Diamondbacks and Blue Jays swap struggling second basemen

The Arizona Diamondbacks had to do something.

Losers of six straight heading into Tuesday night's game in Washington, the D-Backs are in danger of the same sort of horrible slump that swallowed up the San Diego Padres in last year's NL West race. Those Padres lost 10 in a row and eventually finished two games behind the San Francisco Giants for the division crown.

Things aren't that bad for Arizona just yet. But this losing streak has put the D-Backs in a similar position, clinging to a one-game lead over the Giants.

Looking to shake his team out of its malaise (and break whatever jinx certain baseball bloggers may have cast), general manager Kevin Towers made a bold move Tuesday afternoon. The D-Backs traded second baseman Kelly Johnson to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for second baseman Aaron Hill and shortstop John McDonald.

At first glance, this looks like a risky deal for Arizona. Johnson is the team's second-leading home run hitter with 18 roundtrippers. But he's only hitting .209 and his .287 on-base percentage is one of the lowest among regular players in baseball.

Yet Hill has an even lower OBP this season, at .270. Last year, he finished with an OBP of .271, so he could actually be getting worse. And according to Ultimate Zone Rating, he's worse defensively at second base than Johnson, too.

But Hill is two years removed from a 36-homer, 108-RBI, .829- OPS season. So maybe the D-Backs think he has a bit more upside, even though he and Johnson are the same age.

Or maybe they think the proverbial change of scenery will do Hill some good.

Hill also has three club-option years remaining on his contract, while Johnson is eligible for free agency after this season. So perhaps some club control also makes Hill more appealing. But the options are worth a combined $26 million, so that wouldn't exactly help the D-Backs control costs.

While we're trying to figure out exactly what the D-Backs see in Hill, we shouldn't forget about McDonald also going to Arizona in the deal. While he probably won't supplant Willie Bloomquist as the D-Backs' starting shortstop, he gives the team some depth. Bloomquist has been fine on defense, but McDonald has been excellent in past seasons (though not this year, according to UZR), which could make him a valuable late-inning replacement.

What's in this for the Blue Jays? At the very least, they'll get a draft pick out of this. And as Eno Sarris points out on Fangraphs, Johnson could be a Type A free agent, depending on how he finishes the season. That would give the Jays a first-round pick, along with a compensatory pick between the first and second rounds. And they could also bring back Hill and McDonald as free agents, a possibility Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos did not rule out.

Did Toronto's Ninja GM just strike again with this deal?

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BlogPoll Countdown, 21-25: The Outsiders

Now in its seventh year, the College Football BlogPoll is a weekly effort of dozens of college football-centric Web sites representing a wide array of schools under the oversight of SB Nation. This week, the Doc is counting down his preseason ballot, from No. 25 to No. 1. As always, schedules were strongly considered in an effort to predict the landscape at the end of the regular season: This is not a power poll.

? 25. SOUTHERN MISS
Call me a shameless homer if you must (and this being the Internet, of course you must), but I'm not the only one who sees the alma mater on the verge of making its move after a decade-long absence from the polls. In the first place, last year's edition was on the verge, dropping four games by a grand total of 11 points with only one close win. Then there's senior quarterback Austin Davis, back to finish off the rest of Brett Favre's career passing records, along with almost everyone who touched the ball for an attack that finished in the top 15 nationally in total yards and points.

More importantly than any of that, though, there's the most manageable schedule in ages: The two toughest Conference USA games (SMU and Central Florida) are both in Hattiesburg, C-USA West frontrunners Houston and Tulsa are conspicuously absent and the toughest non-conference date is at Navy ?�for the first time ever, there is no daunting SEC road trip. If USM can't convert that into its first 10-win season since Favre's sophomore year, it's going to be another long wait.

? 24. MISSISSIPPI STATE
2010 stands proudly alongside just about any season in Mississippi State history ?�nine-win campaigns with triumphs over Georgia, Florida and Michigan in a New Year's Day bowl aren't exactly annual rites here ?�and it could have been even better if close calls against BCS-bound Auburn and Arkansas hadn't gone the wrong way at the end. On paper, 2011 looks even better still, buoyed by a nearly intact offense that will count anything less than the highest-scoring season in school history as a disappointment.

