It seems strange considering Brandon Webb was pretty much a shoe-in about a month ago for the National League Cy Young Award...but Tim Lincecum has rather quietly put together a great season with a young and very inexperienced San Francisco Giants team behind him. Sure, Lincecum won't reach that "plateau" of 20 wins this season like Brandon Webb already has, but if you compare stats between the 2 players, wins is the only category that Lincecum trails Webb. At 17-3, and an ERA of 2.43, along with a Major League-leading 237 K's, and having done this pitching for a team that's 15 games under .500, makes it all the more impressive to me. If you're thinking...well, he's pitching in a pitcher friendly ballpark in San Francisco. That may be true, but he's 10-1 on the road this season with a 2.13 ERA...so, that argument is "out the window" I'm afraid.

Honestly, I'm not a huge fan of giving an MVP Award to a pitcher, but when someone is deserving of it, I have no issues with it. Sure, you can make an argument for Ryan Howard, Ryan Braun, Matt Holliday, David Wright, and Albert Pujols, but I don't think any of those players has done more for their team than Tim Lincecum this season. Sure, he's on a losing team, but shouldn't that make his 17-3 record all the more impressive? If you take his 17 wins away from the Giants, and they're 32 games below .500...putting them in last place in their division and giving them the worst record in baseball.

I know Ryan Howard's got 1 MVP on his shelf already, but I'm not real fond of giving someone an MVP that's quickly approaching the 200 strikeout mark. If a hitter has to get the award over Lincecum this season, it should be Albert Pujols or possibly Matt Holliday, and of those 2 guys, I give the edge to Pujols.

You can actually make a similar case for Cliff Lee this season in the American League as he's having an even more dominant season than Lincecum, and facing the DH on the game-by-game basis.

All-in-all, I just feel like Lincecum is deserving of the Cy Young and MVP awards for the 2008 season, and if nothing else at least deserves consideration for the MVP. I would find it very difficult to justify giving the Cy Young to Brandon Webb just because he has 3 more wins than Lincecum (as of right now anyways). Linecum is slated to make 2 more scheduled starts, and if he really wanted to go for 20 wins could potentially do that by going on 4 days rest on the final game of the season on Sept. 28 vs. the Dodgers. Webb, on the other hand, has 3 scheduled starts remaining, and if he would happen to win 2 of the 3 starts, giving him possibly 22 wins this season, I have a bad feeling the voters will give him the Cy Young based only on wins...which I feel would be a mistake in this case.

A draft just wouldn't be a draft without Scott Boras adding some nonsense to the mix. Essentially, Boras is trying to manipulate the system so that he can attempt to re-negotiate a new contract with the same team he has already agreed tentatively to a contract with. Because Boras waited until the end of the deadline, he tried to squeeze every last penny out of the Pirates that he could, and did pretty well, getting a $6 million signing bonus. Problem is, the player drafted #3 overall...and just behind Alvarez, got $6 million as well. So, because the player drafted #1 overall, Tim Beckham, got a $ 6.5 million bonus, apparently Boras feels the Pirates should have given Alvarez $ 6.25 million, thereby splitting the difference between the #1 and #3 picks. Does Scottie really need that extra $25,000 in commission? Personally, I don't think Boras liked the idea of his client signing with the Pirates to begin with, and was looking for any excuse possible to try and get his boy on the free agent market, where he could demand an outrageous price tag from teams like the Yankees, Cubs, Red Sox, Dodgers, etc. My personal advice for Pedro Alvarez...dump Boras's ass, and sign with some agents that have some class and dignity. I would suggest Matt Sosnick (Sosnick / Cobbs) or Joe Bick (Pro Star Sports Mgmt.) if you're serious about getting a fair contract and signing with an agent that actually wants the best for you...not what's best for his commission and "rep".

