MLB

This morning, I passed along a rumor that the NY Post reported today.  According to the Post, the Mariners were scouting Yankee minor leaguers in anticipation of dealing LHP Cliff Lee to the Bronx.

I wrote this story reluctantly because the Yankees boast a full five-man rotation. They  really don't need another starter.

He has been hyped since he was a top draft pick for the National League East team that selected him. Sound familiar?

After dominating the Minor Leagues, he made his major League debut on June 8, 2010. Sound familiar?

He performed very well in his first game. Sound familiar?

However, his game was not shown on the MLB Network, but I still switched back and forth between four games last night. Being in the Southern New Jersey area, I get the New York Yankees, New York Mets, and Philadelphia Phillies local cable stations.

For the Houston Astros, the third day of Major League Baseball’s 2010 First-Year Player Draft began around noon ET on Wednesday, June 9 (with a plethora of picks from rounds 31-50), before finally concluding around 5 p.m. ET.

So how did Houston score in the last day of the draft?

Overall, I’d give them an A for day three.

Originally published at TwinsMVB.com .

The Twins certainly didn’t stray from their organizational philosophy in this most recent MLB Draft. Holding the twenty-first overall selection in the Rule 4 Draft, Minnesota made several selections of players that fill a mold that Twins’ fans have grown familiar with. Here is a brief run-down of Minnesota’s first three picks.

21st pick: Alex Wimmers, RHP, Ohio State (6′2”, 195 lbs)

With the addition of up-and-comer Bryce Harper to the Nationals organization, Steven Strasburg's epic 14-strikeout debut tasted that much sweeter.

But don't be quick to assume Strasburg is the only rookie making noise in the MLB.

A myriad of rookies have displayed star potential. Whether on the mound, at the plate, diving for catches, or on the base paths, young guns like Desmond Jennings (OF, Devil Rays), Carlos Santana, (C, Indians), and Jason Heyward (OF, Braves), are having outstanding rookie seasons.

Evan Longoria was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays with the 3rd pick of the 2006 amateur player draft out of Cal-State Long Beach. Rays fans knew as soon as they heard about this kid that he was going to be great.

After spending two years in the minor leagues, Longoria hit a combined .301/.386/.534 with 44 home runs and 144 RBI, all before his 22nd birthday.

Knowing what they had on their hands, with a team that they felt confident with, Andrew Friedman knew that he had to call up Longoria if the team was going to contend.

Okay, we get it already.

With four picks in the first round and the first compensation round, the Blue Jays loaded up with a collection of exciting pitching prospects.

Deck McGuire at No. 11, Aaron Sanchez at No. 34, Noah Syndergaard at No. 38 and Asher Wojciechowski  (pictured) with the 41st pick all were drafted by Toronto early in the 2010 MLB Draft.

Let’s face it—the Pirates are a bad team. Just look at the numbers of their pitching staff, and you cannot help but cringe.

A team ERA of 5.27 is awfully telling, as they have maybe two or three usable pitchers for fantasy owners.

Help may be on the way. Top prospect Brad Lincoln has been tearing up Triple-A, earning him a recall to start tonight against the Nationals. Just look at his production:

Six Wins
68.1 Innings
3.16 ERA
1.00 WHIP
55 Strikeouts (7.3 K/9)
14 Walks (1.9 BB/9)
.255 BABIP

Stephen Strasburg’s name won’t be added to the long list of can’t-miss prospects who have missed.  Following his historic performance in his Major League debut Tuesday, the sports world is abuzz over his 99-mph heat and devastating slurve.

Strasburg’s dazzling debut was arguably the best moment in the history of the Washington Nationals.  It was a polarizing moment in the 2010 MLB season, which lacks compelling story lines even in mid-June.  It justified the national media’s hype and made the Nats’ a franchise worth covering.