But: The Bulldogs play in a division with four other teams that won at least ten games last year ?�against whom MSU was 0-4 ?�and get Georgia and South Carolina in the cross-divisional exchange. If that half of the schedule plays up to its potential, the first back-to-back nine-win seasons in school history is probably a pipe dream.

? 23. FLORIDA
Florida is a) A young team, with b) A new head coach and completely revamped staff, that is c) Coming off arguably its worst season since the pre-Steve Spurrier era. Not exactly the formula for an instant return to glory.

It's just that the Gators are too, too talented to write off as a full-scale rebuilding job. There's hyped young potential everywhere: The defensive line alone boasts five former five-star recruits on the two-deep, three of whom ?�Ronald Powell, Shariff Floyd and Dominique Easley ?�are just coming into their own as true sophomores. The offensive skill guys are as fast as ever. (Yes, grizzled blazers Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps are still around.) Give them a more competent quarterback ?�a very real possibility under incoming offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, whether it turns out to be beleaguered senior John Brantley or mega-hyped freshman Jeff Driskel ?�and my guess is we're all lowballing the Baby Gators. Give them the Brantley we saw last year, they don't stand a chance.

? 22. MICHIGAN STATE
The old saw says teams reflect the personality of their head coach, and you can't make a much better argument for it than Michigan State, a predictably by-the-book outfit that shares Mark Dantonio's preference for vanilla, wheat germ and the occasional bungee jump off a high bridge. This team could be any Dantonio team: The veteran pro-style quarterback under center, the between-the-tackles workhorse in the backfield, the largely anonymously but solid defense, etc. Check, check and check.

Again, the ultimate divide between this edition and the 2010 version that set a school record for wins is the schedule: Cushy home dates with Illinois and Purdue are replaced on the Big Ten slate by killer road trips to Ohio State and Nebraska, Iowa and Northwestern are both on the road for the second year in a row and Notre Dame and Michigan both look like tougher outs. Short of a parade of down-to-the-wire escapes in close games, returning to the polls at all will probably require a late rally when the going gets a little lighter in November.

? 21. TEXAS
The Longhorns are in the same boat as Florida, counting on an influx of young, unproven talent to keep the brand above water while a new offensive coordinator tries to fix whatever's wrong with the overpriced lemon they're stuck with at quarterback. If anything, Texas may be in slightly worse shape on offense because it figures to lean so heavily on two true freshmen, running back Malcolm Brown and receiver Jaxon "It's OK If You Slip and Call Me 'Jordan'" Shipley.

But Texas does have the benefit of proven senior anchors on all three levels of the defense ? defensive tackle Kheeston Randall, linebackers Keenan Robinson and Emmanuel Acho, safety Blake Gideon ? all of them All-Big 12 types who have played major roles on units that have led the league in total defense three years in a row. If former five-stars Alex Okafor (back at end after playing out of position at defensive tackle as a sophomore), Jackson Jeffcoat and Eddie Hicks come around, the front seven is going to be nasty enough to keep every game within reach, as long as the offense doesn't insist on giving them all away again.

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Matt Hinton is on Facebook and Twitter: Follow him @DrSaturday.

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Bourne Blog: The great pranks of the hockey dressing room

As a hockey player, you spend what seems like a ridiculous amount of time at the arena. It's only natural that the hours leading up to and after practice get boring.

The natural cure for the boredom then, is to mess with as many of your teammates as possible. Yes, pranks.

I was never a huge fan of this stuff. I've always thought the dressing room should be a safe haven where you can relax, prepare, and have a good ol' time. It doesn't need to be stressful.

But, thanks to a couple grown-up kids in there, you always have to stay on guard. I got to a point where as long as I wasn't involved, I enjoyed watching the battles from the outside.

The pranks come in varying levels of the seriousness ? some are meant as revenge for some perceived slight, while others are for sheer entertainment value.

A rookie who sasses off a little too much probably won't immediately get yelled at or decked as much as he'll just get tortured for a good week or two.

About the only prank I enjoyed taking part in was semi-cutting a guy's laces before practice, just enough so he snaps them while lacing up. It's infuriating.

Ideally, you want him to be putting on his skates just before heading out onto the ice thinking everything is fine. You just pick a spot on the laces and whittle it down so there's just a few threads holding together, and voila.

