Via Bob Nightengale –

The Cubs are letting teams know that nearly everyone but starter Jeff Samardzija is available, two high-ranking team officials told USA TODAY Sports on condition of anonymity because of competitive reasons.

Matt Garza and Ryan Dempster are veterans starters who can fill out the top of a rotation for a contender. Shortstop Starlin Castro already is a star at 22 but can be obtained for two impact prospects. First baseman Bryan LaHair, a surprise bright spot with 10 home runs, can be cleared to make room for top prospect Anthony Rizzo.

And the Cubs gladly will chip in cash for a team to take left fielder Alfonso Soriano and the more than $45 million left on his contract.

With so many teams contending, Theo could have some fun with this white flag sale…

Here’s one cut at an all-time list -

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Billy Jurges had some interesting things happen to him:

In 1932, Jurges played a central part in two seemingly unrelated acts. On July 6, his former girlfriend, lounge singer Violet Valli, called Jurges on the telephone, then entered his hotel room with a gun to attempt suicide. Jurges intervened and took a bullet in the hand and another through the ribs. There was a similar episode seventeen years later, also in Chicago, involving Eddie Waitkus (who, ironically, also played for the Cubs, but was then a Phillie), by Ruth Ann Steinhagen, a young woman obsessed with him. It’s possible that the Jurges incident, rather than the Waitkus shooting, is the real inspiration for the novel and film The Natural.

Jurges only missed three weeks, but the contending Cubs signed ex-Yankee shortstop Mark Koenig as insurance. Koenig, who went on to hit .353 the rest of the way, was voted a half-World Series share. The New York Yankees reacted strongly to this perceived “slight” and rode the Cubs unmercifully during the World Series, culminating in Babe Ruth’s “called shot” off of Charlie Root in Game 3.

Back in his best seasons, A-Rod was good for 30 to 45 RBI within his team’s first 50 games of the season.

This year, he’s got 19 RBI. Here’s the list for him:

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Could it be possible that Alex Rodriguez will have less than 60 RBI this year, playing full-time, batting in the middle of the Yankees line-up?

Via Marc “The Mad Hatter Twitter King” Carig –

Yankees catcher Russell Martin lashed out at home plate umpire Laz Diaz after last night’s 6-5 victory over the Angels. After the two had earlier argued over balls and strikes, Martin said the umpire refused to let him throw the ball back to his own pitchers whenever a new ball was put into play.

“He told me I had to earn the privilege,” said Martin, a seven-year veteran, three-time All-Star and Gold Glove winner. “Even at the end of the game after I get hit in the neck. I’m like, can I throw the ball back now? He’s still like no. I’m like you’re such a (expletive). Like for real. Unbelievable. I even told him like when there’s guys on base, I like to keep my arm loose. No. I’m not letting you throw a ball back. That’s pretty strange to me.”

When informed that his choice of words wasn’t printable, Martin said “I wish it was.”

Then, he helped come up with suitable alternatives before leaving the clubhouse.

Diaz was not available for comment.

“That was strange,” Martin said. “I was kind of mystified. I really didn’t get that. He was punishing me.”

Typically, Martin said umpires grant his request to throw the ball back to his pitcher, which he likes to do just to keep his arm loose during games. Even after arguments, he said no umpire had ever denied him the request until last night, when Diaz told him he hadn’t earned the right.

“Now, thinking back, I should have shown him the gold Rawlings sign on my glove,” Martin said.

Though Martin bit his tongue and didn’t call Diaz any names on the field, the catcher said he took the umpire’s actions as an attempt to goad him into an ejection.

Martin wants to keep his arm loose? That’s weak. A catcher makes 12 to 40 throws back to the pitcher per inning. Not being able to throw the ball back to the mound when a new one comes into play is not going to make the difference between staying loose or not. On the flip side, Diaz is being a hump by insisting that he throws the ball to the pitcher. What’s the need for that? Outside of vanity, I can’t think of any reason why the ump needs to make a throw. It’s not like he’s saving the ball from being doctored or something.

This whole thing is a couple of guys acting like babies. Grow up guys…geesh.

Jamie Moyer designated for assignment by Rockies.

Here is the list -

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Sort of somewhat explains why the league standings are what they are today…

Great read.

When the Angels needed help this season, they called up super-prospect Mike Trout from their farm system. When the Yankees needed help this season, they called up Jayson Nix and Dewayne Wise.

Seriously, the Angels started this year 18-25; but, since then, they have won 8 games in a row (to date) and have changed the direction of their season.

It would be nice to see the Yankees run off a long and impressive winning streak too. But, I don’t know if that can happen with their starting rotation. There’s just way too much inconsistency there.

In fact, this Yankees season is starting to look a lot like their 2008 season – sans the ability to deflect attention from their level of play via the buzz around their Stadium closing.

Heading into tonight’s game, the New York Yankees are 2.5 games out of first place and 2.0 games out of last place. Are you happy about the former or concerned about the latter?

In his last 15 games, Teixeira’s BA/OBA/SLG line is .377/.459/.774 (in 61 PA). And, that includes the “break” he got when the Yankees hosted the Reds. Hey, the dude is streaky…

I know that it’s a somewhat format-driven fluke-stat, but, the 2011 St. Louis Cardinals are the only team in baseball history to lose 7+ games in a post-season and yet win a World Series ring that year. 

No team has ever lost 8 games in a post-season and won it all that year – but, it’s still possible.

