I'd like to take a moment of silence for the careers of Aaron Harang, Bronson Arroyo, Homer Bailey, and Johnny Cueto.

Why?

Because the Reds hired this man...

I've maintained for years that Dusty Baker is a good manager to have when you have a lot of vets on a squad and are not trying to integrate rookies into the mix.  Put him on a team that's trying to rebuild however, and you've got problems.

Simply put, Baker can't help himself but abuse young pitchers and unless they got powerful arms able to withstand abuse, he's going to ruin some careers.  We've seen it several times, most notably in Chicago, where he may have destroyed the careers of Mark Prior and Kerry Wood.

I smell disaster cooking...

2007 Free Agency – Closers

There are going to be some names on this list if things stay put the way they look right now.  However, there is no clear cut dominating favorite, as many of these closers are either A) Old, B) Injury Prone, or C) Inconsistent. 

•  Mariano Rivera (Yankees) – It’s hard to imagine that Rivera would consider closing for someone else, but he’s apparently ready to make good on his threat if the Yankees won’t sign him.  If he hits the market, Rivera can still be a viable closer, provided that all those innings that Torre used him to cover the deficiencies in the bullpen don’t catch up to him.  However, I doubt New York will let him get away.  As much as the Yankees make of Rivera being sort of expendable, the fact is that there isn’t many pitchers in the system that could replace Rivera.  Proctor is likely going to be a starter at some point, Farnsworth should only be a closer in the NL and J.B. Cox in the system is a setup man.
• Eric Gagne (Rangers) – Okay, everyone in Ranger Nation knows that Gagne is really only a one year wonder with Texas, as he’ll likely strike it rich somewhere else with another team, in spite of his recent comments that he wants to remain in Texas.  Gagne looks all the way back so far and he could be the best free agent closer on the market.
• Francisco Cordero (Brewers) – Coco Cordero was a solid closer with the Rangers, but he fell on hard times after his command left him, which is a shame as he’s actually a very underrated closer.  Cordero brings excellent stuff and is effective as long as his command doesn’t desert him.  After Gagne, Cordero could prove to be very attractive to a team needing a long-term answer at closer, but be careful.  While Gagne has health issues, Cordero still has control issues that have resulted in his new nickname in the state of Texas: Blow-co.
• Jason Isringhausen (Cardinals) – [If $8 million Club Option Declined].  I’m not sure that Isringhausen can last a full season, let alone serve as a closer for a team on a regular basis.  I think he’s likely going to retire, though there’s always the chance that some team will take a chance with him if the price is right (I’m looking at you Florida.) 
• Bob Wickman (Braves) – Wickman is likely going to be a free agent, especially with all of the closers and closer quality arms that Atlanta acquired during the off-season.  Like Isringhausen, I think he’ll also retire or sign with a team willing to take a flier on his. 
• Todd Jones (Tigers) – Everyone knows that Zumaya will be the closer in Detroit comes next year.  Jones is a heart attack closer that really shouldn’t be closing anymore, as he’s quite hittable and makes you nervous when he takes the mound.

Jeff Allison Attempting A Comeback…Again

Jeff Allison, the much-troubled former first-round pick for the Marlins, who I've written about at length in this blog, is attempting another comeback, trying to work his way back into playing shape at the Marlins' spring training facility in Jupiter, Florida.  However, it's unknown where Allison would be assigned, as he's now been out of baseball for almost two years, though any comeback will likely begin at Rookie Ball.

Allison was taken off the restricted list and re-joined the organization for formal workouts June 20.  Allison is currently awaiting trial on felony possession of a stolen vehicle, but has been struggling most often with drugs, specifically the drug Oxy-Contin and Heroin.

Like the Josh Hamilton story, this could have a happy ending, though it would take a lot longer than Hamilton due to the development time needed on pitchers.  However, I'm a little more skeptical on Allison, mostly because we've heard this story again and we've seen it end in collosal failure.

I do with him the best.  I really do.

I'm just a bit more jaded about him.

Not All Lost In Cincinnati

Despite General Manager Wayne Krivsky taking a virtuall wrecking ball to the Reds, when realistically, there was enough of a solid foundation built and in place that only some minor tweeking to repair, he has managed to assemble enough of a young foundation to work on.

Consider the fact that while most of the team blows, Cincinnati does have two young starters in Aaron Harang and Broson Arroyo, a potential closer in Marcus McBeth, a pair of young stud positional players in Brandon Phillips and Josh Hamilton, and finally, a pair of superstar caliber prospects in Jay Bruce and Homer Bailey, respectively.

That's not bad, especially when you consider the potential impact of Bruce, who many feel is the second coming of Larry Walker.

There's a lot more to be done.  Krivsky made a huge, potentially fatal mistake in trading away Felipe Lopez, Austin Kearns, and others for relievers, what is now regarded to be his big weakness (so if you got a reliever, give him a call) and he's grown visibily impatient with Adam Dunn due to his strikeouts, and his first draft pick, Drew Stubbs, is struggling mightily in Low A.

But for now, there is some comfort in knowing there's enough of a young core to identify and grown around in the future.

Key Piece Of The Abreu Deal Might Be Done With Baseball

Earlier this week, there was news that Phillies outfielder C.J. Henry was no longer is going to play baseball and planned to leave the Phillies organization soon.  The news is premature, as Henry has cooled the fires down somewhat, but has admitted that he might join his younger brother Xavier on a college basketball team in 2008-09 if baseball hasn't worked out.

So far, it's looking that way.

Henry was drafted more on the basis of his gifts than his actual abilties.  Henry was thought to eventually be a future version of Gary Sheffield with his extreme power potential and speed.  Unfortunately, Henry's swing is long and he has struggled to hit advanced pitching.  He's inadequate as a defender and is now on this third position change, now playing left field.

Should Henry opt out, his original contract provides for eight semesters of tuition at $15,000 per semester under baseball scholarship's plan.  Henry's basketball prowess is still said to be high and he would essentially be able to name his program and try and join as a walk on.

Just another reason to blame Pat Gillick for not getting enough in return for Abreu.