You want the guy to look for the cut in his laces (lazy people use scissors and actually cut 'em) and not find it, then wonder if it was a teammate or karma. He'll immediately look around the room to see who's watching him -- he won't see anyone, of course, but when lace number two goes ... he'll know.

Best-case scenario: You make him late for practice.

Also fun: Taking the plug out of a guy's stick and putting a penny or two in there, then putting the plug back in and taping a fresh knob. We're kids, people. There's nothing diabolical in any of these oh-so-complex schemes, it's purely for entertainment value.

If you're feeling like a real jerk, you can fill it with water. Watching a guy pick his stick up and go "oh, c'mon" is always a fun moment.

A lot of this stuff is just about "getting" a guy, even if it doesn't affect his morning.

Exhibit A for that is the cup of water in the shinpads.

You keep your shinpads on the top of your stall in most arenas. Being that you can't see all the way up there, it's a nice place for a teammate to plant a full cup of water, so when you pull down the shinpads to put them on, you dump water on yourself.

There are moves that take some time ? injured players usually stay in the locker room to get treatment while guys are on the ice. That time on the training table while you wait for the electrical stimulation machine to run its course can be used to sew the legs of your friend's jeans together, or sewing the leg holes shut.

If you can actually get someone to trip while dressing due to that, it's basically the Stanley Cup of prank success.

There is, however, some code involved with some of this stuff.

As a hockey player, you know to not sit down in a restaurant with your back facing the team ? you're too easily shoe checked there. A corner seat is ideal, but you want to at least have your back to a wall (I still sit like this today, force of habit).

A shoe check is the most petty thing ever ? somebody crawls under the table with a spoonful of something gross from the meal (ranch dressing, maybe?), dumps it on the toe of a guy's shoe, and crawls back. Most people see it happening, so it's their job to distract the target.

If the guy makes it back, the whole team will clang their glasses with their utensil of choice, and the recipient will show the team that yes, in fact, he was "got" (I've seen suede shoes ruined thanks to this stupid game). This happens at just about every meal, it's mind-boggling that guys seem to think it never gets old.

The code part: If you catch a guy trying to shoe check you, it's pretty universally accepted that you're allowed to dump the nearest pitcher of water on him with zero repercussions.

(Often, rookies will get set up ? "Hey, go shoe check Smitty." Meanwhile, Smitty is well informed the kid is on the way, and has plenty of water for dumping nearby).

Whether it's Icy Hot in the jock or setting up leaners in the hotel (leaning a full garbage can of water on someone's door so when they open it?), it's just a part of the life. No relaxing allowed.

At times, it wears on you, but what are you supposed to do? The more you complain, the more you'll get coming your way, so just remember to check your shinpads before pulling them down, open your hotel door gingerly, watch your feet and stay on guard.

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Puck Headlines: Bryzgalov hits Philly; Sabres intro F?N Center

Here are your Puck Headlines: a glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media.

? Ilya Bryzgalov's other new mask for the Philadelphia Flyers (along with the tiger.) WHY YOU HEFF BE SO PATRIOTIC? [In Goal Mag]

? Bryzgalov met the media today in Philly, and revealed he's a proud resident of Dry Island. [Crossing Broad]

? Paul Holmgren expects Chris Pronger to be ready for the start of the season until his next injury. [Philadelphia Sports Daily]

? The Buffalo Sabres' HSBC Arena is going to become First Niagara Center. Yes, that's right: The F'N Center. [Buffalo News, and Jeremy White]

? Adam Proteau on head shots in the NHL: "It kills me to consider the possibility that Sidney Crosby's career could be over. But there's not much anyone can do for him now. And that's why it is incumbent on Gary Bettman, the NHL owners he represents, and all corners of hockey to move swiftly and do their best to ensure the next generation of hockey's torch-carriers don't have their fires snuffed out far too soon." [THN]

? Taylor Hall is thinking playoffs for the Edmonton Oilers. Lowetide is thinking 13th in the West. [Lowetide]

? The 10 players who will have the biggest impact on their new teams. Sorry, Dany Heatley. [USA Today]

? The Kurtenblog is being freaked out by NHL 12 right now. And you'll be freaked out by their Guilty Pleasures post coming up soon. [Kurtenblog]

