The Pirates continued their yearly in season fire sale, sending All-Star second basemen Freddy Sanchez to the San Fransisco Giants for Tim Alderson.

Many are saying that the Giants overpaid for Sanchez, and we agree; Alderson was ranked by Baseball America as the No. 4 prospect in the San Francisco organization entering this season. He has a 7-2 record and a 3.65 ERA in two minor league stops this season.

The San Fransisco Giants have had a particularly busy week, signing two free agents to help bolster their horrific roster.

The Giants signed Edgar Renteria to a two year deal worth $18.5 million dollars. The short stop, according to ESPN.com, says he feels more comfortable returning to the National League, than he was in the American League.

The Giants also signed reliever Bobby Howry to a one year deal to help bolster the team's bullpen.

Renteria will replace long time great Omar Vizquel at short stop next season.

Congratulations to Tim Lincecum, San Fransisco Giants starting pitcher, on winning the 2009 NL Cy Young Award.

Lincecum posted a 18-5 record with a 2.85 era. The hard throwing righty (who is only 5'11'') also struck out 265 batters this season.

Lincecum beat out Brendon Webb (finished second) and lefty CC Sabathia, who was acquired at the trade deadline to push the Brewers into the playoffs.

Posted by ESPN News Services:

SAN FRANCISCO -- Barry Bonds asked a federal judge Monday to toss out most of the government's case against him that charges the slugger lied to a federal grand jury about his alleged steroids use.

In a filing made in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, lawyers for baseball's home run king argue that many of the charges stem from ambiguous answers to ambiguous questions posed by prosecutors.

Bonds is charged with 15 counts of making false declarations to a grand jury in December 2003 and one count of obstruction of justice. His lawyers on Monday asked a judge to toss out 10 charges. He has pleaded not guilty to all counts and is scheduled for trial on March 2.

Each count is attached to a specific question and answer or denial. While rarely are these motions granted, in this case many of the questions were indeed somewhat ambiguous, so it's possible some counts could be dismissed, but unlikely it'd be more than a few.

Even if the judge throws out the charges in question, Bonds is still going to trial, ESPN legal analyst Roger Cossack reports. It will take the judge two to three months to rule on Bonds' request.

The 44-year-old Bonds, an unsigned free agent, hit .276 last year with 28 home runs, 66 RBIs and a major league-high 132 walks. He doesn't admit nor deny using steroids in the latest court filing.

Instead, Bonds' lawyers argue that "the questions posed to Mr. Bonds by two different prosecutors at his grand jury appearance were imprecise, redundant, overlapping and frequently compound."

For instance, they argue that when Bonds denied if he had "taken anything like" steroids, he was answering a "fundamentally ambiguous" question.

A spokesman with the U.S. Attorney's office in San Francisco declined comment.

The 15 counts pending against Bonds are contained in a second federal indictment charging Bonds with repeatedly lying when he testified that he never used performance-enhancing drugs.

A federal judge threw out the first indictment and ordered prosecutors to draft a new one after she found some charges contained multiple allegations. The superseding indictment charged Bonds with making "false declarations" instead of "perjury."

Giants minor league catcher Eliezer Alfonso was suspended for 50 games due to failing a Major League Baseball drug test.

How F*#^kin dumb do you have to be to fail a PED's (performance enhancing drug) test, this late in the game? Its understandable if this was the first wave of testing, and the guy thought he might be able to scoot by....

But now? After all that's gone on around the steroid controversy? Clemens, in front of Congress? Canseco's incredibly shrinking balls? Did this guy not turn on the TV during the offseason?

Does his personal life coach's name rhyme with Barle Dove? (Karl Rove, for all the folks who have a hard time rhyming).

Here's an excerpt from the AP release concerning Alfonzo's suspension:

SAN FRANCISCO -- San Francisco Giants minor-league catcher Eliezer Alfonzo was suspended 50 games Wednesday for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance, the first player penalized this year under Major League Baseball's drug program.

Alfonzo is on San Francisco's 40-man roster so he falls under the major-league program even though he has played all season at Triple-A Fresno.

