HUGE DAY IN BARB

FIREBIRDS SHAKE THINGS UP, ACQUIRE STREET AND LAROCHE

A flurry of trades....veterans released.....highly-anticipated minor-leaguers dealt and called up....game action....this post has got it all!

FIREBIRDS SHAKE THINGS UP, ACQUIRE STREET AND LAROCHE

The Yuma Firebirds have made a pair of trades in an attempt to add more pieces to the club. In the first move of the day, the Firebirds dealt young RHP Wade Davis and RHP Chad Qualls to Oakland United in exchange for RHP Huston Street.

"Several members of our pen have been struggling and an upgrade was needed," said Manager Ron Scott. Qualls was deemed expendable because, "he wasn't our set-up man, he was just another middle reliever, not to mention, our gut instinct tells somethings not right with him," Scott said. Davis was finding it hard to crack an already deep rotation so he was deemed expendable. "We upgrade the core of our pen. We plan on moving Soriano into the closers role, and have Kuo, Thornton, and Street set-up. That's a pretty formidable quartet. Not to mention, we will be promoting our 2010 first-round draft pick in Drew Storen. Once Madson comes back form the DL, we will be six strong, which allows us to move Cordero into a mop-up role so he can find his way. He's been struggling lately," said Owner Chris Melkonian

The Firebirds also made another move, adding 1B Adam LaRoche in exchange for C A.J. Pierzynksi, RHP Colin Balester, and LHP Dan Meyer. "This move was two fold; we wanted to move AJ's salary and make room for C Buster Posey, who has been on a tear both offensive and defensive lately. LaRoche gives a quality left handed power bat of the bench and will be valuable in late game situations. It was also give Votto a much needed breather once in a while," said Owner Chris Melkonian. "Meyer was struggling and was the fourth LHP on our depth chart and Balester didn't have a future within the organization. This was clearly a win-win for us," said GM Billy Beane.

ARIZONA: BLANTON---CUT! HOLLAND---DEALT! STRASBURG---READY FOR ACTION?

In the first of many moves, Arizona has traded LHP Derek Holland to the Los Angeles PF Flyers for RHP Octavio Dotel and RHP Jason Motte. The move was believed to be critical in filling out a bullpen that was running on just five arms, as well as freeing up a log jam they have in the starting rotation. If there was a weakness that could be found on the Thunder, it was their bullpen. They believe they have now fixed that and are continuing to look to add some more depth in that area in case of injuries, despite the market looking very bleak in good, available relief aid.

(Editor's Note: What was not mentioned in Arizona's press release is that they have been looking for another closer for some time now to supplement Andrew Bailey, and had a deal in principle for Oakland's Huston Street fall apart. Oakland then shopped Street to Yuma--you see above how that went down--and Los Angeles GM Brian Chae parted with Dotel and Motte for less than what had previously been asked.)

In the second move, Arizona released RHP Joe Blanton from the team, due to poor performance since being acquired. It was a move to further free up the rotation for the team's surging young talent. "Joe Blanton is now a free agent who can be signed by any team on a first-come, first-serve basis," remarked Commissioner Scott Hatfield. "With the first half of our season nearly over, I am expected more such moves as teams bite the bullet on veterans and their contracts in order to get higher-performing rookies into their lineups and rotations."

In the third, and perhaps biggest move of the day, Arizona has announced that it will be calling up its most prized prospect in its system: RHP Stephen Strasburg. The fireballer from San Diego is arguably the most heavily-anticipated pitching prospect to make his debut in years. More information can be gleaned from the Thunder's blog.

FLYERS GROUNDED IN LOS ANGELES: CHANGES IN WORKS

It has been a frustrating season, no doubt.” said Los Angeles Owner/GM Brian Chae, “With the talent that we acquired prior to the season, we thought that we would be more competitive this year. But, Lance Berkman simply hasn’t performed, Dexter Fowler has gone through a sophomore slump, and the rest of the offense just never seems to fire on all cylinders. Pitching-wise, we are getting some good innings out of Tim Hudson, but the inconsistency of the rest of the staff has been very disappointing. It’s time to begin thinking about the organization and continuing to strengthen our foundation. Dotel and Motte have done great work with us and it pains me to trade them within the division, but the opportunity to acquire a talent like Derek Holland was worth taking. Our system is notably short on quality left-handed starting pitching and given his rookie status, the team will have control over Holland for quite some time. We look forward to incorporating him into the organization.”

