Thursday, February 15, 2007

Quick Hits: Bedard and MLB Stuff

The O’s and Erik Bedard are gearing up for an arbitration showdown within the next few days. Jeff Zrebiec, Baltimore Sun writer, took a look at the situation at hand in his latest article.

Does he deserve the money? Guess whose record his numbers compare closely to.

Bedard

Zito

Zito. The 126 million dollar-man.

Will Bedard win? Maybe. Bedard has a legitimate for the money he wants, and considering the market is for pitching, he might have a shot to win. To be honest, the Orioles are depending on him for the future, and it might be a good thing to give him the benefit of the doubt when it comes to this argument.

Here’s Bedard’s take:

Bedard, his agent, Mark Pieper, and Orioles officials have not made much progress on settling on a one-year deal for the 2007 season. Bedard, who went 15-11 with a 3.76 ERA last season, is asking for $4 million, while the Orioles offered $2.7 million. If the two sides don't compromise, the case will be heard by an independent arbitrator Tuesday in Phoenix.

"Whatever happens, happens," Bedard said. "I don't know. I think it will go all the way if you ask me."

and…

Through yesterday, major league owners were 4-0 in arbitration cases. Bedard's take on that record: "So what?"

Bedard sure has an interesting way of putting things, and I think he wants to get paid what he thinks he’s worth. Could we have another Rodrigo on our hands if he does not win his case? Stay tuned.


More Mariano: Mariano is taking a stand against the Yankees and his contract talks. In a crazy winter in the Bronx, a lot of the drama has now gotten to Florida.

This what Mariano said Tuesday.

From ESPN: Mariano Rivera had this warning for the New York Yankees: If he becomes a free agent, he'll consider offers from other teams.

"Everybody has the same shot," he said Wednesday. "The Yankees will not have an advantage."

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman called the 37-year-old closer Tuesday night, a day after Rivera said he was hoping for a contract extension. Cashman told Rivera his preference is to push back the matter until after the season.

And…

The Yankees always knew that I wanted to be with the Yankees and finish my career with the Yankees," he said. "If they don't want to do [anything] with me, I'm not go home crying. I'm going to move on."

He doesn't see himself playing in another uniform.

"But if I have to, I have to do it," he said

Good grief. What’s going on up there? I can see something working out, but right now the drama with that team is beyond ridiculous.

Ball Fight: Well, in baseball’s version of Pleasantville, St. Louis – a fight is ensuing. Cardinals catcher, Yadier Molina kept the World Series-winning ball and doesn't plan to give it up it is in Puerto Rico. Adam Wainwright wants the ball too, as he struck out Brandon Inge to clinch for the Cardinals.

This is stupid. Both men should just give the ball to team or share it with the people of St. Louis.

Hear their excuses:

(ESPN): Said Wainwright: "Hopefully, he'll change his mind. The final three outs of a World Series -- how often do you get to do that in your career? But then, who's to say we would have gotten to that point had he not hit the home run against the Mets in the [NLCS] or if he doesn't [bat] like .4000 in the World Series? He probably does deserve it."

(ESPN): Said "He was trying to get that ball from me, I know," Molina told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in Tuesday's edition. "He deserves it. He does. But that's the one thing I have from a long season. I hit .216. It was a tough year. I didn't earn much else, but I have that ball. That's my reward."

I love Molina’s excuse. If the two of you had any sense, just let the people enjoy the ball and the memories of 2006.

Indians Add a Reliever: Free agent Cliff Politte signed a minor league contract on Wednesday as the Indians added another experienced right-hander to their revamped bullpen.

No Jail for BALCO Reporters: Two San Francisco Chronicle reporters will avoid jail time under a plea agreement by a criminal defense lawyer who admitted leaking them secret grand jury documents from the BALCO steroids investigation. (CNNSi)

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