Quick Hits, Sunday 8/23

-Felix Pie and Nolan Reimold each had home runs as the Orioles won their first series since the All-Star Break. It's encouraging to see the young guys hit. Has there been a bigger surprise rookie in the AL than Nolan Reimold? He's come out of nowhere to become an everyday LF/DH. Felix Pie has made the most of his limited playing time, and should continue to earn starts and ABs. I hope the Orioles can avoid another August collapse.

-John Smoltz made his Cardinal debut, throwing five innings of shutout ball and striking out nine, including a St. Louis-record seven in a row. I don't want to say "I told you so", but...

-Eric Bruntlett's game-ending unassisted triple play was at least the third time this year I've said "What a perfect metaphor for the 2009 Mets." I'm not sure which is more fitting, the triple play or Vinny Castilla shanking a flyball to let the Yankees win in the bottom of the ninth.

-Derek Jeter is quietly having not only one of the best seasons of his career, but the best of any leadoff man in baseball right now. He's .331/.394/.471 on the season with 21 steals; both BP and Fangraphs see him as above-average defensively on the year.

Derek Jeter was so overrated for a while that he's almost underrated. Stat guys got so caught up in pointing out how overrated his defense is and how much the media fawns over him, but they seem to have lost sight of the fact that he's also a Hall of Fame shortstop for a reason.

-I'm no buff when it comes to the minor leagues, and so I was asking around about who the frontrunners for Minor League Player of the Year are; apparently Brian Matusz is the favorite. It would be amazing if the Orioles had two players win the award in back to back seasons. The track record for MiLPOY's is extremely good, with a high percentage of HOFers and perennial All-Stars.

-Speaking of Minor League Orioles, Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun speculates that Justin Turner, the everyday 2B for the AAA-affiliate Norfolk Tides, will be called up soon. I think Turner is one guy who's been hugely flying under the radar. He doesn't have much pop in his bat, but he's a 24-year-old second baseman batting .314 at AAA - that's nothing to sneeze at.

Over the last six games at Norfolk, Turner has gotten five starts at third base, suggesting he'll split time with Mora over the remainder of the year. I don't know if he's in the mix to be our Opening Day third baseman next year, but his callup is exciting. I see no reason he couldn't get about twenty starts across 3B, 2B, 1B or DH over the rest of the year, and maybe compete for a spot in Spring Training. I see him as a Blake DeWitt type, a guy who plays good D and OPS's around .750

Quick Hits

-John Smoltz signed on with the Cardinals to be their fifth starter. I like the move, as 1.) While St. Louis has an amazing 1-2 combo in Wainwright and Carpenter, their starting depth after that is very weak. 2.) When the playoffs roll around, he'll be moved to the bullpen and could be quite effective from there. I still feel like the Cardinals bullpen is a total house of cards, because Franklin is clearly playing way over his head. 3.) Smoltz isn't as bad as his ERA indicates. He still strikes out a lot of people and doesn't walk anyone. His peripherals are/were good, he just got a little unlucky before he had his legitimately awful start against the Yankees. I believe he still has gas in the tank. 4.) Smoltz is desperate for a job. It's a win-win, and a great fit.

-Stephen Strasburg signed with the Nationals for $15.6 million. A lot of people are balking at the number, but I think it’s great. At the end of the day, you have Strasburg and everyone else doesn’t. Some have said they shouldn’t have gone higher than $12 million, but are you really going to let a 21-year-old with his track record, with his polish and incredible stuff slip through your fingers over a few million? Hank Greenberg, when he was GM of the Indians back in the 60’s, had Luis Aparicio ready to sign—and then tried to chisel a few thousand dollars out of the shortstop and saw Aparicio go to the White Sox. Hey, how’d that one work out, Greeny? If you’re serious about winning you sign your #1 picks. I’m glad Washington got it done (even though, had Strasburg reentered the draft, Baltimore would have had a real shot at him), because it’s bad for baseball when you have lame duck franchises, teams with no fanbase, no money, and which seem to have no commitment to winning. I hope Strasburg helps turn the Nats around.