I am a follower of the site “mlbtraderumors.com” during the offseason and when it becomes closer to the trade deadline of the baseball season. Usually, I am very interested and agree with a lot of what the site says. However, they posted their Top 50 Free Agent Predictions, and I throughly disagree on many. Here is my list:

Matt Holliday (above) watches the game from the dugout.

1.  Matt Holliday – Mets.   The Mets need offense, plain and simple. They have the money, and want to add the big bat.

2.  John Lackey – Red Sox. Boston’s rotation was almost a sure thing prior to last season. Now, Beckett and Lester are the only two definite starters, so signing Lackey is a top priority.

3.  Jason Bay – Red Sox.  Boston is the only place Bay has won, and he fits in very nicely there. I expect him to wait until Holliday signs, but after realizing Boston is his best spot, he will resign.

4.  Chone Figgins – Cardinals. A bit of a surprise here, as most believe Figgins will either sign with the Phillies or return to the Angels. However, the Cardinals struggled with solidifying the top of their lineup all season, and Troy Glaus is no longer a sure thing at the hot corner.

5.  Randy Wolf – Dodgers. L.A. is in the same situation as Boston, and have no idea what their rotation will look like next season. It’s highly unlikely that the Dodgers could acquire Roy Halladay, so Wolf is a must to bring back.

6.  Andy Pettitte – Retirement. Yes, Pettitte is finally going to walk away. After winning a World Series in 2009, who wouldn’t want to go out on top?

7.  Jose Valverde – Yankees. This will be the biggest splash of the offseason in the Bronx, as the will sign Valverde to set up Rivera, and possibly be his replacement.

8.  Marco Scutaro – Red Sox. The Sox let SS Alex Gonzalez walk, and Scutaro fits nicely. He can bat at either the top or bottom of the lineup, and will help SS Jed Lowrie stay fresh throughout the season.

9.  Adrian Beltre – Angels. They will need to fill the void that Figgins leaves, and I don’t think that they are ready to hand over the job to minor leaguers yet. This signing makes much more sense if the Halos are unable to bring back OF Vladamir Guerrero.

10.  Rich Harden – Mets. I believe the Red Sox will get Halladay, and that is why I have Harden going to the Mets. In desperate need of starting pitching and a winning club, look for New York to go on a spending spree to try and fill the stands at Citi Field.

11.  Mike Cameron – Royals. Kansas City already declined Coco Crisp’s option, and they need a center fielder. Frankly, the need elsewhere for Cameron’s services is limited.

12.  Johnny Damon – Giants. The Giants need to add offense, and Damon would fit nicely by the bay. Damon would also be the final piece of an outfield that includes Aaron Rowand and Nate Schierholtz.

13.  Orlando Hudson – Diamondbacks. It was a mistake letting Hudson walk in the first place, and Arizona was a dreadful team last season. They need to make improvements, and second base is one of the many holes on this club.

14.  Miguel Tejada – Orioles. I think Tejada would be good for the Phillies,

Miguel Tejada (above) could dawn that same Orioles' uniform again.

 but I just can’t see that happening. After the relationship soured between Baltimore and Melvin Mora last season, a hole at third base opened up for Tejada to step right back into.

15.  Joel Pineiro - Mets. New York needs rotation help, and its no secret that GM Omar Minaya likes the idea of building a latin oriented team.

16.  Nick Johnson – Orioles. Baltimore let 1B Aubrey Huff go at the trade deadline, and can afford to offer an incentive laden deal to the oft-injured Johnson.

17.  Aroldis Chapman - Reds. This could be the surprise of the offseason. After all the hype, when teams actually see him throw, I believe that his value will fall in the eyes of GMs, and will join the Reds rotation of the future, Edinson Volquez, Johnny Cueto, and Micah Owings.

18.  Marlon Byrd – Rangers. It is the only place where Byrd has had success in his major league career, and there is not much of a market for center fielders, prompting the Rangers to keep Marlon.

19.  Vladimir Guerrero – Twins. This is another surprise pick here, but Minnesota needs to add a bat to help MVP Joe Mauer and 1B Justin Morneau. Guerrero would be the perfect DH to open a new ball park in the Twin Cities.

20.  Felipe Lopez – Dodgers. With Orlando Hudson leaving the Dodgers, Lopez fits right in as a bat in the No.2 hole of the line up, or down at the bottom.

21.  Adam LaRoche – Braves. LaRoche has spent most of his big league career in Atlanta, and the Braves can’t afford to lose too much offense. Look for LaRoche to get a pay raise to ensure that he doesn’t leave Georgia.

22.  Rafael Soriano – Angels. Adding this right-handed late inning reliever will give L.A. the ability to play the numbers, and put in either Soriano or closer Brian Fuentes based on matchups.

 23. Jon Garland - Twins. Minnesota would like another arm to go in their rotation, and Garland would be a nice addition. He is one of the lower pitchers of this year’s crop, so his price will not be outrageously high.

24.  Carl Pavano - Nationals. Pavano was given a shot by the Indians last season, and was then traded to Minnesota. While Carl could still return to Cleveland, the Nationals are in need of a veteran starter, and a stop gap until all their young pitching talent arrives.

25.  Brad Penny - Diamondbacks. Arizona needs everything, and Penny would give the D-Backs a deeper rotation, as well as a veteran starter.

26.  Erik Bedard – Dodgers. Bedard is often injured, and this could lower his price. However, price isn’t much of an issue in L.A. Bedard is also rumored to be a pain in the clubhouse, in which he would fit right in with Dodgers OF Manny Ramirez.

World Series MVP Hideki Matsui (above) won't leave the Bronx.

27.  Hideki Matsui – Yankees. Believe it or not, the Yankees need the Japanese media in New York. Not to mention, Matsui was just World Series MVP, and there is no way that he is let go.

 28.  Bengie Molina – Mets. The Mets need bats, and their offseason spending frenzy will continue with the signing of Molina. Acquiring one of the best hitting catchers in baseball will help New York build a deeper line up.

29.  Mike Gonzalez – Braves. A possible destination is in the Bronx, but if Soriano leaves Atlanta, Gonzalez may like having the closer’s role all to himself.

30.  Jason Marquis – Rockies. Marquis had a stellar first half in Denver, but struggled down the stretch. I believe that he will hold out in hopes of a bigger deal, but the market will not play in his favor and force a return to the Rockies.

31.  Placido Polanco – Rays. Money isn’t a plenty down in Florida, but after trading 2B Akinori Iwamura, the Rays could use a stabalizing force at the top of their line up. CF B.J. Upton was inconsistent last season, which is why signing Polanco could happen.

