bullets13

The San Diego Padres are focusing on three National League teams as they attempt to trade ace pitcher Jake Peavy. Peavy has $63 million in guaranteed money remaining on his deal, which runs through 2012 and contains a club option for 2013. General manager Kevin Towers said that based on conversations with Peavy's agent, Barry Axelrod, he is dealing with seven teams, but only a trio of National League squads is being given intense consideration. "Jake and Barry have told me there's really kind of three that they want us to focus on. Those are the three we've been focusing on," Towers said Tuesday at the GM meetings. "I haven't had a lot of dialogue with the other four. Those clubs are still, in his mind, iffy." Towers wants two major leaguers plus prospects in return. He doesn't expect a trade to happen quickly but anticipates dealing the 2007 NL Cy Young Award winner. "When you start heading down this path, it's probably more likely to happen than not happen. I've got that feel," Towers said. Axelrod said the Padres approached him about a possible trade because of the team's financial situation and need to rebuild. Peavy has a no-trade clause, and Axelrod said he gave San Diego a list of five potential candidates the pitcher would approve a deal to. "He doesn't want to leave here. It's his home," Axelrod said. Peavy's initial list included Atlanta, the Chicago Cubs, Houston, the Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis. Towers also has said that Peavy would accept a trade to two American League teams -- the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Angels. Towers wouldn't identify the three main teams he is dealing with. He intends to have discussions with one team this week. Talks with the other two "were down the road," he said. Peavy, a 27-year-old right-hander, was 10-11 with a 2.85 ERA in 27 starts last season as the Padres finished last in the NL West at 63-99, their worst record in 15 years. "He was frustrated with our season last year," Towers said. "I don't think 12 months ago he would have even thought that we'd even be at this point discussing this. I mean, we were coming off four winning seasons -- and almost three of the four playing in the postseason. Jake's all about winning, and he's a fierce competitor." Peavy made $6.5 million last season and is due $11 million next year, $15 million in 2010, $16 million in 2011 and $17 million in 2012. The contract includes a $22 million club option for 2013 with a $4 million buyout. "He's not too expensive to keep," said Towers, whose opening-day payroll this year was $74 million. "It's just that last year, we lost 99 games with him. So if we're able to add multiple pieces here that we think are going to improve our club, we've got to look at it." "We need to add quite a few pieces," Towers added. "I just don't think we can bring the same ballclub back that we had in 2008 and expect to be a lot better. I like the young players in our system. I saw a few of them in September, and I think they'll be better next year. But we need to make some trades and bring in some good players if we want to get better. I mean, 63 wins -- I'd like to think we're going to get better." San Diego also is considering trading shortstop Khalil Greene, who is owed $6.5 million next year. "If we end up moving Khalil, I see it in a separate deal," Towers said. "That's not to say it couldn't happen, but less likely

The Yankees declined their 09 option on Jason Giambi. A.J. Burnett has opted out of his contract with the Bluejays. The Dodgers have declined their 09 option on Brad Penny.

oh, and don't eat any yellow snow.

my friend harvested a nice buck with his car a few weeks back...

The only comments that Silsbee have left are direct replies to you HJ fans..... Look in the mirror before you talk about maturity!!!! See flamers like this is this reason why silsbee is poo and why hj will contend friday i mean why is everyone such a moron from over there :-\ I wasn't going to post here, but that is just hilarious coming from you of all people. :-\ I'm an HJ fan, and I too had no problem seeing the irony there ;D

I heard HJ might not win a game all season.

it's amazing to me that the most talked about game on the HS football forum is a game that quite possibly will not even happen. that being said, I SURE HOPE IT HAPPENS!

no worries.

you're a little off on that one, big guy. out of the 4 polls listed on espn, they're 6th in three of them, and 4th in one. but still, as bad as they suck, i'm surprised they aren't #1 in all of them.

i promise you, i will root with you side by side during this game.

Sacsha's was NASTY! I voted for that one before i even bothered checking out the others. That thing looked like it was just floating, then halfway there it just dove to the left.

