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.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
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.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
All Quiet On The Western (And Central, And Eastern) Front.
It's almost hard to believe that, after a crazy season that we just finished, that the following offseason hasn't captured the same flair as the months preceding. So, we'll get to what's happened so far, little as it is.
The Florida Marlins seem to be one of the few teams that realize that it's time to wheel and deal now that there are no games to play. They shipped Cameron Maybin and Dan Uggla out to San Diego and Atlanta respectively, and signed ex-Jays catcher John Buck to a 3-year deal. Signing Buck was a big plus for Florida, seeing as they had nothing this season that resembled a reliable starting catcher. Now, John Buck is no Joe Mauer, but after finally having a breakout season last year (his 6th season as a major leaguer), his trade stock rose considerably and the Marlins snatched him up before anyone else could. As far as Maybin goes, he should help the Padres' outfield with his youth (he's 23, going to a team where the average age of an outfielder is 30), but after a moderately disappointing tenure with the Marlins, he's going to have to improve quite a bit to make a splash. I can't see how the Fish benefit at all from losing Uggla; he's 26, never been on the DL, and is the first second baseman in history to reach 4 consecutive 30+ home run seasons. He'll definitely add a lot of depth and power to a Braves lineup that could certainly use it. On the flip side, gaining Omar Infante is not something I would necessarily call positive, but seeing as he's a strong utility player on a team where consistency is not something normally associated with many of the players not named Hanley Ramirez, he may be able to have a bigger effect on Florida's playoff hopes than he did for Atlanta's.
I read on ESPNNewYork.com that Derek Jeter's personal trainer has completely lost touch with reality, in that he believes Jeter could be a viable, worthwhile player for the Yanks until 2017, coincidentally the same year fan favorite Alex Rodriguez's deal expires. Now, as even the casual reader of this blog will know, it's true that 2010 was Jeet's worst statistical year of his career. However, 2009 was one of his best, something not usually said of a 35-year-old shortstop playing every day in a game full of kids half his age. The trainer claims that his client will bounce back and have a remarkable season in 2011, and hopefully beyond. Of course, this is mainly contingent on Jeter and Yanks GM Brian Cashman ever agreeing on his future and what he's worth, but only The Almighty Himself knows when that deal will come to pass.
2 of the big 3 awards have been presented in the time since I last posted: Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young. No surprises in 3 out of 4...Buster Posey won the NL award for rookies, and Neftali Feliz won it in the AL...Roy Halladay won the NL Cy Young, becoming just the 5th pitcher in history to win the award in both leagues...and then, something miraculous happened. Felix Hernandez, a starting pitcher for the Seattle Mariners who went just 13-12 the entire regular season, beat out CC Sabathia, the only pitcher in the AL with 20 or more wins this season, for the AL Cy Young. Apparently, this comes as a shock only to me. Every analyst I've watched or read predicted this would happen. And it makes sense: King Felix led in ERA (2.27) and innings pitched (249.2), and came second in strikeouts (232), trailing the Angels' Jered Weaver by only 1 K. However, it's always been my understanding that all those unimportant stats are thrown out the window come voting time, and that it's all about what you have to show for your efforts: those precious wins. It seems this is no longer the case, and rightfully so. If a pitcher's stats are great, but his win-loss record is not far from south of .500, it reflects more on his team's inability to provide sweet run support to boost him up and away. This is a problem Zack Greinke is far too familiar with. It'd certainly be nice to see both hurlers on teams where they can have a bigger effect in the coming years.
Boy, I wish more trades and signings would happen...is that too much to ask?
The Florida Marlins seem to be one of the few teams that realize that it's time to wheel and deal now that there are no games to play. They shipped Cameron Maybin and Dan Uggla out to San Diego and Atlanta respectively, and signed ex-Jays catcher John Buck to a 3-year deal. Signing Buck was a big plus for Florida, seeing as they had nothing this season that resembled a reliable starting catcher. Now, John Buck is no Joe Mauer, but after finally having a breakout season last year (his 6th season as a major leaguer), his trade stock rose considerably and the Marlins snatched him up before anyone else could. As far as Maybin goes, he should help the Padres' outfield with his youth (he's 23, going to a team where the average age of an outfielder is 30), but after a moderately disappointing tenure with the Marlins, he's going to have to improve quite a bit to make a splash. I can't see how the Fish benefit at all from losing Uggla; he's 26, never been on the DL, and is the first second baseman in history to reach 4 consecutive 30+ home run seasons. He'll definitely add a lot of depth and power to a Braves lineup that could certainly use it. On the flip side, gaining Omar Infante is not something I would necessarily call positive, but seeing as he's a strong utility player on a team where consistency is not something normally associated with many of the players not named Hanley Ramirez, he may be able to have a bigger effect on Florida's playoff hopes than he did for Atlanta's.
