Stark's Latest: Sabathia, Bedard, Phillies, Freel

let the havoc begin

"The Indians will not be giving a negotiation window for a team hoping to sign C.C. Sabathia while acquiring him. "

I'm with bjsguess. I don't understand this unless CC has stricktly said that he will test FA no matter what. Otherwise, how does this do anything but hurt the return that Cleveland would get for him?

if Papi's injury is season-ending, Coco + some minor leaguer for Willingham?

"This is a dumb move by the Indians."

Unless, like other people have said, Sabathia won't accept any extensions. Shapiro's not dumb and Sabathia wants the big pay day.

“Why in the world would Cleveland not allow teams to negotiate with Sabathia? Even if you reduce the window down to 48 hours it would help”

…any team trading for him already knows that there is the possibility he walks at the end of the year. Any team trading for him also knows how sentimental he is, and Shapiro will stress that in talks. If a team wants him exclusive rights and the opportunity to show him what its like in other clubhouses which will dramatically increase the probability he stays with them, then its not an issue. Esp teams like the Yanks and BoSox who apparently have stronger clubhouses (well, per their fans) ~ same can probably be said about Mil, Philly and a few others who would want to try to resign him…

But the biggest factor in his value is the difference he makes to a teams chances to win their division. If NY is bidding, Bos almost has to. If LA is bidding then we should expect Arz to push. If Chi is bidding then you know Mil and possibly even Stl will try to keep him away from there. Philly will find that competition from NY and/or Atlanta… Anaheim has Texas. Then everyone has the WildCards to think about…

Letting anyone have a window eliminates competition if he probably wont sign not knowing if he will like it, not having a window leaves each and every team open. Plus, the two DPs he brings means the winner recoups 1st rounders if he does walk, a large package then being lesser of a blow. Really, just don’t bet on a cheaper price because he isnt guaranteed to be around after those 3-ish months, the competitive balance we are experiencing creates too many bidding situations… So much competition will create a huge demand, it always has…

The Mariners would be so incredibly stupid to trade Bedard. I don't see the Mariners trading him anyway, but after giving up Adam Jones, George Sherrill, and Chris Tillman, why would we trade him? Seattle is still in an uproar over that trade. I was for the trade. I want to keep Bedard here in Seattle.

Hell will freeze over in Seattle if we rent-a-Bedard for 3 or 4 months... That just doesn't make sense...

Arroyo-Freel-Addefeldt to the Phillies...??

What would the Mariners want for Bedard? What are the Mariners needs?

Dark - I agree with your assessment as to why Cleveland is doing this. However, I do think this will really limit what they can land for the guy.

With the way the baseball landscape has changed, placing a premium on young, cheap, controllable players, I just don't see any team offering up a significant package for 3 months of CC.

I could be wrong and Shapiro is a wiz but I just don't see the Indians landing the pieces they need to make a run in 09.

Ok, Bedard is on the market. I still want him on the Braves. I think he'd do better in the NL with a solid defense behind him and what should be a very good offense. If he could be had for relatively cheap, I think the Braves make a push sense its been rumored for a while now that we're after a SP.

Indians make a HUGE trade for Sal Fasano, the all terrifying PTBNL to the Braves.

Seattle needs to blow it up. They aren't 1 or 2 players away from competing. They need to let young guys play and build around them.

Seattle indeed needs to reassess their entire situation.

They are a ton of players away from competing. They should indeed consider blowing the team up since their two biggest offensive forces are 35 and 36 years old (Ichiro/Ibanez). Ibanez is likely gone after this year anyway.

Have to say I like Pelekoudas as GM already. The President and CEO both were for keeping McLaren on and Pelekoudas talked them out of it. Hopefully he's a go getter and does some dealing this summer.

One thing HAS to be done. They HAVE to trade Johjima. They signed him to an extenstion on the orders of the Japanese team owner and it was a stupid move given your big bat in waiting is a catcher. Hopefully Pelekoudas recognizes that and jettisons Joh.

First things first.

DFA Sexson and Vidro. Worthless duo there.

Bedard should be held onto until the deadline at least to see if he can build value and spark a team to give up similar value to what the Mariners did. Maybe not a 5 for 1 but a solid 3 or 4 for 1 package should do it.

The Mariners are a colossal mess.

