The Dugout - July 31
Welcome to the inaugural edition of 'The Dugout' - a weekly update on the US sporting scene. Like 'The Bench' over in the NRL section, only American. Hence the name. You geddit? 'Dugout'? Aw forget it.
First up this week: Chicago White Sox pitching ace Jake Peavy has been traded to Boston in a three team deal also including Detroit. Tigers get Jose Iglesias, White Sox get Avisail Garcia and a couple of Red Sox prospects, while Peavy trades his White Sox in for Red ones. This is a huge boost for the Boston rotation as they try to hold off Tampa Bay and the Yankees down the stretch. Peavy, who is contracted through next year with an option for 2015, was 8-4 for the season for Chicago with a 4.28 ERA. He is a three time all-star, who has impressed pitching in what is considered a hitter’s ballpark in Chicago. The MLB trade deadline expires at the exact conclusion of the month of July, check back tomorrow for all the late deals and reaction.
Elsewhere, Brian Wilson (not the same guy from the Beach Boys) has signed a 1 year deal with the LA Dodgers as he tries to restart his career after serious injury. Wilson had 171 saves as San Francisco closer, and played a key role in the 2010 World Series, but hasn’t pitched since the start of the 2012 season. Most people will recognise him by the more-than-notable beard that he sports. It is a very fine beard.
Alex Rodriguez plans to appeal the apparently imminent suspension coming his way, but MLB Commissioner Bud Selig may have an ace up his sleeve. There is the option, since the new collective bargaining agreement, for the Commish to block such an appeal if the player in question is deemed to be ‘bad for the game’. A Rod says he wants to be a positive role model for the game, but that ship has surely sailed. A large group of players are on the Biogenesis list and facing suspensions, but word is Bartolo Colon, Melky Cabrera and Yasmani Grandal will get off free, as they've been caught and suspended for their doping in the past. Most of these guys will cop plea deals, like Ryan Braun, but A Rod has ruled that option out.
In NBA, Brandon Jennings has been dealt to the Detroit Pistons in a sign and trade deal sending guard Brandon Knight, forward Khris Middleton and center Slava Kravtsov to Milwaukee. Jennings gets a 3 year US$24m contract. He had been hoping to stay with the Bucks, but only for a long term deal, which they strongly resisted. Other basketball notables include Marcus Camby signing with Houston, Luis Scola traded to Indiana, and just this morning, Dallas picked up DeJuan Blair.
Finally, NFL teams are fully in preparation mode now, with training camps, like the Thunderbirds, full go. Preseason matches begin on August 9th (NZT), before the regular season kicks of September 6 (NZT) as the Denver Broncos host the reigning Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens.
We have had a few casualties from training camps, though. Seattle WR Percy Harvin will need surgery on his hip, and may miss the bulk of the upcoming season. Harvin is yet to play for the Seahawks, having signed a massive deal as a free agent this offseason to give QB Russell Wilson someone to aim for. On to plan B, I guess, which is probably Marshawn Lynch.
Jeremy Maclin’s season is over before it started, with the Philly receiver needing surgery to fix a torn ACL. Baltimore TE Dennis Pitta dislocated his hip and is done for the year too. The Ravens signed veteran Visanthe Shiancoe as a replacement. A number of squad players were injured across the league this week also, as they try and press their case for roster places. Plus everyone’s still carrying that holiday weight. RG3 (who'll wear a knee brace this year but says he'll be good to go for week 1) was a real champ about it all.
In non-season ending injury news, Cowboys Safety Barry Church missed practice today due to an unfortunate run in with a particularly stubborn piece of hard candy. Church needed a root canal after chipping his tooth on the lolly. That is a completely true story, by the way. It actually happened.
I told you so.