Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Lucchino Confirms Uniform, Logo Changes

From WEEI's Dennis and Callahan Morning Show this morning:

Jon Meterparel: Big announcement tomorrow night. A new uniform? Is that correct?

Larry Lucchino: Well there’s an adjustment to the road uniforms that will touch upon Red Sox tradition. It’s a little back to the future kind of thing and there will be some adjustments to the logo as well so both items are going to be announced tomorrow (Thursday, December 11).

This may bring true the rumors that they'll be going back to navy lettering on the road uniforms, similar to the look the team sported in the 1980s. I, for one, am not happy about it. We'll see what happens tomorrow night at 6:00.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Reports: Bruschi Headed to IR

Is there anyone left?

Reports are surfacing that the injury Tedy Bruschi suffered during the Patriots' 24-21 win in Seattle is not by any means major, but serious enough to end his season and land the linebacker on the IR list. His reported recovery time would be around four weeks, but with the team's shortage of bodies and necessity for wins, they can't afford to wait this one out.

Bruschi will join other Patriots stars such as Tom Brady, Adalius Thomas, Laurence Maroney and Rodney Harrison on Injured Reserve.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Breaking News: Pedroia Re-Signs with Sox

The Red Sox and Dustin Pedroia have agreed on a six-year, $40.5 million contract that will keep him in Boston through at least 2014. There is a 2015 club option worth $11 million. Here is a breakdown of the contract, per Boston.com's Tony Massarotti:

Signing bonus - $1.5 million

Base salaries
2009 - $1.5 million
2010 - $3.5 million
2011 - $5.5 million
2012 - $8 million
2013 - $10 million
2014 - $10 million

Club option
2015 - $11 million (or a $500,000 buyout)

This is a great move by the Sox, keeping the MVP in town for the foreseeable future.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Sox Make an Offer to Tek?

So there have been some conflicting stories as to whether or not the Sox have made an offer to Captain Jason Varitek. Where Rob Bradford of WEEI said that the Sox offered Tek 1year/~$6M deal (not nearly the $13.1M+ for 4 years Boras was expecting). Boras, however, denies vehemently that the Sox made such an offer. But we know Boras, don't we? He's lying. No doubt. The thing is, if the Sox make a lowball offer, then no other team will blow it out of the water. Even if he starts a bidding war here, he's likely not to get more than 2 years at 7.5-8M/yr. Which is about what Tek should make. The Sox are the team that is perceived to need the veteran catcher most, and such an offer does a lot to hurt Tek's value (read: Boras' profits).

Now you might be asking yourself, "Gee, Kyle, we like your speculations, but they are just that. What more evidence do you have, cause I'm not sold that Boras is lying." Well I can do that in one sentence:

Peter Gammons confirmed that the Sox made a one-year offer to Tek.

This is the word of Gammons, Amen.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Sources: Sox Make Offer to Teixeira

Various sources are reporting that the Red Sox have indeed made a contract offer to free agent 1B Mark Teixeira.

Teixeira is considered the top position-player on the market this off-season, and is garnering attention from several other teams including the Nationals, Orioles and Yankees. He is originally from the Baltimore area and is said to be favoring an east coast club. Most baseball analysts suggest that clubs may need to offer as much as $200 million over eight years to acquire the slugger.

Teixeira split the 2008 season between the Braves and Angels.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Breaking News: Utley Out Until June

Various sources out of Philadelphia are reporting that Chase Utley, second baseman for the 2008 World Series champion Phillies, is having off-season hip surgery that will keep him out of action until June 2009. We will have more on this breaking story as it becomes available.

Sources: Mussina to Retire

Various sources around the baseball world are all reporting that Yankees right-hander Mike Mussina has opted to call it quits after 18 seasons in the big leagues.

After a stellar career, the question remains: Is Mike Mussina a Hall-of-Famer?

VendorBall will provide that answer in the coming days as we will present a thorough analysis of the Moose's tenure in Major League Baseball.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Coco Crisp Trade Analysis

The Meat

So Covelli "Coco" Crisp has been traded for a middle reliever. Now, as some of you may or may not be aware, I am generally of the mindset that middle relief is the bottom of the barrel when it comes to trade returns. Middle relievers are a dime a dozen, and in any given year, your 8th inning guy can go to waivers, and a journeyman can become shut down. That's the problem when you only have a small sample set and so much depends on routine, and confidence.

But I like this trade. Part of me thinks I shouldn't, because of what Crisp brings to the table game in and game out, but I think this is a good move. The logic is a little winding and a little long, but try and follow a long. By bolstering the bullpen, we are giving Justin Masterson the chance to go into the starting rotation. I have said from the beginning that I like him in the rotation better than in the 'pen. Now, by moving him there, our rotation becomes: Beckett, Dice-K, Lester, Masterson, and Wakefield. The Sox are also in the market for starters Derek Lowe and A.J. Burnett. We also have Clay Buchholz in the minors, along with prospect Michael Bowden, knuckleballer Charlie Zink, and a slew of other arms both in the bullpen and the rotation.

Now, we have extra arms, as well as an unneeded shortstop in Julio Lugo, and a package can be thrown together for Texas in order to acquire one of their catchers. Once Varitek's price comes down to reality (2-3 years ~$8 M/yr), we have our captain back as well as an heir apparent to him for when he is hurt, not hitting, or too old to play. I cast my vote for Jarrod "Salty" Saltalamacchia. Now I know Texas doesn't need a shortstop but there are plenty of teams that do, and they'd probably be willing to give the Rangers a pitcher or two for him (though the Sox might have to bite some salary).

A Little Dessert

The Sox are now in need of three players: starting catcher, utility infielder, and fourth outfielder. Well, let me dream about Salty, and 'Tek, and let's focus on the fourth outfielder and backup infielder. I would love to say: bring in the hometown Rocco Baldelli! However, we'll need an everyday guy when J.D. Drew takes his yearly trip to the DL, and with Rocco's well published metochondrial disease, he's not our guy. Jim Edmonds would be a nice fit, but might come with a big price tag given his performance in limited action last year. Bringing back Mark Kotsay makes a lot of sense, especially since he plays a solid first base, too. If not these guys, I (like all the women in Red Sox Nation) would love to see the Sox bring back Mr. Gabe Kapler.

For an infielder, Willie Bloomquist is on the market, but his lifetime OPS+ is 75, OBP .322 and that's not a guy I want (for an explanation of the OPS+ stat, feel free to contact Kyle Baxter). Again, I'd love to bring back an old Red Sox player in Mark Loretta - nice OBP if not a great OPS guy. Bringing back Alex Cora would be great, but I think an upgrade is in order this offseason, and with the economy we might be able to find one at a discount. I think trying to bring back one Nomar Garciaparra would be ok, but we know how he is in the clubhouse, so maybe not. Juan Uribe, Pablo Ozuna, and Nick Punto might be other options in this case, but I won't pretend to know what the hell they're going to do.


