This is NOT the kind of news BG intended to interrupt her holiday respite for, but:
Former Twins great arrested on robbery charges.
Jeff Reardon, one of the top relief pitchers in major league baseball history, was charged with a jewelry store robbery and held pending a bond hearing Tuesday.The 50-year-old Reardon, who ranks sixth in career saves, walked into Hamilton Jewelers at the Gardens Mall on Monday and handed an employee a note saying he had a gun and the store was being robbed, according to Palm Beach Gardens police.
Trying this again...
May your days be merry and your nights filled with dreams of HRs with RISP, and may your holiday wishes (especially if they involve a DH) come true. And for those suffering from the loss of a boyfriend this holiday season, remember, Jeb was there just a year ago.
B-G.com will be closed until the New Year, barring any exciting developments. In the meantime, play lots of Santana Claus v. the Mall-goers.
Welcome to the Twins, Rondell White.
Our offensive woes are over! This video is good evidence that Tony Batista strikes fear in opposing pitchers hearts!
Thanks to RD for the link.
Kurtis has a new game! Santana Claus vs. The Mallgoers. Wheeeeeee!
Also, both Batgirl and the marvelousAaron Gleeman have been nominated for Best MLB Blog of 2005. B-G.com has also been nominated as Best Humor Blog. Thanks to whomever nominated Batgirl, as well as Red Reporter. Voting runs through January 2.
From mlb.com:
The Cubs announced Tuesday they have signed free agent Jacque Jones to a three-year, $16 million deal. Jones is expected to fill the vacant right field spot and join new center fielder Juan Pierre, acquired in a trade from Florida, and rookie left fielder Matt Murton. It would be a completely revamped outfield from the one that started Opening Day 2005 which included Todd Hollandsworth, Corey Patterson and Jeromy Burnitz."We like a lot of things about Jacque," Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said Tuesday in announcing the deal. "He's a very versatile guy. We were very intent on trying to get a left-handed hitter. He's very athletic, has some pop in his bat, an outstanding throwing arm. He's a versatile player and had a lot of upside in him."
Not to mention a Rain-Man-like knowledge of the rules of baseball.
EDIT: this article from the Strib discusses the Twins right field situation.
Jacque Jones has officially turned down the Twins offer of arbitration. Reports have it that three teams are after him, including the Royals and the Cubs.
Jones's departure leaves some payroll room, but the PiPress is dubious over whether it will help.
With the Twins no longer facing the possibility of having to pay Jones next season, the team can turn its attention back to negotiating with a veteran DH such as Mike Piazza and Frank Thomas. General manager Terry Ryan had put talks on hold after offering arbitration to Jones on Dec. 7.......The Twins' payroll stands at an estimated $57 million to $59 million (not factoring in incentive bonuses). This includes the $4 million to $4.2 million the team will have to pay arbitration-eligible pitcher Kyle Lohse next season, provided he isn't traded. The Twins will tender a contract to Lohse today, the deadline for teams to do that. Indications are that Ryan has the leeway to push the payroll to slightly over $60 million, and he said there still is room to add a player.
But the Twins could bypass trying to sign a veteran DH, considering that they signed free-agent power-hitting third baseman Tony Batista last week and most players on the market are aging and/or injury-prone. Batista, however, has not played in the majors since 2004, and Ryan said last week he wasn't finished trying to upgrade an offense that was the worst in the American League last season.
Meanwhile, A.J's got a three-year deal with the Bitch Sox. Please check out the link for a good round-up of all of the controversial calls he was involved in over the postseason. (Poor Josh Paul, who was on the wrong side of one of AJ's gambits, has been condemned to the devil. I mean the Devil Rays. Which is far worse.)
As you may remember, former Red Wings manager Phil Roof retired this year after his wife Marie was diagnosed with cancer. Marie died last week at the age of 63.
Cards can be sent to: Phil Roof, c/o Rochester Red Wings, One Morrie Silver Way, Rochester, New York 14608.
