Odds and Ends: Phillips, Chacon, Hewitt, Griffey

Darvish will probably have to wait until free agency to jump the pond. $60 million is one serious commitment to make for any team, sox and yanks included. Although the Matsuzaka posting fee was well worth his signing, it was itself a large risk to take putting up $51 million and change for him. I dont see many teams other then the yanks going after him while he is still under control by the ham fighters. a contract of probably 5/$120 million is crazy, but his numbers so far have been finger licking good, coin toss of epic proportions really...

Darvish plays for Nippon Ham. Their nickname is the Fighters.

Referring to the "ham fighters" is akin to referring to Brett Favre's old team as the "bay packers".

That Lincecum article was awesome. Thanks Tim for posting it.

Griffey and a prospect for Beltre and a prospect.

"Griffey and a prospect for Beltre and a prospect."

Pass on that. Beltre has about twice as many homers as Junior and plays GG defense. Along with that, he is about 10 years younger. The Mariners don't have any depth at third base anyway.

If Seattle was entertaining trading Beltre, he could get them more than Griffey. I want Junior back but if the Mariners trade anything of value, they are getting ripped off. That article says that if the Reds are willing to take some salary back, they probably could work something out. Sounds like the Reds want value out of Griffey and the team to take his salary.

Again. Pass.

Andy Phillips wasn't anything special defensively, he just looked great when the alternatives at first were Sheffield, Craig Wilson, and Giambi.

Sheffield was playing before his hand fully healed and as a result couldn't even hold on to a perfect throw.

Craig Wilson didn't know which foot you're supposed to put on the base, and as a result had to come off the base any time the throw was a little off.

And Giambi can't get to anything that's not hit right at him.

If that's your competition, it's easy to look gold glove caliber.

Oh, and Phillips .300 average was almost entirely singles. Teams generally want some power at first base.

"Tim, everybody is calling you a freak."

"Well, Dad, I am. Why?"

"How can you say you're a freak? You're just a good athlete."

"O.K., is Michael Jordan a freak? Tiger Woods? Jack Nicklaus?"

Its so nice to see that early success hasn't gotten into his head. Do it for 10 more years and then you can compare yourself to the greatest players of their respective sports, ever. Nice read, but I am not buying the durability thing. He will be hurt before long.

Andy Phillips's .248/.290/.374 career line is pretty ugly. You can't just call someone up or sign someone for league minimum who can beat the production while playing crappy defense at multiple positions?

"I am not buying the durability thing."
Then you've either misread or misunderstood the article. There's very little stress on his body because his mechanics are so smooth and fluid. It's pretty basic science. Outside of some freak injury or age getting to him later in his career, he's going to be durable.

Victor and Jbowl, sorry, i dont believe everything scientists say. They also have said that a cruveball is an illusion and the ball doesnt actually curve. Do you believe that? I dont think anybody who has ever hit a halfway decent curveball would believe this. He is too small and too many violent movements in his delivery. If its not his shoulder, maybe it is his elbow, if not his elbow, maybe his back, if not his back maybe his knee, if not his knee maybe his hip. When he stays healthy for 10 years, I will believe it, and I will gladly eat crow. I just don't see it happening at all.