Notes & Takes
In the aftermath (and ongoing saga) of the A-Rod revelation/confession, we pause to address events occurring that actually pertain to baseball.
The highlight of the week comes from Ichiro Suzuki. NPB reports that, while working out with the Japan WBC team, his manager suggested that he be prepared to be an “emergency pitcher”. Ichiro proceeded to skip batting practice and do some work in the bullpen. He threw 56 pitches off the mound, mixing fastball and forkballs. His fastball was allegedly clocked at 92 MPH. Since it didn’t make the news, we can presume that GM Jack Zouriencik wasn’t swallowing food when this snippet came across his PC moniter. Word from the Mariners was that, no, Ichiro would not be pitching in the WBC.
***
The Milwaukee Brewers reportedly are signing Braden Looper to a one-year contract worth $4.75 million with a mutual option for 2010. Looper was the “class” of the remaining starters in the FA pool - one of those “innings eaters.” Actually, he’s not a bad pickup for the Crew, whose rotation was decimated by the departures of CC and Sheets.
***
This one was rather amazing . . . Bobby Abreu (aka here as Abroo) is reportedly to sign a one-year deal with the Angels for $5 million plus incentives (Uh . . . did you notice that Braden Looper is getting $4.75 million? For that matter, Kyle Farnsworth signed a three-year deal for pert near this annual amount). Abroo is coming off a year of 20 HR, 100 RBI, 100 R with the Yankees. We thought that Burrell was a steal at $8 million for three years, but this one is a major coup for the Halos, who need another stick to avoid playing Sarge Jr. in left (who, ironically, will be riding the pine and earning about twice what Abreu will this year). Either he wants to hook up with a contender and take his chances at the end of this season, or he panicked.
***
Then we have Adam Dunn, who reportedly has had a two-year $20 million offer on the table from the Nationals for the past two months, decided to take it about 1/2 hour after Abreu’s deal was announced. It was a win-win. Dunn’s gets the best money available, and GM Jim Bowden gets to feed his weird fetish of collecting ex-Reds.
df