Baseball

Manny for MVP? It makes a lot of sense

Slugger makes everyone in the Dodgers' lineup better

David Zalubowski / AP

Los Angeles Dodgers' Manny Ramirez laughs after swinging and missing a pitch from Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Brian Fuentes in the ninth inning of a baseball game in Denver on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008. Ramirez struck out on the following pitch from Fuentes. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Texas could tire of Bradley's games

Outfielder Milton Bradley could be with his sixth team in seven seasons next year. Texas manager Ron Washington pushed to bring in the mercurial Bradley for this season. Washington insisted that Bradley was misunderstood and would respond to his handling.

For a while, all was well. Bradley brought a needed hard edge to what has been a placid team. Bradley also set a tone for the offense with consistently good at-bats. He leads the American League in OPS and trails only Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia in the race for the A.L. batting title.

As is usually the case with Bradley, though, he has worn out his welcome by turning into a constant headache. Several major league officials predict the Rangers are unlikely to make a major attempt to re-sign Bradley when he hits the free-agent market after this season.

Bradley has been ejected from games four times this season. There was also the night in Kansas City when he raced up four flights of stairs in a futile attempt to "introduce" himself to a television commentator who had made what Bradley considered uncomplimentary comments.

Bradley is an old 30. He can no longer play the outfield and has trouble staying in the lineup as a designated hitter. Bradley has played in as many as 130 games only once in his career. He cannot be counted on for many reasons. Texas is the latest team to learn that.

Rain ruins the rotation

The remnants from Hurricane Ike trashed the Chicago White Sox's best-laid pitching plans. They will be unable to use righthander Gavin Floyd in a vital, final-week series at Minnesota and must trot out their fifth starter again.

The White Sox wanted right-handers Javier Vazquez and Floyd and lefthander Mark Buehrle to pitch on normal rest in the series against the Twins (Sept. 23-25). Two rainouts and a doubleheader last weekend changed everything.

The White Sox still will be able to use Vazquez and Buehrle against the Twins, but lefthander John Danks will get a start in place of Floyd. That is a major change. Floyd is 3-1 with a 1.86 ERA in four starts against the Twins this season. Danks is 1-1 with a 7.91 ERA in four starts against the Twins.

To have Vazquez for the opener against the Twins, the White Sox must start him on only three-days' rest against the Yankees on Thursday. Vazquez last pitched on three days rest in 2004.

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"I'm ready for whatever," Vazquez told reporters. "If they want to bring me bring me back (early), I'm fine with that."

The White Sox also must use their current fifth starter, lefthander Clayton Richard, in tonight's game at Yankee Stadium. Richard is 2-4 with a 6.94 ERA.

Buyer (Bucs) beware

Early returns say Pittsburgh got nothing in return for veteran outfielders Jason Bay and Xavier Nady.

Right-hander Jeff Karstens has come back to earth after two good starts. Karsten and Ross Ohlendorf — both acquired from the Yankees — are a combined 2-8 with a 5.09 ERA in 11 appearances (eight starts).

Reliever Craig Hansen, who came over from Boston, cannot throw strikes. He has allowed 17 walks allowed in 15 1/3 innings pitched with the Pirates.

Third baseman Andy LaRoche, picked up from the Dodgers, cannot hit. He has a .153 average and a .492 OPS after 124 at-bats with Pittsburgh.

Throw in the bungled negotiations with top draft pick Pedro Alvarez — don't be surprised if he is awarded free agency by an arbitrator — and the Pirates' front office seems rudderless. Blame that on team president Frank Coonelly, not general manager Neal Huntington. Coonelly holds the power, such as it is, with the Pirates.

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