really isn't a user of the big trade, but when he does, It usually works. He credits that to asking his father's opinion on trades. He says only once a trade didn't work in his Minnesota days. That trade his father said was a bad one for the twins. Go figure. (Could be a product of his small market nature.)
  

• As he has aged, McPhail has become a better talent evaluator. With Minnesota, a lot of prospects didn't work out. But as he moved to the Cubs and Orioles, it seemed his staffs had a better grasp on player development.
  

-Dexter Sports
10:49 PM
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Ok, I look at my RSS Reader. I knew that C.C. was dealt, of course I did, I live four hours away from Milwaukee, where Fans are screaming across the lake. But it is all that people are talking about. I feel like I'm out of the loop. You know Why? because I am.

So I'll rap up the Sabathia talk by saying WHOO-HOO!!!! Why am I excited? Because my World Series winner is still alive. Sure I have them facing the Tigers in the World Series, but thats a different story....for a different day.

Unlike many, I believe that the Brewers might have paid too much. Zack Johnson is one of the only few top pitching prospects in their system and we all know what Matt LaPorta could be capable of. But you have to do it don't you?

Now the Cubs will be on the hunt for pitching to match up with the Brew Crew. Listen Cubs fans, It's going to be impossible to match the output of Sabathia. Rich Harden is the favorite to be moved to Chicago, but I would not count out Greg Maddux, Randy Wolf, AJ Burnett, or Joe Blanton either.

Either Way, Ladies and Gentleman, I'm Back...............

-Dexter Sports
1:20 PM
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Everyone knows that at this point of the baseball season, many teams are looking for help on the mound. For Teams like the Brewers and Tigers, it is becuase of the loss of key components to their rotation. For others, like the Cubs and Phillies, It is about improving their staff to get that closer to the goal of a World Series. Either way, the top teams in the league have to make choices. Heres what I think will happen on the deadline. Or at least a glance at what options teams will mull.

Milwaukee Brewers: BrewersNation hit the nail on the head with the starting pitching possibilities the Brewers will mull over. What should they do when the Time comes? If I am Doug Melvin I have to feel obligated to bring in C.C. Sabathia. The Brewers have one of, if not the best package to offer. The one thing that could hold them back is that Sabathia is going to take up a lot of payroll. I just have a feeling though. I really do not see Zach Grienke or Cliff Lee as options, as BrewersNation does, but I do think another veteran starter and Cleveland Indian Paul Byrd might be a good fit. Sure, he is Jeff Suppan Jr. but in the National League, Byrd could have success. He wouldn't be that much of an upgrade over Seth McClung either. One name that does fit is Daniel Cabrera. He is actually posting a 1.40 WHIP. Like I have mentioned before, The Brewers could snatch A.J. Burnett as well, just to block the Cubs from making a deal. The Brewers would pay him and then allow him to walk next season .

New York Yankees: As much as it makes sense, I do not see the Yankees going big pitching wise. Phil Hughes is on his way back, Sidney Ponson is loving New York, and I believe that Mr. Steinbrenner believes that Mike Mussina will keep up his first half performance throughout the year. That being said, I am not sold on this bullpen. Expect this team to get in the middle of Brian Fuentes talks. How about Aaron Heilman hopping on the seven train? I don't think that is likely, but it is possible. If the Yankees could land George Sherrill inter-division or another top notch reliever, such as Jon Rauch, It will make this team that much better. A mid range starter wouldn't do any good.

Chicago Cubs: I have a bad feeling the Cubs are going to try and land someone, and overpay. It seems that the Cubs are willing to deal Rich Hill, which could be a major mistake. It would not be hard for a team like the Athletics or Mariners would be happy to take on Hill and another prospect for the contracts of Bedard or Rich Harden. Jim Hendry has been too anxious in the past and might jump on a deal too fast. This is why the Cubs have not been successful in the past. They give up on players and prospects way too fast. Going for the wrong pitcher could really hurt this system yet again. I think that the Cubs have their eyes on the top four. Burnett, Sabathia, Bedard or Harden will be in a Cub uniform.

Los Angeles Angels: Here is a good phrase that tell you the Angels' pitching situation. "If it ain't broken, don't fix it." This staff has been just short of amazing. Ervin Santana, Joe Saunders, and reliever Jose Arredondo have all been pleasant. There is no room to make a deal. I also feel that if given the chance, Nick Adenhart will blossom in his second stint with the major leagues. Heck, Jon Garland, the 5th starter in this rotation, already has 7 wins. Signing Frankie Rodriguez long term though, could be a good option.

New York Mets: I am not sure if anything will be done at the deadline, but I know that if the Mets stay around .500, Omar Minaya will wheel and deal. Remember when he went and got Cliff Floyd and Bartolo Colon? Remember when he went and got Johan Santana? Be ready for it. Something is going to happen before the deadline. I believe that Freddy Garcia will also be a Met at the deadline. Beyond that, Bedard and Burnett should be two pitchers that Minaya talks about. It will be interesting to see if the Mets can pull something together for Sabathia. Though I doubt it will happen, I believe it is a possibility.

Philadelphia Phillies: We know that Gillick is going to make a move. The question is just when. Their Bullpen has been lights out. Chad Durbin and Brad Lidge have been pleasant surprises. And the rotation hasn't been that bad. But one more piece could solidify yet another division title. Bedard is definitely the favorite. I do think that Brett Meyers will turn it around here in the second half. That should be a big boost.

