they should trade Wright to Boston - his power numbers have died in Citi and he'd be great for us - I'm sure the Sox have a package of young talent they'd offer for him...hehehe

they should trade Wright to Boston - his power numbers have died in Citi and he'd be great for us - I'm sure the Sox have a package of young talent they'd offer for him...hehehe

His power numbers died because he changed his approach for citi. Someone needs to smack him upside the head and tell him to hit the ball the way he always has and let everything else take care of itself.

His power numbers died because he changed his approach for citi. Someone needs to smack him upside the head and tell him to hit the ball the way he always has and let everything else take care of itself.
just fyi i was 95% kidding...i'm sure he's the closest thing they have to untradeable....i just saw some dumb columnist the other day ruminating on it and it made me go "uhhh wtf?"

Pretty sure we're gonna see the Citifield walls come down in height soon (from 16 ft to 8).

Good for Bay. He isn't likely to be worth all that money. But he will fit in nicely as the Mets 4th best hitter.

I'd rather have seen Holliday come to NY, but I'll wait and see what else Omar fucks up before I judge this deal.A righthanded power hitter who has terrible range in LF and is probably already better suited to DH to a 5 year deal in a stadium with a gigantic left-field power alley? How could this go wrong? :) (I just wish it had been the Giants or Mariners so we could have gained an additional 1st instead of a 2nd.)

just fyi i was 95% kidding...i'm sure he's the closest thing they have to untradeable....i just saw some dumb columnist the other day ruminating on it and it made me go "uhhh wtf?"

Especially since if Boston asks, I'm sure the Mets will turn around and say, "sure... if you give us Youklis" ;)

DeRosa to the Giants seems like a reasonable deal. The wrist injury is concerning but he is still a fair bet to justify the 2 year/12M he received.

Hard to say how much money the Giants have left to spend with arbitration poised to screw the budget but good. How much is Lincecum going to get? 14M? 18M? More?

If only Zito would die in a flaming car accident, right?

Does anyone think if Randy Moss was a hard nosed scrappy type white player ala Welker he would of been berated last week by the fans and the media?Not to get back in this, but the stadium was chanting "Randy" after his 3rd touchdown sunday. Fans are fickle. :)Especially since if Boston asks, I'm sure the Mets will turn around and say, "sure... if you give us Youklis" ;)I'm pretty sure the Sox would take that deal in a heartbeat. Both signed through 2013 (Wright for 55m, Youk for 46m) and Wright is 4 years younger with a body that has proven it can play 162 games at 3B without breaking down.

Sounds like Holliday ends up staying in St. Louis unless someone else steps up. I've read he's looking at a contract in the 7 year $120 million range with a full no trade clause (Boras is pushing for an 8th year). If this is the case, I don't feel as bad about the Bay deal.

Free-agent third baseman Adrian Beltre (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=3878) has reached tentative agreement on a one-year, guaranteed, $10 million contract with the Boston Red Sox (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=bos), multiple sources have told ESPN.com and ESPNBoston.com.

The deal will pay Beltre a base salary of $9 million in 2010. It includes a $5 million player option for 2011 and a $1 million buyout, and is contingent upon Beltre passing a physical exam, the sources said.

Wow. What happened to Beltre last year? I knew he slumped, but didn't realize how bad his numbers were.

I guess he only played 111 games is part of it, due to injury.

Free-agent third baseman Adrian Beltre (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=3878) has reached tentative agreement on a one-year, guaranteed, $10 million contract with the Boston Red Sox (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=bos), multiple sources have told ESPN.com and ESPNBoston.com.

The deal will pay Beltre a base salary of $9 million in 2010. It includes a $5 million player option for 2011 and a $1 million buyout, and is contingent upon Beltre passing a physical exam, the sources said.

Fuck I hate this move. He is a better defense player than Lowell but he is probably still a drop from Lowell even with his hip/thumb stuff. I think even with the addition of Lackey the Sox have surely gotten worse while the Yanks got better. The sox really didn't need another arm but needed sticks! Look at the Sox from two years back: Ortiz now is shot, Lowell is gone more or less, Youk is no longer a clutch hitter, Pedroia came back down to earth, Ramirez production never was replaced and now they lost Bay oh and Varitek is not able to even foula ball off. So our additions for hitters to replace that is...........Beltre, Cameron, Scuataro,Martinez? They are surely better defensively better in a hitters park they are going to try to play small ball? The Nation should get ready for alot of 6-2 losses.

As a Sox fan I take this Beltre signing as definite sign the Sox are all but conceding the AL east this season and setting payroll up for next year and make a huge run at Mauer. Problem is I am sure the Yanks are also looking that way with Posada getting up there.

Fuck I hate this move. He is a better defense player than Lowell but he is probably still a drop from Lowell even with his hip/thumb stuff. I think even with the addition of Lackey the Sox have surely gotten worse while the Yanks got better. The sox really didn't need another arm but needed sticks! Look at the Sox from two years back: Ortiz now is shot, Lowell is gone more or less, Youk is no longer a clutch hitter, Pedroia came back down to earth, Ramirez production never was replaced and now they lost Bay oh and Varitek is not able to even foula ball off. So our additions for hitters to replace that is...........Beltre, Cameron, Scuataro,Martinez? They are surely better defensively better in a hitters park they are going to try to play small ball? The Nation should get ready for alot of 6-2 losses.

As a Sox fan I take this Beltre signing as definite sign the Sox are all but conceding the AL east this season and setting payroll up for next year and make a huge run at Mauer. Problem is I am sure the Yanks are also looking that way with Posada getting up there.

I somewhat agree. They're setting up for a big run at Mauer, also maybe stockpiling arms to make a run at AGon at the trading deadline.

Fuck I hate this move. He is a better defense player than Lowell but he is probably still a drop from Lowell even with his hip/thumb stuff. I think even with the addition of Lackey the Sox have surely gotten worse while the Yanks got better. The sox really didn't need another arm but needed sticks! Look at the Sox from two years back: Ortiz now is shot, Lowell is gone more or less, Youk is no longer a clutch hitter, Pedroia came back down to earth, Ramirez production never was replaced and now they lost Bay oh and Varitek is not able to even foula ball off. So our additions for hitters to replace that is...........Beltre, Cameron, Scuataro,Martinez? They are surely better defensively better in a hitters park they are going to try to play small ball? The Nation should get ready for alot of 6-2 losses.

As a Sox fan I take this Beltre signing as definite sign the Sox are all but conceding the AL east this season and setting payroll up for next year and make a huge run at Mauer. Problem is I am sure the Yanks are also looking that way with Posada getting up there.

Oh, I don't know about that. Beltre might have been the best power bat left on the market (assuming Holliday's well on his way back to the Cards). I see it as a good move, especially given the short term nature. Beltre will only be there for one year--no way Boras lets him exercise that option unless Beltre just absolutely craps the bed.

Is it the bat the Sox need? No. But that bat's not out there.

If I were a Sox fan, what would concern me is that the Sox chose to go over the luxury tax threshold for Beltre. The reasoning for not staying in it on Bay or making a run at Holliday was because of the luxury tax threshold, so why cave for Beltre? If you're going to go over, might as well do it with gusto and get a really big power bat that will help you (I actually would have thought Holliday, actually, since Sox been there done that with Bay; not sure brining back Bay would have been an improvement).

Now the Sox pretty much have to move Lowell to beat the luxury tax threshold. Still not sure they'll end up swinging that.

Oh, I don't know about that. Beltre might have been the best power bat left on the market (assuming Holliday's well on his way back to the Cards). I see it as a good move, especially given the short term nature. Beltre will only be there for one year--no way Boras lets him exercise that option unless Beltre just absolutely craps the bed.

Is it the bat the Sox need? No. But that bat's not out there.

If I were a Sox fan, what would concern me is that the Sox chose to go over the luxury tax threshold for Beltre. The reasoning for not staying in it on Bay or making a run at Holliday was because of the luxury tax threshold, so why cave for Beltre? If you're going to go over, might as well do it with gusto and get a really big power bat that will help you (I actually would have thought Holliday, actually, since Sox been there done that with Bay; not sure brining back Bay would have been an improvement).

Now the Sox pretty much have to move Lowell to beat the luxury tax threshold. Still not sure they'll end up swinging that.

good point chiefy

Oh, I don't know about that. Beltre might have been the best power bat left on the market (assuming Holliday's well on his way back to the Cards). I see it as a good move, especially given the short term nature. Beltre will only be there for one year--no way Boras lets him exercise that option unless Beltre just absolutely craps the bed.

Is it the bat the Sox need? No. But that bat's not out there.

If I were a Sox fan, what would concern me is that the Sox chose to go over the luxury tax threshold for Beltre. The reasoning for not staying in it on Bay or making a run at Holliday was because of the luxury tax threshold, so why cave for Beltre? If you're going to go over, might as well do it with gusto and get a really big power bat that will help you (I actually would have thought Holliday, actually, since Sox been there done that with Bay; not sure brining back Bay would have been an improvement).

Now the Sox pretty much have to move Lowell to beat the luxury tax threshold. Still not sure they'll end up swinging that.


The problem with Bay/Holiday was they were looking for 4-5 years deals minimum at high dollars as opposed to Beltre for like you mentioned 1 year. I still don't like it but agree the bat they need is not out there. Personally I would love for them to have tried to trade Dice K for that bat maybe Ramirez in Florida or Gonzo in SD. I know Matsuzaka's contract is a major problem to trading him but maybe we could package him. The problem I see is if any of the the big SP -Beckett, lackey,Lester, Dice K, does not have a good year 16-10 they are in deep trouble with this line up.

Getting Beltre on a 1-year deal for $9M is a good one. The question will be whether it's a good deal for Boston or an outstanding one, and that depends on his health and how it affects his hitting.

Beltre is a fantastic defensive 3B, a guy who is going to be +10 to +15 runs above average. His thumb and other injuries hampered him more than usual last year at the plate, dropping his offensive value. But if he's relatively healthy, moving from Safeco to Fenway should be a huge boon to his numbers - Safeco just killed him, while Fenway should work in his favor. His average and doubles should rise quite a bit as he peppers the Monster with line drives.

Getting Beltre on a 1-year deal for $9M is a good one. The question will be whether it's a good deal for Boston or an outstanding one, and that depends on his health and how it affects his hitting.

Beltre is a fantastic defensive 3B, a guy who is going to be +10 to +15 runs above average. His thumb and other injuries hampered him more than usual last year at the plate, dropping his offensive value. But if he's relatively healthy, moving from Safeco to Fenway should be a huge boon to his numbers - Safeco just killed him, while Fenway should work in his favor. His average and doubles should rise quite a bit as he peppers the Monster with line drives.

here's hoping

Dice-K's WHIP was enormous last year.

According to Buster Olney of ESPN.com, free agent first baseman Adam LaRoche turned down a two-year, $17 million contract from the Giants.
He'll probably never see that kind of money again this offseason, as according to Olney, the offer might be off the table now. LaRoche lost one potential suitor with the Mariners picking up Casey Kotchman, so LaRoche will likely have to choose between the Orioles and Giants. The Giants are believed to be discussing alternatives, and rightfully so.

Yeesh. I think the Giants did a nice Neo impersonation in dodging this bullet.

Personally I would love for them to have tried to trade Dice K for that bat maybe Ramirez in Florida...

Why would Florida trade Hanley for Dice K? The only reason they would trade Hanely is because they can't afford him. How would Dice K improve that situation?

Hell the reason Ramirez is in Florida and Beckett is in Boston is because Florida couldn't afford Beckett. You think they will ship Hanley back to them for another expensive, less talented pitcher?

Why would Florida trade Hanley for Dice K? The only reason they would trade Hanely is because they can't afford him. How would Dice K improve that situation?

Hell the reason Ramirez is in Florida and Beckett is in Boston is because Florida couldn't afford Beckett. You think they will ship Hanley back to them for another expensive, less talented pitcher?

Yeah no way anyone trades striaght Hanley for Dice K I meant him and some other players.

Yeah no way anyone trades striaght Hanley for Dice K I meant him and some other players.

I doubt greatly Dice K goes to Florida or San Diego in any deal. It just doesn't make any sense for either of these teams, keeping their payrolls as low as they are, to take him on.

That's not to say the Sox couldn't work out a Gonzalez or Ramirez deal at some point, but it's not going to be some salary trade thing. If it happens, it will have to be via a boatload of prospects. And that will go with pretty much any team which tries to acquire either of those players.

Sounds like Holliday ends up staying in St. Louis unless someone else steps up. I've read he's looking at a contract in the 7 year $120 million range with a full no trade clause (Boras is pushing for an 8th year). If this is the case, I don't feel as bad about the Bay deal.

Looks like it ended up 7 for $120 with a team option for an 8th:

Matt Holliday decides to re-sign with St. Louis Cardinals - ESPN (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4799313)

Outstanding post on Lookout Landing on the larger subject of how we judge value of ballplayers and gaining some perspective on how we look at flaws in a player's game within the larger context of the value they provide. It's sparked in part by the perception that some Red Sox fans aren't appreciating the Beltre signing as much as they should.

http://www.lookoutlanding.com/2010/1/5/1235330/a-note-to-boston-to-us-and-to-everyone (http://www.lookoutlanding.com/2010/1/5/1235330/a-note-to-boston-to-us-and-to)

Any Red Sox fan that doesn't appreciate Beltre needs to watch this

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<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/I8IKDeH9SEg&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></object>

Looks like it ended up 7 for $120 with a team option for an 8th:

Matt Holliday decides to re-sign with St. Louis Cardinals - ESPN (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4799313)

That's an awful lot of money for a guy that can't catch a simple fly ball with his crotch.