32.  Tim Wakefield – Red Sox.  Boston’s rotation is very uncertain, and Wakefield has only ever played for one team. If Wakefield doesn’t return to Boston like I believe, look for retirement.

33.  Ben Sheets – Rangers. Sheets has taken a year off to recover from shoulder surgery, and looks to mount a comeback. Not many teams will be willing to offer him a contract, but the Rangers are always in need of starters, and could offer him an incentive laden deal. Not to mention, Sheets is the same kind of pitcher that owner Nolan Ryan used to be, so that must make him attractive.

34.  Doug Davis – Brewers. Davis has already played for the Brewers, and Milwaukee doesn’t have the money to sign a top-notch starter. Davis’s signing looks even more likely since the Brewers claimed him on waivers in August but couldn’t work out a deal.

35.  Jarrod Washburn – Mariners. There were no bitter feelings between the two sides after trading Washburn to Detroit, and the pitcher said that he would like to return to Seattle. The Mariners aren’t deep on pitching, so bringing back Washburn makes perfect sense.

36.  Russell Branyan – Mariners. I don’t believe that any other club will take the chance of signing Branyan, for he very likely could be a one year wonder. Also, Branyan has the desire to stay in Seattle, so why would he leave?

37.  Billy Wagner – Nationals. Wagner has questions about his health and age, which makes him an unreliable option in the late innings. However, he has stated that he wants to close for the Washington Nationals, and they have no one better. There is no reason that this deal shouldn’t get done.

38.  Juan Uribe – Mariners. Uribe had a good season in San Francisco last season, but not good enough to demand a crazy amount of money. The Mariners will need a third basemen if Adrian Beltre opts to leave, making Uribe a fit in Seattle.

39.  John Smoltz – Retirement. Smoltz’s attempt to come back from shoulder surgery failed last season, and there is no reason to believe that he would be able to make it through a full season. I don’t believe any club in contention would take a chance on Smoltz.

40.  Jermaine Dye – Royals. Dye is in the last stretch of his career, and being a former Royal may appeal to him. His market is not that big, therefore Kansas City would be able to afford him.

41.  Mark DeRosa - Phillies.  The Phillies have tried to acquire DeRosa for years. It makes perfect sense for both sides, as Philadelphia will need a third basemen going into next season.

42.  Coco Crisp – Padres. Money is an issue for San Diego, and it helps that Crisp can’t demand a ton of it. The Padres need an outfielder, and Crisp would be a nice addition to the top of the line up.

43.  Carlos Delgado – Blue Jays. Delgado is another aging superstar, and

Carlos Delgado (above) could also be returning to Toronto.

may want to return to his old stomping ground in Toronto. The Jays are totally devoid of power, and could bring back Delgado at a low price.

44.  Orlando Cabrera – Twins. Both sides have interest, as Cabrera was the emotional leader of last season’s squad. I don’t see Cabrera going any place else.

45.  Gregg Zaun – Rays. The Rays need a backup catcher, and Zaun is cheap. Perfect fit.

46.  Jim Thome – White Sox. Thome has had a good run in Chicago, and the only other place I could see him landing would be Cleveland. I think the issue here will be money, and Thome will not get what he want, but Chicago will offer a little more than Cleveland.

47.  Fernando Rodney – Phillies. Rodney is a good fit in Philadelphia because of his versatility. He can close, set up, and pitch in middle relief. If Brad Lidge struggles again next season, Rodney would be the best insurance policy.

48.  Xavier Nady - Diamondbacks.  Nady provides corner outfield depth, and can play first base. He’s not an all-star by any means, but a decent player that could help out in Arizona.

49.  Kiko Calero - Rays. Calero would be cheap, and as I have previously said, that makes him a fit as a reliever in Tampa.

50.  Rafael Betancourt – Rockies. Betancourt was one of the Rockies best relievers last season, and there will be interest in him. However, I think Colorado will offer some decent dollars to Betancourt, and keep him around.

There is one thing that I did agree with on the site, and it is that this is a difficult puzzle. If one player signs with one team, it ultimately could effect another team’s interest in another player, and all sorts of mayhem in which is the MLB offseason. Although, I thoroughly believe that my predictions will prove more accurate.

Even though a Bush-era request to conduct blanket searches of computer files was rebuked by judges, the Obama administration is now pushing to have the decision reversed, according to court documents filed the week of Thanksgiving.

U.S. Solicitor General Elena Kagan, an Obama appointee, and twenty other government attorneys submitted a brief to the Ninth US Circuit Court of Appeals, making a very extraordinary request. They want their position heard again, this time by all 27 judges in the region.

In August, an “en banc” panel of 11 judges from the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals decided federal prosecutors went too far when they seized the drug test results of 104 pro baseball players five years earlier. The ruling included guidelines for computer search conduct designed to protect Fourth Amendment privacy rights, in the style of Miranda rights.

Chief Judge Alex Kozinski wrote at the time that the government “must maintain the privacy of materials that are intermingled with seizable materials, and … avoid turning a limited search for particular information into a general search of office file systems and computer databases.”

In 2006, the 9th Circuit initially sided with the Bush administration against the Major League Baseball Players Association in a 2-1 decision.

Back in 2003, the warrant in the hands of the prosecutors allowed them to search urinalysis records of ten pro baseball players at a Long Beach drug-testing facility. They claimed the information on other players found in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet was in plain sight, and therefore lawful. But the Court of Appeals argued agents could have selected, copied and pasted only the rows listing the specific players named in the search warrant.

Instead they scrolled to the right side of the spreadsheet to peek at the test results of each player. The names of four players not linked to the warranted BALCO investigation were later leaked to The New York Times. In the public eye, power-hitters David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez and Sammy Sosa may never scrub clean the taint. Sosa will be eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2013, along with controversial star Barry Bonds.

The player’s union accused The Times of breaking the law. “The leaking of information under a court seal is a crime,” he said in a statement. “The active pursuit of information that may not lawfully be disclosed because it is under court seal is a crime.”

Michael Schmidt, the reporter, insists he did nothing wrong, “It is the choice of the source to talk. I believe it is legal and ethical for me to ask questions of people who may be covered by court orders.”

During the slow news week of Thanksgiving the Obama administration took action, seeking to reverse the 3-month old decision. Wired Magazine and libertarians had applauded the dramatic reductions to the government’s search-and-seizure powers, but the government now claims “computer searches have ground to a complete halt” in some districts.

Inside a 27-page brief submitted to the San Francisco-based court Nov. 23 (and made available on the Wired Magazine website) Solicitor General Kagan and twenty other undersigned government attorneys insist the 9th Circuit Appeals judges must “withdraw the en banc panel’s decision.” In other words, throw out the 11-judge ruling and review the case again with all 27 of its judges, an unprecedented request.