The weather is growing cold, and the stove is heating up - stay tuned into VendorBall for all the updates and expert analysis*.

*Yes we are.

Breaking News -- Coco Traded to Royals

Reports are surfacing that Red Sox OF Coco Crisp has been shipped to the Kansas City Royals for right-handed relief pitcher Ramon Ramirez. More details to come shortly.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Breaking - PEDROIA WINS A.L. MVP!

CONGRATS, LITTLE PONY!

Here are the full voting results:

Player Club 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Points
DUSTIN PEDROIA
BOS 16 6 4 1 317
Justin Morneau MIN 7 7 6 3 3 257
Kevin Youkilis BOS 2 4 4 9 2 201
Joe Mauer MIN 2 8 1 3 4 188
Carlos Quentin CWS 1 4 8 4 160
Francisco Rodriguez LAA 1 2 6 1 6 143
Josh Hamilton TEX 2 2 3 112
Alex Rodriguez NYY 1 45
Carlos Pena TAM 1 2 44
Grady Sizemore CLE 42
Evan Longoria TAM 38
Cliff Lee CLE 1 1 24
Miguel Cabrera DET 17
Vladimir Guerrero LAA 16
Jermaine Dye CWS 1 14
Aubrey Huff BAL 12
Milton Bradley TEX 9
Jason Bartlett TAM 1 6
Mike Mussina NYY 3
Raul Ibanez SEA 1
Ian Kinsler TEX 1
Ichiro Suzuki SEA 1
Mark Teixeira LAA 1

KG Suspended Tonight vs. Knicks

The Big Ticket will have to buy a ticket tonight. Celtics' big man Kevin Garnett has been suspended one game for his altercation with Bucks' center Andrew Bogut this past Saturday.

Garnett will sit out tonight's meeting with the Knicks at the TD Banknorth Garden, and should be back in the lineup Thursday night when the Celtics host the Pistons.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Breaking News -- Pujols Wins N.L. MVP

In the exact opposite of a "shocker," Albert Pujols has been named your 2008 National League Most Valuable Player. The full voting went as follows:
  1. Albert Pujols, STL (369)
  2. Ryan Howard, PHI (308)
  3. Ryan Braun, MIL (139)
  4. Manny Ramirez, LAD (138)
  5. Lance Berkman, HOU (126)
  6. CC Sabathia, MIL (121)
  7. David Wright, NYM (115)
  8. Brad Lidge, PHI (104)
  9. Carlos Delgado, NYM (96)
  10. Aramis Ramirez, CHC (66)
And coming in last, Nate McLouth of the Pirates with one vote. Nate McLouth, makin' momma proud!

Thursday, November 13, 2008

The Green Machine -- C's Improve to 8-1

It's not June yet -- but don't tell Paul Pierce.

Since we last talked, the Celtics have stretched their Eastern Conference-best record to 8-1 with wins over the Pistons, Raptors and previously-undefeated Hawks. Pierce has emerged as the superstar he appeared to be during last year's championship run, and the defending champions are pumping on all cylinders. Let's rewind and recap the week.

Sunday: Celtics 88, Pistons 76
This was supposed to be Allen Iverson's welcoming party. Following a blockbuster trade with Denver last week, the Pistons received "A.I." after giving up Chauncey Billups and Antonio McDyess. Sunday was Iverson's first home-game in the Motor City, but you couldn't see it on the faces of the men in green. They were all-business, proven by a 30-10 thrashing of the Pistons in the second quarter. The Celtics clamped down on defense, forced turnovers, and were led by an unlikely budding star: Tony Allen.

Allen's the kind of guy that's been on the verge of "amazing" for a few years. Hampered by a knee injury two years ago, T.A. has been struggling to get his confidence back. His natural abilities give him the option of out-skilling his opponents. On Sunday night, he seemed to remember how gifted he is. In 28 minutes on the floor, Allen amassed 23 points, 5 boards and 2 steals. His team led by 20 at the end of three quarters, and easily walked out of Detroit with a win.

Monday: Celtics 94, Raptors 87
As much as I love these comeback wins, they've got to stop doing this to me. I'll skip to the fourth quarter, because that's where the magic happened. (To sum up the first half, the Raptors had more assists, 13, than the Celtics had field goals, 12. That's all you need to know.)

Twice pushing the lead to sixteen, Toronto had all the cushion they seemingly needed. Paul Pierce didn't want to cooperate. The Captain scored 22 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter on 7-of-9 shooting, leading his team to yet another comeback in the Big-Three-Era.

"I love when Superman goes in the booth and transforms," Kevin Garnett said of The Truth's performance. "I love it. I got the best seat in the house."

Wednesday: Celtics 103, Hawks 102
Atlanta is undefeated no longer. Honestly, I don't think I can pick a team I hate anymore than the Hawks. With last year's first-round match-up still obviously fresh in my mind, all I can picture is a raucous Atlanta crowd being egged on by an obnoxious Al Horford. Granted, the young team is very talented...but they're not championship material just yet. The 2008 NBA Champions proved that to them last night.

It what was yet another down-to-the-wire finish, the Celtics and Hawks went back and forth. Tied at the half, neither team was ever able to open up a comfortable lead. The Hawks took a lead very early in the game, but the Celtics closed the gap quickly enough. The game really came down to a sequence of three possessions. With under a minute left, the game was tied at 99, Celtics controlling the ball. Pierce took to the hoop, got fouled and knocked down both of his free throws. Veteran skills. After a brief timeout, Atlanta gave the champs their best right-hook. The ball eventually ended up in the hands of Marvin Williams, poised and waiting at the three-point line in the corner. With Ray Allen in his face, he hit his fourth long-range shot of the night, leaving the Celtics with a one-point deficit and under ten seconds to play. But remember, I said it came down to three possessions, not two.

The Celtics, after their last timeout, had the ball on their side of the court. The inbound pass went to Kevin Garnett, who handed it off to a sprinting Pierce. With Horford on him, Pierce had a mismatch, and he knew it. He faded away with a jumper -- one that I had no faith of reaching the hoop -- and drained it. He's gotten so good that even I've learned to underestimate him.

On the heels of last night's stellar performance, the Celtics have today off. Tomorrow night at the Garden, the C's host the Denver Nuggets, still undefeated since their acquisition of Chauncey Billups. I'm sure the champs will greet them appropriately.

-- Dan Zappulla, Basking in the Glory

Hot Stove Talks

So things are heating up this baseball offseason, but in rumor only. There have, though, been a few big deals that have hit the majors so far.

In a surprise move, the Oakland Athletics traded for Matt Holliday, sending Huston Street, Greg Smith, and Carlos Gonzalez to the Rockies. Odd that the A's wanted a 1-year rental of a player like Holliday, unless they are planning on making more big moves and trying to make a run at a World Series this year.

