Gas Can moves to Brewville,Devils win again!

Salomon "Gas Can" Torres was peddled to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for two righthanded minor league relievers.
I know that trading for minor league relievers smacks of the
Captain,but at least one of these pitchers has reasonably good strikeout numbers.
The Captain always used to trade for the soft tossing style to help Indianapolis out.
Marino Salas split last season between AA Huntsville and AAA Nashville saving 17 games and compiling a 2.77 ERA in his 51 appearances between the two stops.
But he is 26 already,so he likely was pitching below his level.
The second of the two intrigues me more.
Kevin Roberts,23,spent last season with High A Brevard County and struck out over a batter an inning.
The bad news is that he has control issues and walks a fair amount.
Roberts was a college pitcher for Houston.
Roberts seems to at least have some upside and throw fairly hard,which is two things in short supply in the system.
Some Pirate fans are rapping Neal Huntington for this deal and commenting that he didn't get enough in return.
However,Torres is 36 ,had elbow problems last year,was not effective for the most part and is not sure that he wants to leave Pittsburgh,which is where he lives year-round.
You cannot really expect him to bring much considering all that.
So although,I cannot say that I love the return,I wont complain much.
Now I do expect a higher return for Damaso Marte,since Marte is signed to a reasonable contract,is left handed and coming off an excellent season.


The New Jersey Devils leaped out early on the visiting Washington Capitals and cruised to a deceptive 3-2 win at the Rock to improve their winning streak to nine.
The two first period goals basically slowed the Caps down to a crawl and only once would the Devils allow them to show the mildest spark.
Vitali Vishnevski (?) fluttered a backhanded knucklepuck past Olaf Kolzig for his first goal as a Devil and just under five minutes later on a Devil power play,Danius Zubrus knocked his 6th goal of the year past Kolzig to establish Devil dominance at 2-0.
The only Capital burst came early in the 3rd as Alexander Semin's goal cut the lead to 2-1.
It was only the second goal for Semin this season in what must be a disappointment for Washington fans.
But less than a minute later,Travis Zajac's goal (5) put the game out of reach for New Jersey.
Nice effort,if not very exciting,but great to see the unheralded guys stepping up and taking the burden for the evening.
New Jersey crosses the river tomorrow at 5 to try for 10 wins in a row with a battle against the hated Rangers.

Bullpen Notes

I love XM radio and MLB Home Plate,but they have two of the most annoying and least knowledgeable hosts around in Holden Kushner and Grant Paulsen.
Kushner demeans anyone that enjoys the game differently than he,yet he knows little about anything other than a few teams.
Paulsen is the young man that got the publicity push a few years back for being a youth sportscaster.
Kudos to his family for playing the game to get him the opportunity,but frankly he just is not that talented.
One of the most frustrating things about being a parent is not having the connections or the dough to help your children out for opportunities.
Excuse the sour grapes,but Ryan Heimberger forgot more baseball ten years ago than Grant Paulsen knows now and they are roughly the same age.
Sorry,Ryan.

The Cleveland Indians sent a PTBNL to the Colorado Rockies for veteran utility infielder
Jamey Carroll.
This tell me that Josh Barfield might be wanting to rent not buy in Cleveland right now.
The Indians designated pitcher J.D. Martin for assignment.
Martin was a once promising prospect that has struggled with arm injuries the last few years and a good signer to boot.

Nice gesture by the NHLPA to join up with David Suzuki to help fight carbon emissions.
Good job,guys!

On the signing front;
Things have been slow,but did get two cards from Mike Treadwell of Chi-Sox minor leaguers Garry Bakker and Clevelan Santeliz and Boston Bruin Brad Boyes signed through the mail.

Finally,I have a feeling that yesterday's weigh-in between Floyd Mayweather and Ricky Hatton will be more exciting than the fight for Mayweather's WBC welterweight belt.
Our Pick-Mayweather by lopsided unanimous decision or perhaps a late round stoppage on cuts.

Photo Credits
Gas Can-Dilip Vishwanat-Getty Images
Vishnevski-Rich Schultz-AP Photo
Staredown-AFP