Sour Bob,

Gaston didnt exactly light the world on fire in the seasons after his two world series wins with the Jays.

I imagine he isnt being hired simply because he isnt interested in coaching anymore.

''if Papi's injury is season-ending, Coco + some minor leaguer for Willingham?''

I don't think that would work. Marlins have Cody Ross hitting the ball good, Cameron Maybin is mashing the ball in minors. Unless they move someone to LF but they have Gonzalez playing their and they have other out there too.

"Also, I was listening to ESPN radio 1000 and they said the Cubs getting C.C. are pretty good."

The hometown media says CC to the cubs looks good. Oohh. Wow. Shocking. Probably the same guys who this offseason said Roberts to the cubs was a done deal...atleast 2 times, please.

"They also said you could expect (if they do get involved with trade talks about C.C.) that Hill would be #1 to be in the offer along with others."

Ah well heck if Hill is in it it has to be a done deal then right?? The same Hill who is in AAA Iowa with his 24 BB's in 25.1 innings? The same Hill who is 28 years old ( will be 29 by the start of '09) and still cant establish himself as a major leaguer? That ship has sailed people. If Hill is your #1 piece for a CC trade, then that conversation is over before it starts.

Man, while I don't think Hill is the centerpiece of a CC deal, I think he is getting a terrible wrap. He has been improving in the minors and lets not forget that opponents still aren't hitting the ball off of him. In his time in the bigs this year he has a 4.12 ERA and an opponents are hitting .191 off of him. Many, many pitchers would love to have those numbers. If I were another team, I would certainly try and buy low on a guy that everyone was praising when he had a 3.92 era but now acts like he fell off the face of the earth with a 4.12 era. Obviously, the control needs some work, but man...tough crowd.

"He has been improving in the minors and lets not forget that opponents still aren't hitting the ball off of him. In his time in the bigs this year he has a 4.12 ERA and an opponents are hitting .191 off of him."

You bring up a good point but, I mean its one of the oldest cliches in baseball.. a walk is just as good as a hit and he is still not showing great control. Also take into account that he has been bothered by a bad back recently.

That said I think the biggest thing working against Hill is the fact that we are not talking about a 23,24,25, 26 year old "hot propsect". This guy has been up and down since 2005. The fact that Pinella has gone out of his way to say that Hill "isnt even close" to returning is very telling. Whatever pitcher or team gets involved with the cubs, you can bet they are going to want Gallagher and arent gonna settle for Hill.

okay this is pure speculation. Lugo, Crisp, and a few good prospects, maybe Brandon Moss for Ichiro and Kenji Johjima. Johjima, coming from just getting a 3 year extention having his job taken away by clement. and ichiro could take over right and we could move JD Drew to DH if papi's injury is season ending. but only then.

“a walk is just as good as a hit and he is still not showing great control.”

…Besides, hard to give up a ton of hits when you cant find the plate.

But you can kind of see the lack of hits being directly tied to him not throwing it over the plate though:
May 06 ~ Walks only 1 in 5 IP, but allows 7 hits
May 11 ~ Only 3 hits 5.2 IP, walks 4 though…
May 16 ~ Walks 3 in only 2.2 IP, 2 hits…
May 30 ~ Walks 3 in only 3 IP, 3 hits (first back from DL)
June 06 ~ Walks 7 in only 5 IP ~ only 1 hit though…
June 11 ~ Walks 6 in only 4 IP ~ 3 hits

…Higher the walks lower the hit totals for the most part, with some half-n-halfs. It kind of looks like his stuff just isnt fooling anyone, and because of that he either throws it over the plate to get pounded or tries to nibble and issues free-passes. Whatever it is, its frightening ~ a 1.70 WHIP in AAA doesn’t really translate to the Majors that well, ya know… Making it even more frightening is that it seems to be getting much worse the longer he stays down there, not better…

I’d take him of course, but more reluctantly than anything ~ he’s looking like a pretty hefty project at this point. Wonder if he would possibly be the target in the Byrd talks Olney mentioned…

BTW, anyone know when he makes his next start? I would have thought he would have gone yesterday or today at the latest ~ he on the hill tomorrow?

