Sunday night linkage..
- Dave Cameron of U.S.S. Mariner tweets that it'll be interesting to see which sabermetric-friendly team will ink recently-DFA'd pitcher Edwar Ramirez. Cameron's bet is on Tampa Bay.
- Jason Churchill of ESPN (Insider subscription required) explains why second basemen aren't often selected in the first round of the amateur draft. He writes that the best athletes usually play center field and shortstop in high school and college. The second basemen typically come from the shortstops who cannot keep up with the position defensively.
- Ben Sheets threw live batting practice for the first time with the A's and impressed the coaching staff with his velocity, according to the Associated Press. Sheets inked a one-year deal with Oakland worth $10MM plus performance bonuses in late January.
- Felipe Lopez's arrival may mean less at-bats for Julio Lugo, writes Matthew Leach of MLB.com. Lugo sounds less-than-thrilled about a reduced role but said that his agents have not approached the Cards about a move.
- Dusty Baker isn't worried about his contract situation, writes Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. The Reds skipper is entering the final season of a three-year pact.
- Todd Zolecki of MLB.com writes that despite trading away several highly-rated prospects in the last 19 months, the Phillies still have talent in their farm system.
The Phillies do have some Major Talent in the farm system. They still would have had plenty of top prospects even if they hadn’t traded Cliff Lee for Aumont, Gillies, and Juan Carlos Ramirez. Just some really good drafting by Montgomery/Gillick/Amaro Jr.
Domonic Brown is going to be a special player. He should get the job begining on Opening Day 2011.
I was also just thinking about the trade and how Exciting it will be to see Roy Halladay and You don’t mess with the Johan pitch against eachother!!!!!!!!! I’m so Excited for the Season!!!!!!!!!!
Can’t recall what writer it was…but one of the Phil’s beat guys was on local radio from FL today, said Gillies is getting a serious look for a bench spot THIS year.
They’re torn because they want to get him AB’s, but his D and baserunning have already impressed so much they think he can add a dimension they’ve been lacking the last few years…namely a basestealing threat off the bench.
Doubt they keep him, but it’s nice to at least hear something positive about one of the pieces they gt for Lee.
They could potentially take Ross Gload out of the equation…Just cut him out of Spring Training. But that wouldn’t be the right thing to do. Gillies should probably get another year of seasoning.
Gload hits too well off the bench to drop him.
I’d take Domonic Brown or Tysor Gillies over Ross Gload anyday.
I say let them hit in the Minors then bring them up mid-season or starting next year.
so if ryan is going to be in the opening day lineup and a righty is on the mound, most likely bronson arroyo, the line up would look like:
schumaker
ryan
pujols
holliday
ludwick
rasmus
freese
molina
pitcher
did i leave someone out?
damn thats a good lineup.
Just saying, the only other choices aside from Arroyo would be Harang, Cueto, and Bailey. All righties.
Aside from Pujols/Holliday/Ludwick, you’ve got a lot of guys who won’t even crack double digit homers. Of course, Rasmus can and probably will hit over 20, but he really needs to brings his OBP up for his sophomore season. Not that it really matters that no one else will crack double digits when you have one of the best hitters in the history of the game batting third, followed by one of the best LFers in the game today, and then even HE is backed up by one of the most powerful RFers around. The Cardinals have the best 3-4 combo in the game, but I’d like to see Rasmus for one more season before I call him the real deal. Schumaker makes for a solid leadoff man, but I just really don’t like their lineup after you get passed the big boppers. It is undoubtedly a great lineup, and they should run away with the division, but I’m just shouting my opinion.
I don’t think they will run away with the division. And I don’t agree with Ludwick being one of the most powerful right fielders around. He still hasn’t backed up his 2008 season. He’s a good hitter. I’m sure Ferrariman is going to disagree with me but thats okay.
Actually I do agree. But a game is 33%. Defense 33%offense and 33% luck. Ludwick is above average defense at RF. And I think ludwick will find a good median between his last 2 years.
Come to think of it.. The cardinals are above average at every position defensively except 2nd base where it’s just average.
But I don’t think the cards will run away with the division either. I’m this kin it will be within 3 games with be cubs winning the wildcard
I’ll take the Reds.
Wait so you are saying that according to UZR/150 they are above average? Makes sense.
If Rasmus struggles, I’m not trying to jump to conclusions, but I really am a big Daryl Jones fan. I hope to see sometime in 2010.
The Cubs will be nowhere near the playoffs.
Barring the intangibles which cannot be foreseen, what on paper says that the Cardinals won’t run away w/ the division? They’re superior in all facets of the game to their divisional opponents.
After Carp and Waino, it falls off. I’d take the Reds top 5, hec, top 8! Anyday. The Reds will win any 3 game series involving the two but I think the Reds have some of the best pitching in Baseball.
Any team w/ two aces will be the team to beat. The Reds don’t even have one ace.
Any team w/ two aces will be the team to beat. The Reds don’t even have one ace.
“the rotation falls off”
How many rotations don’t “fall off” after 2 cy young contenders. lohse will be healthy, I’m not expecting much-say high 3s era and 180innings. That’s very reasonable. Penny i’m shooting slightly higher but a line of 3.75era, 200+innings seems reasonable.
Does it really fall off? Cards have THE BEST 1-2 combo aces in the NL. If it didn’t “fall off,” they would be the 1998 Atlanta braves
Amen, brother.
Amen, brother.
“the rotation falls off”
How many rotations don’t “fall off” after 2 cy young contenders. lohse will be healthy, I’m not expecting much-say high 3s era and 180innings. That’s very reasonable. Penny i’m shooting slightly higher but a line of 3.75era, 200+innings seems reasonable.