Every time a ball is hit from Grudzielanek to Mientkiewicz, an angel gets his wings.
It will be nice to see the sticky guy a jillion times this year, and at least he'll never have to worry about catching a World Series ball again.
Well, I'm sure Batgirl's friends at White Sox Interactive will have a much more exciting round, with so many players to choose from. (I mean, one thing about Jim Thome--he may be a touch breakable, but dude is a super hot chick.) But Pohlad's got a lot on his mind, like scheming to drive George Bailey and the Bailey Savings and Loan out of Bedford Falls forever, so we have to work with what we can.
 |  |
| Toni Batista | Lusitania Castillo |
Or shall I say, konichi-wa!
EDIT More from the Strib:
"I don't know if we had any alternatives at the third-base spot," Ryan said. "He's a good person, he's been very durable. He's hit the ball over the fence and has driven in runs."The Twins have not had a player hit at least 30 homers since 1987.
Batista might provide power, but he also has some head-scratching traits. His career on-base percentage is .298. And he doesn't have a lot of range at third, although he has good hands and a good arm.
"He's got the most unique set of stats," Ryan said. "He keeps driving in runs and keeps hitting the ball over the fence, but there are some things that don't equate. It's not ideal, but you're getting a tradeoff here."
The Twins remain in the hunt for a primary designated hitter. They have shown interest in Mike Piazza and Frank Thomas. Even though Jacque Jones' agent has indicated that Jones will reject the Twins' offer of arbitration and sever ties with the club, Ryan is waiting to be told that directly. As long as Jones still has a chance to be on the payroll, Ryan will wait before pursuing free-agent deals.
Or, at the very least, it's been forever since we've had a Mount Crushmore. As ESPN.com tells us, no Twin has hit 30 homers since our beautiful '87. You almost have to try to do that. What do you think--do you think we can get someone to 30 before the 20-year anniversary of Mount Crushmore? Most of our DH candidates seem to have their 30-homer years behind them, and our massive number of plucky light hitting utility infielders will be lucky to hit 30 total. Can the Chairman do it (assuming he's not intentionally walked 465 times next year)? Can the Doctor get it together?
Jacque Jones has declined arbitration. His agent says he has multiyear offers, and the Twins can't match that. I know he never once put his on the ball when swinging, but I'm going to miss the guy.
One thing about Jacque--besides his smile, which melts Batgirl's heart-- is he had a marvelous tendency to be the guy to hit the ninth inning homerun (or, in the case of the Garcia v. Santana epic Battle of Pitching Hotness, eighth inning dingers. ) There are probably three or four games we owe to a timely Jacque dinger (someone can, and I'm sure will, come up with the right number on this).
Batgirl's been preparing to lose Jacque for two years now--she just hopes the Twins have. Last year we didn't do anything to make up for the loss of Corey's bat, now we're down two of our RBI leaders. Perhaps we can sign some plucky light-hitting utility infielder prospect to make up for it? Because we need more of those.
Jacque rescues Batgirl from her hole.
Batgirl was remiss in not posting this article from the PiPress about Joe Mauer's new status as a fashion plate. As you may recall, Mauer did a Perry Ellis modeling gig in Puerto Rico earlier this fall.
"I was kind of hoping it didn't get into the paper,'' said Mauer, the Twins' low-key catcher from St. Paul. "I'm sure some of the guys will let me know about it this spring.''Too late. In fact, Mauer's first national endorsement deal outside shoes and baseball gear already has been a source of much glee and kidding at various Mauer households from St. Paul to Fort Myers, Fla.
"You think we were going to let that one go by?'' said his mother, Teresa.
"Every once in awhile (brothers) Jake or Bill give me a call and give it to me a little bit,'' Mauer said. "Usually mom and dad are first.''
By Thanksgiving, grandpa "Big Jake'' Mauer showed up in a Perry Ellis shirt. "He was looking all sharp,'' Joe Mauer said. "That was pretty funny.''