thr33nil, you can quash that crap right now, Adam Jones is horrible, three more weeks and Reeds numbers will smash Jones' season! He's already got half his homerun total and his average is higher than Jones' OBP, not to meantion the fact that Jones strikes out a helluva lot! I mean Jones is the biggest top prospect bust since Marc Newfield. Thank God he's not in Seattle, otherwise we would've found a way to lose 10 more games. I only now realize how wrong I was about the Mariners when McLaren says during the Bavasi is fired interview, "I didn't realize it was this hard to manage, I thought you just handed in a lineup card and sat around and talked. I used to see Lou go talk to a player for a minute, he'd come back over, and we'd go back to talking, guess I should've paid more attention while I was with him." That folks is why the Mariners have a losing record, THAT IS WHY they aren't leading the pathetic AL West. He might possibly be the managerial equivalent of Jack Cust playing defense in LF.

YESSSS!!!!!!

The Guru has returned to us!!! And thank goodness, my world was in shambles without you Guru. I simply did not know what to think about the world of baseball. I have also been seeking some relgious information that i believe you (and nobody else) is privy too. Let us rejoice, our leader has returned.

Here's what I'd do if I was the new GM (some deals would have to wait until DL time is done):

THE FIRST TRADE

TO BOSTON
Ichiro Suzuki, Jarrod Washburn, Adam Moore

TO SEATTLE
Jacoby Ellsbury, Jon Lester

(The Red Sox have been enamored with Ichiro for a long time and would salivate over his improving the defense in the outfield and of course hitting before Manny, Ortiz, Lowell, and Drew, our long term benefit is an Ichiro type player in his mid 20s who can patrol CF for a long time to come, another young left hander to fill in the fourth spot in the rotation behind Morrow)

THE SECOND TRADE

TO CLEVELAND
J.J. Putz, Ryan Feierabend, Yung Chi Chen, Michael Saunders

TO SEATTLE
Grady Sizemore, Josh Barfield

(The Indians are looking for an improvement in their bullpen and still are without a true closer, Putz and Feierabend both grew up within a couple hours of Cleveland and would be easy to re-sign, something Shapiro covets. With a slew of young outfield tallent and a chance to get one of the best closers in the game along with another arm for the rotation, a talented 2B who can steal bases and hit for power, along with a guy who projects as a 25-25 to 30-30 guy in LF)

THE THIRD TRADE

TO NEW YORK (NL)
Kenji Johjima, Yuniesky Betancourt, Carlos Silva, Richie Sexson, Sean Green, Juan Ramirez

TO SEATTLE
Jose Reyes, John Maine, Marlon Anderson, Carlos Delgado, the buyout on Delgado's contract and 10MM of Silva's salary and half of Richie's remaining salary.

(The Mets have lost patience with Reyes at times over the last season and a half and consider him a problem in the clubhouse. Delgado has suffered from much of the same problems as Sexson has at the plate. New locations for the first baseman can't hurt! Maine offers marginal improvement over Silva, who is a more tested pitcher with less injury issues & can go deeper into ball games. The glaring problem is their bullpen and with Silva's IP and Green sliding into the setup role, this does two things to help that. Juan Ramirez gives a top prospect to cancel out the slight downgrade at SS & SP, but Johjima will not be like this forever and he stands as a drastic improvement over what they already have at C.)

FOURTH TRANSACTION (after season)

Sign Mark Teixeira for 6 years/100MM.

(Yes he would sign here and Bedard would re-sign if we made these trades, but it means letting go of playing favorites in favor of winning next year and beyond.)

THE NEW MARINERS (with 2009 salaries)

STARTING LINEUP

(L) Jacoby Ellsbury LF ( 500K)
(B) Jose Reyes SS (5.75MM)
(L) Grady Sizemore CF (4.6MM)
(B) Mark Teixeira 1B (16MM)
(L) Raul Ibanez DH (6MM)
(R) Adrian Beltre 3B (12MM)
(L) Jeff Clement C (500K)
(R) Wladimir Balentien RF (500K)
(R) Jose Lopez 2B (1.6MM)

TOTAL: $47.45MM

BENCH

(R) Rob Johnson C (500K)
(R) Mike Morse UTL (500K)
(L) Jeremy Reed OF (500K)
(L) Marlon Anderson IF (1.15MM)

TOTAL: $2.65MM

STARTING PITCHING

(RH) Felix Hernandez (1MM)
(LH) Erik Bedard (10MM)
(RH) Brandon Morrow (500K)
(LH) Jon Lester (500K)
(RH) John Maine (1MM)

