I’ll have more to say on the trend of overpaying relievers in another venue, but for now it’s enough to know that 4 years for $19 million is an insane amount to give a guy like Scott Linebrink, which is what the Chicago White Sox will be paying for the right-hander’s services.
I happen to be a big fan of Linebrink. I saw his California League debut with San Jose back in ‘97, when he fanned 10 Stockton batters over 6 innings. I’ve followed him closely since then and was ecstatic when the Padres picked him up off waivers from Houston …read more

Well, okay, maybe not worlds. But with the way Justin Upton is destroying pitchers, it’s only a matter of time before he sets his sights on the planets.
B.J.’s little brother, the first pick overall in the 2000 draft, is batting .325/.386/.775 in 11 games at Double-A Mobile since being promoted from Visalia. He hit “only” .341/.433/.540 in 32 California League games.
Wait, here’s the scary part: Upton is 19 years old.
Uh, I could make pretty mean arm farts when I was that age. Not that there’s anything wrong with arm farts, but wow. Presumably Upton can’t maintain his current pace (.450 …read more

While many baseball fans were keeping close tabs on the weekend’s intense interleague rivalries — who could resist the fabled Colorado/Kansas City, Philadelphia/Toronto, and San Diego/Seattle matchups — a three-game series in the Class-A California League saw 83 runs score. Yes, I said 83.
The Lake Elsinore Storm traveled to Lancaster, home of the JetHawks and one of the most favorable hitters parks in organized baseball. The results weren’t real pretty:

 
Fri
Sat
Sun
Tot

Storm
30
12
21
63

JetHawks
0
14
6
20

The two clubs combined for 95 hits, 23 of which left the yard. Storm outfielder Yordany Ramirez drove in 15 runs over the weekend, to give him 25 in 42 games …read more