“The United States is mindful that this Court has never granted full court en banc,” the brief states. “Indeed, the federal government has never asked the Court to do so. But the broad issues unnecessarily addressed in the en banc panel’s opinion are of surpassing importance and compel that extraordinary action.”

The court said rather than copy an entire drive, the government should cull the specific data described in its search warrant. Otherwise, use an independent third party to comb through files under court supervision, providing nothing else to government agents. So, which Fourth Amendment protections are unnecessary?

The government is pointing to a nauseating rape case to argue investigators are now the ones in handcuffs. “Agents did not obtain a warrant to search the suspects’ computers,” the government wrote, “because of concerns that any evidence discovered about other potential victims could not be disclosed by the filter team.”

After the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the last avenue available to the solicitor general would be a review from the Supreme Court.

This story was originally written for RawStory.com by Gavin Dahl.

Contribution by Michael Battaglia

Representing the site’s first photo contribution, here’s a photo I took one night at a Dodger game with my cell phone camera. Playing Left Field that night was a very, very small Manny Ramirez.

Photo By Michael Battaglia

Where I Got Swine Flu From Jager...

Hey all. If it wasn’t brought to your attention, I have been on a blogging hiatus because I’m studying for my LSAT on December 6th. I guess God was smiting me because I contracted Swine Flu. My friends say it’s because I’m a pig. I say it’s because I had sex with your mother. BOOSH! Some say this is karma. Me? Well, I totally agree. Even though dystonia-girl was just looking for attention and is a big fat faker[edit:Not a faker, her symptoms were mostly mental] who turned out to have a speedy recovery. Well lah-dee-dah, your highness. Do cheerleaders just get everything? Grrr.

Well, as we all know swine flu is very serious and I’ve put a lot of thought into it. So here is my last will and testament:

I never was a rich man, basically because I have a slew of terrible habits. What little money I do have though, will go to who ever tracks down Maddox (the self proclaimed famous blogger) and kick him right in his self-serving balls. This guy is funny, sure, but his act is kind of tired and his book sucked. Know what else? He didn’t respond to my email. And I’m not just some kid whining he didn’t meet Maddox. Nope. He called out Swine Flu on his blog, and I was going to sneeze in his face and spit in his ginger ale as he requested.

To Berstreet: I’ve shaved my head and bagged the hair. Now you have costume material for years to come. You’re welcome.

To Tom Coughlin: I leave you my 16 inch retractable knight-stick. After knowing you did not go home and beat your son-in-law or your own blood who married him, I’m sending this for every Giants fan. Either you start laying down the law or I’ll fucking haunt the Meadowlands. Don’t mess with me. I’ll have NOTHING better to do. Hell, you can even use this to hit your wife. I don’t care. Just get mean again. Or I’ll have Deacon from King of Queens check your prostate with the GD thing.

To My Parents: Since I’ve prearranged my passing, I’ve deleted all the pornography from my lap top so you can strip it dry of all my writing and give it to a publisher. I’m sure they’ll either make advances on sociopath studies or at least a decent dick-joke sitcom.

To my Dog Rudy (pictured below):

Don't Laugh. He has a disorder.

Rudy, you’ve been a loyal companion for the 3 short years you’ve been alive with me. I know I’m checking out early and that’s usually the dog’s job but for your remaining years, I leave you…my femur. I decided I’m not going to be an organ donor because of the sole fact that I hate those purple bumper stickers with the pun about “Heaven knows we need them here!,” but I decided I can go to heaven missing a leg so a cute puppy can play for years with the strongest bone in the human body. Well, the 2nd strongest bone in MY body but I need the other one for Marilyn Monroe.

*high fives my attorney named Chaz*

To Brian Westbrook: You ruined my chance at playoffs in fantasy football this year for my money league and I think that’s why my body started shutting down. The fact I had Reggie Bush for 4 weeks and he didn’t crack 7 points and then he pops off for 21 while your career could be over just infuriated me. Just like when I dropped Rashard Mendenhall after the week he was benched and I did it thinking no one could grab him before the game. Well, my opponent did and he had 36 points against me. Ugh. Enough about my fantasy miscues, I feel like Ruxin with Gates from The League. Well, Brian. I leave you my frontal lobe. I’m sure you forgot math by now with all your concussions. Actually, scratch the organ donor idea. You can take all of my body parts when you need them if you just promise to drink some fucking milk once in a while and stop being made out of crackers and loose-leaf paper.

To Gally: I had to put a lot of thought into this one. I left you my toilet paper. Basically because you’re an asshole. ZING!

To LeBron James: I left you my tooth paste for you, because it’s very obvious you put your stupid foot in your stupid millionaire mouth when you said you’d be great at football. It was the next game that you sat out an entire half for banging your wrist on the rim while dunking. Now, I’m just a fan and an amateur blogger but I’m about your age so I can talk down to you…DON’T YOU THINK FOOTBALL IS A LITTLE ROUGHER THAN BASKETBALL? Douche.

To Ashton Kutcher: You get nothing. I’m just letting you know me and Patrick Swayze are going to run a fucking TRAIN on Demi Moore. That bitch must suck the blood of the innocent because she gets hotter as time goes on. Real talk.

To Levi Johnston: I’m leaving you my old bike helmet. Why? Because I’m going to be dropping a lot of pianos on your head. You suck something fierce my friend. You aren’t even funny or attractive yet you get Playgirl spreads? You’re the new K-Fed. Congrats. Taco Bell is awaiting your arrival. Scumbag.

To Business Socks from Style Points: I’m going to leave you my autographed Mickey Mantle rookie card that he signed for me as a kid. I’m also going to send you an autographed picture of myself. You might not know it, but you were the first sports blogger to pay attention to me

To Big Troph: I’m going to leave my sense of humor. God knows you guys need one over there.

To Gimp, I’m going to leave you my set of balls because you haven’t done anything man-worthy in a long time. I’m also leaving your name on Megan’s Law.com for all those 9 year olds doing mediocre things posts.

To Tila Tequila, I left you a muzzle and a dildo. If you don’t put on the muzzle just go fuck yourself. Man, last time I used that joke I had to give my dinosaur a bath. Man, could I be on any more fire?!?

It isn’t commonly known to a lot of people that I have OCD. Like Howard Hughes, I saved all my urine. I also didn’t do many drugs. So I am leaving all my pee bottles to the following: Tim Lincecum, Shawne Merriman, Michael Phelps, Dwayne Bowe, Sean Sherk, Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez, Lattimer from The Program, my uncle Ray, former President Bush and fetish porn directors.