? Really great piece by Nick Cotsonika on Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins. [Y! Sports]

? A delusional Michal Neuvirth believes he can win the starting job for the Washington Capitals from goalie Tomas Vokoun: "It's still summer. We still have three weeks until training camp. Whatever Bruce is saying, it doesn't bother me. We'll see what happens in training camp. Obviously, Tomas is a great goalie and I respect him." [Washington Post]

? Brandon Prust of the New York Rangers has one hell of a masseuse: model Marie-Pier Morin. [Busted Coverage, via Joe in BC]

? Won't someone please hire Jarkko Ruutu? Because even though he wants a lot of money, he's really, really good for YouTube. [Helsingin Sanomat, via Kukla]

? The top 21-and-under players in the NHL. Steven Stamkos somehow makes the list. [NHL]

? Peter Mueller of the Colorado Avalanche on coming back from his concussions: "I'm excited to be a hockey player again." [Denver Post]

? This is a thought we've had about Sidney Crosby as well: He could come back and be Patrice Bergeron, who has been able to still be the player he was before his concussion. [CBC Sports]

? In a few years, your humble editor will no longer be the most famous hockey person from Matawan, NJ. Damn you Connor Clifton! [GMNEWS]

? Catching up with the announcer who gave the world that insufferable "MATTEAU MATTEAU" call back in 1994. [Islanders]

? Speaking of announcers, remembering the legacy of Chopper Harrison for the Carolina Hurricanes. [Canes Country]

? Nathan MacKinnon of the Halifax Mooseheads on Sidney Crosby: "It's very unfortunate. Everyone feels bad for the guy. He's one of the most determined and respected athletes in North America. It's tough to see someone of his calibre not playing. It hurts for the league and all the fans but when he returns I'm sure he'll be great and continue where he left off." [Buzzing The Net]

? NOT HOCKEY: If you've been following the Michael Vick/White Quarterback/ESPN thing today, make sure you read my buddy Spencer Hall's wonderfully absurdist take. [SB Nation]

? The top five NHL man-made disasters next season. Someone isn't all that high on the Buffalo Sabres. [Pegasus News]

? Finally, we're going to need Dmitry to clear out his weekend and translate this entire five minutes of awesome. What's Russian for skinny, medium, fat, fat. [NSFW in Russia ? we're just going to assume, knowing how these game reviews go]

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Jered?s Day: Weaver earns big win after signing big contract

The Los Angeles Angels signed their franchise pitcher to a huge discount on Tuesday afternoon.

What they received from Jered Weaver on Wednesday night was anything but cut rate.

One day after explaining why he left around $40 million on the table to forgo free agency and stick with his hometown team, Weaver took the mound before an adoring crowd at Angel Stadium and did what he does best. The big righty struck out eight and allowed only four hits over seven shutout innings during an 8-0 win over the Chicago White Sox.

But if that line looks familiar from a pitcher who leads the American League with a 2.03 ERA, Weaver acknowledged the atmosphere at the ballpark was anything but.

From ESPN LA:

"I think they were a little louder tonight. I saw some signs that you don't usually see out there," Weaver said.

Angels fans had a right to be delirious. In locking up Weaver for five years and $85 million, they secured one of baseball's best young pitchers for less money and fewer years than the Chicago Cubs gave Carlos Zambrano awhile back. After winning their last six games, the Halos are also right back in the middle of the AL West race ? just 2.5 games back ? following last week's disastrous series against the Texas Rangers. True to his reputation as a franchise rock, Weaver plans to pitch on just three days rest in this weekend's big series against Texas. He clearly has an opportunity to unseat Tim Salmon or Garret Anderson as the "truest" Mr. Angel.

As we remarked after Cliff Lee's decision to give up bigger bucks in Texas or New York to rejoin the Philadelphia Phillies, it's hard to nominate anyone for sainthood when they're still signing for more money than they'll ever know what to do with. Weaver and his family are set for life and living in Southern California. No one should cry for them.

Still, like Lee, Weaver's discount already looks like it's going to pay some early dividends. And it's nice to see choices like that rewarded with the intangible benefits that drove their decision-making in the first place.

