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Odds & Ends: Zambrano, Royals, Hinske

By Eddie Schmid [June 30, 2009 at 7:26pm CST]

A dosage of links to soothe and satisfy between innings:

Paul Sullivan at the Chicago Tribune got Carlos Zambrano to respond to the poll that 57.2% of Cubs fans think he should be traded: "Fine, trade me to Boston," he joked.
Joe Posnanski gives an in-depth look at the problems facing the Royals. "The Royals execs are smart people. But the more they do to this offense, the worse this offense gets," he says.
Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel, cricket players from India who won a reality T.V. show called "Million Dollar Arm" and had never picked up a baseball until recently, are now set to play their first game for rookie-level Pirates affiliate Bradenton.
M.A. Mehta at the Newark Star-Ledger talked to Yankees GM Brian Cashman, who says the deal for Eric Hinske "made some sense...he's a pro."
Bart Hubbuch at the New York Post tweets that the Mets "inquired repeatedly" on Mark DeRosa but didn't like the price.
ESPN's Keith Law takes a look at some intriguing pitchers in the Cape League (Insider).
Kiley McDaniel tweets that Baltimore is a "serious darkhorse" for the services of Miguel Angel Sano, with the Pirates and Twins still favorites.
According to MLB.com's Rustin Dodd, the Royals have begun discussions with first-round pick Aaron Crow.

Comments

in response to, "Fine, trade me to Boston", trade him to the LA Dodgers, they like primadonnas with lots of skill

Posted by: 04Forever | June 30, 2009 at 07:41 PM

The fad that is the Red Socks has spread to MLB players as well..

Posted by: ArodMVP217 | June 30, 2009 at 07:50 PM

Please God, let the darkhorse win. Adding Sano would almost be enough to make me forget our awful draft.

Posted by: milehigh78 | June 30, 2009 at 07:58 PM

We dont want you in Boston Zambrano. Boston fans are not going to tolerate this type of behavior.

Posted by: terry180 | June 30, 2009 at 08:02 PM

Unfortunately for Big Z, Theo Epstein and the rest of the Bo Sox Bandwagon don't want anymore non-white players on their roster.

The Dodgers, however, could really use you. And I have a feeling Torre could deal with you in ways that Pinella can't.

Posted by: ThinkBlue | June 30, 2009 at 08:04 PM

what a bushleague move on the reporters part.

Posted by: kevin1013 | June 30, 2009 at 08:14 PM

Sorry, Thinkblue just because Boston is crammed back with Mexicans doesn't mean they don't like non-white players, moron. Take a look at Randy Moss, Ortiz, KG, Pierce, Ray Allen. Yeah the fans really don't like those guys.

+1 reason LA sucks

Posted by: fitz | June 30, 2009 at 08:16 PM

How many times are we going to link to the Zambrano survey?

Posted by: Aaron | June 30, 2009 at 08:17 PM

@ fitz. I was talking about the Red Sox. Not all of Boston sports. I know the Celtics realized they had to buy whatever talent they could after a Laker was getting MVP chants at the Garden.

If you really want to get into it - your city's biggest athletic star, Bill Russel, once called Boston "a flea market of racism."

It's hilarious how many Red Sox "fans" dismiss Manny like he isn't a huge reason (if not the biggest reason) that the Sox have two titles in the past 5 years.

Posted by: ThinkBlue | June 30, 2009 at 08:19 PM

I'm pretty sure not a single person believes that Manny wasn't a gigantic part to the two championship teams but keep on hating.

Boston is and always will be better than L.A.

Posted by: fitz | June 30, 2009 at 08:22 PM

my three uncles and two uncles in Massachucetts beg to differ.

How can Boston be better than LA when it spends all of its time trying to keep up with New York?

Posted by: ThinkBlue | June 30, 2009 at 08:24 PM

Think Blue,
You dont know what you are talking about. If the Red Sox didnt want non white guys they wouldnt draft Carlos Beltran's cousin. I would love to have Adrian Gonzalez in the Red Sox. Its just that the Red Sox dont like spoiled athletes.

Posted by: terry180 | June 30, 2009 at 08:25 PM

Because L.A. is the worst city in America so Boston is better by default.

Your uncles are idiots, apparently it runs in the family.