TOTAL: $13MM

BULLPEN

(RH) Miguel Batista *CL (until Fields is ready, then they swap) (9MM)
(RH) Joshua Fields *Setup (500K)
(LH) Ryan Rowland-Smith *Setup (500K)
(RH) Mark Lowe *Middle Relief (500K)
(LH) Eric O'Flaherty *Lefty Specialist (500K)
(RH) Roy Corcoran *Middle Relief (500K)
(RH) R.A. Dickey *Long Relief (1MM)

TOTAL: $12.5MM

GRAND TOTAL: $75.6MM

(leaves room to add anyone we want at the trade deadline, we can give extensions to all our guys and get them in long or longer term deals and if we make it even contracts across the board rather than backloaded, a dumb maneuver, we could add 15MM on next season and it would be sustainable, especially with the young guys coming up through the minors like Halman, Valbuena, Aumont, Pineda, Carroll, Raben, etc.)

"TO NEW YORK (NL)
Kenji Johjima, Yuniesky Betancourt, Carlos Silva, Richie Sexson, Sean Green, Juan Ramirez

TO SEATTLE
Jose Reyes, John Maine, Marlon Anderson, Carlos Delgado, the buyout on Delgado's contract and 10MM of Silva's salary and half of Richie's remaining salary."

AHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

And you have the nerve to ask if I am smoking bad weed. I doubt that package could net Maine by itself (there is literally no chance whatsoever you can get Reyes with that package.). I dont even know whether to laugh or cry.

Guru - you're very close indeed on Sexson playing in NY. I am looking forward to him playing for the long island ducks once seattle drops him. If you could also do me a favor - next trade proposal don't forget to include players ages, heights, weights, favorite band, coaching staff, bat boys and any other pc of information you can tack on to make it seem like reading a book. We get it you know the roster - you can use the internet and look things up.
Hows that 90 win season looking? Are you going to stop posting when they mathmatically can't reach 90 wins? or are you going to wait until last day of the season?

Guru is either a comedic genius of Kaufman esque proportions or the local idiot in some Washington State tree farming town. I choose to believe the former as it helps me sleep at night.

I really don't see Ichiro getting traded after signing that huge and confusing contract. though I would like to see him get moved because he's one of my favorite players and he's wasted his career in seattle.

i guess guru has the good weed that makes him thinks any of those deals are going down.

Why the hell would the Sox want to swap for a far older and more expensive version of Ellsbury? Same goes for Washburn. Why the hell would they want to swap for an inferior version of Lester?

Because they also acquire a future 1B/DH, in Jones? That post has to be some kind of joke.

Is Ichiro on the Market? What is his worth right now? He would look good in CF at Wrigley as a lead off man.

Guru, I'm going to say this nicely. You are a complete idiot. Let's break down theses trades in reality that you believe is best for everyone:

Ichiro Suzuki, Jarrod Washburn, Adam Moore for
Jacoby Ellsbury, Jon Lester

Ichiro is an aging outfielder who has a contract that doesn't benefit a team. Washburn can't even stay competitive at a pitchers park. On the other hand, I know you want back 2 northwest natives, but one is a speedster that's threatening to steal 60 bases annually who has become a HUGE part of Boston's top of the order and the other is growing into his role as top of the order pitcher nicely and becoming one of our most reliable pitchers. Dear god in heaven, Guru. What are you smoking that makes you think Boston would even CONSIDER this proposal. It would be devastating to Boston. The loss of Ellsbury and Lester WHILE adding the trainwreck that is Washburn would destroy Boston even with Ichiro being added and oh yeah being in albatross in year 5.

J.J. Putz, Ryan Feierabend, Yung Chi Chen, Michael Saunders for Grady Sizemore, Josh Barfield

Yes, the Indians bullpen needs to improve, so of course they'll trade their spark plug and face of the franchise. For the last freaking time, Sizemore is signed to a WONDERFUL team friendly contract, he is UNTOUCHABLE.

Kenji Johjima, Yuniesky Betancourt, Carlos Silva, Richie Sexson, Sean Green, Juan Ramirez for Jose Reyes, John Maine, Marlon Anderson, Carlos Delgado, the buyout on Delgado's contract and 10MM of Silva's salary and half of Richie's remaining salary.