I read on ESPNNewYork.com that Derek Jeter's personal trainer has completely lost touch with reality, in that he believes Jeter could be a viable, worthwhile player for the Yanks until 2017, coincidentally the same year fan favorite Alex Rodriguez's deal expires. Now, as even the casual reader of this blog will know, it's true that 2010 was Jeet's worst statistical year of his career. However, 2009 was one of his best, something not usually said of a 35-year-old shortstop playing every day in a game full of kids half his age. The trainer claims that his client will bounce back and have a remarkable season in 2011, and hopefully beyond. Of course, this is mainly contingent on Jeter and Yanks GM Brian Cashman ever agreeing on his future and what he's worth, but only The Almighty Himself knows when that deal will come to pass.
2 of the big 3 awards have been presented in the time since I last posted: Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young. No surprises in 3 out of 4...Buster Posey won the NL award for rookies, and Neftali Feliz won it in the AL...Roy Halladay won the NL Cy Young, becoming just the 5th pitcher in history to win the award in both leagues...and then, something miraculous happened. Felix Hernandez, a starting pitcher for the Seattle Mariners who went just 13-12 the entire regular season, beat out CC Sabathia, the only pitcher in the AL with 20 or more wins this season, for the AL Cy Young. Apparently, this comes as a shock only to me. Every analyst I've watched or read predicted this would happen. And it makes sense: King Felix led in ERA (2.27) and innings pitched (249.2), and came second in strikeouts (232), trailing the Angels' Jered Weaver by only 1 K. However, it's always been my understanding that all those unimportant stats are thrown out the window come voting time, and that it's all about what you have to show for your efforts: those precious wins. It seems this is no longer the case, and rightfully so. If a pitcher's stats are great, but his win-loss record is not far from south of .500, it reflects more on his team's inability to provide sweet run support to boost him up and away. This is a problem Zack Greinke is far too familiar with. It'd certainly be nice to see both hurlers on teams where they can have a bigger effect in the coming years.
Boy, I wish more trades and signings would happen...is that too much to ask?
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Money Makes The World Go 'Round.
I was reading a blog for the St. Louis Cardinals, and they were taking a poll: is Albert Pujols worth $20-25 million per year?
Now, the only answers you could put were "yes" or "no"; however, there should have been a third option, "That depends, how badly do you want a shot at a championship?"
Questions like this are becoming more and more apropos of this offseason. It's all about the money. And it's not just my boys in New York that are looking to spend more money than the movie Avatar grossed on some choice free agents; Texas is prepared to spend their entire budget to keep Cliff Lee, Boston hopes to sign Jayson Werth and Carl Crawford for extravagant prices, and Kansas City is looking to unload Zack Greinke for any team willing to "make it rain". This year, it seems like team loyalties and the like mean much less than the number on the paycheck. Call it greediness, chalk it up to a bad economy, or wish ill on the agents for playing into all this so heavily that it's better than following a soap opera. The fact of the matter is that large amounts of money could change the game heavily in the upcoming months (surprisingly enough).
As I like to tell anyone that argues with me on how the Yanks spend more money than they can make on players, money buys just that: the physical human being to play for them. It does not buy, guarantee or even determine talent. Here's some examples: Randy Johnson was one of the greatest pitchers of all time, that's non-negotiable. But the time he spent on the Yankees was quite possibly the worst time of his career. Barry Zito made more money this year than everyone reading this will make in their entire lives combined, and he had a 9-14 record with a 4.15 ERA and was left off the Giants' postseason roster completely (maybe that's why they won?). And how much money do you think the Rays spent on Carlos Pena this season, when he hit for .196 and was injured for 2 weeks down the stretch? The answer is over $10 million. MONEY DOESN'T BUY CHAMPIONSHIPS. It buys players. And the players do what they will from there, it's all in their hands once the contract is signed.