-Dexter Sports
4:12 PM
Dexter-Sports Inbox

David Ortiz started swinging away last night in front of team doctors. Off of a Tee, Ortiz was hammering the ball left and right. Solid shots over the green monster. Ok, that was a bit of an exaggeration, but after the session doctors thought that he "did ok" in relation to his injured wrist.

Ortiz will have another session tonight, before team officials will decide if he should hit the road with the Red Sox. Manager Terry Francona told a local sports radio station that Ortiz will take batting practice with the team if he travels with them. Kevin Youkalis will be in the starting lineup tonight for the Sox.

Other News and Notes:

• Cardinals Slugger Albert Pujols could be the designated hitter on Thursday when he comes off of the DL. Pujols started running the bases yesterday for the first time. Pujols will be a huge addition to the Cardinal offense. St. Louis is three games back of first place Chicago.
  

• Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi claimed to have apologized to Adam Dunn after making ridiculous remarks regarding Dunn's love for baseball. Well, according to trusted beat writer Hal McCoy, Dunn claims to never have talked to Ricciardi. This just continues to add to the "great" reputation that Ricciardi is building up this season. I feel that his job is about to be taken away from him pretty quickly, and if not now, then by the end of the season.

• Jon Lieber could be pitching his last season of professional baseball. Lieber will reevaluate his career at the end of the season, but life as a reliever has to be getting to him. Lieber has only been used 21 times this season, and after a career where he has been a starter, it has been a real adjustment. I really wouldn't be surprised. Lieber's stuff has been on the decline for a long time.

• Rafael Furcal is making strides in his attempt to come back this season. Furcal has started to take ground balls at shortstop, but could face back surgery if his recent rehab doesn't hold up. Furcal is a free agent in 2009.
  

-Dexter Sports
5:25 PM
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Aramis Ramirez just hit a walk-off to center field to give the Cubbies a 4-3 win over the White Sox. Ramirez also hit a dinger off of Octavio Dotel earlier in the game. If the rest of this series is anything like this game, we sure have some great baseball in front of us. Kerry Wood gave up a double to start the ninth, but settled down nicely.

Tomorrow's Matchup: Jason Marquis vs. Jose Contreras 1:05 PM ET

-Dexter Sports
12:56 PM
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Albert Pujols stumbled out of the batter's box right onto the disabled list. Alfonso Soriano was smashed in the hand by a Jeff Bennett fastball. Six weeks from now, he could be coming back to completely different division standings.

Alfonso Soriano has been a big reason why the Cubs have been winning a lot of ballgames. His ten home runs and 29 RBIs propelled the Cubs in the month of May. He has been a spark on the top of a lineup that has seen fantastic offensive production throughout.

Albert Pujols has been a mainstay in the middle of the Cardinals order. His value goes beyond homers, RBIs and on base percentage. His ability to work counts and be selective to the plate and get timely hits when needed is what the Cardinals will miss. It will be tough for the Cardinals to keep up the pace they have all season. Even hall of fame announcer Marty Brennaman thinks it will be tough, "If that team keeps winning with Pujols out of the middle of their lineup than Tony La Russa is the greatest manager in the history of baseball.” That is coming from an announcer who is known as disliking LaRussa.

With both teams fighting for wins in a tight division, it is imperative that both of these clubs keep chalking up marks in the win column.

To do that, What do these clubs need to do to their roster offensively?...... absolutely nothing.

The Cubs have already went a stretch without Soriano and were able to hold up. From the middle to the end of April, the Cubs were able to win 9 out of fifteen without Soriano. Ryan Theriot held up as the lead off hitter earlier in the year and he will be able to do so again. Theriot, who has a higher on base percentage than Soriano, more stolen bases, and half the strikeouts will set the table for Mark DeRosa at the two spot. With a bunch of guys that play outfield on the roster, it won't be hard for Piniella to try and replace Soriano's production. He simply has to go with the hottest bat.

For the Cardinals, it might be a bit more tough to keep up the pace, but they can easily do it. Though Adam Wainwright made his way to the DL, this pitching staff is quite capable in close games. Chris Duncan will fill in for Albert Pujols and with the power surge of Ryan Ludwick and Rick Ankiel this offense isn't going to slouch when it counts. The only question will be if the middle infield can produce a bit more than usual. When Tony LaRussa is your manager, nothing is out of question.

No matter what happens in this stint, the NL Central will be fun to watch this season. Every single team in the division have been competitive this season.

With the season 1/3 over, many teams have been pleasant surprises (Rays, White Sox, Marlins) as well as quite a few disappointments (Tigers, Mets, Padres). Today we will look at the Chicago Cubs and the Milwaukee Brewers and compare their seasons this year to what happened last year.

While both the Brewers and the Cubs were projected to win the NL Central this year, only the Cubs have lived up to the hype so far. As of the night of May 29, both the Cubs and Brewers have played 54 games, exactly 1/3 of the season. As it stands, the Cubs are in first place with a 33-21 record (best in MLB) while the Brewers sit in 4th place at 26-28. I couldn't help but draw comparisons between this season and last year. In 2007, after 54 games, the Brewers sat atop the division with a 30-24 record countered by the Cubs 23-31 start, placing them in...wait for it...4th place. If this pace continued, the Brewers would have won the division handily with a 90 win season, while the Cubs would have fell well below .500 at 69-93. But it didn't continue that way. After 108 games (2/3 of the season), the Brewers only led the Cubs by one game with 58 wins. Finally, the season looked like the 2 horse race most experts predicted. As most baseball fans know, the Cubs ended up taking the division last year by 2 full games over the Brewers, a 9 game turnover in the final 2/3 of the season.

