Remembering What I Knew of Angels' Pitcher Nick Adenhart ....5 years Later ...

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Honestly, I knew little of Nick Adenhart. I knew he was young, new on the big league scene and as far as I was concerned really good at his job. I never met him or his friends or anyone else on the Angels ... wait I met  Lackey once but that is story about how one guy could be so damn ugly. You think he's bad with a hat - try without one at a bar Ewww! But back to the story at hand, a story that matters and may just teach you something whoever you happen to be....

Nick Adenhart was a pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2009. He had pitched in the big leagues before but in 2009 he won the third spot in the  Angels rotation. After his first and very impressive start to the season he lost his life in an accident and it’s something I will always remember because basically in a way, I was there. The five year anniversary of his death and the death of two of his friends was on Wednesday. It happened on April 9, 2009. It does not seem like five years have passed but time just flies the older you get. I didn’t know Nick but the tragedy that occurred affected everyone around it.

My Story:

I was in Anaheim for the final game Angels pitcher, Nick Adenhart ever pitched. It was the third game in a series against the Oakland Athletics and for six innings he owned the A’s. The A’s ended up winning 6-4 so it was easier for me to appreciate those six shutout innings than . I remember thinking, “That kid is good. Better keep an eye on him” – or something of that nature. That night I was in Fullerton where the crash occurred. A friend of of mine owns a popular restaurant and bar there called The Slidebar Rock ‘n Roll Cafe. My friend Jeremy, my mom and I were hanging out there late night having a few drinks and tasting the all new items on the menu. We heard a loud noise and consequently soon after sirens. I remember we talked about it for a minute and moved on. I mean it probably didn’t affected us in anyway. Turned out that it did. My mom and I watched him that night pitch against our A’s. My friend Jeremy is an Angels fan. We were affected but not in the way so many others were.

To read the rest of my part of the story, what happened next and what has happened since CLICK HERE!

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Teheran Name Braves' Opening Day Starter

Before Saturday’s game against the Boston Red Sox, Braves’ manager, Fredi Gonzalez made the official announcement that Julio Teheran will be the Braves’ Opening Day starter according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. The Braves open the season on March 31st against the Brewers in Milwaukee.

This will be the 23-year old right-hander’s first Opening Day start. Granted the Braves rotation is depleted because of season ending injuries to Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy, both of whom will be undergoing Tommy John surgery.  The Braves are going to utilize a four-man rotation until, the recently signed, Ervin Santana is ready to join the rotation in about a week. Gonzalez declined to say who the other three pitchers in the rotation will be. That announcement will come within a day or so.

For more on this story CLICK HERE! Brought to you by Outside Pitch Sports Network LLC 

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Atlanta Braves Sign Ervin Santana

A source told ESPN Deportes’ Enrique Rojas that the Atlanta Braves have signed free-agent pitcher Ervin Santana, 31, to a one-year $14 million contract. The deal is pending a physical that will be conducted on Wednesday in Lake Buena Vista, FL at the Braves’ spring training facility.

Santana has been on the free-agent market since rejecting a $14.1 million qualifying offer from the Kansas City Royals last fall who will now receive a first round draft pick from the Braves in compensation for Santana.  Santana was originally seeking a long-term deal of at least four-years and $50 million. He was the last big name free-agent pitcher on the market and has been linked to several teams in the past few weeks. Most recently it was believed that Santana would sign with either the Toronto Blue Jays or the Baltimore Orioles for a similar price that he is reportedly going to get from the Braves. He also received a three-year offer from the Minnesota Twins, according to Rojas’ source.

To Read the Rest of the Story go to OutsidePitchMLB.com - a MLB Advanced Media Affiliated Pro-Blog

Breaking News: Santana to go to Jays or Orioles!

For the last big free agent left on the market and with MLB’s Opening Day fast approaching it’s looking like a soap opera of events are about to hit the fan. Sources say that Ervin Santana, who fired his agent last night, has narrowed the teams he may sign with down to the Toronto Blue Jays and the Baltimore Orioles. It has also been said that Santana has set a self-imposed deadline to make a decision by 5:00 PM Eastern Time today.

Read More About this Breaking News on Sports Unbiased - Your Alternative Source For Sports

UPDATE: 5PM ET

Earlier Ervin Santana had a self-imposed deadline of 5pm ET to decide what was believed to be a contract with either the Orioles or Blue Jays. According to @JonMorosi and @MaxWildsteinMLB the deadline has been lifted (obviously by Santana LOL!) and the saga shall continue! My question is did he receive another offer??? hmmm .... 

Former NBA Star McGrady to Pursue Pitching Career

Yes, the rumors are true. Retired National Basketball Association star Tracy McGrady is hoping to become a big league pitcher one day. ESPN commentator Jeff Van Gundy let it slip Friday, during a telecast of the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Brooklyn Nets game, that the former Orlando Magic and Houston Rockets star has plans for a new career. No, seriously. During the telecast Van Gundy said,

I think (McGrady’s) going to play independent league baseball as a pitcher this year.  I’m being serious. I’ve heard from sources in Houston, seriously, that he’s throwing over 90 miles per hour.

Read More on Sports Unbiased - Your Site For All Sports News, Polls and Predictions!

A's Sign Lefty Reliever O'Flaherty to 2 Year Deal

Today the A's signed left handed reliever Eric O'Flaherty from the Atlanta Braves to a two year, $7 million deal. At first I was skeptical of this signing for two reasons. The first reason was that well, since I don't study every guy in every National League bullpen I didn't really know who he was and the second was because he will not be available until mid-season due to having had Tommy John Surgery in May 2013.

Upon further review I learned that this signing could indeed be yet another one of Billy Beane's genius moves! The 28-year old lefty has been one of the best relievers in the league in the past few years, until being sidelined with Tommy John Surgery last season. He has a career ERA of 2.85 and in 2011 his ERA was .98. His stuff his just nasty against left handed batters. Over the last three years he posted a 1.45 ERA, 124 strikeouts vs. only 45 walks and a .419 OPS against lefties. 

Taking on a guy for $3.5 million a year just off of Tommy John Surgery does sound a little crazy at first but with players getting salaries of over $100 million this is a great move for a small market team like the A's. It's a gamble for sure but it just might end up being a HUGE payoff and the A's definitely needed a lefty specialist to replace Jerry Blevins, who was traded to the Washington Nationals this off-season. I love Blevins - personality, good at his job, all around sweetheart - but I must say if O'Flaherty comes off the disabled list and is as good or possibly better than before than he is an upgrade from Blevins. 

Billy is sticking with his pattern of signing players with high ceiling talent but some health issues. Think about guys like Coco Crisp, Bartolo Colon and Jed Lowrie all of whom have helped the A's to win back to back American League West Titles! With a limited budget you have to take gambles once in a while and the A's have shown that it pays off.