However, as disgusting as the lucrative side of baseball is, any fan knows teams have to spend money to get said good players. Would Ichiro have stayed long enough in Seattle, a town he's given so much to and they haven't even given him a playoff berth in return, if it weren't for the millions of dollars they throw his way to make sure that as he's reaching hitting milestones and earning his 10th consecutive Gold Glove in a Mariners uniform? Would Chipper Jones have spent his entire career in Atlanta instead of going elsewhere to a city with a team that doesn't immediately gag when they play in October, if it weren't for the millions of fans willing to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to watch him fumble around like a true veteran? Hell, I'm able to admit that, without the ungodly contracts they're signed to, half of the Yankees' lineup and rotation would still be playing in Cleveland, Texas, and Detroit. So let's remove the stigma from spending a lot of money to buy players. Every team does it in some capacity, no one's exempt.
Boy howdy, I wish more stuff had happened already regarding offseason signings and free-agency...there's nothing to talk about right now.
Now, the only answers you could put were "yes" or "no"; however, there should have been a third option, "That depends, how badly do you want a shot at a championship?"
Questions like this are becoming more and more apropos of this offseason. It's all about the money. And it's not just my boys in New York that are looking to spend more money than the movie Avatar grossed on some choice free agents; Texas is prepared to spend their entire budget to keep Cliff Lee, Boston hopes to sign Jayson Werth and Carl Crawford for extravagant prices, and Kansas City is looking to unload Zack Greinke for any team willing to "make it rain". This year, it seems like team loyalties and the like mean much less than the number on the paycheck. Call it greediness, chalk it up to a bad economy, or wish ill on the agents for playing into all this so heavily that it's better than following a soap opera. The fact of the matter is that large amounts of money could change the game heavily in the upcoming months (surprisingly enough).
As I like to tell anyone that argues with me on how the Yanks spend more money than they can make on players, money buys just that: the physical human being to play for them. It does not buy, guarantee or even determine talent. Here's some examples: Randy Johnson was one of the greatest pitchers of all time, that's non-negotiable. But the time he spent on the Yankees was quite possibly the worst time of his career. Barry Zito made more money this year than everyone reading this will make in their entire lives combined, and he had a 9-14 record with a 4.15 ERA and was left off the Giants' postseason roster completely (maybe that's why they won?). And how much money do you think the Rays spent on Carlos Pena this season, when he hit for .196 and was injured for 2 weeks down the stretch? The answer is over $10 million. MONEY DOESN'T BUY CHAMPIONSHIPS. It buys players. And the players do what they will from there, it's all in their hands once the contract is signed.
However, as disgusting as the lucrative side of baseball is, any fan knows teams have to spend money to get said good players. Would Ichiro have stayed long enough in Seattle, a town he's given so much to and they haven't even given him a playoff berth in return, if it weren't for the millions of dollars they throw his way to make sure that as he's reaching hitting milestones and earning his 10th consecutive Gold Glove in a Mariners uniform? Would Chipper Jones have spent his entire career in Atlanta instead of going elsewhere to a city with a team that doesn't immediately gag when they play in October, if it weren't for the millions of fans willing to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to watch him fumble around like a true veteran? Hell, I'm able to admit that, without the ungodly contracts they're signed to, half of the Yankees' lineup and rotation would still be playing in Cleveland, Texas, and Detroit. So let's remove the stigma from spending a lot of money to buy players. Every team does it in some capacity, no one's exempt.
Boy howdy, I wish more stuff had happened already regarding offseason signings and free-agency...there's nothing to talk about right now.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Now, The Real Fun Begins.
Sure, the 6 months of playing, fighting, winning and losing is fun, but if it weren't for the multitude of trading, signing and dealing during the deceptively-named "offseason", we'd probably have nothing to talk about. Thankfully, free agency is a gift that just keeps on giving, all year round. And we here at The Baseball Freak will gladly receive this joyous present all the way through the end of spring training, at which point, we suppose we'll begin to talk about games and all that again.
