Jamie Mottram's Sports Blog - www.misterirrelevant.com

It's almost a joke to even attempt to maintain a site called Hardball Bloggers when David Pinto does such a good job at covering the game and its coverage over at Baseball Musings. For example, here are the top five things I learned from reading his site for five good minutes this morning:

1. Konerko turned down $65 million from Baltimore. Good. We don't need to sink $13 million/year into a guy who's not even one of the top-five 1B in the game.

2. The Yankees aren't seriously considering moving Jeter or A-Rod to CF. I do agree with Pinto that it would improve their team. Plus, I'd love to see Yanks fans' beloved Jeter displaced from his preferred position.

3. The Estaban Loaiza signing was not a good one for Oakland. Loaiza pitched well in DC, but that ballpark is bigger than Yellowstone. Regardless, SF Chronicle reports that Zito may be traded.

4. Toronto may sign Brian Giles and A.J. Burnett, too. That would be over $100 million spent on Giles, Burnett and B.J. Ryan. That's a lot of cash to spend on three good-not-great players. Although Pinto says Giles is the best hitter available, which I find hard to believe (but don't have the time to disprove!).

5. No one may get elected to the Hall in 2006. Albert Belle and Orel Hershiser are the strongest first-time guys (no and no) and Bruce Sutter is the closest holdover guy. Yawn. I will say this though, this is my favorite athlete ever Will Clark's first year on the ballot and I have a bet with Lush that he'll get more votes than Mattingly. Let's go, Thrill!

Update: Konerko re-signs with Chicago for $60 million over five years. I guess Jim Thome's campaigning did the trick.

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• #2 Comment from monponsett 
  11/30/05 5:15 PM | Permalink

  Your last two entries have an AJ, a BJ, and a CJ. I'm waiting for the Dennis Johnson article.
• #1 Comment from georgecoztanza 
  11/30/05 1:05 PM | Permalink

  It would be great idea.....if real baseball played like MVP Baseball dynasty mode, but if the Yankees did move Jeter to CF, I think it would have the opposite effect. Yankee-haters would probably cringe subjected to the inevitable talk of how Jeter had joined the likes of Mantle and DiMaggio in the hallowed grounds of CF.