Information » While some fans look only at Giambis statistics

The Toronto Blue Jays entire plans for the approaching July 31 non-waiver trade deadline may have been drastically altered, if not shut down, by Sundays injury news. Brett Lawrie is likely gone for 4-6 weeks with a broken finger on his right hand, and Jose Bautista is possibly following him to the disabled list with a hamstring issue on his right leg. Before those injuries and during that ugly 3-7 road trip, there was talk the Blue Jays were scouting Rays ace lefty David Price and might have an interest in the multi-talented Ben Zobrist, who can play nearly any position on the diamond. Both players would be an immense help to the Blue Jays, but the odds of either ending up in Toronto are slim and none. It all goes back to that old cliché about not trading within your division. This is Tampa Bays 17th year of existence. Over that span, the Devil Rays/Rays have only made four trades within the American League East, and it might even be a stretch to say even one of those was significant. In fact, they have made only one deal apiece with the Yankees and Red Sox. The Yankees deal goes back over eight years to May 24, 2006. The Yanks bought Nick Green from the Rays. Thats it. The Boston trade goes back even further to July 21,1999. The Rays dealt Dominican-born reliever Julio Santana to the Reds Sox for a player to be named later (Will Silverthorn) and cash. Santana spent seven years in the Majors - including a brief stint with Montreal - but never did pitch for the Red Sox after that deal. The Rays have made three trades with Baltimore but none since August 7, 2009. Arguably the biggest deal between the Rays and Os happened March 29, 1999, when Tampa Bay dealt right hander Jason Johnson to the Orioles for Danny Clyburn and a minor leaguer by the name of Bolivar Volquez. Again, hardly a blockbuster. On August 7, 2007 the Rays picked up catcher Gregg Zahn from the 0s for a player to be named later, named Rhyne Hughes. Zahn was 38 at the time and about a year from calling it a career. All of which brings us to the Blue Jays. They havent made a trade with the Rays in nearly 10 years. On December 12, 2004, they sent catcher Kevin Cash to Tampa Bay for right hander Chad Gaudin. The deal with the Rays that was supposed to have the biggest impact for the Jays happened on July 31, 2000. The Blue Jays looking to add some pitching depth for the stretch run dealt second base prospect Brent Abernathy to the Rays for right hander Steve Trachsel and veteran reliever Mark Guthrie. The deal failed to push Jim Fregosis Jays over the top. Overall, if you look at all eight of the deals the Rays have made without their division, only one - the Trachsel-Guthrie for Abernathy trade - actually came on the July 31 deadline. Most of the trades were inconsequential and none involved a star player. The Rays, as mentioned, havent even made a deal in the East since August 7, 2009, so dont hold your breath waiting for the Jays or any other team in the East to get Price or Zobrist. If either or both are dealt, theyre likely wind up in the National League. The San Diego Padres will be holding a special ceremony this Thursday to honour Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn, who passed away after a long battle with cancer. I only had the pleasure of watching him up close and in person three times. The first was at the All-Star game in 1998 at Coors Field in Denver. I was so impressed with his smile, his laugh, his personality and his limitless skill with the bat. I was lucky enough to watch that game from a bunker just below field level in right field. We were able to look thought a glass partition and see Tony Gwynn playing right field right in front of us. It was like we were playing right alongside him on every ball hit to right. It was an unforgettable experience. I saw him again in the 1998 World Series, where he might have been the best player on the diamond even though the Yankees swept the Padres four straight. In 1999, I was at the final All-Star game of the last century at Fenway Park in Boston. The most incredible moment was watching all the All-Stars gather at the mound before the game when Red Sox legend Ted Williams threw out the ceremonial first pitch from his wheelchair. Tony Gwynn was right at his side. That will always be one of my greatest sporting memories. The Angels put 42-year-old Raul Ibanez on waivers for the purpose of giving him his unconditional release. If this indeed is the end for Raul as a player, what a career he had. He was a 36th-round draft pick of Seattle back in 1992. He went on to hit .273 for his career with five different organizations with 2019 hits and 3030 homers. He was one of those rare individuals who seemed to get better with age. In 2005, at age 33 he played the entire 162 game schedule. He slugged 29 home runs with Seattle last year at age 41. He also made it to the postseason in five different seasons. If he