So what does this mean for the 2008 season? Well, both the Cubs and the Brewers are 3 games over their counterpart's record from last year. Obviously, this means nothing unless the Brewers surge like the Cubs did last year. Right now, the Cubs are unstoppable. While they didn't start off 24-10 like the Brewers did last season, they currently hold a better record than the Crew did at this point and they have been much more consistent. Rookie of the Year candidates Kosuke Fukudome and Geovany Soto have been very pleasant surprises for the team and have greatly helped the Cubs become the most explosive offense so far. In the back of the bullpen, Bob Howry, Carlos Marmol and Kerry Wood have been nearly lights out, keeping the Cubs in close games and closing out games better than just about anyone ever has. Meanwhile, the Brewers show few signs of becoming a winning team again. Everybody knows they have the talent, but the loss of SP Yovani Gallardo has proved too far an obstacle to overcome for the rest of the pitching staff thus far. The slow starts of JJ Hardy, Bill Hall, Mike Cameron, Prince Fielder, etc. certainly have not helped one bit. Eric Gagne has been a complete disaster and found himself on the DL along with David Riske. Derrick Turnbow and Dave Bush were sent down to AAA due to poor performance (though Bush was called up after Gallardo's injury). Complimented by their inability to win on the road (13-18 this year), the first third of the season has proved to be a rough patch in the Brewers "return to relevance."

Despite all that, the point of the post is to prove to everyone that although the Cubs are hot and the Brewers are...well, not, it is still going to be close come September. Much of the Cubs' success can be contributed to the excellent starts for Ryan Dempster and Ted Lilly. Dempster has put up absolute gaudy numbers, but there is much doubt that he can keep it up. So far, he has a 2.56 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, .189 BAA, and a .227 BABIP. All this compared to a career 4.70 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, .263 BAA, and a .306 BABIP suggests that a steep decline is in order. Lilly has put together another solid season, not counting his first 4 starts. Without them, he has put up a 3.53 ERA. With them it is at 5.23. There is nothing to suggest that he will be able to keep up the numbers he has since April 22 and he will probably have quite a few more starts similar to his early April numbers. The Cubs also are 10-13 on the road. While not terrible for road splits, it means they are 23-8 at home, hinting at a few more losses for the Cubs, at least in the near future while they play a few more road games.

As I already mentioned, all this is moot as long as the Brewers don't break the funk. Even though I said there are a few things that show a turnaround, they do exist. For one, starting pitchers have pitched deeper into ball games lately as opposed to earlier in the season when quality starts were a rare commodity. Obviously this helps out the bullpen, one that is lacking due to injuries and overworked minor league call-ups. Second, with a slumping offense, one has to imagine that soon they will return to form. Fielder will crush 40 more home runs, Hall and Weeks will raise their averages, and Hardy will knock in many RBIs from the 7-hole. Braun and Hart show no signs of slowing down and have been the pleasant mix of consistency that a fan can only hope for from more than 2 players. Another factor has to be the road/home splits again. The Brewers are 13-10 in the confines of Miller Park but just 13-18 on the road. With those extra home games, they might just be able to catch a few games on the Cubs. In accordance with all of that, the single player, the one that can make or break the entire point of this post should come as no surprise. Ben Sheets. His phenomenal season so far has brought back flashbacks of his 2004 All-Star campaign. This is why the Brewers have paid him to be their DL occupant rotation ace for all these years. He has 67 IP in 10 starts with a 2.93 ERA including 2 complete games (one shutout). However, Sheets has had his last 3 seasons cut short due to injuries. With Gallardo on the shelf, and an average to below-average rotation behind Sheets, an injury would render the Brewers season useless and allow the Cubs (or even the Cardinals; dare I say Astros?) to steal the division once again.

-Dexter Sports
10:37 AM
Dexter-Sports Inbox

Holy Cow, Did enough teams sweep this last series? Man Alive, we saw the Braves beat up on the Mets, the Marlins man handle the Diamondbacks, the Red Sox took four from the Royals, and oh yeah, throw in the mauling of the Mariners by the paws of the Tigers. Did I miss anybody? Anyways, here is some news swirling around the league.

• Baseball America is reporting that 20 year old Clayton Kershaw was pulled after one inning in AA Jacksonville by management. Jacksonville Manager John Shoemaker got the call and said that the Dodgers organization has been very cautious of how many innings Kershaw has pitched per month. Like Baseball America, I believe it was because Kershaw will be called up soon to fill Chan Ho Park's spot in the rotation. This kid has been sensational, throwing 47 strike outs in 43 plus innings. The only thing eluding him is his curve ball. He has been known to hang it.

