Odds and Ends: Vizquel, Saito, Burnett, K-Rod

The Mets really need to not do that. Martinez isn't ready and they would be foolish to mess with a talent like that.

There's a very good chance the White Sox enter the market for a starter. Contreras has been absolutely awful of late and there is no real help in AAA. The problem is, when there's no real help in AAA (or AA or A for that matter) there's not much to send out when you need a decent Starter.

Yes, the sox could and should.

And comparably I think Vazquez has been worse than Contreras, simply because we expected nothing from Jose.

I don't care about K's, I want quality starts; Vazquez needs to remember how to do the latter.

Ty Wigginton is batting .339/.464/.625 against lefties. The Astros need pitching. Maybe Wigginton for Scott Baker?

Unfortunately Omar is another "Great with detiorating skills" that doesn't know when to hang 'em up.

How can a writer for the LA Times point to saves as the end all be all stat for closers?

Rodriguez may break the ML record but this is hardly his best year. You look at his ERA/WHIP, etc and you see that this is just an average year. He's getting incredibly fortunate based off the number of save opportunities coming his way.

Closers who are performing better (or at least comparably) would include:

Nathan
Rivera
Wagner
Papelbon
Lidge
Cordero
Jenks
Soria

That's about 1/3rd of the closers in baseball. Why should the Angels overpay for Frankie? Let some other team make a huge mistake.

The Angels have a rookie posting a 1.13 ERA with a 0.79 WHIP in Arredono. They have another 3 relievers all sporting a 3.5ERA's or less. Plus they have Speier who is solid - but playing awful this season.

Point is, Frankie can go somewhere else. If the Angels offer a competitive bid (like 3/40 + an option year) I would be more than satisfied. If we walks we collect our picks and move on. Put another $13m back into the team salary and try to do something with our offense.

Ohman's been solid as they come, and unlike a lot of lefties, can actually pitch to righties as well. If the Braves move him, it had better be for someone with a decently high ceiling, because that will leave a sizeable hole in their bullpen.

I bet that this time next year Bowden managing a Taco Bell in Morgantown, WV.

"You look at his ERA/WHIP, etc and you see that this is just an average year."

His ERA has been taxed mostly by 2 appearances, one of which he was pitching injured in and one in the Texas launching pad.

"The Angels have a rookie posting a 1.13 ERA with a 0.79 WHIP in Arredono."

That is mostly because no one has seen the guy's stuff, which is excellent, yet. Remember what Frankie did when he was a rookie no one had seen before?

bj i guess the angels have a really good bullpen. i cant see how u have the best closer in the game and say let him walk. i guess my perspective is different given that the cardinals would be the best team in baseball if only we had a closer like him but hes the best. the angels r a big market team. i guess if they spend they money on a bat. i hope they dont sign him so we have a chance.

and its just a coincidence i kept using the word guess. freudiant slip.

The Twins are not interested in a left handed bat at all, the team is way too left handed now. What they want and need is a right handed bat with some power and who is strong defensively and can play 3B.

John
www.twinstrivia.com

John,

If you look closely, it says the Twins want a "lefty-mashing" hitter, not a left-handed hitter. Hence my Wigginton suggestion.