The Reds and agent Greg Genske pushed the deadline to the final hour and final minutes, but they finally got a deal done, agreeing to terms with #1 (#7 overall) draft pick, Yonder Alonso. Alonso, a junior, almost senior at the University of Miami (FL), until the deal was signed, was reportedly asking for an initial signing bonus of $7 million, but apparently decided he wanted to play baseball more than he wanted to play "hardball". He may have come down in asking price, but still got the most important thing he was looking for in a deal - a Major League contract that requires the Reds to add Alonso to their 40-man roster. Yonder is expected to report to Class A Sarasota of the Florida State League in the coming days, where he'll begin his professional baseball career.

Amongst fans here in Cincinnati, I've heard a lot of mixed feelings on not only his contract, but also on his selection in this year's draft. I've heard many fans already discussing a trade of Joey Votto or moving Votto to the OF.

I don't think there's any question that Yonder Alonso was arguably the bat considered most "Major League-ready" in the '08 MLB Draft, but that doesn't necessarily mean he's ready for the Major Leagues right now. Fans thinking that the Reds should bring Alonso straight to Cincinnati need to temper their expectations a bit and give the kid some "seasoning" first. I think sending him to Sarasota is a great move. Not only does it start him in a competitive league (FSL), but it also gives him a chance to start against guys he should do well against -- building his confidence. Not to mention having played at Miami (FL), it will give his friends and family a chance to see him play and put him in a great frame of mind to feel comfortable playing professionally. If he does well in Sarasota, I don't think the Reds will hesitate to go ahead and move him up to AA or even AAA if he does really well. However, with little time left in the season, my gut tells me he'll go ahead and start and finish the season in Sarasota.

Alonso isn't heralded for his defense, and I don't think he's considered "above average" in many aspects of his defensive game, therefore, I would guess that Alonso, and not Votto, is a more likely candidate to move to the OF. Yonder obviously has the bat to play a corner OF position, and doesn't have great arm strength, but could fill in quite well in LF at some point. However, I think that's something the Reds will address next spring if they feel a change in position is necessary.

I know a lot of Reds fans out there don't see the "light at the end of the tunnel" -- but I do. Granted, I'm not a Reds fan, but I know a team with young talent when I see one. Try and be patient Reds fans, help is on the way. There's no single "savior", but as a core of guys, they can do some great things together. Phillips has been signed long-term, and with the emergence of Cueto, Volquez, Votto, and our wonderful fellow Yardbarker, Jay Bruce, there is something to be optimistic about.

I just thought I'd keep everyone up to date with my latest artistic undertaking, an 18"x24" original watercolor of All-American LB, James Laurinaitis. It's still in-progress, but I promise to check back with updated photos as the painting progresses along. And, if anyone is interested, I will, more than likely be offering prints of the painting, once completed. Thanks for checking my painting out! Go Bucks!

That's right, I need your help in picking a name for my latest undertaking...an original watercolor painting of Yardbarker blogger, and 2007 BA POY, Jay Bruce! (the painting is still a work in-progress...as you can probably tell...) I've narrowed the field to 5 finalists, but need you help in selecting the winner. The winning submission is going to receive a one-of-a-kind Artist's Proof, signed & numbered by myself (the artist).

Thanks for your help, I really appreciate it!

Jason

Cincysportsart.com

With a lot of rumors around the NFL about what team is going to trade for the Cleveland Browns Derek Anderson...thought I'd get everyone's thoughts on who you'd keep, and who you think the Browns will keep. Personally, I'd be tempted to keep Anderson for at least another season and see what happens, but at the same time, with 1 year left on his contract, now's probably the time to trade Anderson...while his "stock" is at an all-time high. So, if it were me, and I thought Quinn was "ready", I'd pull the trigger on a trade for Anderson. As far as what I think the Browns will do...I think the pressure will be really strong to go with Quinn next season -- much as it was here in Cincinnati, to go with Carson Palmer after sitting the bench his 1st season in the NFL. So, my guess is, the Browns will trade Anderson for a late 2nd, or early 3rd round pick. I guess we'll see soon enough!

This one's for you PhillyRapture.

I'm afraid I'm not able to provide a link for this story, but I have it from a source deep inside the bowels of the Dolphins organization. The head cheerleader...oops, I mean, my "source" chooses to remain "anonymous" due to the secret information contained in this deal.

