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By Anthony De Franco  July 5, 2009, at 11:57 pm  Not the most exciting trade, but I think that we once again need to mention that Billy Beane is a genius. Here’s the news clip from Rotoworld:
Athletics acquired outfielder Scott Hairston from the Padres for RHP Craig Italiano, RHP Ryan Webb and a player to be named.
The A’s aren’t waiving the white flag just yet, but this isn’t a trade just for 2009. Hairston is under control through 2011 and should remain pretty affordable. The 29-year-old was hitting .299/.358/.533 for the Padres. The A’s could use him in center or right, depending on whether they’d prefer to bench Ryan Sweeney or send down Travis Buck. We’re guessing he’ll start in right. AL-only leagues shouldn’t be afraid to use a high waiver claim on him.
Don’t think that this is a move for Depth. Hairston is a guy who plays 2nd, and both corner outfield spots and has slash stats of .307/.364/.547. That’s pretty decent productions. Throw that along with the fact that he has ten homeruns in a park that roughly the size of yellowstone and Hairston can be a very productive hitter in a normal sized home stadium.
Jason and I were talking earlier today about how Billy Beane’s plan to compete this year was foiled by the fact that his young pitching blew up in his face. Brett Anderson and Trevor Cahill were both not nearly ready to be the pitchers that Beane thought they would. Meanwhile, he had used the bad economy to sign guys like Jason Giambi, and Orlando Cabrera to small deals. He only has Matt Holliday until the end of the season. He’ll receive two first round draft picks for him when he signs elsewhere, but with all those names, Beane still sees a chance to compete in the AL West.
While they are 11 games back, The A’s have been known to make second half charges before. With improved pitching from their young starters, they could find themselves in the mix by the start of September.
[Jason's Take: Like the move for the A's. It's sad to say but saving $1.25 million is a big deal for the Padres. Neither are great prospects but PETCO is such a pitchers park that it almost makes them better by default. Webb is likely to join the Padres MLB club while Italiano will join the Padres Single A affiliate. The key to the deal might be the player to be named later. Corey Brock of MLB.com says that Padres GM Kevin Towers "sounded excited" about the player to be named later, who will be one of two pitchers in the A's organization. One of these unnamed players reportedly has Major League service time. My guess Dana Eveland.]
By Jason Comack July 5, 2009, at 11:54 pm NBA free agent commitments can’t become official till Wednesday but The Boston Globe is reporting that free agent Rasheed Wallace has committed to sign a contract with the Celtics. The deal is expected to be two years at the mid-level exception (approximately $5.8 million.)
Is this really what the Celtics needed? Obviously Sheed’s presence makes them a better team but weren’t they planning on resigning Glenn Big Baby Davis who does similar things to Sheed? Furthermore Sheed doesn’t really give the Celtic lineup a ton of versatility. If a team like the Magic go small, by putting Rashard Lewis at PF, how does Sheed help Boston match-up defensively? Wouldn’t the Celtics would have been better off perusing a swing guy (Ariza, Artest, Childress)
In a league that is constantly becoming more up-tempo the Celtics seem to be taking a step in the wrong direction.
Jason Kidd has verbally committed to re-signing with the Mavericks, according to ESPN.com. The three-year deal is reportedly worth more than $25 million, all of it fully guaranteed
Whew. The Knicks really dodged a bullet here. Kidd is 36 years old and is bound to decline even more than he already has. Yes, he’s as good of a floor general as there is in the NBA but he also can’t guard anyone at this point. He’s also a career .342% 3pt shooter. His .406% mark of this past year was the result of him seeing more wide open shots. He’s a poor fit for the D’Antoni offense without a supporting cast. There’s no Drik on the Knicks drawing double teams.
As for the Mavs they get their guy back but at what cost. My guess is that in three years were talking about Jason Kidd’s expiring contract in trades.
By Jordan Lauterbach July 5, 2009, at 11:53 pm 
The world was a much different place 20 years ago. George H.W Bush was in office. The Mets were just a few years removed from a World Series championship. Yours truly had not yet reached two years of age. But another, far more important thing happened twenty years ago today, The Seinfeld Chronicles debuted on NBC. The world was forever changed.
Of course, The Seinfeld Chronicles was later shortened to just Seinfeld. Now, being new to the 3rd String family, I’m sure you don’t know much about me. But one thing you should know is that I am of the belief that Seinfeld is the single greatest television show in American pop culture history. It is the platform for which I judge all other television shows. Maybe this is why I don’t watch a lot of non-sports T.V.
The pilot episode was terrible. But that’s not the point. The point is that 20 years ago today, a show that was supposed to fail hit the airwaves as a mid-summer filler.