• Chicago Sun Times reporter Gordan Wittenmeyer has a piece on how the rookies have been important to this team and how well the Cubs have developed from the system. Though I agree to an extent, a lot of what keeps this team winning everyday is from the outside. The most struggling players are from within the system. Lets take a look at the best producers for the Cubs. Derek Lee and Alfonso Soriano are in the top two in homers and of the top four in RBIs, only Geovany Soto is home grown. Granted ace Carlos Zambrano is home grown with six wins and a 2.45 but the rest of the best are from the outside. Guys like Ryan Dempster and the Ted Lillys of last year are what have brought the Cubs a lot of success. Though former farm hand Carlos Marmol has turned into possibly the best set up man in the league, most of the production comes from outside the organization.

• Juan Rodriguez of the Florida Sun Sentinal wonders who will fill the void at the three hole now that Hanley Ramirez has moved back to the top of the order where he belongs. The Marlins have the second lowest OPS in the National League. Roriguez goes on to note that the combination of hitters that have hit in the three hole have struck out an NL leading 50 times. The other Florida team, the Rays hold the Major League lead with 57 from the 3 spot. Why not throw Dan Uggla there? He has 13 Homers already, and could be good protection for the rest of the Order. We will see if it happens. I doubt it.

• The Diamondback offense, earlier in the season was unstoppable. Now it seems to be falling apart slowly. Connor Jackson is slipping below .300 and Mark Reynolds has just not looked right since the beginning of the year. Solution? Why not give Chad Tracy some more time and call up Trot Nixon from AAA Tucson. The Diamondbacks are carrying three catchers and it wouldn't hurt to let one go for a few games to catch a spark from a hot bat. Nixon is hitting .303 with 6 HRs and 24 RBIs.

• One last note, Gordon Edes of the Boston Globe posted some great information on the grand slam, after J.D. Drew and Mike Lowell went grand salami on the royals. He notes that it is the 72nd time two have happened in a game. Ten of those have been for the Boston Red Sox. The last time it happened for the Red Sox was in 1995 when big Mo Vaughn and John Valentin went yard in grand slam fashion in Yankee Stadium.
  

-Dexter Sports
12:30 PM
Dexter-Sport Inbox

Dana Eveland (4-3 2.90) continues to shine. The Oakland A's starter acquired from the Diamondbacks in the Dan Haren deal went the distance and only gave up one run on three hits. What a spectacular performance. In today's news our main focus will be on pitching and even the lack thereof.

• Brandon Webb's win streak ended last night as the Florida Marlins out dueled the Arizona Diamondbacks by the score of 3-1. Florida Marlins starter Ricky Nolasco looked good on the mound pitching 7 innings while only giving up a run. Webb's runs came of a Cody Ross homer and a Luis Gonzalez triple. I still don't think that we will see Webb lose a lot of games in a row in 2008. His sinker ball was working well and the Marlins executed very well. Throw in the fact that the Diamondback offense will not score just one run in most of his starts, and I think that Webb will be just fine. Not that anybody would argue.

• Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano insisted that his shoulder was fine on Wednesday. Zambrano, who is scheduled to start on Friday, was bothered by a stiff neck early this week. Many speculated that it could be Zambrano's shoulder that has bothered him in the past. Zambrano was clear when addressing the media. Zambrano even flexed his forearm and said he will show the media on Friday. Look for Zambrano to pull out a good outing against the Pirates.
  

• The Joba experiment has started in New York. Brian Cashman announced yesterday that the project to stretch his arm out is underway. Though it was thought that Chamberlain would make a few rehab starts in AAA, it seems that the stretching could take place in New York. The Yankees threw Chamberlain out for two innings against the Orioles. One spot that seems to be protected in the rotation is that of Darrell Rasner. Rasner is 3-0 with a 1.93 ERA. With Ian Kennedy getting a second chance today to make the rotation a mainstay and Phil Hughes coming off the DL pretty soon, Rasner might be the odd man out, simply because Mike Mussina and Andy Pettitte will be there all season.
  

• Red Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz will make a rehab start at Pawtucket on Sunday. Bartolo Colon, who replaced him picked up the win last night for the Sox. Kevin Cash will be in the lineup tonight as Daisuke Matzusaka will take the mound. It will be only the second time that Mutzusaka hasn't worked with Jason Varitek. Cash will be in the game to give Varitek two nights off as knuckler Tim Wakefield will take the mound tomorrow.
  

• The Mariners have designated Cha Seung Baek for an assignment. R.A. Dickey will be on hand in the pen against the Tigers this afternoon. Dickey sports a knuckler that reaches 75 MPH and a slight fastball. The Mariners Bullpen has been atrocious so far this season and Dickey will get his chance to stop the bleeding. We could possibly see Dickey in the rotation for Miguel Bautista at some point.
  

-Dexter Sports
10:50 PM
Dexter-Sports Inbox

The Cubs have signed Jim Edmonds and though he isn't a long term option as the fourth outfielder, he has replaced Felix Pie at least for the rest of the season. Again, the cubs have failed to allow their young talent to develop at the major league level. Pie wasn't given a fair amount at bats from the right side and yet the Cubs continue to bring in veteran players that are past their prime. I agree with the signing of Reed Johnson, but bringing in Jim Edmonds and hoping for a spark is a reach at best. Though it is too soon to tell, if the Cubs have officially given up on Felix Pie, he could be available around the deadline in a deal that would bring them either more offensive firepower or one more solid pitcher.

It has been clear from the get go that the Cubs did not have faith in Felix Pie. Their first attempt was to get Coco Crisp from the Red Sox to take over in center. Then it was even Marlon Bryd of the Rangers who they thought would do better than Pie. If the right deal comes along then I think the Cubs will jump on it. Allowing him to rot in AAA, much like another former outfield prospect is not the right answer. With that being said, here is a few scenarios that I can see happening.