Posted by: fitz | June 30, 2009 at 08:26 PM

right. LA is the worst city in America. what a cliched statement. Also. Everybody in LA drives Ferraris, has plastic surgery, is "fake", "shallow", and slow.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090313&content_id=3981632&vkey=perspectives&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

Posted by: ThinkBlue | June 30, 2009 at 08:32 PM

Don't you see the irony here? Everybody in LA is a douchebag and everybody in Boston is a racist. God, stereotypes are awesome.

Posted by: fitz | June 30, 2009 at 08:34 PM

I never said everybody in Boston was racist. Bill Russell did.

Posted by: ThinkBlue | June 30, 2009 at 08:42 PM

I love how all of a sudden that Japanese, Puerto Rican, & Dominican players are suddenly considered white. Really? How ignorant can you be?!

Hideki Okajima
Takashi Saito
Daisuke Matsuzaka
Ramon Ramirez
Manny Delcarmen
David Ortiz
Mike Lowell
Julio Lugo

IGNORANT. Think before you post, ThinkBlue.

Posted by: TNS | June 30, 2009 at 08:43 PM

He also played 45 years ago. If LA had any sense of history and wasn't just an extension of Mexico I could probably look back 50 years ago and show you how racist it was.

Posted by: fitz | June 30, 2009 at 08:45 PM

Do the Mets need a towel to wipe the tears from there eyes, they always want something for nothing are we going to continue to read how the New York cry babbies failed to provide the Indians with a quality package to get DeRosa.

Posted by: baseballnuts | June 30, 2009 at 08:45 PM

It'll be a pretty darn good week if the Pirates can sign Sano. Hopefully Huntington stays on this hot streak.

Posted by: LongSufferingBucsFan | June 30, 2009 at 08:47 PM

You need to be banned. And then never be allowed to post on MLBTR again. I am a Met hater, saying that.

Seriously.

Posted by: B3NG4L | June 30, 2009 at 09:12 PM

We'll see about that.

Posted by: B3NG4L | June 30, 2009 at 09:20 PM

Can the Mets please fire Omar Minaya and get a better general manager. Right now, the Mets are so horrific that they went over the borderline of horrific. Whenever the Mets lose, I get madder because Omar is doing jack squat to fix this team.

Right now, if I was Omar, I would offer this trade to the A's:

Mets get:
OF Matt Holliday
RP Brad Ziegler [I think he's not that bad]

A's get:
OF Fernando Martinez
RP Bobby Parnell
RP Eddie Kunz

Posted by: Baseball4ever | June 30, 2009 at 09:35 PM

That probably wouldn't get you Both Holliday AND Ziegler.

Posted by: B3NG4L | June 30, 2009 at 09:48 PM

"Mets get:
OF Matt Holliday
RP Brad Ziegler [I think he's not that bad]

A's get:
OF Fernando Martinez
RP Bobby Parnell
RP Eddie Kunz"

I doubt the Mets would do that for only a few months of Holliday - even with Ziegler included.

Ugh, Zambrano is nothing but a whiny little btch with no control over his emotions and should really not be in any position where he is under stress or in the "spotlight."

And regarding the L.A. vs Boston "discussion," there is no contest whatsoever. L.A. is so much more fun than Boston.

Posted by: drphonic7 | June 30, 2009 at 11:22 PM

Right now, if I was Omar, I would offer this trade to the A's:

Mets get:
OF Matt Holliday
RP Brad Ziegler [I think he's not that bad]

A's get:
OF Fernando Martinez
RP Bobby Parnell
RP Eddie Kunz

Posted by: Baseball4ever | June 30, 2009 at 09:35 PM

Come on man, stop it. Seriously. Why would we trade for Matt Holliday when he will be a FA this offseason and we can sign him without giving up prospects???? Makes no sense. What do you want Omar to do right now? Look I agree, he did a bad job this offseason with this roster. I thought all along this was a second place team, at best. But this team is going nowhere fast. Time to pack it in, maybe even unload a few guys at the deadline, and get ready for next season. We have Delgado and Wagner coming off the books, we need another SP and an OF. I would love Rich Harden and Matt Holliday, but we'll see. No need to trade prospects for future FA. The only move I would like to see is if we can get Garrett Atkins on the cheap from Colorado, as Ian Stewart has taken over 3B and Helton continues to look strong at 1B. Other than that, stand pat and get ready for 2010.