NEW YORK -- CC Sabathia, the prize pitcher on this year's market, filed for free agency Saturday. Sabathia was acquired by Milwaukee from Cleveland on July 7, then went 11-2 with seven complete games, three shutouts and a 1.65 ERA in 17 starts to help the Brewers make the playoffs for the first time since 1982. Overall, the 28-year-old left-hander was 17-10 with a 2.70 ERA for the Indians and Brewers. Milwaukee plans to make an offer soon. Sabathia's new deal could top Johan Santana's $137.5 million, six-year contract with the New York Mets. "He's not going to be a guy who is going to have 27 phone calls. He's only going to get five," Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said Thursday. "If he's going to demand the money he's going to demand, he'll get a lot less phone calls than maybe even Ray Durham or somebody like that that we have." Reliever Tom Gordon became the first member of the World Series champion Phillies to file for free agency after Philadelphia declined a $4.5 million option and chose to pay a $1 million buyout. The right-hander, who turns 41 on Nov. 18, had bone spurs removed and his ulnar collateral ligament repaired in his arm on Oct. 16. He went 5-4 with a 5.16 ERA in 34 games, then was put on the 15-day DL with right elbow inflammation on July 6 and missed the rest of the season. Twenty-three players filed for free agency Saturday, raising the total to 130 in three days since the World Series. Up to 50 additional players potentially are eligible to file.

indeed.

self-satisfaction! we have some very savvy posters on here, so it's nice to beat them once in awhile

regardless, this is another good result. the defense is learning how to hold strong against much more talented teams. if lamar can continue to improve, these "scares" where they get "dominated", might turn into scares where they squeak out wins.

Your doing quite well. Maybe you should be part of the coaching staff for the school that needs a change. ;D ;D

you got me... i'm his personal defender. i'm taking time from the busy campaign trail to get on here and make sure that nobody talks too bad about him.

where did this come from? somebody's been reading myspace propoganda bulletins again... and think, he doesn't even wear a lapel pin! this is seriously the most ridiculous post that this thread has seen. criticize his policy if you want, call him a socialist, but don't come on here with this BS.

so HJ's in, right?

it just brings the topic back up to the top so that hopefully somebody will update it.

crap. flipping mavs.

i chose philly to win it, but wanted TB. this was a pretty close series, even with the phils winning 4 games to 1. it was nice finally having a couple of teams i liked in there. if the sox had won another series, i would've sworn off baseball.

i think it's safe to say that the majority of the readers on here are conservative republicans.