Derek Holland is considered a prized pitching prospect, a left-hander with a fastball working 90-94, complemented by a plus change-up and average slider. He has above-average command and provided that his shoulder recovers from recent injuries, has the ceiling of a No.2 starter. Octavio Dotel was the PF Flyers closer in 2010, although a lack of save opportunities have held down his numbers. Jason Motte was the primary right-handed set-up man for the team. Scott Downs is expected to take over closing duties with Brad Lidge becoming the primary set-up man.

FLYERS CUT VETERANS, ADD FREE AGENTS: WILL OTHER CLUBS FOLLOW SUIT?

Earlier in the season, Los Angeles cut off-injured John Maine and spectacularly ineffective Dana Eveland from the roster, eating their salaries. Following their release, Los Angeles signed LHP Tom Gorzelanny and RHP Mike Pelfrey for the minimum. These were LA's third mid-season pickups through this route, as they also signed Mike Redmond to back up Kurt Suzuki (family grievancs) and Jeff Mathis (in a lover's spat with Mike Scioscia).

"There seems to be some confusion about the rule," Commissioner Scott Hatfield says. "Teams can, in fact, sign available free agents in mid-season to contracts. In order to do so, however, they must release an established player and eat their salary, and have enough salary left on their present payroll to accomodate the new player. Some GM's have attempted to release unestablished players, or to release an earlier free-agent signing disappointment to acquire another free agent. That's not, um, kosher. The only way to pick up mid-season free agents is to release established veterans who were not added this year as free agents. I hope that clears things up."

CANO, RIVERA PACE DOUBLEHEADER SWEEP

Worcester----Hosting the visiting Squirrels, the Eliminators rallied late in back-to-back games to benefit the seemingly-ageless Mariano Rivera, as Worcester (led by 2B Robinson Cano) handed a pair of tough losses to the visitors and in the process vaulted two games ahead of Frostbite Falls in the Eastern division race.

In the opener of the twin bill, Felix Hernandez (6 IP, 2 ER) had a 3-0 lead entering the sixth ahead of Philip Hughes, but Carl Crawford singled and stole a base to unnerve C Victor Martinez, who allowed a passed ball with Hanley Ramirez batting, then air-mailed a throw into CF with Ramirez running to allow Crawford to score, and Ramirez take third. "King Felix" escaped by fanning Jason Bay, but the game was narrowed to 3-2. Jason Frasor gave up a one- out single to Joe Mauer in the eighth, and Joakin Soria (1-3, 3.75) was summoned to pitch. A hitter later, red-hot Robinson Cano connected for his 11th long ball of the year, a three-run shot and a 5-3 Worcester lead.

Frostbite Falls made things interesting in the ninth on Jason Heyward's leadoff bomb, his 12th HR of the season, but Rivera relieved Peter Moylan (2-0, 3.77) to complete the inning, earning his 14th save on Moylan's behalf and hanging the loss on Soria: WORCESTER 5, FROSTBITE FALLS 4!

In the nightcap, Cole Hamels and Ryan Dempster had a 1-1 pitcher's duel after six innings. Pitch count issues led to Dempster's departure, but relievers Heath Bell and Peter Moylan held them down. Hamels, who went eight, seemed in line to win the game, fanning nine and taking a 2-1 lead when (for the second time that day) Heyward went deep in the ninth, his 13th bomb, and this off Rivera himself!

But, as if charmed, the Panamanian was taken off the hook by Nick Masset (3-2, 3.96). Summoned to protect the 2-1 lead, Masset dispatched pinch-hitter Ty Wigginton and Jason Bay but mindful of the first game, worked carefully to Cano, who ended up working a five-pitch walk. Again, as if on cue, the Elims used their speed on the basepaths to intimidate Victor Martinez, who called for several pickoffs and a pitchout. Masset lost his rhythm and loaded the bases with two out Jarrod Saltalamachia, summoned to pinch-hit for Rivera. A 3-1 count...ball four, the game was tied. A strike to Derek Jeter ....ball...BALL...BALL?!?...strike.....

Ball four! Nolan Reimold trotted in from third, and the Eliminators had scored twice in the ninth with two out without so much as a loud foul! WORCESTER 3, FROSTBITE FALLS 2!

That's got to hurt!

