Cubs do Something Smart, Sign Scott Baker

A couple of weeks ago, the Chicago Cubs seemingly had a new starting pitcher in Dan Haren while simultaneously dumping the fantastically wild Carlos Marmol at the same time. Angels fans were all kinds of sad face, while Cubbies fans rejoiced. Then something weird happened. The Cubs pulled out. The Cubs. Pulled. Out. Maybe it was something in Danny boys medical record that scared them. Maybe they enjoy the "excitement" whenever Marmol is on the mound. For whatever reason, the trade died, leaving this blogger to believe that Theo Epstein was quite possibly losing his mind.

*Fast forward to yesterday*

Buck Showalter Tries To Downplay Comments

Buck Showalter is awesome. From what I remember, he took over the Orioles half way through last season and managed them to the Maryland state little league championship. But he's become more famous for a recent article published by Men's Journal where he made some comments about Derek Jeter and Theo Epstein which he may or may not remember. I missed that article because I was under the assumption that stuff wasn't printed on paper anymore. So here's a summary from a website...

In the article, titled "Is This Man Too Smart for Baseball?" the magazine quotes Showalter as saying about Jeter: "The first time we went to Yankee Stadium, I screamed at Derek Jeter from the dugout. Our guys are thinking, 'Wow, he's screaming at Derek Jeter.' Well, he's always jumping back from balls just off the plate. I know how many calls that team gets — and yes, he [ticks] me off."

About Epstein, Showalter told the magazine: "I'd like to see how smart Theo Epstein is with the Tampa Bay payroll. You got Carl Crawford 'cause you paid more than anyone else, and that's what makes you smarter? That's why I like whipping their [butts]. It's great, knowing those guys with the $205 million payroll are saying, 'How the hell are they beating us?'"

Showalter goes on to say that he respects both Jeter and the Red Sox organization but I prefer to imagine that he had too many lunch cocktails during that interview and threw a wine glass at a bus boy wearing a Yankees hat.

Yip Free Saltalamacchia Set To Debut With Red Sox

Theo Epstein finally got the catcher he has coveted for years for a somewhat bargain price. Raise your hand if you're surprised. Epstein had been after once-upon-a-time elite prospect Jarrod Saltalamacchia for years and finally swung a deal for him this year at the trade deadline when his value was close to its lowest. Salty was sent to Triple A at the beginning of the season and was raking for a little while. He would have been called up to the big club if it wasn't for his Rube Baker syndrome. In one game, Salty threw 12 errant balls toward the mound like my friend's 3-year-old throws ping pong balls. That kid is terrible at beer pong.

Salty went to a sports psychiatrist for his yips and it might have worked. But at the cost of his slash line, which tumbled. At the trade deadline, Theo jumped at the opportunity to acquire him on the cheap. Tomorrow Salty will make his debut behind the plate for the Red Sox in an attempt to show he just needed a fresh start...

"I'm excited for a fresh start," Saltalamacchia said. "There's a lot to look forward to and I'm just excited to be here. I'm going to learn as much as I can, take this all in and use every opportunity I get.

"I'm excited to be in an organization where they want me. They gave up a lot to get me and I'm ready to do whatever they want me to do."

Red Sox scouts watched him closely to make sure the yips were a thing of the past. He seems to be okay and I'm sure if he has a misfire the Boston fans and media won't blow it out of proportion. They're cool like that.