San Diego Padres: We know the need for a true center fielder overlies nearly every other need on this squad. If the Cubs want to re-evaluate the thought of bringing in shortstop Khalil Greene, if Ronny Cedeno and Ryan Theriot are not getting the job done. Though Greene isn't that much of an upgrade, he did show power last year. The Padres would also be able to clear 4.5 million dollars for next year. Other players that could be available are Brian Giles, Trevor Hoffman(bit of a reach), Greg Maddux, Wilfredo Ledezma, and even possibly pitching prospects. Even third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff could be available, because the Pads would love to give
a chance to shine. The Cubs could use Kouzmanoff in the outfield, but he is most likely an option to another team, considering Aramis Ramirez is not going anywhere and their top prospect is third baseman Josh Vitters.

Baltimore Orioles: I still think that Brian Roberts is a possibility in Chicago and one of the pieces of the puzzle could be Pie. Though the Orioles are very happy with what they have got in the outfield right now, Pie could be a solid addition for the future, and though they are having success the future is the biggest thing on Andy MacPhail's mind. Eventually, with the departure of Kevin Millar, we could see Luke Scott or Nick Markakis move to first base, which would make room for Pie in center. Though Pie wouldn't be the only required piece of the deal, something like Ronny Cedeno, Felix Pie and Sean Gallagher/Sean Marshall is a possibility. The Orioles will be asking for a lot though.

Oakland Athletics: If Billy Beane can sweep in and grab Pie under his terms, I am sure that he would do it. The A's lack any depth at center field currently and Ryan Sweeney is still struggling to put up numbers. Though the A's have Carlos Gonzalez waiting in the wings, an outfield prospect who could play center field, Beane could swing this move just to clear a bit of salary to add a pitcher at the deadline if needed. Beane won't be willing to give up much, probably offering someone like Bobby Crosby to give Donnie Murphy time or Jack Cust and a prospect. Though Beane is very high on his prospects. The Cubs though could use someone like Cust to pinch hit, if Daryle Ward doesn't come back healthy in two weeks.

San Fransisco Giants: Though Brian Sabean claims he isn't going to make any more deals, Felix Pie could be a piece of the future of San Fransisco. Though the Giants don't have much to offer that could help the Cubs immediately, I do like the idea of the Giants sending a pitcher Midwest. I think that Brian Wilson, Jonathon Sanchez, Tyler Walker, Vinnie Chulk and maybe even Barry Zito (with the right price reduction and improved outings). The move would put Fred Lewis in left and give them possibly the fastest outfield in the league. Ray Durham could also be a possibility.

-Dexter Sports
11:29 AM
Dexter-Sports Inbox

Last night's action was some of the best this season. We saw the Brewers blow another lead in the ninth, The Orioles continue their great play, and a circus high-fiving catch by Manny Ramirez had everyone loving mid May baseball. Throw on the fact that the Royals continued their domination of the Tigers this season (now 5-0) and Robinson Cano finally got his average above .200, fans all around can rejoice this Thursday. Especially if your Ryan Braun, who signed a 7 year extension worth a reported 45 million dollars. Welcome to the club Mr. Braun. Here is some news from around the league.

• John Fay, the Reds beat writer for the Cincinnati Inquirer notes on his blog today that Jay Bruce, undoubtedly is ready for the major leagues. Bruce is hitting .667 with 3 homers and 9 RBIs over the last five games. The only issue at hand is the amount of playing time that the Reds can give him. According to GM Walt Jocketty, there will be some point where they will just have to call him up and he continues to say that Bruce is not going unnoticed. Does this mean that a Griffey Deal is in the works? Not so fast, Jocketty also went on to say that there have been no trade discussions.

• Yankees manager Joe Girardi praises defensive pitching whiz Kenny Rogers in a recent article by the Detroit Free Press. Rogers become the all time pick off leader last weekend when Girardi's Yankees came to Detroit. Girardi says that Rogers is the best double play pitcher that he has ever seen.

• The Baltimore Sun is reporting that reliever James Hoey will be out for the rest of the season after getting surgery to repair some torn cartilage in his right shoulder. Hoey appeared in 23 games for the O's last season and was once considered the closer of the future. The Orioles are comparing the surgery as something similar to Troy Patton's season ending operation at the beginning of the season. The Baltimore Sun's Roch Kubatko also wrote a great piece on prized prospect Chris Tillman, who came to the Orioles in the Erik Bedard deal.

• Jim Edmonds is officially a Cub and will split center field duties with Reed Johnson. Edmonds comes to the cubs after being released from the San Diego Padres. The Cubs will pay Edmonds around 290,000 for his duties. The Cubs will option down young Felix Pie yet again to make room for Edmonds. The Cubs hope that Edmonds will be 100% when he joins the club today. Does this mean that Felix Pie is available for the right price? Possibly but Edmonds is not the long-term solution in Chicago.

• The Dodger outfield woes continue. Last night, with the absence of Shortstop Rafael Furcal, Joe Torre put Juan Pierre at the top of the order and placed Andruw Jones second. Matt Kemp got the start and yet again Andre Either was stuck with the shaft. Joe Torre has to go with Pierre, or he has no speed currently at the top of the lineup. This would not be an issue if the Dodgers didn't blow a lot of money where they didn't need to. Hopefully Either, who has had a far more productive season than Juan Pierre, will sneak some more playing time.

