Here’s what went down Tuesday on G&A

Gambo & Ash were LIVE from Arizona Cardinals Training Camp 2008 in Flagstaff: Day II

Owings’ Issues Micah Owings was touched up for 8 earned runs in only 3 innings last night against the Padres. Gambo doesn’t want to see Owings in the rotation for the stretch run of the season and thinks he’s scared to throw inside after recent control issues. Ash still thinks he can be a solid starter like he was towards the end of last year and early this season when he started 4-0. Both agree Micah’s mechanics need tweaking and know he now has little trade value.

Second-year Cardinals wide receiver and return specialist Steve Breaston shared his secrets to success in the return game and how he improved his receiving skills and routes this off-season.

Still Special The Cards had an up-and-down season a year ago on special teams. Breaston was an added weapon in the return game, but G&A agree kicker Neil Rackers must be more consistent-especially with a tougher schedule than a year ago.

Our ESPN baseball insider Tim Kurkjian shared his thoughts on the Angels acquiring Mark Teixiera this afternoon, other possible players on the move before Thursday’s deadline, and why he feels the Diamondbacks will prevail in the wide open NL West.

Former Diamondback, now starting leftfielder for the San Diego Padres Scott Hairston joined the guys. Hairston is second on the team in homers with 17 and tied for the team-lead in triples with three. The earthquake last night in southern California scared him to death.

No Deal The Anaheim Angels completed a trade for Braves’ slugger Mark Teixiera this afternoon. G&A wonder if the D-Backs will be better off in the long run with .300-hitting Chad Tracy at first and white-hot Conor Jackson in left. Both agree they could strengthen their bullpen by picking up another left-handed set-up guy.

ESPN reporter and good friend of the program Pedro Gomez checked in from Milwaukee to preview tonight’s big Cubs-Brewers game at Miller Park and share his thoughts on the pending trade deadline which is just around the corner. Gomez thinks the NL West is anyone’s to win.

Down to Tucson The Diamondbacks ran out of patience with Micah Owings optioning him to Triple-AAA Tucson this afternoon. G&A hope this will help Owings correct his mechanics and build up his confidence after seeing his ERA balloon to nearly six.

Cards’ head coach Ken Whisenhunt sat down to discuss last years’ 8-8 season and share his goals for training camp and his expectations moving forward towards the regular season opener September 7^th against the 49ers.

Tomorrow: G&A Cards’ 2008 Training Camp Tour: Day III

Guests: Red Birds’ receiver Larry Fitzgerald and D-Backs’ manager Bob Melvin

 

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 Pedro Gomez [11:45m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (323)

 

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Here’s what happend Thursday on Gambo & Ash:

Ash is on vacation and Gambo flew solo.

* Pac 10-Media Madness! Seven, yes, seven guests joined Gambo courtesy of Johnny V and his expensive long distance phone bill. Four spoke with Gambo today, as Pete Carroll of USC talked about the juggernaut that is Trojan Football, one that hopefully will get a challenge from year two of the Erickson era. Dennis Erickson doesn’t seem to think so. He told Gambo that the Pac-10 comes down to “USC and then everyone else.” Included among the group would be Mike Riley and Oregon State, who also joined Gambo as did Jim Harbaugh from Stanford. They did beat USC!

* Josh Childress may be a trend setter. No, not that god awful hairstyle. (Least, I hope not). He could be the first of many non-NBA stars being paid like stars in Europe. Gambo wouldn’t be surprised, although it is surprising to him how Europe has changed from the place where guys who couldn’t cut it in the NBA came to play. Who better than Paul Shirley to talk about this. Not only could he not cut it in the NBA, but he also plays in Europe! Just kidding, but Gambo wasn’t when he asked Paul to set him up with Shirley’s girlfriend’s sister.

* Day 2 of Cards camp didn’t go quite as smoothly as Day 1. That is unless you like cornerstone franchise players accusing you of lying and saying they will not discuss a long-term deal anymore. Yes, Anquan Boldin is a very unhappy man. Gambo isn’t happy with the signal this sends around the league (or that Rod Graves remains as GM), but he does sympathize a bit with the organization since Boldin’s deal runs through 2010. In any case, this does provide a major distraction. Much more than Leinart’s beer bong, or Dominic Rogers-Cromartie’s holdout. Wait, maybe that was Graves’ plan all along…

 

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 Paul Shirley [17:55m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (317)

Here’s what happened Tuesday on Gambo & Ash:

* Yesterday G&A talked at length about the D-Backs prolonged struggles in the bullpen this season, particularly from the 7th and 8th inning guys, Chad Qualls and Tony Pena. Well, apparently D-Backs GM Josh Byrnes felt the same, as today Arizona acquired Nationals closer Jon Rauch in exchange for Emilio Bonifacio. G&A like the trade; Ash isn’t sure Bonifacio will be anything more than another Tony Womack (I agree) and Gambo is sure that Pena and Qualls aren’t trustworthy enough for a team with World Series aspirations.

* D-Backs GM Josh Byrnes joined the guys immediately following the trade announcement. He expects Rauch to pay immediate dividends, as in tonight against the Cubs. Looking toward the future, Byrnes likes the next couple of years of Rauch’s contract, especially since the D-Backs will have a couple of free-agents at season’s end, Brandon Lyon and Juan Cruz. Lyon, however, will remain the closer and Byrnes expects Rauch to fill the role that Brandon filled so well last year - the 8th inning set-up job.

* Count ESPN’s Tim Kurkjian as one who likes the Rauch trade. He especially likes it because it keeps the Dodgers from adding another piece to their depleted bullpen. The trade may also keep the D-Backs from adding another bat to their lineup. Kurkjian has heard the Mariners would not discuss a potential trade for Raul Ibanez, without Bonifacio involved.

* The D-Backs weren’t the only ones making moves. Yesterday, the Suns added free-agent forward Matt Barnes and today Barnes joined G&A live from the Fishtank. Barnes talked about his bizarre trek to the NBA, as well as his relatively unknown football background. Barnes agreed with Ash’s assessment as someone with a background of tough, tenacious play. Although Barnes played a variety of roles in Golden State, he said GM Steve Kerr and Terry Porter expect him to play the three in Phoenix.

* Last but not least, former D-Backs skipper Bob Brenly joined the guys to reminisce about the 2001 World Series. OK, only Ash and Brenly wanted to reminisce, while Gambo just wanted to know if they stole any signs from Andy Pettitte. Didn’t Matt Williams go deep off Pettitte in Game 2? Brenly also relayed a recent conversation between him and Mark Grace, which pointed out some of the unsung heroes of the 2001 season; reliever Troy Brohawn, spot starter Robert Ellis, and the guy who stole signs from Andy Pettitte among others.

Tomorrow: D-Backs skipper Bob Melvin and Gambo fights former UFC light heavyweight champ Tito Ortiz live in studio.

 

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 Bob Brenly [11:59m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (316)

Here’s what went down Thursday on G&A…

Welcome Back Tony! The Diamondbacks completed a trade that brought Tony Clark back to Phoenix. How much will Clark help? The guys like the deal for his clutch bat and steady, late-inning glove. Gambo confirmed that Conor Jackson will play left field for the remainder of the season while Clark and Chad Tracy will platoon at first. The guys debated if this is the end of the trading or just the beginning? One player the D-Backs like is Nats’ closer Jon Rauch, but G&A know a player with his talent and low salary won’t come cheap. Gambo feels T.C.’s selfless leadership is just what this team needs. Ash doesn’t want to see the D-Backs mortgage their future before the trade deadline.

Dying Young. Young athletes around the country are dying every three days from heart disease. Doctors are having a hard time pin-pointing where these problems are coming from, but many feel it could stem from steroids and methamphetamines. Gambo wonders how these peak-condition athletes are dying from heart conditions. Ash knows athletes are always trying to get “that edge” either legally or illegally and that’s part of the problem.

G&A caught up with Dr. Paul Steingard. The former Suns’ specialist and local osteopathic doctor founded “TOPS” (Team of Physicians for Students). He shared his thoughts on the alarming increase in young athletes’ deaths around the country and how he and a team of doctors are trying help cut down on these staggering numbers.

Shark Bait? 52-year old Greg Norman is just one shot off the British Open lead after today’s opening round. Ash is amazed that Norman is anywhere near the top of the leaderboard. Gambo thinks the TV numbers will suffer greatly without Tiger-even if Norman or possibly Sergio Garcia is close to the top at the end of the weekend. Ash thinks the Open might be saved if Rocco Mediate, Garcia, and Norman have a chance on the final day.

Tomorrow we’ll be joined by D-Backs’ skipper Bob Melvin

 

 Dr. Paul Steingard [15:36m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (317)

Here’s what went down Tuesday on G&A

Bitter Gambo It’s that time again! The June Employee of the Month was announced and it wasn’t John Gambadoro. Congrats to team player and all-around good guy technical director Pablo Rios. Gambo called for Vice President/Market Manager Scott Sutherland to be fired immediately. Gambo decided to run the board for one of the breaks and, ummm, there’s a reason he didn’t win.

Complete 180 Rangers’ slugger Josh Hamilton didn’t win the homerun derby, but wowed the fans at Yankee Stadium (28 bombs in the opening round) and won over millions of baseball fans around the country. G&A agree this is a wonderful, feel-good story. Hamilton burned through nearly all of his $4 million signing bonus. The guys debated if it’s too late for the 27-year old to go down as one of the greatest players ever. They both agree there is plenty of temptation ahead for Hamilton. We took calls.

Changing of the Guard? Tonight’s All-Star game features a new breed of stars like Hamilton, David Wright, Ryan Braun, Dan Uggla, Evan Longoria, Hanley Ramirez, and others. Only one current all-star (Miguel Tejada) was named on The Mitchell Report. There’s no Manny Ramirez, Pudge Rodriguez, Tom Glavine, or Curt Schilling. Gambo thinks a large group of these young All-Stars are destined for greatness. Ash thinks the fans want to see this new crop of phenoms as the game further evolves. Gambo wants to believe that we are entering a “clean era” in baseball.

Our ESPN baseball insider Tim Kurkjian checked in live from Yankee Stadium to preview tonight’s historic All-Star Game and re-cap the first half of the season. He also shared his thoughts on the amazing achievements of Josh Hamilton.

Still Shopping The Suns are still hoping Tyronne Lue decides to sign here, but Gambo is reporting the club is also looking at free-agents Shaun Livingston, Jason Williams, and Keyon Dooling. Ash likes J-Will and Livingston more than Lue. Gambo thinks Lue might sign with the Celtics if they up the ante and outbid the Suns. Would Phoenix consider bringing in Stephon Marbury if he is released by the Knicks? G&A agree the Suns should at least take a look to back-up Steve Nash.

Part II Gambo is irritated that Fox is stretching their exclusive interview with Brett Favre into two parts. G&A agree the Packers are in total control of this situation and are taking care of their franchise before their franchise quarterback. Both agree this saga is far from complete.

 

 Tim Kurkjian [15:03m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (309)