Mauer, the former No. 1 overall draft pick who spent most of his 2004 rookie season on the disabled list, decided early on to take the endorsement trail slowly. When the offer came a few months ago for the Perry Ellis shoot, it was hard to turn down. "It involved a plane ticket to Puerto Rico. That was pretty appealing,'' he said. "And Perry Ellis is a nice brand of clothes, too.''...
....He said he even liked the styles, from business casual to beachwear. "Except for this one sweater,'' he said. "It was kind of tight-fitting with bright colors. It would draw a lot of attention I think. That's not my style.''
Mauer said he spent part of the shoot hoping the photos with the bright sweater would end up on a back page. "Then the guy shooting said he liked it and said, 'This might be the cover,' "
He's just like AJ, if you substitute "wife beater shirt" for "Perry Ellis" and "chicks I met doing Jello shots" for "brothers."
Courtesy of Deadspin:
Boone rolled his golf cart Monday while playing on the Wynn’s $500-a-round high-roller golf course. Later, he created a scene in the bar at the Wynn’s Country Club Grill. Security was called when Boone, 36, got testy with Wynn staffers after they asked him to remove his feet from the bar in an area where patrons were dining.“Make me!” replied Boone, among other choice words. When Boone fell off his bar stool and hit the floor, friends removed him from the bar before security arrived.
From MLB.com
The Minnesota Twins announced today that they have acquired infielder Alexi Casilla from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for lefthanded pitcher J.C. Romero.Casilla, 21, began last season at Arkansas (Double-A, Texas League) and played in just seven games before being promoted to Salt Lake (Triple-A, Pacific Coast League) on April 30. After 13 games he was transferred to Cedar Rapids (Class A, Midwest League) on May 16 where spent the remainder of the season. He batted .325 (100-for-308) with 62 runs scored, 11 doubles, three triples, three homers, 17 RBIs and 47 stolen bases in 78 games for Cedar Rapids. He had a .392 on-base percentage and was fourth in the Midwest League in stolen bases.
Signed by the Angels as a nondrafted free agent in 2003, Casilla has a career Minor League batting average of .297 (206-for-694) with 129 runs scored, 18 doubles, 11 triples, three homers, 49 RBIs and 103 stolen bases in 189 games. He has 74 walks, but just 68 strikeouts and has a career .375 on-base percentage. In 2004, Casilla led the Arizona Rookie League in strikeouts/total plate appearances (1/18.60) and was second in stolen bases (24).
Casilla, who plays 2B/ss, had a breakout '05, in which he was the Midwest League's Player of the Month and had a 22-game hitting streak. In '04 he was one of Baseball Americas top 20 Arizona League prospects. Things are crowded for the Angels in middle infield (and not just with utility players either). It's a curious trade, given the signing of Castillo and the organization's faith in Jason Bartlett. Perhaps he is Castillo's eventual replacement. As for J.C., I'm sorry its all we could get for him; I hoped he'd be a piece in a bigger deal. We're slowly running out of relievers to trade.
Now, where's my DH?
Dear Bitch Sox,
Last August, Batgirl posted a haiku themed entry. Here was one of the haiku.
Thank you for obliging.
Love,
Batgirl
From the Strib:
The Twins spent late Tuesday and early Wednesday talking with the Texas Rangers about a deal for third baseman Hank Blalock during Major League Baseball's winter meetings.The Twins would give up pitching in return, perhaps lefthander J.C. Romero, as part of a deal. The Twins are trying to hold on to righthander Kyle Lohse, so they might include righthander Scott Baker in the deal. There also are some indications that the deal could be expanded to include outfielder Kevin Mench and/or a third team.
The Twins also are believed to be discussing a three-way deal with Milwaukee and Toronto. The Twins likely would supply Milwaukee with pitching, the Brewers would send Lyle Overbay to Toronto and the Blue Jays would send the Twins a hitter, possibly Shea Hillenbrand.