Jake Peavy has yet to be traded, and sources are now saying that the Cubs were never really involved in the Peavy talks, and that the Padres likely leaked that story just to drive up the price on the starter. It looks like the Braves are currently the biggest, and perhaps only, bidder.

The Washington Nationals acquired Scott Olsen and Josh Willingham from the Marlins in exchange for Emilio Bonifacio, P.J. Dean and Jake Smolinski. A bit of an odd move, as the Marlins may be delaying their 6-year championship cycle by a few years.

The Yankees resigned Damaso Marte to a 3-year $12 Mil deal with an option for 2012.

The Red Sox might be looking to bring back Derek Lowe. Rumors have it they're looking for strike-throwing ground ball pitchers. Although to be honest, I'm not sure I'd want anyone on the pricetag that Scott Boras would demand, but it'd be nice to have Lowe back, he is the most solid pitcher on the market with no question marks except his age (35).

Those aside, the rest of the Hot Stove seems to be hot rumors and not much getting done. Then again, the winter meetings haven't happened yet and at that point we'll start seeing some high flying dealing and signing. Who's excited? VendorBall is excited!

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

BenJarvus Jeremy Green-Ellis YOU GET IN THIS HOUSE RIGHT NOW!!!

Well, the Pats sport blue and win yet again, behind a strong performance by BenJarvus Jeremy "Law Firm" Green-Ellis. Honestly, I want a jersey with that whole name on the back of it (the letters would have to be REALLY small). It amazes the mind and the loins that the Pats seem to have two personalities this year, the first is a confident go forth and crush all comers, and the second is an unsure, timid child. The confident team wins, the timid team loses.

The final score of the game was 20-10, but the game was never even that close. The Pats spent most of the game with a 10 point lead (10-0 and 13-3) and only allowed a junk TD with 1:46 left in the final quarter. The Pats held the Bills to 60 yards rushing and only 180 yards of total offense. They picked Trent Edwards twice this game and sacked him twice more. Edwards is starting to show that he is not a great quarterback. He is a good quarterback, perhaps even very good and certainly good enough to win a Super Bowl, but he's not even in the upper tier of his generation.

On the other side of the ball, my boy BJJG-E rushed for 105 yards and a touchdown, which came at the end of a 9-minute drive that pretty much sapped the entirety of the 4th quarter. He never broke off a big run, and doesn't seem to have that capability, but constantly ripped off 4-6 yard gains every time he touched the ball. Cassel turned into a reliable NFL quarterback, going 23/34 for 234 yards in a well managed game. His favorite target: Wes Welker who is on pace for another 100 reception season. This week: just 105 yards on 10 catches. Perhaps more encouraging, was that Cassel got Randy Moss involved in the offense to the tune of 5 catches for 53 yards, as well as a failed end-around.

Unfortunately, Linebacker Adalius Thomas suffered a forearm injury in the game and had to be removed in the second quarter. Some reports say it is broken and will require season ending surgery, while others state that he is out for Week 11 and may be able to return before the end of the season. Wait and hear on that one.

Oh, and the Pats wore blue and won... again. I should think they'll shelf the lucky blue a couple weeks and save the luck for the playoffs.

They take the field again Thursday night against the Jets and Brett Favre (by the way, shouldn't that be pronounced FAV-ray?) as well as newly acquired cornerback Ty Law.

Player of the Game: Who do you think!? LAWFIRM, baby!

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

News & Notes - We're Here!

Oh yeah, don't think we've forgotten.

The Celtics have beaten the Pistons and Raptors, the Patriots trounced the Bills, and Tim Lincecum won the N.L. Cy Young Award. Oh, and the Bruins are in first place. Bet you didn't see that one coming.

We're here, and will have a slew of updates by the end of the week. VendorBall writers get busy too, you know. We'll be back and better than ever in 48 hours, up to our usual antics.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Bucked Up - Boston 101, Milwaukee 89

Right, so last night was pretty much the same old story we're used to with the Celtics. They started slow against a young, weaker, exuberant-as-hell team, finally gained their bearings, and ended up winning in a blowout. We get it. Seen it before. The Celts improve to 5-1 on the season and will now move on to face the Iverson-led Pistons. Great.

Can we talk about something more thought-provoking for a moment? ... Who the hell designed the Bucks' logo and uniforms? They look like a damn Christmas tree. Being a bit of a sports logo nut, I can understand the reasoning behind the green and red color palette. That's what they wore in the seventies, so it's kind of a throwback and/or homage. How touching.

On your right is a picture of Lew Alcindor (better known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) playing for the Bucks in the mid-1970s (click to enlarge for a better look). Not the best jerseys in the world, but hey, who looked good back then? That was a decade filled with shag carpeting, all-in-one end-table-lamp combinations and everything adorned in some sort of plaid pattern. There's a reason why it went out of style, though. It looked awful. Styles evolve for a reason, and sometimes, it's better not to pay tribute to what sucked in the first place, and these Milwaukee uniforms are a prime example.

Here is the latest incarnation of the Milwaukee crew (again, click to enlarge). I'm sorry, but...good lord. You can't expect to be taken seriously when wearing these things. You want your team to be hoisting the Larry O'Brien trophy in June with people humming "Deck the Halls"? I wouldn't. And by the way, the same level of uniform ugliness goes for the Grizzlies, Clippers, Warriors and most of all, Thunder. You all need to head back to the drawing board and come up with a look that people can get behind. Plus, you're not selling merchandise if it's all branded with that level of embarrassment.

But back to my original topic... the Celtics are still sitting atop their division, and now begin a five-games-in-seven-days stretch tomorrow night in Detroit. Should be fun.

Final Score: Boston Celtics 101, Red-Nosed Reindeer 89.
Player of the Game: Paul Pierce, BOS (18 Pts, 10 Reb, 7 Ast)

-- Dan Zappulla, With Two Eyes Made Out of Coal.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Lugo for Willis and Other Notes

Scott Miller from CBS is reporting that the Red Sox are feeling out a deal with the Tigers that would send lefty Dontrelle Willis to the Red Sox in exchange for Julio Lugo. Bad deal in my opinion. Having never been high on the lefty with the wacky delivery, at $11M, he would be paid more than Josh Beckett and Dice-K through next year. The Red Sox seem to be going with Beckett-Matsuzaka-Lester-Wakefield-Buchholz/Masterson/Free Agent. I think Buchholz should slide back into that rotation spot if you want to keep Masterson as a reliever. Of course, I like Masterson as a starter, but you can always change his role if need be.

With many teams needing a shortstop this off-season, and only two years left on Lugo's deal, it's not a stretch to think he could get traded this off-season for pitching help. As I've said before, their minor league system is lacking a guy who can hit for power, so a power hitting prospect and perhaps a young middle reliever would be a good return for Lugo. The White Sox, Tigers, and Cardinals might be in the bidding if Theo decides to pull this trigger this off-season.