And metkiller, even I don't cheer for injuries, even to Phillies or Yankees. You are a sick son of a bit**. You're also probably a computer nerd who never actually played the game past JV high school ball. Gte a clue loser.

Posted by: JoseJoseJoseeee | June 30, 2009 at 11:34 PM

"How many times are we going to link to the Zambrano survey?"

About as many times as they are linking every team that called about DeRosa (Type B, close to Type A player) and decided not to go after him. Don't let it get to you.

1) As if the survey was done by all Cub fans.

2) As if Paul Sullivan offers anything of substance as a reporter...Phil Rogers, too.

Posted by: studio179 | July 01, 2009 at 02:56 AM

57.2% of Cubs fans say get rid of Zambrano?Good to see the Tribune didnt allow any Sox fans to vote on this survey.Dont these reporters have anything better to write about???

Posted by: nythawk129 | July 01, 2009 at 04:11 AM

On Zambrano: I don't think any team would be willing to trade for him given his baggage.

The MLB has quietly done an excellant job of keeping this kind of personality garbage out of the league (as opposed to the NBA/NFL).

Then again, when you have to spend 80+ nights on the road with your team each year I guess its understandably why a "good clubhouse" guy is considered when valuing players.

Guys like Zambrano can have all the talent in the world but baseball is a team sport and Zambrano has a negative effective on his team.

No thanks to wanting him in Boston.

Also for "ThinkBlue" and his/her poke at Boston for their roster makeup.

Find me another team with a Native American (Ellsbury) and a Jewish player (Youkilis).

Posted by: baxter4218 | July 01, 2009 at 07:32 AM

Why is everyone hating on Zambrano? As far as I've seen, we have a stud who's been a Cy Young contender and all star 3/5 years, never posting a 4.00 era or more? Cubs fans, for a team with such as shakey back of the rotation, you got balls giving Carlos any grief. He's a front end starter on any team. And I promise you his current antics are due to a coaching staff that doesn't know how to handle him, and a team that doesn't know how to win. (sorry Cubs fans! I swear I'm pullin for ya and feel your pain but I gotta state the truth).

Posted by: Santana/Beckett FTW | July 01, 2009 at 07:39 AM

And as far is "trade me to boston" PLEASE PLEASE do. That solves the whole Clay Buchholz situation as he'd be on the first train outta Boston.

Posted by: Santana/Beckett FTW | July 01, 2009 at 07:40 AM

Another thing about the poll

chicagos a split city like my fine city of New York (even tho its spawned a team as crappy as the Yankees)

50% of chicago hates the cubs. so its actually 7% that want him traded.

Posted by: Santana/Beckett FTW | July 01, 2009 at 07:41 AM

If you really want to get into it - your city's biggest athletic star, Bill Russel, once called Boston "a flea market of racism."

Posted by: ThinkBlue | June 30, 2009 at 08:19 PM

Rodney King says hello.

Posted by: carini26 | July 01, 2009 at 07:56 AM

Zambrano still has 3.5 years, $63 Million left on that contract... and that's assuming his 2013 $19M dollar option doesn't vest.

Oh, and a no-trade clause...

Looks like Cubs fans are going to have to put up with this through 2012.

Posted by: carini26 | July 01, 2009 at 08:19 AM

i live in chicago...the north side to be exact...this town is not fifty-fifty...it is a cub town..im sure more than 7% of cub fans want him traded...the smart ones atleast..i am a die-hard sox fan...and i want the cubs to keep zambrano...its pretty entertaining..the childish anticts..there no other pitcher that i enjoy get lit-up..just this sunday he handed us the game....his offense helped him also...but man talk about losing your cool... and im not theo..but im sure theo does not want zambrano...he just got rid of one overpaid player why does he want another one...i agree if there was any chance of zambrano moving teams...(which i hope doesnt happen) the most likely is the dodgers...they take anybody with talent and half a brain...

Posted by: BestTraDeNevErMAde | July 01, 2009 at 10:43 AM

“Why is everyone hating on Zambrano? As far as I've seen, we have a stud who's been a Cy Young contender and all star 3/5 years, never posting a 4.00 era or more?”