Outstanding post on Lookout Landing on the larger subject of how we judge value of ballplayers and gaining some perspective on how we look at flaws in a player's game within the larger context of the value they provide. It's sparked in part by the perception that some Red Sox fans aren't appreciating the Beltre signing as much as they should.

http://www.lookoutlanding.com/2010/1/5/1235330/a-note-to-boston-to-us-and-to-everyone (http://www.lookoutlanding.com/2010/1/5/1235330/a-note-to-boston-to-us-and-to)

whose perspective is that? i'm pumped for Beltre's gold-glove defense at 3B and hopefully a league-average or slightly above-average offensive year by him!

LMAO - at like the 1:10 mark he takes an XBH away from my doppleganger on the Yankees (yes, as a good Sox fan I want to kill myself cuz the Yankees have a player with my name)

whose perspective is that? i'm pumped for Beltre's gold-glove defense at 3B and hopefully a league-average or slightly above-average offensive year by him!
Galaril for one in this thread, and any number of people commenting at Red Sox blogs about the signing.

Galaril for one in this thread, and any number of people commenting at Red Sox blogs about the signing.

i dunno - you might be misinterpreting "apprehension over the course of action the front office chose" or "disappointment that the front office didn't shell out the big $$ for the premiere FA bat on the market after losing a big bat" with "non-appreciation of Beltre's talents."

Maybe...i dunno. I've been too busy to really dig into the blogosphere.

You coulda thrown up this article here also:

Can the Red Sox Still Hit? Dispelling the Myth of the "Weakened*Offense" - Over the Monster (http://www.overthemonster.com/2010/1/5/1234490/can-the-red-sox-still-hit)



From the beginning, the Red Sox' goal this offseason has been clear: run prevention, run prevention, run prevention. And certainly, they've made great strides towards that goal. Mike Cameron (http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/players/200/Mike_Cameron) will hush fears of Jacoby Ellsbury (http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/players/290/Jacoby_Ellsbury)'s suspect reads, while Ellsbury will take advantage of the smaller left field, replacing the sieve that was Jason Bay (http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/players/361/Jason_Bay). Adrian Beltre (http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/players/854/Adrian_Beltre) is one of the best defensive third basemen to play the game in recent years, and will hopefully allow Kevin Youkilis (http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/players/175/Kevin_Youkilis) to supply his top-notch defense at first for the whole season. Marco Scutaro (http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/players/61/Marco_Scutaro) will provide some consistency at shortstop, for once, and all of this will be taking place behind a ridiculously strong rotation.


But in the eyes of many, this has been at the cost of offense. "We won't be able to hit elite pitching" (who can?) or "We're lacking a middle-of-the-rotation bat" are oft-heard complaints. Right now, let's take a look at what we actually have--all semantics aside. This article will attempt to look at the offensive production gained or lost objectively with statistics, so if you're not a fan of wOBA, now is the time to turn around. I've taken advantage of Beyond the Boxscore's wOBA to RAR calculator (http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2009/11/10/1123343/woba-to-war-conversion-spreadsheet) to turn wOBA over a certain number of plate appearances into the more tangible concept of runs for the sake of simplicity.

the switch from Varitek to Martinez should be worth about 8.2 runs over last year.
Over the same 574 plate appearances, the difference between Scutaro and last year's shortstops is worth 19.5 runs.
there's not much change in production switching from Lowell to Beltre--only minus 2.3 runs.
the switch from Jason Bay will cost the Red Sox some 32.2 runs.

Some quick math later, and we have the figure of 6.8 runs. That's it. The Boston Red Sox (http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/BOS) of 2010 should, even assuming a fairly low baseline for all replacement players, score only 6.8 runs fewer than they did in 2010. Even ignoring all bumps longtime residents of Progressive, Miller, and Safeco Field might get from playing half their games in Fenway. Even assuming that Ortiz doesn't continue his performance from the last half, but replicates his mediocre season as a whole.

to follow up on that last post - i really do think that what you're seeing is fans (even educated fans) being extremely worried about that -32.2 runs we lost by not replacing Bay, and the worry that Ortiz is toast / he won't have any protection in this lineup.

And to some extent that is certainly a justified fear - it's a staggeringly huge loss. But i guess if you do the math and you trust the projected numbers (and those were conservative numbers), it's not that bad really. and that doesn't take into account runs saved defensively or with the upgrade in the pitching staff.

and that doesn't take into account runs saved defensively...
Which is one of the reasons behind the post I linked to. A run saved is essentially equal to a run scored, but most fans don't grasp or believe just how much variability there is on the part of fielders and just how many runs can be saved when comparing an elite defender vs. an awful defender.

Ask most baseball fans, and they'll tell you Beltre was an overpaid bust with Seattle. In reality, he was more than worth what he was paid.

Wow, as a Reds fan, this is shocking:

Source: Chapman to sign with NL team - MLB - Yahoo! Sports (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AqBN0Wbpt6vAWsBImADGaq05nYcB?slug=jp-chapmansigns011010&prov=yhoo&type=lgns)

Cuban left-hander Aroldis Chapman agreed to a five-year, $30 million deal with a National League team believed to be the Reds, Yahoo Sports reported on Sunday morning.



MLB.com has confirmed from a National League source that the team involved is believed to be the Reds.



(http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/news/hot_stove/y2009/index.jsp)The Reds' interest in the 22-year-old with a fastball clocked as high as 100 mph was originally reported by FoxSports.com on Friday. The club was one of many to see Chapman work out on Dec. 15 in Houston.


But it still comes as a surprise if it's the Reds who signed Chapman, as the Blue Jays, Red Sox, Yankees and Angels were believed to be the front-runners for Chapman's services, according to recent reports.



The Red Sox were the first to bid on Chapman with an initial $15.5 million offer in early December, while the Blue Jays reportedly offered him $23 million. The Marlins also reportedly offered him a deal in the $16 million range.



In the NL, the Marlins, Mets, Nationals and Astros were also after Chapman, but it appeared he would be heading to an American League team before Yahoo's report on Sunday.



Chapman is represented by agents Randy and Alan Hendricks after he dismissed fledgling agent Edwin Mejia, who helped him establish residency in Andorra after he defected from the Cuban National Team in July.
Chapman was originally said to be looking for $50 million, but will have to settle for making twice what No. 1 pick Stephen Strasburg made when he signed his record-breaking $15.1 million deal with the Nationals on Aug. 17.


I'm still shocked over this, as the Reds don't spend any money. Hopefully Chapman will turn out to be a decent pitcher

wow...that's surprising! good for the reds though!

Holy shit, I didn't see this coming.

Confirmed: LHP Aroldis Chapman agrees to five-year, $30 million contract with Cincinnati #Reds.

I have to believe that this means Harang or Arroyo is gone...maybe both?

They're either going to look like geniuses or morons. Lots of red flags, but obviously he's got a great arm.

Those damn big markets ruining the game.

I have to believe that this means Harang or Arroyo is gone...maybe both?

I don't know about this year, but they'll both be gone for 2011. They should have a rotation of Cueto, Bailey, Volquez, Chapman, and Leake for 2011.

Those five will cost about what Arroyo and Harang make now.

Big risk for Cincy, but I think it is well worth it. $30 million spread over five years won't kill a team. The upside is such that if Chapman reaches his potential he'll be an absolute steal.

Even if he's nothing better than a fourth or fifth starter, six million per for fours years isn't overpaying. They only get burnt if he can't make it at all in the majors.

Even if he's nothing better than a fourth or fifth starter, six million per for fours years isn't overpaying. They only get burnt if he can't make it at all in the majors.

From what I have heard, Chapman's not ready for the bigs right now. My guess is his path will be similar to Kendry Morales' with the Angels, which had him mostly in the minors for two seasons and then shuttling back for about a season and a half before getting the starting 1B job last year.

Difference with Chapman, though, is that he probably won't have Kotchman or Teixeira blocking his way to a spot in the Reds rotation, so my guess is, September call up this year, with a chance to make the rotation in 2011. Then he'll come close, but not quite, get sent down and get elevated for injury/ineffectiveness reasons around midseason in 2011, and then hold his spot for the rest of the year.

After that, his actual performance in that opportunity will determine where he is after that.

I think that's probably right, with the caveat of a playoff run in 2010 would postpone his callup. From what I've read he's got control problems and the arm angle on his curve is very different from his fastball and slider.

There's certainly a risk here, but I'd rather a small market team make this sort of risk rather than signing a closer long term for 12 million per.

Seems like his agents decided it made more sense to send him to a place where he'd have less pressure than New York or Boston or whatever. Maybe that's why Florida and Toronto were in the mix too.

The Red Sox were never even within shouting distance of $30M. Last I'd heard was half that.

That may be more telling than any convoluted pressure-avoidance situation. Chapman went where the largest offer was.

this just in - the Japanese "machismo" strikes again. Apparently Dice-K had a groin injury since January 2009 and repeatedly lied to the Red Sox about it - they found out through an interview he gave to a Japanese magazine.

Source: Boston Red Sox learn Daisuke Matsuzaka hid groin injury - ESPN Boston (http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/mlb/news/story?id=4814996)

I'm fed up with this guy. As great as he was that one year, and as good as he has been so far, I'm done with him. The cultural shit is just fucking up his ability to be truly successful. I'm so tired of it.



Matsuzaka said he deliberately kept the injury secret, both from Japanese trainers and later the Red Sox, because he didn't want to be perceived an excuse-maker.

"I didn't want to show my weaknesses,'' he said. "I didn't want them to think I was making excuses. I would rather be criticized than ridiculed for making excuses. I repeat, I really didn't want to be the center of concern for people. I believe when you say you are sick, you become sick. Sure I appreciate that you are concerned about me, but I don't even like to be wished good luck about my health.''

While he was in Florida, another interview appeared in a Japanese publication in which Matsuzaka complained that conforming to the Red Sox's training techniques had negatively impacted his effectiveness, criticism that elicited anger from the Sox, which general manager Theo Epstein and manager Terry Francona conveyed in a meeting to the apologetic pitcher.


MAYBE IT WASN'T OUR TRAINING BUT YOUR FUCKING INJURY!!!

Meh, I took it as good news. Explains why he was god-awful to start the year. He came back looking good; hopefully that's what we'll get going forward.

Meh, I took it as good news. Explains why he was god-awful to start the year. He came back looking good; hopefully that's what we'll get going forward.

yes, good news in that he came back and pitched well.

not good news that he hid the injury from the team though - in fact that's in violation of his contract, and just continues to display that there are these huge cultural differences that i think are hindering his ability to ever achieve the level of success that his talent has shown he can have (whether it's this, or refusing to adapt and become less of a "nibbler.")

it also shows once again that the WBC is at a fucked-up time.

In a perfect world, I would be really pissed at Matsuzaka for this. It's become apparent to me that his signing has not been perfect; as long as he can perform reasonably well going forward I'll be happy.

Although I disagree about the WBC - he could have injured himself and hid it from the Sox at any point. This is more on him than on the tournament.

yes, good news in that he came back and pitched well.

not good news that he hid the injury from the team though - in fact that's in violation of his contract, and just continues to display that there are these huge cultural differences that i think are hindering his ability to ever achieve the level of success that his talent has shown he can have (whether it's this, or refusing to adapt and become less of a "nibbler.")

it also shows once again that the WBC is at a fucked-up time.

You do realize that American players also hide injuries and play through them right? In fact, Manny Delcarmen did the exact same thing this past year. He had an injury, didn't tell anyone, and pitched extremely poorly down the stretch.

And let's not forget that these so-called "cultural differences" really hindered Matsuzaka from having a pretty good rookie year which included some pretty solid postseason results.

You do realize that American players also hide injuries and play through them right? In fact, Manny Delcarmen did the exact same thing this past year. He had an injury, didn't tell anyone, and pitched extremely poorly down the stretch.

And let's not forget that these so-called "cultural differences" really hindered Matsuzaka from having a pretty good rookie year which included some pretty solid postseason results.

oh i realize that too. hiding injuries happens. but it shouldn't. you think you're helping your club but you're really hurting it.

and i freely acknowledge that he has had some success. i think i said as much in my initial post (maybe...i forget). He hasn't been a "bad" signing (at least if you don't include the full posting fee as part of the salary-discussion) at all. AT ALL.

But it's frustrating to see so clearly that he could be/could have been so much better. Missed opportunities.

I can't wait til Dusty gets ahold of another young pitcher.

I don't know about this year, but they'll both be gone for 2011. They should have a rotation of Cueto, Bailey, Volquez, Chapman, and Leake for 2011.

Those five will cost about what Arroyo and Harang make now.

I like the outlook of the Reds rotation. I expect this season to be nothing special. It is obvious the reds are looking ahead. Get Arroyo and Harang off the books. Maybe add a bat and POTENTIALLY they are in the hunt in 2011.

What excites me the most is that the Reds are showing they actually want to fucking win. I don't really know a whole lot about Chapman other then what the media tells me but it's not really Chapman that excites me. It's seeing the front office actually get off their asses.

I can't wait til Dusty gets ahold of another young pitcher.

Unfortunately, being a Reds fan, one of the first things that came to mind was how long before he's under the knife. :(

Fuck I hate this move. He is a better defense player than Lowell but he is probably still a drop from Lowell even with his hip/thumb stuff. I think even with the addition of Lackey the Sox have surely gotten worse while the Yanks got better. The sox really didn't need another arm but needed sticks! Look at the Sox from two years back: Ortiz now is shot, Lowell is gone more or less, Youk is no longer a clutch hitter, Pedroia came back down to earth, Ramirez production never was replaced and now they lost Bay oh and Varitek is not able to even foul a ball off. So our additions for hitters to replace that is...........Beltre, Cameron, Scuataro,Martinez? They are surely better defensively better in a hitters park they are going to try to play small ball? The Nation should get ready for alot of 6-2 losses.