And lastly, my girlfriend. I’ve decided that you’re coming with me. Can’t have you cheating on me when I’m in hell heaven. So I’ve left you cyanide in the tea the lawyer just offered you. You’ll be dead before you can cry. See you soon honey!

Dodger Blues

By Corianne Egan

Hollywood is famous for its drama. Unfortunately, all that drama has made its way into their baseball team.

For the last six months, the Dodgers have gotten plenty of media attention, but for all of the wrong reasons. Every month brings a new story to Los Angeles, and as a result, one of the most storied franchises is becoming a side show.

It may have started with acquiring Manny Ramirez and the subsequent media circus his renegotiation became. Two months later, their all-star gets a 50-game vacation for steroid use. He’s riding on a big wheel in the parking lot and smiling, and somewhere Jackie Robinson turned in his grave.

Then they start loosing. Fingers start pointing. That big lead they held over the rest of the National League is shrinking and the walls are closing in. For the second straight year, they are ousted by the Phillies in the NLCS. The power hitting is barely there, the starting pitching is lackluster, and their closer loses his cool.

Oh, but that was just the tip of the sword. For the last two months, after baseball was done for the winter in Los Angeles, the biggest story hasn’t been signings or trade rumors but instead a very public divorce between the team’s CEO and it’s owner.

Frank and Jamie McCourt hate each other. That hatred has become the foundation for newspaper stories, ESPN coverage, and tabloid fodder. Jamie allegedly cheated with her driver. Frank fired her. Both want control of the team. Both claim ownership. They use the media to bicker back and forth. Even when GM Ned Colletti says that this mess doesn’t affect the team, odds are against them.

This is the story of the present day Dodgers. They have an all-time roster that includes Sandy Koufax and Pee Wee Reese. Have they finally succumbed to that L.A. lifestyle? Prices are rising for their tickets and concessions every year. Their franchise is acting out the script to Major League, except they don’t win in the end. Is there any hope?

I don’t think so. The Dodgers just aren’t what they used to be. Their fans just aren’t what they used to be. They are not recognizable. They’re just so… L.A.

Do you think baseball’s steroids scandal doesn’t affect our kids?  Check out this letter that my son Joe (now 9 years old) felt the need to write to Manny Ramirez when the Dodger slugger was suspended in May for violating baseball’s new drug policy.

Dear Manny Ramirez,

 Hi, my name is Joe.  I am 9 years old.  I live with my dad, my baby brother and my mom.  Why did you take drugs?  Manny, before you took drugs you were great.  You were one of the top players in the history of baseball.  Well anyway, bye.

Sincerely,

Joe Gullo

 P.S.   I think you shouldn’t take drugs because they are bad for your body.  And they are cheating.  Bye.

USAToday has a list of roughly 150 free agents that may be available (you can d/l it here) which got me thinking, what big free agent moves may take place this off season.  Here are the names that really jump out at me (both good and bad):

• Adam LaRoche – the Braves expect him to be gone, doesn’t see like there is much interest on their part to keep him on the team. After the trade that acquired him I thought he was going to stay for a few years…A solid player, if he hits the market should land with no problems.
• Paul Byrd – the guy is pushing 39 and, lets face it, after the way he treated the 2009 season I cannot see him staying in the majors much longer.
• Jason Varitek – New York, anyone?  Well… not the Yanks but the Mets; however, it seems that rumor is dead. Again, another player reaching the end of his career.  While still able to produce, how many games would he be able to pull off behind the plate?
• Tim Wakefield – Surprise!  He’s back with Boston – including 2011!
• José Contreras – 2009 was a bad, bad year for him.  A stint in the minors and a trade from the Sox really didn’t do much to help him find his game.  After 13 losses and 5.42 era can anyone really expect Jose to be hot on the market?
• Aaron Boone – No real “news” here except it was good to see Aaron play a few games after open heart surgery.  I’m expecting retirement.
• Vladimir Guerrero – while having lower output due to DL time here is a many that can produce for a time. He still has a number of years ahead of him and, sure we can debate it, but chances are he will end up in the hall.
• Miguel Tejada – Power down over the last several years (hmmm… a lack of roids?) but good averages. Shortstop anyone?
• Manny Ramirez – Sure he was  sideshow this past year but the man can hit.  I mean HIT. As sad as this makes me to say, his attitude kind of reminds me of Barry Bonds. Any club picking him up has to think about the impact on the locker room.
• Jim Thome – Did nothing in LA…
• Andy Pettitte – He’s in NY, do you really see him going anywhere?
• Johnny Damon – (See above)
• Pedro Martinez – A number of people were surprised to see him go to Philly, and during the series Pedro hinted that his time may be up.  He still can pitch though.
• Ken Griffey Jr. – He has stated he wants to end his career in Seattle, and he is current in talks with the team, but does he want to come back for a 2010 season really remains to be seen.  This man was a pleasure to watch in his time.
• Randy Johnson – Doesn’t look like he is going anywhere except to the bullpen.
• Mark De Rosa – A fan favorite where ever he goes, Mark is expected to stay in the NL (somewhere out east).  09 saw his average drop but Mark is a solid player who would make 3rd baseman when he lands.
• Khalil Greene – What happened to this man?  An impressive play that just fall off the map…

There are a few other notable players on the list (Isringhausen, Smoltz, Ivan Rodriguez) but I need to wrap it up.  From a quick look it sounds like some of the key players will be staying put…  What do you think of the free agent market and will there be any major signings?

On another note – don’t forget the NL Gold Gloves come out today.  I’ll post that later in the evening.

Today’s excellent post comes courtesy of fellow UT media studies grad student Mabel Rosenheck, whose undying passion for the Phillies has *almost* convinced me to put away my Minnesota Twins Homer Hankie.

(Or maybe it’s just Chase Utley, who can really say).

Wholesome and Hardworking Chase Utley

And specifically, Chase Utley meet the minivan majority and minivan majority meet Chase Utley.  Chase Utley is the Philadelphia Phillies 30 year old second baseman. Since getting the call up to the big leagues in 2003, Utley has been named an all-star 4 times, the best offensive player at his position three times and to Team USA at the World Baseball Classic twice. He hits for average (career .295) and power (20+ home runs and close to 100 RBI in his 5 full seasons as an everyday player). He has speed (stealing 23 bases this year, a career high). He has defense. He catches balls that should be hits in right field and throws to first to complete the double play. He is what baseball people call a five-tool player, a Mickey Mantle, a Hank Aaron.