Are we speaking of the same Zambrano? I appreciate (almost) everything he has done here, but he gets much more credit around the league then he really deserves. Have a look

2002 4.18 FIP
2003 3.47 FIP
2004 3.57 FIP
2005 3.70 FIP
2006 4.14 FIP
2007 4.58 FIP
2008 4.23 FIP
2009 4.00 FIP

Not exactly what you would expect, is it.

Now, I am not one of those who want him thrown away because of his inconsistent performance or shaky attitude. I personally am solely critical of Zambrano because of his contract. He really is a 10-13 million arm making 18 million a year (for years!). He is a strong number 2 type pitcher for us to go along with the other 2 types we have (Lilly and Dempster). He is not one of the top 3 pitchers in the game, like he is being paid.

If I had the chance to remove him, would I? Honestly, yes. His contract is just that crippling for a team having to buy players at all positions due to a lack of farm system. The 5+ million thrown away instantly before the season even starts ever year would have been the difference in keeping DeRosa for 2009. It might be difficult to find another pitcher to take his place at this moment, but the salary saved would be extreme.

Also, just to clarify, everything said above can also be said about Soriano. I am not singling out Zambrano – he just happens to be the one the article is about.

Posted by: SuzysMan | July 01, 2009 at 11:45 AM

Oh, thank heavens. I thought we were going to get through one Zambrano thread without "SuzysMan" bringing out his fun FIP facts.

Posted by: DunceParade | July 01, 2009 at 01:44 PM

FIP?? FIP?? Who the hell cares?

Will you people quit relying on outrageously obscure and made-up stats? Gawd, I get so sick of people pulling out these random stats to "prove" a ballplayer is this or isn't that. You can quote numbers to prove or disprove anything. Only one thing really matters: Does he help his team win ballgames? That means in any way whatsoever.

For instance, Ryan Theriot of the Cubs. Not a perennial all-star. Definitely not A-Rod statistically, but would you rather have an over-paid home run hitting baby or a guy who sacrifices his body and puts his entire store of energy into doing anything he can to help his team win?

I know where I stand. Do you understand why we love baseball and why we watch? We watch to see our team WIN! Real fans don't care if the game was 1-0 or 11-10, so long as your team wins.

So please, lay off the ridiculous quoting of stats that were invented to make average fans sound more knowledgeable about our game than they are. No one cares.

Posted by: XCal1bur | July 01, 2009 at 02:19 PM

Ah yes, because the whole ONE other time I mentioned FIP in regard to Zambrano points to such a trend, doesn’t it?

“Zambrano has given a FIP in the 3.50 range only twice in his career (03 and 04) Once he has been at 3.70 (05) and otherwise it is 4.0 to 4.6.” That’s the single other sentence, yet here you are acting like an A$$? What a tool.

"FIP?? FIP?? Who the hell cares?"

Like I said, I have only mentioned it once before. But I ask you, what stat would you rather use? Just, be forewarned, no matter which we use they all point to Zambrano being a fairly average number 2 type pitcher. And if you are happy watching Miles at second because we cant afford to keep DeRosa, then great. If you arent, then maybe you should look at our highest paid player who has produced less then Lily despite being paid twice as much a year on average.

Posted by: SuzysMan | July 01, 2009 at 02:26 PM

i agree, who cares about FIP. here are the top 3 stats managers care about with starting pitchers:

1 - wins
2 - innings pitched
3 - ERA

you decide which one is more important than the other, but those are the main three. besides that i am not going to get involved in the big z argument. i am a big fan of his so my opinion would be biased.

speaking of miles, the cubs would not have him if they would not of signed bradley. here is a crazy thought that i hardly see anyone suggest.

cubs should have brought back edmonds from the beginning. no one can agrue that he did great for the cubs last season. he still showed that he can hit the ball and play defense, even when he has lost a step.

have him and johnson in center, fukudome stays in right. edmonds would have signed around 1 mil a year. so, cubs keep dero. dero plays right vs. lefties for fuk, or the cubs can go get a right fielder who hits RH.

combination of edmonds/dero/RH platoon right fielder could easily be cheaper than bradley/miles. and better at producing than bradley/miles.

What is Miles contract?
about 2 years / 4 mil right?

Posted by: CubsFanSinceBirth | July 01, 2009 at 11:12 PM

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Odds & Ends: Zambrano, Royals, Hinske

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