As a Sox fan I take this Beltre signing as definite sign the Sox are all but conceding the AL east this season and setting payroll up for next year and make a huge run at Mauer. Problem is I am sure the Yanks are also looking that way with Posada getting up there.The last 2 years Mike Lowell averaged 116 games and an .805 OPS (.713 away from Fenway last year). Adrian Beltre had no power last season until he had surgery, but has consistently put up an OPS .100-.150 higher away from Safeco. I don't even have to bring in defense to say that Adrian Beltre will be better in 2010 than Mike Lowell. Dustin Pedroia saw his BABIP drop .034 and his OPS only .050 (to his career average). Youkilis had his best season statistically and somehow isn't a clutch hitter now? I don't even know where to begin with the multiple ways that statement wrong - if Murray Chass had written it, FJM would be forced to start posting again. As much as I thought (and think) Ortiz is done, he hit 27 HR's and put up a ~.900 OPS from June on after the worst opening two months in baseball history. And Jason Varitek - who put up a whopping .672 OPS 2 years ago - is in line to catch 40-50 games instead of 100-130 of past years, having been replaced with someone who put an OPS of .850+ 5 of the last 6 seasons.

Last year, we gave up 736 runs, 3rd in the AL, and that will surely go down by defensively upgrading 4 defensive positions (CF/LF/3B/SS) to GG-level and replacing Brad Penny's 131 innings of 5.61 ERA ball and injured Dice-K/Smoltz/Paul Byrd's 125 innings of 6.50+ ERA ball with John Lackey and a healthy Dice-K. While I wasn't a fan of trading Ramirez, we also scored 872 runs, 3rd in MLB. While I won't guarantee we'll surpass that 4th place Philly scored 820 and I'd easily wager we still beat that. When Dawgfan said a run saved is equal to a run scored, he was actually slightly off from a RS perspective - because we score so many more than we allow a run saved is worth (slightly) more than an additional run scored.

Especially considering that the main problem with the RS of th epast 2 years has been assuming that past performance would hold and extending long-term committments to aging, declining players (Varitek, Ortiz, Lowell) it boggles the mind that people still wanted to sign Bay for 16m through 2014. We're not going to be out of the playoff race by July 31st, and if we still need the big bat we can acquire it then - neither of these short-term contracts hamstring the RS flexibility going forward.If I were a Sox fan, what would concern me is that the Sox chose to go over the luxury tax threshold for Beltre. The reasoning for not staying in it on Bay or making a run at Holliday was because of the luxury tax threshold, so why cave for Beltre? If you're going to go over, might as well do it with gusto and get a really big power bat that will help you (I actually would have thought Holliday, actually, since Sox been there done that with Bay; not sure bringing back Bay would have been an improvement).

Now the Sox pretty much have to move Lowell to beat the luxury tax threshold. Still not sure they'll end up swinging that.Not a huge fan of that, although the thinking is they'll also be under it next year and hopefully 2011, so we'd revert to the 25% tax like we did after being over in 2007 then under it in 2008/2009. (2 years under in a row brings you back down to the lowest bracket.) There's also a chance we can get under it for this year - it depends on getting a team to take Lowell and how much money we're paying for his contract, but supposedly the Kotchman for Hall deal saved a couple million and put us really close to the threshold.

Brett Myers is such a character!

The Fightins » Brett Myers says he is going to ’stick it’ to the Phillies. (http://www.thefightins.com/meechone/brett-myers-says-he-is-going-to-stick-it-to-the-phillies/)

Gotta love Ed Wade though...he trying to relive the early 2000s with the Phillies he is signing on the Astros. Too bad that's when the Phils sucked.

The Fightins » You Could Field An Entire Team With Ed Wade’s Ex-Phillies (http://www.thefightins.com/meechone/you-could-field-an-entire-team-with-ed-wades-ex-phillies/)

Bah, Myers will always have a special place in my heart with his at-bat against Sabathia and throwing at Manny in the 2008 playoffs.

They aren't even playing and the Mets can't stay healthy!

New York Mets' Carlos Beltran out 12 weeks after knee surgery - ESPN (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4824101)

They aren't even playing and the Mets can't stay healthy!

New York Mets' Carlos Beltran out 12 weeks after knee surgery - ESPN (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4824101)

:devil:

After turning down 2 years/$17.5 mil from the Giants a week or two ago Adam LaRoche will sign with the Diamondbacks for 1 year/$4-5 mil. Oops.

After turning down 2 years/$17.5 mil from the Giants a week or two ago Adam LaRoche will sign with the Diamondbacks for 1 year/$4-5 mil. Oops.

Guess he didn't get the memo about the recession. Time to fire your agent dude.

Lucky for the Giants he turned that down too. That'd be a big contract.

LOL!!

Florida Marlins' Josh Johnson agrees to 4-year, $39M deal - ESPN (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4826840)

Great news for the Marlins. It's very similar to Greinke's contract where he gets 2 arby years bought out ($3.75M/$7.75M) and then his first two free agent years for $13.75M each.

SI

So did the Tigers seriously give up a 1st round pick and $14 million over 2 years for Valverde? In this market?

Mariners lock up King Felix... details are sketchy but 5 or 6 years seems to be what is being said.

5 years/ 80 million is what I a seeing here.

5 years/$80M is great news for M's fans. Zduriencik is having a hell of an off-season...

F***. Bengie Molina re-signs with the Giants for 1 year, $4.5 millon.

2nd lowest OBP in the majors blocking the best catching prospect in the league. Brilliant.

F***. Bengie Molina re-signs with the Giants for 1 year, $4.5 millon.

2nd lowest OBP in the majors blocking the best catching prospect in the league. Brilliant.

Best news I've heard all day!

F***. Bengie Molina re-signs with the Giants for 1 year, $4.5 millon.

2nd lowest OBP in the majors blocking the best catching prospect in the league. Brilliant.
Eh, it's just one year for relatively little money - if Posey is tearing it up, I doubt this contract is enough to prevent the Giants from calling him up and playing him full-time.

5 years/$80M is great news for M's fans. Zduriencik is having a hell of an off-season...Does that buy out any FA years, or just the rest of his arb ones? Great deal for the M's either way.

Eh, it's just one year for relatively little money - if Posey is tearing it up, I doubt this contract is enough to prevent the Giants from calling him up and playing him full-time.

I can almost guarantee you that will not happen. Posey could hit .400 and they MIGHT call him up...to play sporadically. Then, he'd hit about .240 over 25 ABs and which point he'd be sent right back down to Fresno because those 25 ABs clearly demonstrated that he's not ready for the majors.

How do I know this? Because this happens to every Giants prospect not named Eugenio Velez.

Does that buy out any FA years, or just the rest of his arb ones? Great deal for the M's either way.

He had this year and next as arb years, so three on top of that. Fantastic deal.

I'm so glad to have a good GM.

Eh, it's just one year for relatively little money - if Posey is tearing it up, I doubt this contract is enough to prevent the Giants from calling him up and playing him full-time.

Did you forget that Bruce Bochy is the manager? There's no way in hell Posey sees the field. In the scheme of things, it's not a big deal. but then again neither were Renteria, Rowand, Garko, Roberts...

The team could have gotten the same (actually, likely more) production out of any number of different catchers that would be available for a fraction of the cost of Molina ($4.5 million with a rumored "Games Played" bonus incentive of $1.5 million at a certain threshold). Molina gets on base at an anemic pace, and when he DOES get on base, he's slower than just about anyone in the league. He was also incredibly whiny last season when questions of Posey came up and Molina's long-term position with the team.

In the end, I think that this [type of] signing gets a "free pass" because it's nothing like the enormity of the Zito contract. In fact, I'm beginning more and more to think that it's contracts like this, not contracts like Zito, that kill this team's chances to contend year in and year out.

In fact, I'm beginning more and more to think that it's contracts like this, not contracts like Zito, that kill this team's chances to contend year in and year out.
No, it's the Zito deal. As much as you might not like Molina, he'll provide likely half the WAR that Zito does and at much less than half Zito's cost.

Yeah, maybe the Giants could've gone with a less "name" guy at C and saved a little bit of money, but are the Giants really only a couple million away from contending?

Did you forget that Bruce Bochy is the manager? There's no way in hell Posey sees the field. In the scheme of things, it's not a big deal. but then again neither were Renteria, Rowand, Garko, Roberts...

The team could have gotten the same (actually, likely more) production out of any number of different catchers that would be available for a fraction of the cost of Molina ($4.5 million with a rumored "Games Played" bonus incentive of $1.5 million at a certain threshold). Molina gets on base at an anemic pace, and when he DOES get on base, he's slower than just about anyone in the league. He was also incredibly whiny last season when questions of Posey came up and Molina's long-term position with the team.

In the end, I think that this [type of] signing gets a "free pass" because it's nothing like the enormity of the Zito contract. In fact, I'm beginning more and more to think that it's contracts like this, not contracts like Zito, that kill this team's chances to contend year in and year out.

I don't think it's the contract itself that hurts the team's chances at contention. It's the peripheral effects. Okay, you signed Aubrey Huff...but you signed Huff because you non-tendered Garko, for whom you traded one of your better pitching prospects. You've got a chain of events there.

As to the contracts themselves, the Zito-type deals are when the team is going out and chasing what they perceive to be an impact player. Sometimes that works out for you, sometimes you get Jason Schmidt. Sometimes it falls somewhere in between.

But your Molina deals, those deals done within the flexibility the team has in any given season, and insofar as they hurt the team, they do so by neutering the team's flexibility if other opportunities should become available, because the player has negligible trade value with a $4.5-6m contract attached unless the team eats part or all of it.

I really think that the Giants ARE just a couple of million away from contending - they were in the thick of the wildcard race until the end of the season last year. While bullpen stability comes and goes, the team has one of the best pitching staffs in all of baseball, if not the very best. They have a nice young star in Pablo Sandoval to build around offensively, and with only a piece or two more, they can be strong enough offensively to fully expect to win every series they play in.

I think it's more of the thought process that goes into the "why" of a signing that is killing the Giants, not just the contract. In a vacuum, a 1-year, $4.5M contract for a veteran catcher so that your star prospect can have a little more time to develop is not only not bad, it's quite smart. The problem is that this no-bat catcher isn't going to bat 7th or 8th - he's batting 6th. And management of the team has shown that young players (unless they're named Velez) do not get playing time over veterans, even if the veterans are far past their prime and are displaying some of the worst offensive numbers in the entire league. So if the top prospect is ready by the middle of the year, he's going to have to either A) Ride the pine at the major league level, hurting his development by not giving him regular playing time, or B) Stew around in AAA, wrecking the competition that he is obviously superior to.

How much better, really, is Aubrey Huff going to be than Ryan Garko? Or, even cheaper, Travis Ishikawa? In the same vein, how about De La Rosa compared to Torres or Bowker (who was the Minor League Player of the Year last year)? Those three signings together, were the money pooled and spent in a different direction, could have resulted in an impact player at a different position, giving the Giants the offense that they so sorely need while simultaneously allowing the Giants to determine if their plethora of AAAA players contains any actual Major League talent. Instead, our replacement-level talent has been replaced by slightly better than replacement-level talent that may or may not be useful at all. Freddy Sanchez and Aubrey Huff are both getting old, and both had pretty terrible seasons last year.

I guess my point with Molina is that he is projected to contribute a WAR that would be valued greater than his $4.5M deal. If all of the Giants contracts were like that, they'd be in much better shape. Zito's contract is an egregious example of overpaying for what they're getting, and on a scale that has a much bigger impact on their yearly payroll than Molina's.

I won't dispute their reluctance to use promising prospects - I'm just commenting specifically on the Molina deal, and that "type" of deal. Deals that are below market value for what the player is expected to contribute are good deals.

I'm almost finished with Posnanski's The Machine. One item really stood out as never happening again. In game four of the 1975 World Series Louis Tiant threw an incredible 163 pitches!

I can almost guarantee you that will not happen. Posey could hit .400 and they MIGHT call him up...to play sporadically. Then, he'd hit about .240 over 25 ABs and which point he'd be sent right back down to Fresno because those 25 ABs clearly demonstrated that he's not ready for the majors.

How do I know this? Because this happens to every Giants prospect not named Eugenio Velez.


The Giants are fucking ridiculous; Brian Sabean gets a hard on for everyone over the age of 35, and with the Melonhead as manager...

The Giants are fucking ridiculous; Brian Sabean gets a hard on for everyone over the age of 35, and with the Melonhead as manager...

Do the Giants actually have any players over 35 besides Molina?

Renteria and DeRosa are both 34. DeRosa will be 35 by Opening Day.

Renteria and DeRosa are both 34. DeRosa will be 35 by Opening Day.

Yeah, not the AARP club they had a few years ago. I don't have a problem with the moves this off season. DeRosa and Huff are fair bets to improve their numbers from last year. No ugly Renteria-type deals. Huff and Molina are almost certainly bargains.

Some more pitching (and a second position to get Posey more at bats) would be nice but I don't see any reason the Giants shouldn't compete for the division title next season.

DeRosa is an underated player for an NL team. He can play virtually every position besides CF which gives the team a ton of flexibility.

Here's what I don't understand about this offseason for the Giants. They have their two top prospects knocking on the door of the majors. One is a 22 year old former Golden Spikes winner. He hits .325/.416/.531 in his first full minor league season, jumping from A to AAA with little to no drop off in his numbers. The other is a 19 year old starting pitcher who wasn't even allowed to throw a breaking ball in high school. He puts up ridiculous numbers in Low A in 2008, and almost as ridiculous of an ERA in A and AA in 2009. However, his K/9 drops from 10.4 in '08 to 6.3 in '09. This coincides with losing 3-4 MPH on his fastball. Now, who are the Giants most comfortable with having on their Opening Day roster? Why, the 19 year old pitcher, of course! Toss him right into the rotation! We don't know why he lost velocity last year, and frankly, we don't care!