I'm going to talk about the Yankees trying to sign Cliff Lee, only because no one else is talking about it and I think it deserves at least a little exposure (note: if you're not a hardcore fan or don't follow the offseason closely, I'll let you in on the secret that this sentence might be the most sarcastic thing I've ever written). Apparently, the Yankees brass contacted Lee's agent today, simply to tell him that they will be contacting him again soon. Boy, they're already playing hard to get, huh? What's the point of that? There isn't a baseball fan on earth that DOESN'T know he's their biggest priority in the upcoming months, and that they'll spend an amount of money roughly equal to the GDP of several third-world countries to lock him up for the rest of his supposed "good years". Of course, Texas is going to try their best to keep him where he is, considering that he was a big part of them making their first World Series in franchise history, and despite a spectacularly poor showing in 2 games agains the Giants, they still understand in Arlington that he's far and away one of the best hurlers in the game today. And there's the paltry matter of any of the other 28 teams in the sport possibly making a bid for him, though little has been said about any of the rest showing more than an interest once they realize New York is after him. Assuming he does end up in pinstripes in 2011 (purely hypothetical, of course), he'll bring his 102-61 record, along with a 3.85 career ERA (remember, he DID play with the Cleveland Indians for 7 years, and the Seattle Mariners the first part of this past season) and 1,085 strikeouts to his name. The most important thing, though, is that he'll be playing for the team that he consistently beats: I believe he's 6-1 against them in the past 3 years with an ERA that would make Steinbrenner roll over in his grave. And with Sabathia and Lee atop the rotation, together again in a town where they can actually win, the Bronx boys become that much more threatening to anyone's postseason hopes.
Believe it or not, there ARE other free agents out there this year. For instance, Carl Crawford, the number 2 focus of any team based in the Northeast or Southwest. He's still somewhat young, fast on the basepath, a pretty heavy hitter, and available: what more do I really need to say? Speculation is that whoever misses out on the Yanks/Lee extravaganza will be awarded Crawford as a consolation prize; there is more legitimate talk that he'll be in a Red Sox uniform, though. Think about it...who's the most recognizable name in the Boston outfield? J.D. Drew? Ryan Kalish? Give me a break, the only reason we pay attention to the Green Monster is to see poeple hit balls over it. Jacoby Ellsbury is the only saving grace there, and he's injured more often than not. Throw Crawford in there, especially in a lineup that possesses a David Ortiz that just won't quit (who wins the Home Run Derby in their 13th season? Shouldn't he be close to retirement instead?) and Pedroia and Youkilis (again, when healthy) as backup, and the BoSox finally become a threat again. There's also whispers that he'll be traded to the Los Angeles Angels; should that come to pass instead, Crawford would either see a lot of time on the bench, or designated/pinch hitting, or knocking Bobby Abreu out of a starting job. This only lends more credence to the theory that he'll be a Red Sox by spring training, but only time (and money) will tell.
Another player in the same vein as Crawdaddy is Jayson Werth, who apparently just got the memo about the "Caveman" look Johnny Damon so famously wore during Boston's historic World Series run in '04. Although he's 31 and a 8-year veteran (mainly riding the bench with the Blue Jays and Dodgers before bursting onto the scene with the Phils in '07), he's highly valued for his inexplicable ability to somehow make the right hit or play in most any situation for Philadelphia. I'm sure they'd love to resign him, but there is a lot of talk that he'll be looking elsewhere. Of course, New York and Boston have been mentioned...surprisingly, so have places like Atlanta and Detroit. To be honest, he's not a terribly showy player, which is what makes him enticing to many teams: he quietly gives the run support and defensive capabilities any team would desire. However, his career stats are somewhat less than impressive, and they say numbers don't lie, so he may not be as much of a hot topic as the aforementioned two.
I suppose that's all for now. I'll write again when there's been more action. Keep it here, all.
I'm going to talk about the Yankees trying to sign Cliff Lee, only because no one else is talking about it and I think it deserves at least a little exposure (note: if you're not a hardcore fan or don't follow the offseason closely, I'll let you in on the secret that this sentence might be the most sarcastic thing I've ever written). Apparently, the Yankees brass contacted Lee's agent today, simply to tell him that they will be contacting him again soon. Boy, they're already playing hard to get, huh? What's the point of that? There isn't a baseball fan on earth that DOESN'T know he's their biggest priority in the upcoming months, and that they'll spend an amount of money roughly equal to the GDP of several third-world countries to lock him up for the rest of his supposed "good years". Of course, Texas is going to try their best to keep him where he is, considering that he was a big part of them making their first World Series in franchise history, and despite a spectacularly poor showing in 2 games agains the Giants, they still understand in Arlington that he's far and away one of the best hurlers in the game today. And there's the paltry matter of any of the other 28 teams in the sport possibly making a bid for him, though little has been said about any of the rest showing more than an interest once they realize New York is after him. Assuming he does end up in pinstripes in 2011 (purely hypothetical, of course), he'll bring his 102-61 record, along with a 3.85 career ERA (remember, he DID play with the Cleveland Indians for 7 years, and the Seattle Mariners the first part of this past season) and 1,085 strikeouts to his name. The most important thing, though, is that he'll be playing for the team that he consistently beats: I believe he's 6-1 against them in the past 3 years with an ERA that would make Steinbrenner roll over in his grave. And with Sabathia and Lee atop the rotation, together again in a town where they can actually win, the Bronx boys become that much more threatening to anyone's postseason hopes.