In other BARB action:

YUMA 13, POTTSYLVANIA 5

WP: Matt Cain (6-5, 3.12)
LP: Chris Carpenter (6-4, 3.38)

Matt Cain outlasted Chris Carpenter, but the real culprit was the worked-over (and perhaps overworked) Creepers bullpen, as the Firebirds, led by CF Denard Span, did something no BARB team has ever done, ever: they batted around TWICE in the eighth, scoring 12 runs to break up (decisively!) a 1-1 duel between Cain and Carpenter.

Span went 5-for-6 in the ballgame to raise his average to .300, including a leadoff single to start the bombast vs. Carpenter and (later in the inning) a two-run double off Santiago Casilla, and the route was on. Casilla would also give up Joey Votto's 8th HR of the year two batters later, and Sean West and Manny Delcarmen both contributed to the shocking collapse. In the ninth, Span struck out on a 3-2 slider from Delcarmen, missing a chance to go 6-for-6, but he and the rest of the Yuma club improved to 31-29.

MADTOWN 4, ST. FRANCIS 3

WP: Jered Weaver (5-6, 4.84)
LP: Randy Wells (1-2, 3.25)
SV: Aardsma (6)

Matt Holliday, hitting .337, continued to spark the Murlocs, twice triggering two-run outbursts with leadoff singles, and making a diving catch in the gap with runners on vs. pinch-hitter A.J. Pyrzinski in the eighth to preserve the lead and keep the host Murlocs (34-32) in a virtual tie for first in the tight Western race.

Darwin 3B Casey Blake, the subject of trade rumors, smacked his ninth HR of the year in the sixth to narrow Madtown's lead to one run, but Aardsma and Zach Duke combined to hold the Friars hitless the rest of the way to preserve the victory and keep St. Francis looking up at the leaders in the Central Division race.

DARWIN 4, ARIZONA 3

WP: Josh Johnson (7-5, 3.33)
LP: Leo Nunez (0-4, 9.56)
SV: Franklin (12)

David Ortiz hit a grand slam off Leo Nunez with two outs in the fifth after a shaky Tommy Hanson had been knocked out of the game by a line drive off the bat of Milton Bradley, taking a 4-0 lead after five frames, but barely held off a late Thunder rally fueled by HR off the bat of Alex Rodriguez (#17) and Andre Ethier (#7). Ortiz, still below his personal Mendoza line with a .196 batting average, has begun to look more comfortable at the plate for the Finches, who despite being below .500 (31-33) are only two games out in the competitive West.

LOS ANGELES 4, BLACK MESA 2

WP: Brad Lidge (2-1, 5.09)
LP: Ervin Santana (0-4, 6.04)
SV: Shields (2)

On the cusp of trading away closer Octavio Dotel, the Flyers put together a big inning against another cellar dweller visiting their home park, scoring four runs in the fourth off a winless Santana in part due to Howie Kendrick's 7th round-tripper of the campaign. Los Angeles (19-41) has played .500 ball for nearly two weeks to lift their winning percentage over .300, while their guests on this day (Black Mesa) have dropped eight of ten to fall to 20-43.

It is interesting to compare the two clubs. Both have more than $100 million committed in payroll, but still have some flexibility. Both clubs are strong in one area, and not so much in another. In Black Mesa's case, they have depth in the infield with Adrian Beltre, Ian Kinsler, Dustin Pedroia, Justin Morneau, Adam Dunn and Miguel Cabrera. Most clubs don't have three bats that good in their IF, but the Anomalies have so many they can't play them all. Hello? Can you say trade bait?

Meanwhile, Los Angeles is in an opposite pickle. They arguably have the loop's most
underperforming set of IF. At the same time, they have what every team craves: an abundance of pitching prospects and enough depth in veterans that they could probably move a pair of starters. Has the fire sale begun, or is the rest of the league cool to what either one of these rosters might offer?

BROOKLYN 6, OAKLAND 5

WP: Francisco Liriano (1-1, 7.47)
LP: Danny Haren (7-5, 3.49)
SV: Rodriguez (21)

Francisco Liriano's third start of the season brought him a little closer to the comeback he was seeking, as the lefty allowed only one earned run six frames for visiting Brooklyn (39-26), but the Moabs pen just escaped a wild eighth that saw errors by McCann and Howard prolong the inning. Danny Haren fanned 12 in taking the loss, but gave up five runs, three of them on Brandon Inge's first HR of the season after being promoted from AAA to replace the injured Mark Teahen. Francisco Rodriguez allowed an inherited runner to score, but still completed the ninth to earn his BARB-leading 21st save in 24 attempts.

FIREBIRDS SHAKE THINGS UP, ACQUIRE STREET AND LAROCHE