"I made a mistake, and I want to apologize to my family, my teammates, the fans and the Giants organization," Alfonzo said in a statement released by the team. "I know what I did was wrong, and now I will pay the penalty. As a father, I now have to look my children in the eye and explain to them that I have made a big mistake, one, unfortunately, that they are also going to have to deal with, as well as me."

The 29-year-old Venezuelan was optioned to Fresno just before Opening Day and is batting .306 with three homers and 14 RBIs in 16 games. The suspension will start Thursday, and Alfonzo will be eligible to return to play June 27, assuming there are no postponements.

He played 113 games with the Giants in the 2006 and 2007 seasons, batting .263 with 13 homers and 45 RBIs.

The Giants said in a statement they were also disappointed to learn about the positive test and that they support baseball's testing program. Alfonzo is the first Giants player to be suspended under the major-league drug program that first started suspensions in 2004.

I'll be the first to admit that I do not like Barry Bonds.

I never liked him when he was a Pirate, I never liked him when he played for the Giants, and I sure as hell didn't like him whenever he floated the idea of becoming a Yankee.

As far as punishing Bonds, Major League Baseball has no right in punishing the "new home run king". Legally at least.

You see, Bonds is a crafty man, or so he thought. By opting out of the players union, Bonds became a one man marketing dream.

If you want Bonds in a video game (approved by Major League Baseball and the Players Union) you have to negotiate with him directly. If you want him to appear on your baseball card, contact Bonds' agent, not the Players Union. If you want to film a public service announcement with Bonds and one hundred other ball players, you'll get the ball players, but you'll have to pay for Bonds.

But, by opting out of the Players Union, Major League Baseball will never have to worry about punishing Bonds.

He punished himself.

Companies like 2kSports and EA Games refuse to deal with Bonds, and pay unrealistic sums of money to use his likeness in their baseball franchises. Instead, gamers have to deal with a forty year old white guy who bats and throws right handed, and who answers to the name of John Dowd. All his stats are set to zero, and there is no record of the all-time home run leader throughout any aspect of the games. If you play with the San Fransisco Giants, you're basically left with a forty year old rookie, making eighteen million dollars.

Bonds punished himself by making it almost impossible to remember him. Baseball card companies, already strapped for cash (dying industry) have a hard time justifying negotiations with Bonds and company.

By opting out of the Players Union, Bonds punished himself. He doesn't have the backing of one of the most powerful unions in the United States when he appears before court. Any deal Major League Baseball strikes with the government, leaves Bonds out in the cold. His arrogance and foolishness could lead to his eventual imprisonment.

So, you ask again, should Major League Baseball punish Barry Bonds?

No. I think he's done enough.

Last Season's Record: 71-91
108 Red Stitches Projected Finish: 5th NL West
Major Offseason Acquisitions:
- Aaron Rowand: CF

Major Offseason Losses:
- Barry Bonds: LF (???)


This organization is an embarrassment to Major League Baseball. They had their chance to right the ship with Bonds leaving, make room for some younger players, but they chose to hold onto their old farts.
This Giants club will be the worst team in baseball, and the only record they will be chasing this year will be for the most losses by a team in one season.

Reports indicate that Philadelphia is getting an offensive and defensive upgrade at one of their hot corners. ESPN reported last night that former San Fransisco Giant Third Sacker Pedro Feliz signed a two year deal with a team option for a third.
Feliz is a huge upgrade over the myriad of jerseys that attempted to fill that position for the Phillies last season. Abraham Nunez, Greg Dobbs, and Wes Helms all spent time on the hot corner, but yielded next to nothing compared to other team's third basemen throughout the league.
Feliz is expected to bat lower in the lineup, in attempts to add a power bat and run producer to spark that end of the lineup.

Despite previously published reports, the Orioles are denying any trade rumors surrounding Erik Bedard.

Koby Clemens says that not watching tv is the best way to avoid seeing his Dad on television.

He's in, he's out, he's in, he's out... Yankee standout Joba Chamberlain may start the season coming out of the bullpen.

Tiger's Brandon Inge adds Super-Utility Man to his resume. Movie deal with Marvel is in the works.

Slow week so far in the wonderful world of baseball. After a stormy December that launched the Mitchell Report and a lackluster winter meeting, the New Year rings in with a big yawn.
Sure there's allegations of rampant steroid use in the Seattle clubhouse, but it's more of a cry for attention by a no-name, talentless, woah-is-me has been that never did anything with the time allotted to him.

