Fastball Fans

Let’s party on the North Side; ok, a World Series would perhaps be more ideal, but still 10,000 wins is a lofty accomplishment!

Well, look who is going to for their 10,000th win –the Cubs. Although they haven’t won a World Series title since 1908, the Cubs are just one win shy of 10,000 franchise victories.

Chicago is trying to become the second team in major league history to reach that mark, joining the San Francisco Giants. The Giants, of course, picked up a chunk of those wins while playing in New York, as well.

Lest we not forget, the Philadelphia Phillies have 10,000 losses.

The Detroit Tigers have recalled outfielder Curtis Granderson from his rehab assignment and activated him from the disabled list.

Granderson will make his season debut, starting in center field and batting in the leadoff spot against the Texas Rangers at Comerica Park Wednesday night. His return should be a boon to a Detroit team that is sorely in need of a spark in 2008.

The Cincinnati Reds have fired general manager Wayne Krivsky and replaced him with former St. Louis Cardinals GM Walt Jocketty thanks to their worst start in nearly half a decade.

Krivsky’s best move may have been acquiring second baseman Brandon Phillips from the Cleveland Indians for a player to be named later, who turned out to be minor-leaguer Jeff Stevens. Phillips hit 30 home runs and 26 doubles for the Reds last season and has become one of the NL’s best second basemen. He also obtained starting pitcher Bronson Arroyo from the Boston Red Sox for Willy Mo Pena before the 2006 season.

But Krivsky showed a fondness for signing older pitchers and making a flurry of trades. One of his most expensive decisions was giving left-handed reliever Mike Stanton a two-year, $5.5 million deal, far more than anyone else was offering. The tight-budget Reds got rid of him during spring training even though he was still owed $3.5 million.

Krivsky also pulled off an eight-player deal with Washington in 2006 that sent outfielder Austin Kearns and shortstop Felipe Lopez to the Nationals for relievers Gary Majewski and Bill Bray.

The deal, made with the hopes of bolstering the Reds’ bullpen in the midst of a pennant race, hasn’t made much of an impact for either team. Both Majewski and Bray are currently in the minors, Harris was dealt after the 2006 season to the Tampa Bay Rays for future considerations and Clayton left after 2006 as a free agent.

“We paid a steep price,” Krivsky said at the time of the trade. “I’m sure this will be a controversial trade. I know a lot of people will be leaving nasty messages on my voicemail, and I’ll have some who think it’s great.”

Jocketty will have a couple of major decisions in the coming months. Griffey is in the final year of his contract — there’s a club option for next year at $16.5 million — and Adam Dunn is making $13 million in the last year of his deal.

The Reds went 161-184 under Kvirsky, finishing 80-82 in 2006 and 72-90 in 2007.

Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday for the first time in his eight-year career because of a sprained left ankle.

The status of Chad Cordero could be in question as he is scheduled to see renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., on Wednesday afternoon.

Cordero is not in pain, but he felt “clicking� in his shoulder on Monday night after an appearance in the game earlier in the evening. A lot has been made of his arm health since his return as his velocity is lower than has been in the past, and he’s already missed part of the season with shoulder problems.

Jose Canseco reaffirmed that Roger Clemens did not attend a 1998 party at his house that has become a focal point of a federal investigation. Canseco was interviewed by federal agents and according to his attorney, Gregory Emerson, nothing new of significance was discussed.

We cannot discount what he says however; he’s been right so far on pretty much everything.

Canseco was interviewed by federal agents and answered a series of questions about a variety of subjects and about his knowledge of steroid use in baseball, said his attorney, Gregory Emerson.

The former AL MVP was questioned about his new book, “Vindicated,” and “some of the issues that have arisen earlier in the (Congressional) hearings,” Emerson said.

“He answered fully and to the best of his knowledge,” the attorney said. He said nothing new of significance was discussed.

The 1998 party at Canseco’s home became an issue because Brian McNamee, Clemens’ former trainer, has said Clemens spoke with Canseco and soon afterward approached the trainer about using performance-enhancing drugs.

Clemens says he did not attend the party, and Canseco corroborated that in an affidavit to Congress. Canseco stood by that affidavit during his interview on Tuesday, Emerson said.

“Roger was probably one of his closest buddies, has been to Jose’s house before,” the attorney said. “Jose’s absolutely certain Roger wasn’t there (at the party in question), and he remains 100 percent committed to that affidavit.”

Photos that show Clemens in Canseco’s pool have surfaced, but they are undated.

Canseco has long been considered a whistle-blower about the use of steroids in baseball, with his 2005 book titled, “Juiced.” Major League Baseball and federal investigators have begun to give some of his claims more credibility.

“When this (Canseco’s claims) first came out, Jose was shunned by players and by Major League Baseball,” Emerson said. “Now they’ve found that there is a substantial amount of credibility.

“The (latest) book is an attempt to really expose Major League Baseball, not any particular players for their positions. I think he’s been telling the truth and told the truth today.”

Canseco has confirmed that Joseph Dion of Miami is the trainer “Max” he wrote about in his latest book. Canseco claimed that Dion was a steroids dealer he introduced to Alex Rodriguez.

Dion, first identified as “Max” by Sports Illustrated on its web site, strongly denied the allegations, saying he hates steroids and is “100 percent” against their use. Rodriguez said he knows Dion, but he has repeatedly denied using performance-enhancing drugs. Canseco has said he has no knowledge of drug use by Rodriguez.

Jeff Novitzky, one of the federal agents who met with Canseco, recently moved from the IRS to the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations, The New York Times reported on its Web site, citing two unidentified lawyers with knowledge of the change. Novitzky will remain involved in the sports drug investigations.

Sir, please go away.

Ah, Hank — you’re making life great for baseball fans in general. If George got he angry or wanted to speak, he at least had a point; this kid just speaks off the cuff.

Here’s his latest rant, and he wants Joba Chamberlain to start…

“I want him as a starter and so does everyone else, including him, and that is what we are working toward and we need him there now,� said Steinbrenner. “There is no question about it, you don’t have a guy with a 100-mile-per-hour fastball and keep him as a setup guy. You just don’t do that. You have to be an idiot to do that.�

This dude is trying to be like good, old dad. Hank, you have to realize, there’s a reason why Cashman was hired — to run a baseball team.

For Christ’s sake, Hank. We are only twenty games into the season, and Joba seems to be doing just fine as a setup man. How do you his success with translate into the starting rotation? So when he gives up his first three-run homer, will you call him a fat toad?

Hank, just shut up and let your baseball people do their job.

* Shortstop Jimmy Rollins was placed on the 15-day disabled list for the first time in his eight-year career because of a sprained left ankle.

* Right-hander Hideo Nomo was designated for assignment, perhaps ending his 12 seasons in the majors.

* Former major leaguer John Marzano died after falling down a flight of stairs at his Philadelphia home. Marzano played 10 seasons for the Red Sox, Rangers and Mariners before retiring in 1998. He batted .241 with 11 homers and 72 RBIs in 794 at-bats in 301 games.

* Reliever Kyle Farnsworth was suspended for three games and fined for throwing a fastball behind the neck of Boston slugger Manny Ramirez last week. Farnsworth appealed the penalty, which was to start last night against the Orioles.

* Shortstop Adam Everett was placed on 15-day disabled list because of a strained right shoulder.