As for Mr. Golden Spikes, have fun in Fresno, kid. We got our fat, slow, .285 OBP (worst in the majors!) catcher back instead. And, since our manager LOVES our fat, slow, .285 OBP (worst in the majors!) catcher, we suggest you stock up on sunscreen. Those Central Valley summers can get HOOOOOOOOOT!

I guess my point with Molina is that he is projected to contribute a WAR that would be valued greater than his $4.5M deal. If all of the Giants contracts were like that, they'd be in much better shape. Zito's contract is an egregious example of overpaying for what they're getting, and on a scale that has a much bigger impact on their yearly payroll than Molina's.

I won't dispute their reluctance to use promising prospects - I'm just commenting specifically on the Molina deal, and that "type" of deal. Deals that are below market value for what the player is expected to contribute are good deals.

I have to admit, I didn't realize he had a decent WAR projected this season.

Piniero to the Angels: 2 years, $16 million.

I have to admit, I didn't realize he had a decent WAR projected this season.
Well, "decent" is a relative term. According to FanGraphs, his CHONE projection works out to 1.4 WAR and his fans projection works out to 1.6 WAR. Those seem reasonable, considering he was 1.8 last year and 2.9 the year before that.

At 1.4 WAR he'd be worth roughly $6.2M (though I wonder if that formula might have to get adjusted downward slightly with recent signings).

My main point being, it doesn't seem like his $4.5M contract is out of line - it might be a slight bargain relative to his worth.

Piniero to the Angels: 2 years, $16 million.

I'm starting to get the feeling the Mets are becoming the Bills of the NFL. Granted, they did get the "big name" guy in Bay, but Molina turns them down (maybe a blessing in disguise) and now Piniero? Who knows what kind of money they were offering him, but he is somebody I was hoping they would get.

Resigned Jason Bay: "Well, I'm A Met Now" | The Onion - America's Finest News Source (http://www.theonion.com/content/news_briefs/resigned_jason_bay_well_im)

Well, "decent" is a relative term. According to FanGraphs, his CHONE projection works out to 1.4 WAR and his fans projection works out to 1.6 WAR. Those seem reasonable, considering he was 1.8 last year and 2.9 the year before that.

At 1.4 WAR he'd be worth roughly $6.2M (though I wonder if that formula might have to get adjusted downward slightly with recent signings).

My main point being, it doesn't seem like his $4.5M contract is out of line - it might be a slight bargain relative to his worth.

Well, 2 things here (and you're a smart guy, you know this stuff):

1) WAR is a value of the wins on the free-agent market; taking it to its logical extreme, if one is paying ~350M rather than 360M for a 90 win team, you're in the positive - but we accept that this is patently ridiculous.

2) WAR's replacement level, is like, me. This is a pretty common complaint about it, and adding an effective discount to it means that its probably not a bargain.

3) Opportunity cost. That $4.5M could have been spent much more effectively on a 5th SP, another bat, and so forth. In fact, the Giants have spent $3M on Aubrey Huff, $4.5M on Molina, $6M on Derosa, $6M on Freddy Sanchez - that's money that could have spent on an actual good player, instead of the usual collection of mediocrity. This team is run by a front office too asinine to appreciate statistics.

3) Opportunity cost. That $4.5M could have been spent much more effectively on a 5th SP, another bat, and so forth. In fact, the Giants have spent $3M on Aubrey Huff, $4.5M on Molina, $6M on Derosa, $6M on Freddy Sanchez - that's money that could have spent on an actual good player, instead of the usual collection of mediocrity. This team is run by a front office too asinine to appreciate statistics.

Just curious which FA hitter(s) you feel they should have signed instead?

Just curious which FA hitter(s) you feel they should have signed instead?

Good catch - that was kind of a rant. :D

Nick Johnson is the bleeding obvious one - they gave ~$4.5M to Molina, but can't give $6M to Nick? Otherwise Johnny Damon on a 1 year deal at $8M (throwing a number out there - he's not getting 2 years at this point) definitely makes more sense than Huff + Molina, especially since Posey is a better player than Molina. Alternatively, Adrian Beltre (the deal he signed with Boston) would have been great, because his defense is mind-blowing and he was particularly punished by Safeco. Mike Cameron at 2/15.5 is another guy who's better (heck, put him in RF or move Rowand to LF or Canada) value. Ryan Church just signed for ~$2M and is a better offensive player than anyone the Giants signed.

There's a 100 options, and the Giants consistently opt for mediocrity - I see no evidence that Brian Sabean is learning, but instead getting progressively worse.

Most free agent hitters are going to want a larger contract to play at Mays Field. It just isn't viewed as a good place to go to make a salary drive. Just because a player signs a deal with another club does not mean he was available to the Giants at the same price. Beltre, Cameron, Johnson...those guys signed deals with elite big money clubs. SF wasn't going to outbid those guys, and if they did the final numbers would be significantly higher.

No albatross contracts, just reasonable short term deals. I think Sabean has done ok this winter.

I think the moral of the story is that with current management, we better hope that a ridiculously lopsided trade lands in the Giants' laps and/or we get a few more offensive prospects to go from "unknown" to "stud" a la Pablo Sandoval, or we're not going to have an offense.

I don't mind the numbers of the Molina contract, but I just don't enjoy watching him play baseball. I don't enjoy watching his at bats. I feel a sense of dread every time he steps to the plate. He does good things sometimes, and he can still make things happen in 2-strike counts, but I'm not looking forward to another season of him.

The Giants actually did offer Nick Johnson more than the Yankees, he just chose to sign with New York. Can't say that I blame him, with that lineup and the HR bonanza that is right field.

Phillies re-sign Blanton to a 3-year, 24 million dollar deal and Victorino to a 3-year, 22 million dollar deal.

Love the Victorino deal, would love the Blanton deal if it did not remind everyone that the Phils should've kept Cliff Lee and dealt Blanton for a B-Level prospect.

Also, curious to see what happens with Jayson Werth. If you had told me that Victorino would've re-signed for three years, I would've told you that Werth was gone. However, it seems like the Victorino deal is palpabale enough that the Phils could afford a Jason Bay-like deal (4 years, 65 million).

The Giants actually did offer Nick Johnson more than the Yankees, he just chose to sign with New York. Can't say that I blame him, with that lineup and the HR bonanza that is right field.

I dunno - seen no evidence for this. But Johnson at a 1-8 is a godsend, especially given the desperate need for OBP in this lineup in particular. FWIW, the Giants by all accounts had plenty of time to wrap this up, but did nothing; the Yankees only came in when talks with Damon collapsed.

They supposedly were around $6 million. Anyways, I'd have been fine with offering him the contract DeRosa signed. Don't know if he'd have accepted, but they could've then used the money they spent on Huff for a true LF. Buuut that's not how the Giants operate.

I desperately wanted one of Johnson or Beltre, and got neither. Hell I'd have been fine with letting Sanchez walk and signing Felipe Lopez, who's still a FA if I'm not mistaken. Oh well, I don't know why I ever expected anything different.

I can't wait til Dusty gets ahold of another young pitcher.

Dusty Baker Destroys Aroldis Chapman's Arm Within Minutes Of Arrival | The Onion - America's Finest News Source (http://www.theonion.com/content/news_briefs/dusty_baker_destroys)

http://www.theonion.com/content/files/images/Aroldis.article_large.jpg

CINCINNATI—Within just a few minutes of Cuban pitcher Aroldis Chapman's arrival in the United States, Reds manager Dusty Baker had already overused and mangled the 21-year-old's arm beyond recognition, team sources reported Sunday. Baker, who has been accused of overtaxing young pitchers' arms in the past, reportedly greeted Chapman with a bucket of 250 baseballs and told him to "hurl them" as fast as he could, later encouraging the fastballer to "go nuts" with his pitching style. "He didn't even let me stretch out first," Chapman told reporters through an interpreter. "And when I started to wince from the pain and soreness, he just gave me a thumbs up, winked, and told me to keep throwing." At press time, Chapman had already been to the hospital for an oblique strain, a torn rotator cuff, and his second Tommy John surgery of the week

Royals signed Ankiel to a one year deal with a mutual option on a second year. One year for $3.25M seems pretty good for him given that Boras wanted 3 years, $15M initially.

Phillies re-sign Blanton to a 3-year, 24 million dollar deal and Victorino to a 3-year, 22 million dollar deal..

Now it is time to ride the Chooch Train and get him signed!

I think they are going to slow play Werth and see if he can stay healthy again this year.

Dusty Baker Destroys Aroldis Chapman's Arm Within Minutes Of Arrival | The Onion - America's Finest News Source (http://www.theonion.com/content/news_briefs/dusty_baker_destroys)

http://www.theonion.com/content/files/images/Aroldis.article_large.jpg

CINCINNATI—Within just a few minutes of Cuban pitcher Aroldis Chapman's arrival in the United States, Reds manager Dusty Baker had already overused and mangled the 21-year-old's arm beyond recognition, team sources reported Sunday. Baker, who has been accused of overtaxing young pitchers' arms in the past, reportedly greeted Chapman with a bucket of 250 baseballs and told him to "hurl them" as fast as he could, later encouraging the fastballer to "go nuts" with his pitching style. "He didn't even let me stretch out first," Chapman told reporters through an interpreter. "And when I started to wince from the pain and soreness, he just gave me a thumbs up, winked, and told me to keep throwing." At press time, Chapman had already been to the hospital for an oblique strain, a torn rotator cuff, and his second Tommy John surgery of the week

As much as I hate Dusty, I have to admit he's handled the Red's young pitchers pretty well. Pitch counts have appropriate and his really stupid moves, like using Harang for relief or bringing him in after a long rain delay, haven't killed any young arms yet.

Royals signed Ankiel to a one year deal with a mutual option on a second year. One year for $3.25M seems pretty good for him given that Boras wanted 3 years, $15M initially.

ah too bad, was hoping the Cards would resign him. But yeah that's a good deal given what Boras wanted originally.

Now it is time to ride the Chooch Train and get him signed!

I think they are going to slow play Werth and see if he can stay healthy again this year.

They really have no choice but to get Chooch re-signed. Do we even have any other catchers in our system?

Phillies won the Contreras sweepstakes.

Angels send Matthews Jr. and a shit-ton of money to the Mets for Stokes. World Series, here we come!

This comment should bring a lot of laughs...I wish Chan Ho would've resigned.

Chief: What can you tell me about Jose Arredondo? The Reds gave him a Spring Training invite. I've read he had Tommy John surgery and won't be available in 2010. Does he have significant upside? Do you know why the Reds might try to lock him up given his short service time?

Chief: What can you tell me about Jose Arredondo? The Reds gave him a Spring Training invite. I've read he had Tommy John surgery and won't be available in 2010. Does he have significant upside? Do you know why the Reds might try to lock him up given his short service time?

I would imagine if you get him on a minor league deal, his service time, as you note, kicks in, and you get him for the rest of that time. Seems like an upside move.

Arredondo, going into the 2008 season, was a reliever with an exceptionally live arm; closer type movement and good velocity. He was thought to be the obvious heir apparent to Frankie. Then during that season, the Angels hit some pen depth issues and brought him up and Arredondo was pretty awesome, really, as a setup guy. He's one of the main reasons the Angels made little to no effort to resign KRod.

We get to 2009, and like the rest of the pen, Arredondo is cold to start, ice cold, and he has lingering arm issues, too. But really, even after coming back, he never seemed to have it. Mike Butcher (pitching coach) actually sorta questioned his desire to compete, to be honest (which is shocking, not a move Butcher or anyone on a Scioscia staff normally does), and said they were working with Arredondo to get his stuff right, and it just wasn't happening. Then sometime in August or so, they pretty much shut him down for the season.

We get to the offseason, and I think the plan was for him to go down to Venezuela winter league to try to get back in form, but he was still having pain in his elbow. So the docs finally diagnosed the need for Tommy John surgery in December. Probably three days later or so, Angels don't offer him arb (mild shock, but not really).

Pretty much your classic high risk, high upside type. Not a bad move for the Reds to make, so long as their willing to wait for him. And maybe if there are attitude issues, they can work with him on that, too. Not sure what the Reds have to lose for trying.

Angels send Matthews Jr. and a shit-ton of money to the Mets for Stokes. World Series, here we come!

THANK...YOU...LORD!!!!

O's bring Tejada back for 1 yr. $6 mil. pending physical, to play 3rd. Atkins moves to 1st, and Scott stays at DH despite saying he wants to play the field.

The Phillies agreed Sunday on a three-year, $8.85 million contract with catcher Carlos Ruiz, a source with knowledge of the negotiations told MLB.com.

CHOOOOOOCCH!!!

If the Phillies had just kept Lee, then this would have been an awesome off-season for the team.

3-years at 8.85 million is a steal.

If the A's aren't careful they just might win a few games this season...they just signed Sheets to a one year deal...something like $10 million I think.

The usual "what-if" scenarios have to be getting fans somewhat excited...if Sheets and Duke can return to form and the kids pitch like they did last year, this could be the best staff in baseball.

But, like I said...that's a lot of "what-ifs" that need to play out.

Offense and defense looks like it's improved with Coco and Kouz joining the team this offseason...but I'm not sure that's something to brag about.

Regardless, A's fan rejoice...spring training is near!

I am very surprised the A's would be willing Sheets that much money.

I am very surprised the A's would be willing Sheets that much money.