He is also adorable. Not only does he have all-American good lucks replete with deep blue eyes that can send a 95 mile an hour fastball into the stands, but he has also been voted People magazine’s sexiest man in the World Series. Sexier than Derek Jeter. Sexier than Alex Rodriguez. Chase Utley is sexier than Kate Hudson’s boyfriend (or if you prefer a brunette on television, sexier than Minka Kelly’s boyfriend).

He’s also worried about the environment. And he loves puppies. Every athlete has a pet charity, Utley’s comes courtesy of his wife’s dedication to the PSPCA. And the reason she got so involved with the PSPCA? Because she wanted a life of her own when her husband is on the road.

Chase and Jennifer Utley Support the Puppies

But there’s more.

In 2007, Utley signed a 7-year, $85 million contract, foregoing arbitration and opting not to test the free agent market when his initial contract would have expired in 2012. In other words, he is loyal. And though 11 million is nothing to scoff at, with top players like Alex Rodriguez making close to $30 million, and Utley’s worth undoubtedly closer to 20 million than 10… It’s hard to call the guy greedy.

And the list goes on. He hates the spotlight. He just wants to be left alone so he can play the game he loves. He doesn’t want to be a hero. He just wants to help his team and win the World Series. He’s incredibly wholesome, but he’s also just crazy enough to drop the F-bomb on live television.

What Phillies fans have known for years, the rest of the country, and perhaps the minivan majority in particular have discovered this postseason. Chase Utley is not only the man, he just might be their man. The Yankees may have won but Utley may have been the one to make the impression.

There are two linked star systems which must be explored in order to better understand where Utley’s stardom is, where it is not and why. First we should return to a few key points in Annie’s initial blog posting on the minivan majority and second we should examine the construction of sports stardom generally and baseball specifically.

The idea that “people of any race, color, creed or background can make something of themselves with hard work” is of course, the foundation of the American dream of success and affluence. It is also the idea that, perhaps more than any other, underpins the ideology of sport. Fundamental to Utley’s stardom is his dedication to the team and the game. Stories on him often refer to his aggressive workouts, playing injured and incessant game tape viewing. There are a few interesting contrasts to Utley here. One is the perceived laziness of a player like Manny Ramirez who, particularly when playing in Boston in 2008 was criticized for not running out grounders or hustling to fly balls. Another is the undisciplined bodies of big players like Yankees pitcher C.C. Sabathia who is 6’7” and 290 pounds whose size was somewhat inexplicably remarked upon repeatedly in game 4 of this year’s World Series. The point here is that hard work and the disciplined body are linked to a series of discourses which are vital to the game as America’s game, and both the game and the minivan majority as embodiments of America and the American dream.

The Utleys are the Best of Philadelphia

Yet also important to note is that Utley’s body is not too disciplined. He is a model of moderation in every way. In his Phillies uniform we never see flexed biceps or rippling abs. The most we are treated to is a sly glance at his cute butt in tight baseball pants if the camera happens to be cooperating. Though some players conduct shirtless interviews in the clubhouse, never Utley. In endorsements, if not in his uniform, he wears baggy (but not too baggy) athletic shorts and a t-shirt tucked in to the waistband. Though drafted out of high school, he opted instead to attend UCLA where he met his future wife. They dated for 6 years, most of those years long distance, before marrying. Yet they do not embody strict gender roles. Though only now beginning to get press coverage, she is always portrayed as his equal and her confidence in front of the camera is in stark contrast to Chase’s shyness. She is a twenty-first century woman and he a twenty-first century man. They are conservative, as in “those who would like to conserve the current state of things.” She is not a radical feminist, but neither is she Victoria Beckham (or Kate Hudson).

This issue of moderation further speaks to stardom as a dialectic between the ordinary and the extraordinary. One of the brilliant things about sports stardom is how it upholds beauty standards in this dialectic. Utley doesn’t wear makeup on the field, he really looks like that. But we don’t love him for the way he looks (which after all is in part only extraordinary compared to his competition), rather we love him for the way he plays (which has its own aesthetics). And this dialectic is worth highlighting. His athleticism in concert with his good looks provides a powerful moment for awestruck gazes of both women and men, which I would argue is an important function of sports stardom for the minivan majority. Among the recent publicized examples of the male love affair with Utley are Mac’s love letter on a recent episode of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Joe Posnaski’s ode to Utley’s swing on espn.com. There has also been coverage in People and elsewhere of this team’s sex appeal for women. It is noteworthy here that minivan majority celebrity gossip outlets like People and Access Hollywood have developed an investment in Utley’s stardom and his start text in the past week or so. Though I’m sure they regularly follow Alex Rodriguez and Kate Hudson, there are never interviews with Jimmy Rollins’ fiancé, or C.C. Sabathia’s wife but there are with Jennifer Utley.

That Chase Utley swing.

Though I could further explore the fascinating gender politics at stake in the Utleys, instead I wish to use this as a segue to another of Annie’s points about members of the minivan majority and the Utleys, they are white. Contemporary sports are generally dominated by blacks (and in baseball’s case, latinos). The NBA is 76% black, the NFL, 66%, Major League Baseball? 60% white (about 8% black, and %30 Latino). MLB, with a star like Chase Utley would seem primed for the minivan majority to launch him into superstardom. But the problem with Utley, I think, is that the sports media doesn’t know what to do with him. Because of his intense privacy (and being a legendarily terrible interviewee and never having any soundbites worth airing again and again and again), they can do nothing but watch him play, watch his white, male body in motion and watch that swing. and I think there is a discomfort there that prevents Utley from becoming a more conventional sports star. This is also however, what makes him potentially the perfect embodiment of the star. As Orin Starn related for the New York Times “we want these athletes to astonish us, but we also want to imagine them as someone like us.” With no fixed identity, Utley’s authentic, white masculinity allows the minivan majority– both male and female– to imagine away. He embodies (and brings forth) the anxiety of both the male gaze and the active female gaze up on the white male body. Thus far, People and Access Hollywood (though also It’s Always Sunny) seem to have been more successful in capitalizing on that anxiety which he embodies. It remains to be seen whether the sports media, ESPN or Major League Baseball will find a way to parlay Chase Utley into the minivan majority icon that he clearly could be.

Exactly what it says on the tin.  I raided the newest stuff that had found it’s way into the discount bin at Shopko when I was in there on Saturday.  Also picked up two 2007 topps ‘52 Rookies packs, a pack of 2008 Mayo football, and the most boring pack of 2008 topps Heritage ever made.  More on that stuff another time though; we all about the Chrome right now!  I got shorted a card in one pack, so only 27 cards.  This is everything:

The Harden Refractor is a keeper until he ends up somewhere else...