Nick Cafardo of Boston.com is also reporting that the Red Sox are interested in striking a deal for Tampa Bay OF and Rhode Island native Rocco Baldelli. Cafardo reports that the Sox are trying to put in their due diligence regarding Baldelli's mitochondrial disease, which causes premature muscle fatigue. Baldelli would most likely be a replacement for Coco Crisp, should he be dealt.

Fenway Park Notes

The Red Sox have made a pitch to Major League baseball to host the 2012 All-Star game in order to celebrate the stadium's 100th birthday. Currently, Fenway is both the smallest and oldest park in the Majors, and one of the few stadiums in any sport that has that old-school charm and intensity night in and night out. Fenway hosted the All-Star game back in 1999, and usually the game only comes around every 30 or so years.

Also, the Red Sox are adding another 560 seats in our little Boston ballpark. This is the 8th straight year Fenway has been engrossed in offseason construction - every year since Henry, Warner, and Lucchino took over the team. At least some of the seats will be in the upper deck beyond first base. Other improvements are also planned, including waterproofing the lower deck and fixing the roof down the third baseline.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

CONGRATULATIONS DIRTDOG McMUNCHKIN!

Congratulations to Dustin Pedroia for winning his first Gold Glove for his exemplary work at second base this season. This award improves his chances to with the MVP too, so keep your eyes peeled. The complete list of MLB Gold Glove Winners is below.

American League
P - Mike Mussina
C - Joe Mauer
1B- Carlos Pena
2B- Dustin Pedroia
3B- Adrian Beltre
SS- Michael Young
OF-Ichiro Suzuki
OF-Torii Hunter
OF-Grady Sizemore

National League
P - Greg Maddux
C - Yadier Molina
1B- Adrian Gonzalez
2B- Brandon Phillips
3B- David Wright
SS- Jimmy Rollins
OF- Nate McClouth
OF- Carlos Beltran
OF- Shane Victorino

Warming Up the Stove: Part Deux!

The most exciting part of the winter for baseball fans are the trade rumors that abound, and piecing together crazy situations that might or might not occur. This offseason proves to be one of particular excitement. When a ton of big free agents need to be signed, more players need to be moved in order to accommodate the rosters. So for now, here are some of the rumors that are dominating the Hot Stove Conversations.

9) Khalil Green, SS, Padres. Greene is a fair fielding, soft hitting shortstop. There seems to be a lot of interest in him for reasons I cannot even begin to explain except for a lack of solid shortstops in the majors. That said, the Orioles, Reds, Tigers and Blue Jays are all reportedly interested in Greene, so stay posted on this one.

8) Mets' Middle Relievers. Rumors have it that the Mets are shopping most of their relievers in search of other relievers, starters, or other upgrades (most likely LF). I am not sure what they think they're going to benefit by this, but it doesn't hurt to shop around.

7) Hideki Matsui, OF, Yankees. There have been some rumors about a three way deal with the Mariners. They'd get back prospects and package them and their own to the Rockies for Matt Holliday. If they do that, then Seattle, just kill your owner, cause that is a terrible move. Matsui is not only an all-around good guy and solid outfielder, but he hits really well and plays the game at full-tilt. Because of that he's often hurt and is getting old. I don't see any deals getting done here, and Matsui should remain in pinstripes next year.

6) Covelli "Coco" Crisp, CF, Red Sox. The Sox once again are searching out a home for the speedy Coco Crisp. Coco ended the year with pretty good numbers, and as always playing Gold Glove caliber CF. The switch hitter could be moved for a prospect who exhibits some power - either 3B or corner outfield. The Cubs are in the market for a CF and a top of the lineup guy. Then again, if they sell their prospects for Peavy they might not have the goods to give back. As always, Crisp could just come back for another season.

5) Mike Cameron, CF, Brewers. The Brewers picked up Mike Cameron's contract option for $10 Mil. However, they might be ready to go with a more traditional speed/contact CF in Tony Gwinn Jr. If that's the case, they could look to move Cameron and try to fill a need in their rotation. Cameron hits for power, and plays a fantastic defensive CF. The Brewers could just as easily decide to keep him, and that his pricetag is fair.

4) Andy Sonnanstine/Edwin Jackson, SP, Rays. With David Price primed to move into the rotation, and James Shields, Matt Garza, and Scott Kazmir locked in, the Rays have an "extra" starting pitcher. Of course, you can never have enough starting pitching, but the Rays need an OF/DH for next season and can sling one of their young pitchers for a young bat. Sonnastine has better control and composure, while Jackson has the overall better stuff. The Cardinals might be a good fit to move one of their OFs if they want to strengthen their staff. It has already been reported that the Mets have been in discussions with the Rays about their pitchers, but no word on any potential deals.

3)Ryan Ludwick/Rick Ankiel, OF, Cardinals. It looks like the Cardinals are ready to go with Duncan, Brian Barton or one of their other young OFs, and are willing to trade one of these guys in order to beef up their infield production, especially up the middle. There are some options out there for these guys. For one, the Braves seem willing to part with 2B Kelly Johnson for one of these two. With the free agents available up the middle (Hudson, Cabrera, Renteria) it'll be interesting to see if they decide to deal instead of sign.

2) Matt Holliday, OF, Rockies. Despite Holliday's mediocre numbers away from Coors field, he will still get the Rockies some solid prospects in return for his services. He has one year left on his contract, and can be hand for an affordable figure ($13.5M). So trading for Holliday might be a one year deal, however most of them would probably come with some sort of contract extension. Holliday is still a solid hitter and will contribute in the middle of any lineup. Not only does he hit for a high average and for power, he takes a TON of walks. That is somewhat a because he has little protection in the Rockies lineup, but it's also because he has good plate discipline. Potential suitors for his services are the Phillies and the Yankees. The Phillies make the most sense if they don't resign Burrell.

1) Jake Peavy, SP, Padres. This Padres ace is arguably the best pitcher in the game. His career ERA is under 3 (2.85) and even though he pitches in the pitcher uber-friendly NLWest, he is still one of the top 5 young (28 or younger and 6 seasons of 100+ innings) pitchers you want to build your staff around (others: Zambrano, Beckett, Santana, Webb). Peavy is an ace and makes ANY team better. Of course, the rest of his contract is somewhat expensive (~$16M/yr.), for what you're getting he's an absolute steal. He'd make over $20M on the free agent market today. He's under contract until 2013, so this is a long term investment for some team. However, it will cost a king's ransom in prospects to lure him away from the Padres - probably 2 young pitchers, one young position player, and an outfielder who's major league ready (or close). Now, Peavy wants to stay in the NL cause he loves hitting and competing. As it stands, the Cubs are pursuing Peavy, as are the Braves. The Cubs would make a huge splash with this trade, and give hope back to a dejected fan base, and they have the prospects to do it.


