Sleeping With The Ememy?

Former Houston Astros and current San Francisco Giants outfielder Hunter Pence has a way with the ladies. Pence has been romantically linked to former Playboy Playmate Shannon James, a subject of the Hat Trick Chick Pic earlier this year.

Of course, the Cardinals and Giants square off in San Francisco in less than two hours for Game 7 of the 2012 National League Championship Series. The winner of tonight's game will host the American League champion Detroit Tigers on Wednesday in Game 1 of the 2012 World Series.

One person who may not be rooting for the Giants tonight is Lindsay Slott. Ms. Slott is Hunter Pence's ex-girlfriend. There are several unconfirmed reports on various blogs on the Internet that suggest that Pence broke up with her after he was traded from the Astros to the Philadelphia Phillies in 2011. So, if Slott rooted for the Cards (a division rival of the Astros) out of spite, would she be selling out her hometown? Hmm....

Regardless, she is the subject of today's Chick Pic.


Ms. Slott is a former cheerleader with the Houston Texans of the NFL. 1

I wonder if Pence realizes just how good he has it, when you can dump chicks like this. 2

Don't hate the player; hate the game! 3



He's just livin' the dream. 4

 1) Image from www.velocitypac.com
2) Image from www.bleacherreport.com
3, 4) Images from www.thebiglead.com

Back to Life



3

The Philadelphia Phillies have endured a very difficult year. Winners of the National League East division for the last five consecutive years, the Phillies have spent much of 2012 in or near the division’s cellar. Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong.

The Phillies have suffered from unexpected injuries. They have had longer than expected rehab time for key players like Ryan Howard. Their previously elite pitching staff has been anything but. Shortly after the All-Star break, the consensus was that the Phillies were left for dead.


FIRE SALE

In baseball, when a team’s front office has all but thrown in the towel, they will deal their more attractive players, near the end of their contracts, to teams in contention in exchange for prospects with very low salaries and multiple years remaining on their contracts. Philadelphia joined this dubious group prior to this year’s trade deadline.

During this season the Phillies have dealt future Hall of Fame third baseman Jim Thome (.252, 7 HR, 21 RBI, .450 SLG, 48 GP), former All-Stars outfielders Shane Victorino (.257, 10 HR, 51 RBI, 33 SB) and Hunter Pence (.259, 20 HR, 88 RBI), and former World Series winning pitcher Joe Blanton (9-13, 4.98 ERA). Even former Cy Young winner Cliff Lee (4-7, 3.43 ERA, 170 Ks), who could not record his first win until after the All-Star break, was rumored to be on the trading block. Clearly the Phillies did not expect an October run by trading so many key players in the lineup.

When you dump a young power hitter like Pence, you've thrown in the towel. 1

BACK FROM THE DEAD

The Daily Hat Trick’s stance on the Phillies has been pretty clear this season. Bitterly disappointing…. Underachieving…. No prayer…. Here are some exerpts from prior articles.

“…MLB may as well skip the regular season hand the Phillies the N.L. East division title.”
--April 4, 2012

“Philadelphia had better get its last place butt in gear.”
--June 1, 2012

“It is gut check time for the Phillies.”
--July 5, 2012

“I will not say, ‘Stick a fork in them’ because this team does have the talent and experience to make a furious second half run.”
--July 10, 2012

“Phillies will not be…in the playoffs for the first time since 2006.”
--August 23, 2012

So what happens? True to form, when violating the “never say never” principle or the “don’t count our chickens until they’re hatched” axiom, sports fate decides to make the situation more interesting. Philadelphia has won 14 of its last 18 games and charged back into the National League Wild Card race, with a .500 record (71-71) and just four games out of the final playoff spot as of this morning.

How is this happening? The Phillies, very late in the season, are doing what many expected them to do all years long. Pitching! Pitching! Pitching! In, September, the Phillies have a 2.44 team ERA, and average over nine strikeouts per nine innings. Their starting pitchers are 6-2 in September though 10 games played, meaning the team is jumping on top early, holding its leads, and getting good, quality innings from the starters.

Cliff Lee had his personal Fourth of July fireworks, finally getting the "winless" monkey off of his back. 2

ANOTHER SEPTEMBER TO REMEMBER?

Even the casual baseball fan knows what happened in Major League Baseball last September. Epic collapses…mammoth September runs…and a regular season finale that was unprecedented and may never be seen again in our lifetimes from the standpoints of drama and changes in the postseason picture in a single evening.

I maintain that nothing will ever compare to last season, but with the second Wild Card spot in each league and the seeming unwillingness of any two of the Wild Card contenders to take charge and run away with those spots, the Phillies may do the impossible and reach the playoffs for the sixth year in a row.

