Mailbag: Bedard, Fukudome, Alexei, Pierre

For the question about the white on black, just hit control+A to make it blue on white.

Theres a shocker!! A Cubs based website predicting that the Cubs will land Fukudome.

Okay, I'm a Reds fan and I really want Bedard. That said, there's no way the Orioles are going to trade the only good young position players they have in Markakis.

That division is just brutal, even the Rays are better than they are now. Blow it up Angelos.

I just wonder how much value they can get for Bedard, Tejada and Roberts when everyone knows how bad they're going to be this year.

Speaking of covert work reading...those talking ads suck.

I agree with changing the white on black to black on white.

Look at newspapers or graphics on TV, it's always black on white for a reason - it's easier to see.

bweav44, you bring up an interesting point. They say talks broke down between the Orioles and Astros last week regarding Tejada because Baltimore is asking for a "Johan Santana" like trade offer. I think everyone outside of Baltimore knows that the Orioles are trying to get rid of Tejada's salary and that Bedard wont sign an extension there, so they have to trade both. They arent going to get a Kings ransom for either player.

I don't think Fukudome to the Cubs is a biased prediction at all.

unless you are biased towards reporting the general consensus.

I like the white on black - don't change it!

However, you could always put a button up top that was either session-based or cookie based... clicking it swapped the blck and white text colors, border colors, and background colors. Not too hard, I'd imagine.

keep the black screen for three reasons:

a) it's greener. your computer uses less energy when a website uses a black background then it would "brightening" a white screen.

b) most of the screens i have to use at work at black. not like anyone would care.

c) the cool factor. the black screen gives MLBTR it's own identity. one of the best things about MLBTR is that it seperates itself from every other sports/news/blog site that uses white.

Hard for me, King, but a savvy web design person probably could pull it off. Could be a January initiative.

I also operate a white-on-black blog. I think it's actually easier to read. The black on white orthodoxy is based on the idea that computer screens are like paper-- they aren't.

Long live the monochrome!

Your RotoAuthority.com site is a primo example of a site that's easy to read.

You could still do everything else in the white on black (such as the links, borders, etc.), but the sit is terrible to read as it is right now.

A couple of suggestions for people who have a hard time reading MLBTR:

One thing that I do when I read MLBTR is press CTL+the scroll button on my mouse. This helps increase the font and makes it easier to read for people with vision problems like me.

Another thing I do when I read your site is highlight the area of the site that I want to read with the mouse. The resulting blue on white highlighted area might make it easier for people who have a hard time reading the white on black.

O's definitely don't have the leverage right now, so it'll be interesting to see how this plays out.

I think the fact that they have Bedard under a resonable contract for two years helps them, and hurts suitors, but Tejada isn't going to net all that much. He's on the downside of his career too. Personally I like Roberts better as an all around player but Tejada's RBI totals are hard to overlook.

I don't understand any NL team going after him though, as he's more valuable were he can DH some games I'd think.

Anyhow, all that said I'm hoping this is a buyers market.

You can change the white-on-black without having to go with black-on-white. How about green?

One more thing...Who are those guys at the top of the MLBTradeRumors homepage?

Keep the Black and White!!! That's this sites distinct style. I like the low key approach, not overwhelmed with ads and graphics, just straight to the point. Plus, it's easy on the eyes.

As for the 3 players on the top banner: The first one looks like Shin-Soo Choo, former Mariner(as seen on the jersey), and now a Cleveland Indian. The second one, I can't tell, but the 3rd player looks to be wearing a Cardinals Jersey, and looks a lot like Jim Edmonds.

Great site.

I would increase the width to reduce the amount of scrolling.

Thanks Chillin. I think the middle guy is wearing a Nats hat, if that helps. How 'bout having guys on their that are being discussed as part of blockbuster trades (Santana, Haren, Tejada, Bedard)?

I'm not sure how the Orioles don't have leverage in this situation. They don't HAVE to trade Bedard, but they'd obviously love to and benefit from trading him. Moreover, there are several teams in the mix for his services, each with a chock load of young talent to trade. Doesn't a scenario like this count as leverage?

I think the black on white should stay. Like you said, it's become the brand of MLBTR--anything else would be strange!

I also look at it this way: reading the rumours here is like dreaming in black and white, and when you wake up to some of them that become true, you wake up to a vibrant, technicolor reality :)

I cant believe talkin about the freakin colors of the page dominated the comments like it did. Keep the white print on black, by the way, HAHA. Anyway, I think the site is extremely fair to all teams, just cuz dude is a Cubs fan and is interested in the team, they consider the site bias. I actually think this site could use a little more Cub talk. I think the people who bitch about this site frequent it more often than the ones who enjoy it. I'd keep pissing them off seems to be good for business. PS the control+A thing works for the pansies who cant deal with the black

Yeah this site definitely isn't biased toward any team. I mean, Fukodome obviously is going to sign with the Cubs.