Every Sunday, MLB FanHouse empties out its notebook in Baseball Brunch.
"This concludes our test of the emergency attendance enhancement system. We now return to the regularly scheduled season."
Yes, the 13th season of interleague play wraps up Sunday, except for a Cubs-White Sox makeup game. We have survived six San Diego-Seattle games (that's more zeroes than an A-Rod paycheck).
We didn't learn much we didn't already know: the system has inherent flaws and the American League rules.
For the sixth straight year, the AL has had** the better record in interleague play – 129-108 going into today.
Take out Cleveland and Oakland, and the AL is 119-84.
"It probably is" as big a gap between leagues as in past years, one AL team official said, "until you get to the World Series. Then it doesn't matter."
MLB Power Rankings:Where MLB FanHouse's editors, writers and bloggers team up to break down the who's who and the what's what in the baseball world.
Sorry for the delay, kiddos, on the Power Rankings. I'm sure you spent the entirety of Wednesday wondering "WHERE IN GOD'S NAME ARE THEY??? WITHOUT THEM I'LL HAVE NOTHING TO BANTER SENSELESSLY ABOUT TO MY CO-WORKERS!!!1" Or something like that. Either way, it's time to debate the worthlessness of your favorite baseball team in numerical form once again. Do enjoy.
This is my Mark Shapiro autograph. He signed it for me while I was at work, a month or so before the season began. I talked to him about baseball for a while, and he mentioned medical reports and how he thought Kerry Wood was going to be really healthy and strong this season. He shook my hand, and he is a gracious gentleman. I want to preface this post with this, because it is my job to stop making excuses now and start going WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING TO THE BASEBALL TEAM over the Internet.
I am not looking forward to buying a facetious, Detroit Lions-esque t-shirt about how great we were in the preseason or something when we finish the season 0-162. Tonight's Wahoo Messenger is after the jump. Tomorrow's Wahoo Messenger will just be a big picture of LeBron James.
On my Myspace page there is a picture of me posing with John Adams, the Cleveland Indians drum guy. The smile on my face will let you know how sincere my loyalties to the Indians are, and how excited I am every time I walk into Progressive Field to watch The Tribe play. Even on dollar dog day, when they substitute the normal hot dogs with these wretched, bile-soaked wieners that make your stomach feel like Sal Fasano's face. I also have mark photos with Ketchup, Mustard, and Onion.
That being said, the only transaction worth nothing from the Indians besides signing and releasing Casey Blake again for fun is the addition of Kerry Wood to the bullpen. Wood is getting $20.5 million for two years with an option for a third year.
It is in times like these when my professional loyalties must come before my recreational loyalties. Kerry Wood in an Indians uniform is still Kerry Wood, by God, and if we make it to that third year option without at least five surgeries I will consider it a glorious miracle.
This morning's Native American Dugout is after the jump.
Minaya, along with Indians GM Mark Shapiro and Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik, made the trade official moments ago and he had a simple message for the folks in New York who keep bothering him when he goes out to get his morning bagels.
"To you Mets fans, we've addressed the bullpen by getting Mr. Putz," he said.
Indeed he has, and he's addressed a few other areas of need with this deal, further adding to the bullpen depth by acquiring Sean Green, a guy who is very tough on right-handed hitters, and filling the hole left by Endy Chavez with Jeremy Reed, who is a capable fourth outfielder.
But this deal is mostly about Putz, who, if healthy, could be an even more devastating weapon than the recently signed Francisco Rodriguez.
"To win championships, you have to have a good bullpen," said Minaya. "We had Putz and K-Rod as one and two on our list [coming into the offseason]. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine we'd have our No. 1 and No. 2 closer."
When Tony Gwynn retired after the 2001 season, he handed the dean of the Padres torch to closer Trevor Hoffman. Together they cover more than a quarter-century of baseball in San Diego, but that legacy will end in 2009. The Padres withdrew their contract offer to Hoffman today, meaning baseball's all-time saves leader will be pitching elsewhere next summer.
Padres GM Kevin Towers faxed word of the team's decision to Hoffman's agent, an unceremonious end to a 16-year relationship between player and team. All but two of Hoffman's 554 career saves came after the Friars acquired him for Gary Sheffield in 1993, and his spectacular 1998 season is a big reason why the team advanced to the World Series.
The move fits in with the general cost-cutting strategy employed by San Diego this offseason. Jake Peavy's departure will come any day now and Brian Giles is being shopped aggressively as the team tries to pare down its payroll and rebuild after a dismal 2008 season. Heath Bell will likely take over as closer.
Hoffman, who turned 41 in October, had 30 saves and a 3.77 ERA last season. His age and those so-so stats will probably limit his suitors, but look for Cleveland to show some interest. GM Mark Shapiroindicated he'd talk to Hoffman if he became a free agent and the Tribe wanted Hoffman in 2004 before he re-signed with the Padres.
For a few years between 2004 and 2006, Travis Hafner was one of the most feared hitters in the American League. They were the only three years in his career in which he hit over .300 in a season, and he averaged 34 home runs and 111 RBI. Over the last two seasons, however, Pronk has been relatively useless to the Cleveland Indians.
