Volquez for Hamilton: Who is winning?

It’s not very often you can say a trade worked out equally well for both sides (just look at the trades of Jeff Bagwell, Scott Kazmir, Vince Carter, Kobe Bryant, Alexei Yashin, Roberto Luongo, Brett Favre, or Randy Moss). But sometimes it does, as is the case in the Josh Hamilton to Texas for Edinson Volquez trade that went down in the off season.

Through 40 games Josh Hamilton is raking for the otherwise unspectacular Rangers. He is on pace for 31 homeruns and 175 RBI. Let’s just hope he can stay healthy because this guy is such a good story and I’m surious to see what he can do in 162 game season. The RBI total (44 at this point) is 11 clear of Emil Brown and leads the American League.

Volquez has been wonderful for the Reds. He walks too many guys and his pitch count is always high, but he also strikes out a lot of batters, throws 3 great pitches, and is on pace for a 23-4 record with 220 strikeouts on a team struggling badly through the first 40 games of the season. Incidentally, while Hamilton leads the AL in RBI, Volquez leads the NL in ERA with a miniscule 1.12 ERA and he plays in Great American Ballpark. Not exactly known for its friendliness to pitchers.

I’m excited to see what happens this Sunday in Cincy when Cliff Lee brings his insane record into GAB to face off with Eddie V. Should be a great one.

Ken Griffey Jr. and Adam Dunn: Who is staying and who is going?

My opinion here is Ken Griffey Jr. will be traded as soon as he hits number 600. When asked by Walt Jocketty what he wanted to do, Griff said he’d like to finish the season in Cincy, but would be willing to consider trades. Ken is in the unique position of being able to pick his landing spot because he has a blanket no-trade clause due to his 10-5 status (10 years experience, 5 with the same team).

Ken Rosenthal is reporting Jr. is open to going to more places than in the past. The feeling is his children are old enough that he doesn’t feel he has to be near his Orlando home. He has also stated he does not require the new team to pick up his option. The Mariners are an obvious pick for sentimental reasons. Griffey admittedly was blown away from the response he received last year when he returned and has been quoted as saying he would like to finish where he started.

I see Jr. going to Seattle this season and signing elsewhere next year with a team he considers to be a contender. We all know money is not important to him, he is set for life, and he just wants a ring. However, I think Toronto would be an interesting place for him to land this season (but living in Ottawa, I’m just being hopeful).

As for Dunn, I don’t think Dunn gets traded. He’s still young and is good for 40 in Cincy every year. Play him with Jay Bruce and Brandon Phillips and the middle of your lineup is set for the next decade. The strikeouts are a problem, but power hitters strike out…plain and simple.

Aaron Harang: 2-5?

He gets almost no run support and seems to face the other teams ace every time out. Very deceiving record. He’s reminding me of Matt Cain last year.

Broken Knee Caps?

Something is amiss in Cincinnati. Reds shortstops must owe some bad people money because they keep breaking their knee caps. I feel awful for Keppinger. This guy has been incredible all year, and in limited playing time last year, only to have it all put on hold with a freak injury. But he’ll be back and I think he’ll pick up right where he left off. This guy is a professional hitter whose numbers are NOT inflated from Cincy as some other guys are. Small parks don’t help ground ball and line drive hitters.

Enjoy the weekend series…its the Battle of Ohio.  

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