Thuuuuuh…ug.

Phil Hughes has allowed a homerun in each of his 10 games this season. Over the last 15 years, only one other pitcher allowed a homer in each of his first 10 games of a season: Kansas City’s Runelvys Hernandez allowed a home run in each of his first 12 games in 2006.

I like Phil’s chances of catching up with Running Elvis.

Apparently, the league feels that it would be unacceptable for New York to play either Kansas City or Oakland every day.

Highball Wilson
Snake Wiltse
Togie Pittinger
Jock Menefee
Heinie Meine
Kaiser Wilhelm
Chappie McFarland
Cowboy Jones

Imagine if they were all on the same pitching staff at the same time…

It was a special night.

For me, this reminds me that any diehard Yankees fans out there who are 76 years or older probably remember a time when all the team’s home games were played during the day.  And, no, I am not one of them…

The question and the answer.

One is in Cooperstown and the other is not.

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I guess Sidney Ponson was not interested.

On your mark, get set, go!

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Discuss.

If the Mets win 85+ games this season, and Wright continues the pace he’s on this year – which, granted, would be very tough – he has to become the first Mets player ever to win a MVP award, right?  (No pun intended.)

Who else would get it? Michael Bourn? There’s no way that Ryan Braun would ever win it again – no matter what kind of numbers he puts up. Maybe someone on the Dodgers?

Rob Neyer offers his take on the new Yankee Stadium.

I actually did “LOL” when I read this one comment left by one of his readers regarding the difference between the new Yankee Stadium and the last one:

The real difference: The old stadium was “The Warriors.” The new stadium is “Walt Disney presents The Warriors…on Ice!!!”

Funny stuff.

I went to the first regular-season game ever at the new Yankee Stadium. And, I went to a number of games there in 2010 and 2011. This year, to date, I have gone once and plan on going at least another three times.

I went to games at the last Yankee Stadium so many times that I’ve lost count. For sure it was probably at least a hundred times. Maybe closer to 150?

In any event, I have grown to really like the larger and open concourses and better restrooms at the new Stadium. And, the staff there is much more friendly than at the old Stadium. But, the new place is way too expensive and it just does not have the feel of the old Stadium. Neyer hits on this when he writes:

I’ve had a bit stronger reaction, perhaps because I’m not predisposed toward the franchise. Yankee Stadium is perfectly serviceable, but upon my first visit this week I was actually disappointed. Disappointed with its lack of character. Disappointed with its lack of charisma. Disappointed with its lack of gravitas.

The only major league ballparks that I’ve attended are the first Yankee Stadium (back in 1973), Shea Stadium, the last Yankee Stadium, and the new Yankee Stadium. So, I cannot compare the new Yankee Stadium to anything else but the last Yankee Stadium.

Soon, I would like to visit Citi Field, Camden Yards and Citizens Bank Park to get some perspective. And, if possible, I would love to see games at Comerica Park, Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Safeco Field, PNC Park, Wrigley Field and AT&T Park. (I’m on the fence with Fenway Park. The baseball history nut in me wants to see it. But, I’ve heard that it’s not a comfortable place to watch a game. And, the Yankees fan in me would have a hard time sitting there with all those Red Sox fans, I suspect.)

I did not see the Yankees game last night.  How the heck did Will Smith’s family get such great seats?

I was just looking at Alex Rodriguez’s career homerun splits. And, this caught my eye – how many outs there were when he homered:

1 Out -   213
2 Outs – 212
0 Outs – 211

The symmetry here is eye-catching. What does it mean? I don’t know – if it means anything other than it being a cool split.

Via the Daily News -

Rumors are flying in Major League Baseball and New York banking circles that the family that has owned Major League Baseball’s premiere franchise since Cleveland shipbuilder George Steinbrenner purchased the club for $8.8 million in 1973 is exploring the possibility of selling the Yankees.

Multiple baseball and finance sources told the Daily News they are hearing that the team the Steinbrenner family has led to seven World Series titles could be put on the block in the wake of the record sale price of $2.175 billion the Los Angeles Dodgers went for in April.

“There has been chatter all around the banking and financial industries in the city for a couple of weeks now,” one high-level baseball source told The News.

Yankee president Randy Levine adamantly denied the rumors: “I can say to you there is absolutely, positively nothing to this. The Steinbrenners are not selling the team.”

Sure, and, back in the ’50′s, the Dodgers and Giants said they were not moving to the West Coast…

Seriously, now is the time to sell for the Steinbrenners. The Dodgers sale set the market price. And, the Yankees know that their team is getting old and average…and the pipeline is not full of legit prospects. Factor in the changes in the draft and payroll taxes – and the Yankees product on the field is going to get worse in the future. Then attendance and TV ratings go down. That’s not going to help the value of the team. Better to sell now, and cash out, while the value is still high.

When you wake up on the morning of June 25th and look at the Yankees won-loss record, New York will be 36-35 (at best, and maybe worse).

Yes, I am saying that, 71 games into this season, the Yankees will be just about a .500 team. 

Don’t think so?  Look at the Yankees next 28 games.  And, tell me where they are going to get more than 14 wins on that schedule given the way the team has played so far this year.

Here’s the leaderboard in this stat:

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Thoughts on this list?

I wonder who will get more money and years as a Free Agent after the season?

An instant classic.

Close to ten thousand more a game – so far this season.  That Prince Fielder move is paying for itself this year…