Some Halladay Cheer

I wrote a couple of baseball articles today that if you haven’t read them, you might be interested if you have a few moments to spend. Just what were they about? So glad you asked.

The first piece was on THE DEAL as I’ve grown to call it at BaseballGuys’ Twitter Page. Obviously I’m talking about the massive deal that included Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee, and you can find that analysis at
Hallady, Lee Switching Leagues.

The second article is my breakdown of the Juan Pierre to White Sox move. The short of it? He should be a strong fantasy option in 2010.

Brett Wallace can flat out rake. Unfortunately he looks like he never skipped a helping of cake (that must have come from reading “The Night Before Christmas” early today). As a result of concerns about whether or not he will ever be able to handle the hot corner the Athletics, flush with options at first base, turned around and traded Wallace – who was picked up in the Matt Holliday deal – to the Jays for outfielder Michael Taylor (he was a member of the Blue Jays for about five minutes after being picked up in the Halladay deal with the Phillies). Wallace will have a chance to open the year with the Jays, he has hit .302 in 734 minor-league at-bats and only has Lyle Overbay in his way (the Jays have reportedly been shopping Lyle around for a while now). As for Taylor, he could start at a corner spot with the A’s as early as opening day. “He has a chance to be a superstar in the outfield,” A’s assistant GM David Frost said. “He’ll come into Spring Training with a chance to prove he is Major League-ready.” Standing 6’6″ and weight about 250 lbs, Taylor has hit .312 during his minor league career and last season he hit .320 with 20 homers, 84 RBI and a .977 OPS in a season spent mostly at Double-A (he also saw action at Triple-A). Both players deserve attention in league specific formats this season.

The Adrian Gonzalez to the Red Sox rumors just won’t die despite most pundits belief that a deal simply won’t get done. After all, the Padres hold all the cards with their run producing first baseman who has two years left on a deal that pays him just over $10 million the next two seasons. You’re going to have to give up one hell of package to land that slugger, and even with a deal highlighted by Clay Buchholz may not be enough to cause the Padres to send their slugger east.

Delusional quote of the day, courtesy Mike Cameron who told the Boston media that he could steal 20 bases in 2010, and the only reason he didn’t last year was because the Brewers held him back on the base paths. Uh, Mr. Cameron, you haven’t stolen 20 bases since 2006, and at 37 years of age in January, that really doesn’t seem like a statement you should have made. I wish you luck, you’ve been a 20/20 weapon four times in your career, but with all of 24 steals in your last 269 games played, I’m thinking you’re gonna fall a bit short with the Sox.

At this point, are you wondering what the photo that accompanies this piece has to do with the article? Nothing of course. I was just listening to some Christmas tunes while writing this and “Baby it’s Cold Outside” was on the radio, so I thought to myself – how could I best warm people up? A pretty lady in a bikini may or may not get the motor running, but it should remind you of the time you spent on the beach a few months back and that might help.

By Ray Flowers