Baseball Around the Country:

Clemens gets his chance to clear his name during an interview with 60 Minutes' Mike Wallace,
while New York Times writer, Murray Chass, talks strategy with Clemens' lawyer.

Scott Oslter of the San Fransisco Chronicle consults a psychic in an attempt to get a jump on 2008's top sports stories.

Clark Spencer writes about Florida's life after Miguel Cabrera.

Todd Wills of the Dallas Morning News spends some time with a fresh face from the Ranger farm system.

Now that the parties are over and the New Year hangover is gone (for most of us), let's take a moment to relive some sports "highlights" of yester-year. Sure, most sites like ESPN and MLB.com will hit you with highlights from the 2007 season, but here at 108 Red Stitches, we prefer to go back a little deeper.

Browsing around Baseball America's archived trade history list, we stumbled on this beauty of a headline:

Astro's Win Astacio Sweepsteaks

Wow.

Scott Earlton goes to the Rockies, and the Astros pull one over the Rockies eyes.

Here's another one of our favorites:

Tiger, Padres Add Possible Regulars

Just in case you didn't click the link, that would be OF Gene Kingsdale and C Mike Rivera.

That's the type of trade that makes a GM famous.

Giants Come Away With Prized Starter Ponson

Hehehe.....

Happy New Year!
108 Red Stitches Writers.

The Kansas City Royals made a huge splash in this winter's free agent pool, and it's possibly one of the best signings that you've never heard of. Left handed reliever, ERA of a 2.55, batters hit a weak .218 against him last season, in 67 innings pitched over 58 appearances.
Let me introduce you to Ron Mahay, ex-Texas Ranger/Atlanta Brave reliever.
It's great to see Kansas City opening up their wallets. By also adding Jose Guillen, the Royals are starting too break away from that lovable loser label they've been wearing for the past decade or so.

According to ESPN, the Giants and Yankees also looked into signing Mahay.

Good news loyal 108 Red Stitches blog readers! I've finally come out of my self induced baseball coma, one that kept me from writing for the past month.
So, what'd I miss?

Red Sox won the World Series? Did this coma transport me back in time?

Haha, you're funny, no way the Yankees "fired" Joe Torre.

Don Mattingly is going to be a Dodger? Are they really that hard up for a first baseman?

I'm sorry, the nurses must not have cleaned the wax out of my ears while I was napping, could you repeat that? A-Rod opted out? Did you say opted out, like, of his contract? So he's not going to be playing for the Yankees next season?

How will that effect next year's version of MLB 2K8? A-Rod will still be on the Yanks roster right? I want him breaking Bond's record while wearing pinstripes.

Did you just say that San Fransisco gave Bonds his walking papers? Well, that's nice. Good for San Fran.

He wants to sign with who?!?! Oh, Cashman has another thing coming if he signs that jerk.

Are we still talking about baseball? Because you mentioned instant replay for a minute there.

The Mets didn't fire everyone on their team?

The Phillies traded for Brad Lidge? What's the point of playing next year then? Might as well print off those championship t-shirt. Lidge solves EVERYTHING.

Really, so Tampa Bay gave up on the whole Devil thing? So you think that'll be the thing Peter Gammons points to when the "Rays" are leading the AL East?

I'm sorry, I thought you said the Devil sold his soul to Scott Boras.

