05-01-08 Ken Rosenthal

Every Tuesday we talked with Ken Rosenthal of fox sports and baseball package on foxy had some fox baseball stuff to do this week so we get talked to -- Thursday -- and I need to -- great thank you you wrote this week about believe it or not -- I know it's only may first but that the trade market Major League Baseball may be starting to take shape a little bit here.

Yet and certainly you can identify players that could be now will be available. In its familiar names for the most part -- certainly on the list. But I think with Cincinnati situation and as one that bears watching to simply because. It changed and it talked about winning and being the losing yet we haven't done. Your -- eligible agency. You wonder if they're on the one.

I can't what do you what do you make of five A rod coming back early from it. From his injury and he said it was his folly came back too early and then going on the disabled list them. That situation paired with Jorge Posada being on the DL the Yankees have anything to worry about.

Yes I think they absolutely have to worry about in age struggled offensively Astro offense with most of these. Optical the their offense once relied upon he. Kind of establish cushion the other pitchers and even better like it. And when you see that they've -- now eleven players a lot of different players on the disabled list. It is along it's -- supposedly was. Conditioning like crazy and he did did and they were dedicated to make so. Physically fit this year well yes we have older players. That's what wrap old guys are more prone to get her now erotic old but the -- 36 Eva -- right 32 Jeter. At least 31 and it's different when you're 31 and that is partly what the running.

Generally speaking when there there issues about shoulders or arms or whatever. Doctor James Andrews seems to be via the definitive source he's the guy you go to to get the final diagnosis and and whatever doctor James Andrews says goes the Yankees did that with Jorge Posada sent to doctor James Andrews. And then said they were waiting for three other opinions after that which made me wonder what they were waiting for.

In this case it simply might be at. Decide I want these are possible console with other position his agent is in the Mike Lowell is set and let. They are very close with -- security project who's the red team physician who looked so a lot of players on other. Cryptic is one of the the it. So I can't get it. Which is there was possible and really get to what is going on here.

I want to ask you about a guy who is not officially in Major League Baseball but is getting a lot of headlines lately. Roger Clemens as -- as a baseball fan can as a baseball observer columnist. Do you care what to a two things you care about the reports. That that Roger Clemens has not been faithful and and the other thing does it does it really matter. For Clemens.

I don't know that I care certainly a fan perspective. From writing perspective. Change you know on -- situation. It certainly is relevant to speak his credibility and used to treat himself at paragon of virtue when in reality. I would suggest that -- he nor is there virtue. It we live at this point but it relevant to that. I'm real feeling in the should be in the com writer again. Is that had he admitted -- using HEH steroids to some degree. Det none of this would ever come back in the way it. What do mean by that is. I think he could make on the way a lot. Because I think for the most part people are forgetting anyone gave him especially like -- so prominent. And it would not have opened the door for person -- in the treaty or people most of her to have this kind of -- Now when you look at Clemens you say okay what -- he it is that's terrible all of that but I just think. While at all it's true. She would not had the gumption for the people poster over at the gumption to keep this out in the public. If his legend was still -- hectic but largely would have been. It just on what and it. -- it's something. Clearly is more all the -- he's been and he had set himself up for people take shots.

And in Iraq you know I realized Andy patterns profile is not as high as Roger Clemens but. We don't even think about Andy Pettit annual we don't think about any of the guys in the Mitchell report we're focused on Roger Clemens.

Any -- I was eighteen every -- need all these guys went through this one level up. The you -- their punishment entered mission whatever the case might be. Now Clemens is always different because he was a sure fire all thing. I get it at. Fearful that can't be too much. It would never recover and that any sign of weakness -- It really affect in the way that he couldn't out it is -- is he treated every at bat a competition. Quite an -- get that means we needed him -- well it's not yet. Everyone else to -- things and and if you look at this -- damage control standpoint it just would have been a lot easier if at the very beginning.

Last night the Arizona Diamondbacks rallied from four runs down beat the Houston Astros eight to seven part of that rally was fuel buying. Pinch hit opposite field home run by Mike Owings who's a picture. It was used as a pinch hitter is he too good -- hitter to stay as a pitcher in this game.

Now he's pretty good pitcher to act of two very horrible this year yes and I don't know these ever going to be number 12 but he's certainly capable of four. Not -- guy but he. The winner at every level and that's what people always say about it knows we certainly the offensive part of his game helped him. And helped the team a great deal effectively they've got to expand roster.

Well brad Ross this actually said catcher for the Astros that that in in the air pitcher meeting. They actually went over how they would pitch to Mike Owings.

Because they certainly anticipated that matter Bob Melvin might use going in the -- it or perhaps it's -- well not sure but regardless. He is a factor in that regard and -- had a pitcher abuse.

We were all worried about Detroit the first week of the year first a couple weeks. Have they figured it out your opinion.

