Ole 45 Calling It Like I See It

Witnessed Stephen Strasburg live and in person last week. Strasburg wasn't at his best lasting only 5 and a third and giving up 3 ER. Strasburg did have 7K's to only 1BB but the night seemed filled with 2-2 and 3-2 counts and the Reds seemed to foul off plenty of pitches. Strasburg gave up 7 hits which is his second highest totals thus far in his brief career. In the end he he got the W threw the ball hard and made several hitters look really bad. Ask Orlando Cabrera how nasty Strasburg can be.

UPDATE: Strasburg is scratched from his start on Tuesday. Strasburg had issues getting warmed up and was scratched for precautionary reasons. This seems to be more about how protective the Nationals are regarding Strasburg then Strasburg being a injury risk.



Other notes from the game. It is nice to see a packed crowd in Cincinnati. I go several times each year but mostly when the Reds play the Cubs. When Chicago is in town the ratio is 3 to 1 for the blue shirts. The Cubs bring in the Crowds but the 37K+ in the house on Wednesday is the largest crowd I have been a part of. While waiting at the will call I overheard a Ticket person inform fans that only the Diamond and Scout seats were available. The Strasburg appearance combined with a Wednesday Night nationally televised was the main reason for the crowd but the Reds battling for first place certainly doesn't hurt. Adam Dunn was booed on several occasions during the game. Really didn't understand that one. Overheard a Reds fan while waiting for 8 dollar ice cream say that Dunn just didn't have IT. Not really sure what IT is but I do know that Dunn had 4 consecutive 40HR seasons and 3 seasons of 100+ Runs and RBI in a 4 year span. Seems to me that Dunn was a really productive player during his years in the Queen City and wasn't the main culprit for the losing ways during those years. Also wasn't Dunn traded out of town as opposed to bolting at the first opportunity?


Pete Rose took a rare vacation from the Cesars Forums in Vegas and was at the Ballpark on Wednesday. Pete was given a standing O as expected. I love Pete Rose as a player. He hustled and was a selfless player on the field always doing what was needed from him. No doubt Rose was a winner as a player his teams finished below .500 only two times during his 25 year playing career. Off the field Rose was a self absorbed asshole who only cared about Pete and only Pete. Pete would do anything to make a dollar and was perhaps the worlds biggest self promoter. One day in the future Pete Rose will be enshrined in the Hall Of Fame as he should be. But Pete should never be portrayed as a victim.



The trade deadline is Saturday. If you surf the web you will find a trade scenario that includes nearly everyone in baseball trading places. Typically this week is much more talk than action but I really feel as though several difference makers will be moved this week. Oswalt is the most desired pitcher on the market but I would certainly prefer to have Haren. Cardinals are rumored to be the favorite but I feel as though the Cardinals would be much better served by adding a bat. Carpenter and Wainwright is good enough to get you a title but that offense as is isn't going to go beyond the National League. The NL West will be decided by whomever gets the best piece at the deadline. Rockies are looking to add a bat as are the Giants while the Dodgers are looking at another arm. Padres could use a bat but all reports are they will only be tweakers at this point. The Yankees are always a threat to add a big name and perhaps the most surprising news is that the Rays are more of a threat to make a move then the Red Sox. It Seems as though every year the White Sox make the most noise at the deadline and rumors have them pursuing a big time bat. The Twins are always rumored to make that major deal but always fail to pull the trigger. Their best bet was Cliff Lee who wound up in Texas. I really look for the Tigers to be the busiest team. The Rangers may try to add some bench help but their work is already done for the most part. If the Angels have any hope of making a run they must add a big bat. The 64/60 will have a full report on both the real life effect as well as the fantasy aspect of all the deadline action next Monday.

UPDATE: Dan Haren is traded from the DBacks to the Angels for LHP Joe Saunders, LHP Patrick Corbin,RHP Rafael Rodriguez, and a PTBNL who is thought to be LHP Tyler Skaggs. For the life of me I have no idea how the DBacks can make sense of this trade. Haren is a Top 10-15 pitcher in all of baseball who was under contract for next year and possibly the year after at what will likely be a below market price for a Haren type starter. Yes the DBacks are a dumpster fire this season but the NL West is a winnable division every year and with young stars such as Reynolds, Upton and Young to build around on offense it isn't out of the question that you could add some mid-level FA and win the division. Just ask the Padres. If you do decide to move by far your most attractive piece who is under your control for two more seasons then get something in return. Saunders should be no more than a number 4 starter who will post a ERA north of 4 and will eat up innings year after year. Rodriguez is a 25 year old former prospect who at best will eat up an inning in the middle of a game. Corbin and Skaggs are the only hopes that this trade may one day make since. Neither are believed to be an elite prospect at this point but both are 21 or under hard throwing Lefties who are in need of seasoning. Corbin has a 3.88ERA with a 1.24 WHIP and 9.55K/9 in High A Ball while Skaggs has a 3.61 ERA 1.20WHIP and a 8.96 K/9. Both have a ways to go but they are the only possible silver lining for DBacks fans to hope for. As For the Angels they get a arm that will help them during this pennant stretch but more than anything this move was more for next year and the cost was nothing.



Lou Pinella has made it official and announced that 2010 will be his swan song. Pinella has done a good job during his tenure in Chicago and certainly sweetened his legacy after those terrible seasons in Tampa. Pinella will likely find some TV work next season or could just decide to go into the Yankees front office. Regardless this will not be Pinella fading into the sunset you will hear his name again. As for the Cubs post I see no way it isn't Sandberg. Several reports have potential managerial Free Agents such as Joe Torre and Tony LaRussa as possible candidates but the Cubs are in a full rebuilding mode. Efforts will be made to sale at the deadline and the offseason will be more about letting go then welcoming in. Sandberg is the perfect fit to begin the rebuilding process and 2012 should be the target year for the Cubs to once again compete.


I have read several reports stating that TO is likely heading to St. Louis. I have no idea how this is a good fit for either party. For the Rams you are providing a rookie quarterback with a all about me WR who has thrown nearly every QB he has worked with under the bus. For TO it makes him the center of attention for a team that will likely struggle to win 4 games. At this point TO should do what every aging one time superstar does and chase a ring. Washington, New Orleans, Baltimore, Cincinnati all would likely invite TO with open arms at the right price and all are appear to have a better outlook than the Rams in 2010.

UPDATE: The Bengals sign TO to a one year deal for 2Mil plus incentives. Not a bad deal. The Bengals needed another WR option as Bryant shouldn't be considered as a competent number 2. TO is no longer a top 30 WR but he is still a threat in spurts. Even if this blows up it will make the Bengals more watchable and a better offense all around.

Ole 45 Weekly Trivia: This was the Scorboard Stumper during the game I attended last week. I got 4 of 6 players correctly. Please enter your answers in the comment section of this post.

Six players who's last name begins with the letter D have hit over 300 career HR's can you name them?