The Baker/Lohse thing sounds a little fishy to Batgirl, but then again Batgirl is a vegetarian and has never liked fish.
The Strib discusses the Twins on-again interest in Darth Thomas, and the article closes with a good summation of what's the table so far for the Twins:
Ryan is optimistic he'll find a third baseman and a designated hitter, either through a trade or free agency. But it might not come until after the winter meetings. He was expected to meet with the Texas Rangers late Tuesday night, perhaps to revisit talks about third baseman Hank Blalock. He spoke with the agents for outfielder-DH Rondell White. The club also had contact with the agent for DH-catcher Mike Piazza.Baltimore has expressed interest in righthander Kyle Lohse, but the Orioles might not have the hitter the Twins need and would have to bring in a third team to make it work. The Twins have had a conversation with the Red Sox about third baseman Mike Lowell, but talks ended when the Red Sox asked for Juan Rincon.
That high-pitched guinea-pig-being-tortured noise was Batgirl's insane laughter at that last item. Rincon for Lowell? My ass. We don't need to trade one of the league's best set-up men for someone who hits .236 with 8 homers; we have plenty of guys who can do that already.
No one knew there were hot hot Bill Mueller sweepstakes, but apparently the Twins bought a bad ticket. This cancels out one of LaVelle E. Neal the III of the Strib's Five Scenarios for the Twins. Meanwhile, the PiPress says Cuddy may DH next year. Because, as someone said in the comments yesterday, when you have too many utility infielders, its best to move one to DH.
So....cold.
Jason Williams of the discusses The Lohse Factor, arguing, essentially, the rotation might not be solid without him next year but we might not be able to afford the hitter we need if we don't trade him. He's got a point--while Liriano is, of course, Santana 2: Electric Boogaloo, his September call-up was rocky and he may not quite be ready to start in the bigs. Williams advocates keeping Lohse, signing Bill Mueller, and getting Dr. Morneau to reach his potential. The latter is something we can all get behind.
For what its worth, Charley Walters says Frank Thomas isn't coming to the Twins. Batgirl expects him next week.
From the Tacoma News-Tribune, an interesting article about the character factor in free agents. Should the Mariners pursue Raffy "Miggy Did It" Palmeiro and Kenny "Anger Management" Rogers? How much should character factor in building a team? How do you treat players with great numbers who have been cast out of their own clubhouses for gross character problems?
Cleveland upgrades their pitching staff with that guy who looks like Frasier Krane.
And finally, el diablo sends this site, along with his undying love: Bert Belongs. It's an extremely cool Bert for HOF site. Check out how Bert stacks up against other pitching greats!
And, extra-finally, there's a new Twins blog at Twins Boy!
Edit: Oh yes, and AJ Involved in Pro Wrestling Brawl. Damn, I miss him.
p.s. His Stats
It's a good start. Now, let's get Batgirl a DH.
The saga of Dougie's Baseball continues: now that the Sox have had it for a year, they want to keep it. EDIT: In the comments, Bubblemint links to this article on the whereabouts of the World Series balls from 1990- to the present. (Hint: Mostly, with the guy who caught the darned thing.)
Meanwhile, the Twins are allegedly pursuing Luis Castillo. EDIT and more from the Strib. Also, according to the same article, they're looking at Darth Thomas, to which Batgirl begs them to stay away from the Dark Side. As the old saying goes, "We need a pitcher, not a belly itcher..." and "We need a hitter, not an injury-prone attitude problem on the career decline."
Oh, and the Twins want to give Cuddy a new position.
SI's Rumors page says that the Royals have offered Li'l Sweetcheeks a sweet four year deal, sourcing the PiPress. The PiPress also said that the Cards were interested in JJ, because Missouri hearts Jacque Jones. (Or at least Jacque Jones's agent hearts Missouri...)
And finally, Juan "Boo" Rincon is auctioning off items to help buy baseball equipment for kids in Venezuela. If that helps produce future Juan Rincon or El Presidente, I say no bid is too high.