Yardbarker: LaTroy Hawkins

Definitely Listen to This

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 21:31:06 -0500

If you didn't already know, I love listening to Rocco after each and every game. You can listen to any show [here], but [this very short clip] called "Double Entendre '08" is absolutely hilarious. I demand that you click that link and listen to it right now. Silly and not very baseball-related (to say the least), but it is pretty darn funny. It comes at the very end of his [last show], but you can jump straight to the good stuff [here].
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Some other links:
Colin Dunlap of the PG covers [Pedro Alvarez's first Pirate workout] in extensive detail, including some towering bombs and a grounder off his cheek.
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[This MLBTR link] may raise some eyebrows. Potential players the Pirates might seek in free agency:

Casey Blake could make sense, or maybe Wily Mo Pena if he declines his $2MM player option. There's no obvious fit though.

Veteran starters such as Paul Byrd, Mike Hampton, Pedro Martinez, Odalis Perez, or Kenny Rogers could help tutor young Pirate pitchers. Randy Johnson could be an interesting signing as well. The righthanded setup man market includes Juan Cruz, Rudy Seanez, LaTroy Hawkins, Chan Ho Park, David Weathers, Bob Howry, and Kyle Farnsworth.
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Say what? Somehow I don't see any of the above happening, but it is true the Bucs have $10-15M to spend.
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Dejan [says thank you] and offers [his top games of the season] (something I will be doing in the near future). First of all, thank you, Dejan, for amazing, relentless coverage of the Bucs all season long. Second, the coverage here will continue. Obviously there is a lot less Pirate news now that the season's done, but look for more analysis and humor instead of game previews and recaps day in and day out. Posting may drop off a bit, but there's always football and basketball to write about if we get too bored. I'd like to stick to what I know best, though, and that is Pirate baseball.
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Lastly, I think [this statement by Pat] sums up the year pretty well:

From [late 2005 through the end of 2007,] all I ever really wanted was for the Pirates to throw up their hands, say, "This team sucks and our minor league system is really bad. The only way we're ever going to be relevant again is by tearing apart the team, giving up on a couple of years, and rebuilding this thing from the ground up." In 2008, the Pirates actually did that.

Around the Majors

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 13:19:57 -0500

Source: Jon Heyman

Several teams have said that they would like to add a second baseman, suggesting that both Robinson Cano and Brian Roberts could be on the move this offseason. The Brewers attempted to land Brian Roberts last spring, but failed after their unwillingness to trade Alcides Escobar or Manny Parra. It is possible the Brewers will try again after seeing Rickie Weeks fail to find his swing again this season. With Sabathia and Sheets heading to free agency, it is likely the Brewers will be very busy trying to keep their team together.

The Yankees are looking for outfield options and have set their sights on Matt Kemp. They could work a deal involving Robinson Cano, and bring in Kemp as their center fielder. Other options for center field include David DeJesus, but he struggled defensively this season. Another option is Milton Bradley, who is a free agent following this season playing for the Texas Rangers. Playing for a good team could entice Bradley, who hasn't played for a contender in his career.

The Rockies would like to add a number one starter and may pursue Ryan Dempster or Jon Garland. They could also pursue Derek Lowe if he doesn't sign with the Dodgers.

After LaTroy Hawkins dominated for the Astros, there is word that the Astros would like to resign him. Hawkins is very familiar with the NL Central and is very comfortable and confident with what he has. He would be a good signing for the Astros.

Andy Pettitte will likely wait until January or February to sign with a club. It is frustrating that that Andy Pettitte continues to put off his decision till the very last minute, but there is nothing we can do about it. He will likely sign with the Yankees, Astros, or Dodgers.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Around the Majors

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 21:52:54 -0500

Looking Ahead at the 2009 Free Agent Market!

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 20:17:46 -0500

Now with some glaring holes going into next year. The Mets will have a new ballpark but they also will have to replace some parts.