• Yankees GM Brian Cashman is sick of answering the question, "When is Joba going to begin his rehab to become a Starter?" According to the New York Times, Cashman will not articulate on the plan. It seems the Joba, who has been dominant in his setup role, would be better off staying put. The Times notes that his 98 MPH fastball will not be around if he starts and that it is a risk to take such a good piece away from this team, in hope that he will be as dominant as a starter. I completely agree here. Keep Joba in the pen if you want to stay in the hunt Hank. If you love Joba so much, why don't you go find some better starters available via trade instead of wasting your time on the Kei Igawa project.
  

-Dexter Sports
1:40 AM

Derrick Turnbow once saved 51 games for a lowly Brewers club. He was an all-star reliever in a town that hadn't had a winning season until last year. Recently, the leash was let loose and Turnbow was designated for an assignment. The Brewers literally could not find a way to control him. Now many teams in the league who need bullpen help will look into taking a chance at harnessing a pitcher who has not been the same since 2005. If any team can do it, he could be the biggest asset this season. He has the stuff to make it happen, he just needs new scenery, and the right pitching coach. Mike Maddux, the Brewers long time pitching coach has given it all he has, now it simply comes down to: who wants to take on the challenge?

Now that we know that the Rangers are probably not suitors, lets take a look at a few ball clubs that should at least think about signing Turnbow.

Detroit Tigers- Though the pen has been a lot stronger in the last few weeks, losses of Jason Grilli via trade and Denny Bautista to injury, open up a spot for Turnbow. Pitching Coach Chuck Hernandez has been a key factor in developing young fireballers Justin Verlander and Joel Zumaya. He could be just the right guy to resurrect Turnbow's career. This Bullpen could be the best in baseball by the trading deadline. Fernando Rodney, Derrick Turnbow, Joel Zumaya and with the emergence of Clay Rapada and Denny Bautista could shape up nicely come playoff time. If Fransico Crueta works out, then this pen could be in tip top shape. The only problem is that turnbow might not be willing to take a middle relief job. That might be the only work available though.

Seattle Mariners- Why not shorten your bullpen a bit and give this guy a shot? Mark Lowe has been horendous and with the loss of George Sherrill, this team doesn't have a bullpen leader. I'm not saying that Turnbow can be that, but he can bring 95 MPH heat with a nasty bending curve if he is harnessed well. None other is better than pitching veteran Mel Stottlemyre who was the genius behind the beautiful Yankee pitching in the '90s and 2000's.

New York Yankees- Speaking of the Yanks, Joe Girardi could use someone down in his pen, especailly if Joba Chamberlain makes his move to the bullpen. Kyle Farnsworth and Latroy Hawkins have been atrocious. Turnbow might not be any better, but he at least has the potential to. I really think it would be wise for the Yankees, considering there is not much relief depth available at the deadline.

Chicago Cubs- Though I would be surprised to see Turnbow land with the Cubs, it would be a bad move in their part to scoop up Turnbow. I could see him coming to Chicago just for the rival factor and I can see Chicago pursuing him. Beyond Carlos Marmol and Kerry Wood, this team lacks any dominant righties. Turnbow is a better solution than Chad Fox or Micheal Wurtz.

-Dexter Sports
12:11 PM

With a lot of great baseball action last night, I have no idea where to start. We saw Angels pitcher Joe Saunders get his 5th victory. He is now 5-0 with a 2.08 ERA. Both Baltimore and Florida picked up win number 15 on the year and with a Tiger win and Indian loss, we seen both team's records go to 12-15 respectively. After an interesting night, lets look at some news around the league.

• Derrek Lee has now tied the record for most homers in April by a Cub. Lee blasted number 8 last night off Brewers ace Ben Sheets. Lee holds the record with Sammy Sosa and Lee Walls. This wasn't the biggest story of the night though. Mike Cameron made his debut for the Brewers a good one, going 3-5 and showing he could be a major spark to this offense. Ben Sheets was also the story, as he gave up a 7 walks, a career high.

• The Arizona Diamondbacks catching squad has only thrown out 16 % of runners so far this year. That is good enough for 2nd to last in the NL. The Diamondbacks carry three catchers on the roster, including Robbie Hammock, Chris Synder and Miguel Montero. Montero will be used as Randy Johnson's personal catcher and a pinch hitter mainly.

• The Phillies claimed former padres infielder Oscar Robles off waivers yesterday. Robles will be optioned to AAA Lehigh Valley, who could use any help possible. They are 3-23 on the season. Robles could fill in later in the year as a backup infielder.

• The Rockies option Pitching Prospect Franklin Morales today. The move makes room to bring up second baseman Omar Quintanilla, to try and shorten up the hitting woes at second base. Again, why not Ian Stewart? Maybe if Quintanilla struggles they will finally get the picture.

• Former Nationals reliever Ray King was granted his release after refusing an assignment to AAA Columbus. Though King isn't the cream of the crop, who blames him for asking for a release. Some team in contention could give him a shot as a middle reliever/lefty specialist. Teams that shoot to my mind right now are the Phillies, Tigers, Marlins, and maybe the Cubs. King has a 5.68 ERA with 4 holds.

