Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Ever noticed that nobody ever gets killed on the show Burn Notice? I think it would be a much better show if one the bad guys actually died a gruesome-had-it-coming death every once in a while... After shutting out the Rockies yesterday - the only team the Mets' Johan Santana has not faced is the Minnesota Twins - which is understandable if you think about it for a minute... I still wonder what impact the awful contracts of Jake Westbrook and Kerry Wood had on the decision of the Indians to deal Cliff Lee. Westbrook is on the books for $11 million next year while Wood will waste up $10.5 million of salary... Quote of the Day: "I try to live in the now- where the ghosts of old wrongs do not abide." Captain Nemo - from the movie League of Extraordinary Gentlemen... "The Grotto for People in Love" would be a good name for a bar. I wouldn't go to such a place but it would be a good name nonetheless... WTF? Ted Keith of SI writes a piece on the Phillies rotation with Cliff Lee and neglects to mention Joe Blanton even once...

Baseball Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous baseball thoughts and observations.

Did you hear the recent rumor about a Jermaine Dye for Bobby Abreu swap? That had to be one of the most riduculous rumors I've heard in a long time (since maybe last year when someone was trying to pawn off a Mike Lowell for Jake Peavy rumor). Both Dye and Abreu are free agents at the end of the year (actually Abreu has a 2008 option for $16 million that won't be picked up). Why would the White Sox take on the extra salary (Dye only makes $6 million this year whereas Abreu's contract is for $15 million)? If the White Sox are to trade Dye - it will be for young players or prospects... If the White Sox do wave the white flag - Mark Buehrle will be their most attractive chip. Buehrle is a veteran pitcher who will be a free agent at the end of the year. He makes $9.5 million this year - so it will probably take at least a 3-year $40 million deal to re-sign him. The White Sox' biggest need isn't starting pitching - so they may opt to spend that money elsewhere (especially if they will also be losing Jermaine Dye). A playoff contender will probably pay a steep price for Buerhle near the trade deadline... The Phillies are in the unusual position of averaging the most runs scored per game in the NL at 5.05 R/G while at the same time also having the highest team ERA in the NL at 4.76. The Phillies are the perfect example of a team who could really use a Mark Buehrle as they try to make the playoffs (Phillies are just 5.5 back in the NL Wildcard right now)... If Barry Bonds played in the AL - he'd have the distinction of being the oldest player in the league by almost 4 months... Today is the anniversary of the D-Day invasion of Europe. Its worth noting that Major League Baseball cancelled all games on this day back in 1944 because they didn't think it was appropriate to be playing while men were fighting and dying on the beaches of Normandy.