Now really, when I read this I couldn't stop crying because I was just laughing too hard. The ONLY way this trade happens is if Seattle's brand new GM has photo evidence of Minaya eating a baby while dressed as a dominatrix. I mean come on. The Mets will trade a guy, who despite being "impatient" with is signed to a team friendly contract and is still a good shortstop WITH their number 2 pitcher for what is in all fairness, a bunch of crap.

Guru, I know you play MLB on your playstation at home and you can make it so the game accepts any trade. but do EVERYONE here a favor. Go sit in a corner for a few minutes and pull your head out of whatever orafice its in.

As far as Hill goes, I have to say, I understand where you are going with "a walk is as good as a hit", but its not really true. If there is a guy on 2nd or 3rd, does a walk get the runner in? no, but a hit does. Which is why its better to walk a guy than have a guy get a hit. I'm not saying Hill is some great prospect, but he had a very good year last year and everyone was saying how he is going to be a good #3. I honestly don't think all that much has changed besides walking another 2 hitters per 9 innings, which is by no means good, but when opponents are only hitting .191 off of you, its not going to hurt all that much most of the time.

Remember, last year ERA was 3.92 and everyone touts him as a great #3.

This year, ERA at 4.12 and everyone says he is done, a headcase, and will never get it together. Seems a little much to me.

NRMAX, that was AWESOME how you timed your post right before GURU's rant. Seriously, terriffic.

Dirtywater, are you serious? There is no "high horse" about Marmol. Everyone around baseball sees him as pretty much the nastiest young reliever in the game right now, and a young K-Rod. He is under team control for cheap for the next 3 to 4 years. There is no reason to even discuss how valuable he is, because its much, much more than you think. There is no high horse, its called reality.

“Hows that 90 win season looking? Are you going to stop posting when they mathmatically can't reach 90 wins? or are you going to wait until last day of the season?”

FYI ~ its “95-100 WINS” which he guaranteed ~ and my count has it at 21 more M’s loses before its mathematically impossible…
But hey, if they got 70-20, “guru” will have made a perfect prediction

“On the other hand, I know you want back 2 northwest natives, but one is a speedster that's threatening to steal 60 bases annually”

…I wanted to point out the irony of this statement. “guru” is actually the one who once argued something to the extent of ‘its much easier to find guys who can steal 50 bases than hit 30 HR’. No lie, he’ll probably argue it again if you ask him to… (or heck, what am I thinking ~ he’ll probably argue it now since it was just mentioned)

EDIT. for if Papi's injury is season-ending
pure speculation. Lugo, Crisp, and a few good prospects, maybe Brandon Moss for Ichiro and Kenji Johjima. Johjima, coming from just getting a 3 year extention having his job taken away by clement can take over for varitek if we dont resign him. and ichiro could take over right and we could move JD Drew to DH. but what would we do with an extra OF after the season.

Seriously, if you want to see something funny, check out the post about McLaren's firing. In one of the first comments, I wrote that Guru would start talking about how the M's had the AL West right where they want 'em. But damn...I was kidding. This guy is something else.

Also, Dark-
I expect better. I'll be the first to say that relievers- particularly middle relievers/setup men- aren't as valuable as some make them out to be and tend to come and go. But Marmol IS awesome. Kid's a beast and DOES kinda compare to KRod a few years ago. The only real mystery is why the Cubs threw more money Wood's way and made him the closer with Marmol seemingly ready. Don't get me wrong, Wood seems to be doing a pretty good job, but he's nowhere near as dominant as Marmol can be. You know I'm not one of the Cubbie Crazies on this site, so, I'm coming at this without any bias. The kid is the goods, man. Any team in baseball would be thrilled to have him and Coco Crisp wouldn't be nearly enough to pry him from Hendry and the Cubs. Just saying.

"Yeah! You have to compare him to someone more like F.Rodriguez! Or another perfect comparison would probably come in Fernando Cabrera"

How is Fernando Cabrera a good comparable? He never had any success in the majors let alone what Marmol has done over the last year. and last night was a fluke, he hadn't pitched in 4 days and he pitches better the more he pitches. if it wasnt for two fluke pitches when he hit those guys (he had two strikes both times) he would of gotten out of that. Even after giving up 4 earned runs (mostly because scott eyre can't get anyone out) without recording an out, his era is still 2.93. Not too bad. not to mention the 159 K's in 112 innings this and last year. compares pretty well to K-Rod to me.

