Phillies take a Halladay

After the way Cliff Lee pitched against the Yankees in the World Series six weeks ago, I would have been surprised to hear that the Phillies were even listening to offers for their ace.  But when the chance to acquire Roy Halladay comes around, I suppose any team would be crazy not to listen.  Before I knew it, Halladay was a Phillie and Lee was heading to Seattle, where he’ll join his third club in the span of four and a half months.  How often does that happen to the defending Cy Young Award winner?

Mauer wins Triple Crown in my book

No major leaguer has won the Triple Crown since Carl Yastrzemski in 1967, but this year Joe Mauer did lead the American League in what should be the three Triple Crown categories: batting average (.365), on-base percentage (.444), and slugging percentage (.587).  Home runs are exciting and contribute to a higher slugging percentage, but if I were a manager, I’d much rather see my cleanup hitter go 3-4 than hit a solo shot and strike out three times trying to do it again.  Reaching 100 RBI’s in a season is a nice accomplishment, but the stat itself is overrated.  If all nine guys in the lineup are getting on base 40 percent of the time, it doesn’t matter who is driving them in; someone must be.

Granderson to patrol center in the Bronx

At the Winter Meetings in Indianapolis last week, the Yankees landed themselves a great centerfielder in Curtis Granderson.  Many of Granderson’s fans – myself included – were disappointed that he will be wearing Pinstripes next season.  Even so, I’ll keep rooting for him wherever he goes.  Of all the people I met at the World Baseball Classic, he was the happiest to be there.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Curtis Granderson is the truest friend of the game.

O’s Notes

Over the last 10 days, the Orioles have acquired three players expected to contribute in 2010: Kevin Millwood, Mike Gonzalez, and Garrett Atkins.  Though he turns 35 on Christmas Eve, Millwood had a fine season (13-10, 3.67 E.R.A.) despite pitching half his games at hitter-friendly Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.  He wouldn’t be an ace on most clubs, but the O’s need all the help they can get.  While it was sad to see the team finally give up on a guy like Chris Ray, making the trade, in my opinion, was a good move because it landed the Birds a much-needed, proven starting pitcher.

Signing Mike Gonzalez gives the O’s a legitimate option for the back end of the bullpen.  While it’s been proven over the last several years that it doesn’t take a superstar to close effectively, Jim Johnson closing games after George Sherrill was traded to the Dodgers was not a pretty sight.  Though Gonzalez threw only a few more innings than Johnson did, his 2009 E.R.A. (2.42) and strikeout totals (90) were far better than Johnson’s (4.11 and 49).  It’s a safe bet that handing the ball to Gonzalez in the ninth inning will result in more Oriole victories than would giving it to Johnson.

As for Atkins, I don’t think it’s a terrible signing, but I wouldn’t say I love it, either.  He’s certainly shown that he can hit well at Coors Field (.327/.385/.507 in his career), but will that translate into success at Camden Yards?  I have my doubts, based on his unimpressive numbers outside of the Mile High City (.252/.324/.411).  That said, with third base prospect Josh Bell progressing quickly in the minors, a one year deal on Atkins is not going to come back to bite the Birds should he falter.  I just hope he doesn’t resemble Ty Wigginton too much, because the team already has one of him.