Barry Bonds is the new home run king. It’s sad though. But we’ll live.

View Fox Sports coverage here.

View ESPN coverage here.

View Yahoo! Sports coverage here.

It’s all the same story really. The shot came off of Nationals pitcher Mike Bacsik in the bottom of the fifth inning in a full count.

The Yankees designated the actor who played Austin Powers today…well it’s the guy who’s in their bullpen but Austin Powers is more exciting. It’s a bit of a surprise move though, because Myers was actually pitching well. He’s been pitching well since 2005 with the Red Sox.

Yahoo! Sports has the story. To replace Myers, the Yankees called up Jim Brower, a former journeyman turned minor league closer for the Yankees Triple A affiliate. Myers record this year: 3-0 with a 2.66 ERA in 55 games. In fact, he’s already pitched more than he did last year, but his ERA is lower. That’s quite an accomplishment pitching in the AL East.

Brower’s minor league stats: 4-1 with a 1.65 ERA and 20 saves in 35 games. Myers will get claimed and the claiming team will only have to pay a prorated amount of the league minimum. A plus is that Myers is a lefty. There are a lot more candidates that could have been sent down so this is an odd move.

To view Myers’ Yahoo! Sports stats, click here.

At this point in the season, Ozzie Guillen, the Chicago White Sox manager is more interesting to watch than his team. The resurgent Royals will be giving the White Sox a run for their money down the stretch to see who finishes last in the AL Central.

Guillen shared his view and Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune has the story. Guillen says he respects that Bonds has undergone so much scrutiny and hasn’t yet succumbed to the pressure. But Bonds brought the criticism on himself didn’t he?

Guillen also said he doesn’t want Bonds on his team next year. He says it’s because of his lack of team spirit. I agree with Guillen, but all of this just sounds like Guillen wanting to say something to get some press coverage. Of course we’re receptive to anything Guillen says, because he’s entertaining and mildly amusing…right?

The title explains the article. It’s slow rumblings here, since it’s slow rumblings in baseball. I don’t think Barry Bonds tying the HR record is significant. Honestly…and a full length article is coming soon, I was disappointed that he did it with a smile on his face at the end. But for now:

• Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports that the Diamondbacks claimed Byung-Hyun Kim and light-hitting corner infielder Jeff Cirillo off waivers. If the Arizona GM is trying to imitate the Padres in signing average guys, he’s going about it the wrong way. While imitation is the highest form of flattery, would you really take Jeff Cirillo over Morgan Ensberg and Kim over Wilfredo Ledezma? I think not. I understand that Kim saved 36 games once, but that was when he was afraid to speak up and say he wanted to be a starter. Yes I also understand that Cirillo drove in 100 RBI’s once, but that was in Colorado. If the following statement makes any sense, then I guess you understand what I’m saying: San Diego gets the best mediocre players available. That said, Cirillo and Kim do not fall into that category. To view Kim’s Yahoo! Sports stats, click here and to view Cirillo’s stats, click here.

• John Peterson over at Blastings! Thrilledge has a great in-depth article about the Castillo trade. Have a read. It’s good stuff. I think he hit the little nail on its big head with the line in his article “What is Luis Castillo doing here?” I think when GM’s envision players they want to trade for, but can’t answer that question “What is X doing here” then they shouldn’t waste time putting their cell phone to their head to talk to the respective GM’s. All in all, a good read.

• Sometimes a player’s name just pops into my head and then I go on Wikipedia and their Yahoo! Sports page, or even baseballreference.com to look for that player. This week Ryan Drese’s name popped into my head. Turns out the Braves signed him to a minor league contract on Friday. Talk about coincidence. He was in the Nationals minor league affiliates and I think they released him. I hope John Schuerholz doesn’t think that Ryan Drese is the starter he’s looking for. After pulling off trades like Teixeira, Mahay and Dotel, Ring, one would think he could do a little better than signing Ryan Drese. But then again, it’s hard to blame the Braves scouts over the last 15 years.

• On a similar note, while I writing about Neifi Perez on Friday, I was wondering how some guys get to stay in the Majors for a long time when they aren’t any good. Of course someone’s name popped into my head: Royce Clayton. Turns out he was designated for assignment. Clayton was never anything special. He was a good base-stealer in his day. But now he isn’t even worth one of those pink Mother’s Day bats. While typing this…Juan Uribe’s name came to mind. Looking at the stats, Clayton is light years ahead of Uribe. How sad is that. See also Tony Batista. Batista has driven in 100+ and hit 40 HR’s already so I’ll cut him a lot of slack.

• How did Scott Elarton turn an 11-9 record and a 4.61 ERA in 2005 into a 2-year $8 million deal? Beats me. His best year was in 2000 when he went 17-7 with a 4.81 ERA…in the NL!  He was released by the Royals. Go Royals! Their front-office isn’t afraid to show what signings were mistakes. In fact, Gil Meche’s year is making them look really good.

Really…what’s with Neifi Perez. I understand that he isn’t good…not worth anything really, but getting suspended again.

Maybe this is just a cruel joke one of his friends is playing. Perez was suspended again on Friday for 80 games. This latest suspension probably ends Perez’s MLB career. Thank God for that. Perez is an abysmal player. Sure he adds defense to a team, but defense is only worth so much in the American League.