I agree...I can't help but think Sheets is beyond happy that he's getting that kind of coin.

Baseball Prospectus PECOTA is out .. AL East is projected to be insane:

Baseball Prospectus | Depth Charts (http://baseballprospectus.com/fantasy/dc/)

Baseball Prospectus PECOTA is out .. AL East is projected to be insane:

Baseball Prospectus | Depth Charts (http://baseballprospectus.com/fantasy/dc/)

76-86 for the Angels, eh?

Does PECOTA also project massive unexpected and catastrophic injuries to the 5-6 best players on the team?

Because otherwise, that ain't happening. Makes it hard for me to put much wait into those projections.

My guess is that the Angels' median range is around 85-90 wins next year. If they have some serious injuries, they might fall to .500. If things break right, they'll be in the mid-90s again.

76-86 for the Angels, eh?

Does PECOTA also project massive unexpected and catastrophic injuries to the 5-6 best players on the team?

Because otherwise, that ain't happening. Makes it hard for me to put much wait into those projections.

My guess is that the Angels' median range is around 85-90 wins next year. If they have some serious injuries, they might fall to .500. If things break right, they'll be in the mid-90s again.

Its hard to take someone seriously when they say this.

The Angels lost Figgins, who was their best offensive player last year by wRC (slightly more than Morales), and who played a more premium defensive position; with positional adjustment, they lost their best hitter. They lost Darren Oliver, their best reliever. More importantly, they lost both of those players to a divisional opponent, . They also lost John Lackey, who was their best pitcher (or 2nd best). Their best remaining offensive players are a 36 year old with old player skills (Abreu) and a 1b who has shown no signs of hitting this well before; every projection system has him being good, but not hitting last year's levels.

In addition, every team in the division has improved - significantly. With the unbalanced schedule, that is a significant factor; the Angels will have less in the way of cupcakes to beat up next year. Texas and Oakland have young arms and talent that debuted next year, and premier talent at the AAA level (Chris Carter, Justin Smoak to name the most obvious ones); the Angels do not.

FWIW, Gun to my head, I see the AL West as a toss-up - I'm most skeptical about Oakland, but Texas/Anaheim/Seattle all look like solid teams, and the fact that the division lacks a team like the Royals/Nationals/Blue Jays to beat the crap out of is a significant factor; I think the AL West winner ends up at less than 90 wins. Now maybe this is the year Scocisa realizes Napoli isn't a leper and gives him playing time that benefits his prodigous offensive skills (over Jeff Mathis, who is a zero at the plate) and Brandon Wood gets his shot at 3b and breaks out, but I'm somewhat skeptical.

Its hard to take someone seriously when they say this.

What, because I stupidly put in "wait" instead of "weight"? Mea culpa, not a mistake I usually make. But if you're going to make a snap judgment on that, you probably need to put more thought into it. If that wasn't your point, I guess you need to be clearer on that statement, because I don't know exactly how you're determining my statement above to be all that ridiculous.

The Angels lost Figgins, who was their best offensive player last year by wRC (slightly more than Morales), and who played a more premium defensive position; with positional adjustment, they lost their best hitter. They lost Darren Oliver, their best reliever. More importantly, they lost both of those players to a divisional opponent, . They also lost John Lackey, who was their best pitcher (or 2nd best). Their best remaining offensive players are a 36 year old with old player skills (Abreu) and a 1b who has shown no signs of hitting this well before; every projection system has him being good, but not hitting last year's levels.

In addition, every team in the division has improved - significantly. With the unbalanced schedule, that is a significant factor; the Angels will have less in the way of cupcakes to beat up next year. Texas and Oakland have young arms and talent that debuted next year, and premier talent at the AAA level (Chris Carter, Justin Smoak to name the most obvious ones); the Angels do not.

FWIW, Gun to my head, I see the AL West as a toss-up - I'm most skeptical about Oakland, but Texas/Anaheim/Seattle all look like solid teams, and the fact that the division lacks a team like the Royals/Nationals/Blue Jays to beat the crap out of is a significant factor; I think the AL West winner ends up at less than 90 wins. Now maybe this is the year Scocisa realizes Napoli isn't a leper and gives him playing time that benefits his prodigous offensive skills (over Jeff Mathis, who is a zero at the plate) and Brandon Wood gets his shot at 3b and breaks out, but I'm somewhat skeptical.

The division is without a doubt tighter. I don't think anyone would seriosuly question that all of the other three teams have made moves that put them in good stance to improve last year, and it's clear the Angels have lost more talent than they have brought in.

But 10 games under .500? From a team that won 100 games in 2008 and 97 in 2009? That has won the division going away three seasons in a row, and five of the past six seasons?

Do you really think the Angels are going to just fall apart? If you do, you clearly haven't paid much attention to the Angels. They lose players every year. Glaus. Guillen. Salmon. Washburn. GA. Cabrera. Teixeira. KRod. Escobar & Shields to injury. But they just keep rolling on and winning.

The Angels lost Oliver, yes. But Scott Shields is back from injury, and Jepsen will have the cutter he learned in midseason from the start. Rodney's no great shakes, but he's decent. Fuentes isn't Mo Rivera, but he's generally effective. Palmer has another year of experience. Guess what? The pen's going to be better this year than last year, despite the loss of Oliver (who, I admit, I do wish we had brought back).

You talk about Lackey, but did you see what sort of season he had lost year? Not exactly ace pitching. Pineiro actually was much better, with that sinker he has learned. He led the majors is ground-to-fly ratio, from what I understand (you probably know that better than I do). He's going from the NL to the AL, from Duncan to Butcher and he'll need to show he can repeat last year's unexpected success, but even a significant drop off, combined with hopefully being healthy all year (as Lackey hardly ever was), will still give the Angels as much value as Lackey has given them the past two seasons.

Kazmir is going to be an Angel all season now. He showed some of his former quality and flair after the trade, and I am expecting a Kazmir a little closer to the Kazmir of old than the one that stunk it up in the first half for the Rays last year. Saunders turned his season around after finally admitting he had been trying to pitch through an injury most of last year. Santana is two years off of a #2 level season and also pitched much better down the stretch after poor early and midseason results. JWeav, your fave, is coming off of his best season and is the new ace.

Keep in mind, the Angels won 97 games, despite their pen being shattered by injuries, missing Lackey and Saunders and Santana for injury time, missing Escobar completely outside of one start in Detroit, not getting Kazmir until late August, and practically holding tryouts to get a consistent starter in the 4th & 5th spots at times.

Losing Figgy at the top of the order is going to hurt, that's undeniable. We will miss the OBP he provided last year. We will also miss his defense at 3B. Aybar is just as fast and might be as good of a contact hitter as well, but you can't expect he will step into the leadoff spot and be as scary on the basepaths, and he is much less willing to take walks than Figgy was last year (although to be fair, prior to last year, Figgy was also averse to taking walks). So there will be a dropoff there, no question. But the vast majority of the offense returns, and that is an offense that was better than every offense in baseball except for the Bombers. And that was despite Kendrick having huge issues and spending time in the minors, Torii Hunter missing a couple months in the middle of the season and Vlad being a shell of himself (and missing a lot of time as well). Matsui is an improvement over what Vlad is now, and while Woods is a different sort of hitter than Figgins, he also provides a lot more power, and is a solid 3B. Abreu-Rivera-Hunter-Matsui-Morales-Kendrick-Napoli/Mathis-Aybar-Woods--there may not be a for sure MVP candidate there, but that's a strong lineup.

This is the team you think is correct in predicting will be 10 games under .500?

I'll take a bet right now if that's what you believe.

BTW, the AL West was actually pretty strong last year, too. Three teams above .500, and the A's were a lot better than the cellar dwellers in the other AL divisions. Not as much the cupcake schedule as you think.

BTW, I completely agree with you on the Naps/Mathis thing. Some of the stuiff Sciosc decides to do frustrates the hell out of me. That said, hard to argue the results most of the time.

BTW, IIRC, these same PECOTA projections took a crapper on the Angels the past 2-3 seasons as well, and were wrong. I'll admit that's off the top of my head, though; I don't remember for sure. But this whole conversation feels eerily familiar, and that can't be from nothing.

I think PECOTA has had some issues with projecting the Angels for some reason, probably because of the style of play. It's another reason why I don't exactly accept PECOTA projections on faith (at least with respect to the Angels).

What, because I stupidly put in "wait" instead of "weight"? Mea culpa, not a mistake I usually make. But if you're going to make a snap judgment on that, you probably need to put more thought into it. If that wasn't your point, I guess you need to be clearer on that statement, because I don't know exactly how you're determining my statement above to be all that ridiculous.

No. Because your post reads like I don't like these projections because they are down on my favorite team.

No. Because your post reads like I don't like these projections because they are down on my favorite team.

Well, I can't argue that that's false. But the implication is shit. And that's that I am down on the projections unfairly because of my bias for my favorite team.

No, I am down on the projections because I KNOW my team, and my team is not going to finish with 76 wins this year, short of some phenomenal stretch of injury issues. And the numbers back me up. The Angels haven't won 76 games or less since 2001. They in fact haven't finished below 89 wins since 2003, and they have more talent now than all but perhaps the last three seasons (2007-09).

Did my ties to the Angels cause me to respond? Of course. But that doesn't mean my argument is flawed.

Logic as I see it:

GIVEN: PECOTA projects Angels to a 76-86 record this year.
My projection (based on the historical record and a reasonable assessment of the talent on the team): too much talent on team to finish with 76 wins or less

Ergo, the projection is shit, or my projection is shit. I think the overwhelming evidence of record is that my projection is accurate and consistest with past results and the talent on the team.

If you want me to amend my conclusion to "the projection is shit with respect to the Angels", I am fine with that. I did not consider if it correctly projected other teams. I don't know other teams nearly as well as I know the Angels.

Well, I can't argue that that's false. But the implication is shit. And that's that I am down on the projections unfairly because of my bias for my favorite team.

No, I am down on the projections because I KNOW my team, and my team is not going to finish with 76 wins this year, short of some phenomenal stretch of injury issues. And the numbers back me up. The Angels haven't won 76 games or less since 2001. They in fact haven't finished below 89 wins since 2003, and they have more talent now than all but perhaps the last three seasons (2007-09).

Did my ties to the Angels cause me to respond? Of course. But that doesn't mean my argument is flawed.

Logic as I see it:

GIVEN: PECOTA projects Angels to a 76-86 record this year.
My projection (based on the historical record and a reasonable assessment of the talent on the team): too much talent on team to finish with 76 wins or less

Ergo, the projection is shit, or my projection is shit. I think the overwhelming evidence of record is that my projection is accurate and consistest with past results and the talent on the team.

If you want me to amend my conclusion to "the projection is shit with respect to the Angels", I am fine with that. I did not consider if it correctly projected other teams. I don't know other teams nearly as well as I know the Angels.

I think the PECOTA projection has got to be wrong on the Angels - I don't see them winning 76 games. But they're not going to run away with that division I don't think. I could see...88 wins? 87 wins?

I hate the Yanks and would love to see them out of the playoffs, but I really don't see that happening barring a number of injuries.

I think the PECOTA projection has got to be wrong on the Angels - I don't see them winning 76 games. But they're not going to run away with that division I don't think. I could see...88 wins? 87 wins?

Agree completely. 87-88 wins probably a good call, and I think it's going to be tight the whole way. The rest of the division has definitely improved their talent. I still think the Angels come out on top by an edge, if only because they have been there, done that, but I wouldn't care to make that call for 2011, as the M's continue to improve and the A's/Rangers young talent continues to gain experience.

I hate the Yanks and would love to see them out of the playoffs, but I really don't see that happening barring a number of injuries.

yes please

I hate the Yanks and would love to see them out of the playoffs, but I really don't see that happening barring a number of injuries.

I want them to make the World Series again...with a different result this time :)

I have difficulty seeing the Yankees regressing much.

I think the PECOTA projection has got to be wrong on the Angels - I don't see them winning 76 games. But they're not going to run away with that division I don't think. I could see...88 wins? 87 wins?

Don't get too caught up in the wins/losses, instead look at runs scored and runs allowed. That's where people can present good arguments in support or in disagreement.

In 2009 the Angels scored 883 runs and are projected to score 830 in 2010.

In 2009 the Angels allowed 761 runs and are projected to allow 882 in 2010.

It would be great if we had all the player projections as well, but just runs scored/allowed should be able to focus the debate a bit.

Well, keep in mind that right now all the depth chart projections are really good for IS the mean indvidual projections as well. They've been quite up front about how playing time projections and rotations are going to change based on what happens in the spring. They'll probably update those several times. Looking specifically at the Angels, it's pretty clear that the system is predicting both a general rise in runs allowed due to losing Figgins, as well as individual setbacks for the Angels' starters.

Weaver's career, for example, prior to 2009 compared well to a lot of firebreathers who had world beating potential but never seemed to get it together for very long before imploding: Ben McDonald, Cal Eldred, Black Jack McDowell. Weaver had a better year than about 85-90% of those guys at age 26. His 2010 projection looks a little better, but until he shows it for a second year, PECOTA is going to project him back at slightly better than league level. You look at all the guys on last year's comps, and any one of them was capable of one big year. It's the second year in a row few of them delivered on, and Weaver is going to HAVE to have that big year for the Angels to contend this season, looking at the projections. You can go through the same exercise for the rest of the startrs, and see that PECOTA is pessimistic on Saunders and Santana, that Kazmir is going to split the difference between his Angels and Rays stints, and that Piniero is going to bust without Dave Duncan around.

