perfect example of why yahoo's "contributor network" isn't always great nothing like the objective perspective of a biased fan telling us why his team will win can't wait for his follow up piece on the 3-5 redskins being the nfl's greatest team of all time Five Reasons Why the Washington Nationals Will Win the National League in 2014By Will Grooms | Yahoo Contributor Network – 2 hours 13 minutes agoCOMMENTARY | As the Washington Nationals near the decade mark in their brief existence, expectations couldn't be any higher. After their signature moment -- winning the National League (NL) East in 2012, the Nationals followed with a disappointing second-place 2013 finish in the division and missed the playoffs.The Nats figure to be a championship contender in 2014, however, for many reasons.1) PITCHER PERFECTNationals ace Stephen Strasburg has come a long way since his 2010 Tommy John surgery. After a brilliant 2012 season that saw the 25-year-old record a 3.16 ERA and a career-high 197 strikeouts, Strasburg picked up in 2013 where he left off -- fanning 191 batters and boasting an opponent batting average of just .207.2) FEAR THE BEARDWhen right fielder Jayson Werth arrived in Washington via free agency in 2010, he was practically given the key to the city. His $126 million contract made him the 14th-highest paid player in baseball. His play did not reflect his worth early on.Following a dismal 2011 in which he batted .232, a career-low as a full-time starter, Werth broke his wrist in 2012, sidelining him for three months. Just when you thought he was down and out, the former Phillies right fielder enjoyed the best season of his career in 2013 -- batting a career-high .318 and driving in 82 runs. The city of Washington looks for Werth to continue his offensive prowess in 2014.3) STOUT DEFENSEThe 2013 Washington Nationals were highlighted by excellent pitching and superior defense. Despite his mediocrity at the plate, first baseman Adam LaRoche is a picking machine. Sporting a career fielding percentage of .995, LaRoche won his first Gold Glove with the Nats in 2012 and strives to continue his effectiveness in year three.Also to be noted is the superior fielding ability of shortstop Ian Desmond and center fielder Denard Span -- both Gold Glove finalists in 2013. A respected defensive group will maintain their reputation in 2014, as most of the vital pieces are still in place.4) EXPERIENCEThe Nationals return all eight position players as well as four of five starting pitchers in 2014. The continued longevity of third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, entering year nine as a full-time starter, will produce a steady dose of leadership to the once young players who continue to get older. As left fielder Bryce Harper enters his third year, the glamour of his 2012 NL Rookie of the Year Award and status as a first overall pick are starting to wear off. The young kid who once experienced so much pressure can now settle in and play ball, looking to improve on his impressive numbers from 2013.5) NEW MANAGEMENTWe all loved Davey Johnson, but, let's face it, the man is getting old. He doesn't have the superior intellect, influence or motivational skills he once had as a younger man. Though he was a beloved manager for what he did for this city by players and fans alike, it was time for him to go. Now, 47 year-old Matt Williams looks to fill Davey's large, but welcoming shoes.Will Grooms is a student sportswriter for the Collegiate Times in Blacksburg, VA. Follow him on Twitter @W_Grooms94. __
Late to the party on this, but man the Yankees are going to a little bit of an extreme to bring back a broken down SS who may not be able to be a regular starter anymore. Especially so given their luxury tax problems right now.
I don't think they care about the luxury tax anymore. Their team is old, and if they want to keep Jeter, let them. He's the least of their problems. They're going to go out and spend, probably on Tanaka. Their biggest rival just won their third championship in ten years. Fuck luxury tax.
remember when this crazy bkitch was kinda hot? yeah, that ship has sailed... Anna Benson gets 15 years' probation Associated Press -- 20 minutes ago_Anna Benson then...MARIETTA, Ga. -- The estranged wife of a former major league pitcher who also was featured on the VH-1 show "Baseball Wives" has pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and weapons charges._and now...Cobb County District Attorney's spokeswoman Kim Isaza said Tuesday that 37-year-old Anna Benson pleaded guilty to being armed with a gun when she went to Kris Benson's suburban Atlanta home July 7 and demanded $30,000 from him. Isaza says Anna Benson was wearing a bullet-proof vest and carrying a metal baton at the time. Kris Benson pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Mets, Baltimore Orioles, Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks between 1999 and 2010. A judge ordered Anna Benson to serve 15 years of probation and complete inpatient psychiatric treatment and follow-up care.Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press __
That's some shit writing really, regardless of how biased it is. That guy needs to read what the AP stylebook says about cliches.
i liked how in one sentence he said davey johnson was "getting old" and no longer possessed "superior intellect, influence or motivational skills" and then says matt williams would be filling large shoes.
David Price trade rumors: Some possible trade partners require extension By Noah Jarosh | SB Nation -- November 10, 2013 1:49pm Photo: Ronald Martinez A few teams looking to trade for David Price require he sign an extension before giving up the prospects necessary to acquire him. Some possible trade partners for the Tampa Bay Rays say they would require a contract extension to be worked out with starting pitcher David Price if they were to acquire the ace, reports Buster Olney of ESPN. Extension contingencies on trades are not particularly common in the MLB. A similar deal did occur last year when the Blue Jays acquired R.A. Dickey from the Mets. Toronto then signed him to a two-year deal with an option for a third season. Price is likely to be the most desirable trade candidate on the market this offseason. The 2012 Cy Young winner still has two years remaining of team control regardless of whether an extension is signed. If a new deal is worked out, Price figures to potentially become one of the highest paid pitchers in all of baseball. In addition to his 2012 Cy Young, he finished second in voting in 2010. Price struggled in the first month and a half of 2013 but after spending six weeks on the disabled list he posted a 2.53 ERA and held opponents to a .591 OPS in 18 starts. __
Sign CK at once. Give Price whatever he wants < CK... or even more so < Greinke ... but sign him to the Dodgers at once Having 3 Cy Young winners on our staff can only be a good thing.
Ted Lilly Aiming To Pitch In 2014 By Steve Adams [November 14 at 3:21pm CST] Persistent neck pain limited Ted Lilly to just 23 Major League innings this season, but the left-hander is playing winter ball in Venezuela with an eye toward getting back to the Majors in 2014, writes Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca. Lilly's agent, Larry O'Brien, told Nicholson-Smith that his client visited a cervical spine specialist and had the nerve endings on the right side of his neck cauterized. "The procedure has given him relief," O'Brien told Nicholson-Smith. Lilly, 38 in January, is aiming for 35-40 innings this winter. The 15-year veteran totaled just 71 2/3 innings over the final two seasons of his three-year, $33MM contract with the Dodgers. He totaled a 3.74 ERA with 7.7 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 in 975 innings between the Cubs and Dodgers from 2007-11 -- his age 31-35 seasons. Lilly got off to a strong start in 2012, pitching to a 1.79 ERA through his first seven starts. In his eighth and final start, however, he yielded eight runs in 3 1/3 innings. He missed the remainder of the season with shoulder pain before undergoing surgery on his left labrum in September that year. Lilly returned in 2013 to post a 5.09 ERA in his 23 innings. Lilly has a long history of injuries, as he's only topped 200 innings twice in his career, but signing him would come with little to no risk for a team in need of rotation depth and a veteran presence. __
silly rabbit Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle writes that Astros owner Jim Crane has taken a "never say never" approach when asked about a potential pursuit of Masahiro Tanaka, noting that the Astros were one of the three finalists for Jose Dariel Abreu and offered in the neighborhood of $60MM. __