No but they're hitting the ball a lot better and that's Q what to do Bonderman pitched better game last night match that helped them. -- they are still very questionable in the rotation and their bullpen. Though they've gotten pretty good start out of Armando Galarraga is not the guy that it would. Was going to pay much attention to -- or Texas in the minor league deal and now they're getting Cruceta back. He's he's a problem they treated decently last night to make him in the bullpen which. There -- a better place and if they do well around pitching in short it will then figured out. My guess is note that would have -- issues in tires he did not -- whether it's injuries or ineffective. Which just plain shortages in the ball and it was going to be a.

Is John Gibbons in trouble as manager of the blue jays.

It's odd because you guys just saw two nights that you did and what it did really well. For whatever reason they couldn't hit and perhaps the biggest reason why that is tremendous pitching performances from. -- case certainly in the night before as well so. I would agree with that accusing -- anymore I'm trying to. So they're really different teams in the world stores and training. But given all that ownership might not be that patient and it might say enough and which tried something now. That's what happened in based on although rarely. -- be fair in the patriots' spot.

Well if if ownership is not that patient this is that that I've lost count I'm thinking we're up before. For managers that JP restarting is that a lot of a lot of GMs don't get a chance to move to survive for managerial changes I know I believe we inherited somebody -- yet Tosca was -- where Martinez's then there. And other -- that Tosca Martinez giving who who who was before Tosca.

Advocated -- it was his guy.

Yeah so I'm wondering if if Gibbons if Gibbons is in trouble isn't JP and trouble to.

I believe that -- indicate the GA QB vitamin -- but. That team has spent more money in recent years and yet still think he's been real you look back well. I reviewed but pretty evident on paper and yet they don't seem to reform now -- benefactor. The last couple years question about. But this year you look at a couple of decisions that may. Thank Thomas obviously -- immediate orbit they gave in the vesting option as trial cause trouble there might have waited out the best option. We Johnson. Let go Shannon Stewart didn't understand that would make it it don't understand Reed Johnson hugely valuable player would be he's the kind of gritty player that the jays spring we could use more. So those just to look at contract structures of Burnett well a lot of people critical of those big money deals with outs. Escape clauses. You look back -- of course the infamous draft in which JP to Ricky Romero Troy Tulowitzki. In you can make a case that DiPietro on the best Japanese. Again all GMs make mistakes not using anything here because the record is what it is but. I'm not sure frankly how much more we could've done in certain respects -- going to draft that a lot that haven't done very well at all. But some of the moves it made you look at say okay I understand that. And and have worked out.

Where they just have no power on that team.

Right and that's well wells should be part of that and Rios has power -- you guys certainly in the last couple days in. Frank Thomas to be part of what they were supposed to be ours so when you look at the hole aggregate GP years. You have to ask have they gotten to where it would be in it now and he's -- But he just got there so he is in trouble I believe but he does have to -- contract after this one took it the other way.

These things are cyclical and and it may may actually see that you know it it might anecdotal evidence is is incorrect in this. But it just seems to me like they're more guys on the on the DL right now and I'm used to seeing even this early in the season doesn't seem that way to you as well.

I would say yes but I think I believe that if -- year. Yeah get asked this question be used dale and you know we've seen that. It's about one. Gains I can't quantify that have on the numbers certainly there are a lot of -- what amazes me is it. They've made it eight of the day an age of conditioning. Nutrition all the things that players do to keep the belt though they get hurt at a higher rate in probably four. -- Seeing things that -- weren't seen before understood. Again elect the yank. Well it it'll -- was worked up but training. Girardi it was all of us and talked about all -- got to be great shape that was the goal. We get hurt like they got hurt last year when they work in shape.

Kenny you gotta you gotta paint the scene form yeah I see a ticker tape parade of Baltimore I think people forgiving Peter Angelos that column on the great manager now the Orioles. One of the elite teams in baseball near the top of the division just tell me how people going crazy in Baltimore for the you know.

It's out. -- today but that's not that your deposit him right now that's us but.

They are skeptical here rightly so because they have start like this before two years under two years ago under silly. Remember they were pretty out there -- pretty well but. What pitchers thing here is that the manager. -- is getting in place or eighth in the accountable which -- where they are they are in what he wants to be. Clearly we -- Bedard Brian Roberts told him there are Bedard deal -- Roberts well you don't -- don't plan to contend. But it all out there it's my part of benefiting from the fact that. I don't know that good yet and at some point we'll figure that out but right now they're riding. The pitching has been that it expected of -- has been very George Sherrill Chad Bradford. Jamie Walker will be really retreat pieces come July and I expect -- to pursue those kinds of things they're not. -- this -- wow we've got off figured out they're going to continue on their course and right.

Maybe the -- going to be in August marriage be cabinet and and 6000 people would show up for. Can we always appreciate time -- tucked in next week thanks Ken Rosenthal from fox sports fox sports dot com in the baseball MLB baseball package on box