A's Claim LHP Joe Savery on Waivers From Philly

(Nick Laham/Getty Images)

The Oakland Athletics claimed LHP Joe Savery on outright waivers from the Philadelphia Phillies Monday. To make room for him on the 40-man roster the A's moved fellow southpaw, Eric O'Flaherty on the 60-day Disabled List. O'Flaherty who is coming off of Tommy John Surgery isn't expected to be ready to pitch until July so the move works out just fine.

The transaction ends a disappointing stint in Philly for Savery, who was the Phillies' first round draft pick in 2007. Savery was known not only for his top fastball but also for his big bat, a bat he never even got to use in Philadelphia and will most likely never use in Oakland either. His fastball declined in 2011 and he was re-signed by the Phillies as a first baseman and designated hitter. He played in 2012 for the Single-A Clearwater Threshers, sharing time at first base with Darin Ruf.

Later during a 23-inning game, both Savery and Ruf were called into pitch and everyone realized that Savory's fastball was miraculously back. Savery moved quickly up through the minors and was called up to the Phillies as a pitcher, the very same season he started in Single-A as a first baseman.

(Getty Images)

Savery was 3-2 with the Phillies posting a 4.12 ERA in 41 games over the past three seasons. In 2013, however, he posted a solid 3.15 ERA in 20 innings pitched but only faced a total of 86 batters over that span making it quite a small sample to make comparisons. Hopefully, Savery will be get more of an opportunity with the Athletics that he did not get in Philly and be able to bolster the Athletics' already stellar bullpen.

For More of the Latest News From Around the League Check Out MLB Nation!

My Prediction Comes True: AJ Burnett Signs with the Phillies

Honestly, I can actually say that I saw this one coming. Not to "toot my own horn" or anything, but I called the Philadelphia Phillies signing AJ Burnett just after he announced that he planned to pitch in 2014. In a previously published article, written on January 30, 2013 titled Could the Phillies be Burnett's Third Suitor?, I wrote, 

"Also possibly throwing their hat in the ring for Burnett are the, out of nowhere, Philadelphia Phillies. With a fifth spot left open in their rotation ready to be fought for at spring training, the Phillies could fill that role with Burnett, a proven starter and workhorse...Burnett could fit in not only as their much-needed reliable fifth starter, he could end up in the number two role to break up lefties Lee and Hamels."

It appears that my prediction has come to fruition. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Wednesday that Burnett, 37, had reached an agreement on a one-year, $16 million deal with Philadelphia.

Burnett had been mulling retirement for most of the off season until late January. When the announcement came out that he was not going to retire, most baseball fans and critics thought he would end up with the Baltimore Orioles. Burnett does reside in Maryland and the Orioles definitely could have used another proven, seasoned starter.

The other club reportedly in pursuit of Burnett at the time was the Tampa Bay Rays. According to a tweet by Peter Gammons on January 30, 2013,

@pgammo Orioles "all in" on AJ Burnett, Rays in, early in process

Since then the right-hander had also been linked to the Pittsburgh Pirates, who he played for in 2012 and 2013. He told reporters at the end of last season that he would most likely return to the Pirates as a free agent or retire. When he announced that he would pitch again, he made it clear that the team needed to be relatively close to his Maryland home. Philadelphia certainly fits that bill.

This signing couldn't have come at a better time for the Phillies as just Tuesday the team's ace, LHP Cole Hamels, told reporters that he will not be ready to start on opening day due to bicep tendinitis. He did say he remained confident that he would be able to pitch sometime in April.

Burnett is a perfect fit for the Phillies. Joining Hamels and Cliff Lee at the top of the rotation, Burnett will be able to break up the two lefties and provide extra stability in the rotation, especially now after Hamels' announcement. 

Read The rest of my article on Sports Unbiased - Your Alternative Source for Sports

Michael Young to Retire! (and a whole litany of other stuff - I got off topic a bit)

Well I really have nothing witty or interesting to say, this is all pretty straight forward ... that said I will still in my usual long winded way say something ... I always liked this guy (except when he was batting against the A's of course), found him respectable and it's pretty fitting that he retire now, spend time with his fam while he is still young and still has an exact .300 career batting avg - I mean why risk that, right? One at bat could kill ya! LOL! But seriously ... it like would. 