Obviously the bullpen is a mess starting with Billy Wagner.

The second base position can be resolved with a veteran and that means that Castillo will be traded for a bag of balls.

The starting rotation is also very interesting thing to look at with Oliver Perez (who is only 27)who is going to be a free agent and has Scott Boris as a agent.

The Mets will have Pedro Martinez coming off the books. As well as Moises Alou, who has been a disappointment because he never plays.

Here are the 2009 Free Agents from those positions mentioned:

Second basemen
Willie Bloomquist (31)
Geoff Blum (36) - club option for '09
Jamey Carroll (35) - $2.5MM club option for '09 with a $0.15MM buyout
Craig Counsell (38)
Ray Durham (37)
Damion Easley (39)
David Eckstein (34)
Mark Ellis (32)
Mark Grudzielanek (39)
Jerry Hairston Jr. (33)
Orlando Hudson (31)
Tadahito Iguchi (34)
Jeff Kent (41)
Felipe Lopez (29)
Mark Loretta (37)
Nick Punto (31)

Starting pitchers
Kris Benson (33)
A.J. Burnett (32) - can opt out after '08 season
Paul Byrd (38)
Roger Clemens (46)
Matt Clement (33)
Bartolo Colon (36)
Ryan Dempster (32)
Shawn Estes (36)
Josh Fogg (32)
Freddy Garcia (33)
Jon Garland (29)
Tom Glavine (43)
Mike Hampton (36)
Mark Hendrickson (35)
Livan Hernandez (34)
Orlando Hernandez (43)
Jason Jennings (30)
Randy Johnson (45)
John Lackey (30) - $9MM club option for '09 with a $0.5MM buyout
Jon Lieber (39)
Kyle Lohse (30)
Braden Looper (34)
Rodrigo Lopez (33) - club option for '09
Derek Lowe (36)
Greg Maddux (43)
Pedro Martinez (37)
Jamie Moyer (46)
Mark Mulder (31) - $11MM club option for '09 with a $1.5MM buyout
Mike Mussina (40)
Carl Pavano (33) - $13MM club option for '09 with a $1.95MM buyout
Brad Penny (31) - $8.75MM club option for '09 with a $2MM buyout
Odalis Perez (32)
Oliver Perez (27)
Andy Pettitte (37)
Sidney Ponson (32)
Mark Prior (27)
Kenny Rogers (44)
C.C. Sabathia (28)
Curt Schilling (42)
Ben Sheets (30)
John Smoltz (42)
Tim Wakefield (42) - perpetual $4MM club option
Kip Wells (32)
Randy Wolf (32)

Closers
Brian Fuentes (33)
Eric Gagne (33)
Eddie Guardado (38)
Trevor Hoffman (41)
Jason Isringhausen (36)
Todd Jones (41)
Brandon Lyon (29)
Francisco Rodriguez (27)
Salomon Torres (37) - $3.75MM club option for '09 with a $0.3MM buyout
Kerry Wood (32)

Middle relievers
Jeremy Affeldt (30)
Luis Ayala (31)
Joe Beimel (32)
Joe Borowski (38)
Doug Brocail (42) - club option for '09
Shawn Chacon (31)
Juan Cruz (30)
Alan Embree (39) - $3MM club option for '09
Scott Eyre (37)
Kyle Farnsworth (33)
Casey Fossum (31)
Keith Foulke (35)
Tom Gordon (41) - $4.5MM club option for '09 with a $1MM buyout
LaTroy Hawkins (36)
Mark Hendrickson (35)
Matt Herges (39) - club option for '09
Bob Howry (35)
Jon Lieber (39)
Jason Johnson (35)
Damaso Marte (34) - $6MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Trever Miller (36) - $2MM club option for '09 with a $0.4MM buyout
Guillermo Mota (35)
Will Ohman (31)
Darren Oliver (38)
Chan Ho Park (36)
Horacio Ramirez (29)
Al Reyes (38)
Dennys Reyes (32)
Arthur Rhodes (39)
Juan Rincon (30)
Rudy Seanez (40)
Brian Shouse (40)
Russ Springer (40)
Mike Timlin (43)
Ron Villone (39)
David Weathers (39)
Kip Wells (32)
Matt Wise (33)
Jamey Wright (34)

