Baseball
Information wants to be free. Efforts to suppress free speech and the free dissemination of ideas frequently fail, but especially in a world so interconnected as our own. And information, cruel and heartless, does not distinguish between words and pictures. So when candid photos of Grady Sizemore began appearing on the Interwebs, this was the free flow of information at work. Well, like most people embarassed of their behavior in private, Grady Sizemore, elected not to own his indiscretion, but instead to pursue a targeted legal strategy designed to take the photos he took of himself and sent of his own volition to a lady friend and flush them down the memory hole.
Basically, we were told that the photo we posted on our website (and we chose a 'safe for work' version) was stolen property of Mr. Sizemore's and if we left the photo up we'd be subject to legal action.
And now we've got an opinion on it, and a few words for a Grady Sizemore, who we used to be a big fan of.
Let's brush off the old Internet 101 book and remember that the world operates by the WWW nowadays. Anything you say, produce, or write could technically end up on the internet. You have to be careful and guarded. It's not pretty but the reality is that when you produce material, there is always that chance that it could end up on the interwebs and in the eyes of someone you don't want seeing it. When you're famous, those chances get magnified by a large amount. Aparently, Grady Sizemore hasn't figured out this part of being a professional.
His reputation already tarnished, Sizemore has gone all in to fulfill his quest to destroy what little is left.
no commentsThe Red Sox shortstop situation has already consumed two posts on this barely week old blog, so you know, it's gotta be huge! The latest rumor floating around and somewhat confirmed by Pedroia himself, the Red Sox are asking if he thinks he can play shortstop. His answer is an enthusiastic, "you bet your a-"
Many Sox fans have embraced the news, citing Pedroia's scrappy, can-do attitude. Somewhere, Ken Tremendous weeps. Shawn Haviland, who pitches in the A's system, and who blogs, thinks the move is fated to fail.
Yes, Pedroia is a gold glove caliber player at 2nd base. Yes, his best tool is a strong arm. Unfortunately for the Red Sox Pedroia was moved off short stop in the minor leagues because he just does not have the physical skills to play the position. I know that people will point to the fact that Hanley Ramirez forced Pedroia to play second base but the fact of the matter is that if the Red Sox believed that Pedroia could play short stop at the major league level they would have found a way to get him continued work at the position. The fact of the matter is that all short stops can play second base but most second basemen can not play short stop.
Those are plenty of facts. But Haviland fails to produce data supporting the general claim. I am not overly enthusiastic about flipping the Red Sox infield, moving Youkilis across the diamond and shifting Pedroia to the other side of the keystone sack. But at least Youkilis has played credibly at third base. Pedroia last played shortstop in 2006 for a total of 6 games. The previous two seasons in the minors, he played 58 errorless games at short. In three years, not a game. no comments
The Braves struck quickly to replace their duo of soon to depart late inning relievers. Jason Rosenberg regards the signing as an early Christmas present for the Red Sox. Acknowledging the fortuitous news for Boston, David Pinto thinks the deal signals a win-now mentality in Atlanta. On a one and vesting one type deal, Billy Wagner is a solution for the problem that has long plagued the Braves. With a rotation led by Javier Vazquez, Tim Hudson and Derek Lowe, along with an aging face of the franchise in Chipper Jones, the Braves need to win now with what they have.
Boston meanwhile took Chris Carter, who was unlikely to play 1B or DH for them, and Eddie Lora a 1B who is a long way from the big leagues for a pair of draft picks in the top 40 and 41 outs in the 2009 season, courtesy Wagner's arm.
no commentsHelton remains an acceptable player as judged by offensive production, but he plays at a hitter’s position and as measured by FanGraphs player value tool has not out earned his salary in three of the last four years. He was such a good value in his peak years that paying for his decline was once judged reasonable. But bad contracts like this force Colorado to make other cost-saving measures like dealing Matt Holliday to the A’s last offseason.
Oakland sent a package of players for Holliday that included current Rockies closer Huston Street. Street will enter his final year of team contract control at the conclusion of the postseason. The Rockies have begun to make noises about signing Street, just 26 years old, to a contract extension that keeps him in Rockies pinstripes through his peak seasons.
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