It's about time

After the report executed by US Senator (and Red Sox consultant) George Mitchell mysteriously excluded any players of significance on the 2004 OR 2007 World Championship teams, it looks as though Manny Ramirez has tested positive for a PED.

While there is plenty of room for boner jokes in this story (and Lord knows I am phenomenal at them), I am far too enthralled with the fact that the championships that ended an eighty-six year drought could very well be tainted.

Once one half of the most feared slugging tandem in baseball, Ramirez was arguably the most important player in Boston during his tenure. Along with David Ortiz (who is constantly hurt now, ahem), Manny destroyed the Yankees, and everyone else, seemingly every night.

After enduring the taunting from Red Sox fans and journalists alike, it may be time for everyone in baseball to wake up: EVERYONE was doing this. And, apparently, Manny Ramirez still is. And he has tiny testicles (Sorry, had to be done).

Forever the JV Team

Oliver Perez signed a 3 year $36 million deal with the Mets. At that AAV, that means he will make more money in 2009 than Andy Pettite, Milton Bradley, Pat Burrell, Kerry Wood, Brian Fuentes, Edgar Renteria, Casey Blake, Raul Ibanez, Jon Garland, Brad Penny, John Smoltz, Trevor Hoffman, Guillermo Mota and Daniel Cabrera. After embarassing themselves on Derek Lowe and never really throwing a hat in the ring on Ryan Dempster, this is the topper. Paying an inconsistent pitcher who led the league in walks (again) when the team is in desperate need of a solid two starter behind Johan Santana is deplorable. Look at the list of afforementioned players and think how many would have been useful to the Metropolatinos at a discounted price. They are still in need of a power hitting corner outfielder (Pat Burrell???), and starting pitching depth. Plus, another report surfaced today that the Mets are not in on Bobby Abreu or Manny Ramirez , and there is still no sign of interest in Adam Dunn as far as I see. With Carlos Delgado coming off of the books after this year, a two year, $20 million investment in Dunn seems like a deal that even a shaved monkey could figure out. The offseason started off well with the signing of K-Rod and the larceny of J.J. Putz from the Mariners, but follow through is needed. They now have a solid back of the bullpen, a questionable offense and a starting rotation that is (maybe) four deep. Think about that every time Oli walks ten in four innings, Mets fans. Oh, and good luck overtaking the World Champion Phillies. But at least there is meringue night to look forward to. Then to put the cherry on all of this, I am once again forced to source Joel Sherman. I hate this team.

We reiterate

3 years of Manny > 8 years of Teixeira.
The Fowl Balls has spoken.

Permission to freak out?

Some Spanish newspaper is reporting that the Yankees are close to (or have already executed, depending on how well you read Spanish) a three year, $75 million deal with Manny Ramirez.
Source: http://www.impactodeportivo.com.do/?op=displaystory&story_id=4836&format=html

Although Brian Cashman has already denied this rumor to MLB.com's Brian Hoch, Impacto Deportivo does have a track record of breaking a story here and there, so who knows.
Source: http://bombersbeat.mlblogs.com/archives/2008/12/cashman_manny_375_report_not_t.html

Due to the marginal believability of this rumor, the Jimmy Dugan Boner Meter stands at "half mast".

Manny Threat Level = ORANGE

According to Mark Feinsand of the NY Daily News, the Yankees are "going hard" after Manny Ramirez (that's what she said". This is sure to send beat-writers, bloggers, and fans into an uproar. We at The Fowl Balls, however, recognize that Manny is the only viable candidate to protect the increasingly fragile Alex Rodriguez in the lineup that is not named Mark Teixeira. So, everyone who is against the signing of Manny is dumb and we are smart. We take Manny for two years, $50 million over Tex at eight years, $160 million every day of the week, and twice on Sunday. I don't even know what that means.
Source: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2008/12/16/2008-12-16_source_sees_yankees_pursuit_of_manny_ram-1.html

Winter Meetings: Day 4

Mike Cameron - This trade was off, then on, then off, and is now on again. With Cameron and Melky being the center of the deal, the teams are now haggling over money and possibly another pitching prospect from the Yankees. Brewers GM Doug Melvin said to Brewers beat reporter Tim Hardicourt that there is a "strong possibility" that the trade goes down, which is GM speak for I have no fucking clue what is going on.
Source: http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/35999269.html

AJ Burnett - The Yankees are by all accounts the front runners, putting up 5 years and $80-85 million. The Braves are still involved, meaning there is still a chance that this albatross-in-the-making has a chance to fall through (our fingers are crossed).
Source: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081211&content_id=3714587&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy&partnerId=rss_nyy

Derek Lowe - ESPN's Jayson Stark reports that the Yankees would not rule out signing Lowe if they agreed to terms with Burnett.
Source: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=3762149&type=blogEntry

Manny Ramirez - There has been limited talk linking Ramirez to the Yankees yet. However, we think that if Manny is still ahnging around in January, the Yankees could and (should) throw a big one or two year offer at him.
Source: None, because I made it up.


Mark Teixeira - Apparently, the Yankees have thrown their hat back in the ring on Big Tex, according to John Heyman at SI. We can't see this as anything but an attempt to drive up the price on the Red Sox, but it is fun to dream.
Source: http://www.fannation.com/si_blogs/hot_stove/posts/31261-yankees-back-in-teixeira-sweepstakes

Thoughts on the reported Mike Cameron deal

Though we are not doing backflips about it, this is a good trade. The Yankee organization had given up on Melly Cabrera, and Brett Gardner was not going to be the everyday centerfielder.

Cameron adds good defense and pop that could net him 25+ home runs. He strikes out a ton, but he will still put up an OPS+ in the low 100's. Long story short Cameron is an upgrade, but the team cannot be done improving the offense.

So, what should come next, you ask? The next moves to make this team work would be trading Matsui and signing Manny Ramirez. This would allow for a Damon/Manny platoon at LF/DH. We have seen a lot of media outlets endorsing Adam Dunn, but the signing of Cameron as a high strikeout risk negates that point.

So, in short, Cameron is a solid stopgap as the team awaits Austin Jackson but more needs to be done for this team to make a run at the division.

Can CC Play Centerfield on Off Days?

Now that theYankees have acquired (arguably) the best pitcher in baseball and appear to be on the verge of signing up to three more pitchers, it's time to turn our attention to what they will do about the offense. It is clear that a Melky/Gardner centerfield is not what championships are built on, so what is the plan? The Fowl Balls wants to hear from you. Who completes the offense? Dunn? Cameron? Teixeira (HA!)? Manny?

Use the comments section to make your suggestions, seeing as though we have already established that the Yankees are reading...

Brian Cashman Must Read The Fowl Balls

Manny Ramirez doesn't fit the Yankees' desire to get younger and more athletic, but several industry sources believe the Yankees will make a serious push for the free agent to play right field next year. Though GM Brian Cashman says the top offseason priority is starting pitching, he did not rule out interest in the 36-year-old Ramirez. (New York Post)

If this is true, The Fowl Balls Offseason Plan has officially been launched. Please refer back to our brilliant, if not genius Hot Stove map here: http://www.thefowlballs.com/2008/09/looking-toward-2009.html