The Official 2012 Major League Baseball Thread

[rumpleforeskiin]

Doc, the right manager today might not be the right manager tomorrow. You really want a guy who fits the makeup of the team. A team of veterans needs a different kind of manager than does a young team. I don't know if Farrell is the right guy for the Sox and, of course, with the roster in such flux, we don't even know what the roster will look like next year. What I do know is that the Farrell hiring got rave reviews from Pedroia and Ortiz. Whatever I might have thought of the hiring before that, I hopped on board knowing it was good enough for the leaders in the clubhouse.

While Farrell didn't get the best results in Toronto, there are two things to consider. 1) The entire Blue Jays pitching staff went down with injury and 2) his results in TO were no worse than Tito Francona's in Philadelphia.

There was an interesting article on ESPN.com yesterday saying that the Red Sox are in better shape right now than the Yankees because a) they don't have the burden of many bad contracts for older players b) they have tremendous financial flexibility, some 60-80 million to spend this winter and c) many more top prospects in the farm system close to major league ready. It's going to be a very interesting winter in Soxland.

 

[Joe.t]

Doc, the right manager today might not be the right manager tomorrow. You really want a guy who fits the makeup of the team. A team of veterans needs a different kind of manager than does a young team. I don't know if Farrell is the right guy for the Sox and, of course, with the roster in such flux, we don't even know what the roster will look like next year. What I do know is that the Farrell hiring got rave reviews from Pedroia and Ortiz. Whatever I might have thought of the hiring before that, I hopped on board knowing it was good enough for the leaders in the clubhouse.

While Farrell didn't get the best results in Toronto, there are two things to consider. 1) The entire Blue Jays pitching staff went down with injury and 2) his results in TO were no worse than Tito Francona's in Philadelphia.

There was an interesting article on ESPN.com yesterday saying that the Red Sox are in better shape right now than the Yankees because a) they don't have the burden of many bad contracts for older players b) they have tremendous financial flexibility, some 60-80 million to spend this winter and c) many more top prospects in the farm system close to major league ready. It's going to be a very interesting winter in Soxland.

On players such as Carl Crawford and Adrian(Whiner)Gonzales, two of the biggest colassal busts ever, I can't wait to see their next brilliant signings.

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

On players such as Carl Crawford and Adrian(Whiner)Gonzales, two of the biggest colassal busts ever, I can't wait to see their next brilliant signings.

Ho hum, Ed Whitson, Carl Pavano, Alex Rodriguez...should I go on, Joe?

 

[Doc Holliday]

On players such as Carl Crawford and Adrian(Whiner)Gonzales, two of the biggest colassal busts ever, I can't wait to see their next brilliant signings.

Carl Crawford was indeed a bust, there's no disagreement there. However, i'd take Adrian Gonzalez on my team anytime ahead of the likes of Mark Texeira, who hasn't exactly been burning up the Bronx since he's been with the Yankees.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Yankees' Soriano opts out of deal; becomes free agent

Rafael Soriano opted out of the last season of his three-year contract Wednesday, leaving the New York Yankees without a closer and waiting on Mariano Rivera's decision whether to retire.

Soriano's opt-out had been expected since the end of the season. His agent, Scott Boras, has indicated to several media outlets, including ESPNNewYork.com, that he planned to advise his client to opt out and become a free agent.

Soriano would have been paid $14 million had he remained for the final season of the deal. Soriano can negotiate with all teams beginning Saturday.

If Rivera decides to return, there is very little chance the Yankees will try to re-sign Soriano, who saved 42 games in 45 opportunities filling in for Rivera since early May.

Rivera is still contemplating whether to play next season. Immediately after suffering his season-ending knee injury, he vowed to pitch again, but backed off that stance last week when he informed Yankees general manager Brian Cashman that he is undecided on his future.

With Soriano opting out, the Yankees have leeway to offer Rivera more money. If Rivera retires and the Yankees don't re-sign Soriano, then David Robertson, Joba Chamberlain and David Aardsma would be in-house candidates for the closer role.

http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/sto...-contract-new-york-yankees-becomes-free-agent

I think the loss of Soriano will be a considerable blow to the Yankee bullpen, especially considering all the uncertainty in regards to Mariano Rivera's status.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Angels trade Ervin Santana to KC Royals

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Angels traded right-hander Ervin Santana to the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday for minor league reliever Brandon Sisk.

The Angels exercised Santana's $13 million option for next season before trading the Dominican veteran and cash to the Royals.

Santana has been a fixture in Los Angeles' rotation since 2005, going 96-80 with a 4.33 ERA while spending his entire career with the Angels, who signed him as a free agent in 2000. He struggled for much of last season, going 9-13 with a 5.16 ERA despite significant improvements over the final two months.

Santana threw a no-hitter in 2011 and a one-hitter last season.

