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What If Josh Hamilton Were Never Traded to the Texas Rangers?

August 11th, 2010

On December 21, 2020, news broke that Josh Hamilton had been traded from the Cincinnati Reds to the Texas Rangers for Edinson Volquez and Danny Herrera.  

At the time, it was a fairly big trade; Hamilton had hit .292 with 19 home runs and 47 RBI in just 298 ABs for the Reds, while Volquez was a top prospect in the Rangers organization.  Herrera was not a top prospect, but he has gone on to be a solid bullpen arm.  

But we all know what became of Hamilton and Volquez.  

In 2008, Volquez produced ace-like numbers, going 17-6 with an ERA of 3.21 in 32 starts. He tossed 206 strikeouts in just 196 innings.  

But his performances were matched and raised by the then 27-year-old Hamilton.  He hit .304 with 32 home runs and knocked in a league-leading 130 RBI in '08, his season highlighted with a stunning performance at the Home Run Derby, hitting a record 28 home runs in the first round.  

But none of these spectacular stats mattered, as both the Reds and the Rangers found themselves under .500 and well out of the playoff race, when it was all done.  

Fast forward two years.  

Now the Rangers and Reds are both major contenders in their respective divisions, the Rangers holding a firm 8.5 game lead over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and the Reds are deadlocked in a tight race with the St. Louis Cardinals.  

While the Rangers are arguably the best team in baseball, with no glaring weakness, the Reds have some clear weaknesses.  

Such as the outfield.  

Jay Bruce and Drew Stubbs have both been incredibly disappointing in Cincinnati, so the Reds went out and got veteran Jim Edmonds.  Reds manager Dusty Baker said that Edmonds will likely not play everyday, and will just fill in for Stubbs and Bruce, giving them the occasional days off.  

Now, how much easier would life be if the Reds did not trade Josh Hamilton?  

First of all, the Reds have plenty of pitching.  

If the trade had never occurred, the Reds would likely have a rotation of Bronson Arroyo, Mike Leake, Johnny Cueto, Travis Wood, and either Sam LeCure or Matt Maloney, two 26-year-olds pitching very well at AAA.  

While there is no clear-cut ace, (unless you count Cueto as an ace) it is full of very solid young pitchers.  Arroyo, Leake, Cueto, and Wood have all been fantastic in their time in Cincinnati so far in 2010.  

Not to mention the Reds lived without Volquez for the first part of this season, and they're still in it.  

With Hamilton in the lineup, the Reds would have an absolutely deadly second coming of the "Big Red Machine."  A Reds lineup plus Hamilton would probably look something like this: 

1. 2B Brandon Phillips
2. SS Paul Janish (Orlando Cabrera on DL)
3. 1B Joey Votto
4. CF Josh Hamilton (played CF in first year, still capable)
5. 3B Scott Rolen
6. LF Jonny Gomes
7. RF Jay Bruce
8. C Ramon Hernandez
9. Pitcher

Hamilton's name instantly changes the look of the lineup from a good one, to one of the best lineups in the game.  
Bottom line?  
If this Josh Hamilton trade never happened, the Reds would be a legitimate World Series contender, a team that may even be considered the favorite to win it all.
Now let's turn our attention to Texas.  
This move has obviously worked out very well for the Rangers so far.  The deadly duo of Hamilton and Vladmir Guerrero back-to-back is carrying the Rangers to an AL West title, and possibly a championship.  
Even if the Rangers didn't do the trade, they would at least have made a strong run to re-sign Marlon Byrd.  Then they would have Volquez instead of Rich Harden in the rotation, and the Rangers would still be a World Series contender.  
But they are much better off with Josh Hamilton.  
Who isn't much better with a triple crown contender?  
The Hamilton-Volquez trade is yet to really be determined with the rest of their careers ahead of them, but so far, the winner of the deal is clear: the Texas Rangers.  

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Posted in AL West, Josh Hamilton, MLB, NL Central, Opinion, texas rangers

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2010 College Football Predictions: ACC Is All About the Schedule in 2010

August 11th, 2010

Boston College Eagles
The first two games on the B.C. schedule look pretty easy. They have Weber State and Kent State back to back, which could pose to be a simple 2-0 start. Then you have Virginia Tech at home, which looks to me like could be their first loss of the season. Virginia Tech could be the team to beat in the ACC this year and I give them a 15% chance to win that game. After that it’s at home against Notre Dame, which looks like a great matchup. I see this one going down to the wire with the Irish pulling it out. N.C. State looks to be an easier opponent despite the game being in Raleigh. The October 16th game against Florida State could be the toughest game of the year for the Eagles. I just don’t see them going into Tallahassee and beating the Seminoles. Maryland looks like an easy win at home while Clemson looks like a close loss in my opinion. The November schedule looks to be an easy one with an easy home game against UVA and three road games against Wake Forest, Duke, and Syracuse. I see BC winning all of their November road games.

