The Fukudome Nighty Cap
• Yet another birthday has come and gone for myself and I keep wondering when that maturity is going to set in. Though it is snowing outside the Hot Stove is aflame.
• Cubs say Fuku to Mark Prior. The best college pitcher since Tom Seaver with wonderful mechanics turned out to be an injury prone, never was. I was very critical of the Twins in passing on Prior with the first pick because they were, as always, cheap. Turns out a semi-injury prone catcher who can hit was a better selection.
• Meanwhile Fukudome is a Cub. If only Harry was still alive. It is pronounced Fookedome~ but to me he will known as Fuck you dome. He got a four-year, $48 million contract which works out to be about 87 yen with the exchange rate.
• Aaron Rowand wanted some long-term stability, and so did the San Francisco Giants.
Rowand agreed to a $60 million, five-year contract with the Giants on Wednesday, giving the club a Gold Glove center fielder without having to trade young pitchers Matt Cain or Tim Lincecum. At the age of 30, Rowand is about 8 years too young to be a Giants outfielder, but the team is seeking a waiver from the league.
• Here are a few guys that aren't tender. Cubs pitcher Mark Prior, Rangers reliever Akinori Otsuka, Astros shortstop Adam Everett and Mets catcher Johnny Estrada were among 43 players non-tendered by their clubs by Wednesday's midnight deadline, according to a filing obtained by SI.com.
• Falcons feel betrayed by Petrino. Players unhappy with coach's sudden departure.
Coward. Quitter. Hypocrite. And those were some of the nicer things the Atlanta Falcons had to say about their former coach on Wednesday. This from a team that can't even draw family members to watch their own games.
Betrayed and football sounds familar to me. Sounds like The Birdcage.
Armand: Al, you old son of a bitch! How ya doin'? How do you feel about that call today? I mean the Dolphins! Fourth-and-three play on their 30 yard line with only 34 seconds to go!
Albert: How do you think I feel? Betrayed, bewildered...
Now the Falcons have something in common with drag queens besides their play on the field.
• The Orioles finally trade Miggy Tejada. Following their axiom of the past twenty years the Orioles bought high and sold low. As Tejada's range at shortstop has regressed from poor to statuesque the Orioles decided to pull the trigger at a time when the felt it would be impossible to get less.
But they traded with Ed Wade who always has given away too much for too little. What a unique synergy. Perhaps the two franchises can field one joint team this year.
• Tomorrow may be the darkest day in baseball history. A multi-million dollar report comprised of statements from non-players will finger those who allegedly used PED. Perhaps the should wear a big red S on the uniforms the rest of the career. ESPN will be giving it wall to wall coverage from Noon on and even King Bud is slated for a press conference.