Sisk spent last season with Triple-A Omaha, going 3-2 with a 2.54 ERA and eight saves. He's pitching in the Venezuelan winter league.

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/mlb/...-traded-kansas-city-royals-los-angeles-angels

I'm extremely surprised that Santana would up in Kansas City, of all places.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Yankees, ready to move on from Swisher era, have hope he rejects qualifying offer

by Jon Heyman

The Yankees are ready to move on from the Nick Swisher era.

While they were still planning to make the $13.3-million qualifying offer to the free-agent outfielder on Friday, they appear hopeful he won't take it. The offer is likely to be made only to protect the draft choice.

The Yankees seem to believe it's very unlikely Swisher will take the one-year offer; in fact, they seem to be counting on it. While a repeat of the Jayson Werth seven-year, $126 million contract is out, Swisher should still be able to get at least a three-year deal, and perhaps even a longer one.

The Yankees generally are pleased with the overall production Swisher gave them in his four years in New York, but they see the era as being over after another rough postseason for Swisher. In his career, Swisher has just eight RBI in 154 postseason at-bats, with a .169 batting average and .589 OPS.

Swisher was a fan favorite for almost his whole stay in New York, but he expressed great disappointment at the fans' booing of several Yankees in their ALCS sweep at the hands of the Tigers.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/j...her-era-have-hope-he-rejects-qualifying-offer

This must be tough on Yankee fans considering he was a fan favorite.

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

Yankees writing off Pineda for 2013:

Larry Rothschild: “With elbows it is a lot more predictable and you can expect. With shoulders, really, I think you take him off the radar screen, bring him back as the injury allows. But I don’t think we can count on him for next year at all. And hopefully he comes back and it’s a great addition, but if you count on him and think he’s going to be back by a certain point, you have a pretty high percentage of being disappointed with that. So I think you’re better off just approaching it that he’s not going to be back next year. And if things go right — and he certainly could come back and be able to pitch, I wouldn’t doubt that at all — but for us to count on him, I think, would be a mistake.”

 

[Doc Holliday]

Gee, that sucks in regards to Pineda. The Yankees also declined the option on Russell Martin, but that's not too surprising considering he can't hit for average.

I was sitting on the crapper a few minutes ago, reading Joe Torre's book on the Yankees, and realized something: the team that swept the Yankees got swept in the World Series!!

What were the odds? Unbelievable!

 

[lgna69xxx]

Ross signs 2 yr deal with red sox

David Ross that is! lol........ 35 yr old "back up back up" catcher, just what they need! (to stay in the basement that is) :thumb:

http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=409370

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

iggy, iggy, iggy...let me try to teach you something about baseball. First off, a good hitting catcher is hard to find. A catcher with an .814 ops is a rare thing; that's Ross' over the past five years. He's also a superb defensive catcher. Second, catching is at a super premium this winter; the trade value of both Saltalamacchia and Lavarnway will never be higher. Third, the Yankees certainly recognize the value of a good backup catcher; they've been starting one as a regular for the past two seasons.

In other news, in what would be a severe blow to the Yankees' plans for 2103-2014, it appears that Hiroki Kuroda is close to re-signing with the LA Dodgers.

 

[Joe.t]

iggy, iggy, iggy...let me try to teach you something about baseball. First off, a good hitting catcher is hard to find. A catcher with an .814 ops is a rare thing; that's Ross' over the past five years. He's also a superb defensive catcher. Second, catching is at a super premium this winter; the trade value of both Saltalamacchia and Lavarnway will never be higher. Third, the Yankees certainly recognize the value of a good backup catcher; they've been starting one as a regular for the past two seasons.

In other news, in what would be a severe blow to the Yankees' plans for 2103-2014, it appears that Hiroki Kuroda is close to re-signing with the LA Dodgers.

I can't wait to see what Cashman, Hal and Hank have up their sleeve, stay tuned.

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

I can't wait to see what Cashman, Hal and Hank have up their sleeve, stay tuned.

The main thing they have up their sleeves is cutting payroll below $179 M by 2014. Considering the contracts of the fading stars, Sabathia, Rodriguez, and Teixeira, it ain't gonna be easy.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Speaking of CC Sabathia.......

A month a go or so when i saw him pitch, i was thinking.....

This guy has at the most 10-15 years to live. He looks absolutely unhealthy for a guy his age & big guys like him who don't take care of themselves properly rarely live past the age of 50.

So there you go, that's my baseball thought-of-the-day.