Believe it or not, there ARE other free agents out there this year. For instance, Carl Crawford, the number 2 focus of any team based in the Northeast or Southwest. He's still somewhat young, fast on the basepath, a pretty heavy hitter, and available: what more do I really need to say? Speculation is that whoever misses out on the Yanks/Lee extravaganza will be awarded Crawford as a consolation prize; there is more legitimate talk that he'll be in a Red Sox uniform, though. Think about it...who's the most recognizable name in the Boston outfield? J.D. Drew? Ryan Kalish? Give me a break, the only reason we pay attention to the Green Monster is to see poeple hit balls over it. Jacoby Ellsbury is the only saving grace there, and he's injured more often than not. Throw Crawford in there, especially in a lineup that possesses a David Ortiz that just won't quit (who wins the Home Run Derby in their 13th season? Shouldn't he be close to retirement instead?) and Pedroia and Youkilis (again, when healthy) as backup, and the BoSox finally become a threat again. There's also whispers that he'll be traded to the Los Angeles Angels; should that come to pass instead, Crawford would either see a lot of time on the bench, or designated/pinch hitting, or knocking Bobby Abreu out of a starting job. This only lends more credence to the theory that he'll be a Red Sox by spring training, but only time (and money) will tell.
Another player in the same vein as Crawdaddy is Jayson Werth, who apparently just got the memo about the "Caveman" look Johnny Damon so famously wore during Boston's historic World Series run in '04. Although he's 31 and a 8-year veteran (mainly riding the bench with the Blue Jays and Dodgers before bursting onto the scene with the Phils in '07), he's highly valued for his inexplicable ability to somehow make the right hit or play in most any situation for Philadelphia. I'm sure they'd love to resign him, but there is a lot of talk that he'll be looking elsewhere. Of course, New York and Boston have been mentioned...surprisingly, so have places like Atlanta and Detroit. To be honest, he's not a terribly showy player, which is what makes him enticing to many teams: he quietly gives the run support and defensive capabilities any team would desire. However, his career stats are somewhat less than impressive, and they say numbers don't lie, so he may not be as much of a hot topic as the aforementioned two.
I suppose that's all for now. I'll write again when there's been more action. Keep it here, all.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Sometimes, Goliath Beats David.
I'll be damned. The San Francisco Giants have done something they haven't done since they were based in New York...they won the World Series. Not only that, they won it in truly fantastic fashion.
Beating Cliff Lee isn't simple. Beating Cliff Lee in the postseason is even more difficult. And yet, these Giants did it with such ease that it begs the question: why couldn't the Yankees or Rays do it before them? What made this National League team light their bats up against a pitcher that's supposedly one of the most dominant in the game right now? How is it that Edgar Renteria, who only hit 3 home runs the entire regular season, hit 2 just in this World Series? How is it that Josh Hamilton, the ALCS MVP and one of the best hitters on the Rangers, went 2-20 against San Fran? Should we all truly fear Brian Wilson's beard, or his 6 saves out of 7 opportunities with an ERA consisting solely of goose eggs? Why won't Tim Lincecum get a haircut? Does his long hair and striking resemblance to Alanis Morrisette throw batters off? Does Bruce Bochy know something about molding players into champions that Ronnie Washington just can't recreate? DID THE SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS REALLY JUST WIN THE WORLD SERIES BY BEATING THE TEXAS RANGERS IN 5 GAMES IN 2010?!
It's hard to process. But, as I've said, this is a good way to end such an unpredictable season. Seriously, who on earth would have guessed either of these teams would make it to the Show? Hell, even when they did, I guessed Rangers in 6. I didn't anticipate Giants in 5. No one anticipated Giants in 5. Even the Giants didn't start off anticipating Giants in 5. And no one is anticipating Giants in 5 in 2011. The best thing for either of these teams (yes, even Texas benefits from this) is that it shows that they've finally become teams that are legitimate contenders. This shows us that my beloved Yankees and the Phillies aren't the only boys that can win in October. This shows us that nothing in this game is predictable, that anything is still possible. In a game full of performance-enhancing drugs, millionaires arguing with billionaires, dumb policies that shouldn't be in place (and some that should be), this series has shown us that nothing is a given. It's entirely possible that my joking prediction of a Twins/Padres showdown in late October may not be as silly as it sounds. Anything is possible.