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Police report of LSU bar fight is ugly reading, for LSU fans and everyone else

Considering a single person has yet to be arrested or charged, we actually know quite a lot about Baton Rouge Police Department's ongoing investigation into a wee-hours bar fight involving multiple LSU players last Friday morning. In fact, I'd be willing to bet it's among the most scrutinized assault-and-battery investigation in Louisiana history, if not at the top of the list.

We knew the bar, and where it was located. We knew when suspected players planned to meet with police, and when they didn't, and then when they finally did. We knew that quarterback Jordan Jefferson had been accused by witnesses of kicking a man, who was possibly a Marine, possibly in the head. We knew the specific injuries of the four people taken to the hospital after the fight. We knew when police searched Jefferson's apartment Wednesday evening, and we knew exactly what they took away. We knew exactly what charges players were likely to face, hypothetically, even in the glaring absence of the real thing.

Thursday�morning, though, we finally�received our first official account of the brawl itself, courtesy of the newly released incident report filed by the responding officer on Aug. 19. And it is not pleasant reading, to say the least (emphasis added):

[Andrew] Lowery advises that while standing outside in the parking lot of the bar, he observed several suspects that he believed were LSU football players (approximately 10-15 people) pull an unknown W/M [white male] out of a black Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck. He advises the crowd began to severely beat the unknown W/M. Lowery advises that he intervened and managed to pull the unknown W/M from the crowd. Lowery advises that he managed to get the unknown W/M back into his pickup truck. Lowery states that the unknown W/M was able to leave the parking lot. Lowery advises that the suspects then began to physically assault him. Lowery states that he was punched and kicked several times by the crowd. I observed that Lowery's face was swollen and had several bruises. Lowery also had blood on his shirt. Lowery advises that after beating him, the suspects got into a silver vehicle and left the scene. Lowery states that he believes that Jordan Jefferson and Josh Johns, both LSU football players, were two of the individuals who attacked him. Lowery declined medical attention and advised that he would be okay.

After speaking with Lowery, I was contacted by [redacted]. [Redacted] advises that she observed the entire altercation. [Redacted] states that the entire altercation began because the unknown W/M's pickup truck was blocked in by another vehicle. The unknown W/M yelled at the them [sic] to move the vehicle. [Redacted] states that the crowd suddenly pulled the unknown W/M out of his pickup. [Redacted] advises that after Lowery managed to rescue the W/M, he was attacked by the suspects. [Redacted] advises that there were approximately ten suspects who attacked the unknown W/M. [Redacted] advises that prior to the unknown W/M leaving, he threatened the crowd that he had a gun in his pickup truck. [Redacted] states that she never observed the W/M with the gun. She advises that approximately five more suspects joined in on the attack on Lowery. [Redacted] advises that she believes that all were LSU football players because some she recognized as being on the team. The others were wearing official LSU Football shirts. [Redacted] advises that she knows for certain that she observed Jordan Jefferson kicked [sic] Lowery in the face. [Redacted] also advises that she observed Josh Johns as being one of the people who attacked Lowery. Lowery advises that she doesn't know the names of the other players but states that she could identify them through pictures if needed.

According to WBRZ News in Baton Rouge, this is Andrew Lowery in the aftermath of the fight:

According to the report, Lowery, 21, was one of the victims who refused treatment. Among the four people who did go to the hospital, one reportedly suffered three fractured vertebrae; one was reportedly knocked unconscious with contusions to the head, nose and hands; and two others suffered cuts and bruises.

As for Lowery, it seems he'd already had an eventful night: According to a petition for a temporary restraining order filed by his 18-year-old ex-girlfriend, Lowery was stalking her in a bar and hit one of her friends earlier in the evening. (She also claims Lowery forced his way into her home earlier this month and at one point followed her to New Orleans and threatened her friends.) A judge granted the restraining order on Wednesday and set a hearing date in September.

Again: As of early Thursday afternoon, no one had been arrested, no one had been charged, no one had been suspended and everyone is on schedule to suit up against Oregon on Sept. 3, as scheduled. The investigation is ongoing. But for the few LSU fans who hadn't consumed themselves with the potential of backup quarterback Zach Mettenberger already, now might be the time to start.

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Hat tip: @PeterBurnsRadio, via @FOTProgram
Matt Hinton is on Facebook and Twitter: Follow him @DrSaturday.