In a shocking move, Bill Parcells and the Miami Dolphins will be announcing a trade that's so secret, they got permission to announce it before trades are allowed, and long after the NFL trade deadline. The Dolphins will be trading the #1 overall draft pick to the Atlanta Falcons for QB Michael Vick, 4 season tickets for the Atlanta Braves, a Cadillac Escalade, 2 VIP passes to the Gold Club, and 1, all-important, "Get Michael Vick Out of Prison, Free Card".

If you believe any of this, you may well believe a blog story about the Dolphins trading their #1 overall pick to the Philly Eagles for Donovan McNabb...and if you don't believe this story, hopefully you got a chuckle or two out of it in the meantime. I give the bloggers/readers on here more credit apparently, as I'm pretty sure most didn't even have to read the first sentence to figure out my story wasn't from a source deep inside an nfl organization.

Good luck pandering your made-up stories about the Eagles and the 'Phins #1 pick!

It's funny how one bad game by Ohio State last season changed everyone's perception of the Big 10 Conference. You stack up the 40 yard dash times for players from the Big 10 vs. the SEC, and I'll guarantee that it's very close between these 2 conferences, and there's a good chance the Big 10 comes out ahead. There isn't a lack of speed in the Big 10, I know that.

It's just like the "stigma" that the WAC and Pac-10 can't play defense, but just score points. And, I've got to tell you, USC, Oregon, and many other teams out west CAN play some defense.

Michigan, today, proves my point. Wisconsin also held it's own against Tenn. today too, barely losing until the very end. So, to say that the SEC is much faster than the Big 10, is ridiculous, and without merit. Is it so hard to realize that Florida just simply outplayed Ohio State last season? It wans't a matter of talent and speed, because if that were the case, Ohio State would have been the team running up the score. It was one game. Too many fans don't take into account a body of work by a conference and it's teams. It's very clear that the SEC and Big 10 will continue to battle for BCS supremacy for many years to come.

CHICAGO -- It will be a difficult holiday season for Cubs Minor League pitcher Donnie Veal.

Veal, a second-round pick in the June 2005 First-Year Player Draft, lost his mother to cancer in November 2004. On Nov. 10 this year, nearly three years to the day when his mother died, Veal's father was killed during a scuba diving trip.

A trust fund has been set up for Veal and his younger brother Devin, who is a freshman at the University of Arizona. Apparently, their parents did not have life insurance, and a line of credit was taken out on the family home.

Fans who would like to join the Cubs in helping the Veals can send checks payable to the Donnie and Devin Veal Trust Fund, Smith Barney/Citigroup, 701 Market Street, Suite 1500, St. Louis, Mo., 63101, Attn: Brad Rippelmeyer.

Okay, so that's not necessarily true...however, some of his teammates chose to pay tribute to Mr. "Ron Mexico", anyways. Personally, I find it to be in somewhat poor taste. I mean, he's gone for the next 2-3 years. Do they really think he's going to "shank" them when he get's out...with a sharpened toothbrush?

I'm all for sticking by your teammates, but with this instance, I think it would have been better if they kept it a little more "hush hush", and not make a big public spectacle of the situation.

Maybe Jamaal Tinsley, Maurice Clarett, and Mike Tyson can be in the same halfway house sometime soon. Man, there's a reality show if I've ever seen one..."Jock Halfway House".

You know, you'd think after the tragedy surrounding Sean Taylor's untimely death, that professional athletes -- especially one's that have had run-in's with shootings before outside nightclubs/strip joints, would be a little more hesitant to scuffle with patrons.

I just don't get it. Maybe he needs to take a good hard look at the types of people he's hanging around with, or, he can just keep doing what he's doing, and become another tragic athlete murdered over something stupid.

I read recently, that while the Rockies were marching through the playoffs, that stud prospect Ian Stewart was at Instructional Leagues, learning the in's and out's of playing 2b.

That would be quite a development for Rockies fans, as it would go a long way in filling in a vacant position for Colorado...and with someone who's proven he can hit at the Major League level.