The Giants' pitching accounted for most of the dominance, but if Renteria, Cody Ross, Juan Uribe and Aubrey Huff hadn't had some timely blasts, things may have turned out a little differently (not much: they had 29 hits, compared to San Fran's 42). However, due to Cliff Lee completely melting down, and the starters following him pretty much following suite (and an absolutely spectacular failure of the Texas bullpen), it may have been best if team president Nolan Ryan jogged back onto the mound. Hey, the way his pitchers threw, it certainly couldn't have hurt. The fact of the matter is this: the Rangers, although favored by many to win (including myself), simply emulated the defending champs of both leagues last year...they played in a manner that they didn't deserve to win. As much as I would have loved to see Ian Kinsler be the first Jew to have a World Series win since Sandy Koufax, and I think it would have been a better story for the Rangers to take it all, they didn't play like they wanted it, and they damn sure didn't get it.
And so, as we move into what is sure to be an eventful offseason, we here at The Baseball Freak would like to salute the San Francisco Giants for completely defying all my predictions (remember, I didn't even think they'd make the playoffs) and winning the 106th Fall Classic. You certainly earned it. And as a final thought before we move towards 2011...GO YANKEES.
Beating Cliff Lee isn't simple. Beating Cliff Lee in the postseason is even more difficult. And yet, these Giants did it with such ease that it begs the question: why couldn't the Yankees or Rays do it before them? What made this National League team light their bats up against a pitcher that's supposedly one of the most dominant in the game right now? How is it that Edgar Renteria, who only hit 3 home runs the entire regular season, hit 2 just in this World Series? How is it that Josh Hamilton, the ALCS MVP and one of the best hitters on the Rangers, went 2-20 against San Fran? Should we all truly fear Brian Wilson's beard, or his 6 saves out of 7 opportunities with an ERA consisting solely of goose eggs? Why won't Tim Lincecum get a haircut? Does his long hair and striking resemblance to Alanis Morrisette throw batters off? Does Bruce Bochy know something about molding players into champions that Ronnie Washington just can't recreate? DID THE SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS REALLY JUST WIN THE WORLD SERIES BY BEATING THE TEXAS RANGERS IN 5 GAMES IN 2010?!
It's hard to process. But, as I've said, this is a good way to end such an unpredictable season. Seriously, who on earth would have guessed either of these teams would make it to the Show? Hell, even when they did, I guessed Rangers in 6. I didn't anticipate Giants in 5. No one anticipated Giants in 5. Even the Giants didn't start off anticipating Giants in 5. And no one is anticipating Giants in 5 in 2011. The best thing for either of these teams (yes, even Texas benefits from this) is that it shows that they've finally become teams that are legitimate contenders. This shows us that my beloved Yankees and the Phillies aren't the only boys that can win in October. This shows us that nothing in this game is predictable, that anything is still possible. In a game full of performance-enhancing drugs, millionaires arguing with billionaires, dumb policies that shouldn't be in place (and some that should be), this series has shown us that nothing is a given. It's entirely possible that my joking prediction of a Twins/Padres showdown in late October may not be as silly as it sounds. Anything is possible.
The Giants' pitching accounted for most of the dominance, but if Renteria, Cody Ross, Juan Uribe and Aubrey Huff hadn't had some timely blasts, things may have turned out a little differently (not much: they had 29 hits, compared to San Fran's 42). However, due to Cliff Lee completely melting down, and the starters following him pretty much following suite (and an absolutely spectacular failure of the Texas bullpen), it may have been best if team president Nolan Ryan jogged back onto the mound. Hey, the way his pitchers threw, it certainly couldn't have hurt. The fact of the matter is this: the Rangers, although favored by many to win (including myself), simply emulated the defending champs of both leagues last year...they played in a manner that they didn't deserve to win. As much as I would have loved to see Ian Kinsler be the first Jew to have a World Series win since Sandy Koufax, and I think it would have been a better story for the Rangers to take it all, they didn't play like they wanted it, and they damn sure didn't get it.
And so, as we move into what is sure to be an eventful offseason, we here at The Baseball Freak would like to salute the San Francisco Giants for completely defying all my predictions (remember, I didn't even think they'd make the playoffs) and winning the 106th Fall Classic. You certainly earned it. And as a final thought before we move towards 2011...GO YANKEES.
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