It ended up changing lives, mine included.
Now that’s history.
By Jordan Lauterbach July 5, 2009, at 12:36 am This is getting too weird….
From Yahoo!:
Former NFL quarterback Steve McNair(notes), whose most noted drive was the final one of the 2000 Super Bowl, was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head Saturday afternoon in a downtown condominium. Police said a pistol was discovered near the body of a woman also shot dead.
I am still shocked at this news. As a guy who loves watching Quarterbacks, McNair was always a favorite. He was tough, gritty, and in his prime could make every play. He ended his career with over 31,000 yards passing and 174 touchdowns. Reveered for his habit of playing hurt, McNair was one of the games true iron men. He was at the helm for the magical Titan playoff run in 2000 that started with the “Music City Miracle” and ended one yard away from a chance to win Super Bowl XXXIV in overtime.
His Titan career could have ended a lot worse than it did. Riddled by injury, McNair refused to stop playing. While many other in similar situations would have called it quits, sat on the bench, or just suffered through unproductive years, McNair thrived on the adversity that old-age often brings to NFL stars. He won the co-MVP award in 2003.
McNair was a credit to the league and will be missed.
Here’s what their saying on Twitter …
Nick Barnett- NickBarnett-I still can’t believe that about mcnair that is insane folks!!!
Rachel Nichols- Rachel__Nichols-Texting with Ray Lewis – he is hit hard. Says this is just so hard to swallow.
Chad Johnson- OGOchoCinco- …. rest in peace Mr. Mcnair, will always be loved and never forgotten.
Michael Strahan- michaelstrahan- Just found out about my SWAC alumni. RIP Steve “Air” McNair!!! Prayers for his family and friends….unbelievable and sad!!
Terrell Owens -terrellowens811nce again tragedy strikes our NFL family, God Bless Steve, his family, wife & kids! I send my condolences! R.I.P. Steve …
By Jordan Lauterbach July 5, 2009, at 12:10 am Anthony Kim answered the bell on Saturday afternoon. After an even par round on Friday, I wondered yesterday if Kim would be able to hang at the top. Would he be able to put a few faulter holes behind him and play like he did on Friday, when he set a course record at a future U.S Open site? At first, It didn’t look like it.
Kim boggeyed his first hole of day. The fall was on. But to his credit, Kim did not let a poor start bother him. He boggeyed only one other hole on Saturday (the par 5, ninth) and now sits atop the leaderboard. Kim made big putt after big putt to save par and make the occational birdie. He ended the day tied for first at ten under par. The round was more about saving par and staying afloat then moving up on the board. And that was all right. Kim didn’t have to win the tournement on Saturday, or make much of a move up the leader list. His round on Thursday took care of that. I have more confidence in Kim’s ability to stay on top and have a real chance to win the tournement after the third round.
Joining Kim on top is the host of this weeks event, Tiger Woods’. Woods’ round was a lot more frustrating then Kim’s. After an eagle at the ninth, Tiger looked to have the tourney well in hand. At one point, he had a three shot lead and was pulling anyway. As anyone in golf will tell you, their are few things more dangerous than Tiger Woods with a multiple shot lead. Then, Tiger did a very un-Tiger thing. He let multiple players back into the tournement. Much to the chigrin of Woods, he was became a good host after double boggeying the eleventh. He recovered nicely after the hiccup, birdieing the sixteenth and making par on the rest. However, it still was odd. Tiger botched a pottential chance to end the tornement on Saturday. You don’t see that very often.
The feel good story of the tournement is obviously that of Michael Allen. The 50 year old Allen has played in 336 events in his PGA career and won none of them. He’s the kind of guy who hangs on until he’s fifty and then goes to the senior tour, hoping to rake in what never came on the regular tour. Looked like a good plan, too. Allen won the Senior PGA championship. A great story. Never wins a PGA event and then captures a Senior tour Major. But don’t speak too soon on Allens’ PGA record quite yet. After a fantastic 65 on Saturday, Allen sits one shot off the lead at -9. However, I wouldn’t expect this to continue. Generally, you go 0-336 for a reason. Look for Allen to fade early on Sunday and end up fifth or sixth. Still a solid finish for this unlikly factor.
I would look for Sunday to be a two and a half man race. I like Anthony Kim to play well and stay in it until the end with Tiger….Maybe a playoff?? (I hope). Don’t sleep of Jim Furyk either. Furyk is two back at -8. He shot a 69 on Saturday, his worst round of the tornement. I like Furyk to be one shot off the lead at one point, but fade in the back nine. It will be hard to jump over four players and win. Jumping over Allen and Cameron Beckman is more then do-able. I don’t know about Kim and Tiger.
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