J-Roll is a blue refractor parallel #ed /200. And did those X-Fractors scan nice or what? Randor Bierd & Matt Holliday

Grady's a Refractor if you can't quite tell. Manny's going to Wicked Ortega. Someday. Adam Jones is for Beardy. So's Prince Randor of Eternia if he wants him.

Everyone except for Harden (for now), Manny, Pacman Jones, & maybe Randorrrrr are available for trade.  Call ya shot.

Over and out!

Okay – I got the prediction wrong…  (I know – I owe Stu Perlin a dollar…)  The Phillies were certainly good enough to win, but one bad relief appearance turned game four from what looked like a legitimate duel into the type of situation from which few teams ever escape – winning three in a row and the last two on the road.

So, the Yankees are the champions – lest Brian Cashman remind us that while New York has ample resources that no other team has access to, they still had the heart of champions and got the job done – and yet I can’t help but think that the Yankees are the best team that money can buy.  After a recent SABR meeting, a few of us were discussing the plight of small market teams like my neighborhood Florida Marlins and realized that if they can’t keep Dan Uggla, how would they have kept all the other players the Yankees have.  I mean – sure, Posada and Jeter and Rivera and Pettitte were developed by the Yankees, but had those same four come up with Florida at that time, would they still have teal jerseys?  I mean, Miguel Cabrera and AJ Burnett and Josh Beckett and Trevor Hoffman all came up with the Marlins (not to mention Brad Penny, Dontrelle Willis, and others), and none of them are still Phish.

Which means that if the Yankees come up with a star, they can keep him.  And, if the Yankees need a star (or four), they can buy them.  And while they may not win the World Series every year – and baseball has more different champions than most in recent years (eight different champs in nine years , compared to the NHL [7], NFL [6], and NBA [5]) – the Yankees and few others consistently make the playoffs every year.   That’s probably enough to write about for a separate blog entry…

I’ve been keeping up with baseball but not writing as much as I had during the season, so let’s get caught up with the managerial carousel, hot stove stories, and anything else that I should have mentioned in the last week or so – and then we can get back to more daily entries.

The Waiting Room

Three members of the Phillies will be taking medical leaves soon.  Brad Lidge (elbow evaluation and removal of debris), Scott Eyre (removal of debris from elbow), and Raul Ibanez (sports hernia) are headed to surgery. [ESPN]

Thanks for Playing!

Manny Ramirez knows that he won’t get a better deal, so he signed his one-year option for $20 million and will remain with the Dodgers.  Manny wasn’t bad last year – but he missed all that time from the steroid suspension and he was just pretty good the rest of the year.  Personally, I don’t know how many more years Manny will be a 150 game player with way above average production, but the Dodgers have to hope it’s one more year.  Which McCourt will get Manny in the divorce settlement?  [SI]

The Minnesota Twins rewarded Michael Cuddyer for his 32 homer season by picking up his 2011 option, worth $10.5 million.  Cuddyer was signed through 2010, when he is scheduled to make $8.5 million, but chose to keep him a second season rather than pay $1 million to let him go.  Cuddyer is a good player and turns just 30 in spring training, so this is a very reasonable move for the Twins.  [ESPN]

That’s more than two pitchers will get…  The Phillies agreed to pick up Cliff Lee’s option for 2010, which is just $9 million (truly a bargain considering how well he has pitched the last two seasons).  And, the Diamondbacks are going to keep Brandon Webb for a year, hoping to get something following a season in which Webb made just one start on opening day and spent the rest of the time nursing a sore shoulder.  Webb’s option was worth $8.5 million.

Trading Places

The White Sox moved infielders Josh Fields and Chris Getz to the Kansas City Royals for third baseman Mark Teahan.  Teahan had been more of a utility type the last two or three seasons in KC and is happy to move to third base.  This means that Gordon Beckham, the Sox rookie third baseman, will be moving to second base for 2010.  Teahan reminds me of Joe Randa with a bit more options in the field.  He’s not going to be a game changer, but he’s a good guy to have around.  But what the Royals getting?  Fields is another big swing, no patience guy who might be okay – but they have Alex Gordon at third anyway and it’s not like they need more free swingers in KC.  Chris Getz is a tolerable second baseman – some speed, but not much else.  The Royals fan in me hopes that Fields returns to his 2007 form, but I think that’s expecting a lot.

A couple of years ago, Chris Gomez came to the Twins in the Johan Santana trade – but with Gomez a fourth or fifth outfielder in Minnesota, he was expendable.  Milwaukee has a new young shortstop in Alcides Escobar and J.J. Hardy was expendable.  The Twins will need a new shortstop after Orlando Cabrera leaves town – so you had two teams who could help each other out.  The Twins sent Gomez to Milwaukee where he will likely replace outgoing Mike Cameron in centerfield and received Hardy, who is now two years away from being eligible for free agency.  [ESPN]

Among those rumored to be traded – Toronto ace Roy Halliday, who becomes a free agent after 2010, is likely to be moved.  I’m not sure I’d do that – unless you can get three regulars, or two regulars and two prospects.  The Jays are building for a future and hope Halliday is the right bargaining chip for that process.  [MLB]

Free Agent Filings

Among those filing for free agency…  Pedro Martinez, Brett Myers, and Miguel Cairo.  Myers was told by the Phillies that they would not pick up his option for 2010.  Coco Crisp and Miguel Olivo, both of Kansas City, are now free agents…  Mike Cameron and David Weathers will also be filing this year; Weathers was bought out by the Brewers for $400,000.  The White Sox bought out Jermaine Dye’s option – he’s now on the market.  The Nationals paid $1 million to buy out Austin Kearns, who now becomes a free agent.  The Mets paid $1 to buy out J.J. Putz, who becomes a free agent, and Carl Pavano also filed, bringing the list to 120 names.

Managerial Roller Coaster…

Joe Torre might stay longer than 2010 – when his three year deal ends.  How much longer is Don Mattingly willing to wait???  [MLB]

Happy Birthday!

The original Met, Ed Kranepool, turns 65 today…  Others celebrating with cake and cards (or rememberances) include:  Bucky Harris (1896), Wally Westlake (1920), John Denny and Jerry Remy (1952), Gary Lucas (1954), a trio of Cubs – Dwight Smith (1963), Jeff Blauser (1965), and Henry Rodriguez (1967), Eric Anthony (1967), Jose Offerman (1968), and Nick Punto (1977).

