ESPN is reporting that the Reds are considering dealing Ken Griffey, Jr. to the Rays.  The Reds always seem to have a logjam in their outfield.  The Rays could use a veteran presence on a team that has a very young team that has a legitimate chance to make the playoffs.  The Rays do have prospects to deal in return from Griffey.  Will the deal get done or is this just another unsubstantiated rumor?

In a nail-biter of a game, Chicago Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano left in the 7th after recording two outs with what WGN Superstation is reporting as 'right shoulder discomfort'. In other words, 'bad news'.

Unfortunately I did not get to see the injury first hand, and according to MLB's Gameday, Zambrano was still registering his typical 92/93 MPH on his fast balls. However, on the last pitch of the night for big Z, no. 100, his fastball was at 89 MPH. Not as substantial as the decrease in velocity that Putz had a week ago, but nonetheless noteworthy.

More updates to come...

Beckett to Miss Start
 
Red Sox ace Josh Beckett will miss his only scheduled start this week.
 
The shakeup in the rotation is due Daisuke Matsuzaka's return from a shoulder injury and Bartolo Colon's placement on the disabled list Tuesday. Matsuzaka is slated to start Saturday's game. Jon Lester's start has been moved to Sunday and Beckett will start Monday against Arizona.
 
Sexson May be Released
 
Days after the Mariner’s fired GM Bill Bavasi, Richie Sexson may be the next to be sent packing.
 
The Everett Herald reports the lanky first baseman is likely to be released by the club, possibly as soon as the end of the week. Sexson, who is in the final year of a four-year/$50 M deal, has seen his numbers regress considerably since hitting 39 homers and driving in 121 during his first season with the Mariners.
 
This season, the former All-Star has posted nine homeruns, 23 RBI and a .219 batting average. The M’s recalled catcher Jeff Clement Tuesday to split time behind the plate with Kenji Johjima, who’s also struggled this season. Johjima has reportedly been taking pre-game reps at first base recently.

This writer got it wrong last week when discussing the possible landing place for maligned starting pitcher Sidney Ponson.  I thought that it was safe to eliminate all previous destinations as a possible new home for Ponson but today the New York Yankees signed him to a Minor League deal.  The same New York Yankees that signed him in 2006 -- one week after he was released by the Saint Louis Cardinals.

The 31-year-old Ponson will report to Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre and could soon provide the Yankees with starting pitching depth in the wake of the loss of ace Chien-Ming Wang for at least six weeks.

This season, Ponson is 4-1 with a 3.88 ERA but was exiled from the Rangers after a series of the off-the-field incidents.  No time table was given for a return to the Majors for Ponson and Dan Giese is still set to make his first Major League start on Saturday against the Cincinnati Reds in place of the injured Wang.

Rarely does breaking sports news occur at 3:14 a.m. EDT.  Usually, that time is reserved for the sports news wire to cool down and ESPNEWS to run on a loop.  If you took the shock of owner Robert Irsay's move of the Colts from Baltimore to Indianapolis at 3 AM and the embarrassment of former Dodgers pitcher Dave Stewart being caught in an alley with a transvestite hooker, you have the reaction brewed up from the firing of Willie Randolph on early Tuesday.

There were a number of ways that Mets GM Omar Minaya could have handled the termination of Willie Randolph but public perception indicates that Minaya might have picked the worst possible way to do it -- even if it was "standard procedure."  Who could blame the Mets for terminating Randolph?  They could have done it last year when Randolph's Mets lost 12 of their last 17 games and blew a seven game divisional lead to miss the playoffs.  The Mets could have fired Randolph in mid-May when the team was swept by the Braves.  No one would have been surprised if the Mets fired Randolph after he criticized SNY -- the team's own television network -- and played the race card as a possible reason for him not being in control of the team.  Even if Randolph was fired last Thursday after the team lost six of seven, no one would have blinked an eye.

Instead, on an early Tuesday morning, after the team's second consecutive win, Minaya met Randolph at the team's hotel and verbally handed him the pink slip... then told the world in a 3:15 a.m. EDT press release.  Less than 36 hours after Randolph asked Minaya to fire him if he was going to during a private chat after the Mets split a doubleheader with the Rangers, Minaya "stunned" Randolph by summoning him to his hotel suite in California and informing him that his services would no longer be needed.

In a press conference yesterday, Minaya defended his decision.  He blamed the media circus and the lackluster play of the team.  He claimed the decision was made on Sunday night but he felt he needed to sleep on it to be sure.  In the press conference, Minaya said, "I could not do this on Friday.  I could not do this on Sunday.  The reality is, I made the decision myself after sleeping on it on Sunday.  [The rumors] surrounding this past weekend created a lot of bad pressure.  I didn't think that was healthy for the club.  There's only so much of that that can go on."

