Knuckle Curve » ryan dempster

Baseball Free Agency Update – Who Signed?

Stephen Kersey — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 02:33:09 +0000

Although the major action in baseball free agency hasn’t taken place yet, some baseball free agents have already signed. Which free agents have new contracts? Here’s the list so far:

Ryan Dempster, Chicago Cubs
Dempster re-signed with the Cubs for four years and $52 million.

Edgar Renteria, San Francisco Giants
Renteria left the Detroit Tigers to sign with the Giants for two years and $18.5 million.

Jeremy Affeldt, San Francisco Giants
Affeldt, formerly of the Cincinnati Reds, signed with the Giants for two years and $8 million.

Mike Lincoln, Cincinnati Reds
Lincoln re-signed with the Reds with a contract that will pay him $4 million over two years.

Bob Howry, San Francisco Giants
Howry left the Chicago Cubs to sign with the Giants for one year and $2.75 million.

Doug Brocail, Houston Astros
Brocail re-signed with the Astros for one year and $2.75 million.

Mike Hampton, Houston Astros
Hampton left the Atlanta Braves to sign with the Astros for $2 million over one season.

Russell Branyan, Seattle Mariners
Branyan left the Milwaukee Brewers to sign with the Mariners for one-year, $1.4 million.

Jorge Julio, Milwaukee Brewers
Julio signed with the Brewers for $950K after leaving the Atlanta Braves.

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Tim Lincecum Wins 2008 NL Cy Young Award

Stephen Kersey — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 06:55:52 +0000

Tim Lincecum of the San Francisco Giants was named the winner of the 2008 National League Cy Young Award. The 24-year-old right-hander proved during the 2008 campaign why he’s regarded as one of the best young pitchers in Major League Baseball.

On the season, Lincecum went 18-5 with a 2.62 ERA. He also struck out 265 batters in 227 innings pitched. Throw in a WHIP of 1.17 and it’s no wonder how Lincecum was able to win the NL Cy Young Award.

Brandon Webb of the Arizona Diamondbacks finished second and Johan Santana of the New York Mets finished third, while Brad Lidge, CC Sabathia and Ryan Dempster round out the top six. Lincecum received 23 first place votes — far and away the most.

The generously listed 5-foot-11 Giants pitcher is the unquestioned ace of San Francisco’s pitching rotation and has replaced Barry Bonds as the face of the franchise.

Photo credit: Newscom

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Chicago Cubs Lose First Playoff Game

Stephen Kersey — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 05:46:56 +0000

The 100 year curse looks to be alive and breathing. The Chicago Cubs lost their first playoff game in 2008 by a final score of 7-2 against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

At first, things looked fine for Chicago. They got up 2-0 by scoring two in the bottom of the second inning. But then James Looney of the Dodgers hit a grand slam in the top of the fifth inning to put Los Angeles up for good.

Not surprisingly, Manny Ramirez shined for the Dodgers. He was 2-4 with a walk, two runs, an RBI and a homer run. Derek Lowe pitched a fine six innings, giving up two earned runs while striking out six.

For the Cubs, things weren’t as rosy. Ryan Dempster struggled through 4.2 innings that saw him walk seven batters and give up four earned runs. Alfonso Soriano, Kosuke Fukudome and Geovany Soto combined to go 0-12.

Chicago still has a chance to put the curse to bed but Game 2 has now turned out to be a must win game. Taking the hill for the Cubs will be ace Carlos Zambrano and he will take on Chad Billingsley of the Dodgers.

Game 2 will be Thursday at 9:30 PM CST.

Manny Ramirez and Joe Torre have to like the Dodgers’ Game 1 success.

Photo: Newscom

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