Sports Blog

September is almost here and that means that prospects and rookies will be brought up to the big leagues for the September Call-ups. While these players have really no value on contending team, On non-contending teams they will be given plenty opportunities to prove their worth. This means that they can have some value for owners looking for a difference maker the rest of the season. Here are some guys you should keep your eye on:

Brandon Allen (1B, ARZ)
Allen has been crushing Triple-A pitching since being traded to the Diamondbacks from the White Sox for reliever Tony Pena. Pena on the other had has struggled, making the Sox kick themselves for trading away a promising player. In 145 Triple-A at-bats, Allen was batting .324 with 12 home runs, and a .641 slugging percentage. Even better he showed a good eye for a power hitter with a .8 walk-to-strikeout ratio. In September he will be fighting for a starting job next season so he is primed for a break out. Pick him up now and stash him away.

Drew Stubbs (OF, CIN)
If your looking for steals and runs, Drew Stubbs is your man. With the Reds out of contention and riddled with OF injuries, he should get regular playing time batting at the top of the line-up. He had 46 stolen bases in Triple-A so you know the speed is there. His bat though is not fully developed yet( .268 Triple-A), so don’t be too gun hoe on him yet. I’d wait and see how he plays before picking him up.

Justin Lehr (SP, CIN)
Lehr has pitched well since his call-up with a 3-1 record in August. Besides the wins his numbers aren’t really as good as his record looks only 14 strikeouts in 38.2 innings. Even worse he has walked just as many batters during that time (14 walks). Before this call-up the 32-year old Lehr was kind of a journey man minor leaguer, not someone you want to be pitching down the stretch for your fantasy team. Don’t be fooled by the wins they can’t last for too much longer. If you do own him deal him now while there is some value.

Matt LaPorta (OF/1B, CLE)
LaPorta was in the Big Leagues earlier this year before he was demoted to work on his swing. Now he’s back up getting regular playing time for the non-contending Indians. In Triple-A, LaPorta hit over .290 and hit 12 home runs in three months. If he can cut down his strikeouts and focus on making contact, he can be a force down the stretch. Pick him up and stash him away cause I see a big finish in his future.

Travis Snider (OF/DH, TOR)
Snider is probably the best prospect to own for the September run. He is a pure hitter that will get plenty of opportunity to perform the rest of the season. Last September he batted .313 and slugged .485 in the Majors, so he knows how to perform to end a season. In Triple-A he batted .337 with 14 home runs so his production has been consistent all year. Pick him up now before he breaks out!

Chris Davis (3B/1B/DH, TEX)
A pure power hitter who can play defense, the only problem is he strikes out a ton. He was sent down earlier this season because of all the strikeouts, but now he is back. He improved his patience at the plate in Triple-A, so it will be interesting to see if he can carry it over. Pick him up now cause his power is top notch.

This week in sports blogs and news:

• Matt Jones busted with cocaine - SI
• What!? Lebron James and Chris Paul lose a pick up game! Three! - Larry Brown Sports
• Fans vote in Longoria and Hart for All-Star team - Fox Sports
• Ex-Florida basketball star charged with rape - Sports By Brooks
• Corey Maggette signs with the Warriors - Fox Sports
• The Okahoma City Thundercats? - Deuce of Davenport

This week on the Smarter Sports Blog we covered:

• Say hello, to my little friend
  
• Indians Trade C.C. Sabathia to the Milwaukee Brewers
• The Team Formerly Known as the Seattle Supersonics
• A’s Trade Rich Harden to the Chicago Cubs
• Elton Brand Leaves the Clippers for Philadelphia

It looks like C.C. Sabathia is headed to the Brewers.

With the trade deadline inching closer, teams in contention have been looking for that extra piece to get to the World Series and it looks like Milwaukee Brewers were the ones willing to give up the most for this major player.

The Cleveland Indians gave up Sabathia in exchange for Class AA outfielder Matt LaPorta, Class AAA left-hander Zach Jackson, Class A right-hander Rob Bryson and a player to be named later.

The Brewers were just one of six teams that were in the Sabathia sweepstakes, which included the Dodgers, who just couldn’t give the Indians what they wanted in return for the CY Young winner.

The Brewers currently are three and a half games behind the Chicago Cubs for first place in the NL Central and would win the Wild Card spot if it had to be determined today. A one-two punch of Sabathia and Ben Sheets could very well be a good combo for the Brewers matching up against other top teams. That is if Sheets can remain healthy.

The Brewers though are going to try to drain every ounce of talent out of Sabathia because next year he will become a free agent where he’ll easily ask for $20 to $25 million per year on a new contract expected to be around six years. That could be too steep for a ball club looking to retain players such as Prince Fielder.

For the Brewers sake and for how much they’re giving up, let’s hope this deal works out for them. If not, then this could be a hard bullet to swallow for many years.

Source: Fox Sports

Photo Source.

Seeing how this is an important moment in sports, I guess I’ll mention it.

The Red Sox are going back to the World Series. Yadda Yadda Yadda.

Yeah, they did put together another impressive comeback after being down 3-1 in the series with the Cleveland Indians, but I still can’t root for the guys.

GO ROCKIES!

Photo Source.

Who would have thought back to spring training that the Colorado Rockies would be representing the National League in the World Series?

Well, believe it now because the Rockies have swept their way into the World Series by eliminating the Arizona Diamondbacks with a 6-4 win last night.

The Rockies have now won 21 of their last 22 games, including their first seven playoff games. The Rockies now await the winner of the Indians/Red Sox series and hope that they can ride this wave for another four wins.

Photo Source.

I have just found another reason to like LeBron James.

Forget that he’s a spectacular basketball player, but the man also has good taste when picking a baseball team.

You’d think that after all the warmth and support he’s been receiving from Cleveland after leading them to the Finals that he’d at least pretend to be a Indians fan, but that doesn’t seem to be the case in this photo. James has a lot of guts to show up to Jacobs Field sporting a New York Yankees cap, claiming he’s been a fan of the pinstripes his whole life.

 Photo Source.

After recently watching a Philadelphia Phillies game, I couldn’t help but notice that the Phillies’ Pat Burrell looked very familiar to me. Then it dawned on me. Who else in this year’s playoff rosters look like familiar Hollywood stars?

This is what I came up with.

• The Phillies’ Pat Burrel has a striking resemblance to a young Ray Liotta.

• Phillies’ Ryan Howard and action star Michael Clarke Duncan have the looks and the size to match up to each other.

• Casey Blake of the Cleveland Indians and Gerard Butler from 300 with their matching beards.

• Garret Anderson of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and Morgan Freeman. The potential is there. Give Garret another 15-20 years and he’ll be a carbon copy.

• Jorge Posada of the New York Yankees and Harland Williams. Harland is the one who’s not in the dress by the way, just in case you didn’t make your way to the bottom of the picture. Scary resemblances in the smile and ears.

.

Photo Sources: Pat Burrell, Ray Liotta, Ryan Howard, Michael Clarke Duncan, Casey Blake, Gerard Butler, Garret Anderson, Morgan Freeman, Jorge Posada, Harland Williams.