And for those of you who thought I'd get to 10... well you don't know me real good, do you!?


Written by Kyle Baxter: Champion of Munchkinland!

Warming Up the Stove


After taking some time away from baseball, I think it's time to dive back in. The stove is warming up quickly, as this could be a big off-season in terms of free agent signings and trades. In the interest of... well interest, we're going list-style! Two lists - one for free agents, one for potential trades, and we'll count down the x most interesting stories in each category, where x is a random integer between 0 and 100 (yes, I'm letting my nerd show a little, big whoop, wanna fight about it!?)

Free Agents
Just the free agent class here - some interesting stories at the top (well the bottom of this list, physically, but the lowest numbers)

Mid Levels

40) Braden Looper, SP. Could find himself at the back end of any number of rotations. He pitches all right, but is never dominant, but he can give you 180 innings. Probably a low pricetag so he could go to a small market team like the Royals, or Pirates, but a team like the Rangers, or Twins might take a chance on him, too.

39)Curt Schilling, SP. Schill has expressed interest in coming back for another year. Honestly, it's pretty obvious to me he wants to make it into the Hall of Fame and needs some more wins in order to get there with certainty (he's currently borderline). I don't see the Sox bringing him back, as they're likely to go with their young guns. He could find a home back in Philadelphia, or in Pittsburgh for a short salary, since it is about beefing up his numbers, not the money. He'd be best served in a pitcher-friendly NL ballpark.

38) Mark Grudzielanek, IF. The aging infielder may have another year or two left in his MLB career. A slightly below average hitter but solid fielder has some backup IF left in him, but he could continue to start at 2B for the Royals. I expect him to go back to KC.

37) Mark Loretta, IF. Solid fielder, and an average bat, with good on-base ability, a small step up from Grudzielanek. One of those guys who can backup or play every day and is just a solid teammate. If the Red Sox don't bring Cora back they could make a run at Mark. Otherwise look at any number of teams to bring in the versatile infielder.

36) Paul Byrd, SP. After a rough season with Cleveland, Byrd upped his offseason value with a strong late-season showing with the Sox. A finesse pitcher who can give you innings, Byrd's optimal location would be a big ballpark, and those places can probably use a pitcher. I like the Pirates, Royals, and Padres to drop a couple million on Byrdie.

35) Frank Thomas, 1B/DH. A Hall-of-Famer deciding whether to hang 'em up or to push forward for another year. He struggled last year with a quadriceps injury so he may decide to retire, but if we've noticed anything in the last few years, is that the spring turns players minds. The A's, or Rays could try and win his services for next year, as he can still spank the ball with the best of them.

34) Jon Garland, SP. Except for his one all-star season in 2005, Jon Garland has been a very predictable pitcher. A back of the rotation, inning eater who will give you around a .500 performance and 200 innings and 32 starts. Some team will be willing to jump on his consistency, and I like the Marlins, Rockies, Giants, and Padres for the cheap arm.

33) Moises Alou, LF. Despite not playing in 100 game for the last few season, Moises Alou continues to prove that he can play "hit ball with stick" at a Major League level. He might have fallen off too much to play the field everyday with any effectiveness, but a DH/platoon role could suit him if the right AL team came calling. I like the Rays for him, since they need the DH and depth help and can likely afford his low price.

32) Jamie Moyer, SP. I know he had a good year last year, but I cannot consider a 46-year-old, soft-tossing lefty a great signing. That said, I think the Phillies take him back for 2009, cause apparently he never wants to retire.

31) Randy Wolf, SP. You can pretty much expect an ERA in the mid-4.00's and around 160-180 innings from Mr. Wolf. A back of the rotation guy he can give you innings, occasionally quality innings, but not much else. He is a lefty which presents matchup problems for some teams, but he's a solid arm to add to a rotation. The Mets, Orioles, Rangers, Mariners, and Astros could make a play.

30) Ivan Rodriguez, C. At 37, he's not the Pudge we remember from the late 90's, but the career .301 hitter can still catch a game and hit. He may not be able to cope with a full season behind the dish, but for a platoon role behind the plate and some time at 1B/DH would be good. An interesting option for the Rays, but could also go back to Detroit, to KC, or even the O's.

29) Casey Blake, 3B/OF. Blake is a solid player, and you know exactly what you're getting with him. Sadly he is the cream of the 3B free-agent crop. So any team looking to add a third-basemen might need to give Blake an offer. Because of this, he might command a fairly high salary compared to what he would otherwise make - demand drives the market. Look for the White Sox and Dodgers to make a play at him.

28) Raul Ibanez, OF. How this guy is a type-A free agent is beyond me. He hits in the .280's with 20 homers and 90 RBI, which is solid but this is not a Type-A guy. Whatever, the OF needs a home and Seattle isn't about to pony up and give him a good contract. In fact, we think here that they should firesale their big contracts (Ichiro, Silva, Washburn, Beltre, and Batista) and build for 2011 or 2012. Anyhow, Ibanez should find a home with the Mets, Braves, Rays or perhaps the DBacks.


Taking a Chance
Guys who have been hurt, or that you can't necessarily count on for some reason. Think of it as High Risk/High Reward.

27) Kenshin Kawakami, SP. One of the best pitchers in Japan, this 34-year-old is looking for work over in America. We have seen mixed results from players coming from Japan over to the States - from the success of Ichiro, to the failure of Hideki Irabu and everywhere inbetween (Dice-K? So Taguchi?). So when getting a player from Japan it's tough to know exactly what you're getting, unless you can see him against major league hitters. That said, I think he goes to either the Red Sox, Cubs or the Dodgers - some place where some Japanese players are already playing, and can afford his pricetag.


26) Mark Prior, SP. Now begins the run of injured pitchers. Prior is the most intriguing hurler of the bunch because of his age (27) and his once dominant stuff. He hasn't pitched since early in 2006 and three years later, some team is going to take a shot on him. Prior could sign an incentive laden deal somewhere where they aren't counting on him to necessarily pitch at the major league level. This is just the kind of signing that the Red Sox like to make (ala Bartolo Colon), and they can afford big incentives. If not them, then I think it'll be a larger market team who needs an emergency starter - Cardinals, White Sox, Angels, and Astros are others.

25) Carl Pavano, SP. A 4 year, $40 Mil. deal, and Pavano pitched a grand total of 145.2 innings of a 9-8 record. I'd be more obnoxious, but Matt Clement was also a bust. Anyhow, someone wants to give this guy a contract, and it might be the Marlins - the last place he pitched effectively. Common sense says he owes the Yankees a cheap year, but he'll probably go with the money. Look for an incentive driven deal with the fish.

24) Brad Penny, SP. From third place in the Cy Young voting in '07 to a 6.27 ERA in 97 innings in '08. That is an epic fall off for a generally solid pitcher. This was the year after Penny's first 200 inning season since 2001. And again, in 2002 he was ineffective. I think we've learned something here. Now where does Penny end up? Back pitching for the Dodgers, makes sense, especially with Lowe leaving for the market.