The story played out more like Shakespeare's Julius Caesar rather than a managerial firing.  Like Caesar, Randolph had been warned.  Not by Minaya as the GM claims but by the countless media reports and the Shea fans' chants of "Fire Willie!"  Minaya -- Randolph's Brutus -- landed the fatal blow in a way unlike any other manager had been removed from his seat of power and still had the audacity to call Willie a friend.  (Note to Omar: You might want to read Willie's comments when he met the press today detailed on the New York Post's website.)

In firing Randolph the way he did, Minaya added a bigger, better attraction to the circus he had attempted to avert.  Many think the decision was made to fire Randolph away from New York to distance the event from the sometimes vicious New York press.  Today's New York Daily News front page?  "Cowards In The Night" with a picture of Willie Randolph and Daily News writer Bill Madden's words, "Never in the history of New York baseball has there been a more shameful, indecent firing of a manager."  Today's New York Post headline?  "MEET THE MESS."  Throw in amNew York (featuring a quote from our own managing editor, Joe Hamrahi) and the New York Times and New York news readers were treated to over 25 pages of coverage of the "Midnight Massacre."

Now, Randolph -- heavily criticized by the media during his tenure as the Mets manager -- had his Mark Antony.  And based on the fans' reaction to the way the Mets handled the Randolph firing, the already crumbling Mets' empire could be facing darker times.  Unless interim manager Jerry Manuel can turn things around and get the underachieving Mets to play to their potential, the dissenting public voice heard towards Randolph's managerial performance will pale in comparison to the wraith ownership and their GM are already starting to feel.

In the shadows lurk the Wilpons -- the conspirators -- who have allowed Omar Minaya to take most of the collateral damage.  With Minaya's shield removed, the Wilpons could make Minaya next.  It was Minaya who said, "You have to understand that Willie was my hire.  It was my decision to hire Willie, and it was my decision to fire Willie.  I'm responsible too." 

With the bullseye moved from Randolph's back to Minaya's front, it could be the beginning of the end of his tenure as the GM of the other baseball team in New York.  After this, it's doubtful Minaya will get the noble send-off from the media that Brutus received from Mark Antony after his suicide were he to suffer a figuratively similar fate.  Then again, at least Brutus and the conspirators had the courtesy to assassinate Caesar by light of day.

As per usual, it is time to get ready for my weekly segment on ESPN 1450's Mike Gill Show. Today we toss around the following...   more »

Boston    

Bartolo Colon - Back injury, 15-day DL.
Chris Smith - Recalled from Pawtucket (AAA).
    
Chicago Cubs    

Matt Murton - Recalled from Iowa (AAA).
Eric Patterson - Optioned to Iowa (AAA).
    
Chicago White Sox    

Carlos Quentin - Missed 1 game (thumb injury).
Paul Konerko - Oblique injury, 15-day DL (retroactive to June 15th).
DeWayne Wise - Contract purchased from Charlotte (AAA).
    
Cleveland    

Morgan Ensberg - Signed by the Cleveland Indians to a minor league contract.
    
Colorado    

Micah Bowie - Transferred from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL (forearm injury).
Edwin Bellorin - Optioned to Colorado Springs (AAA).
Doug Bernier - Contract purchased from Colorado Springs (AAA).
    
Houston    

Lance Berkman - Missed 1 game (left leg injury).
    
Los Angeles    

Hiroki Kuroda - Right shoulder injury, day-to-day.
Brad Penny - Right shoulder injury, 15-day DL.
Eric Stults - Recalled from Las Vegas (AAA).
    
Minnesota    

Zach Day - Announced his retirement.
    
NY Mets    

Jerry Manuel - Named as the interim manager of the New York Mets.
Willie Randolph - Fired as the manager by the New York Mets.
    
NY Yankees    

Chien-Ming Wang - Right foot injury, 15-day DL.
Billy Traber - Recalled from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (AAA).
    
San Diego    

Brian Giles - Missed 1 game (sore left shoulder).
Paul McAnulty - Lower back pain, day-to-day.
Kevin Kouzmanoff - Back injury, day-to-day.
Chase Headley - Recalled from Portland (AAA).
Justin Huber - Outrighted to Portland (AAA).
    
Seattle    

Jeff Clement - Recalled from Tacoma (AAA).
Wladimir Balentien - Optioned to Tacoma (AAA).
    
St. Louis    

Todd Wellemeyer - Right elbow inflammation, day-to-day.
Yadier Molina - Concussion, day-to-day.
    
Washington    

Paul Lo Duca - Missed 37 games (broken right hand).

I'm still thinking about Hank Steinbrenner and his opinion of the National League. I'd rather not be, but I am.

Genius, that.

Steinbrenner and the Yankees generally aren't on my radar. People sometimes ask me whether I prefer the Red Sox or Yankees. My stock answer is, whichever is playing one of the Padres' division rivals -- oh, the looks I get.

Anyway, the point is that I'm thinking about Steinbrenner because of his goofy comments. And even if I weren't thinking about him, I'd be bombarded by media coverage (I know, I'm part of the problem).

