Red Sox Turn a Triple Play, No One Notices

When the Milwaukee Brewers turned a triple play on Monday, it was pretty exciting stuff. Unfortunately, when the Boston Red Sox turned in three outs in a single play the following day, it was one of the most boring triple plays of all time.

It was the fourth inning with runners on first and second, and here's how it all went down: With Erik Bedard on the hill, Sean Rodriguez dribbled one up the third baseline. Jed Lowrie then stepped on the bag to start a 5-4-3 triple play right around the horn. Just like that, the inning was over and Bedard got out of all sorts of trouble.

Not quite as awesome as the Brewers' triple play from the day before, huh.


Hat tip to Baseball Nation for the animated gif, which I found after googling "Lame Red Sox triple play"

Random MLB Signings

The Minnesota Twins have signed Orlando Hudson to a one-year, $5 million contract, agreeing not to offer salary arbitration next fall if he becomes a Type A free agent, which means he'd rank in the upper 20% of second basemen in the game... which could totally happen.

This move not only takes care of their second base problem (no offense, Nick Punto) it also forms a whole new pairing up the middle with spankin' new shortstop J.J. Hardy, who was acquired by the Twins early in the offseason in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Continue reading and comment on this story at Sports Untapped.

Erik Bedard Lands On DL, Orioles Chuckle

Seattle Mariners ace Erik Bedard has been placed on the 15-day DL, retroactive to April 9th, with inflammation in his left hip. He has no idea when he'll be healthy enough to pitch again.

The lefty strikeout machine is 1-0 with a 3.27 ERA over two starts this season with his new team after going 13-5 with a 3.16 ERA and 221 strikeouts for the Baltimore Orioles last year.

[Seattle Times]

Erik Bedard to Seattle a Done Deal

Former Baltimore Orioles ace Erik Bedard can officially call himself a Seattle Mariner.

In return for the strikeout machine, the O's landed left-handed reliever George Sherrill and 4 minor leaguers: Seattle's top outfield prospect Adam Jones; 19-year-old Chris Tillman, who was the club's 2007 pitcher of the year; 20-year-old Tony Butler, considered one of the franchise's top young guns; and 23-year-old right-handed middle-reliever, Kameron Mickolio.

Bedard, 28, joins an already established rotation including 21-year-old phenom Felix Hernandez, veterans Jarrod Washburn and Miguel Batista, and newly-acquired free agent Carlos Silva. And boy, is he fired up... or, as fired up as Bedard gets.

"When I first got [to Baltimore] it was fun, because we were signing a lot of guys and were looking forward to competing with Boston and New York. It all went downhill from there."

The O's however, are out an ace with no official replacement. Jeremy Guthrie and Adam Loewen are the top two candidates for Opening Day, while Daniel Cabrera may also be given some consideration.

[Seattle Times]

Erik Bedard: That Didn't Take Long

Remember when Erik Bedard spoke with The Sun this Saturday, voicing his displeasure with the Baltimore Orioles and their unwillingness to either trade him or come up with an extension?

Well, it's Sunday evening now, and he's reportedly on his way to joining the Seattle Mariners rotation in exchange for outfielder Adam Jones. No word yet on which other Mariners players or prospects may being thrown into the mix, though.

Jones was yanked from the Venezuelan Winter League playoffs by the Mariners this weekend before revealing to reporters there that he is flying to Baltimore for a physical on Monday and being dealt to the O's.

Erik Bedard Wants Out

Baltimore Orioles ace Erik Bedard isn't happy.

The 28-year-old lefty told the Baltimore Sun Saturday that he expects to be traded this offseason. He also voiced his disappointment that the club hasn't made a greater effort to ink him to an extension.

Bedard went 13-5 with a 3.16 ERA in 28 starts last season before landing on the 60-day disabled list in September with a strained right oblique muscle. Up until that point, he dominated the majors with a franchise record 221 strikeouts.

Sadly, his efforts did little to help the struggling O's, as the team went on to a horrid 69-93 finish - 27 games behind the first-place Boston Red Sox in the AL East. This is no news for Baltimore fans, as they haven't enjoyed a winning season since 1997, when the team went 98-64.

Bedard isn't willing to stick around for the rebuilding process, either.

"[Rebuilding] takes a long time, and you need a lot of patience. It's not just me. I think everybody is [sick of losing] from the ground up."

[Baltimore Sun]

Opening Day For The Rest Of Us: AL

I'm such a homer. Johan Santana will take his first step toward a third Cy Young in four seasons when the Twins open the season against lefty ace Erik Bedard and the Orioles.

Most of last season's team will return for Minnesota, led by Santana, who went 19-6 with a league-leading 2.77 ERA and league-best 245 strikeouts last season, tying the Yankees' Chien-Ming Wang for the big league lead in wins. Johan has a 2-1 record and 3.18 ERA in eight career starts against the Orioles, having not faced them since 2005.

Erik Bedard Avoids Arbitration with Orioles

Erik Bedard has avoided arbitration with the Baltimore Orioles, agreeing Saturday to a $3.4 million, one-year contract with the opportunity to earn $100,000 in performance bonuses.

The left-hander asked for a $4 million salary while the Orioles had offered $2.7 million, so he will earn more than double his salary in 2007 after going 15-11 with a 3.76 ERA in 33 starts last season, when he earned $1,625,000.

And rightfully so. Bedard set career highs in wins, innings and starts last year with 171 career-best strikeouts as well, which helped with the O's decision to concede.

[Baltimore Sun]

Corey Patterson Gets Another Year With O's

The Baltimore Orioles avoided salary arbitration with center fielder Corey Patterson on Friday, agreeing to terms on a one-year contract worth $4.3 million - a $1.5 million hike in what he made last season.

Whether you consider Patterson talented or a total underachiever, he had a solid season with the O's in 2006, batting .276 with 16 home runs, 53 RBIs and a career-high 45 stolen bases, the third-highest total in the American League.