Anyway, the only thing that freaks me out about all these guys' retiring like Mo (although it felt like he pitched for an eternity ... like what is baseball without Mariano Rivera? I'm sorry but it's true. He's like so awesome every way you look at it! I adore him but then again who doesn't - oops, sorry I forgot about the city of Boston although they at least have respect for him right? I'd love for a Boston fan or two to comment on that .... but I am getting super off track here!!) and Jeter's almost done and A-Rod and Andy Pettitte and all these guys I've watched for what feels like all my life and I still think they are young - like even baseball wise - when they are not. Like Lance Berkman just retired and he was one of the young Killer B's on the Astros in 2007 but when you think about that - crap that was already 7 years ago - where does the time go? Didn't bother me so much with the Mark McGwire, Edgar Martinez, Bo Jackson, Terry Steinbach, Darryl Strawberry types retired ... ok, really I am just pulling names off of baseball-reference.com from 1962-63 because I used to think that they were like adults when I was a kid - but in reality they were all like 18-20! So weird!! But as far off point as I am right now I just don't feel like the group of guys retiring or going to be retiring in the next year or two are that old - baseball wise - already! Anyways, onto Michael Young .... (who in my opinion is still young! lol)

After mulling over retirement for most of this off season Michael Young has officially announced his retirement according to Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal and the Dallas Morning News.

A seven-time All-Star Young, 37, spent last season with the Philadelphia Phillies and the Los Angeles Dodgers, batting .279 over a total of 147 games between the two teams. Young is the best known for his time with the Texas Rangers. He spent 13 years of his 14 year career with Texas and has played more games in a Rangers' uniform than any other player. He was also a very scary opponent to have at the plate when he's not on your team. Naturally, this makes him the Rangers' all-time leader in almost every offensive category:

• Hits - 2230
• Runs - 1085
• Total Bases - 3286
• Doubles - 415
• Triples - 55

He holds also 4 of the top seven career years in terms of hits by a Texas player (2003-2006) and he holds the Ranger's club record for doubles in a season with 52 in 2006. He finishes his career with a .300 batting average and a total of 2,375 hits.

According to Rosenthal, Young had a number of "good offers" he could have accepted for 2014. Instead he has chosen to retire now and spend more time with his family. Over his career he has made more than $90 million according to baseball-reference.com.

Young appeared in the playoffs four different times all coming at the end of his career. He played for Texas in the World Series in both 2010 and 2011, neither of which ended with a title. Overall though one can definitely say that he had quite a nice career and even though he didn't play there in 2013 will leave a legacy at the Ballpark in Arlington.

For more baseball news check out MLB Nation 

So He's Not Retiring! Where will AJ Burnett end up? Maybe not where you think!

Been MIA the last couple of days due to the passing of my beloved and only son, Harry James Potter Rainwater.

Haven't felt like writing or even staying awake or staying ... how to put it delicately - or more like bluntly - not drunk. But I still have my girls - Hermione Jean Granger Rainwater, Little Kitty and my dog, Bebe - so all is not lost and I woke up this morning missing baseball with a vengeance. 

I mean it feels like in two days (where in reality I didn't miss all that much) I missed EVERYTHING ... was gonna write first about Big Papi and I will get to that eventually today. For now we are gonna go with AJ Burnett who as most know had been mulling the idea of retirement that was until yesterday. The 37 year old does intend to pitch in 2014 the question is where ... Baltimore most likely, Tampa Bay yes is in the mix ... but the Phillies? Where did that come from ... oh just a Philadelphia reporter but it makes so much sense it's scary. Well not really scary in that I'm worried about the Phils coming after my A's in the World Series, scary in the sense that it makes so much sense ... so here's a little piece I did for MLB Nation on the subject: 

Pitcher A.J. Burnett, 37, had been mulling retirement until an announcement yesterday that changed a few teams' minds on which of the handful of free agent pitchers remaining that they were looking to sign. Wednesday Burnett announced that he is still planning to pitch in 2014.

Thought by many to be a lock for the Orioles if he were to change his mind regarding retirement Burnett, who resides in Maryland after all, it now appears may have a couple other interested suitors. Another obvious team in the mix is the Tampa Bay Rays, even after avoiding arbitration and re-signing LHP David Price to a 1-year $14 million deal. The Rays actually have the capacity to keep both pitchers if they were to sign Burnett. However, a trade for Price would be more lucrative as he will become a free agent in 2015. They also have the option to wait till mid-season to shop Price for possibly an even better deal. So as the Rays have options, they are still making up their mind.