It doesn't matter how goofy Steinbrenner's comments are, he's got the sports world talking about him and the Yankees. Even guys like me, who just don't care about his team.

Having no shame can be a tremendous asset if you understand how to make it work for you. Hank learned from the best, and now he's applying what he knows: It's not important what we think of the Yankees, as long as we think something.

Inspired by Steve Ethridge's articles on CollegeHumor.

With all of the serious baseball discussions taking place recently, I thought we could all use some levity. After reading this, you'll realize why I'll never be a playwright on Broadway.

[Scene: After a hard day of work, Joe Morgan of ESPN and Marcus Hayes of the Philadelphia Daily News are sitting in a diner relaxing and having a cup of coffee. The two people in the booth behind them are talking loudly, so they decide to listen in on the conversation.]

Billy Jameson: My, that Ryan Howard is one great ballplayer.

Nerdy McNumbers: He sure is! So is Manny Ramirez.

Billy Jameson: You know why they are so good? Because of their selfish attitudes and lack of hustle!

Nerdy McNumbers: They lead the league in showboating -- and in strikeouts. One day, I hope to be as cool as them.

Billy Jameson: Me too. Speaking of cool, you know what we need more of? Statistics. Especially statistics that sound weird when you say them.

Nerdy McNumbers: Yes, agreed. Statistics make the thick rims of my glasses tingle with joy.

Billy Jameson: Not as much as my calculator battery!

Nerdy McNumbers: Good one! I'll have to write that one down and post it on my blog, where I take potshots at credentialed members of the mainstream media.

Billy Jameson: I blog too! I live vicariously through the players I watch and then try to tear them down by writing nasty things about them on my blog while I wear footie pajamas in my mom's basement.

Nerdy McNumbers: Quick question: On which hand should I put my catcher's mitt?

Billy Jameson: Which hand do you throw with?

Nerdy McNumbers: I don't know, the last time I put on a glove it was for safety reasons so I could play with my chemistry set.

Billy Jameson: Let's change the subject quickly so we don't come to the realization that we can't play sports well.

Nerdy McNumbers. You're right.

Billy Jameson: I’ve been trying to think of ways to tarnish the reputations of some of the great ballplayers from yesteryear, do you have any ideas?

Nerdy McNumbers: Let’s create a bogus theory where a player’s value is correlated with how many times he gets on base, instead of how many times he sacrifice bunts or let his grit emanate in the clubhouse. This will surely make people realize that Ted Williams and Hank Aaron should have been bench players.

Billy Jameson: Ha, grit! That’s as real as the Easter bunny! Conversely, we could say that strikeouts really aren’t all that bad!

Nerdy McNumbers: What shall our “strikeouts are good” statistic be called?

Billy Jameson: How about EqVFORRAPRPIBAB?

Nerdy McNumbers: Sounds confusing. Let’s use it! Only we will understand it. All of those capital letters are sure to throw everyone off, and even if they start to get it, we have that lower-case q.

Billy Jameson: Now, we need to infiltrate the mainstream media and get them to publish articles about our insane points of view.

Nerdy McNumbers: We can campaign against traditional statistics and shift the focus away from the actual game and onto statistics. Let’s call people who only look at AVG/HR/RBI and W-L/SV “stupid.”

Billy Jameson: No, that’s not condescending enough.

Nerdy McNumbers: I’ve got it! Let’s call them “basic.”

Billy Jameson: That just may be insulting enough to work!

Nerdy McNumbers: I can’t wait until games are played by number-machines instead of by actual people. Being that I have never played a minute in competitive sports, I don’t understand the minutiae of the game, so I hide behind statistics. We need to take the human element out of the game for people like me.

Billy Jameson: Indeed! I would rather sit in front of my computer screen for 12 hours looking at random assortments of zeroes and ones than watching actual human beings play America’s pastime, or worse, actually playing it.

Nerdy McNumbers: In order to further our plan of dominance, we also need to discourage current and future ballplayers from taking a team-first mentality. I say we scoff every time someone mentions how much leadership a player has, and say that hustle doesn’t really win ball games. It's blatantly obvious that the qualities that are generated by our computer programs -- like GPA in math classes -- help win games.

Billy Jameson: Additionally, we need to pay no mind to how “fiery” a player is, even if he’s really fast.

Nerdy McNumbers: That may be too out there. We all know that all fast players are fiery and have lots of determination, as shown by how hard they slide into second base, and then argue when they are called out on a close play.

Billy Jameson: Do you want to eventually rule the game of baseball so that we number-crunching, mom’s-basement-dwelling nerds can finally be good at something? Stick to the plan. Fast players don't have fire and determination, not if we have anything to say about it.

Nerdy McNumbers: You’re right, I’m sorry.

Billy Jameson: I forgive you. All right, it’s getting late. Let’s go home and sleep on our ideas. Tomorrow, we will strike vengeance upon everyone who was better than us in gym class in high school!

Nerdy McNumbers: Roll initiative!