23) Ken Griffey, Jr., OF. On the downside of what will undoubtedly be a Hall-of-Fame career, Griffey will be looking for a new home, probably to end his career. Seattle would be a sentimental way to go out, and would probably be a draw for some of their fans, despite potentially setting the organization back a year or two. Let's hope the Seattle brass agrees in some way, and bring him back for a goodbye season or two at a discount.

22) Jason Varitek, C. Tek is getting old, and his productivity has gone down. The Red Sox fan favorite is up for a new contract, and Boras wants him to get a Posada deal (4 years, 13.1M/yr). The Sox may bite and give it to him (sadly), but I doubt they will. In fact, I don't think anyone will bite on that. I think the Sox will look to get younger and more productive from the catching position by trading with Texas for one of their young catchers (Saltalamacchia or Laird). Varitek could end up with Detroit under a short term deal.

21) Jason Isringhausen, CP. The injury Izzy suffered last year may end his career. If not, he could look to come back and pitch a little more for some team looking to bolster their bullpen. The Marlins, Tigers, Braves, and Pirates may be a match if he's willing to take a discount. However, he is just as likely to hang up the spikes for good.

20) Kerry Wood, RP. Like Mark Prior, Wood has had a problem staying healthy. Moreover, he's in line to lose his closers job in Chicago to Carlos Marmol, who looks to be primed to take the position. Does Wood find a job outside of Chicago? I doubt it, I think the Cubs bring him back as a middle reliever who can close if need be and can potentially be stretched out and make a few starts.

19) Chad Cordero, RP/CP. A 27 year-old coming off of surgery for his biceps tendon and labrum aren't always high on teams "to get" lists. Cordero, though, is a young, talented reliever, who will find a home on the back end of someone's bullpen. He expects to be ready by spring training this year, but that might be a little optimistic given his condition. I think Oakland, the Giants, or the Rangers roll the dice and try to grab him with a 2-4 year deal.

18) Oliver Perez, SP. Inconsistency thy name is Oliver. Perez is a lefty with a hard fastball and a wicked slider. However, he's plagued by walks and gives up too many gopher balls. At only 27, he's one of the few guys you might want to take a chance on for a long term deal, perhaps laden with incentives. It could be a good fit for a middle of the road team to try this guy as a middle of the rotation starter, but the Mets have the interest to bring him back to NY, and that's probably where he'll go. If not, I like the Giants and White Sox to make a run.

17) Milton Bradley, OF/DH. After setting career highs in Batting Average (.323), RBI (77), HRs (22), OBP (.436) and SLG (.563), Bradley is still not going to get a big, lucrative contract. First, we know he benefit from hitting near Josh Hamilton who had a half season of tearing the cover off the ball. We do not know whether he'll be able to repeat that performance anywhere else. Second, he's also a known mental case, who only played more than 130 games one season. So can anyone put up with his mental capacities long enough to let him produce? Can he produce at all without a strong hitter behind him? Good question. I think we'll see a basement dwelling team take a shot on him.

16) Ryan Dempster, SP. Dempster made his move nack to the starting rotation this year and had a lot of success... in the regular season anyway. He threw over 200 innings, and kept his ERA under three. He wants to explore the free agent market, but I think that he ends up back in a Cubs uniform, and with Carlos Zambrano and Rich Harden, he'll help make up a strong Cubs rotation for 2009. No one else will pay Dempster what the Cubs will, since he just came off his first 200 inning season since 2002.


All-Star-ish Caliber
Not that these guys have all been or will be all-stars, but they're solid MLB players and you pretty much know what you're getting with them

15a) Mike Mussina and Andy Pettitte, SP. Both of these guys will either retire or play for the Yankees. Not much to discuss here, but figured I should slide them in here.

15) Brian Fuentes, CP. Anyone who wanted Francisco Rodriguez will end up trying to settle for Fuentes. The lefty recorded 30 saves last year, strikes out better than a batter an inning for his career, and will be a consistent back end of any bullpen. The Mets will try to pick him up if they can't get at K-Rod, and likewise, the Tigers may show some interest. The Rangers may make a run if they decide they actually want to win this year, too.

14) Edgar Renteria, SS. When will Renteria learn that he is not cut out to play in the American League? Posting some of his lowest numbers since he played in Boston, that 10M/yr. contract is finally up. So now what? Detroit still needs a shortstop, as will the White Sox. But the fit for Rent-A-Wreck is the National League. Reports say that the Cardinals are intrigued by the idea of bringing him back, and I couldn't agree more.

13) Orlando Cabrera, SS. O-Cab put forth yet another season as we've come to expect. Good BA, drew some walks, not a lot of power, but stole some bases, while playing strong defense at shortstop. O-Cab has moved around in sync with Edgar Renteria (their contracts seem to always be up in the same year), so since he's on the move, he could go over to Detroit, or stay with the White Sox (I'm under the impression Ozzie likes him). On the other hand, the Cardinals might want to move for him if they can't get Rentie.

11) Orlando Hudson, 2B. Hudson is above average in batting average and fielding, but doesn't hit for power or take enough walks. That said, he is a second baseman, and there are very few talented second basemen in the league (how lucky are the Sox to have Pedroia?!). Despite not taking enough walks or stealing bases, his OPS has increased with respect to the league every year, which points to him being a smart hitter. I think the Cardinals sign him for something in the high single digits.

10) Bobby Abreu, RF. After another productive year in pinstripes, Abreu will look to get a new contract, and probably the kind of money he got from the Yankees the last few years (~15M/yr). He's still hitting for some power (20 HRs in '08), stealing bases (20 in '08), and drawing a lot of walks (73 in '08) although that number has declined in the power-packed Yankee lineup. There should be a lot of takers for Abreu, but he might get lost in the shuffle with all the free agents. Since he's a lefty, I don't think the Phillies will be interested. The Yankees may try to bring him back for a short term deal, or anyone who couldn't fill their roster with Manny Ramirez, Pat Burrell, or Adam Dunn. If the Marlins try to make their once-every-6-years run, they could try to cut him a deal and then fire-sale him after the run.

9) Pat Burrell, LF. Coming down on his high after winning the World Series, "The Best Hitter Nobody Fears" is now a free agent. He has already turned down a 2 year, $22M offer from the Phils, so he'll be trying his luck elsewhere, probably looking to get up to the $14M he was paid last year for his services. I don't know where the Phillies are going to find a right-handed bat to protect lefties Utley and Howard instead, but Burrell has been consistent enough to be one of those guys who ends up anywhere. I think the AL makes sense for him as a DH, despite being only 32. The Orioles could sign him to a big deal, continuing their trend at signing overrated players at too much money. He'd be a better fit with the Jays, and would be a smart signing by the Yanks, or the Angels if they decline Garrett Anderson's option.