I was talking to my girlfriend last night about something that's been bothering me lately. One of my favorite football players happens to be Shawne Merriman (OLB, Chargers). Don't ask me why, I just like him. Last season, Merriman was suspended for using steroids.
Didn't faze me in the least. Kept right on rooting for the man.
Now, Don Mattingly, my favorite baseball player of all time, forever and ever, has never been accused of taking steroids or growth hormone, or any other banned performance enhancing substance. The minute he does, I'll hate him for the rest of my life.
Done. Everything I own of Mattingly will be tarred, feathered, burned, ripped up, mailed back, and shot with a potato gun.
I wonder why that is.
Jayson Stark,ESPN, recently ran an article on the double standard that exists between the Barry Bonds case and the recent light that's been shed on Rick Ankiel.
I for one am guilty of what Stark outlines as "Double Standard #1; The Likeability Test".
In theory, a good journalist is supposed to leave his personal thoughts, beliefs, and opinions checked with his coat at the front door.
That is why I never got passed writing articles for the Quinnipiac University Student Chronicles.
I despise Barry Bonds and everything that he does, eats, watches, showers with, sleeps on, and mails his credit card bills to. There is not one single redeeming quality I can find in the man.
If he was to find a cure for the AIDS crisis, reverse global warming, wipe oil off a baby seal, develop a better mouse trap, and adopt a tribe of aborigines, I would scoff and chalk it up to a media publicity stunt.
Rick Ankiel could wipe out half of the rain forest, and I like many of my American counterparts, would smile and look in awe as he walks by, chainsaw in hand.
I can't figure it out.
Stark lists some possibilities for why this is plaguing me and scores of baseball fans throughout the country, and I think he may be onto something:
He wasn't even a hitter then.
It wasn't a banned substance then.
He had a doctor's prescription.
He was recovering from Tommy John surgery.
He needed it to heal.
He hasn't been accused of any "wrongdoing."
The media is out to get him.
It's not like he's Barry Bonds or something. (Stark; Exposing Our Dirty Double Standards)

A few days ago, former Major Leaguer Jose Offerman went ballistic with his lumber after being hit by a pitch. Offerman, playing for the Long Island Ducks, went after Bridgeport Bluefish pitcher Matt Beech, after being hit in the leg with a pitch. Offerman was eventually arrested after he was thrown out of the game, and bail was posted at $10,000.
This event brought back memories of another famous bat beating incident, none other than Juan Marichal's head bopping of LA Dodgers catcher, Johnny Roseboro.
Here at 108 Red Stitches, we thought it would be fun to compare both events. Here goes:

Fight Started Because.....

Offerman: Hit a homerun in his first at bat off of Beech, then was pegged in the leg in his next at bat.
Marichal: Thought Roseboro's throws back to the pitcher were coming a little to close to his noggin.
Advantage: Offerman. Physical evidence always outweighs mental issues.

Injuries Incurred:

Offerman: possibly broke Beech's finger and gave Bluefish catcher, John Nathans, concussion like symptoms.
Marichal: slammed Roseboro in the (unprotected head) and gave him a pretty gash that would require 14 stitches.
Advantage: Marichal. Nobody makes me bleed my own blood, nobody.

Punishment:

Offerman: arrested on two counts of second degree assault felony, bail posted at $10,000.
Marichal: fined $1,750 and suspended 9 games. Eventually sued (and settled out of court) by Roseboro.
Advantage: Offerman. Good luck getting that "felon" label taken away.

Eventual Outcome:

Offerman: case pending until August 23, when Jose must appear in court.
Marichal: would later become good friends with Roseboro, as the two would autograph the picture that make them famous.
Advantage: Marichal. Always loved a Hollywood Ending.

Cooler Photo:

Offerman:

Marichal:Advantage: Marichal. Black and White, SLR Photo. Ahh, the good old days.

There's something seriously wrong with this first blog post. There's something seriously wrong with the title of the post. Something wrong with the photo to the right. No, its not the fact that baseball's "New Home Run King" is wearing drag or a wig, or is pretending that the nugget of a brain floating in his freakishly enlarged cranium can comprehend and process the words that are written on the paper he is holding.
There's something wrong with the way that Hank Aaron was trotted out on the San Fransisco scoreboard, congratulating Barry Bonds on passing his record.
In this crazed world of politically correct, where have (or why have) we gone wrong? I would have loved to see Hank Aaron appear on screen, look into the camera, and then remove his mic and walk away. Silence is always louder than words.
Throw the ball back.
You want something more historical than being the proud owner of the most coveted record in all of sports? Catch the ball, throw the ball back onto the field. Nothing would have made a bigger statement than a fan tossing an asterisk back onto the field.
Mahatma Gandhi once said “Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.”
There's nothing special about Bonds' assault on Aaron's record. Pushing a needle or swallowing a pill does not dictate success.
Someday the madness surrounding the past week will go away and it will be a footnote in the memories of our pastime.
That's what we have to look forward to. We need a way to pass the time, to get to the point in history, when Barry Bonds, Home Run King, is nothing but an asterisk.