GameDay #143 at Astros

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 19:27:34 -0500

Pirates (60-82) at Astros (76-67)
8:05--Minute Maid Park, Houston
Ian Snell (6-10, 5.59) vs. Alberto Arias (0-0, 2.63)
[Preview]
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Well, the Pirates may not have a whole lot left to play for. But they can continue the city's dominance over Houston this year!
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The Pirates are 7-2 against the Astros this year, despite the horrid overall mark. And we all know what happened at Heinz Field yesterday.
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Then again the Astros are just as bad as....WHAT!? 76-67!? The Astros!? The same team we swept and left town mocking, especially since we had a better record at the time!?
Yeah, actually. The Astros, who were nowhere near the playoff conversation at the trade deadline, still decided to add rather than rebuild at the deadline. Sure, they just got Randy Wolf and LaTroy Hawkins (neither of whom are really that good), but they had every reason to shop some veterans (i.e. Miguel Tejada) and add some prospects (like we did) since they really had no reason to do otherwise. Despite the remarkable run they've had, they still have virtually no chance at the postseason. Just another reason why Neal Huntington looks smarter than someone else. Evan Dejan loves poking fun at "Astro-land."
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Ian Snell and the Bucs can continue to lower their chances tonight. Minute Maid used to be a house of horrors for us, but like I said, this year we own Houston. Snell pitched well his last time out and has been good 2 out of his last 3 starts.
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No idea who this Arias dude is. Somehow I don't see him starting in the NLDS (do you see what I'm getting at here???)
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Nate is day-to-day, which is much better than what I thought after seeing/hearing about that injury. With nothing to play for and plenty of OF options, it's unlikely we'll rush him back.
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[Box]

MLB Weekly Sleepers - Week 24

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 06:23:03 -0500

Screaming Sports' Tommy D breaks out another edition of MLB Sleepers and runs down a quick list of potential needles (in a haystack - get it?) for the upcoming week. So, who could surprise some unsuspecting opponents this week? Only one way to find out ... click it.

Numbers tell story of Yankee season

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:44:30 -0500

Here are some numbers that sum up the futility of the 2008 season for the New York Yankees. 0 — The number of combined victories for young starters Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy, counted on as mainstays of the rotation this season. 0.00 — LaTroy Hawkins' ERA in 14 games with Houston. That after a 5.71 ERA [...]

MLB Weekly Sleepers - Week 23

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 06:47:31 -0500

MLB Free Agent Specialty - Week 22

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 06:51:10 -0500

Not quite like Waiver Wire, this piece examines potentially available players that focus on a specific category. If you need some power, we have a suggestion. If you need some speed, we have a suggestion. If you need some K's, we have a suggestion. Unfortunately, these players will not help your fantasy team (most of the time) outside of the category they are listed.

Game 131 Thread / Cubs @ Pirates (1 of 3)

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:28:54 -0500

Game Chat | Press Pass | BR Preview

SP	*Ted Lilly	SP	Jeff Karstens
	12-7, 4.25, 148 K, 56 W, 161 IP		2-2, 2.25, 11 K, 8 W, 28 IP

LF	Alfonso Soriano	CF	*Nate McLouth
SS	Ryan Theriot	2B	Freddy Sanchez
1B	Derrek Lee	C	#Ryan Doumit
3B	Aramis Ramirez	1B	*Adam LaRoche
CF	*Jim Edmonds	RF	Jason Michaels
2B	Mark DeRosa	LF	*Brandon Moss
RF	*Kosuke Fukudome	3B	Andy LaRoche
C	Geovany Soto	SS	Jack Wilson
P	*Ted Lilly	P	Jeff Karstens

The Cubs open a three-game set at PNC Park, concluding their 9-game stretch against the Reds, Nationals, and Pirates before they resume play against Major League opposition. (Yes, I'm tempting fate: Friday's smug game preview was just a preamble to an ugly 13-5 loss to the Nats, but 30 games over .500, I'm feeling smug all over again.)