• Chris Shelton will get a chance in Texas to play first base. The Rangers are looking for a spark, with 3B Hank Blalock on the DL and 1B Ben Broussard struggling. The Rangers also designated Jason Botts for an assignment, meaning his days in Arlington could be numbered considering he seems to want out of the organization. The 27 year old has shown a lot of power in the minors, but has never been able to harness it in the bigs. The Rangers also called up outfielder Brandon Boggs. Shelton was hitting .354 with 3 HRs and 18 RBIs.
  

-Dexter Sports
2:14 PM

Man Alive, I have never imagined that so many Milestones could be breached within one day. In this edition we take a look at what milestones we could see very soon.

• Chicago Cubs- The franchise could see it's 10,000th win tonight against the Rockies in Colorado. Rich Hill will take the mound in a rubber match. Franklin Morales will look to defend his home turf tonight. The Cubs are 14-6, which is the best start for the north side since 1975. Here is a list of the best starts in team history.

• Atlanta Braves: Veteran John Smoltz eclipsed 3,000 strikeouts last night. Smoltz is the only pitcher to have 250 wins and 150 saves in his career. It is good to see one of the good ol' boys reach another milestone. Smoltz is a definite hall of famer.

- Dexter Sports
12:44 PM

This week's prospect profile yet again looks at a third baseman, with a talent ceiling far exceeding any in his organization, yet he is blocked from the majors by a big power bat. Lets take a look at Cubs Third Baseman Josh Vitters.

Vitters comes into 08 after being drafted with the third pick of the 2007 Major League Draft. Ranked as the top high school player going into the 07 draft, Vitters proved last year to many scouts that he was worth the pick, even though the Cubs are armed with slugging third baseman Aramis Ramirez until 2011.

Though Vitters is a bit rusty due to a complete summer hold out until late august, the 18 year old has a beautiful swing and rates as a 70 on the 20-80 scale. I predict that Vitters will make the parent club by 2010 at the latest. I see him making a run in spring training of '09 either as a First Baseman or Outfielder. Vitters will open up with the Peoria Chiefs

-Dexter Sports
5:04 PM

This Weekend's action has been interesting to say the least so far. The Jays sat Frank Thomas, Johan Santana was brilliant and Corey Hart got his first long ball as the Brewers continue to roll after a rough series in St Louis. But luckily the action doesn't stop there. Here are a couple things to look forward to in the rest of this weekends action.

• Royals prospect Luke Hochevar will make a start in place of the injured John Bale on Sunday against the Oakland Athletics. Hochevar is 1-1 with a 2.60 ERA in 3 starts for the AAA Omaha Royals. Hochevar was the first overall pick in the 2006 draft. He looks to stick with the parent ball club and win a spot in the rotation.

• Speaking of the 06 Draft, lets take a look back at the first round. Beyond Hochevar was taken with the first pick in the draft, there were a lot of major league ready talent, if not already competing in the bigs already. Guy of mention are Evan Longoria, Tim Lincecum(how did he fall to 10?), Clayton Kershaw, Brad Lincoln, Brandon Morrow, Andrew Miller, Matt Antonelli, Max Schrezer, Ian Kennedy and Travis Snyder.

• So what is up with the Cubs ultimately deciding to go with Matt Murton? The Cubs sent down Eric Patterson for the often rumored Matt Murton. Murton went 0-2 and left 3 runners on base today in Chicago's whooping of Pittsburgh. My only guess to the switch is to give him one more chance to prove he is Major League ready before the Cubs let go of him via trade.
  

• Whether or not Brewers fans are nervous after the Ben Sheets incident, they should see it as a good thing. It might give management a bit more time to decide who they will drop when Yovani Gallardo comes back. My guess would be Manny Parra, but I also thought Claudio Vargas had a spot on this team.

• The Three Catchers in Houston experiment is over with Kaz Matsui coming back Friday from the 15 day DL. The Astros designated Humberto Quintero for an assignment. Though I am not sold on Kaz Matsui's ability to get on base, this will definitely help the top of the order in Houston.

• White Sox fans have to sit through another April of Paul Konerko struggles. Konerko is just hitting .176 so far this season. Though the White Sox are winning, it has to be frustrating to see. Konerko has more walks than hits so far this season. Fantasy owners, once he gets hot though, pick him up. He will stay that way for a long time.
  

• Gil Meche got off to a good start last night, in a 3-2 victory against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. It was good to see him shut down a playoff-caliber offense. Meche went six innings and gave up two runs. I like to see Meche finally do well, it solidifies my prediction that the royals will have the best pitching staff in the AL central.

• Derrick Turnbow to the Tigers? Milwaukee Journal Sentinal's Tom Haudricourt reported on his blog that Derrick Turnbow was displeased with the mop work that he has been given so far, and his agent went to talk about the disgruntled reliever with GM Doug Melvin. Does this mean that Turnbow's brewer career is over? Probably not but I definitely see the tigers as a perfect fit. Possibly A Derrick Turnbow for two mid level pitching prospects to make up for the mistake of Scott Linebrink? What do you guys think?

• The Cubs have activated Eric Patterson after placing Alfonso Soriano on the DL yesterday. This should indicate the trading of Matt Murton to say the Rangers, Rays, Padres or wild card Giants. Knowing Cubs management though, probably not. They just like to toy with cubs fans' minds.

