Fan News

Well, that was and awful road trip. Two wins and nine losses is not the way to make a playoff run.

Not only did the losses mount on this road trip, but it's the way the losses came that tear the hearts out of Rockies fans. A walk-off homer, a walk-off single, a 3-4 loss on Sunday after being up 3-2, and the game ending with Ian Stewart striking out LOOKING with runners in scoring position, as well as the winning run coming on a wild pitch where Rockies pitcher Rafael Betencourt failed to cover home plate.

With the deadline quickly approaching, fans are wondering just what their team is going to do. That is, if they haven't made a move already.

There have been two big moves thus far and both have come in the American League's Western Division. The Rangers acquired left-hander Cliff Lee from Seattle and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim acquired Dan Haren from Arizona late Sunday night.

According to Jayson Stark of ESPN , the Royals don’t seem like they are going to part with their closer, Joakim Soria , and they have even turned down an offer by the Yankees that included their top prospect, catcher Jesus Montero .

Here’s more from Stark:

Despite being seven games behind the first place Texas Rangers in the American League West, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are not going down without a fight. Earlier in the week, they acquired Alberto Callaspo from the Kansas City Royals and now they have perhaps acquired the best pitcher left on the trade market.

The Angels have acquired RHP Dan Haren from the Arizona Diamondbacks for LHP Joe Saunders and minor leaguers Patrick Corbin, Rafael Rodriguez, and Tyler Skaggs.

Trade speculation surrounding the Yankees in recent days has centered on starting pitching, but their most pressing need is bullpen help.

Merriam-Webster defines "rumor" as "talk or opinion widely disseminated with no discernible source." Baseball fans define rumor as a normal late July occurrence.

It is with this definition in mind that I present to you the latest three-team rumor making the rounds, and it's a good one.

Today, the Major League Baseball hot stove got even hotter as the Arizona Diamondbacks dealt Dan Haren to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for Joe Saunders and a couple of minor leaguers.  Certainly an unexpected deal.

On Sunday, the Angels acquired right-handed pitcher Dan Haren from the Arizona
Diamondbacks in exchange for Joe Saunders, minor league pitchers Patrick Corbin, Rafael Rodriguez, and a player to be named later (apparently left-handed pitcher Tyler Skaggs).

In this emotional sound clip, Joe Saunders speaks with Chris Myers after the Angels' announcement that he had been traded, along with three others, to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Dan Haren.

Saunders pitched for six seasons for the Angels, compiling a 54-32 record with a 4.29 ERA.

Since this season became a wash a really long time ago, there are still several things worth keeping an eye on the rest of the season. How will the rookies perform the rest of the season? What will the Pirates do at the trading deadline? Will this season’s team lose 100 games?

All of these areas could draw the casual fans interest, but for me there is one area worth keeping an eye on that will go a long way to determining what type of season the Pirates will have in 2011. Can these guys learn to win on the road?

With the latest installment of Hall of Fame inductees being honored Sunday, the concept of current players with the ability to make it to the Hall of Fame is once again on the minds of fans around the league.

The Dodgers have a talented outfield and some well-known names in the infield. There's a "sure thing," a "quite likely," and a "possibly," on the Dodgers roster when it comes to the Hall of Fame, and some big names that may not make it.

Here are three players I feel have a legitimate chance at finding their way to Cooperstown, and some honorable mentions that might just miss the mark.