A tweet by Peter Gammons confirmed that the

Orioles are "all in" on AJ Burnett, Rays in, early in process

But also possibly throwing their hat in the ring for Burnett are the, out of nowhere, Philadelphia Phillies. With a fifth spot left open in their rotation ready to be fought for at spring training, the Phillies could fill that role with Burnett, a proven starter and workhorse. Already their rotation consists of Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, Kyle Kendrick and Roberto Hernandez, all locks for the 2014 season, but to have a proven 5th starter could help solidify the aging Phillies team for at least another year.

As of Monday Phillies' general manager, Ruben Amaro Jr. and manager Ryne Sandberg, were "keeping their eyes open" according to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. But as of yesterday it seems they may have a vested interest in A.J. Burnett, as reported by Ryan Lawrence at PhillyNews.com.

He's got a point. Burnett could fit in not only as their much needed reliable fifth starter, he could end up in the number two role to break up lefties Lee and Hamels. Burnett who went 10-11 with a 3.30 ERA last season with the Pittsburgh Pirates, also led National League starters in strikeout and ground ball rates which would work well in Philadelphia's home run friendly ballpark. Not to mention the fact that since the Pirates let him go without a qualifying offer whichever team picks him up would be not have to give up a draft pick as compensation, unlike some other free agent starters like Ervin Santana and Ubaldo Jimenez.

With their opening day payroll still well below the $189 million luxury tax threshold the Phillies might very well be in the running with the the Orioles and Rays to be the first to try and snatch up A.J. Burnett.

Any thoughts?!?

Shibe Park: 1909-1976

I LOVED WRITING THIS ARTICLE FOR MLB Nation! TAKE A MINUTE TO CHECK IT OUT AND LEARN SOME VALUABLE MLB HISTORY!! SHIBE PARK/CONNIE MACK STADIUM !!! 

My latest piece for MLB Nation My favorite article I have written yet! Check out the first major park both the A's and Phillies first called home! Shibe Park, later renamed Connie Mack Stadium! Here's a preview!

Shibe Park, later known as Connie Mack Stadium, opened on April 12, 1909 as the new home of the Philadelphia Athletics.  A’s president Ben Shibe and his partner, a Mr. Cornelius McGillicuddy Sr. aka Connie Mack, were tired of having to turn fans away from the games at the Athletics’ first home, Columbia Park, due to the popularity of baseball in Philadelphia.

(courtesy of @mlb_cathedrals)

Built by William Steele and Sons, Shibe Park was baseball’s first steel and concrete stadium. It featured a 34 foot high right field wall and stately columns built in the French Renaissance style. It was renovated to add more seating in 1925 and again after the 1938 season to accommodate lights for night games.

Located at N 21st St & W Lehigh Ave in Philadelphia, PA, it was a mere five blocks away from the original home of the Philadelphia Phillies, National League Park nicknamed the Baker Bowl. The park was home to the American League Philadelphia Athletics from 1909-1954 and to the National League Philadelphia Phillies from 1938-1970. For 16 years the two teams shared a stadium with the Athletics owners charging the Phillies owners ten cents for every fan they drew to pay the “rent.”

Shibe Park was the home of many historic games, players and baseball firsts thanks to a handful of special ballplayers and the long time owner and manager of the Athletics, Connie Mack. Mack is considered one of the most iconic managers in baseball history and was elected to the HOF in 1937.  He was involved in the building of the park as part owner of the A’s and managed the team there from it’s opening until 1950. Mack managed the Athletics for 50 seasons and 42 of those seasons were played at Shibe Park. During that time the Athletics won five World Series Titles and Shibe Park was home to two great baseball dynasties.

The 1910-1914 Athletics have been dubbed “The First Dynasty” in all of sports by baseball historians after winning the World Series in 1910, 1911 and 1913. The 1929-1932 A’s or “The Second Dynasty” won three straight AL pennants and two more Worlds Series Titles. In the late 1990s Sports Illustrated called the 1929 A’s the greatest team of all time, better than the 1927 Yankees and their “Murderer’s Row.”

