Sure, it's too early to fully expect anything in the 2011 season...but that doesn't mean I'm not going to try. Let's predict some highlights first:
Both Andy Pettitte and Chipper Jones will return after claiming they'd retire after this past season; Pettite will win 9-12 games, Jones will hit 10-15 home runs, and both will still consider coming back in 2012, even though both will be 40 then.
Alex Rodriguez will pass Ken Griffey Jr. on the home run records list; in the same vein, Albert Pujols will hit at least 30-35 homers and pass names such as Piazza, Ripken Jr., Jones, and Guerrero.
4 of the 5 pitchers in the Philadelphia Phillies' rotation will win between 15-20 games. No other pitcher in the National League (aside from Tim Lincecum, Ubaldo Jimenez, Adam Wainwright and Zack Greinke) will win that many, or even come close.
Derek Jeter will get his 3,000th hit, CC Sabathia will win 18+ games, and Mark Teixeira will hit 30+ home runs...and the New York Yankees will still only make the playoffs as a wild card for the second straight year.
Dan Uggla will continue his streak of 30+ home run seasons, bringing his total to 5, and the Atlanta Braves will promptly thank him by choking down the stretch as usual.
Bryce Harper will be called up by the Washington Nationals in May or early June, and every pitcher in the National League will do their best to give him a warm welcome by striking him out frequently.
The Oakland Athletics will slip behind the Seattle Mariners for last place in the AL West division.
Barry Bonds and Pedro Martinez will both talk about a possible comeback, then realize nobody wants them to come back.
Troy Tulowitzki and Joe Mauer will both make use of their long contracts by each hitting 20+ homers with 80+ RBIs and BAs of .330 or higher.
Carlos Zambrano of the Chicago Cubs will be banned from the game for strangling an umpire, a coach, a teammate, or all of the above, when one of them calls him a "sissy" and angers him.
The Pittsburgh Pirates will have another 100+ loss season, and the Arizona Diamondbacks will join them. The Kansas City Royals will just miss this by a few games, as will the Mariners.
The Minnesota Twins and the Chicago White Sox will play a tiebreaker game at the end of the regular season; the White Sox will just barely win. A similar situation will play out between the San Francisco Giants and the San Diego Padres, with the Giants edging the Padres out.
The American League team will win the All-Star Game 6-3, returning postseason home-field advantage to them.
And now, award/playoff predictions:
AL Rookie of the Year: Jesus Montero, New York Yankees.
NL Rookie of the Year: Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals.
AL Cy Young: CC Sabathia, New York Yankees.
NL Cy Young: Roy Halladay, Philadelphia Phillies.
AL MVP: Carl Crawford, Boston Red Sox.
NL MVP: Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies.
AL East: Boston Red Sox.
AL Central: Chicago White Sox.
AL West: Texas Rangers.
AL Wild Card: New York Yankees.
NL East: Philadelphia Phillies.
NL Central: St. Louis Cardinals.
NL West: Colorado Rockies.
NL Wild Card: San Francisco Giants.
ALDS: Boston Red Sox beat Texas Rangers in 3 games, Chicago White Sox beat New York Yankees in 5 games.
NLDS: Philadelphia Philles beat Colorado Rockies in 3 games, St. Louis Cardinals beat San Francisco Giants in 4 games.
ALCS: Boston Red Sox beat Chicago White Sox in 6 games.
NLCS: Philadelphia Phillies beat St. Louis Cardinals in 4 games.
World Series: Philadelphia Phillies beat Boston Red Sox in 7 games. Chase Utley is named WS MVP.
If I'm right about a single, solitary thing in this entire post, I'll be satisfied.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
When I'm Wrong, I Get Really Greinke.
Boy, I have yet to be right about a single thing this offseason, huh? Just like everyone else, I thought Cliff Lee would sign with the Yankees or the Rangers: WRONG. I thought Carl Crawford was going to be an Angel: WRONG. But more than anything, I thought Zack Greinke would somehow end up in New York pinstripes: WRONG WRONG WRONG.
Early Sunday morning, the Royals, who've been dangling Zacky boy in front of other teams for months, shipped him off to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for some young players and prospects that Kansas City hopes will help turn them into a championship-caliber team in the next few years. For the Royals, this may not be the worst move they've made: sure, the rest of their starting pitcher is pretty weak, and their offensive power, in comparison to other teams, is like bringing a water gun to a friendly game of Russian roulette, but these young ones still have potential, the bright-eyed innocence and blissful ignorance that they're on a team that hasn't done a single important thing since 1985 (before the majority of them could even pick up a bat). Youth is a dangerous thing: you can't tell for sure what these kids will help Kansas City accomplish, and it's likely that's what the Royals brass is counting on. With the signings of outfielders Jeff Francouer and Melky Cabrera, they've already added a few more non-impactful players, so some fresh new blood could help jumpstart their dying batteries, but it will take a lot more than that to drive them into October for the seventh time in franchise history. The only problem that they had (and why they couldn't truly afford to keep Greinke, and vice versa) is that their run support is truly atrocious. If the players in the lineup can find the power they've been lacking in so heavily, maybe they can recoup their loss of a Cy Young-winning hurler and begin to lay the foundation for becoming a stronger team.
The Brewers, and Greinke, both benefit in ways the Royals do not. The Brewers get a reliable pitcher with good command and a high strikeout rate who's young and has only been on the disabled list once in his career, and Greinke gets to pitch in a different league with a stronger emphasis on pitching, and also with a team that has big hitter (literally and figuratively) Prince Fielder, as well as other sluggers like Casey McGehee and Ryan Braun. Now, this sounds like a nice 1-2 combo on paper, but by no stretch of the imagination does this make the Brew Crew sound anything like a contender. Sure, they probably won't end up in last place in the NL Central with this roster, and they will probably beat out the Astros and Pirates, and may even take down the Cubs. But they're also lumped together with the St. Louis Cardinals and the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds are just returning to glory, while the Cardinals have Albert Pujols (at least through next year). And let's say, by some wild cosmic incident, that the Brewers win the NL Central, or at least make the wild card. A rotation of Greinke/Gallardo/Marcum sounds nice and threatening, but when you consider the powerhouse pitching in Philadelphia, they can't raise that white flag of surrender high enough. Still, they can make some noise in the division and possibly shake things up, so this just adds one more interesting component to the upcoming season.
Early Sunday morning, the Royals, who've been dangling Zacky boy in front of other teams for months, shipped him off to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for some young players and prospects that Kansas City hopes will help turn them into a championship-caliber team in the next few years. For the Royals, this may not be the worst move they've made: sure, the rest of their starting pitcher is pretty weak, and their offensive power, in comparison to other teams, is like bringing a water gun to a friendly game of Russian roulette, but these young ones still have potential, the bright-eyed innocence and blissful ignorance that they're on a team that hasn't done a single important thing since 1985 (before the majority of them could even pick up a bat). Youth is a dangerous thing: you can't tell for sure what these kids will help Kansas City accomplish, and it's likely that's what the Royals brass is counting on. With the signings of outfielders Jeff Francouer and Melky Cabrera, they've already added a few more non-impactful players, so some fresh new blood could help jumpstart their dying batteries, but it will take a lot more than that to drive them into October for the seventh time in franchise history. The only problem that they had (and why they couldn't truly afford to keep Greinke, and vice versa) is that their run support is truly atrocious. If the players in the lineup can find the power they've been lacking in so heavily, maybe they can recoup their loss of a Cy Young-winning hurler and begin to lay the foundation for becoming a stronger team.
The Brewers, and Greinke, both benefit in ways the Royals do not. The Brewers get a reliable pitcher with good command and a high strikeout rate who's young and has only been on the disabled list once in his career, and Greinke gets to pitch in a different league with a stronger emphasis on pitching, and also with a team that has big hitter (literally and figuratively) Prince Fielder, as well as other sluggers like Casey McGehee and Ryan Braun. Now, this sounds like a nice 1-2 combo on paper, but by no stretch of the imagination does this make the Brew Crew sound anything like a contender. Sure, they probably won't end up in last place in the NL Central with this roster, and they will probably beat out the Astros and Pirates, and may even take down the Cubs. But they're also lumped together with the St. Louis Cardinals and the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds are just returning to glory, while the Cardinals have Albert Pujols (at least through next year). And let's say, by some wild cosmic incident, that the Brewers win the NL Central, or at least make the wild card. A rotation of Greinke/Gallardo/Marcum sounds nice and threatening, but when you consider the powerhouse pitching in Philadelphia, they can't raise that white flag of surrender high enough. Still, they can make some noise in the division and possibly shake things up, so this just adds one more interesting component to the upcoming season.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Cliff Lee Signs With The Phillies.
I usually try to make a more clever title...but I just don't have it in me this time.
It's nearly official: Cliff Lee and the Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to terms for a contract still to be made public; sources have indicated that it's for 5 years/$100 million, a few steps down from offers made by New York and Texas, but this has yet to be confirmed. After weeks and months of speculations, rumors, and posturing, Lee's agent, Darek Braunecker, informed both the Yankees and Rangers Monday that both were out of the running for Lee, and now we all know why. Whether the Phillies made this offer a while ago and kept it completely secret, or if it truly surfaced and was signed in the matter of 2 or 3 hours, as it's sure seemed, is not clear as of now. Lee was originally acquired by the Phils in late 2009 from Cleveland, where he went 7-4 in 12 starts through the regular season, and went 4-0 for them in the postseason, including handing the Yanks their only losses of championship number 27.
And now, let's all sit back for a moment and take a look at (not in the specific order they may be in) the Phillies' starting rotation in 2011.
Roy Halladay
Roy Oswalt (ugh)
Cole Hamels
Cliff Lee
Insert any human being capable of throwing a pitch here, because they're basically redundant
You know that bully who used to pick on you when you were younger? He'd always dominate you and make you feel worthless, because you could never beat him? Yeah, he grew up and became the Philadelphia Phillies' 2011 starting rotation.
What's the regular season wins record for a team? 116 wins by the Seattle Mariners in 2001? That's child's play compared to what Philadelphia will unleash next year. The better, easier question to gauge is, how many games will they lose? That answer will be significantly smaller.
Keep in mind, all this praise and confidence in this rotation is coming from the most diehard Yankees fan this side of the Mason-Dixon line. Speaking of my Yanks, this monumental snubbing can really only predicate one logical conclusion: seeing banners in October that say "Congratulations to the 2011 American League Champions, the Boston Red Sox". Call me crazy, but with this opportunity forcibly passed up, and considering the way Mr. Epstein stacked his lineup, you can't call me wrong.
I need to go to bed...maybe I'll wake up and this will all have been a bad, bad dream...
It's nearly official: Cliff Lee and the Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to terms for a contract still to be made public; sources have indicated that it's for 5 years/$100 million, a few steps down from offers made by New York and Texas, but this has yet to be confirmed. After weeks and months of speculations, rumors, and posturing, Lee's agent, Darek Braunecker, informed both the Yankees and Rangers Monday that both were out of the running for Lee, and now we all know why. Whether the Phillies made this offer a while ago and kept it completely secret, or if it truly surfaced and was signed in the matter of 2 or 3 hours, as it's sure seemed, is not clear as of now. Lee was originally acquired by the Phils in late 2009 from Cleveland, where he went 7-4 in 12 starts through the regular season, and went 4-0 for them in the postseason, including handing the Yanks their only losses of championship number 27.
And now, let's all sit back for a moment and take a look at (not in the specific order they may be in) the Phillies' starting rotation in 2011.
Roy Halladay
Roy Oswalt (ugh)
Cole Hamels
Cliff Lee
Insert any human being capable of throwing a pitch here, because they're basically redundant
You know that bully who used to pick on you when you were younger? He'd always dominate you and make you feel worthless, because you could never beat him? Yeah, he grew up and became the Philadelphia Phillies' 2011 starting rotation.
What's the regular season wins record for a team? 116 wins by the Seattle Mariners in 2001? That's child's play compared to what Philadelphia will unleash next year. The better, easier question to gauge is, how many games will they lose? That answer will be significantly smaller.
Keep in mind, all this praise and confidence in this rotation is coming from the most diehard Yankees fan this side of the Mason-Dixon line. Speaking of my Yanks, this monumental snubbing can really only predicate one logical conclusion: seeing banners in October that say "Congratulations to the 2011 American League Champions, the Boston Red Sox". Call me crazy, but with this opportunity forcibly passed up, and considering the way Mr. Epstein stacked his lineup, you can't call me wrong.
I need to go to bed...maybe I'll wake up and this will all have been a bad, bad dream...
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Red Stax For Red Hot Feet, Blue Logo For Cold Bat.
Just hours after reports that free agent Carl Crawford was most likely going to sign with the Los Angeles Angels, the Boston Red Sox swooped in and snatched him up tight, for 7 years and a whopping $142 million. Just days after acquiring first baseman Adrian Gonzalez from the San Diego Padres, this is another Boston move that seems almost overly aggressive. After missing the playoffs entirely following 2 World Series titles in the past decade, ending their 86-year drought, it seems like GM Theo Epstein is so embarrassed about their near-miss last season that he's leaving no stone unturned in this year's Winter Madness. The new boys in town certainly make a lineup that's extremely potent, both in the field and at the plate: Crawford's speed on the basepath and Gonzalez's predisposal to hit hotly will make a very nice 1-2 punch either atop the lineup or snugly in the middle. Hopefully, they'll regain some important pieces of the puzzle that led to them falling short of October: Dustin Pedroia should be healthy from his foot injury; Jason Varitek, although he'll have to split time behind the plate with recently-acquired Jarrod Saltalamacchia (say that 5 times fast), will hopefully have a healthier season than his 39 games in '10; and Mike Cameron will find himself in a bit of a predicament with this situation, as he'll most likely be coming off the bench in favor of Crawdaddy...although, for Terry Francona, this isn't a terrible problem to have. Some analysts were already projecting Boston to be the "Team to Beat" in 2011; with these recent developments, even this hardcore Yankees fan is feeling uneasy about the BoSox.
Also making news today was Crawford's ex-teammate, fellow free agent Carlos Pena. He signed a 1 year deal with the Cubs for $10 million. Quite an awful lot of money for such an underperforming player: 28 homers are nice, but 158 strikeouts contributing to a .196 batting average is pretty unacceptable. You have to truly work to strike out as often as he did in 2010. At least in an American League team, he would have had a chance to be a full-time designated hitter, but his defensive prowess seems to outweigh his offensive woes: he's committed only 55 errors in his 10 years in the majors, nearly half of them coming in his 4 years in Tampa. Considering the lack of depth the Cubbies have not only at first base but nearly everywhere in the infield, this move is a lot better than it seems. Aside from upstart shortstop Starlin Castro, the Cubs' infield seems to be inexperienced and weak, so maybe Pena can liven things up a little bit. However, I'm still concerned with that batting average: that's coming in a league where once you get past Sabathia and Greinke, you won't have much trouble hitting off of anyone else. Now, Pena's in a league where he'll have to face Roy Halladay, Ubaldo Jimenez, Adam Wainwright, Tim Lincecum, and so on. Who's to say those whiffs will go down? Here's hoping.
Speaking of Chicago and first basemen, the White Sox made what will probably be their best move this offseason and resigned Paul Konerko to a 3 year/$37.5 million deal. This deal makes the possibility of having freshly attained Adam Dunn handle designated hitter responsibilities all but a certainty. Of course, it also means that Dunn can take care of business on the field should Konerko be incapacitated for any amount of time. The White Sox are certainly determined to end Minnesota's recent fortunes after capturing 3 division titles from underneath old Ozzie Guillen's nose since their World Series win in 2005. With these two in the lineup and the added defensive depth they now have, putting them together with young infielders such as Gordon Beckham and Alexei Ramirez (both of whom have shown tremendous potential), a limitless amount of depth at catcher with A.J. Pierzynski (spelled without looking, thank you) and Ramon Castro, and the seemingly unflappable Mark Buehrle pitching every 5 days, they can certainly give Manager of the Year Ron Gardenhire and unstoppable Joey Mauer a run for their money in the AL Central.
Finally, things are heating up this offseason. Stay tuned for more updates as they happen.
Also making news today was Crawford's ex-teammate, fellow free agent Carlos Pena. He signed a 1 year deal with the Cubs for $10 million. Quite an awful lot of money for such an underperforming player: 28 homers are nice, but 158 strikeouts contributing to a .196 batting average is pretty unacceptable. You have to truly work to strike out as often as he did in 2010. At least in an American League team, he would have had a chance to be a full-time designated hitter, but his defensive prowess seems to outweigh his offensive woes: he's committed only 55 errors in his 10 years in the majors, nearly half of them coming in his 4 years in Tampa. Considering the lack of depth the Cubbies have not only at first base but nearly everywhere in the infield, this move is a lot better than it seems. Aside from upstart shortstop Starlin Castro, the Cubs' infield seems to be inexperienced and weak, so maybe Pena can liven things up a little bit. However, I'm still concerned with that batting average: that's coming in a league where once you get past Sabathia and Greinke, you won't have much trouble hitting off of anyone else. Now, Pena's in a league where he'll have to face Roy Halladay, Ubaldo Jimenez, Adam Wainwright, Tim Lincecum, and so on. Who's to say those whiffs will go down? Here's hoping.
Speaking of Chicago and first basemen, the White Sox made what will probably be their best move this offseason and resigned Paul Konerko to a 3 year/$37.5 million deal. This deal makes the possibility of having freshly attained Adam Dunn handle designated hitter responsibilities all but a certainty. Of course, it also means that Dunn can take care of business on the field should Konerko be incapacitated for any amount of time. The White Sox are certainly determined to end Minnesota's recent fortunes after capturing 3 division titles from underneath old Ozzie Guillen's nose since their World Series win in 2005. With these two in the lineup and the added defensive depth they now have, putting them together with young infielders such as Gordon Beckham and Alexei Ramirez (both of whom have shown tremendous potential), a limitless amount of depth at catcher with A.J. Pierzynski (spelled without looking, thank you) and Ramon Castro, and the seemingly unflappable Mark Buehrle pitching every 5 days, they can certainly give Manager of the Year Ron Gardenhire and unstoppable Joey Mauer a run for their money in the AL Central.
Finally, things are heating up this offseason. Stay tuned for more updates as they happen.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Werth Every Cent...Others, Not So Much.
Jayson Werth, potentially one of the most important free agents on the market this year, has been signed by the Washington Nationals for 7 years/$126 million, quite a pretty penny for a player who used to be a bench rider for the Dodgers and Blue Jays before helping the Phillies during their historic run to the 2008 World Series. This can be considered one of the first true big signings of what's sure to be an eventful offseason, and it was completed just a day before the owners' meeting, during which many people expected talks for Werth, Carl Crawford, and Cliff Lee to really heat up, if not get finished. Obviously, Werth didn't want to wait anymore and took what was most likely the best deal he had been presented with. This may have been one of the best scenarios the Nats could have ended up with: they're expected to make a push for Lee sometime soon, but most understand that unless you're Brian Cashman or Jon Daniels, you're not going to get him (hell, one of those two doesn't really stand a chance as it is). So, it was down to either Crawford or Werth. To be honest, they both have their strengths that make either a valuable fit for any team lucky enough to have them: Crawford is a little younger and significantly faster, with 409 career stolen bases to Werth's 77, but Werth can be counted on a lot more reliably in the clutch. Werth also has a bit more postseason experience, having made it to at least the NLCS every year for the past 4, compared to Crawford's 2 years (in '08, they faced each other in the Fall Classic when the Phils and Werth took it all) and hasn't gotten the exposure Werth has. And now, with Werth joining a lineup that Adam Dunn just left, he'll have Bryce Harper joining him very soon (the Nationals don't really believe in keeping a good thing under wraps for long) and hopefully a healed Stephen Strasburg down the stretch, Werth just might be what they need for a postseason push. Well, maybe not next year, but very soon.
For that matter, did Werth's signing just make Crawford's stock rise considerably? He's now basically the last man standing when it comes to utility players in this year's pool of free agents. There have, of course, been multiple rumors of him garnering interest from the Yankees, Angels, and Red Sox, but do any of those have legitimacy? I wasn't aware that the Nationals were even going after Werth, so how many dark horse teams are making a run for Crawdaddy? We'll most likely have a clearer idea in the coming days at the winter meetings, so stick around.
The Padres just traded star first baseman Adrian Gonzalez to the Red Sox for some minor leaguers and a player to be named later. This is a big move for both teams: the Pads lose one of their strongest hitters, while the Sox gain a reason not to resign Adrian Beltre. Boston's usual first baseman, Kevin Youkilis, will be taking over daily duties at third while Gonzalez takes over at first (naturally). An eye for an eye...rather, an Adrian for an Adrian. Considering that the Athletics reportedly withdrew the 5 year/$64 million deal they offered Beltre, could it be possible that he possibly signs with San Diego in a fit of retaliation? Unlikely, but possible. And while that's brought up, I believe Oakland made a big mistake by withdrawing their offer. Beltre was a huge asset to the Sox this past year, and could clearly make a larger impact than the A's regular third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff: offensively, Beltre's 2010 stats blow Kouzy's out of the water with a batting average nearly 75 points higher, 12 more homers and 31 more RBIs; Beltre is faster, with 113 career stolen bases to Kouzmanoff's meager 4. To look at them defensively, Beltre certainly wins out in errors, seeing as he's committed 224 compared to Kouzmanoff's 49. However, Kevin is younger (by 2 years) and has less big league experience (4 full season and 16 games in 2006) compared to Adrian (he's been in the majors since 2000). I think Beltre would have made a good fit in the Athletics' lineup, but they must have more faith in Kouzmanoff's abilities. I know this took a strong turn away from my original point, so I'll regress: Adrian Gonzalez will be a humongously positive asset to the Red Sox, and with Kevin Youkilis switching corners, this may be the jumpstart they need after a disappointing playoff miss this previous season.
Speaking of third basemen (good connection, right?), the Diamondbacks just traded their corner man, Mark Reynolds, to the Orioles for two relievers. This actually seems like a match made in heaven. Reynolds and the Orioles have a lot in common: both have strong potential that's obscured only by their tendency to fail spectacularly in most situations. The Orioles showed a strong surge down the stretch last season (mainly after they'd already been eliminated from playoff contention), but still came up short. Reynolds hit 32 homers this past season, and struck out an astounding 211 times. They both don't show much of their power often, but when they do, they make it known far and wide that they can be effective. Reynolds is still young, only 27 with 3 years experience. He's known already for having a hot bat, when and if he can make contact. His 121 homers in that short time are impressive, but the 767 strikeouts make this equation that much more complicated. Hopefully Buck Showalter's coaching staff can help him read pitchers better and fine tune his approach at the plate to minimize those whiffs and turn him into a deep offensive threat.
Another big contract recently signed was for Derek Jeter. He and the Yankees brass finally made something that resembles a compromise, for 3 years/$51 million. Is there anyone outside of Jeet and his agent that believe he's even worth $17 mil for 3 more seasons of struggling to pretend like he's still 26, 29, or even 33? Regardless of what he's done for the franchise, it's becoming more and more clear with every passing day that he's not only past his prime, it's nearing the point where it's just embarrassing to keep watching him fumble around in the field and struggle in the batter's box. Of course, you can't forget everything he's contributed in his career to the city of New York (if you want specifics, read nearly every other post I've written), but should past achievements hold that much weight in consideration of future potential? Since there have been no legitimate rumors of steroid usage, Jeter's going to age naturally, as a human being does, and will therefore get weaker and less effective. And in this game, power and speed are the names of the game; without one or the other, you can no longer be considered a star player. Derek may still have some speed, but his power is diminishing rapidly, and it stands to reason that it won't increase, at least not enough to compare him to his former self. As I've said in the past, I think it's best that Jeter retires with dignity and grace, but after the visceral display he and GM Brian Cashman put on in the preceding weeks, he'll be more recently remembered as the greedy shortstop who didn't know when to quit. I just really hope he can show he's worth what he's paid and lead the Yanks to championship 28.
Wow, I managed to go a whole post with just barely mentioning Cliff Lee. I'm kinda proud of myself.
For that matter, did Werth's signing just make Crawford's stock rise considerably? He's now basically the last man standing when it comes to utility players in this year's pool of free agents. There have, of course, been multiple rumors of him garnering interest from the Yankees, Angels, and Red Sox, but do any of those have legitimacy? I wasn't aware that the Nationals were even going after Werth, so how many dark horse teams are making a run for Crawdaddy? We'll most likely have a clearer idea in the coming days at the winter meetings, so stick around.
The Padres just traded star first baseman Adrian Gonzalez to the Red Sox for some minor leaguers and a player to be named later. This is a big move for both teams: the Pads lose one of their strongest hitters, while the Sox gain a reason not to resign Adrian Beltre. Boston's usual first baseman, Kevin Youkilis, will be taking over daily duties at third while Gonzalez takes over at first (naturally). An eye for an eye...rather, an Adrian for an Adrian. Considering that the Athletics reportedly withdrew the 5 year/$64 million deal they offered Beltre, could it be possible that he possibly signs with San Diego in a fit of retaliation? Unlikely, but possible. And while that's brought up, I believe Oakland made a big mistake by withdrawing their offer. Beltre was a huge asset to the Sox this past year, and could clearly make a larger impact than the A's regular third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff: offensively, Beltre's 2010 stats blow Kouzy's out of the water with a batting average nearly 75 points higher, 12 more homers and 31 more RBIs; Beltre is faster, with 113 career stolen bases to Kouzmanoff's meager 4. To look at them defensively, Beltre certainly wins out in errors, seeing as he's committed 224 compared to Kouzmanoff's 49. However, Kevin is younger (by 2 years) and has less big league experience (4 full season and 16 games in 2006) compared to Adrian (he's been in the majors since 2000). I think Beltre would have made a good fit in the Athletics' lineup, but they must have more faith in Kouzmanoff's abilities. I know this took a strong turn away from my original point, so I'll regress: Adrian Gonzalez will be a humongously positive asset to the Red Sox, and with Kevin Youkilis switching corners, this may be the jumpstart they need after a disappointing playoff miss this previous season.
Speaking of third basemen (good connection, right?), the Diamondbacks just traded their corner man, Mark Reynolds, to the Orioles for two relievers. This actually seems like a match made in heaven. Reynolds and the Orioles have a lot in common: both have strong potential that's obscured only by their tendency to fail spectacularly in most situations. The Orioles showed a strong surge down the stretch last season (mainly after they'd already been eliminated from playoff contention), but still came up short. Reynolds hit 32 homers this past season, and struck out an astounding 211 times. They both don't show much of their power often, but when they do, they make it known far and wide that they can be effective. Reynolds is still young, only 27 with 3 years experience. He's known already for having a hot bat, when and if he can make contact. His 121 homers in that short time are impressive, but the 767 strikeouts make this equation that much more complicated. Hopefully Buck Showalter's coaching staff can help him read pitchers better and fine tune his approach at the plate to minimize those whiffs and turn him into a deep offensive threat.