8) Adam Dunn, LF. The quintessential Billy Beane guy: low batting average, lots of walks and lots of power. Could he end up in Oakland? I doubt it, but only because he'll demand a salary a bit too high for the A's. The Mets need an outfielder, as do the Diamondbacks. He has also, reportedly, expressed interest in being reunited with Austin Kearns, which would move him to Washington. Although that's not signing a pitcher, that's a good first move. If the Rays want to shock with a big free agent signing - I think this is the guy.

7) Derek Lowe, SP. Lowe floundered a bit in the playoffs this year, and is 36. Lowe will be looking for a 3-4 year deal and probably for less money than most of the big name pitchers on the market (and boy are there a ton). He makes for a smart signing for a team trying to make a run but not wanting to spend a ton of money on a front-of-the-line guy. Sound like the Mets to you? Yeah, me too. He'll also draw interest from the Brewers, Cardinals, White Sox, Tigers, Rangers, Angels, Braves, Astros and Yankees. Yes, consistency will do that for you.

6) Ben Sheets, SP. Sheets has been injury prone over the year. He hasn't topped 200 innings since 2004, and despite pitching 194 this year, he did not pitch in the playoffs. That said Sheets has dominant stuff including a giant curve. Someone will take him for some big money - maybe 17M + incentives - and take their chances on his arm. The Yankees could make a play if they don't sign CC Sabathia, and the Tigers are looking for an arm, too. The Brewers have already made him an offer, but I think he ends up leaving. Look for the Dodgers or Cardinals to try and pick him up for a short term deal, and have him prove he can stay healthy. If the Nationals or Orioles want to make a splash in the rotation, this might be their chance.

The Big Boys
You'll see the same few teams mentioned over and over here - remember, these guys will command a lot of money, and only a few teams can really make plays at them.

5) A.J. Burnett, SP. After missing time over two seasons with injuries, A.J. Burnett finally pitched a full season with the Blue Jays and helping them to the lowest ERA of any Major League team. Despite pitching a ton of innings (221) and racking up 231 strikeouts (good for first in the AL), his ERA was up at 4.06. Though not stunning, his DIPS ERA (a sabermetric value for expected ERA based on strikeouts & home runs and whatnot) was 3.47. So, as the Baseball Prospectus crowd would say: "He's a victim of bad luck." Agreed. Solid pitcher, and you've got to like a guy who eats up innings with quality stuff. The Jays are making a serious run at him, and the Yankees might put a bid in there, too. The Brewers are losing a lot of their rotation and could make a push. If the Mets want to sure up their rotation they could be a player.

4) Francisco Rodriguez, CP. I am not big fan of paying a lot of money to any kind of reliever. Now, K-Rod (as he's commonly known) is looking for 5 years and probably around $15/yr. Thankfully, teams with a closer won't have to worry about that deal. K-Rod had a ton of saves (62) last year, but did not have great numbers - blowing 7 saves, with an OBP against at .316 which does not help project well for the future. He has also been weak in the playoffs the last two years - getting hammered by the Red Sox. Now, while I'm not high on K-Rod, he does have good stuff and does have a closer's mentality. A good fit for him would be the Tigers who desperately need an anchor in the back of that bullpen but won't pony up the cash, The Angels may try to sign him too, but also won't come up that money. The Mets could also make a play, but I don't see anyone coming with that money.

3) Manny Ramirez, LF/DH. The drama Ramirez has surrounded himself has been forgotten due to his good nature and frantic hitting. Long forgotten was his disgruntled play in Boston, and now he wants to be the highest paid player in baseball. Well, actually, from what I know about Manny he doesn't necessarily care, but Boras sure as hell wants him to be. I think as long as Manny could play ball, make around $15M, and not be bothered outside the baseball park he'd be happy. So he should stay in L.A. to end his career, but Boras will have him going elsewhere, for more years. The Dodgers will pay him for 2 years, but I think the Mets will beef up and give him 4 years at around $27.5M. Also look for the Yankees to get involved for that eff-you-Boston factor.

2) Mark Teixeira, 1B. Tex was a beast for the Angels over the last half of the year, and even performed all right in the playoffs (recall: all singles). Tex brings elite defense and solid switch hitting offense for the middle of any lineup. There haven't been a lot of switch hitters who could fit into the middle of a lineup, so it's a nice luxury to have. The Angels desperately want to bring him back, but he's also being poked at by the Red Sox, and I imagine we'll see the Yankees in the hunt. The Orioles are said to be making a run, and if the Dodgers don't sign Manny they may want to kick the tires. Basically, every team in the majors without a solid first basemen going into the year (and even a few who do) will be looking at Tex. I like the Yankees here since they'll be looking for a first baseman, and they've got the money.

1) CC Sabathia, SP. The big, oft overweight southpaw carried the Brewers on his hefty shoulders and carried them to the playoffs. But as people seem to be forgetting, he did yet another Major League choke job in the playoffs. Was it a function of the number of innings he threw? Perhaps. Or it could be that he sucks in the playoffs. That aside, he will command "Johan Santana money" (~23M/yr) wherever he goes. Some reports say that he wants to pitch in his home state of California and he really likes pitching in the N.L. (Hmm, the N.L. West... interesting "coincidence" that there are a grand total of zero good hitters in that league), so some are thinking that the Dodgers might make a run at him. But as he's managed by the soulless Scott Boras who cares nothing for that malarkey (meaning, client preferences) and wants to get paid, I expect he'll end up in Yankee pinstripes with some preposterous contract.


Written by Kyle Baxter: Baseball Whore

Road Rumblin' - Celtics 96 ,Thunder 83

Defense wins championships -- we all know that. During the opening quarter of last night's first-ever meeting between the Celtics and Thunder, the NBA Champions seemed to have forgotten that timeless creed.

To be frank, the youngsters from Oklahoma City ran all over the court, putting up a gaudy 29 points in the first frame. The Thunder could do no wrong -- passes were crisp, all five men sprinted the floor, and shots seems inevitably true. For the young franchise, this was their "Game Seven of the NBA Finals." For the Celtics, this may become an all-too-familiar trend. Every single team in the league will be gunning for them, trying to make their mark against the bearers of the crown. That is the difficulty of trying to defend a championship.

But as true champions, the Celtics battled back. They dominated the young Thunder in the second quarter behind a suffocating defensive stand. The champs outscored the home team 30-15 in that frame and would never relinquish the lead. This was, at least in part, due to the Thunder's carelessness with the basketball. They seemed to turn it over on every other possession, allowing the C's to carefully and steadily build upon their lead. Over the second and third frames, the Thunder were held to only 26 points, as Boston finished their three-game road trip with two wins.