The Shibe Park was renamed Connie Mack Stadium in 1953 by Mack’s two sons who became the team and park’s new owners in 1950 after Mack’s final season as manager of the Athletics. When the A’s were sold and moved to Kansas City in 1954 the park was home only to the Phillies who played the last game at Connie Mack Stadium on Oct. 1, 1970 defeating the Montreal Expos 2-1.

While still named Shibe Park the stadium was home to the Athletics’ “$100,000 infield” a group of extraordinary players (with just as extraordinary salaries for the time) who were with the A’s during the First Dynasty. The “$100,000 infield” was made up of first baseman Stuffy McInnis, second basemanEddie Collins, shortstop Jack Barry and third baseman Frank “Home Run” Baker. Baker and Collins are now members of the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.

The 1929 A’s and the beginning of the Second Dynasty had players like first baseman Jimmie Foxx who posted a .354 batting average that year and pitcher Lefty Grove who led the AL in strikeouts and finished the season with a 2.81 ERA. The 1929 A’s team can boast three Hall of Famers Foxx, Mickey Cochraneand Al Simmons.

During the Phillies tenure Shibe was home to two  Phillies clubs of note. The first in 1950 was a young group of players, whose age averaged only 26 years, nicknamed “The Whiz Kids.” Considered a long shot because of their youth, they won the National League Pennant that year but were swept in the World Series by the New York Yankees. Of the original “Whiz Kids” two players, pitcher Robin Roberts who was 23 in 1950 and finsihed the season 20-11 with a 3.02 ERA and outfielder Richie Ashburn, also only 23 who finished the season with a .303 batting average, are members of the Hall Of Fame.

The second is the 1964 ballclub unfortunately nickednamed “The Phold.” Playing at what was then called Connie Mack Stadium, the 1964 Phillies had a lot of talent and prospered throughout the season playing in great games that included Jim Bunning‘s perfect game against the New York Mets. It was the first perfect game in the National League since 1880 and only the seventh perfect game in MLB history. He later went on to become a Hall of Famer. During the last two weeks of the season the 1964 Phillies suffered an unprecedented and epic collapse in which they went from the favorite to take the NL pennant to finishing the season in a second place tie with the Cincinnati Reds after a horrendous three game sweep by the St. Louis Cardinals who did win the NL Pennant that year. “The Phold” of the Phillies in those two short weeks will not be forgotten. Called by many “the worst collapse in the history of sports” Shibe Field/Connie Mack Stadium had now hosted one of the sport’s all time greatest teams in the 1929 A’s and seen baseball’s biggest break down (so far).

Many notable games were held at Shibe Park. It hosted eight World Series and two All-Star Games the first by the A’s in 1943 and the second by the Phillies in 1952. The second of the two All-Star games has the distinction of being the only All-Star to ever be called early, after only five innings, due to weather.  On May 16, 1939 MLB’s first American League night game was played at Shibe Park. It came with a lot of complaining from the surrounding neighborhood residents and a lot of persistence on the part of Connie Mack who insisted on putting up the tall standing lights to accommodate a night game atmosphere. The A’s lost that game to the Cleveland Indians 8-3 in front of a crowd upwards of 15,000 fans.

Other memorable games included Bunning’s perfect game and four no-hitters all pitched by the Athletics. The first was thrown in 1910 by Chief Bender, in 1916 by Bullet Joe Bush, in 1945 by Dick Fowler and in 1947 by Bill McCahan. Babe Ruth got his first hit and home run as a Yankee at Shibe Park in April of 1920. In 1932 Lou Gherig managed to hit four home runs in one game.

(courtesy of @mlb_cathedrals)

One of the most famous games at Shibe Park came during game four of the 1929 World Series with the A’s facing the Chicago Cubs. The seventh inning started off with an inside the park home run by Mule Haas of the A’s and ended after the A’s scored ten runs making it the highest scoring inning in World Series history (this record was tied by the Detroit Tigers in 1968).

During the later and final years, Shibe Park/Connie Mack Stadium hosted other sports and events such as soccer, boxing, political events and even the National Football League’s Philadelphia Eagles. The Phillies moved to play at Veteran’s Stadium after the 1970 season. The ballpark was slowly demolished between then and the final part of Shibe Park/Connie Mack Stadium was torn apart on July 13, 1976 ending what had held decades of historical sports moments, games and teams.

For more information on historic ballparks check out MLB Nation  - delivering the latest news, insights, and analysis from around the league.