Would make quite an everyday line-up:

helton, stewart, tulo, atkins, torrealba, holliday, tavaras, and hawpe.

Okay, Reds, here's your blueprint for success in the near future:

1. Trade Ken Griffey, Jr. to anyone who will overpay for him while he's healthy -- which won't be much longer. Trade him to the Dodgers for Matt Kemp...the Dodgers need the vet. bat who's left-handed, and can afford his salary.

2. Trade Adam Dunn to anyone looking for some power and is willing to overpay for it (AL teams or NL West). Trade him along with Edwin Encarnacion and Drew Stubbs for Tim Lincecum, Angel Villalona, and Jonathan Sanchez...and maybe more. Frees up salary, gives you 2 SP's and a very very young stud 3b to potentially build around for the future. In the meantime, play Ryan Freel at 3b everyday for a change.

3. Trade or release Scott Hatteberg...do whatever it takes to make Joey Votto your everyday 1b. It's really silly how little you believe in Votto.

4. DO NOT Trade Jay Bruce -- unless it's absolutely for a dominant player that can help you right now. Lincecum -- maybe...but it's very risky. Start him at AAA in '08 and bring him up by mid-season...and never look back.

5. Quite wasting your $ on overpriced veterans -- free up some money and lock up Brandon Phillips long-term. Play the kids and let them build your franchinse into what it should be...a contender.

6. Finally...don't ever sign a free agent starting pitcher, unless he's got a devastating sinker.

7. Quit relying on the well-travelling Cubs fans to create your only sellouts of the season, and maybe work on getting Reds fans back to the ballpark for a change.

The way talks have progressed between the Twins and Yankees and Twins and Red Sox, I just get the feeling those 3 teams are going to be frustrated and back out of their respective deals. The Red Sox won't buckle on Ellsbury...the Yankees on their 3rd guy in the deal.

So, watch out who can be sneaking in there, because the Dodgers have, arguably, the best young talent to make a deal for Santana, out there.

A couple potential offers the Dodgers could put together:

1. OF - Matt Kemp; SP - Clayton Kershaw; SS - Chin-Lung Hu

Kemp's rubbed some the wrong way in LA, and could be on his way out -- but has tremendous upside, and is a major league hitter right now. Kershaw's a bit more of a projection, but has shown a lot of promise so far, and being left-handed, could be a #1 or #2 in the rotation someday soon. And, with Furcal firmly entrenched at SS, unless the Dodgers are looking to move Hu to 2B sometime soon, is rather blocked from the big leagues.

2. OF - Andre Ethier; SP - Clayton Kershaw; 2B - Blake DeWitt

I think Kemp's more attractive to teams, as he should be. I thought Kemp should have been starting everyday at the start of last season. In regads to Kershaw -- I just don't see the Twins trading Santana to the Dodgers and not demanding that Kershaw be involved in the deal. Besides, I don't forsee the Dodgers including Chad Billingsley in any trades - although a couple of years ago, that was the prevailing opinion regarding a lot of "experts" at Baseball America. Good thing they're not running the Dodgers.

All in all, I think the Dodgers would be pretty well off if that 1st offer would do the deal. I'd stick with Andy LaRoche as my everyday 3b to start 2008, and Santana would anchor a really good staff that would go like this: 1. Santana, 2. B. Penny, 3. Billingsley, 4. Lowe, and 5. TBD. I know a lot of people still slot Lowe at 3, but I think Billingsley's performance down the stretch of last season has pushed him ahead of Lowe in my eyes.

But, like I said earlier, I'd hate to trade Matt Kemp, but for the Twins it would make sense. Kemp can play CF if necessary, and although Kershaw may be a couple of years away from contributing, he gives you some great upside for the future. And, with Chin-Lung Hu, you get a very dependable SS who will be a solid big league SS for years to come.

You know, before I read this story, I was already cheering for the Rockies as an "underdog" in the playoffs -- now I'm cheering for the Rockies, because they've shown even more heart off the field, than they've already shown on the field.