wants to remain in the game, there are bound to be plenty of organizations willing to give him a chance. If the Jays are going to stay in playoff contention, they have to pick it up against the East - 47 of their remaining 85 games are against their own division and they have slipped to 15-14 versus the East. Baltimore is a division-best 20-13 against the East, while the Yankees are second at 15-10 and the Jays are third. Cheap Wholesale Balenciaga . - Whether its because of her improved play or the reason for it, Michelle Wie appears as comfortable on and off the golf course as at any time in her career. Balenciaga Shoes Clearance . Yahoo! Sports columnist Marc Spears says that the Boogie Smooth album may have been an elaborate April Fools prank. http://www.wholesalebalenciaga.com/ . -- Former Penn State coach Joe Paterno was admitted to the hospital Friday for observation due to minor complications from cancer treatments, his family said. Balenciaga Shoes Wholesale China . According to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger, it doesnt appear the offer was warmly received by the team. Blue Jackets director of hockey operations John Davidson and general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said on Wednesday the team has made offers of $6 million for two years, $32 million for six and $46 million over eight years but each one was refused by the restricted free agent centre and agent Kurt Overhardt. Cheap Balenciaga Shoes China . CNN and Gazzetta dello Sport reporter Tancredi Palmeri broke the news via Twitter Tuesday afternoon. Italian Football Association President Giancarlo Abete has also resigned, according to Palmeri.CLEVELAND -- On his way out to the field for pregame batting practice, Jason Kipnis hung a hard right in the Indians clubhouse to give Jason Giambi a big hug. "Great to see you," Kipnis told Clevelands respected designated hitter. "You, too, little brother," Giambi said. Big G is back with the Indians. Almost. Sidelined since spring training by a fractured rib, Giambi has been cleared to play and is scheduled to be activated from the disabled list Monday, when the Indians open a four-game series with the Kansas City Royals. The 43-year-old recently played in several games in a minor league injury rehabilitation assignment at Double-A Akron, a stop that helped his swing and also brought back memories of his path to the big leagues. "Sometimes you forget the grind," Giambi said. "Its been 20 years since I was a minor leaguer." While he was with the Aeros, Giambi and teammate Michael Bourn, who was with him to rehab a strained hamstring, treated the minor leaguers to several meals and found themselves serving up advice to some of the youngsters in Clevelands system. It comes naturally to Giambi, who is still playing but may one day try his hand at managing. He was a finalist for Colorados opening before signing with the Indians before last season. "Id like to, but the universe will determine that, not me," Giambi said with a laugh at his locker. "I love the nuances of the game and being a part of that. Ive played for some of the greatest managers in the game, Tony La Russa and Joe Torre and Tito (Terry Francona) and Jim Tracy." Giammbi said hes ready to play, but the Indians will wait until after the weekend.dddddddddddd Giambi took batting practice before Fridays series opener against Toronto and looked to be himself while launching several home runs into the right-field seats. The Indians have opened 7-8 without Giambi, and Francona said his presence has been missed inside the clubhouse, dugout and on the field. "Guys know hes there," Francona said. "Shoot, I know hes there. Because G is never going to back down from anybody and that doesnt mean you have to fight or anything. But its a nice teammates to have around. He can be a settling influence. He can kick somebody in the pants. Hes a great guy to have around. "Believe me, I wouldnt say all these things if they werent true. This is how I feel." Giambi injured his rib during spring training and was placed on the DL on March 30. While he batted just .183 last season, he hit nine homers and drove in 31 runs in 186 at-bats. Giambi also provided perhaps the seasons signature moment, when he belted a pinch-hit homer in the 10th inning to beat Chicago on Sept. 24. The homer helped propel the Indians to their first playoff appearance since 2007. While some fans look only at Giambis statistics and wonder why the Indians would dedicate a roster spot to an aging, situational hitter, Francona says Giambis impact goes way beyond numbers. "G can change the game in the batters box," Francona said. "Hes not here to hit .300, that would be great. But hes here to change the game with one of his swings and he has the ability to do that." Wholesale Hoodies NFL Shirts Outlet Jerseys NFL Wholesale Cheap NFL Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Cheap NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '