Post by stones on Jul 11, 2006 2:00:59 GMT -5
PITTSBURGH -- All-star leftfielder Carlos Lee said Monday that he had no desire to leave the Mineral Point Steve Stones. "We've got a great team," said Lee, one of four Stones on the National League all-star team. "If I have to choose where I'm going, I'll stay with the Stones."
Of course, it's not as simple as that. Lee, who could be a free agent after the season, could prove to be too expensive for the rebuilding Stones.
There's also the matter of the Stones' standing in the CFCL pennant race. Owner Bernie Brewer and general manager Steve Stone said last week they'd be inclined to keep Lee if the club remained in the pennant race.
That quest took a significant setback, however, when the Stones continued to drop in the points standings over the past few weeks. "That was big," said Lee, elected to the NL all-star team for the second time. "We had the opportunity to make up ground in the standings even after trading Jenks and Bobby. Now, we're in ninth place and falling back quickly."
Should the Stones decide to keep Lee for a late run at a money spot, there's no guarantee they'll be able to keep him after the seasons end. And there's still a chance he could go on the trade market if the Stones continue to fade before the August 1 trade deadline.
The situation should become clearer in the next few weeks but Lee said he didn't expect his status to be a distraction, after a first half in which he socked 26 homers and drove in 73 runs.
"I just go to the ballpark and do whatever I have to do to get ready for the game," said Lee, whose agent, Adam Katz, has conducted low-key trade discussions with several teams on behalf of the Stones.
"I don't get involved with (negotiations). I told Adam, 'I'll do my job on the field and you do your job outside.' If we get close with something, I'll ask him about it."
As for his chances of staying in Mineral Point, Lee said, "We have a great clubhouse full of younger prospects. The fans are pretty good. There's no reason for me to try to go somewhere else."
In addition to Lee, the Stones’ other returning all-star, backstop Paul Lo Duca, is also wondering what his near-term future holds. Both All-Stars acknowledge the future is uncertain. Lee says Look we have me, Pauly and Brian (Giles) that are possibly going to move. It's not fun waiting and wondering." Lee and Lo Duca will proudly wear the Stones' uniforms on Tuesday, but they are left to wonder what CFCL uniform will they be wearing by the end of July?
The Stones' other two all-stars, middle sacker Dan Uggla and closer Derrick Turnbow, were trying to soak it all in during their first trip to the midseason classic.
Uggla, a surprisingly talent rookie, seems star stuck and is staying close to his more senior Stone teammates. Turnbow, a newer Stone, said he was looking forward to sitting in the bullpen tonight with fellow all-star closers Trevor Hoffman of the Lambchops, Brian Fuentes of Door Matts and Tom Gordon of the Bulls.
"It's going to be exciting to sit down and pick their brain," Turnbow said. "That's going to be great. I might not ever get the chance to be with those guys again. I want to take advantage of it."
Turnbow staggered into the break with several bad performances, tied to his inability to get his slider over the plate. He thinks he corrected that problem in bullpen sessions with Stones’ pitching coach Rocky Coppinger and hopes to get a chance to prove it in the All-Star Game.
"I'll be ready," he said. "If I get in the game, that would be great. If I don't, I'm just happy to be here." The Stones' would be happy to have Turnbow for the remainder of his current contract, but they hope he returns his pre-trade performance level for the second half.
(Editor note: Much of this supposed article was stolen from an article from the Milwauke Journal Sentinal www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=460061)
Of course, it's not as simple as that. Lee, who could be a free agent after the season, could prove to be too expensive for the rebuilding Stones.
There's also the matter of the Stones' standing in the CFCL pennant race. Owner Bernie Brewer and general manager Steve Stone said last week they'd be inclined to keep Lee if the club remained in the pennant race.
That quest took a significant setback, however, when the Stones continued to drop in the points standings over the past few weeks. "That was big," said Lee, elected to the NL all-star team for the second time. "We had the opportunity to make up ground in the standings even after trading Jenks and Bobby. Now, we're in ninth place and falling back quickly."
Should the Stones decide to keep Lee for a late run at a money spot, there's no guarantee they'll be able to keep him after the seasons end. And there's still a chance he could go on the trade market if the Stones continue to fade before the August 1 trade deadline.
The situation should become clearer in the next few weeks but Lee said he didn't expect his status to be a distraction, after a first half in which he socked 26 homers and drove in 73 runs.
"I just go to the ballpark and do whatever I have to do to get ready for the game," said Lee, whose agent, Adam Katz, has conducted low-key trade discussions with several teams on behalf of the Stones.
"I don't get involved with (negotiations). I told Adam, 'I'll do my job on the field and you do your job outside.' If we get close with something, I'll ask him about it."
As for his chances of staying in Mineral Point, Lee said, "We have a great clubhouse full of younger prospects. The fans are pretty good. There's no reason for me to try to go somewhere else."
In addition to Lee, the Stones’ other returning all-star, backstop Paul Lo Duca, is also wondering what his near-term future holds. Both All-Stars acknowledge the future is uncertain. Lee says Look we have me, Pauly and Brian (Giles) that are possibly going to move. It's not fun waiting and wondering." Lee and Lo Duca will proudly wear the Stones' uniforms on Tuesday, but they are left to wonder what CFCL uniform will they be wearing by the end of July?
The Stones' other two all-stars, middle sacker Dan Uggla and closer Derrick Turnbow, were trying to soak it all in during their first trip to the midseason classic.
Uggla, a surprisingly talent rookie, seems star stuck and is staying close to his more senior Stone teammates. Turnbow, a newer Stone, said he was looking forward to sitting in the bullpen tonight with fellow all-star closers Trevor Hoffman of the Lambchops, Brian Fuentes of Door Matts and Tom Gordon of the Bulls.
"It's going to be exciting to sit down and pick their brain," Turnbow said. "That's going to be great. I might not ever get the chance to be with those guys again. I want to take advantage of it."
Turnbow staggered into the break with several bad performances, tied to his inability to get his slider over the plate. He thinks he corrected that problem in bullpen sessions with Stones’ pitching coach Rocky Coppinger and hopes to get a chance to prove it in the All-Star Game.
"I'll be ready," he said. "If I get in the game, that would be great. If I don't, I'm just happy to be here." The Stones' would be happy to have Turnbow for the remainder of his current contract, but they hope he returns his pre-trade performance level for the second half.
(Editor note: Much of this supposed article was stolen from an article from the Milwauke Journal Sentinal www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=460061)