Crossing Broad

"Sick Fake Person" Starts Greinke Trade Frenzy

Last night, a blogger from the now defunct The Fightins set off an internet frenzy by impersonating Sports Illustrated writer Jon Heyman on Twitter.  The fake Tweet successfull fooled several baseball writers on Twitter and appeared on SB Nation shortly thereafter. 

But it didn't stop there.  Michael Kay, on the air in New York, reported the rumor as fact, forcing the real Heyman to out the fake (who changed the "I" in Sports Illustrated to a lowercase "L").

The former blogger who first started the rumor Tweeted, "I've literally never been so proud of anything I've ever done in my entire life."

Meanwhile In The AL: Nick Swisher Does Not Like Cliff Lee Questions

Ruben Amaro isn't the only one who bristles at Cliff Lee questions.

Nick Swisher responded angrily with expletives when asked about potentially facing Lee in a Game 7:

"You guys are talking about Cliff Lee?  [Expletive], who cares?"

 

Later, at just the mention of the name again, Swisher interrupted a reporter's question:

"I'm not talking about Cliff Lee...I don't give a [expletive]."

 

ESPN New York's Andrew Marchand has the story here.

He should give a shit.  Cliff Lee has dominated the Yankees in the postseason the last two years, going 3-0 with a 1.88 ERA.

Could Scott Franzke Leave the Phillies for the Texas Rangers?

Could the Phillies’ popular Scott Franzke leave the team to rejoin the Texas Rangers as their television play-by-play announcer?

After nine years, Texas Rangers television play-by-play guy, Josh Lewin, will be leaving them. On www.texasrangers.com, Team President Nolan Ryan announced the change:

"After several discussions over the last few months, the Texas Rangers and Josh Lewin have   agreed to end their relationship and move ahead in different directions," team president Nolan    Ryan said in a team release. "As a result, Josh will not be returning as the Rangers television    announcer in 2011. We wish Josh the very best for the future."

On 610 WIP’s Angelo Cataldi in the Morning show today, Phillies Spanish broadcaster Ricky Ricardo called Franzke a “free agent” after the season, referring to Franzke’s expiring contract.  “They better lock him up,” Ricardo said.  “The Rangers job is open.”

Franzke, 38, is a native of Dallas Texas and a graduate of Southern Methodist University and spent six seasons as the pre-game and post-game host for Texas Rangers radio affiliate KRLD, and around three years doing play-by-play for Florida Marlins minor league affiliate, the Kane County Cougars.

Franzke returned to the Texas Rangers from the Cougars in 2002 with hopes that he would one day land his "dream job" in the Texas Rangers' broadcast booth.

However, in 2009 as the Phillies were about to begin the World Series, Franzke told the Dallas Morning News:

“I've got a good organization, a fun team and terrific people I work with. I'm not sure there is    any more I could have asked for.”

Several Facebook groups call for Franzke and his color commentator Larry Andersen to move to television.   Phillies fans should hope that the Phillies make such a move to please both Franzke and Phillies fans alike.

Editors note: There's no concrete info that Franzke would leave, but he does have options...