Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Boomer's Diamond Notes: Ichiro switches dugouts

Ichiro says, "Sayonara", to Mariners fans and the city of Seattle.
Like any Hollywood script, last night the "evil empire", again stole another good guy from his home and ironically did it RIGHT in front of his home fans. Just before the Mariners/Yankees Game last night in Seattle, the Yankees made a trade with the M's to acquire RF Ichiro Suzuki for a couple RH minor league pitchers. In a unusual way Ichrio went from the top of the Mariners line-up card for the nights game to the 8th spot of the Yankees fierce battling order. At 38, Ichiro, who had played for the M's since 2001, switched dugouts/clubhouses, and found himself playing for the visitors in the stadium he called home the previous 11 years going 1-4 last night in his Yankee debut with a stolen base. Ichiro now at the end of his career has another chance to play for a World Championship. Updated MLB Standings

Trade News from around the MLB:
With the Trade Deadline just a little over a week away, look for some more trades to happen in the next week leading up to the deadline. 

Hot Teams
  • Tigers (5 W's in a row, 8-2 last 10)
  • A's (5 W's in a row, 9-1 last 10)
  • Reds (5 W's in a row, 8-2 last 10)
  • Giants (8-2 last 10)
  • Dodgers (5 straight wins)
Cold Teams
  • Red Sox (4 L's in a row)
  • Royals (2 L's in a row, 3-7 last 10)
  • NY Mets (4 L's in a row, 1-9 last 10)
  • Astros (7 L's in a row, 1-9 last 10)
  • Rockies (2 L's in a row, 3-7 last 10)
Clubhouse Chat:

Cleveland Indians 48-48 (4 GB of 1st place)
  • On the verge of having the season split away, 3-7 last 10 games.
  • Huge 3-game series vs. the 1st-place Detroit Tigers starting tonight.
  • Will they be buyers and/or sellers before the Trade Deadline?
Cincinnati Reds 56-40 (1st place in the NL Central, .5 GB of Washington (Best record in the NL)
  • Joey who? Reds have won 5 straight & are 6-2 since Votto went to the DL (knee surgery).
  • Continue their series tonight down in Houston, before traveling to Colorado to face the Rockies.
  • Can they acquire another bat or arm before the deadline; are they happy with who they already have?
I will have a Boomer Report, later on in the week talking more about the Indians and Reds.