Oh come on, this is pathetic. He compares to K-Rod and HAS LIVED UP TO IT for the last year and a half! 99% of "said" relievers don't live up to "said" expectiations because they don't have "said" slider that gameday actually thinks is a curveball because it breaks so much. Said reliever is the nastiest in the game, period. Every team would love to have him and it would take someone like Buchholtz or Ellsbury to get the Cubs to even consider talking about trading him.

start_wearing_purple, I'm so close to giving a sh*t what you think and then you bring Dunn's name into it and you lose all credibility. Sorry we have a DH in Ibanez, we don't need his fat ass taken up space in the outfield or slowing down the baserunners behind him.

As for your attack on the Mets trade, Reyes isn't a team friendly contract, it goes to 7MM in 2010, 9MM in 2011, and 11MM option for 2012, which means that he's under contract for the same stretch of time as Betancourt for about 20-25MM more. There's a one year difference in age and I've already shown that they each have their strengths and with a Wright at 3B, they would make a great defensive combo. I think you all need to watch a Mariners game to appreciate how good Yuniesky is. Especially considering how I laid out that the difference in stats has to do with 46 more ABs and 72 more PAs than Betancourt. When you give Betancourt the same number of chances, his numbers are nowhere near as distant as they first appear from what Reyes does!

So you think going from Reyes ( a top 5 shortstop in baseball) to Betancourt (a bottom 5 shortstop in baseball) is only a small downgrade? To quote Dave Chapelle..... werd?

"By the way, Ichiro has a better base stealing percentage than Ellsbury and almost as many."

Ellsbury 91.45%
Ichiro 81.62%

Career, dumbass, career its way more indicitave of ability than 2 months. Though this is a crap argument as Ichiro has 5000 more plate appearances.

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, not I get it. It didn't make sense to me before, but Guru must have been insisting that they get Jose A Reyes from the Mets, the catcher in Binghamton with a career MiL line of .238/.293/.295. Now everything makes sense. But nope, sorry, even if that is what you meant that proposal would still be shot down.

I'm glad Guru is back. Always livens up the conversation.

Guru, I'm gonna go ahead and have fun.

First on TV rights of Ichiro. Dude, Boston. Media is bringing in a sh*tload as it is. A drop in a pan is unnecessary for a bad trade. Long run it would be costly.

As for Washburn. Let's break it down to this. World Series game, who would you start Washburn or Lester. Lester is a better pitcher. OFFENSES DON'T SCORE 6 RUNS EVERY GAME TO BAIL OUT SOMEONE WHO SHOULDN'T BE PITCHING. See, I can do caps too.

"Also, Washburn has thrown inning ending strikeouts numerous times this year and when the ump missed obvious calls."
My favorite swan call of losing teams. It wasn't us it was the umpire. Are you one of the kids who threw the ball at the ump?

"By the way, Ichiro has a better base stealing percentage than Ellsbury and almost as many... he's a bigger draw"
So what. He's 34 and losing speed. Also you don't seem to realize Fenway is sold out every game. Trust me when I say draw and money are not an issue.

"Epstein loves old veterans. Look at Schilling, Wakefield, Varitek, Lowell, Manny, Timlin, etc."
You do realize Wakefield, Manny, and Tek were all on the team before Epstein got there. The acquisitions of Schill, Lowell, and Timlin actually, ya know didn't hurt the team. The subsequent resignings even make sense. Everyone thought Tek has been a suberb leader, Schill would contribute this year, Lowell was the best 3rd baseman on the market (not counting Arod), and Timlin has been the mentor for a the young guys in the pen, he's the admiral. Oh and as an added little middle finger to your Mariners, how's Heathcliff Slocomb doing? Because We're liking Tek

"Ichiro isn't falling off anytime soon"
In 5 years he'll be 39, think he'll have a better season than Ellsbury that year? Long run Ellsbury is the future core of the Red Sox.