• The Baltimore Orioles seem to be back on ground level, after soaring through the first week. The Orioles have lost 6 of their last 8 and the Starting Pitching has continued to struggle. We all know that they wouldn't compete for long. Here are some names t remember around the Trade Deadline minus Brian Roberts that could get dealt: Aubrey Huff, Kevin Millar, Ramon Hernandez, George Sherill, Daniel Cabrera and anyone with a hefty contract. Andy Mcphail will look for top notch prospects as usual.

• What the heck is wrong with Cleveland Indian Ace C.C. Sabathia? Well, I don't think anybody really knows, but I'll throw in a diagnosis. Eric Wedge, are you listening? Would it really hurt the Indians to give Sabathia two or three starts off? It seems his velocity is there and his pitches are still devastating. I think it is a phase of missing his spots and a bit of fatigue. Sabathia has pitched at least 180 innings a season since 2003, including a whopping 241 last year.

-Dexter Sports
4:31 PM

Today has been a slow day at the ballpark so far. Tampa blew out the Mariners earlier today. Edwin Jackson looked fantastic, and I am sure glad I picked him up in a fantasy league for this start. Other than that, The Brewers pitching couldn't hold up with the performance of Aaron Harang. Tonight, we will have our first double header of the year. The Cubs will look to beat the pirates in regulation and the Tigers will look to put a winning streak together. Here are some thoughts to consider in the match ups today.

• Ok, so the Tigers won and scored 7 runs last night, but let us look at the real story. All of the Runs and RBIs came from the bottom of the order, and Magglio Ordonez, Placido Polanco, Miguel Cabrera and Ivan Rodriguez STILL struggled. Though I think that this is the start of an offense emerging, the bats are still cold. They will get their shot against soft tossing knuckler Tim Wakefield tonight. Nate Roberston will take the mound for the Tigers. Good news though. Magglio Ordonez is a career .455 hitter against Wakefield with two dingers and 5 doubles. Throw in 8 Rbis as well. I like the Tiger's chances of the awakening the bats.

• With the Cubs Bullpen stretched out, look for Lou Pinella to pitch Rich Hill a couple more innings if needed. The Cubs have gone to extras in back to back games. I don't think that Kerry Wood's job is on the line, but if Carlos Marmol continues to dominate, watch out.
  

• The Kansas City Royals really look like a team that could compete in the central this season. The Royals will bust out the powder blue alternates on Saturday against division foe Minnesota. The Royals Rotation has looked outstanding. I believe that this staff will be the best in the AL Central in 2008. Thats right, the Royals pitching rotation will be better than Cleveland and Detroit. This weekend series will showcase two of the best Available stolen base options in Carlos Gomez and Joey Gathright.

• Many wonder what the Mariners are going to do with the closer position, including myself. It was evident that Miguel Batista isnt in the equation though. Batista made his second start since J.J. Putz hit the DL. I guess they believe his value is more useful as a starter, where he has been rough, compared to closer, where his stuff would be more sharp in less innings. I think it would be a bold, yet good move for this bullpen that is getting thrashed in the later innings.

--Dexter Sports

Here is the Latest on the Baseball front-

• Announced less than an hour ago by the Baltimore Sun, the Orioles have released OF Jay Gibbons. The Orioles have now finalized their roster, meaning that Scott Moore will make the team as a spare outfielder, third baseman and first baseman. The Orioles will have to still pay the more than 11 million dollars owed to him, but it is the best move for the future. Gibbons is suspended for the first 15 games due to failing the MLB Drug Test.

• Claudio Vargas could be signing with a club sooner, rather than later. Vargas, who was released by the Brewers earlier this week could be heading to inner-division rival Houston. The Astros released starter Woody Williams, who struggled all spring. Vargas is a good fit, especially if Shaun Chacon struggles. The Mets also seem to be in the picture, especially with Orlando Hernandez struggling with velocity and heading to the disabled list. Vargas could be a spot starter and work in the pen for the mets.

• Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Doug Davis has been diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Davis will make his first two starts of the year and then will undergo treatment. He expects a full recovery and will be back with the parent club within a month and a half. Our thoughts go out to him and his family.

• Finally, the Padres have placed Center fielder Jim Edmonds on the 15 day disabled list. This means that talks between the cubs and padres could heat up on the Matt Murton front.
  

Thats all for this round-up, up next Ill put together the Rule 5 Draft All-star team!

Andy McPhail and Peter Angelos are at it again people. First, it was taking their good ol' time finalizing the Bedard deal, soaking the best talent possible out of the Mariners. Now it seems, the Cubs will miss out On Brian Roberts, simply because the Orioles are too picky.

Don't get me wrong, I think it is in the best interest of the Orioles to look to top tier talent, especially during the rebuilding process, but what the cubs are offering is a great bang for the buck. The Cubs offered up four top prospects for Roberts, including hard throwing youngster, Jose Ceda, Shortstop Ronny Cedeno and top prospects Donnie Veal and Sean Gallagher. Turning down this deal makes me wonder who else is in the running for the Oriole's second Baseman.

Lets take a look around the Net to see what people are talking about:

• Baltimore Sun Reporter Jeff Zrebiec believes the Orioles will wait it out until the trade deadline to make a deal, to try and get the best package possible from a needing team.

It seems that the Orioles are content on keeping him until the right deal falls through. Knowing the Orioles, they could sign him to a long term deal.