 

[lgna69xxx]

Exactly..... every offseason rumps gets a hard on thinking the Yanks wont be a top team and yet in October, has to pull his foot outta his mouth yet again, the last 2 seasons saw both feet getting Yank-ed out as the Bronx Bombers were a top team and the red sox had the biggest collapse in the history of sports in 2011 and this season didnt get out of the basement. Sure rumps, keep "teaching" others about baseball, but ya might wanna educate yourself first :lol:

Ross may be a great defensive catcher, but cant hit a lick and is 35. Martin is likely the best defensive catcher in the game and if the Yanks re sign him i can see him having a career year if healthy. Those 20 plus hr's and the the way he was hitting end of the season shows he has still got some skills offensively. I have a feeling he will be moving on, but i'd welcome him back for 1--2 more seasons until Sanchez is ready.

I can't wait to see what Cashman, Hal and Hank have up their sleeve, stay tuned.

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

Exactly..... every offseason rumps gets a hard on thinking the Yanks wont be a top team and yet in October, has to pull his foot outta his mouth yet again, the last 2 seasons saw both feet getting Yank-ed out as the Bronx Bombers were a top team and the red sox had the biggest collapse in the history of sports in 2011 and this season didnt get out of the basement. Sure rumps, keep "teaching" others about baseball, but ya might wanna educate yourself first :lol:

Ross may be a great defensive catcher, but cant hit a lick and is 35. Martin is likely the best defensive catcher in the game and if the Yanks re sign him i can see him having a career year if healthy. Those 20 plus hr's and the the way he was hitting end of the season shows he has still got some skills offensively. I have a feeling he will be moving on, but i'd welcome him back for 1--2 more seasons until Sanchez is ready.

Yup, every October I get to see the $200M Shankees bumped in the first round of the playoffs, while the Sox continue to be one of only three teams to win two WS in the 21st century and they didn't have to spend 2 billion to do it.

As for Ross, what part of an .815 ops is "can't hit a lick?" OK, you can take your foot out of your mouth now. As for Martin, yes, he's an excellent defensive catcher, probably Ross' equal. Now, if you want to talk about "can't hit a lick," Martin would be your boy.

 

[lgna69xxx]

Your claim to glory with the red sox is still the "2 ws in the 21st century" eh? For every non sox fan the glory is seeing "the biggest choke job in sports history for their 2011 meltdown" Whats worse, spending what the Yanks did and finishing FIRST and making the playoffs or spending what the sox did , finishing DEAD LAST and no playoffs? Be honest rumps, if you were asked a week ago who you would want the sox to sign this offseason, Ross "jr" would not have been in the top 50 names.

So, seriously, who do you want or expect the red sox to go after this offseason? Greinke? Trade for RA Dickey? Who? Who can they get to make them contenders again in this free agent class?

Yup, every October I get to see the $200M Shankees bumped in the first round of the playoffs, while the Sox continue to be one of only three teams to win two WS in the 21st century and they didn't have to spend 2 billion to do it.

As for Ross, what part of an .815 ops is "can't hit a lick?" OK, you can take your foot out of your mouth now. As for Martin, yes, he's an excellent defensive catcher, probably Ross' equal. Now, if you want to talk about "can't hit a lick," Martin would be your boy.

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

For every non sox fan the glory is seeing "the biggest choke job in sports history for their 2011 meltdown"

Actually, pal, the biggest choke job in sports history took place in 2004. Remember?

Whats worse, spending what the Yanks did and finishing FIRST and making the playoffs or spending what the sox did , finishing DEAD LAST and no playoffs?

Pretty much the same: losing is losing.

Be honest rumps, if you were asked a week ago who you would want the sox to sign this offseason, Ross "jr" would not have been in the top 50 names.

No, but he's certainly a good start.

So, seriously, who do you want or expect the red sox to go after this offseason? Greinke? Trade for RA Dickey? Who? Who can they get to make them contenders again in this free agent class?

I was kind of hoping for Jake Peavy, but he's off the board. I'd say Anibal Sanchez is at the top of my free agent list. Adam Laroche would be nice at 1b. I'd like to see them re-sign Cody Ross. I'd take a flyer on BJ Upton, but wouldn't break the bank.

 

[Joe.t]

.

No, but he's certainly a good start.

Who the fuck is David Ross?, never heard of him, these type of siginings will guarantee the Red Sox last place again.

My Prediction for the East in 2013-

1. Yankees(Again).
2. Blue Jays(if Morrow, Santos and Bautista stay healthy lookout).
3. Orioles.
4. Tampa.
5. Boston(as the Metallica song goes, Sad but true).

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

Who the fuck is David Ross?, never heard of him, these type of siginings will guarantee the Red Sox last place again.

There's an awful lot you've never heard of Joe.

My Prediction for the East in 2013-

1. Yankees(Again).
2. Blue Jays(if Morrow, Santos and Bautista stay healthy lookout).
3. Orioles.
4. Tampa.
5. Boston(as the Metallica song goes, Sad but true).

Congratulations Joe. You're the only one in the world who knows what the rosters will be next April.