"Baseball is a business and the problem is that you all are looking at the stats, which is more PLAYSTATION management than what I'm doing"
Don't actually own a playstation personally. As for the management perspective you're doing you are basically strictly arguing that the Red Sox should bring in media who will be an albatross in a couple of years jeopardizing the chance of winning. You're also saying Boston should be greatful enough that they should take on a pitcher with a horrible contract AND give up 2 young talented players. The formula that keeps Boston rich is this: winning. Keep the park sold out. How's that working in Seattle?

As for the Mets. Yes, I've watched Betancourt... Reyes is better. Reyes is better in the field, better runner, better hitter in every category and does something Betancourt does not which is take the walk. Add to that you want them to downgrade at short, at catcher, and downgrade a starter for some cash and a minor possible upgrade in the pen. Yeah, totally gonna happen.

As for Dunn vs Ibanez. Dunn is better. As was pointed out to me by someone else in a previous post, he sports one hell of an OBP. Also Ibanez is 37 next year and is constantly trotted out into the field. Add to it, Ibanez is in a walk year, can you say for certain he'll stay

As for your superior tone of "I'm thinking of this as a businessman." Your business doesn't seem to realize that you have to deal with other businesses. The Mets and Red Sox deals hurt them in the long run, plain and simple.

ing very, very, very well

“That's not to say that Marmol will fail. I would just temper your expectations and understand that the possibility exists.”

…This is the hardest thing for me to understand as well ~ it seems 90% of the fanbase (well, on this and a few other sites atleast) sees things in complete black&white without allowing the other to ever be a possibility. They also do this while at the top of their lungs screaming the other to be the truth. What they seem unable to understand though, is the fact that it creates strife with others who might not see the team through the same colored lenses.

Making it even worse is the fact that it is not even a consistent proclamation; it jumps around to fit whatever todays appearance/perception is. Case in point, how many times did we hear about PECOTA projecting a .291/.344/.479 line from Pie? Similarly, how many people were told to shut up when it was suggested the team might actually trade Felix? We are but 2 months later and his name is being mentioned by a good chunk of the fanbase in quite a few offers…

If Cubs fans want to know why so many don’t respect them, make fun of them or don’t get along with them ~ well, it might be one of the first things they should look at.

But whatever, I see Adun has a couple posts so I imagine he’s probably calling me stupid, because I made a statement saying other possibilities exist outside of Marmol being the best closer in the game…

I'm just rambling incoherently.

Euro2008, plus day off, there could be booze involved.

In case anyone was wondering, Jeter most overrated player in baseball, according to play poll. It's nice to see that other players get it.

"I'm just rambling incoherently.

Euro2008, plus day off, there could be booze involved."

...Hahaha, understood...

"In case anyone was wondering, Jeter most overrated player in baseball, according to play poll. It's nice to see that other players get it."

...Ahh, but I would imagine his name would come out on top of a fan poll as well ~ the question is posed quite often by fans (ie ~ "is Jeter the F*ing reincarnation, no. This guy is so overrated" can be seen on many a boards)

What I dont understand is ESPN's constantly calling out the players for taking part in an anonymous poll. I had to listen to Mike&Mike harp on it for ever, telling the players that they should put their name to such a statement. It was also mentioned on other shows before I took off this morning. Why is ESPN trying to create strife? I mean, they all acted like they couldn’t understand why players would vote and not put their names ~ as if doing so will not create a situation where the media hounds them hourly about it. Such a statement with a name attached to it could get a player black-balled, yet M&M were saying they are all a joke if they don’t publicly announce they were one of those who voted for him.

…It was strange…

“He is however practically the inspiration for my screen name. Not as good at baseball, WAAAAAY better at Life.”

…yeah, I hear ya there ~ and the two are pretty much ebony-n-ivory arent they?

I am also fairly confident Jeter has been named this before atleast once or twice through different things. I think its really one of those no-brainer answers though; Jeter is treaded as if he is the second coming ~ there is no way to ever live up to that no matter how good he is. Is he pretty damn good? Of course, but I doubt he would be a household name if he played for KC. Shoot, Pujols isnt a household name, and he’s one of the best players we have ever seen… Anyway, is nice to know that the players feel like we the fans do! Also would be interesting to know how many Yankees voted for him ~ wanna take bets on one of them being ARod?

Dark, your post saying you don't read my posts but continuing to reference them is just childish at this point. Either read them or don't, I don't care. But stop acting like a child about it...