Another big contract recently signed was for Derek Jeter. He and the Yankees brass finally made something that resembles a compromise, for 3 years/$51 million. Is there anyone outside of Jeet and his agent that believe he's even worth $17 mil for 3 more seasons of struggling to pretend like he's still 26, 29, or even 33? Regardless of what he's done for the franchise, it's becoming more and more clear with every passing day that he's not only past his prime, it's nearing the point where it's just embarrassing to keep watching him fumble around in the field and struggle in the batter's box. Of course, you can't forget everything he's contributed in his career to the city of New York (if you want specifics, read nearly every other post I've written), but should past achievements hold that much weight in consideration of future potential? Since there have been no legitimate rumors of steroid usage, Jeter's going to age naturally, as a human being does, and will therefore get weaker and less effective. And in this game, power and speed are the names of the game; without one or the other, you can no longer be considered a star player. Derek may still have some speed, but his power is diminishing rapidly, and it stands to reason that it won't increase, at least not enough to compare him to his former self. As I've said in the past, I think it's best that Jeter retires with dignity and grace, but after the visceral display he and GM Brian Cashman put on in the preceding weeks, he'll be more recently remembered as the greedy shortstop who didn't know when to quit. I just really hope he can show he's worth what he's paid and lead the Yanks to championship 28.
Wow, I managed to go a whole post with just barely mentioning Cliff Lee. I'm kinda proud of myself.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
It Takes Two To Tango (And Negotiate).
Zack Greinke is kind of like the pretty, chubby girl at a school dance: approachable, but doesn't seem to be getting many offers from suitors, until they basically throw themselves at someone who somewhat reciprocates. The Royals have made it clear this offseason that they'd be more than happy to trade him to a team where run support isn't as taboo as mentioning PEDs in a Giants clubhouse, but they're going to want some sweet compensation in return. As such, many teams have decided to pass on Greinke, seemingly leaving him to wallow in the scoreless valley of Kansas City, where runs go to die.
Suddenly, Zacky boy has made his intentions known: he wants out, and fast. He's even willing to waive his no-trade clause to New York and sign with them if they make an offer. He's been adamant this entire time about not wanting to pitch in the Bronx, not wanting to deal with the pressure from media and fans alike, but he's viewing things very differently now: if you're a free-agent pitcher this winter and your name doesn't rhyme with Shmiff Lee, you're fighting a losing battle against obscurity. So, he now wants to pitch for the Yankees. The question is, do they still want him? There were reports early after the World Series ended that they had some interest in the young hurler, but their hopes were quickly dashed due to the aforementioned no-trade list, the baseball equivalent of a cock block. And, of course, the majority of the Yankees' attention before spring training (and after the conclusion of the most pointless battle of wills between themselves and Mr. Jeter) will be focused on signing the man known as the "Yankee Killer." Is there still room in the rotation (and the budget) for Greinke should this megadeal come to pass? Yes. If Derek stops acting like a child and accepts the meager $15 million per year over 3 seasons New York has offered him, and once the ink is dry on Lee's deal for 100 years/$1 for every person on this planet, Greinke could still comfortably take a small paycut while receiving the $27 mil over the next 2 years owed to him by Kansas City. As I said before, a Yankees rotation of Sabathia/Lee/Greinke...music to my ears.
In other news (there's other news?), the Colorado Rockies decided they would like to continue their streak in recent years of actually being a contender, and signed shortstop Troy Tulowitzki to a deal that will extend into 2020. Tulo, who will only be 36 when his deal expires, came alive down the stretch this past season, hitting .322 with 15 homers and 40 RBI in the month of September after a pretty average season before that. Interestingly enough, 2009 was a better year for him, as he hit 32 homers and had 15 more hits than he did in '10, but he also played in 30 more games that season (he had a few stints on the DL this year). Still, the Rockies understand what a powerful player he is and will become, and wasted little time beating out this deal for him. He's reportedly going to be paid nearly $158 million over the next decade, rivaling the contract CC was presented. If he's not the best shortstop in the NL (only Hanley Ramirez on the Marlins could possibly be comparable), I'd like to see the player who is better than him. There are a few parallels between him and Jeter (what do you expect, you all know I'm a diehard Yanks fan): they both wear number 2, play shortstop, and will hopefully spend their entire careers in one city, building them up and making them powerful teams that reach the playoffs with the same frequency as Manny Ramirez gets traded. However, while it seems that Derek's star is burning out, Troy's star is just now rising. Wow...that was one lame metaphor.