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Todd Haley doesn?t want Jamaal Charles to be a feature back. Here?s why he should.

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Todd Haley has been getting heat for a while now about one subject that universally frustrates any fan or fantasy player who follows his team: It is so obvious that Jamaal Charles is Kansas City's best running back, why does Charles not get more carries or other opportunities to make the offense go?

In 2010, Charles got 230 carries to Thomas Jones' 245. And while we'll bring more advanced stats to this argument, we'll start simple: Charles averaged 6.4 yards per carry, while Jones averaged 3.7. Oh, but Jones is the short-yardage back, you say? YPC isn't supposed to matter? Fine, but if that's the case, and Jones' job is to get those valuable first downs, how is it that he picked up only 39, while Charles blew it up with an amazing 70?

Jamaal Charles was good for a first down on 30.4 percent of his carries. Adrian Peterson tied Charles for fourth-most first downs in the NFL last�season behind Arian Foster, Maurice Jones-Drew and Michael Turner, but it took Peterson 53 more carries to do that, which bumped his first-down percentage down to 24.7 percent.

Here's how Haley�explained himself�to SI.com's Peter King last week:

"We led the league in rushing,'' Haley said, "and all I ever hear is how we don't run the ball the right way because Jamaal's not getting it 25 times a game. It's anti-TEAM. The way fans looked at what we did on offense was so fantasy football driven. You know, the curse of the NFL -- the scroll on the bottom of the screen, with all the individual stats. Fortunately for us, Jamaal's such a good team player. He says, 'Coach, I get it. Whatever you want me to do, I'm here.'''

King adds that, "Haley's theory is he's eating the clock and keeping Charles healthy for 16 weeks, and he has zero regrets." And of course, that's all well and good. Charles is in a good situation in a lot of ways. He's got a great zone-blocking line in front of him that sets his talents up very nicely ? it's almost impossible for an edge defender to contend with Charles if he gets a clean burst to the sideline ? and the Chiefs gave him a nice new contract last year. But the myths about Charles are�flawed. You can't look at him as the typical speed back. He may be 5-foot-11 and 199 pounds, but not every smaller back needs to be put in a box in favor of a lumbering and decidedly less effective second (or in Jones' case, first) option.

Haley has said that Charles is still learning blitz pickup? Well, according to Football Outsiders' game-charting numbers, Kansas City went with two tight ends 38 percent of the time, third-highest in the league. You've got blockers, dude. He's not an every-down back? Charles was actually one of the few�in the league to put up positive DVOA (FO's primary opoponent-adjusted efficiency metric) on every down, while Jones racked up negative DVOA on every down. Haley's afraid of burning him out? From carries 11 through 20 per game, only Oakland's Darren McFadden (7.3) had a higher yards-per-carry average than Charles' 6.9.

We understand the importance of protecting your best assets. But there are exceptions, and here's one: When you have the next Chris Johnson in your backfield, and you're short on explosive plays overall (take away the 36 plays of 20 yards or more authored by Charles and receiver Dwayne Bowe, and the rest of the team totaled 19 in 2010), it behooves you to throw caution to the wind and ride that�special horse as long as he'll go. Haley's�preference is to color outside the lines. In�one preseason play this year, the call seemed to be for the 170-pound Dexter McCluster to cut back inside on a third-and-long, a�play that should have been burned in a public ceremony.

It's hard to see outliers sometimes. Coaches think conservatively for a number of reasons, and as much as they say they'll assess each player differently, it's hard for them not to get caught up in types. Charles would seem for all the world to be that split-off back ? a fantasy handcuff who's better off in a rotational role. But when you're dealing with this kind of talent, the landscape changes. The Chris Johnson comparison is apt with Charles�as both backs�exceed the expected means of production you normally get from their body types.

Haley is fortunate enough to have a special offensive weapon. There's no doubt that he's a great offensive coach, but why does he refuse to see the enormous benefits of Charles' rare palette? I talked to Haley about Charles on a conference call last year, and I know that he believes in the way he's using his best player. I don't think it's stubbornness.

But when so much evidence flies in the face and leans to the contrary ... underutilizing Jamaal Charles�seems to be�a tougher sell every day.

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