REGULAR SEASON PREDICTION: 8-4, (5-3 ACC)

Clemson Tigers
The first two games on the schedule look to both be 50-point blowout wins. I mean c’mon: North Texas and Presbyterian? However the road game against Auburn after that seems to get a lot tougher. The Tigers vs. Tigers game will go down to the wire, and I think Auburn could pull it out because they are at home. Then it’s back at home against Miami which could possibly be their first (and possibly only) home loss of the year. They have interesting October road games against UNC and BC. I don’t know if they can beat the Tar Heels this year but the game against BC seems to look a little bit better. The Maryland and Georgia Tech home games could both be decent wins. N.C. State also looks to be a win, followed by a road loss to the Seminoles. Then I say they finish out the season with a blowout win over Wake Forest and a nail biter victory over the Gamecocks.

REGULAR SEASON PREDICTION: 8-4, (5-3 ACC)

Duke Blue Devils
The Blue Devils’ schedule (as usual) looks pretty brutal. The only true win they look to have in the 2010 season is their first game against Elon. The Blue Devils continue with games against Wake Forest, Army, and the National Champion Alabama Crimson Tide. I say they put up a fair fight against the Demon Deacons in Winston-Salem, and then obviously getting crushed by Alabama, and then a decent win over Army. October looks to be the same result as their September schedule, they have tough games against Miami and Virginia Tech (both will be blown out losses). They also have road October games against Maryland and Navy. I think they could put up a decent fight against the Terps, but ultimately fall, and they could end up getting crushed by Navy. The November schedule starts with a win over Virginia, and then three straight blowout losses to Boston College, Georgia Tech, and North Carolina.

REGULAR SEASON PREDICTION: 3-9, (1-7 ACC)

Florida State Seminoles
The September schedule for the Seminoles look interesting. The season opener against Samford will obviously be an easy one. I think the win will be followed by a tough loss to Oklahoma. The Sooners haven’t lost a home game in years and could end up taking a two-possession win over the Seminoles. They finish September with wins over BYU and Wake Forest. The road game against Virginia looks to be an easy one, but the game at Miami seems to look tougher. With the game being in Miami, I’m not sure the ‘Noles could pull that one out, but we’ll see. Maybe I could be wrong. The Boston College game could be an interesting one. One that I think they could win. The N.C. State game looks to be a blowout, and UNC could be a win as well but still a tough game. Clemson looks to be pretty tough but since the game is in Tallahassee, I’ll give the Seminoles the edge. Maryland is a blowout win while the regular season finale against the Gators looks to be like a great one. Despite that it’s in Tallahassee, I see the Gators winning it.

REGULAR SEASON PREDICTION: 9-3, (7-1 ACC)

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
The Yellow Jackets start out the year with an easy blowout win over South Carolina State of all teams. Then it’s on the road to Lawrence, Kansas to battle the Jayhawks, which is an opponent I see them beating. Then its another road game against the UNC Tar Heels. This could be the first true test of the year. I see the Tar Heels having a stronger squad this year, so I’ll give them the win. Then it’s back home against an easy N.C. State team. Then it’s an up and down October with wins over Wake Forest, Virginia, and Middle Tennessee. They wrap up October and start November with two tough road losses to Clemson and Virginia Tech. I see the Miami-GT game as a great one, but I don’t think the Yellow Jackets can pull that one out at home. The Duke game should be pretty easy while the rivalry game against Georgia will not be.

REGULAR SEASON PREDICTION: 7-5, (4-4 ACC)

Maryland Terrapins
In a brutal season, the Terps will start out with a bipolar September with blowout wins over Morgan State and Florida International and losses to Navy and West Virginia. October will involve decent wins over Duke and Wake Forest, and they getting crushed by Clemson and Boston College. November will start out with them getting crushed by the Hurricanes in Miami, followed by a road win over Virginia (which could very well be their only road win of the year), and they end with home losses to Florida State and N.C. State.

REGULAR SEASON PREDICTION: 5-7, (3-5 ACC)

Miami Hurricanes
Miami’s season will be very entertaining to follow. Here’s how I see it playing out: September looks weird with a blowout practice win over Florida A&M, and then they go up to Ohio and putting up a three-quarter fight against the Buckeyes but eventually losing, and then putting on a great show with the Pitt Panthers but also losing that one as well since it’s at Heinz Field. October looks just as entertaining. I say they play a great game and beat Clemson on the road, beating arch-rival Florida State at home, blowing Duke out of the clear blue sky, another close win over UNC, and another practice win over Virginia. At this point I’m looking at the Hurricanes being 6-2 heading into November. They start November with a great home win over the Terps, and hard-fought road win over Georgia Tech, and then winning a brawl over VT, and closing out the regular season with a win over South Florida. So after the September 23rd game against Pitt, things could get a little easier after a 1-2 start.