David Beckham will have only two months to make an impact at AC Milan after clinching a loan move to the Serie A giants on Thursday. The 33-year-old England midfielder will join Milan on January 7 and could make his debut four days later away to Roma. But he must return to the Los Angeles Galaxy by early March, to prepare for the Major League Soccer season, which is expected to start on March 19. All parties concerned are content with the terms of the deal, which was struck in Milan a week earlier than anticipated. Milan director Umberto Gandini told Sky Sports News: ''The deal will be as long as David wishes. I think his commitment to MLS and Los Angeles Galaxy will take him back after a couple of months. I think he will have to go back to Galaxy by the time the MLS starts, and training before that.'' Gandini also confirmed that the Italian club do not expect any opportunity to arise which would allow them to sign the 33-year-old permanently, saying: ''David is committed to the Los Angeles Galaxy and the MLS. He thanks them for the opportunity to let him train and work with us, we're very happy for that. ''Only David knows his future, but for sure he has a commitment to go back to the MLS and I think he will fulfil that.'' Beckham is seeking to maintain his match fitness to ensure he stays in the England squad as he closes in on a record number of caps for an outfield player. The former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder has 107 caps, one behind the late Bobby Moore who led England to their 1966 World Cup triumph. The former England captain hopes to retain his place in coach Fabio Capello's squad and is believed to be targeting international retirement after the 2010 World Cup. Capello has indicated he will only select players who are active with their clubs, and with LA Galaxy now in their off-season, Beckham risked being left out for upcoming games, including the proposed friendly against European champions Spain in February. Beckham will join a star-crammed squad at Milan, with the likes of Kaka, Andriy Shevchenko and Ronaldinho soon to be team-mates. ''The players understand we are the premium brand,'' said Gandini. ''We are a fantastic club, one of the best clubs in the world. The fact they want to play with us is a great achievement. ''David Beckham will come to our club where he will have a lot of people and a lot of players that have his ability and status so I think it will be very beneficial for him and the English game.'' Beckham is by no means certain to feature regularly for Milan, with nothing in his contract stipulating he will play in a specific number of games. Gandini confirmed: ''He will train with the other Milan players and the selection will be up to the coaches.'' Capello expects David Beckham will prove to be a ''great acquisition'' for Milan, the England coach's former club. Capello has worked with Beckham at Real Madrid and England and has been impressed by his work-rate. Speaking before the deal was completed, Capello told Milan's World Business Forum: ''If Milan sign him they will make a great acquisition. He is a very focused lad. He is a professional. When I left him out of the team in Madrid because he had signed the contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy, he continued to come to the pitch to train and I put him back in the team.'' ''He is a very serious lad, very sensible, a professional. People think he is a playboy off the field, it's not true at all,'' added Capello Talks over Beckham's future were originally scheduled for next week, but the player's representatives and Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani met on Thursday afternoon to thrash out the transfer. The former England captain was a Milan target in January 2007, but opted instead to move to Los Angeles from Real Madrid. In a joint statement Milan and LA Galaxy confirmed Beckham would return to the States for training before the MLS begins, which suggests he will spend just two months back in Europe. Writing on his website's blog Beckham this week admitted he was looking forward to joining Milan. He explained: ''One of the reasons I want to train and play in Milan for a few months is the fact that the MLS season doesn't run as long as the European season and having played most of my career in Europe, my body has been trained and geared not to have that amount of time off. ''Obviously, I will be honoured to be given the chance to train and play with the likes of Ronaldinho and Kaka, but it also gives me the chance to keep my fitness up and carry that on for when I come back to the Galaxy for the new MLS season.'' He rubbished suggestions he had bought a house in Milan and denied planning to purchase a jet, and also confirmed LA Galaxy remain his priority. ''Next season is an important one for the Galaxy,'' Beckham remarked. ''We haven't been in the play-offs for three years now and for a team like LA Galaxy we all know that isn't good enough. ''(Head coach) Bruce Arena will also have had the chance over the past few months to get used to the squad and, with his experience and previous success, he'll want to make sure that we're up there competing next year.'' Galaxy boss Arena has given his blessing to Beckham's transfer. Arena had described the deal as ''an odd proposition'' last week and questioned whether the MLS and Galaxy would benefit. However he has become convinced Beckham is making the right move. ''Clearly I think this is an ideal situation for David,'' Arena told Sky Sports News. ''It can benefit David, it can benefit England, it can benefit the LA Galaxy and hopefully it benefits AC Milan as well.'' Arena expects the 2009 MLS season to start on March 19, and he stressed Beckham will be involved. ''David will be back and have a couple of weeks of training with our team and will be ready to really kick off in a good fashion in 2009,'' Arena said. The former United States head coach recognises Beckham's desire to stay involved and active with England. ''I can't speak for David but what motivates any top-level footballer is the fact that playing for your national team is the greatest honour,'' Arena said. ''And having the potential to play in another World Cup is every player's dream. I think these are the things that motivate him.''

joe the plumber is a joke. i'm still not sure how he managed to keep from just busting out laughing. i'd prefer having my playing time cut to watching coach McCain take his eleven most talented players and never take them out of the game, and never let the weaker players even have a chance to practice. to make things even worse, the first thing he'd do after taking over would be to lower the standards of off the field behavior for those 11 players so that they aren't held accountable for their actions. on top of that, those who weren't good enough to play would be constantly criticized about not getting better, even though they never really were given a chance. as soon as programs were instituted to level the playing field, the starting 11 would gripe about the time and resources that were being taken away from them.