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The Daily Hat Trick is sponsored by Sports N Stuff. For great deals on jerseys, shirts, cologne, and other guy stuff, visit http://www.sportsnstuff.biz/.

1) Image from http://bayareasportsnews.blogspot.com
2) Image from www.thereporteronline.com
3) Image spliced from www.123rf.com (grave) and www.chrissniderdesign.com (logo)

Retweet of the Day - August 1, 2012

The Twittersphere teaches me something new every day. Newly acquired right fielder Hunter Pence of the San Francisco Giants is a very good baseball player. I can see that he is a good looking man. And I can tell that he can attract hot women, like his girlfriend, Shannon James.

Apparently he was a big heart throb in Philadelphia, from where he was traded. I noticed woman after woman tweeting about how they were either looking forward to getting Pence in San Francisco or sorry to see him leave Philly. Today's retweet is from Andre Del Valle (‏@TheRealDrDr3), summing up this phenomenon.


"Every girl in philadelphia will be on suicide watch if @HunterPence3 does go to the giants"

♪ "They're gonna miss him." ♫

Image from www.phillychitchat.com

MLB Trade Deadline Power Moves

The Major League Baseball trade deadline has passed and, my goodness, was there some playoff jockeying that took place. The trades were the best in the west. Here is the Hat Trick’s summary of the high impact, pre trade deadline transactions.


Zack Greinke (9-4, 3.39 ERA, 130 Ks) – SP, Los Angeles Angels

Acquired from: Milwaukee Brewers
Traded away: Ariel Pena – SP, John Hellweg – RP, Jean Segura – SS

The Brewers have been going nowhere fast this season, in light of the defection of Prince Fielder to the Detroit Tigers via free agency. Greinke is in the final year of his contract, with a $13 million 2012 salary.

The two pitchers received in the trade have mowed opponents down in their minor league careers. Segura, a rookie, was a five tool standout as a minor leaguer. Plenty of upside….

Meanwhile the Angels starting pitching rotation just got STOUT! A solid rotation featuring Jered Weaver and C.J. Wilson just became the playoff rotation of steel with the addition of the former Cy Young winner. While still three games back of the first place Texas Rangers, the Angels just jumped into the A.L. West’s driver’s seat. In addition, Greinke is young enough and Los Angeles is a market that is big enough to where the Angels could make a run to sign Greinke after this season.

This deal was a win-win.

Hat Trick Grade, Brewers: A+
Hat Trick Grade, Angels A+

The Angels, like Greinke's fastball, are on fire. 1

Ryan Dempster (5-5, 2.25 ERA) – SP, Texas Rangers

Acquired from: Chicago Cubs
Traded away: Christian Villanueva – 3B, Kyle Hendricks – SP

Contract years can do interesting things to a player’s performance. I don’t think there are many Cubs fans who feel like Dempster truly played up to his 4 year/$52 million contract until the final year of his contract ($14M salary). Now the Cubs get to recoup some of their losses.

Dempster has been a good, quality starter in Chicago, but not a clear cut eight figure salary starter, until now. This year, Dempster was a legitimate National League Cy Young Award candidate prior to being traded to the American League. With an opportunity to help the Rangers reach a third straight World Series and his contract expiring, I think Dempster will take it.

The Cubs are abominable, as evidenced by the fact that they have a starter with a sub 2.50 ERA over 100 innings pitched, but without enough run support to help him earn more than a .500 win-loss record. I question whether or not Christian Villanueva will ever see Wrigley Field without a ticket or a tray of cotton candy. However, Kyle Hendricks has demonstrated crazy control and absolutely dominated this past season in the minor leagues.

Theo Epstien is a shrewd, smart GM who knows how to spot potential. He may have hit the prospect lottery with Hendricks. Time will tell.

The Rangers, on the other hand, may have saved their season in acquiring Dempster, particularly in light of the Greinke acquisition by the Angels. With all due respect to Matt Harrison they were badly in need of bona fide ace in the rotation – a guy you expect to start a Game 1 in a playoff series.

Hat Trick Grade, Cubs: B
Hat Trick Grade, Rangers B+

At least he wil have something worth watching on his off days. 2

Francisco Liriano (3-13, 5.18 ERA, 117 Ks) – SP, Chicago White Sox

Acquired from: Minnesota Twins
Traded away: Eduardo Escobar – 3B, Pedro Hernandez – SP

A change of scenery can do anyone good and there are fewer scenes in MLB bleaker than in Minnesota this season. The White Sox, on the other hand, need a boost in their rotation if they are to hold their lead in the American League Central over the surging Detroit Tigers. To call Phillip Humber a liability in the rotation would be a compliment and to call Gavin Floyd inconsistent or an underachiever this season would be accurate.

