26 Reasons to Hate Us

BALTIMORE -- Orioles pitcher Kris Benson has a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder and will probably miss the entire 2007 season. Baltimore moved quickly to fill his spot in the starting rotation, agreeing Monday with free agent right-hander Steve Trachsel on a $3.1 million, one-year contract, according to a baseball official who spoke on condition of annonymity because the deal has not yet been finalized. The contract, which is pending a physical, includes a $3 million salary this year and a 2008 club option with a $100,000 buyout. The 36-year-old Trachsel was 15-8 with a 4.97 ERA for the New York Mets last season and is 134-143 with a 4.28 ERA over 14 major league seasons. Trachsel's agreement was first reported by The (Baltimore) Sun. Benson had an MRI exam last week that revealed a partial tear in his rotator cuff, the pitcher's agent, Gregg Clifton, said Monday. The injury will require surgery, but the procedure has not yet been scheduled. "We'd like to get it done as soon as possible so we can start the recovery process," Clifton said. After coming to Baltimore in a January 2006 trade with the Mets, Benson went 11-12 with a 4.82 ERA in 30 starts. This season he was supposed to provide experience in a young starting rotation that includes Erik Bedard, Daniel Cabrera and Adam Loewen. READ MORE http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2763185

Villone signs with Yankees Veteran left-hander agrees to minor-league deal Posted: Tuesday February 13, 2007 12:22PM; Updated: Tuesday February 13, 2007 12:25PM By Jon Heyman, SI.com Ron Villone has agreed to a minor-league deal with the New York Yankees. He stands to make $2.5 million if he makes the club, which is likely, and an additional $300,000 in incentives based on games pitched. He will compete with Sean Henn and Mike Myers for a spot in the bullpen. Villone, a 12-year veteran, appeared in 70 games for New York last season, posting a 5.04 ERA in 80 1/3 innings. He has a career record of 55-57 with a 4.78 ERA during a journeyman career that has seen him play for 10 different teams. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/baseball/mlb/02/13/villone.yankees/index.html

Posada is there early too. Presumably he would catch Igawa and get a good feel for his stuff.

I have an ex-girlfriend whose family is good friends with Spike Owens. He even came to their house a few years back with Roger Clemens.

There was a minor league team in the 1950's called the Natchez Guardians (1948-1953). They played in the Cotton States League. http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Cotton_States_League So far these are the only members of those teams I can find: Joe Rullo Jack Parks Dick Adkins Gil Torres James Gilbert Walter Wilson Troy Mitchell Don Allen Wayne Tucker William Specter There was also a team called the Jackson Senators that only played one year (1953). Good luck. If you get me your grandpa's name I'll see what I can find stat-wise.

Bernie Williams' great Yankees career just might end with a soap opera he didn't bargain for. SI.com has learned that the Yankees have made Williams a standing offer to come to spring training as a non-guaranteed minor-league invite. While this wasn't anything close to what he was hoping or looking for, all indications are that he is considering the proposal. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/jon_heyman/01/31/williams.yankees/index.html

Was he invited to ST?

http://www.denverpost.com/rockies/ci_4968927 I know...slow news day

Young pitcher steal of a deal for Yanks http://www.nypost.com/seven/01052007/sports/yankees/scout__young_pitcher_steal_of_deal_for_cashman_yankees_kevin_kernan.htm

Is this the part where I remind you of the collossal disappointments the yankees have been in the postseason since 2000? AL East crowns are nothing to be proud of. Not with the money this team spends.

You know who I'm talkin bout.

What if we turn the money we saved into a pitcher who beats the Sox? Surely that counts..

We can still keep track of Beckett's though

finally. Now we can sit around wait for clemens to sign somewhere.

That's how you can tell Cash is running the show now. So far I like it, but I am a little worried about this year, depending on how the Clemens situation pans out..

I'm not sure who Clemens will sign with, but I think that there is at least a good chance he will come to the Yankees. What makes you so sure that it isn't even a possibility?

link?

good stuff jacks. I hope that report is right and that a deal is close. I found another article saying a deal is not imminent: http://www.nj.com/yankees/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/11673724485920.xml&coll=1