Shoulder problems this season caused Hafner to spend the overwhelming majority of the season on the disabled list, and in the 57 games he did manage to play, he hit .197 with five homers and 24 runs driven in. Now, even after rehabbing the shoulder for a season, it looks like he's going to need surgery on it.
Indians general manager Mark Shapiro indicated Tuesday that Hafner could be headed for offseason surgery on the injured right shoulder that caused him to miss most of the 2008 season.
"Travis had an end-of-the-year physical and the strength in his shoulder was not what we'd hoped it would be. That's a little disappointing," said Shapiro. "The progress was not as great as we'd hoped to have seen. So right now, we're examining our alternatives with him."
Shapiro also says that should Hafner have the surgery, he has no doubt that Pronk will be 100% healthy come spring training. I'm not as confident in Hafner's health. I don't want to make accusations without concrete proof, but let's just say I don't think it's a coincidence that Hafner's slide in both numbers and health occurred after MLB and Congress started cracking down on steroids and HGH.
Besides, I don't think the Indians need Hafner anyway. The team actually performed pretty well during the second half of the season, and if they add a starting pitcher to their rotation this offseason and get some bullpen help, they'll be right back fighting for the AL Central next season. With or without Hafner.
If you're a baseball fan who likes surprises, then the 2008 season has been a special treat. The Rays are the most notable team that has exceeded expectations, but the Twins, White Sox and Marlins are also surprise contenders.
Of course, those pleasant surprises have come at the expense of several clubs expected to be much better this season. Whether because of a big free-agent signing last winter, a deep October run last season or the (hint, hint) crushing burden of a massive payroll, the baseball landscape is littered with flops as August comes to a close.
The following is a countdown of the seven most disappointing teams this season.
7. Padres: Mired in last place in the abysmal NL West, it's easy to forget that this team won 89 games last year and was a (phantom?) Matt Holliday slide away from a playoff spot. Even when they were winning division titles, the Padres operated on a thin margin. Injuries and underperformance are at the root of their struggles.
While the idea of the Cleveland Indians trading C.C. Sabathia before the trade deadline is far from a new one, it's probably a lot closer to becoming a reality today. The Indians were just swept by the White Sox, and have no fallen to last place in the AL Central, 12.5 games back at 37-48.
I think it's safe to say that the Indians are done in 2008. Maybe the doctor hasn't called the time of death yet, but he's at least in the waiting room letting the Tribe's family know that things aren't looking good. Which would mean that keeping Sabathia around in Cleveland for the rest of the season would be absolutely pointless.
He's not going to sign a long term deal with the Indians after the season, not because he doesn't enjoy playing there, but because somebody's going to drive up to his home with a trailer full of cash. So Indians general manager Mark Shapiro should probably be picking up the phone today to let other teams know that C.C. is officially available.
There have already been plenty of rumors and potential suitors like the Rays, Red Sox, Yankees, Phillies, and Cubs to name a few, but for the most part, everything we've heard has come from an outside source. If Shapiro has been actively shopping Sabathia on his own, he's done a very good job of keeping it quiet.
Now, I'm not saying that Shapiro should be calling every team that's interested in his lefthander and trying to make a deal, I'm just saying he should let it be known he's willing to listen. All he has to do is sit back and wait for the phone to start ringing, and it will. A lot.
Then leak some info as to what's being offered and then watch everybody try to top each other. It should be fun!
While during the first few weeks of the season I was of the opinion that the Cleveland Indians were going to bounce back from their slow start, now that we've gotten into the second week of June, and nothing has changed I'm no longer so sure about that. While Cleveland's starting rotation is still performing well, the offense doesn't look like it's going to get out of it's rut anytime soon.
Which is enough to make you wonder: With the trade deadline less than two months away, is it time for the Indians to start shopping C.C. Sabathia?
There have been rumors that while they're not actively shopping him yet, that Mark Shapiro has let it be known amongst other general managers that he's willing to listen.
The Indians are already going to be without Jake Westbrook for the rest of the season thanks to his elbow (and let's not forget Fausto Carmona who is also on the disabled list), so it might not seem like the best timing to move another starter, especially Sabathia, but the odds of C.C. returning to Cleveland when he hits free agency this winter are pretty slim. Not when you look at the way the Yankees pitching staff has performed and figure they'll probably be willing to break the bank for him.
If I was Shapiro, I would definitely be working the phones right now just to get an idea of what I'd be able to get for Sabathia( which may not be much, honestly, seeing how teams don't like to give up young talent anymore and C.C. is a free agent at year's end), though I probably wouldn't pull the trigger on anything quite yet. The Indians don't have to leave their own division to see an example of an offense that was dormant to start the season, but has become red-hot now that summer has arrived (the White Sox). There may still be hope yet.
Every Sunday, MLB FanHouse empties out its notebook in Baseball Brunch.
MLB Power Rankings
On my Myspace page there is a 
Our MLB editor files dispatches from the Winter Meetings in Las Vegas in 
When 
For a few years between 2004 and 2006, 
While the idea of the Cleveland Indians trading 
While during the first few weeks of the season I was of the opinion that the Cleveland Indians were going to bounce back from their slow start, now that we've gotten into the second week of June, and nothing has changed I'm no longer so sure about that. While Cleveland's starting rotation is still performing well, the offense doesn't look like it's going to get out of it's rut anytime soon.
