Lee To Not Pitch Against Yankees Friday

In a big move before the All-Star break, Texas traded for southpaw Cliff Lee and right-hander Mark Lowe, sending first baseman Justin Smoak, pitcher Blake Beavan and two other players to Seattle. Lee, despite having the middle name of Phifer, is still having a ridiculous season (2.34 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 89-6 K-BB ratio in 103 2/3 IP) and strengthens the Rangers' already solid rotation.

Most importantly, Lee will not be on the mound when Seattle resumes its four-game series with the Yankees tonight.

Smoak was the Rangers' No. 1 draft choice (11th overall) in the 2008 draft, which has already seen Brian Matusz, Gordon Beckham, Ike Davis, Buster Posey and Pedro Alvarez reach the big leagues. Smoak was hitting .209/.316/.353 with eight home runs in 275 plate appearances for Texas, while Beavan, the No. 17 overall pick in the '07 draft, was 10-5 with a 2.78 ERA for AA Frisco and had just been called up to AAA Oklahoma City Tuesday.

Also, Lee will not be pitching for Seattle tonight against the Yankees.

Pedro Alvarez's Golden Sombrero

A golden sombrero is awarded to a player who manages to strike out four times in a single game (real golden sombrero not included). It's quite the feat unless you're Ryan Howard or Mark Reynolds. Unfortunately, cycles and no-hitters are all the rage nowadays. Not for me, though. I will pour over the box scores to bring you the finest at swinging and missing.

Mr. Alvarez, we meet in this segment so soon. I touted your arrival on June 15th and foresaw this day coming. I didn't think it would be nine games into your big league career but that's no reason we shouldn't throw a party. Dude, you're a power hitter, these things will happen. I have Patron on ice and Jay-Z is going to sing Pittsburgh State of Mind. Okay, I have Costco Tequila and a Steely McBeam pinata. Okay, I have a cactus and a small bag of Peanut M&M's, jerk. Let's just see how you went down in flames tonight.

Top 1st: Alvarez struck out swinging against Ben Sheets. Ben Sheets is from Louisiana and enjoys fantasy football and arm injuries.

Top 3rd: Alvarez struck out swinging against Sheets again. Raise your if hand if you thought Sheets would pitch this deep into the game/season.

Top 6th: Alvarez struck out swinging against Sheets. MTD Hat Trick. Everybody with me now, he struck out 3 times, the same way against the same pitcher.

Top 8th: Alvarez struck out looking against Jerry Blevins.

Don't worry, you'll be fine. It happens to the best of us. That 4-year, $6.4 million contract you signed? That's a little more than I made in the past decade.

He's Coming...

Did I mention I love prospects? I do. They're exciting. They're the new hot girl in school. Everybody is talking about her. Everybody wants one just like her. But for every Stephen Strasburg there's a Laura Newberry. Amirite? At least two people will enjoy that. Anyhoo, I covered Strasburg (in great detail later) and Mike Stanton. So who's next?

Word has it, Pirates' top prospect, Pedro Alvarez, might be called up as soon as tomorrow. The third base slugger was the second overall pick in 2008 and hit 40 home runs and .286/.374/.537 over his two minor league seasons. He has 196 strikeouts against 102 walks so, you know, that's not great. For him. For me, it means I might get to hand out a Golden Sombrero or two.

The big loser in all of this is Andy LaRoche. LaRoche has been playing third for the Pirates since being acquired from the Dodgers in the Manny Ramirez trade. LaRoche was once a highly touted prospect ala Brandon Wood. *sigh* Andy looks to be headed to a super utility role until he eventually lands on another team. I hate when prospects flame out. I'm looking at you, Laura.