Up next, the Celtics finally return home to face Richard Jefferson and the new-look Milwaukee Bucks (3-2). As a side note, the C's exercised their fourth-year option on point guard Rajon Rondo, keeping him in town, which came as a surprise to absolutely no one.

Final Score: Boston Celtics 96, Oklahoma City Thunder 83
Player of the Game: Paul Pierce, BOS (20 Pts, 5 Ast, 9 Reb)


- Dan Zappulla, Waiting for the Weekend.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

They Have a Problem - Celtics 103, Rockets 99

Yeah I'll be honest -- no one, including me, watched much of this game. We were all glued to election coverage, and rightly so. I did catch a small snippet of the action, though, enough to see the Celtics squeak by with a narrow win against the previously unbeaten Rockets (3-1).

The Celtics lost consecutive games on three separate occasions last year, and following a weekend loss in Indiana, they weren't about to have their first losing streak of 2008-09 come so soon. Last night's game play was dominated by the Big Three, who merely outlasted Houston's version of the same moniker -- Tracy McGrady, Yao Ming and the newly acquired Ron Artest. Ray Allen led Boston's star-powered charge, finishing with a game-high 29 points, looking like the sharpshooter of old.

Tonight, the defending NBA Champions make their first-ever trip to Oklahoma City to face the league's newest team, the Thunder (1-2), led by young star Kevin Durant. The franchise moved from Seattle in the off-season.

Final Score: Boston Celtics 103, Houston Rockets 99
Player of the Game: Ray Allen, BOS (29 Pts, 5 Ast, 5 Reb)

-- Dan Zappulla, Rockin' the Vote.

Election 2008: The Morning After

We know sports. Despite not being reporters with locker room access, and not making a living off of the business, what we know at VendorBall is sports. However, when an election of such epic proportions lands on our doorstep, we feel obligated to express our opinion on the matter. Sports and politics usually do not intersect unless we're talking about the General Manager of a sport, or discussing the steroid trials at Congress. But last night, for the first time ever, I was watching an election that felt like a major sporting event.

We raised our glasses (er... well bottles/cans) at every Obama victory - loud for states like Massachusetts where we knew he'd win, and louder still when he took Ohio and Pennsylvania. High fives, jeering at the opponent, and progressive drunkenness in front of a TV late on a Tuesday - I could have been watching the playoffs. And that's how it felt. Politics had achieved a level of passion I have yet to see in the five elections I have been lucky enough to witness and remember.

We will not call it an "historic election" as everyone else seems so keen on doing. It was an election and we do this every four years. "The first African-American ever to win the presidency!" Well, he's half. So he's half of the first African-American ever to win the presidency. Or the first half... whatever. It was not an historic election - it was a historic outcome. Only 50 years ago, African-Americans had fire hoses turned on them for peaceful displays demanding equality. So in that sense, we've come a long way - even though it was a win that even our resident republican expected, it was truly something we've never seen before.

And speaking of republicans, McCain's eventual concession speech was a marvel. For a heated election, he hushed boos aimed at Obama and even had me believing that he thinks Obama will make a good president. We were all pretty sure that McCain didn't believe in Obama, but he changed the minds of many, and reminded us that we are all Americans. Seeing him stand up there in his awkward way, saying "my friends" in that creepy voice was familiar enough, but what he said was a testament to his character. Through this election I had managed to forget that I like McCain. I think he's a good senator and was rooting for him to come out of the Republican primaries. It's nice that things can fall back to normal.

On the other side, Obama's acceptance speech was the magic we have come to expect every time he takes the podium. I felt having to see Jesse Jackson and Oprah over and over again was annoying (we get it, first black president, we're proud too) and took ever so slightly away from a night that should have been 100% Obama's (not 99.99%). But he was gracious, elegant, and powerful in his speech, and Americans everywhere hope he will be just that way for four years in the oval office.

So as we wind down the last two and a half months of the Bush presidency, we at VendorBall will move back to sports, likely not to adventure into the world of politics again for another four years. But for one night, politics felt like home to us.

Monday, November 3, 2008

VendorBall's 2008 Interactive Electoral Insanity!

The full title is actually "VendorBall's 2008 Interactive Election Vagina Prying Eyes Self Insemenating Crazy Time Budweiser Clusterfuck - It's Our Damn Blog, Don't Tell Us What To Do, The Man" but it was a tad too big to fit in the blog title.

Anywho, we here at VendorBall are not only sports nuts, but we follow politics too! With the U.S. Presidential Election under 24 hours away, we thought we'd chime in with our predictions for the full electoral college, and give you a shot to participate in the blog as well!

Here's how it works: YOUR job is to leave comments on this post with your WINNER of the general election, and the WINNER'S NUMBER OF ELECTORAL VOTES. Don't be shy about bidding high. This isn't "The Price Is Right" -- you won't lose by going overbid. (Then again, you won't win a new car, either.) Your prize, though, is a very special VendorBall blog dedicated to you! We'll post your picture and write a nice little blurb about how fucking great you are. Sound nice? We thought so.

So without further adieu, here are the OFFICIAL VendorBall projections for tomorrow's general election. Also, I'll add that Kyle and I filled out our maps separately, and ended up with the exact same map. I swear, we were somehow separated at birth. (And then some filthy homeless person dyed Baxter's hair red.)

Remember, leave your WINNER and WINNING NUMBER OF ELECTORAL VOTES as a comment in this very blog, and your name and vote will be posted right here on VendorBall! We'll be updating this thing round-the-clock with your projections! Good luck to all who enter, and the winner will be announced on Thursday!

VendorBall's Staff Picks for the 2008 Election:
(Click for larger image.)

Reader Responses
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reader Carrie
I find it disheartening that your staff gave almost every important toss up state to Obama. As the poli-sci major (and the Republican) of the group, my predictions go slightly differently. (Hint: I have a feeling that the election will be a lot closer) ;)

Obama-291. Watch for a lot of people in Florida to be unjustly upset about his aunt's immigration status, where this is a key issue.

McCain- 247. Watch for the Palin ticket to get a lot more votes than anticipated. I predict that Republican voters in Ohio, with all the hype that this is supposed to be a landslide for Obama, will come out in droves to support the working class mom.

VendorBall
We disagree with what you say, but we will defend to the death your right to say it. We gave the toss-up states Missouri, and North Carolina to McCain while putting Nevada, Ohio, Florida and Virginia in Obama's - which, by our research, is the way things seem like they could go. Agreed, we are not experts as much as fans, but I do not think our claims are unjustified. But we accept your point and your expertise in the subject. If you win, we shall write your post in scarlet red to honor your polite Republicanism.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reader Munchkin
Obama 322
McCain 216




VendorBall
And if you win, we shall write your victorious post in extra-small fonts, for your people!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reader Sheena
Obama 344
McCain 194


VendorBall
If you are victorious we shall write in BLUE, both for your raging support of the democratic party, and the color of the Hens - the UDelaware mascot.