Liriano’s 2012 stats are a little misleading. His win loss record is as much of a reflection of the putrid play of his team as it is Liriano’s extraordinarily horrendous play in the month of April. Liriano has, more or less, looked like the reliable, ace-caliber starter he has been for the Twins since then. With 117 strikeouts, he has not lost his gas when in need of a punch out.

The Twins did not receive much in return. Neither of the players they received in the trade were particularly outstanding at the AAA level or greater, but both demonstrated enough potential for the White Sox to call them up to the majors.

Hat Trick Grade, Twins: C
Hat Trick Grade, White Sox: B-

"Finally! A chance to win! More than once a month...!" 3

Hanley Ramirez (.246, 15 HR, 56 RBI) – SS, Los Angeles Dodgers

Acquired from: Miami Marlins
Traded away: Scott McGough – RP, Nathan Eovaldi – SP

This is a bit of a gamble by the Dodgers. The Dodgers are gambling that a change of scenery for Ramirez, the 2009 National League batting champion, will be worth the excess of $30,000,000 in salary he is due over the remainder of his contract, running through 2014. The Marlins were happy to part ways with Ramirez (and his salary) and the feeling was mutual.

Ramirez, whether he is hitting well or not, has good discipline at the plate and is a threat to be in scoring position every time he can reach base. His power won’t put the fear of the Lord into opposing pitchers, but has to be respected. In addition, the Dodgers received seasoned veteran reliever Randy Choate, who could be valuable in certain situations down the stretch and into the playoffs.

The Marlins achieved “addition by subtraction” in this trade. Rookie Nathan Evoldi has potential as a major league starter and Scott McGough has shown good control and the ability to fool batters in the minor leagues. But the most appealing trait of these two prospects is what the Marlins do not have to pay them.

Hat Trick Grade, Marlins: C-
Hat Trick Grade, Dodgers: B+

Han Ram to the Marlins: "See ya later, suckahs!" 4

Shane Victorino (.261, 9 HR, 40 RBI) – OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

Acquired from: Philadelphia Phillies
Traded away: Ethan Martin – SP, Josh Lindblom – RP

The Flyin’ Hawaiian will finally suit up for the team that drafted him back in 1999. The Phillies officially threw in the towel when they conducted their fire sale prior to the trade deadline. The Dodgers were first in line.

Victorino will give the Dodgers a capable bat with some pop and the ability to stretch one base into extra bases, either while the ball is in play or via the stolen base. His steady bat was badly needed in the Dodgers lineup, heading into October.

The Phillies didn’t just get Victorino off of the books, however. Josh Lindblom, a rookie, has shown enormous potential in limited appearances out of the Dodgers bullpen. He has to stop serving up the deep ball, however, to succeed, long term, in the majors. The Dodgers have made it clear that they are willing to pay a premium price for a real chance to win the National League pennant for the first time in 24 years. Not next year…now!

Hat Trick Grade, Phillies: C+
Hat Trick Grade, Dodgers: B

Victorino is finally where the baseball draft gods intended him to be. 5

Hunter Pence (.271, 17 HR, 59 RBI) – RF, San Francisco Giants

Acquired from: Philadelphia Phillies
Traded away: Seth Rosin – RP, Tommy Joseph – C, Nate Schierholtz – RF

San Francisco was desperate for an all around offensive threat and they landed one in Pence for the remainder of this season. Pence has it all – hitting for contact, power, clutch situations and is capable of drawing a walk. The Giants have absolutely lacked power and run production in key moments.

In addition, while the Giants gave up a talented prospect in catcher Tommy Joseph, they have no need at the position with young star Buster Posey on the roster. This is a big move for the Giants in their tit-for-tat battle for the N.L. West with the Dodgers.

Hat Trick Grade, Phillies: C
Hat Trick Grade, Giants: B

"So long Philly! I'll be taking my Playmate wife with me." 6

Don't forget to vote in the fan polls!

To advertise with The Daily Hat Trick, or to submit a guest column, please contact the editor at eric@thedailyhattrick.info. 

The Daily Hat Trick is sponsored by Sports N Stuff. For great deals on jerseys, shirts, cologne, and other guy stuff, visit http://www.sportsnstuff.biz/.

1) Image from www.bleacherreports.com
2) Image from www.bleedcubbieblue.com
3) Image from http://scores.espn.go.com
4) Image from www.zimbio.com
5) Image from http://sports.yahoo.com
6) Image from http://philly.barstoolsports.com

Hunter Pence's Power Move

Major League Baseball teams have been making power moves to position themselves for the playoffs. The San Francisco Giants are in a battle with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West division race. The Giants acquired All-Star outfielder Hunter Pence from the struggling Philadelphia Phillies.