Since we don't have PECOTA's individual projections for 2010 yet, we don't yet know about each player's upside. The veteran Angels have had good success in outplaying their projections as long as they're with the organization, and in underperforming once they leave. If that trend follows, then when the individual pages hit, we can tally up 60% projections instead of weighted mean and find that they are going to pop up at 8-10 wins better than that initial projection.

I think Crapshoot is spot on - it's going to be tight. I kinda like the Rangers in that division, with the Angels, and Mariners within four or five games. I think the Rays are going to find a way to underperform, and so I think the top team in the West will hit 90 wins.

Well, keep in mind that right now all the depth chart projections are really good for IS the mean indvidual projections as well. They've been quite up front about how playing time projections and rotations are going to change based on what happens in the spring. They'll probably update those several times. Looking specifically at the Angels, it's pretty clear that the system is predicting both a general rise in runs allowed due to losing Figgins, as well as individual setbacks for the Angels' starters.

Weaver's career, for example, prior to 2009 compared well to a lot of firebreathers who had world beating potential but never seemed to get it together for very long before imploding: Ben McDonald, Cal Eldred, Black Jack McDowell. Weaver had a better year than about 85-90% of those guys at age 26. His 2010 projection looks a little better, but until he shows it for a second year, PECOTA is going to project him back at slightly better than league level. You look at all the guys on last year's comps, and any one of them was capable of one big year. It's the second year in a row few of them delivered on, and Weaver is going to HAVE to have that big year for the Angels to contend this season, looking at the projections. You can go through the same exercise for the rest of the startrs, and see that PECOTA is pessimistic on Saunders and Santana, that Kazmir is going to split the difference between his Angels and Rays stints, and that Piniero is going to bust without Dave Duncan around.

Since we don't have PECOTA's individual projections for 2010 yet, we don't yet know about each player's upside. The veteran Angels have had good success in outplaying their projections as long as they're with the organization, and in underperforming once they leave. If that trend follows, then when the individual pages hit, we can tally up 60% projections instead of weighted mean and find that they are going to pop up at 8-10 wins better than that initial projection.

I think Crapshoot is spot on - it's going to be tight. I kinda like the Rangers in that division, with the Angels, and Mariners within four or five games. I think the Rays are going to find a way to underperform, and so I think the top team in the West will hit 90 wins.

Assuming you're speaking of Crap's last paragraph, there isn't much disagreement there from anyone. I don't think anyone is saying this division is going to be a walk for any team, and it's going to be tight all season.

Your specific reference to the starters, I can see where that's coming from, but all of those SPs except Pineiro are more or less entering or at the prime age for top performance. Short of injury, I believe they will all have strong seasons.

As for Pineioro, last year looks like an outlier, so I do expect a drop off. That said, Butcher's not a bad coach. He's not Duncan, but he's not bad. I don't think Pineiro's going to completely bust.

There were a lot of issues last year with underperforming starters and injuries. The staff was actually was not as good as it has been historically last year as a result. So predicting a further 16% rise in runs allowed on top of a poor season of pitching, IMO, is a pretty strong reach. The Angels aren't allowing that many runs. My guess is they will allow about the same this season as last season.

I like the offensive projection. Given Figgins' loss, that drop off is a realistic projection, IMO.

Tigers and Verlander are apparently working on a new contract. Detroit is offering 5 years/75 mil, but JV wants a 6th season. Regardless it looks like it'll be around the Felix deal and should be done soon.

Great news. Despite the risk on a long term deal with a pitcher and the obvious workload JV has taken on, he has a very effortless motion and no real history of arm injuries in the past so he is as good a bet as any to stay healthy for most of the deal.

Tigers and Verlander are apparently working on a new contract. Detroit is offering 5 years/75 mil, but JV wants a 6th season. Regardless it looks like it'll be around the Felix deal and should be done soon.

Great news. Despite the risk on a long term deal with a pitcher and the obvious workload JV has taken on, he has a very effortless motion and no real history of arm injuries in the past so he is as good a bet as any to stay healthy for most of the deal.

Good. I don't have any realistic belief Verlander will ever be an Angel, so any deal that keeps him off of the market and away from New York/Boston is a good thing.

Sorta the same with King Felix, although that's a little different from my prespective, since he pitches for a division rival.

This was released today where BP admits they messed up on PECOTA and are working on a fix:

Regarding PECOTA

by Eric Seidman

Reading through the comments of yesterday’s announcement that the PECOTA projections have been released, it is evident that there is a lot of concern over several aspects of the data, ranging from the projected standings to individual quirks. We understand and appreciate that this reflects a lot of passion for what we do here at Baseball Prospectus. To be blunt: we messed up, and are working to fix the issues.

One issue involves the run environment: individual player projections do not match up with the run totals on the projected standings.

Another problem revolves around BABIP, as defense was being double-counted (double-counted).

These and other issues are being worked on and we hope to have an update provided by the end of the day, to unmess up. Please stay tuned for further updates.

Good. I don't have any realistic belief Verlander will ever be an Angel, so any deal that keeps him off of the market and away from New York/Boston is a good thing.

Sorta the same with King Felix, although that's a little different from my prespective, since he pitches for a division rival.

Hey, I'm a fan of a New York/Boston team, and I think it's good if these guys stick with their original teams. It's better for the game that way, no question. I hope Mauer does the same thing.

While I expect the LAnaheim Angles to slide back a bit and the division as a whole to be very much up in the air, I was very surprised to see PECOTA peg them at 76 wins.

Earlier projections by Mariner fansite Lookout Landing author (and FanGraphs contributor) Matthew Carruth had the Angles pegged as roughly an 85 win team:

AL West projections (http://www.lookoutlanding.com/2010/1/9/1241651/the-al-west-updated)

Granted, that was from January 9th and a few big moves have happened since, but not really anything significant affecting the Angels IIRC. Also, it's important to note these are just projected WAR values and not actually trying to simulate W/L records by projecting the entire league.

Bottom line, I tend to suspect PECOTA's first projections are underestimating LAnaheim.

While I expect the LAnaheim Angles to slide back a bit and the division as a whole to be very much up in the air, I was very surprised to see PECOTA peg them at 76 wins.

Earlier projections by Mariner fansite Lookout Landing author (and FanGraphs contributor) Matthew Carruth had the Angles pegged as roughly an 85 win team:

AL West projections (http://www.lookoutlanding.com/2010/1/9/1241651/the-al-west-updated)

Granted, that was from January 9th and a few big moves have happened since, but not really anything significant affecting the Angels IIRC. Also, it's important to note these are just projected WAR values and not actually trying to simulate W/L records by projecting the entire league.

Bottom line, I tend to suspect PECOTA's first projections are underestimating LAnaheim.

Ya might have missed it but a couple posts up I posted a thing from BP saying they screwed up the initial PECOTA.

I agree though Anaheim seems like an 85 win team or in that area.

While I expect the LAnaheim Angles to slide back a bit and the division as a whole to be very much up in the air, I was very surprised to see PECOTA peg them at 76 wins.

Earlier projections by Mariner fansite Lookout Landing author (and FanGraphs contributor) Matthew Carruth had the Angles pegged as roughly an 85 win team:

AL West projections (http://www.lookoutlanding.com/2010/1/9/1241651/the-al-west-updated)

Granted, that was from January 9th and a few big moves have happened since, but not really anything significant affecting the Angels IIRC. Also, it's important to note these are just projected WAR values and not actually trying to simulate W/L records by projecting the entire league.

Bottom line, I tend to suspect PECOTA's first projections are underestimating LAnaheim.

Probably the main move that wouldn't be there is the signing of Pineiro. Even if he takes a significant step back, he's probably better than the group of pitchers the Angels were going to tryout for that spot. So I would say bump the Angels up a couple wins based on that. 87 seems a good number right now.

Dola - sounds like the M's have signed Eric Byrnes to a 1-year deal.

Mike Bacsik, the guy who gave up Barry Bonds record setting home run was called out Tim Redding after Redding implied -- for no really good reason at all -- that Bacsik grooved on to Barry Bonds that night.

Bacsik was just on Baseball Tonight via phone to give his side of the story, saying he had no reason to do that and that Tim Redding is a horrible teammate and had 18 months to call him out after that and never did and waited for some reason to do it 3 years later.

I do recall the conversations back then and that Bacsik specifically gave interviews saying that he realized it could happen and that it might be cool to be remembered in history for being part of something memorable.

But it just seemed like a strange thing for Redding to bring up, especially since he's still in the majors, but Bacsik called him the worst teammate he'd ever had. So that's a ringing endorsement to those Rockies fans.

2. Credit where credit is due: Bacsik showed a lot of humor in dealing with the questions from Redding's quote. Here's one of his tweets from Thursday: "For everyone on my page that needs a denial; I didn't try to give up the home run. I was crappy enough to do it without trying." Bacsik is expecting his third child today and we wish him luck. @MikeBacsik

D12: Bacsik responds to Redding, denies that he's ever grooved - Big League Stew - MLB Blog - Yahoo! Sports (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/D12-Bacsik-responds-to-Redding-denies-that-he-?urn=mlb,216461)

5 years/$80M is great news for M's fans. Zduriencik is having a hell of an off-season...

I think I mention this every time he makes a move, but I am so jealous of your GM right now. He's barely been on the job and he's one of the best in the game

SI

I'm almost finished with Posnanski's The Machine. One item really stood out as never happening again. In game four of the 1975 World Series Louis Tiant threw an incredible 163 pitches!

Dusty Baker has been managing the Reds for how long?

SI

I hate the Yanks and would love to see them out of the playoffs, but I really don't see that happening barring a number of injuries.

I think the Rays projection is awfully generous

SI

Dusty Baker has been managing the Reds for how long?

SI

What does that have to do with how many pitches Louis Tiant threw for the Red Sox?

What does that have to do with how many pitches Louis Tiant threw for the Red Sox?

Whoops, my bad. I was just thinking Reds/Red Sox, 168 pitches, and Dusty Baker- easy mistake I would think as it was before my time ;)

SI

PECOTA has been updated:

Baseball Prospectus | Depth Charts (http://www.baseballprospectus.com/fantasy/dc/)

Red Sox 93, Yankees 93, Rays 92
Minnesota the only team in the central with a winning record at 83
Oakland 85, Texas 84, Seattle 81

Atlanta and Philly with 85
Cards with 86
No one else in those divisions over .500 but Reds and Nats(!?) at 81
All of the West over .500 with Dodgers (86), DBacks (85), Rockies (83), and Giants (82)

SI

PECOTA has been updated:

Now that's more like it.

The Angels have been revised upward ... to 77 wins vs the original 76 :D

Now that's more like it.

The Angels have been revised upward ... to 77 wins vs the original 76 :D

Heh...yeah, I already looked. I'm not sayin' nothing. :D

And if the Braves end up with the second most wins (tied) in the NL with their lineup then it's probably time to just retract the whole league.

Ugh. Apparently Orlando Cabrera is going to be the starting SS for the Reds. At 3 mil they didn't overpay, but his declining fielding and 86 OPS+ for 2009 make it doubtful he'll be much better overall than Janish would have been.

At least Jocketty has been sharp in other decisions this winter.

Ugh. Apparently Orlando Cabrera is going to be the starting SS for the Reds. At 3 mil they didn't overpay, but his declining fielding and 86 OPS+ for 2009 make it doubtful he'll be much better overall than Janish would have been.

At least Jocketty has been sharp in other decisions this winter.

86+ is a hell of a lot better than 59+. Great signing in my opinion. I'll take a .270 hitter who plays good defense. Yeah...he's older but it's a one year deal with an option for a 2nd. Love the move. Janish wasn't going to to cut it.

86+ is a hell of a lot better than 59+. Great signing in my opinion. I'll take a .270 hitter who plays good defense. Yeah...he's older but it's a one year deal with an option for a 2nd. Love the move. Janish wasn't going to to cut it.

But that's the problem, he no longer plays good defense. Based on fielding and hitting Cabrera is barely better than Janish (who is a very good fielder). It's 3 mil spent without providing a significant overall upgrade.

Now if Cabrera can boost his OBP from last year or play better defense it's a good pick up, but otherwise it doesn't do much more than provide a good defensive replacement on the bench.

But that's the problem, he no longer plays good defense. Based on fielding and hitting Cabrera is barely better than Janish (who is a very good fielder). It's 3 mil spent without providing a significant overall upgrade.

Now if Cabrera can boost his OBP from last year or play better defense it's a good pick up, but otherwise it doesn't do much more than provide a good defensive replacement on the bench.

He's still an above average fielder...even in his current state. Worst case you play him for 7, get average defense and a much better bat and then put Janish in late games for defense if it's a big enough concern.

I think I mention this every time he makes a move, but I am so jealous of your GM right now. He's barely been on the job and he's one of the best in the game

SI
It's been a remarkable turnaround from Bavasi to Zduriencik. It's hard to find a move he's made that I haven't liked.

That said, it's all talk until they prove it on the field. Last year was fun, but the goal is to get back into the post-season and win a World Series.

It's going to take a little patience and luck to do that. But to go from the Bavasi years to hopeful playoff contender seems like a nice first step for a guy barely on the job for a year.

SI

Great news for the Twins and their fans

Twins have framework on Mauer deal? - MLB- nbcsports.msnbc.com (http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/35183267/ns/sports-player_news/)

Sounds like the Mauer extension is all but complete.

Any complaints I had about Cabrera are officially null and void. Walt got rid of Taveras and saved about 1.8 mil in a trade with Oakland. Sure Miles sucks, but he sucks for less money than T-Virus.

Maybe this will be the year that the leadoff hitter OBPs higher than .300.

A Mauer deal would be good news for baseball in general.

A Mauer deal would be good news for baseball in general.

Agreed

SI

good for baseball in general, sad for my red sox

Evidently it is a 10 year deal for Mauer, essentially locking him up for Minnesota.

