Division-Watching (2009)

[blue911]

Johan Santana is going under the knife for bone chips in his left elbow.

You can kiss the Nationals signing any free agent pitchers goodbye.

[DCFan]

You can kiss the Nationals signing any free agent pitchers goodbye.

Regardless of the Mets situation, I wasn't building my hopes up for any big free agent pitcher signings. 

[blue911]

Regardless of the Mets situation, I wasn't building my hopes up for any big free agent pitcher signings. 

Santana was the example that Mark "The Village Idiot" Lerner used as an example of overpaying for pitching.

[DCFan]

Santana was the example that Mark "The Village Idiot" Lerner used as an example of overpaying for pitching.

Yep, I remember that. I'm sure this report was sent around the underground bunker today marked with the "High Importance" flag.  

But even before today's news, I wasn't expecting them to go after any of the big dogs which I'm cool with. I will be very disappointed tho if they don't make a push for someone in the mid tier.

[spidernat]

Johan Santana is going under the knife for bone chips in his left elbow.

You can kiss the Nationals signing any free agent pitchers goodbye.

That was the firt thing I thought of when I heard the news. 

[spidernat]

I heard that Wagner didn't invoke his no trade clause and is headed to Boston for two PTBNL.

[ASSCLOWN]

Brad Lidge does it again.

comes in the game with a 4-3 lead in the bot of the 9th against Pit and gives up a single, error, and then a walk-off 3-Run HR by McCutchen.

He is now 0-6 with a 7.33 ERA on the season. Phils need a closer BAD.

[spidernat]

That's so sweet considering what he did last season.

[PC]

That was just some of the worst managing ever, worst than Riggleman!  Bases loaded, no outs for the Phillies, Blanton is at-bat.  Instead of taking the out, he swings and hits into a double play.  Rollins grounds out next on the first pitch.  End of inning.

[PC]

Josh Johnson came apart like a Nationals pitcher.  He was throwing a one-hitter through six. Come the seventh inning, he gives up four hits, three runs and doesn't even finish it.

[KnorrForYourMoney]

Johan Santana is going under the knife for bone chips in his left elbow.

You can kiss the Nationals signing any free agent pitchers goodbye.

Isn't Wilpon rumored to be in serious financial trouble?  There's hope yet.

[NatsAddict]

“We had some opportunities. They turned three double-plays on us with people on base."
 manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

Palm Beach Post

Uh, Fredi, a very high percentage of DPs are turned with somebody on base.

[ASSCLOWN]

Hanley and Uggla got into it?

[NatsAddict]

Uggla accused Hanley of faking a strained hammy in order to preserve a batting title.  Hanley has been playing with a bad hammy for most of the year.

Then Danny went out and on a routine DP ball fed an under-hand toss to Coghlan.  Problem is, Coghlan plays LF.  Thanks to Danny, who also failed to touch the bag on a force out in that inning, VandenHurk had to give the Braves 6 outs to get out of the inning.  He did actually hit a HR with a runner on, though - 8th time this year, and he's now plated 11 out of 61 men on 3rd (including 3 who scored on GIDP).

[JMadIV]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/florida-marlins/sfl-marlins-ramirez-uggla-090209,0,7887468.story

MIAMI GARDENS - Marlins superstar Hanley Ramirez is at odds with double-play partner Dan Uggla and other teammates over Ramirez's perceived lack of desire to win.

Each sitting at his locker about 10 feet apart, Ramirez and Uggla openly argued in the clubhouse about why Ramirez really exited from Tuesday's rain-delayed game in the fifth inning. Ramirez departed with cramping in his left hamstring, and he didn't appreciate the reaction he got from Uggla and others.

"A couple of the guys did like this when I came out," said Ramirez, throwing his arms up in the air. "I'm not happy with the team."

Overhearing Ramirez, Uggla chimed in: "I was one of them."

Addressing the reporter, Ramirez answered: "You got it. Showed me up."

From that point, Ramirez and Uggla continued exchanging barbs. The altercation never escalated beyond the verbal back-and-forth, but they were shouting by the time manager Fredi Gonzalez emerged and politely asked the three reporters present to vacate the clubhouse about three minutes after the argument began.

Earlier in the afternoon, Ramirez told the media he was playing despite his hamstring feeling 10 percent healthy. He alluded to his teammates' reaction when he exited Tuesday night, but did not offer further details until questioned again later.

"I had no idea,'' catcher John Baker said. "I hope he feels better and plays. He's our best player. It's something that will be handled within the team. We're a big family. I guess he's upset. Families get in arguments.

"It's a long season, you get beat up. He's been hit by pitches, he's been in the lineup every single day. He's been battling for us through successes and struggles. I don't question any of his toughness or anything. Maybe what you hear is more frustration on how we been playing lately.''

Ramirez and Uggla made it clear that was not the case. Ramirez was in the Marlins' initial starting lineup, but was scratched presumably after Gonzalez learned the truth about how he was feeling.

"You're playing today?" Uggla told Ramirez.

To which Ramirez responded: "After you showed me up I have to play today."

Uggla: "Really?"

Ramirez: "Yeah, I have too. I told Fredi exactly the same."

Uggla: "You should have never came out."

Ramirez: "Why not?"

Uggla: "If you play today, you should have played the rest of the game [Tuesday]. It wasn't a big game? You don't want to win?"

Ramirez: "Every day is a big game."

Uggla: "You don't want to win?"

Ramirez went on to tell Uggla he felt hurt over teammates showing him up and added, "I don't show nobody up on the field. I never did."

"You have before," said Uggla, not pointing to a specific example in spite of Ramirez's request to do so. "I've seen you."

Asked if he's had a chance to speak privately with any teammates about the matter, Ramirez responded no. Uggla then reignited the exchange, suggesting Ramirez, who is hitless in his last 14 at-bats and 1 for his last 16 with runners in scoring position, was sitting on his National League leading .355 average.

Ramirez countered by saying he's already got a long-term deal, so he doesn't need to maintain his stats for arbitration purposes.

"If you really wanted to win you would have never come out of the game," Uggla said. "Stand pat."

Ramirez: "Yeah, I'm 0 for 14. They think that's why. I'm still hitting .355. It's unbelievable. And arbitration, I've got arbitration next year so I have to sit on my numbers."

Uggla: "Yeah, you got your $70 million, so f------ win. What the f--- you have to come out of the game for?"

"I don't show nobody up on the field. You showed me up on the field! I never do that to nobody," Ramirez said, shouting now.

That's when Gonzalez intervened and asked the media to leave.

Juan C. Rodriguez can be reached at jcrodriguez@SunSentinel.com. Staff Writer Harvey Fialkov contributed to this report.

the Nats'll take Hanley if Uggla don't want him.

[KnorrForYourMoney]

Wow. Uggla's a dick.

[PC]

What are you thinking Charlie Manuel?  Phillies up by one against the Marlins, going into the bottom of the 9th and he's using Lidge!

[PC]

Leadoff double against Lidge.

[PC]

Runner on second moves to third on deep fly out.

[PC]

Questionable strikeout for Lidge.  Runner still at 3rd.

It was a ball.  Terrible call.

[PC]

Hanley Ramirez at-bat.  Against the Nationals, this would be a Marlins win.   

[PC]

Another bad strike call for Lidge.

Didn't help Lidge this time, Ramirez walks.  Runners on 1st and 3rd, 2 outs.

[PC]

Cantu singles, game tied 6-6.  Lidge blows save #gajilliion.

[ASSCLOWN]

[PC]

Walkoff single by Brett Carroll, Marlins win.

Manuel should be fired, immediately.