The Dodgers have been doing anything but dodging the spotlight: they signed pitcher Jon Garland to a one year deal, utility infielder Juan Uribe to a 3-year deal, and sent another utility infielder, Ryan Theriot, to the Cardinals for their pitcher Blake Hawksworth. Still stung about not making the playoffs this season thanks to a surprisingly strong Giants and Padres team, the NL Los Angeles team has wasted no time in trying to build themselves stronger. Signing Uribe, a large (literally) proponent of the championship-winning Giants, was a very good move for the Dodgers, as he can play nearly any position in the infield while also providing power hitting that's moderately scant in their league compared to the other one. Jon Garland pitched for the Dodgers in '09 and spent this past season with the Padres, and his 14-12 record and 3.47 ERA was apparently enticing enough to have LA resign him (admittedly, he's not the greatest pitcher to play the game, but his 131-114 career record and 1,096 strikeouts are nothing to be ashamed of). They gained a young pitcher with potential in Hawksworth, though: he's only 27, and an 8-8 record belies the fact that he spent 2009 as a setup man before starting in '10, and his career ERA of 4.07 is sure to go down once he gains control of his pitching. So, the Dodgers haven't done too shabby this offseason, but will it be enough to end the Giants' sudden dominance? We'll just have to see.
Suddenly, Zacky boy has made his intentions known: he wants out, and fast. He's even willing to waive his no-trade clause to New York and sign with them if they make an offer. He's been adamant this entire time about not wanting to pitch in the Bronx, not wanting to deal with the pressure from media and fans alike, but he's viewing things very differently now: if you're a free-agent pitcher this winter and your name doesn't rhyme with Shmiff Lee, you're fighting a losing battle against obscurity. So, he now wants to pitch for the Yankees. The question is, do they still want him? There were reports early after the World Series ended that they had some interest in the young hurler, but their hopes were quickly dashed due to the aforementioned no-trade list, the baseball equivalent of a cock block. And, of course, the majority of the Yankees' attention before spring training (and after the conclusion of the most pointless battle of wills between themselves and Mr. Jeter) will be focused on signing the man known as the "Yankee Killer." Is there still room in the rotation (and the budget) for Greinke should this megadeal come to pass? Yes. If Derek stops acting like a child and accepts the meager $15 million per year over 3 seasons New York has offered him, and once the ink is dry on Lee's deal for 100 years/$1 for every person on this planet, Greinke could still comfortably take a small paycut while receiving the $27 mil over the next 2 years owed to him by Kansas City. As I said before, a Yankees rotation of Sabathia/Lee/Greinke...music to my ears.
In other news (there's other news?), the Colorado Rockies decided they would like to continue their streak in recent years of actually being a contender, and signed shortstop Troy Tulowitzki to a deal that will extend into 2020. Tulo, who will only be 36 when his deal expires, came alive down the stretch this past season, hitting .322 with 15 homers and 40 RBI in the month of September after a pretty average season before that. Interestingly enough, 2009 was a better year for him, as he hit 32 homers and had 15 more hits than he did in '10, but he also played in 30 more games that season (he had a few stints on the DL this year). Still, the Rockies understand what a powerful player he is and will become, and wasted little time beating out this deal for him. He's reportedly going to be paid nearly $158 million over the next decade, rivaling the contract CC was presented. If he's not the best shortstop in the NL (only Hanley Ramirez on the Marlins could possibly be comparable), I'd like to see the player who is better than him. There are a few parallels between him and Jeter (what do you expect, you all know I'm a diehard Yanks fan): they both wear number 2, play shortstop, and will hopefully spend their entire careers in one city, building them up and making them powerful teams that reach the playoffs with the same frequency as Manny Ramirez gets traded. However, while it seems that Derek's star is burning out, Troy's star is just now rising. Wow...that was one lame metaphor.
The Dodgers have been doing anything but dodging the spotlight: they signed pitcher Jon Garland to a one year deal, utility infielder Juan Uribe to a 3-year deal, and sent another utility infielder, Ryan Theriot, to the Cardinals for their pitcher Blake Hawksworth. Still stung about not making the playoffs this season thanks to a surprisingly strong Giants and Padres team, the NL Los Angeles team has wasted no time in trying to build themselves stronger. Signing Uribe, a large (literally) proponent of the championship-winning Giants, was a very good move for the Dodgers, as he can play nearly any position in the infield while also providing power hitting that's moderately scant in their league compared to the other one. Jon Garland pitched for the Dodgers in '09 and spent this past season with the Padres, and his 14-12 record and 3.47 ERA was apparently enticing enough to have LA resign him (admittedly, he's not the greatest pitcher to play the game, but his 131-114 career record and 1,096 strikeouts are nothing to be ashamed of). They gained a young pitcher with potential in Hawksworth, though: he's only 27, and an 8-8 record belies the fact that he spent 2009 as a setup man before starting in '10, and his career ERA of 4.07 is sure to go down once he gains control of his pitching. So, the Dodgers haven't done too shabby this offseason, but will it be enough to end the Giants' sudden dominance? We'll just have to see.
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