Any complaints I had about Cabrera are officially null and void. Walt got rid of Taveras and saved about 1.8 mil in a trade with Oakland. Sure Miles sucks, but he sucks for less money than T-Virus.

Maybe this will be the year that the leadoff hitter OBPs higher than .300.

Taveras to Oakland? Beane must have given up on OBP.

Evidently it is a 10 year deal for Mauer, essentially locking him up for Minnesota.

Holy ****! Really?

I thought only the Red Wings did that.

Holy ****! Really?

I thought only the Red Wings did that.

http://wcco.com/sports/twins/joe.mauer.minnesota.2.1462891.html

Taveras to Oakland? Beane must have given up on OBP.

I can't tell you how thrilled I am that Baker won't have the option of batting Taveras or Patterson first. I'm a little worried about Miguel Cairo and Miles, but they look like part time players at best and everybody knows the CF has to bat leadoff.

Holy ****! Really?

I thought only the Red Wings did that.

And the Islanders are laughing at that.

Um, wow. A 10-year deal? I guess I'll reserve judgment until I see actual numbers on it, but even for a hitter entering his prime, 10 years just seems crazy risky.

Evidently it is a 10 year deal for Mauer, essentially locking him up for Minnesota.

Good for them, nice to see a guy stick with his roots also. Hopefully this shows other potential free agents they are committed to winning long term and they can get some guys in there. This team is always competitive with less resources then the big boys, imagine if they started getting some top tier talent to come there instead of having to dump guys who are up for a big payday like they did with Johan.

I can't tell you how thrilled I am that Baker won't have the option of batting Taveras or Patterson first. I'm a little worried about Miguel Cairo and Miles, but they look like part time players at best and everybody knows the CF has to bat leadoff.

I'm just assuming this means Stubbs leads off. I figure its...

Stubbs -- cf
Cabrera -- ss
Votto -- 1b
Phillips -- 2b
Bruce -- rf
Rolen -- 3b
Dickerson/Gomes? -- lf
Hannigan -- c

It's a good lineup...not great but good. Their defense though is all but rock solid.

Buster Olney tweeting that 'multiple sources' are saying that the ten-year report is inaccurate.

Buster Olney tweeting that 'multiple sources' are saying that the ten-year report is inaccurate.
That makes more sense. I'd think it would be more in the 5 or 6 year range - less risk for Minnesota, and it would give Mauer an opportunity at another big payday if he remains healthy and productive.

Despite what some sources are saying, I wouldn't be surprised at all if the deal really is 10 years.

I'm just assuming this means Stubbs leads off. I figure its...

Stubbs -- cf
Cabrera -- ss
Votto -- 1b
Phillips -- 2b
Bruce -- rf
Rolen -- 3b
Dickerson/Gomes? -- lf
Hannigan -- c

It's a good lineup...not great but good. Their defense though is all but rock solid.

Yeah, because the other thing that everybody knows is that the SS bats second.

If it were me I'd switch Rolen and Cabrera, move Bruce to cleanup and bat Gomes fifth if he's resigned. Phillips is okay for a 2b, but he's not a good middle of he lineup hitter. Of course if Bruce plays like he did before his injury he's not an anywhere in the lineup hitter.

Despite what some sources are saying, I wouldn't be surprised at all if the deal really is 10 years.

Me either, if that's what gets Mauer whatever guarantees he would be looking for in order to get a signature. I just hope for the MIN fan sake that they get some ridiculous insurance coverage for the slight chance he gets hurt so the franchise isn't completely destroyed.

Pretty sure we're underestimating Mauer's value to the Twins franchise. There are sime players whom their utility goes beyond baseball value because of the intrinsic importance they are to fans in that community.

It's like LeBron James in Cleveland. The Caviliers would offer James a life-time contract on the spot, if he'd accept it. Albert Pujols in St. Louis would probably be another.

Yeah, because the other thing that everybody knows is that the SS bats second.

If it were me I'd switch Rolen and Cabrera, move Bruce to cleanup and bat Gomes fifth if he's resigned. Phillips is okay for a 2b, but he's not a good middle of he lineup hitter. Of course if Bruce plays like he did before his injury he's not an anywhere in the lineup hitter.

Agreed on most counts. I want Rolen behind Bruce...part of the reason Bruce has problems is because teams don't have to pitch to him. With Rolen behind him, they'll have to pitch to Bruce. Phillips will bat cleanup so a team can't burn one lefty on Votto and Bruce back-to-back. I agree with your premise on him at cleanup though...just isn't going to happen.

Pretty sure we're underestimating Mauer's value to the Twins franchise. There are sime players whom their utility goes beyond baseball value because of the intrinsic importance they are to fans in that community.

It's like LeBron James in Cleveland. The Caviliers would offer James a life-time contract on the spot, if he'd accept it. Albert Pujols in St. Louis would probably be another.
I get that - Ichiro is a huge value to the M's franchise in terms of additional attendance and merchandising - but it's still a big risk to the Twins.

What if he suffers a major injury in the next couple of years that reduces him from superstar to average or worse? Fans love hometown heroes, but they love winning more. For a franchise that has usually been near the bottom of the league in terms of payroll, there's a big risk in tying up a significant portion of your payroll in one guy.

Again, I'll wait to see what the actual numbers are before I pass too much judgment - perhaps the total dollar amount is low enough that it limits the Twins' risk while also providing Mauer enough guaranteed money for him to be willing to forgo free agency. But in general, I'm surprised a low-revenue team is willing to take the risk of a 10-year deal.

Great news fellow Reds fans.


Willy T is going, going, gone....

That makes more sense. I'd think it would be more in the 5 or 6 year range - less risk for Minnesota, and it would give Mauer an opportunity at another big payday if he remains healthy and productive.

Despite what some sources are saying, I wouldn't be surprised at all if the deal really is 10 years.

My guess is the 'inaccurate' is quibbling over guaranteed length/money.

Wouldn't surprise me if it's a hedge - five or six guaranteed years, with , say, four mutual options thereafter. Minnesota gets Mauer for that guaranteed length of time, gets some insurance against devastating injury in the later years when he's in his mid-30s, and Mauer isn't totally locked in for the remainder of his career if Minnesota falls off the toilet and poos all over themselves. He'd still be young enough in five or six years to go get a contract with Boston or New York if that's what he wants then.

Great news fellow Reds fans.


Willy T is going, going, gone....

Perfect...thanks a lot.

Signed,
A's Fan

Perfect...thanks a lot.

Signed,
A's Fan

Aha.

You guys do not have Dusty Baker, though. He won't be hitting lead-off for most the season like he was here..

Welcome back to baseball, Byung-Hyun Kim!

I would speculate the 10 years is accurate.

It was likely the best way for them to work out an agreement. Mauer takes the hometown discount and is given years of security in return for it.

Initially I heard 8 years 200 million so Im now thinking 10 years 240-250 mllion.

This was the Twins only option before moving in to the new ballpark. They begged for years for a new stadium claiming it was the only way to compete financially. If they had let Johan and Mauer leave the team after the state agreed to help fund this new stadium it wouldnt have been a good situation for the Twins ownership.

Aha.

You guys do not have Dusty Baker, though. He won't be hitting lead-off for most the season like he was here..

I think we're starting to see Jocketty take over this team. He's all but forced Dusty into playing certain players every day.

Yea, hopefully that is a good thing... But he is the one that brought Willy T in..

Verlander and the Tigs agree on a 5 yr/80 mil deal.

Good deal. He probably shouldn't get more then Felix based on age + production but Felix was also two years further away from FA then JV so the extra money was needed.

Good deal for all involved.

Twins signed Orlando Hudson for 1 year. Lineup is looking a lot stronger this year.

The M's are signing Bedard to a 1-year deal for $1.5M plus incentives. He's coming off of a torn labrum and probably won't be available before June, but at that price why not take a flier?

Twins signed Orlando Hudson for 1 year. Lineup is looking a lot stronger this year.

1. Span
2. Hudson
3. Mauer
4. Morneau
5. Cuddyer
6. Kubel
7. Hardy
8. Young
9. Harris/Punto
PH. Thome

Yes yes. Nice lineup.

Adam Kennedy. Meh.

So this is probably a good idea for the Tigs to do. Miggy has been getting treatment for his alcohol issues but it can't hurt to have a guy he looks up to around for Spring Training, plus who doesn't love the Big Cat.

MARGARITA ISLAND, Venezuela -- The Big Cat could be joining the Tigers soon.

Andres Galarraga will likely join Detroit during Spring Training to serve as a mentor to Miguel Cabrera, the former Major Leaguer told the Venezuelan Web site Panorama.com.

Cabrera made headlines last October when he was taken into police custody but not charged following an incident with his wife in suburban Detroit that left him with scratches and bruises on his face. The Tigers infielder has undergone counseling to deal with his alcohol issues, and said he has not had a drink since the end of last season.

"Detroit wants me to be with Miguel during Spring Training and that's where we are," said Galarraga, who was at the Caribbean Series working as a broadcaster for Venezuelan television. "If it's for Spring Training, I think I will accept, but if it's for the season, I don't want to be away from my home for eight months. I hope they accept that it's only for Spring Training because to be there for six weeks is perfect."

As a coach for Venezuela during the World Baseball Classic, Galarraga worked with Cabrera on the transition from third base to first base. He also served as a mentor during the tournament.

"Maybe it's one of those things that Miguel is interested in me continuing to help him," Galarraga said. "It seems [general manager] Dave Dombrowski and manager Jim Leyland think it's a good idea."

Galarraga believes he can be a good influence on Cabrera.

"Miguelito is preparing himself. After the rehabilitation, he's coming in the best condition," he said. "Miguelito has been a superstar since he started and now he's prepared mentally and physically. I believe he's going to have an explosive year."

Jesse Sanchez is a national reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Kindof a neat story out of Chicago.
Chicago White Sox unretire Luis Aparicio's No. 11 so Omar Vizquel can wear it - ESPN Chicago (http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=4897287)

Omar Vizquel to wear Luis Aparicio's 11

The Chicago White Sox have unretired Luis Aparicio's No. 11, which will be worn by Omar Vizquel.

Aparicio is the only Venezuelan to be inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame. Vizquel, also a native of Venezuela, was acquired by the White Sox in November. He's worn No. 13 in the past, but that number currently is used by manager Ozzie Guillen. Vizquel's decision to wear No. 11 is a nod to his countryman.

"For me, it's like a huge celebration, trying to keep his name alive and trying to spread the word of Venezuelan shortstops," Vizquel said Monday during a conference call. "I think every kid now -- the new generation of shortstops in Venezuela -- has to know about Luis Aparicio and everything that he means to us in this game."

"If there is one player who I would like to see wear my uniform number with the White Sox, it is Omar Vizquel," Aparicio said in a statement. "I have known Omar for a long time. Along with being an outstanding player, he is a good and decent man."

It is the second time the White Sox have unretired a number after Harold Baines' No. 3 was given back to him when he rejoined the team in 1996 and 2003 for his third and final stint with the team.

"Ever since I signed with the White Sox, the first thing Ozzie Guillen said [was]: 'You can forget about 13, that's going to be my number,'" Vizquel said. "He knows that's my number and I really would love to wear it. But I think what Ozzie Guillen has done for the Chicago White Sox, winning them a championship and all the years that he played there, No. 13 already has a name. ... As long as a Venezuelan is wearing it, I'm pretty happy with it."

Vizquel is an 11-time Gold Glove infielder.



SI

Is there any possibility that Jeter leaves the Yankees? Not so much because he wants to, but say the Yanks don't want to pay a 36-year old shortstop prime dollars? Does some other team try to steal him away for the marketing buzz it might create? I don't think it'll actually happen, but I'm intrigued by whether it'd make sense in some way or not.

Is there any possibility that Jeter leaves the Yankees? Not so much because he wants to, but say the Yanks don't want to pay a 36-year old shortstop prime dollars? Does some other team try to steal him away for the marketing buzz it might create? I don't think it'll actually happen, but I'm intrigued by whether it'd make sense in some way or not.

Jeter would probably retire before he went elsewhere.

Plus, the outcry in New York would be beyond unreal. It'd be Favre drama times a million.

Jeter will get another couple years at SS then move to DH to end his career.

The Indians have called a 1:30 PM press conference this afternoon and are expected to announce that Mark Shapiro is being promoted to Indians President and Chris Antonetti will take over as GM.

Antonetti has always been the GM-in-waiting but I wonder why they'd make this move now.

edit- Paul Hoynes speculates that Antonetti will become GM next season. The announcement will be similar to the one John Hart made when he appointed Shapiro as the next GM after the current season.

Headline says it all...

Pirates convinced they're on cusp of becoming an elite franchise | Penn State News | Sports - Centre Daily Times (http://www.centredaily.com/sports/story/1800602.html)

His picture doesn't exactly inspire confidence.

Headline says it all...

Pirates convinced they're on cusp of becoming an elite franchise | Penn State News | Sports - Centre Daily Times (http://www.centredaily.com/sports/story/1800602.html)

Elite franchise is a definite stretch but anybody that doesn't see that the Pirates are finally heading in the right direction isn't paying attention.

Headline says it all...

Pirates convinced they're on cusp of becoming an elite franchise | Penn State News | Sports - Centre Daily Times (http://www.centredaily.com/sports/story/1800602.html)

Kept moving my eyes to the right looking for "The Onion".

Chan Ho Park signs with the Yankees

I am hoping Strausburg starts in the minrs for Washington as that means I'll get to see a start or two by him as Syracuse is the Nationals AAA farm team.