REGULAR SEASON PREDICTION: 10-2, (8-0 ACC)

North Carolina Tar Heels
The UNC/LSU will be one of the more interesting ones to watch on opening weekend, but I see the Tar Heels actually pulling that one out since it’s at home. Two weeks after that, they get another tough one against Georgia Tech in which I also think they could win. They end September with a win over Rutgers. The start October with an easy win over East Carolina, and then a hard fought win over Clemson since it’s at home, an easy win over UVA, and their first loss of the year to Miami. If they lose to William & Mary, I will chop off my pinkie toe and sell it on E-Bay. I say that the November portion includes close losses to FSU and Virginia Tech,  followed by blowout wins over NC State and Duke.

REGULAR SEASON PREDICTION: 9-3, (5-3 ACC)

N.C. State
The Wolfpack look like they are going to have a tough year. However they could start out pretty good if they can beat UCF. I think they will end September with losses to Cincinnati and Georgia Tech. They could follow that up with back to back home losses to Virginia Tech and Boston College. East Carolina looks to be a decent win followed by losses to FSU and Clemson. I think they could beat Wake Forest and Maryland but lose to UNC on November 20.

REGULAR SEASON PREDICTION: 4-8, (2-6 ACC)

Virginia Cavaliers
UVA fans better prepare for a bad season. The first game could be a win against Richmond, but don’t be surprised if the Spiders pull off an upset. Obviously there’s no way they will beat USC. The VMI game looks to be a win, followed by October losses to Florida State, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, and Miami. November is not looking too good either. I’m not even too confident that they can beat Duke this year. I see November losses to the Blue Devils, Maryland, Boston College and Virginia Tech.

REGULAR SEASON PREICTION: 3-9, (0-8 ACC)

Virginia Tech
It’s simple: if they can beat Boise State and Miami, they have a shot at something special. However I think Boise State could have enough in their tank to beat VT. After that, the Hokies could see nine wins in a row after the Monday night game. They have an easy win over James Madison and another over East Carolina. Road games against Boston College and N.C. State could both be wins. After that, they have a four game home stand against Central Michigan, Wake Forest, Duke and Georgia Tech. All of which can be four more wins. The road game against UNC will be tough one, but I do see them pulling it out. Again, If they beat Miami, they could see something special. The rivalry game against UVA shouldn’t be much of a contest.

REGULAR SEASON PREDICTION: 10-2 (7-1 ACC)

Wake Forest
The Demon Deacons are going to have a very difficult season once again. The opener against Presbyterian will be their best performance of the year. The game against Duke will be an entertaining one. I don’t think they can beat Stanford, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Navy or Virginia Tech. The game against Maryland will be a tough one. And since it is in College Park, I’m going to give the edge to the Terps. The games against Boston College, N.C. State and Clemson could all be losses. But the game against the Vanderbilt Commodores could be an easier one.

REGULAR SEASON PREDICTION: 2-10 (0-8 ACC)


Atlantic
1. Florida State 9-3 (7-1)
2. Clemson 8-4 (5-3)
3. Boston College 8-4 (5-3)
4. Maryland 5-7 (3-5)
5. N.C. State 4-8 (2-6)
6. Wake Forest 2-10 (0-8)

Coastal
1. Miami (FL) 10-2 (8-0)
2. Virginia Tech 10-2 (7-1)
3. North Carolina 9-3 (5-3)
4. Georgia Tech 7-5 (4-4)
5. Duke 3-9 (1-7)
6. Virginia 3-9 (0-8)

ACC Championship Game Prediction: Florida State over Miami (FL)



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Posted in College Football, Florida State Football, Preview/Prediction

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Benches clear in 1st, Cardinals top Reds (AP)

August 11th, 2010
From their first-inning scrum to the final out, the St. Louis Cardinals sent a message: Don't demean the defending champs. Not without expecting a fight. Yadier Molina jawed with Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips in the first inning Tuesday night, sparking a benches-clearing fight, and the Cardinals followed their catcher's lead to an 8-4 victory that moved St.

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Phillips in middle of Cards, Reds brawl (AP)

August 11th, 2010
Outspoken Brandon Phillips was in the middle of a first-inning altercation between the Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals, who evidently don't appreciate being called complainers. The second baseman had words with Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina when he came to bat in the bottom of the first inning Tuesday night.