Pence is going to give a big boost to the Giants anemic batting order. And today's chick pic of Pence's girlfriend, former Playboy Playmate Shannon James, should give your day a boost (among other things) if you are a red-blooded male.

Is she sliding? She's SAFE! 1

Another...♫ "animal print bra outta control!" ♪

I wonder which time is the best time of day is for Pence. Game time or bed time? 3

A recurring theme on the Hat Trick: she looks great with clothes on, too! 4

1,2, 3) Image from www.blacksportsonline.com
4) Image from http://www.zimbio.com/

Houston, You Have a Problem

Baseball Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda often said that every team in Major League Baseball will win a third of its games, no matter how bad the team is, and every team will lose a third of its games, no matter how good the team is. I remember first hearing that when Lasorda’s Los Angeles Dodgers were having a 1992 season to forget, though they did pass the 54 game plateau.

Ever since then, I would glance at standings at the end of each season and, true to form, both numbers in the win and loss columns of every team has almost always had a number greater than or equal to 54. The few times in which there has been an exception to this rule, the team in question, depending on which column had the high number, stood out as being a remarkably good or incredible bad rarity.


CAN THE ASTROS GET INTO "STUDIO 54"?
The 2011 Houston Astros, with two months remaining in the season, are on pace to join that dubious club of teams with less than 54 wins. With a record of 35-73, the Astros are on pace to win 52 games this year. Every professional sports team...every business succeeds or fails in part because of its competitive environment, the talent level of its human resources, and a little luck. However, the true measure of success or failure comes from the top of any organization.

The Houston Astros, while they have not been in even the most remote playoff discussions since 2008, have had plenty of talented players on their roster in recent years. Remember that this franchise was in the World Series just six years ago. The Astros sank to the abyss of Major League Baseball franchises in 2010. Instead of embracing their strengths and correcting their weaknesses, the Astros chose to clean house, have a fire sale, and unload their most valuable assets in exchange for multiple prospect players.

THESE folks have a reason to dump all of their salvagable inventory. 1

MORTGAGING THE PRESENT FOR THE FUTURE
I am not into minor league scouting, but from what I have been hearing from analysts, the Astros did pick up some talented and promising young players. However, these prospects are not likely to be everyday regular players for 2 or 3 more years. A team, already struggling to win a single game, trading away the few people who can help it win for players who will not see the field next season does not sound like a fan friendly formula for success.

Roy Oswalt with the Phillies.... The Astros aren't doing much winning with all of that talent. Why not spread the wealth? 3

Even worse, I do not think the Astros need to be as bad as they are. Last season, the Astros traded away franchise icon pitcher Roy Oswalt to the Philadelphia Phillies and another iconic mainstay in first baseman Lance Berkman to the playoff bound New York Yankees. This year Berkman (.286, 28 HR, 72 RBI), now with the St. Louis Cardinals (who are in the thick of the National League Central division race) has a chance to win the National League home run title and Oswalt (4-6, 3.79 ERA), while having missed some starts due to injury, is a contributing member of a rotation that is leading the Phillies on the right path to a third National League championship in four seasons. This year the Astros continued to make other contenders better and move themselves to the top of the list to receive post season thank you cards from other general managers by trading All-Star Hunter Pence (.306, 11 HR, 63 RBI) to the Phillies and former All-Star and Gold Glove winner Michael Bourn (.303, 1 HR, 32 RBI, 39 SB) to the Atlanta Braves, chasing the Phillies in the NL East and leading the National League Wild Card race.

Pence: "WOW! We scored a RUN! I could get used to this!" 4

So, let’s see. There are nine players in a baseball game at any given time. The Astros have traded four productive former All-Stars, three of which are every day players, to teams that are serious playoff contenders. Now, call me crazy, but if three of your eight regular players are good enough to help a good team get better, does it not stand to reason that, together, they could help a bad team get back to respectability? Does it not stand to reason that these established players will get your team further along the path to success more quickly than unproven and unknown players that your fans will not see for years?

The Astros had better have some money in the piggy bank or this could be in their future. People are not piling into Minute Maid Park in droves to see them for a while. 2

MINOR LEAGUE
The Astros may not win a third of their games this year. They may not be of interest to the casual Astros fan in Houston. They may have watered down their 25 man roster so badly that an elite AAA team appears more competitive, in contrast. However, the Astros front office management will be long time favorites of their peers for several years to come.


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1) Image from flickr.com
2) Image from foreclosedhomesforsale.com 
3) Image from zimbio.com