Read a few lines on his latest suspension at Yahoo! Sports It’s Perez’s 3rd offense. How can he be taking banned stimulants and he’s still not any good, which begs the question, why if someone takes stimulants and they suck, it isn’t debated in the media? It’s only when they take it and they are good it’s debated. Debate Neifi Perez!! Damn you reporters!!

And on a side note, you may be able to tell that things are officially dry after the trade deadline, hence this story on Neifi Perez.

Two interesting reads to verify, one written today while one was written yesterday. First the old one:

• Dean Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh-Post Gazette said that a deal between the Pirates and Tigers was pretty close to being finalized. The deal called for the Pirates to receive two of Detroit’s top six prospects and an unnamed MLB-ready pitcher. The sticking point was how much money the Tigers would assume in the deal. Wilson is owed $14.5 million for 2008-2009. How do you say “bad contract.”

There is no way Wilson is worth one top prospect, let alone two?! This had bad deal written all over it.

And the new one:

• The other article is from Paul Meyer, also of the Pittsburgh-Post Gazette. This article states that Wilson could pass through waivers because of his salary and the Tigers could claim him then, assuming all of his contract but not giving up much in terms of talent. Meyer’s article also says via one of his sources, that a deal was done. The Tigers balked when the Pirates also asked for an MLB player and Meyer speculates that it was Craig Monroe together with either Dallas Trahern or Jair Jurrjens and a mid-level position player prospect.

That is way too much to give up for someone like Wilson. There are a lot more options available. What about a guy like Craig Counsell. He is a veteran who has won a World Series ring. He’s worth more than Wilson in my book.

Bob Sansevere of the Pioneer Press has a great interview with Twins CF Torii Hunter. I think it’s an understatement to say that Hunter is frustrated. It’s a very candid interview and sheds some light on Hunter’s feelings toward the organization. Bear in mind that the interview was done on August 1, which isn’t too long after Luis Castillo was traded.

Hunter is having a career year with a couple minor slumps mixed in. He hit 31 HRs last year and is on pace to hit 33 this year and exceed 100 RBI’s. He is making a case for a huge payday.

I have both players on my fantasy team so I know where Hunter is coming from…not really but still.

Tigers Center Fielder, Curtis Granderson is a blogger. Yes…he’s part of the fraternity and his blog is quite funny. Granderson is having a career year and it’s good to see the lighter side of players in the world outside of sports. Have a laugh and click here to read it.

Make sure you read the comments too.

Poor Johnny Damon. It seems as though money really can’t buy happiness. There goes my dream…

Michael Morrissey has an article in the New York Post that touches on Johnny Damon’s feelings about where he fits in with the Yankees. It’s good stuff. One thing worthy of note is a Sports Illustrated article I read after Damon signed with the Yankees. His current contract is a 4-year $52 million deal. He said he felt disrespected by the offer the Red Sox made which I believe was 4-years and $40 million. He said the difference “paid for this house” and showed how much more valuable the Yankees thought he was.

At the time…I thought it was strange reasoning and well I didn’t have this blog, so I’m writing about it now since it relates. It’s the damn Yankees Johnny…they can give you whatever you want when it comes to money. As far as happiness, well you’re figuring that out on your own now aren’t you.

The Yankees even called around to other teams offering Damon. The Braves expressed interest but “not at that price”. Maybe John Schuerholz in his infinite wisdom may swing a deal in the offseason for Damon that gets the Yankees paying a lot of the contract as he did in the Renteria from Boston deal.

But Johnny…what will you do now? Ask for a trade? Wouldn’t that make you look stupid? Indeed…what would Johnny do?

Fred Claire has a column up on MLB.com

It’s a great article and I agree with a lot of the points that he makes. In a nutshell, he compares the Braves and Yankees and their activity or lack thereof during this year’s trade deadline. I commend the Yankees for trying to hold on to prospects and not add cash to their payroll, but they are doing it at the wrong time. Now is the time they should have gone out and traded for a role player.

In the years past, the Yankees made moves simply to make moves. They didn’t need Bobby Abreu last year. Sure Sheffield was down through injury, but they could have gotten an average right fielder. Something tells me that next year they may be relieving the Braves of Mike Hampton’s contract at next year’s trade deadline.

In fact, the trade the Yankees made weakened their bullpen and didn’t add much to their offense. Wilson Betemit can still be a great player in this league but of course he’ll be nothing compared to A-Rod if the latter opts out this year. But what I’m saying is that you trade a reliever for an infielder and you expect your prospects to pick up the slack in the rotation and the bullpen? As “can’t miss” a prospect as Phil Hughes and highly touted Joba Chamberlain, they aren’t the guys to help the Yankees this year.

With regards to the Braves, while they were very active at the deadline, maybe they were a prospect or two overboard. But to paraphrase what a columnist said, somehow John Schuerholz knows which prospects to trade. It’s true. How many guys that the Braves traded, turned out to have successful careers? Jermaine Dye? Please…Dye was never that good, and he still isn’t. He’s had one great year, and two good years. His great year was last year when he hit in a lineup with Paul Konerko and Jim Thome.

All in all, Claire’s article is a must read. Maybe parity is coming after all…