Afterthoughts…

Tim Lincecum has an agreement with prosecutors to drop a marijuana possession charge while accepting responsibility for a civil arrest for possession of marijuana accessories (a pipe).  This happens to all first time offenders (first time getting caught, apparently), so the pitcher isn’t getting special treatment.  However, the Giants haven’t said what they plan to do…  [SI]

Cliff Lee verdiende een nieuw contract door zijn sterke tweede helft en play-offs voor de Phillies (Bron: artolog-Flickr)

Manny Ramirez is ook volgend seizoen speler van de Los Angeles Dodgers. Hij liet zijn team vrijdag weten de optie om voor 20 miljoen dollar te blijven uit te oefenen. Ook play-offheld van de Philadelphia Phillies, Cliff Lee, blijft nog een jaar.

De laatste topper waarvan duidelijk werd dat hij nog een seizoen bij zijn huidige team blijft is Brandon Webb van de Arizona Diamondbacks. De vormalige Cy Young award winnaar verdient komend jaar 8.5 miljoen dollar. Dat is meer dan tien procent van wat het gezamelijke team verdient.

Manny

Ondanks dat het dagelijks spelen zijn tol voor Manny’s lichaam begint te eisen besloot hij toch om in LA te blijven. Volgens hem zou het speelplezier de doorslaggevende factor zijn. Volgens kenners is het echter voornamelijk een financiële kwestie. Door zijn schorsing van dit voorjaar wegens dopinggebruik en de economische neergang zou hij nergens het geld kunnen verdienen dat hij nu verdient.

Manny Ramirez has decided to exercise his 2010 player option for $20 million.  Given that Ramirez batted .290 hit 19 home runs and 63 RBIs in a shortened season will not give him the leverage to command a better deal.  Last year it took Ramirez 4 months to decide what he would do, but it took it almost no time to decide this year.  It’ll be interesting to see what he can fetch starting in 2011.  Ramirez will be 38 for the start of the 2011 season, so he can expect to see a 3-4 year contract offer depending on his output next.  Barry Bonds was able to fetch high dollar value $18-22 million in the last years of his career, but that was because he could put people in the seats to watch him chase Mays, Ruth and Aaron.  Although Ramirez will be in the 600 homerun club, don’t expect him to draw sold out stadiums in 2011 or beyond.

Please help me welcome a new pro football endorser to Team AdvoCare.
Manny Ramirez has used AdvoCare products for 4 years, and at 6′3″ and 326 lbs he is a presence as the starting left guard for Detroit. Originally from Houston, Manny played at Willowridge High School and was rated as the No. 95 high school prospect in the state of Texas by Superprep recruiting magazine. Upon graduation, Manny chose to attend Texas Tech University to continue his football career and studies. While at Tech, Manny was known for his intelligence and leadership on the field as he made all of the “Line Calls” (blocking scheme adjustments made at the line of scrimmage) during his final two years. He also served as the offensive line’s mentor for the younger players. Manny also twice set the football school record in the Bench Press with lifts of 525 lbs in 2004 and 550 lbs in 2005!

“With AdvoCare products, I have more than enough energy to give 100% to my intense workouts, and still be able to go home and enjoy playtime with my two-year-old daughter.”

See his entire profile HERE (thechampionsstore.com)

also be sure and visit thechampionslockerroom.com

Via Diamond Leung, Bob Keisser of the Riverside Press-Enterprise buries an interesting note deep within his column:

There’s finally some good news for Frank McCourt, although it could be considered bad news by some Dodgers fans.

A baseball insider says the club has been contacted by an American League team that is interested in Manny Ramirez if the team will pay part of his $20 million salary for 2010.

It’s a team that plays in a very mediocre division, has a few team officials familiar with Ramirez, and always needs a bump in notoriety.

McCourt could easily explain the decision by referencing the performance-enhancing drug issue. He would also likely receive some off-the-record support from a few old-timers in the dugout. Plus, he can plead financial hardship because of his pending divorce.

Let’s see, here. Well, you’d never call the AL East a “very mediocre divison”, and while I suppose the AL West isn’t on that level, nor does it have the level of ineptitude the AL Central came up with in displaying two 97-loss teams (Royals, Indians) and a third under .500 (White Sox). Cleveland’s GM, Mark Shapiro, has been with the team since 1991, so that satisfies the “team official familiar with Ramirez” part, and as far as notoriety, well, they’re a 97-loss team in Cleveland.

In addition, according to Cot’s, Manny has a full no-trade clause, so the team would have to think he’d at least be willing to consider waiving it. You really think he’s doing that for Kansas City? Of course he’s not. And what was it he said way back in April of 2009?

Manny Ramirez is already yearning for the old days — of Cleveland.

Ramirez, who early last month signed a two-year, $45 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, says a return to the Cleveland Indians before retirement would be ideal.

“I would like to play for Cleveland one more time, to go back where I started,” Ramirez told USA Today. “I have so many good memories there, why not?

“I think to go back where you started is everyone’s dream.”

So yeah, it’s the Indians. That said, this is never going to happen. Scott Boras would only allow Manny to waive his no-trade if the Indians signed him to a new deal, which they’re unlikely to do, and it’s also unlikely that the Dodgers would be willing to eat enough of the deal to have Manny not play for them to make this work.

Besides, as we discussed just hours ago in our 2009 LF review, Manny’s still a dangerous hitter – and one who should be better next year. We really want to trade down from him to Juan Pierre just to save a few million bucks? On second thought, don’t answer that.

Ah, the joys of completely unrealistic early offseason rumors.

Update: to the surprise of absolutely no one, Ned Colletti has denied this rumor. That tidbit brought to you via the Twitter of the LA Times’ Dylan Hernandez, which just so happens to be his very first Tweet. You’ve got to be some kind of bigshot to get your first Tweet linked by the blogs of strangers!

Before we get into left field, I think I need to reiterate our grading scheme here, both because I’ve seen some misunderstandings in the comments and because it’s going to be more important for our left fielders than anyone. The letter grades are A) subjective, meaning they’re based on no statistical work and are only my own feeling, and B) based on reasonable expectations for a player before the year. So just because I gave Russell Martin an F doesn’t mean that I think he should be unemployed, just that he had a terrible year based on what we expected from him. If A.J. Ellis had to play every day and put up the exact same line, he’d probably get a A for it. Got it? Good. Let’s move on to what are sure to be our hardest grading decisions…

Manny Ramirez (D)
(.290/.418/.531 19hr 63rbi)

How do you even grade a year like this? Well, I’ll tell you how I’m not going to grade it – I never expected him to match his 2008 Dodger numbers, which were completely unsustainable and would only have constituted the greatest season in baseball history if held up over a full season, and I’m not going to worry about some of the standard themes we keep hearing of “betrayal”. There’s no question that Manny’s an idiot, but if you were somehow surprised that one of the best home run hitters of the 1990s and 2000s was using a little something extra, then it’s time to pull your head out of the sand. Besides, where’s the outrage over Guillermo Mota? Exactly.

