BeckettPierreFan21

Detroit Expos? I think it's weird to see Detroit vs. Detroit. :confused

Padres ink Jay Payton Canadian Press 1/13/2004 SAN DIEGO (Ticker) - The San Diego Padres are in position to deal. San Diego signed versatile outfielder Jay Payton to a two-year contract on Tuesday, adding another veteran bat to their already imposing lineup. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Payton earned $1.85 million with the Colorado Rockies in 2003. The 31-year-old Payton hit .302 with 32 doubles, 28 homers and 89 RBI in 157 games for the Rockies. The six-year veteran, who spent his first five seasons with the New York Mets, is a career .291 hitter with 69 homers and 245 RBI in 572 games. Amid rumors that the team is contemplating a trade for Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Jason Kendall, San Diego has positioned itself for a number of potential deals. The lineup features several players who can play infield or outfield (Ryan Klesko and Phil Nevin), a number of talented younger players (Sean Burroughs, Khalil Greene and Xavier Nady) and versatile veterans in Mark Loretta and Jeff Cirillo. To make room for Payton on the 40-man roster, San Diego designated lefthander Mike Bynum for assignment. Bynum, 25, was 1-4 with an 8.74 ERA in 13 games for the Padres last season. The 49th overall pick in the 1999 draft, he is 2-4 with a 7.25 ERA in 25 lifetime appearances for the Padres.

I wonder if he's going after Manning as his 1st move in the offseason.

Reds sign OF Vander Wal to one-year contract January 12, 2004 CINCINNATI (Ticker) - Veteran outfielder John Vander Wal has hooked up with his eighth major league team, signing a one-year contract with the Cincinnati Reds. Financial terms were not disclosed. Vander Wal made $550,000 last season with the Milwaukee Brewers. Known as one of baseball's premier pinch-hitters, Vander Wal is fifth on the all-time list with 125 pinch-hits and third with 17 pinch-hit homers. Last season, Vander Wal had the second-most at-bats in his career with 327 and produced 14 homers and 45 RBI, including a major league-best three grand slams. ADVERTISEMENTVander Wal's best season came in 2000 for the Pittsburgh Pirates when he had 24 homers, 94 RBI and a .299 batting average. The 37-year-old Vander Wal has played for Montreal, Colorado, San Diego, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, the New York Yankees and Milwaukee.

did brian jordan sign with anyone yet, if not, what do you think he would command? He already signed with the Rangers.

Colon (was he a FA?) He was. He's an Angel now.

Tomko agrees to one-year contract with Giants Jan. 9, 2004 SportsLine.com wire reports SAN FRANCISCO -- The San Francisco Giants bolstered their starting rotation when they agreed to a $1.5 million, one-year contract with right-hander Brett Tomko. Advertisement Tomko will make $1.2 million next season with a chance to earn $250,000 in performance bonuses. The deal contains a 2005 club option worth $2.5 million plus any performances earned, and he would get a $300,000 buyout if the option is declined. If it's exercised, he would be able to earn another $250,000 in performance bonuses. Tomko, who had a physical Friday before flying home to San Diego, could be the No. 4 starter for the defending NL West champions behind Jason Schmidt, Kirk Rueter and Jerome Williams. The 6-foot-4 Tomko bounced back after a rough start with St. Louis last season to finish 13-9 with a 5.28 ERA, matching his career high for wins. He was 8-3 with a 4.57 ERA after the All-Star break and second on the Cardinals in victories, starts (32) and innings (202 2/3), trailing only All-Star Woody Williams in each category. "I'm just excited to be a Giant now and get this thing underway," said Tomko, who was anxious to find a team with spring training just more than a month away. "I think it's the whole package. It's a great situation for myself and for my family. I'm a West Coast boy and grew up in California. It's close to home and it's a great team that'd you'd have to look at as a division contender. It's a great place to pitch and it's a great ballpark." Giants general manager Brian Sabean had been following Tomko for several years as someone the club might want to target. When last season ended, Tomko told his agent he was interested in going to San Francisco if he couldn't return to the Cardinals. They didn't offer him salary arbitration. Tomko also had interest from Cleveland, San Diego, Tampa Bay and Texas. The Giants like his durability. The 30-year-old Tomko, who joins his fifth major league team, has pitched 400-plus innings in the past two seasons. "It's tough to find," Sabean said. "From a player personnel standpoint, this was an easy decision. In our minds he has age, ability and recent durability." With Schmidt coming off right elbow surgery, the Giants want to make sure they have a starter they can count on every fifth day. Schmidt is the team's ace and is expected to be ready to go by April, but Sabean isn't counting on it. So, Tomko provides some much-needed depth. He has missed one start in a seven-year career that began with Cincinnati in 1997. "It's something I pride myself in," he said. "I take the ball every fifth day."

That is stupid. :lol

It doesn't work.

He mentioned something about his substance is the same Mark McGwire took.

This is bad trade for Suns, even though they got players and some draft picks. :confused

"You are really dumb, Lamar. That's so easy. Farm is spelled E-I-E-I-O." :lol

:lol It's pretty funny.

