11-12-08 CUP O' JO

TOMMY EVERIDGE - Los Gigantes de Carolina, Puerto Rico (1B, Oakland A's Organization - Midland Rockhounds, AA) Tommy was one for four in the Gigantes 3-1 loss last night to Santurce, whose roster includes Mike Lowell , Carlos Beltran, and Jose Valentin.  Ruben Gotay homered in the 1st for Carolina's only run and Tommy's single in the 7th got the team's only rally started, but the Gigantes couldn't push across any more runs. The Gigantes held off the Cangrejeros until the 6th when reliever Miguel Martinez undid P.J. Walter's scoreless 5 innings, giving up a 2 run single to Joey Gomes' 2007 Newark Bears teammate, John Pachot.
 

CHATTER... 

• Tampa Bay's Joe Maddon was just named American League Manager of the Year.  After three years of listening to baseball professionals pick apart his every move, I've learned to just sit back and enjoy the show.  Clearly, the man knows a thing or two about how to turn a group of unsung heroes into a force of nature.  Kudos Joe. Hope you're having a lovely honeymoon and finding fans in Rays jerseys and Joe Maddon Glasses all across Europe. 
• Seattle fans whining over the coulda, woulda, shoulda decision to draft Brandon Morrow over Tim Lincecum.  I dunno.  Brandon is no chopped liver folks. I know he's not a home grown Mariner like Timmy would have been, but show Brandon some love and see what he can do for you.  The 707 guys have a knack for worst to first turnarounds if you'll only believe.
• The Holliday deal is done.  Matt will be an Oakland A in 2009.  That might be enough to resurrect my interest in baseball in my own backyard.  Apparently, the Rockies are willing to flip Street. I'm not big on Billy Bean's castoffs, so the only intrigue Huston holds for me as a Rays fan is the possibility of seeing how far Jonny Gomes could launch a fly ball at Coors Field.  Keith Law breaks down the Rockies/A's trade.