No, we’re going to judge Manny based on his on-the-field performance for the Dodgers in 2009, not based on what gets Kurt Streeter’s panties in a twist.  It’s in that sense that Manny gets a huge demerit for being unavailable for 50 games, and then a bit more for the fact that while he was still good, he wasn’t exactly “vintage Manny”. He’s earned every part of that D. That said, despite his stupidity and the embarrassment he caused the team in 2009, I just can’t give an F to a guy who (if he’d had enough plate appearances to qualify) would have finished 9th in MLB in OPS – ahead of Mark Teixeira, Ryan Braun, Miguel Cabrera, and Alex Rodriguez. So for everything that he did do wrong this season, let’s not go overboard with the “Manny’s unemployable without steroids”, okay?

Let’s look a little deeper into Manny’s season to see if that assertion holds up, splitting it into five sections.

1) Opening Day (4/6) -> Suspension (5/6): .348/.492/.641 1.133

Vintage Manny. Better than his career average, actually, so pretty damned good. I can already hear the squawking that “he was still on the juice!”, but don’t forget: he failed his test in Spring Training – and that for a masking agent, not the actual thing -  so while he may have still been on the ride at this point, he was hardly shooting up before games.

2) Suspension (5/7 -> 7/2)

Dick. No question about it. Dick. Not only for “letting us down”, if you feel personally offended, but by robbing the team of its best bat for six weeks – and by adding insult to injury by subjecting us to Juan Pierre during that time. Dick.

3) Return (7/3) -> HBP from Homer Bailey (7/21): .333/.429/.688 1.116

His slightly lower OBP was offset by a bump in SLG, equaling nearly the same OPS as he had before the suspension. I don’t remember anyone complaining that he was no good clean during these two weeks, right?

4) Playing with injured hand (7/22 -> 8/28): .264/.366/.400 .766

Despite constant refusals to admit that taking Bailey’s mid-90s heater off his hand was an issue, Manny was clearly not the same player here. Still, no player ever admits that they’re injured, and if this was related to the juice, he’d have been playing like this as soon as he returned, right? Besides, once he’d had a few weeks since the HBP, presumably healing his hand…

5) End of season stretch (8/29 -> 10/3): .241/.400/.517 .917

…his OBP and SLG perked right up. Granted, the batting average isn’t great. Fortunately, we all know better than to rely on batting average as any sort of indicator, and a .917 OPS is still top 20 if he’d put that up over the entire season.

So yeah, Manny’s a jerk. An asshole, even, if you must, and wildly overpaid both this year and next as compared to his production. No doubt. I might not even mind it all that much if he declines his 2010 option (like that’s ever going to happen), but let’s not act as though he’s David Eckstein now, okay? I think what you’re going to see next year is a Manny who’s not only in a contract push, but one who’s had his pride and reputation severely wounded, with all the motivation in the world to overcome that.

Or, he’ll do something else stupid (and no, Plaschke, the “going into the shower” non-story doesn’t count), not hit, and we’ll boo the hell out of him. Whichever.

Juan Pierre (A)
(.308/.365/.392 0hr 31rbi 30sb)

Nope, that’s not a typo. Perpetual MSTI whipping boy Juan Pierre gets an A. But don’t read too much into it, because it’s not due to the fact that he “carried the team” while Manny was out, which we heard far too many times from clueless announcers on other teams and national broadcasts. See, what they always convieniently forget to mention is that while Pierre was actually very good for the first few weeks of starting (even earning his own post here dedicated to his nice play and improved plate discipline), he was worse than ever after that. Of course, most of the media was so involved in the “feel good story” to notice, but the stats make it pretty clear:

This is a pretty common misconception, because if you remember what actually happened:

Games 1-20: .425/.495/.598  1.093 OPS
Games 21-50: .244/.299/.283  .583 OPS

So if by “such a great job” you mean “had a killer hot streak for less than half of Manny’s absence and was worse than ever for the majority of it,” then yes – great job.

It’s worth nothing that while the Dodgers were 13-7 while he was going good, they were just 16-14 when he was killing the offense. So no, Pierre did not “carry the team” or “save the offense” by stepping in for Manny; he combined a very good stretch with an even longer very bad stretch.

Still, those few weeks were great, and that’s about a few more good weeks than I ever expected from him. So there’s your A. Now let’s get back towards trying to trade him this offseason.

Next! Matt Kemp’s breakout year! Jason Repko’s last hurrah! Xavier Paul’s creepy infection! It’s center field!

Citizens of the Day, “Manny Ramirez” is ready for the World Series, The Vampire Diaries Ian Somerholder, Megan Fox encounters, Title Fight for VH1 Storyteller with Foo Fighters tickets, Psycho Mike’s newest parody song “Farts”, Ghost stories, Bean’s theater experience and Ralph’s Showbiz Beat

In a move that should come as a surprise to nobody, SI.com’s Jon Heyman is reporting that Manny Ramirez will exercise his $20 million player option for 2010.

Nobody in the Los Angeles Dodger organization should be surprised by this. This was a no brainer decision for Ramirez. At the end of the day, Ramirez didn’t have any other options.

Manny will be back with the Dodgers in 2010

What was he going to do? Back out of his contract and test the free agent market?

No team was going to give him a multi-year deal and no team was going to give him $20 million. Not after a year coming off a steroid suspension.

He had no choice but to exercise his option.

As for the Dodgers, this isn’t the worst move in the world. It’s not like the Detroit Tigers situation where they are going to pay Magglio Ordonez $18 million next year.

Despite having a down year by his standards, the Dodgers were still 59-40 with Ramirez in the lineup and he is still a presence in the middle of their lineup.

His .949 OPS still ranked seventh amongst National League hitters.

If Ramirez left, who were the Dodgers going to get to replace him? If they wanted a Matt Holliday or Jason Bay, they would have to shell out a long-term contract to either of those two.

With the Dodgers’ ownership situation a mess, I don’t see them shelling out any long-term deals to anyone these days.

Even at 38-years-old, Ramirez can still hit the value of his contract. The Dodgers will have one more year of Mannywood.

All things considered, it’s not the worst thing in the world.

From SI’s Jon Heyman’s Twitter:

manny will exercise $20-million option and stay with #dodgers. #diamondbacks will pick up webb’s $8.5-million option.

Shockingly, Manny’s taking big money rather than going into a depressed free agent market after a year of tarnishing his reputation and somewhat underperforming. Who’d have thought?