Coming off a tough luck defeat in which he held the Reds hitless for the first 5 innings and wound up yielding just 2 hits in 7 IP, Lily has reduced his ERA to a season-low 4.25.The lefty has given the Cubs Quality Starts in 8 of his last 10 turns, and that defeat to Cincinnati was his first after five consecutive W's.

This will mark Lilly's fourth start of the year against the Bucs. He's 1-0, 5.63 in the three previous starts, with a butt-ugly 8.38 ERA in his two outings at PNC.

Karstens, who landed in Pittsburgh as part of the deal that sent Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte to the Yanks, makes his fifth start as a Pirate. In his first, back on 8/1, he blanked the Cubs over six innings. His second time out, he was even better, carrying a perfect game into the eighth inning at Arizona, before eventually closing out a 2-0 complete game win. His last two starts have been much more ordinary—16 hits and 7 ER in 13 IP—and more like what you'd expect from a guy who has fanned just 11 men (and walked 8) in 28 innings.

The Cubs have won 11 of the 15 meetings between the two clubs this year, including 4 of the 6 played in Pittsburgh.

Lastly, on Sunday, Mark DeRosa became the first Cub since Fred McGriff (2001) to homer in four consecutive games. If DeRo connects tonight, he'll join Sosa ('98) and Sandberg ('89) as the only Cubs since 1956 to go long in five straight.

	Sandberg (1989)	Sosa (1998)	McGriff (2001)	DeRosa (2008)
Patsy #1	Andy McGaffigan	Livan Hernandez	Jim Brower	Josh Fogg
Patsy #2	Dennis Martinez	Jim Parque	Wil. Rodriguez	John Lannan
Patsy #3	Bryn Smith	Carlos Castillo	Shane Reynolds	Garrett Mock
Patsy #4	O'Neal/Mulholland*	James Baldwin	Tim Redding	Jay Bergmann
Patsy #5	Larry McWilliams	LaTroy Hawkins	—	???

*Sandberg homered twice against the Phillies on 8/10/89 and eventually wound up with 6 HR in 5 games. What a stud.

Inside The Box August 12th Edition

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 08:25:28 -0500

Today's update features a player getting over his allergies, a nomination for the all-ugly team, fear of retribution from Terry Puhl fans, how writers can have bad luck, too and lots more.

Error of my ways

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 10:42:53 -0500

Astros GM Ed Wade is either incredibly stupid or incredibly genius. In the interest of playing devil's advocate, we're trying to find evidence of the latter...

Trading season ‘Kudos & Wet Willies’

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 06:54:42 -0500

The non-waiver trade deadline is over. Manny Ramirez is in Los Angeles, Pudge Rodriguez is a Yankee, Randy Wolf and LaTroy Hawkins are Houston Astros, and there are no new members of the New York Mets. Let's review the winners and losers of baseball's trading season in our very special 'Kudos & Wet Willies' style. Kudos to [...]

Fear and Loathing in Houston

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 14:26:25 -0500

As the deadline clicks closer, the Astros continue to squander this valuable opportunity.

LaTroy Hawkins Traded

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 21:54:05 -0500

Recently DFA'd LaTroy Hawkins has been traded to the Houston Astros for Matt Cusick. Cusick is a 22 year old second baseman currently in A-ball. I don't know what level he will play at for the Yankees, but here is some background info on him: He was a tenth-round pick out USC in 2007. While at USC, he had an OPS over .800 all three years he played there, including a .970 OPS his second year. Last year he had an .807 OPS in 92 games at Low-A. So far in High-A this year, he has an .832 OPS.