Sunday, May 31, 2009

Jose de Jesus Ortiz would like to take this opportunity to remind you that he knows far more than you could ever hope to

Silly media. How dare they come sniffing around this ball club and start rumors and make accusations. Bastards.

Everything you heard that didn't come from JJO? False. Untrue. Not remotely correct:

Oswalt isn't talking publicly about any trade speculation, but the Chronicle has learned that Oswalt would invoke his no-trade clause if the White Sox attempted to acquire him.

Oswalt has a no-trade clause, and if he ever waived it to go play in Chicago it would be with the Cubs and not the White Sox.

Because of the recent turmoil surrounding Cecil Cooper, some national media, without even talking to Oswalt, have insinuated that he wants out of Houston. One report even claimed Oswalt was upset that the Astros didn't try to acquire Peavy.

As some of you will remember, this winter I reached Peavy on Oswalt's cell phone when they were on a hunting trip. During that phone interview Peavy admitted that he'd embrace a trade to the Astros, promising to discuss trade talks for the first and last time of the winter that time. Peavy remained mum the rest of the winter until he got to spring training.

Would Oswalt love to have Peavy in Houston? Absolutely. But it is irresponsible and a flat out lie for anybody to write that Oswalt wants out of Houston because he's upset that the team didn't acquire Peavy.

In this blog on Thursday, I wrote about Scherrer being in Cincinnati and Pittsburgh watching the Astros. I didn't write about it in the paper because I was assured by a top National League official who would know that the Astros and White Sox weren't in any trade talks.

That can always change, but I'm writing this blog just to make clear that Oswalt isn't going to accept a trade to the White Sox.

So before folks continue to speculate on Oswalt, cross the White Sox off that list. Now, if the Cubs or St. Louis Cardinals call, I would expect him to say yes right away if the Astros approach him and ask him to do it to help the franchise rebuild for the future.

To recap: You are stupid. The media is stupid. I am stupid. Ken Rosenthal is stupid. Jon Heyman is stupid. We all should bow before the Knowledge of the Houston Chronicle and JJO, and feel shame that we ever doubted.


Seth said...

All bow before the endangered species that is the Chronicle.

jphelps said...

JJO is coolest for having Roy's cell phone. I bet when he calls, Roy's caller id says "Douche".

The Constable. said...

+1 to the both a-yous

Tom said...

I wonder if it has ever occurred to JJO that, from a negotiating standpoint, it rarely makes sense for the holder of a no-trade clause to signal that he is willing to approve a trade. Such a signal would likely lessen the value of the no-trade clause.

The Constable. said...

+1 to Tom. Absolutely correct, and I think this mirrors a larger problem within the media. I'm not sure what event prompted a shift in the role of the media (that's a question for a smarter blog), but I'm not sure what in the world would prompt JJO to point this out.

Maybe with the downsizing and economic trouble the Chronicle is going through, with the shape the Sports department is in (and McTaggart leaving for, JJO feels the need to make some headlines and become nationally relevant.

I generally like JJO and his reporting, but the whole tone of that blog post was...odd.