Update on the signing: Wells, Padres agree to deal By BERNIE WILSON, AP Sports Writer December 31, 2003 SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Left-hander David Wells spurned the New York Yankees and agreed to a one-year contract with his hometown San Diego Padres on Wednesday. Wells, a 40-year-old starter coming off arthroscopic back surgery, is expected to lead the Padres' rotation in the club's first year in its new $458 million downtown ballpark. ``He's a big-game pitcher, and the perfect guy to head our staff,'' general manager Kevin Towers said. ``We think our staff is pretty strong right now.'' Wells will make $1.25 million in base pay, with incentives that could make the deal worth $7 million if he is healthy and pitches all season. Wells' agent, Gregg Clifton, had been talking with the Yankees about the pitcher's remaining with the defending AL champions, but New York was offering only a minor league deal and wanted to include a weight clause. ``We were involved in discussions, but nothing had been finalized,'' Clifton said. Then Towers called, offering Wells a chance to finish his career at home. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said he learned that Wells was having second thoughts on Monday when he talked with Clifton. ``David agreed verbally to a deal,'' Cashman said. ``There was one component to be completed, a weigh-in. We didn't get it finalized, but we had the financials in place. ``Right now, we're waiting to find out if Boomer honors his commitment. If not, we get two draft picks. He knows how I feel. The ball's in David's court.'' Two years ago, Wells had a handshake deal to sign with the Arizona Diamondbacks when the Yankees swooped in to sign him at the last minute. ``I'm not complaining,'' Cashman said. ``This can happen when you're negotiating with David.'' Towers said the Padres felt all along that Wells would end up in New York, so they didn't pursue him that strongly. But when they found out they couldn't afford Greg Maddux, they learned Wells wanted to pitch in San Diego and worked out a deal in less than a week. ``We're ecstatic to have the guy,'' Towers said. ``I think there was a realization that he wanted to spend his final year in baseball in San Diego,'' Clifton said. ``When he was growing up in San Diego, he had two dreams. One was to pitch for the Yankees and one was to pitch for the Padres. Having fulfilled one dream, when Kevin Towers reached out, that was his way to fulfill both dreams.'' The Yankees declined Wells' $6 million option for 2004, and the pitcher, who had back surgery in early December, rejected the Yankees' arbitration offer. Yankees manager Joe Torre and pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre were angered when Wells stopped throwing between starts last summer and went winless in seven starts. Wells went 15-7 with a 4.14 ERA last season, increasing his career record to 200-128. But he left Game 5 of the World Series against Florida after one inning because of the back injury. Wells graduated in 1982 from Point Loma High, the same school that produced Don Larsen. Larsen pitched a perfect game for the Yankees in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers, and Wells pitched a perfect game for the Yankees against Minnesota on May 17, 1998. Also in 1998, Wells beat the Padres in Game 1 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium.

DeJean? He didn't do bad in NL, but I wonder how he'll do in AL. But O's are only helping their bullpen now instead of SP.

These blonde jokes are funny. :rofl :lol

Angel Stadium doesn't sound bad.

Do you think Fordyce could be backup?

:rofl

Whoa, good graphics. Is the game good as MLB WS 2K3? (that's the only baseball game I have now)

At the height of a highly publicized political corruption trial, the prosecuting attorney lashed out at a witness. "Isn't it true," he bellowed, "that you accepted five thousand dollars to compromise this case?" The witness stared out the window, as though he hadn't hear the question. The prosecutor again blared, "Isn't it true that you accepted five thousand dollars to compromise this case?" The witness still did not respond. Finally, the judge leaned over and said, "Sir, please answer the question." "Oh," the startled witness said, "I thought he was talking to you."

More details on it (part of the article): Sarasota Herald-Tribune columnist Doug Fernandes said he was about 20 feet away when Steinbrenner fell during a slide show. The presentation, prepared by Graham's grandchildren and shown at a reception, featured pictures of Steinbrenner and Graham together. ``He went to reach for a chair but he missed, and he went face-first into the carpet,'' Fernandes said. ``People were stunned. They started loosening his tie and his collar. He was out for a few seconds. By the time they wheeled him out, his color had returned.'' Temperatures were normal for this time of year, in the mid-70s. The reception room was full. Graham, a longtime friend of Steinbrenner, died Dec. 17. The Hall of Fame quarterback was 82. Hospital spokeswoman Lynn Cassan did not comment to the AP, citing patient confidentiality. Yankees spokesman Rick Cerrone said he had no information on Steinbrenner. Team president Randy Levine had no immediate comment, and Steinbrenner publicist Howard Rubenstein did not immediately return telephone calls. Steinbrenner, who has owned the Yankees since 1973, lives in Tampa, about 60 miles north of Sarasota. Steinbrenner grew up in Cleveland, and later became longtime friends with Graham, the Browns' star quarterback from 1946-55. They were golfing partners, attended banquets together and helped each other with charity events. In 1959, boosted by Steinbrenner's recommendation, Graham became athletic director and football coach at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Almost two decades later, Steinbrenner got a call from the old quarterback's family. Graham had suffered a seizure, and Steinbrenner rushed up to see him at the Coast Guard in New London, Conn. ``I saw him and told him, 'You can't go now! You're not going to get out of the game that easily!'' Steinbrenner recalled the night Graham died. ``Fortunately, he recovered and we had him for many more years.''

Bill Buckner?

:lol :rofl

I think he woulda stay with O's if they resign him, instead of getting greedy of signing alot of offense.