Interview with Tim Dierkes!

Tim Dierkes, the creator of one of my favorite websites to check routinely http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/, was good enough to answer a few questions for me and your viewing pleasure.

Eric: What should the Phillies do with Brett Myers? Should they look bullpen, trade, DFA, or keep him in Lehigh Valley?

Tim Dierkes: Keep him in the minors. They are fortunate that he accepted the assignment. With his velocity down I'd be hesitant to move him to the pen.

E: Who will be the next manager to be fired this season? Which managers are on the hot seat?

TD: It is not something I follow closely, to be honest. Cecil Cooper seems like the one remaining possibility to be dismissed.

E: Are we looking at a possible postseason without both the Mets and Yankees?

TD: It's definitely looking that way. Is that a bad thing?

E: You have bases loaded, bottom of the 9th, 7th game of the World Series and 2 outs, which current closer are you handing the ball to to seal the deal?

TD: I would go with Jonathan Papelbon. Need a guy with good control.

E: Which NL/AL combo has the best overall teams? Los Angeles (Dodgers, Angels), New York (Mets/Yankees), Chicago (Cubs/White Sox), or the Sunshine State (Rays/Marlins)?

TD: I have to take the Cubs/Sox on this one. I am a little biased, seeing both teams every day.

Good stuff by Tim as always.

I wanna know your answers to the questions. I'm gonna have to say K-Rod at the end of the game, the electricity he brings into a game to shut it down is simply stunning.

Do Comment Below, no need for an ID to do so.

And a HAPPY 4th of July!

A quick comment

First off, thanks to Tim Dierkes, www.mlbtraderumors.com, for reppin' the blog a bit and a big thanks to all the new readers as I try to slowly but surely expand this blog to bigger and better things.

Also, please do comment below with any feedback on the blog in general or on any post. The list-serve is also up and working so do join on the right hand side of the blog.

"Disgraced basketball referee Tim Donaghy told investigators in the NBA betting probe that relationships among officials, coaches and players "affected the outcome of games," his attorney said." (this according to espn.com, and I'm sure multiple other media outlets). So, Mr. Donaghy has come out and said that he did indeed alter and affect the outcomes of games that he did indeed officiate. My initial thought, that's disgusting. In a time where scandals are running rampant through sports, some bigger than others, I was hoping that this whole Donaghy thing would sort of disappear. When you have Spygate annoying the football community and steroids not only being linked to baseball but other Olympic athletes, and not to mention the recruiting scandals taking place in college sports (i.e. Kelvin Sampson, OJ Mayo, Reggie Bush, etc.), the sporting world and fanbase is flat out getting tired of it.

Could this be a case of Donaghy singing like a canary to try and lessen his punishment or is he indeed saying the truth? The case is set for July 14th while facing maximum 25 years in prison.

What do you make of the Donaghy situation? Do you believe what he is saying?

Do comment below.

Tim Dierkes Interview

Tim Dierkes, of http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/, was kind enough to answer a few questions for myself for posting pleasure. So please do indulge and digest...

1. Interleague play is about to kick off, what are your overall thoughts of it? What is the best series this weekend?

I don't mind it. I think it's more for the kids though. At least, I was much more excited back in '97 when I was 15, seeing the Cubs play the White Sox in real games for the first time. I will vote for Mets/Yankees for this weekend, the whole Johan thing is intriguing.

2. About a quarter of the way through the season, Chipper Jones is hitting .418 so far, is it foolish to consider Jones a legitimate contender at .400 this season?

Kind of...the odds are terribly strong against him doing this. Although thinking about the odds takes the fun out of it. I would love to see it.

3. A recent trend in baseball has been to sign young players through their arbitration years, a la Ryan Braun, Scott Kazmir, Troy Tulowitzki, what are the benefits and drawbacks of this new trend?

The benefit is saving many millions of dollars and gaining cost certainty. The drawback is the fairly small risk of the player busting a la Eric Hinske or Angel Berroa.

4. President Bush said he would build his expansion team with Roy Halladay and Chase Utley, who would be your franchise pitcher and hitter?


My knee-jerk reaction was A-Rod or Pujols for the hitter. But considering Utley's age and position I will agree with Bush's pick. I would choose Brandon Webb as the franchise pitcher. He's young, durable, dominant.

5. What big names, in say 2 months from now, will be the hot names tossed around to be traded at the deadline?

A.J. Burnett, Kevin Millwood, Jon Rauch, Ken Griffey Jr., Adam Dunn, Jason Bay, Xavier Nady, Garrett Atkins, Matt Holliday.

Thanks to Tim for his time and do comment below with some of your answers on the opinions.