We all know what Jayson Werth was up to this offseason....growing this kick ass beard!

http://enrico.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451af4b69e20120a8c89bce970b-pi

I'm getting friggin' ready for baseball already. It will be my first year with the DirectTV baseball package. It could get ugly.

We've seen BP projections, here's win total over/unders from Bookmaker. I saw them posted on another board, checked the site and a few of them have already changed a game or half a game but I don't feel like correcting such small changes so:



Arizona- 82
Atlanta- 86.5
Baltimore- 72.5
Boston- 94
Chicago C- 83
Chicago W- 82
Cincinnati- 78
Cleveland- 73
Colorado- 83
Detroit- 81
Florida- 81
Houston- 77
Kansas City- 71
LA Angels- 84
LA Dodgers- 84
Milwaukee- 80.5
Minnesota- 82
NY Mets- 81
NY Yankees- 94.5
Oakland- 78
Philadelphia- 92
Pittsburgh- 71
St. Louis- 88
San Diego- 71
San Francisco- 83
Seattle- 83
Tampa Bay- 89.5
Texas- 83
Toronto- 71
Washington- 72

Look at all of these average teams, there's too much parity imo, the salary cap and revenue sharing are killing baseball.

Braves to get a wild card spot by 3-4 games, I'll take that. But I don't think management did enough to improve the offense, the bullpen could still be suspect, and we practically gave away one of the NL's best starters. Maybe Heyward will be on the big league team early and hit like Roy Hobbs.

AL West, AL Central, and NL West all look interesting.

Quite frankly, making the game more interesting doesn't equal "killing baseball", but YMMV.

Oh c'mon it was a dig at the people who complain about too much parity in the NFL. There's no salary cap in baseball yet afaik.

I always look forward to baseball season during that post-NFL playoffs, pre-NBA playoffs lull (well, lull in US sports at least, thankfully European soccer is practically year round). At least this year there was the Winter Olympics to fill some of the void but that's almost over.

Twins over 82 is easy money.

Twins over 82 is easy money.

Thats actually a bet that would scare the crap out of me. One injury to Mauer or Morneau and the under there would look pretty good.

Thats actually a bet that would scare the crap out of me. One injury to Mauer or Morneau and the under there would look pretty good.

Eh, you could say that about many of the teams I think. And this is the strongest Twins lineup in years, so while their impact is huge, it's not quite a huge as in previous years. Plus, the Twins have had to deal with injuries (plus slumps in Morneau's case) to both of them in previous seasons.

Look at all of these average teams, there's too much parity imo, the salary cap and revenue sharing are killing baseball.


Well, preseason predictions almost always have tighter win distributions than the actual results - it comes from assuming that every team will have average luck in terms of injuries, players having peak years, and whatnot. The best team in the majors is usually a team which had a very good roster *and* good luck on those fronts, which is a standard that's pretty much impossible to meet when the season's being projected beforehand.

Must-See VIDEO: Tim Lincecum Snuggie Photo Shoot | 7th Inning Stache, an MLB blog (http://7is.neswblogs.com/2010/03/must-see-video-tim-lincecum-snuggie-photo-shoot/)

Lightning Bolt! Lightning Bolt!

Like I needed any more evidence that Tim Lincecum is awesome.

I am officially watching baseball! It may be a spring training game between the Yankees and Pirates, but it is guys who get paid to play baseball.

lol

The only problem is the Yankee announcers are broadcasting.

I love it when they make comments like " this infield has the potential to be the greatest in the history of baseball"

Really, can't imagine how spending 95 million on your infield could cause that to happen.

The Red Sox used a clubhouse attendant at DH after Ortiz left the game today. He went 0-2, and left 4 men on. The Sox are really going need more production from their administrative and operational staff if they're going to contend this year.

Gotta love spring training.

Anyone else miss the World Baseball Classic? It's more fun watching that than browsing box scores from Spring Training games imo. At the least I'd like it switched from every three years to every two. I doubt baseball makes it back into the Summer Olympics any time soon either since Bud Selig doesn't want MLB stars participating.

Anyone else miss the World Baseball Classic? It's more fun watching that than browsing box scores from Spring Training games imo. At the least I'd like it switched from every three years to every two. I doubt baseball makes it back into the Summer Olympics any time soon either since Bud Selig doesn't want MLB stars participating.

No

Anyone else miss the World Baseball Classic? It's more fun watching that than browsing box scores from Spring Training games imo. At the least I'd like it switched from every three years to every two. I doubt baseball makes it back into the Summer Olympics any time soon either since Bud Selig doesn't want MLB stars participating.

I miss what it could be, if baseball teams and especially American ballplayers took it more seriously. Even with that, though, I don't think it should be more than every four years. If you do it too often, it loses its meaning.

I miss what it could be, if baseball teams and especially American ballplayers took it more seriously. Even with that, though, I don't think it should be more than every four years. If you do it too often, it loses its meaning.If they wanted to do it seriously you'd need to take a week off in mid-season, maybe replacing the ASG (or while still having a rump ASG). 2 groups of 5 round-robin, top 2 in each advance to a semi-final/final. 6 games in 7 days, and it's only what, 2 days longer than the current ASB?

If they wanted to do it seriously you'd need to take a week off in mid-season, maybe replacing the ASG (or while still having a rump ASG). 2 groups of 5 round-robin, top 2 in each advance to a semi-final/final. 6 games in 7 days, and it's only what, 2 days longer than the current ASB?

I think a midseason AG would be best with respect to the wear and tear, since at the start of the season, players are trying to work their way into shape, and at the end of the season, well, it's the end of the season (and bad weather). But midseason is a hard sell on teams and players, because of the injury risk at a critical time (for teams) and because of all the games and time it adds to the season (for players).

But I suppose if hockey can do it, it's workable for baseball, too.

For position players it is no problem, but when you start factoring pitchers into the mix and someone outside the organization managing those pitchers considering the investment made it is to big a risk.

For position players it is no problem, but when you start factoring pitchers into the mix and someone outside the organization managing those pitchers considering the investment made it is to big a risk.Yeah, it'll never happen, but if you're going to bother doing it having the pitchers pitch midseason is a much lower injury risk than jumping in at 100% before ST even starts. But maybe that's just a Boston perspective after we've lost Timlin and Matsuzaka in past years. You could even expand the pitching staffs and make a rule a starter can only go 1 time or use some Little League style pitch counts, which would obviously go against the spirit of baseball, but might be necessary if pitchers keep getting injured.But midseason is a hard sell on teams and players, because of the injury risk at a critical time (for teams) and because of all the games and time it adds to the season (for players).

But I suppose if hockey can do it, it's workable for baseball, too.Don't do preliminary rounds or do those in ST so you get down to 10 teams and I don't see why you can't bang it out in a week. It's an extra 3 days off from currently - that could easily be made up by starting a couple days earlier or (gasp) adding a couple scheduled day/night doubleheaders on weekends when the weather should be nice (summer in Bos etc, earlier in the spring in Texas etc). Heck, you could even do it in the current 5 if you went with 2 4-team groups and had no off days.

Maybe if we had a JIMGA of baseball attendance he could explain why they make more revenue doing it in March when it's essentially a sideshow/afterthought in the US, but I personally fail to see why it wouldn't generate more interest during the traditional ASB when there would be no competing shows and all sports media was focused on it. Plus US players would be in better game shape, and the US playing 4 times in 4 nights, with a good chance at 2 more in a 7-day period, would be the closest thing to appointment TV baseball can hope for.

Any kind of WBC a week long or shorter is really just an exhibition. That's too short a time considering the nature of baseball to be any kind of actual competition. The outcomes are completely random when you're talking that small an amount of games.

A month-long WBC would be quite awesome - but of course that will never happen.

Royals have their first game today. I think we actually have less power on this year's team than last year if that's possible. Hopefully that means less strikeouts.

Listened to an interview yesterday with Luke Hochevar. Guy asked him how he felt about his rough outing in the intersquad game the day before (gave up several runs). Luke went on to tell the guy that he was actually very happy with his outing and that he accomplished what he wanted to do. The coaching staff only allowed him to throw a fastball or a changeup the entire outing. The hitters figured it out and started sitting on pitches knowing that he wasn't going to throw a breaking ball.

Royals have their first game today. I think we actually have less power on this year's team than last year if that's possible. Hopefully that means less strikeouts.

As a fellow fan of a disappointing small-market team, I love the optimism.

Royals have their first game today. I think we actually have less power on this year's team than last year if that's possible. Hopefully that means less strikeouts.

Did you see Poz had his annual "Royals Will Win" column on his blog this year since he no longer writes for the Star:

Joe Posnanski » Blog Archive » Optimism From A Royals Season Ticket Holder (http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2010/03/02/optimism-from-a-royals-season-ticket-holder/)

It's not quite as optimistic as in the past, tho (at least the part that speaks to the Royals). It seems a little more halfhearted, as a lot of his stuff on his blog is which is why I really miss his columns. :(

SI

We all know what Jayson Werth was up to this offseason....growing this kick ass beard!

http://enrico.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451af4b69e20120a8c89bce970b-pi

I just saw his beard on the MLB Network. That is a fucking glorious beard.

Roy Halladay looking good in preseason

Ouch. Twins closer Joe Nathan needs Tommy John surgery..

Ouch. Twins closer Joe Nathan needs Tommy John surgery..

wow, that sucks

Did you see Poz had his annual "Royals Will Win" column on his blog this year since he no longer writes for the Star:

Joe Posnanski » Blog Archive » Optimism From A Royals Season Ticket Holder (http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2010/03/02/optimism-from-a-royals-season-ticket-holder/)

It's not quite as optimistic as in the past, tho (at least the part that speaks to the Royals). It seems a little more halfhearted, as a lot of his stuff on his blog is which is why I really miss his columns. :(

SI

I guess in the process of taking care of my new baby that I didn't know that he had moved on to Sports Illustrated. Sad to see him go. But I guess that's what happens when you're good at what you do.

Has anyone subscribed to the MLB package on the iPhone that allows you to watch games if you have MLB TV? Was thinking it would be nice to watch Royals games when I'm on the go. Looks like it would be $114 for MLB Premium plus the iPhone app.

Has anyone subscribed to the MLB package on the iPhone that allows you to watch games if you have MLB TV? Was thinking it would be nice to watch Royals games when I'm on the go. Looks like it would be $114 for MLB Premium plus the iPhone app.

I had both last year and yes, by the end of the year, you could watch all out of market games live right on your iPhone. It was as awesome as it sounds but yes, pretty expensive. IMHO MLB should give MLB.tv subscribers the MLB At Bat iPhone app for free as part of a bundle package.

I should clarify that the iPhone app allows all users to watch two randomly selected games per night (sometimes one but usually two) regardless of if you have a MLB.tv subscription or not. If you have MLB.tv you can watch all out of market games but you still get two games a night even if you don't have MLB.tv. The iPhone app also lets you listen to all games for free.

Was MLB At Bat around last year? Worth $14.99?

Was MLB At Bat around last year? Worth $14.99?

Yes, it debuted last year. It's a pretty good app but I'd wait til right before Opening Day to pick it up because it's still pretty buggy now from what I hear. It sold for $9.99 last year so the price increase is frustrating. They did add background streaming but I'm not sure that should cost an extra $5 since the NBA app had that from the beginning. If you like listening to games or watching one or two a night, on the go, it's a good deal.

Was MLB At Bat around last year? Worth $14.99?

It was $9.99 last year and I thought it was a steal. I bought this year's version as soon as it came out.

Just a couple of questions.....

1. So the iPhone app has streaming audio, but to get the video, you have to buy the MLB TV Premium, correct?

2. You mentioned only watching two out of market games. So that means that I'll get every Royals game available on the iPhone in addition to two other games, correct?

Usually, with the MLB packages (except MLB Audio), you can't see *any* in market games since they're subject to blackout. But someone familiar with this particular instance should speak up.

SI

Just a couple of questions.....

1. So the iPhone app has streaming audio, but to get the video, you have to buy the MLB TV Premium, correct?

2. You mentioned only watching two out of market games. So that means that I'll get every Royals game available on the iPhone in addition to two other games, correct?

1) No. You get video of up to 2 games per night with the iPhone app. An MLB.tv subscription enables access to all out-of-market games. Think of it as unlocking the other games.

2) If you live in Kansas City or the Royals are considered your home market you will only be able to watch Royals games on your iPhone or MLB.tv when you're traveling and out of your home area.

1) No. You get video of up to 2 games per night with the iPhone app. An MLB.tv subscription enables access to all out-of-market games. Think of it as unlocking the other games.

2) If you live in Kansas City or the Royals are considered your home market you will only be able to watch Royals games on your iPhone or MLB.tv when you're traveling and out of your home area.

Ah, bummer. I just wanted the portability option. That's too bad that they still have the market blackouts on the MLB TV package. Perhaps I'll just try out the iPhone app then to see how I like it this season. Thanks very much for the information. Saved me some money.

I just saw his beard on the MLB Network. That is a fucking glorious beard.

Last night the Braves broadcast team spend quite a few minutes talking about the beard. Then right after it hit a home run.

http://www.thefightins.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/BeardHR.jpg

I just got back yesterday from Cardinals 2010 Spring Training in Jupiter, Florida - I went with my brother and father and we had a GREAT time!

A few things:

The jerks - Pujols, Molina, Penny, Oquendo and Gibson to name a few

The most friendly - Brendan Ryan #1, then Carpenter, Wainwright, Rasmus, Schumaker and rookie pitcher Lance Lynn

Everyone there were really nice, of course most were from St. Louis. :)

A few pics!
http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/672/007f.jpg
http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/2372/026f.jpg
http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/1686/051yv.jpg
http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/6871/067l.jpg
http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/4098/059j.jpg
http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/6932/047ya.jpg
http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/4782/031gd.jpg