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Miami Dolphins Alumni Update: July 2010

August 11th, 2010

Here are all the pro football transactions involving former members of the Miami Dolphins for the month of July 2010:

  • July 1 — The St. Louis Rams waived linebacker K. C. Asiodu with an injury settlement. Asiodu spent a week on the Dolphins' practice squad between September and October 2009.
  • July 3 — The Hamilton Tiger-Cats (CFL) placed wide receiver Maurice Mann on the reserve list. Mann spent part of the 2004 season with the Dolphins, but did not appear in a game.
  • July 6 — The Detroit Lions placed offensive lineman Kirk Barton on waivers. Barton spent time on the Dolphins' active roster early in the 2008 regular season but did not appear in the game, and also spent time on the team's practice squad later in the year.
  • July 7 — The Denver Broncos claimed offensive lineman Kirk Barton off waivers.
  • July 7 — The Arizona Rattlers (AFL) signed offensive lineman Matt Spanos to a contract. Spanos spent 2008 training camp with the Dolphins after signing as an undrafted free agent from USC.
  • July 7 — The Hartford Colonials (UFL) signed punter Jy Bond to a contract. An Australian rules football player, Bond was a member of the Dolphins' offseason roster from March to June 2009.
  • July 9 — The Calgary Stampeders (CFL) transferred linebacker Robert McCune to the injured list. McCune spent part of the 2006 season with the Dolphins but did not appear in a game.
  • July 9 — The Calgary Stampeders (CFL) activated wide receiver P. K. Sam from the injured list. Sam spent part of the 2006 season on the Dolphins' practice squad and played in NFL Europa for the team in 2007 before being released during final cuts.
  • July 11 — The Hamilton Tiger-Cats (CFL) activated wide receiver Maurice Mann from the reserve list.
  • July 15 — The Tennessee Titans signed tight end Sean Ryan to a contract. Ryan appeared in the Dolphins' 2008 regular season opener before being released on Sept. 12.
  • July 23 — The Calgary Stampeders (CFL) activated linebacker Robert McCune from the injured list.
  • July 23 — The Edmonton Eskimos (CFL) activated defensive tackle Dario Romero from the injured list. Romero spent three seasons with the Dolphins from 2002 to 2004, appearing in 22 games (two starts) and recording 18 tackles and 3.5 sacks.
  • July 25 — The Calgary Stampeders (CFL) placed defensive end Tearrius George on the reserve list. George spent the 2009 offseason with the Dolphins before being released in August.
  • July 26 — The New England Patriots placed wide receiver Wes Welker on the Active/PUP list. Welker spent three seasons with the Dolphins from 2004 to 2006, appearing in 46 games and catching 96 passes for 1,121 yards and a touchdown while also serving as the team's return specialist. He was traded to the Patriots in March 2007 in exchange for second- and seventh-round picks in the 2007 NFL Draft, used on center Samson Satele and linebacker Abraham Wright, respectively.
  • July 27 — The Baltimore Ravens placed linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo on the Active/ list. Ayanbadejo played 32 games for the Dolphins from 2003 to 2004, totaling 57 tackles and one interception.
  • July 29 — The Cincinnati Bengals placed guard Evan Mathis on the Active/Non-Football Injury list. Mathis spent part of the 2008 season with the Dolphins, appearing in seven games as a reserve guard.
  • July 29 — The Kansas City Chiefs placed offensive lineman Ikechuku Ndukwe on the Active/Non-Football Injury list. Ndukwe joined the Dolphins late in the 2007 season and started 15 of 16 contests in 2008. He was traded along with lineman Andy Alleman to the Chiefs in August 2009.
  • July 30 — The Arizona Cardinals placed fullback Reagan Maui'a on waivers. A sixth-round pick by the Dolphins in 2007, Maui'a started nine of 16 games as a rookie before being released in August 2008.
  • July 30 — The Green Bay Packers re-signed RFA safety Atari Bigby to a one-year contract. Bigby was signed by the Dolphins as an undrafted rookie in May 2005, only to be released in July.
  • July 30 — The Calgary Stampeders (CFL) placed wide receiver P. K. Sam on the injured list.
  • July 31 — The Detroit Lions placed tight end Will Heller on the Active/PUP list. Heller spent part of the 2005 season with the Dolphins, appearing in seven games and catching one pass for one yard and a touchdown.
  • July 31 — The Kansas City Chiefs activated offensive lineman Ikechuku Ndukwe from the Active/PUP list.
  • July 31 — The Tennessee Titans placed defensive tackle Tony Brown on the Active/PUP list. Brown spent three games on the Dolphins' active roster as a rookie in 2003, but did not appear in a game.


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