HEARD AROUND THE LEAGUE: YUMA DEALS TWICE!

YUMA: 'WE'VE GOT OUR FIRST BASEMAN'
YUMA: 'WE'VE GOT OUR FIRST BASEMAN'

The Yuma Firebirds announced that they have made a deal with the (formerly Las Vegas) Madtown franchise, headed by new GM Jeff 'Chops' Braga:



The Yuma Firebirds have finally done it. They have a 1B for the future. "After a loooonnnnnnnggggg tedious search, we finally have a cornerstone player that we can count on for years to come," said Owner Chris Melkonian upon hearing word from GM Billy Beane that the Firebirds had acquired slugging 1B Joey Votto from the newly christened Madton Murlocks. Although it didnt come cheaply, as the birds surrended RHP Edinson Volquez, SS Alcides Escobar, 2B Jemile Weeks, and LHP Troy Patton. "With all of our young pitching depth in the minors, Volquez and Patton would've had a tough time seeing playing time, so losing them wasn't a huge blow to us, but we lost a slick fielding SS (Esocbar) and we were very high on Weeks, but we just have to make due," said Beane.

To check out the reaction of the Madtown Murlocs, check out their new blog, which has a certain, um, 'WOW' factor!

YUMA: NOT DONE DEALING

As this issue of 'Heard Around The League' went to press, reporters were trying to confirm rumors that the Firebirds had made a deal with an Eastern Division club for pitching. A last-minute bulletin from the Fresno Regulators makes it plain that, in fact, Firebirds GM Chris Melkonian has been a busy boy. The Head Firebird writes:

"Just 24 hrs after shipping out four players for 1B Joey Votto, the Birds were at it again, this time shipping out three players, two 'players to be named' and RHP Matt Capps to the Fresno Regulators in exchange for RHPs Ryan Madson, Francisco Cordero, and Chad Qualls."

"Man, after two days of strenuous negiotations, I'm beat with all this talk," exclaimed GM Billy Beane. The Birds were in desperate need of upgrading the pen and found the right pieces that should only strengthen their playoff hopes. "Cordero becomes are closer once again, and Qualls and Madson should provide valuable depth to a tattered corps," said Owner Chris Melkonian, "We couldn't be more thrilled at what we got. The price was right and we had to take this deal. It was a no-brainer."

As for Fresno? They seemed to think they had hit the jackpot. "Unbelievable news for The Fresno Regulators and their fans!" gushed Fresno GM Anthony Guerra to reporters. "The Fresno Regulators Organization strikes a deal with The Yuma Firebirds, bringing over RHP Matt Capps, who should fit in nicely and compliment RHP/CL Huston Street, young RHP Brian Wilson and LHP Mike Gonzalez as the K.O. Punches the Fresno Regulators are looking to dominantly exploit to their advantage. However, the biggest news is (censored),* that we will pick up (censored)* as 'players to be named.'

GM/Owner Anthony Guerra also enthused about the club's draft this year. "After already coming out of the draft with 1 - nearly 2 ALL- STAR picks," Guerra explained, "in the likes of 1st pick OF Nelson Cruz and 1B/3B/C "The Big Panda" Pablo Sandoval, both of whom, from what other managers are already saying, to have been the BEST first two picks in the draft!! The Fresno Regulators have found exactly what they were looking for their future, inside their Organization!"

Unfortunately, Fresno has yet to join the ranks of blogging BARB teams, but a post at Yuma's site confirms the particulars of the deal in question.

IN OTHER NEWS:

The Los Angeles PF Flyers have probably weathered more injuries than any club in BARB: Jeff Francis and Justin Duscherer had surgery, John Maine is out for at least a month and relievers Brad Lidge and Scot Shields are also no-shows approaching the league's break. It comes as no surprise to learn that the Flyers are shopping prospects for established arms, and (speaking of prospects) have called up Trevor Cahill and Jordan Zimmerman to start. Early returns were not good: Cahill gave up six runs, four earned, in an error-plagued debut that didn't even last one inning in a 10-8 loss to Casselton. The next night, Zimmerman's premiere was a bit longer (2.1 IP) but not much prettier (7 ER!), and again Los Angeles lost a slugfest, this time by an 8-6 score. Expect more growing pains in the club's future . . .

The Darwin Finches hung on to win an 11-8 game on the road in Black Mesa, a game that saw several streaks put to rest. First, previously-unbeaten setup man Takashi Saito (8-1, 2.25) finally took his first loss of the year, commiting a costly error and allowing four runners to score. Second, Darwin rookie Max Scherzer finally won a BARB game! The much-heralded pitching prospect has struggled in his BARB appearances, compiling an 0-3 mark with a 10.80 ERA in 18 appearances. But, in this game, Scherzer (1-2, 5.06) allowed only one hit in four innings of relief, the longest relief outing of the year so far in BARB, earning the win when Placido Polanco hit a two-run single off Saito. The powerful Black Mesa offense leads the league in runs scored (356), but has also surrendered 376 runs allowed, second-worst mark in the loop. The remedy seems obvious, but will the laid-back Anomalies management team make a move ? . . .

Matt Garza must be the best starting pitcher in the league with a losing record, but now that he's with the Frostbite Falls Flying Squirrels, expect his winning percentage to go up. Garza (5-6, 2.71) scattered two hits over seven frames to outduel Scott Baker, who matched Garza for eight frames before tiring in a 2-1 Brooklyn loss. In eleven starts this year, Garza has reached the eighth inning nine times, hurled three complete games and two shutouts. Don't tell me he isn't dealing ! In the next game between these two clubs, Tim Lincecum only gave up three hits in seven frames . . . but still lost, since all three were solo shots by the slugging Brooklyn Moabs (Howard, Utley and Cabrera, respectively) . . .