Does it really fall off? Cards have THE BEST 1-2 combo aces in the NL. If it didn’t “fall off,” they would be the 1998 Atlanta braves
I’m a cards fan and I agree it’s a good lineup but not a great one. I really do expect more out of rasmus this year, and don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect an .850 ops from him with around 20 homeruns. Although with our pitching staff a good lineup is all we need.
I still have to give it to the phillies as the team to beat in the NL, but right after them I’d say is the cardinals and they aren’t that far behind.
Freese could hit 15ish… or he could tank. But there’s reason to be optimistic. I guess if healthy he’ll fall between .275/.340/.450 and .255/.310/400 with above average defense. Probably not overwhelming, but better than the void that the Cards had at 3rd last year.
Ferrariman = Tony Tag.
googled “tony tag”
LMMFAO!!!!
LOL yes, finally someone gets it.
Cool.. Can you explain it or you just want to act more immature?
Come on, Tone. The jig is up. We know who you are.
Come on, Tone. The jig is up. We know who you are.
Cool.. Can you explain it or you just want to act more immature?
LOL yes, finally someone gets it.
Hahahahaaaa….aweomse.
i don’t remember off the top of my head, but who did the phillies give up midseason for cliff lee and ben fransico? was it any prospects worth mentioning or just so-so type.
It’s a shame because none of them really seem to have much potential.
Carlos Carrasco
Lou Marson
Jason Knapp
Jason Donald
Knapp is really the only one with upside. Carrasco really turned out to disapoint the Indians management. Cliff Lee was/is one of the top 5 pitchers in Baseball, I can’t believe the Indians weren’t able to at least get Michael Taylor and Joe Savery for example, or at most, Kyle Drabek or Domonic Brown. Maybe even J.A. Happ.
Mark Shappiro really didn’t do his best on this one.
It’s funny how everytime Cliff Lee is traded, it is a completely lopsided trade. Maybe not the most recent Cliff Lee trade. But everyone remembers the Lee/Sizemore/Phillips/Stevens for Colon/Drew right? I know I certainly do.
Aha, no. Two good seasons doesn’t make someone a top 5 pitcher.
There are so many pitchers I would take over Lee…
Sabathia, Lester, Halladay, Santana, Lincecum, Matt Cain, and those are just off the top of my head.
Out of those 6 pitchers you just named, two of them have had only two good seasons. I think you few would agree with your thoughts on Lee not being top 5.
And Lee has actually had 3 good seasons.
lee..i would say is a top 10. id take lincecum, halladay, santana, carpenter if healthy, sabathia cuz he chews up innings, grienke, felix hernandez, and maybe adam wainwright if he proves last year wasn’t a fluke over cliff lee.
you forgot Verlander?
My top 10 in order are as follows
Halladay
Santana
Hernandez
Lincecum
Lee
Greinke
Sabathia
Verlander
Wainwright
Johnson
You forgot carpenter
And i’m not as big on verlander as others are. A 3.50era in an easy division doesn’t exactly scream super-star. His innings are nice though but I wouldn’t get to high on just K’s.
Not saying he’s bad, but he would just barely make my top 10
I also woudln’t put Greinke in there after just one really good year. But I agree when healthy Carpenter is one of the top 5 pitchers in baseball, unfortunately that doesn’t happen enough. *Fingers crossed for next year*
Greinke had a 3.47 ERA in 2008. thats solid. Plus 183 Stikeouts.
When healthy, Carpenter is the best pitcher in all of baseball.
That nonsense! Healthy or not, Carpenter will never be in the class of a guy like Johan Santana.
Go look up Santana career stats he compiled in the American League. It’s as clear as day he’s a better pitcher than Carpenter.
Numbers can only tell part of the story. Watching their approaches & on field performances tells the rest. There’s nobody who can vary their pitches & locate the way Carpenter does. He’s in a class all his own.
Numbers can only tell part of the story. Watching their approaches & on field performances tells the rest. There’s nobody who can vary their pitches & locate the way Carpenter does. He’s in a class all his own.
Well my reasoning isn’t just K’s. He eat up a ton of quality innings this year. Even when he’s off he still eats up a ton of innings. He really turned the corner after April 22nd. Plus, I don’t think it’s an easy division. He dominated teams outside of the AL Central. The only team outside of the AL Central that he gave up more than 3 runs to outside of April were the Orioles. And that was 5. He’s a horse who stays healthy (not like Carpenter) and is clutch.
I agree, and I’d have Haren near if not in the top 10. He’s always in a position to win, he’s not missed a start in years and his ever-decreasing WHIP led the majors last season. Swap out Verlander and Greinke (give me another ’09 and I’ll get on the Z-train) with Carp and Haren and you’ve got your top 10.
Thank you. This sounds much better. I was just thinking off the top of my head, and knew I was leaving out quite a few.
My point in all of this was just to point out that Lee went from minor league trash to top 5? Nuh-uh.
Well I don’t think it’s impossible for that to happen. I mean if Johan Santana was added to the 40-Man Roster way back when, he wouldn’t have been a rule 5 pick.
My point being, There are so many things that can go wrong for a pitcher. Injuries, Emotional issues, Pitch Tipping and so on and so forth. Cliff Lee had a problem. He went 18-5 in 2005, 14-11 in 2006, 2007 was his terrible season, and then in 2008 he bounced back or shall we say, simply came in to his own. He was never really minor league trash. Plus, He really did do a fantastic job on the Phillies last season. He wasn’t bad on the Indians either. I would just say, in all fairness, Cliff Lee is top 5.
But I certainly do understand where you are coming from.
Wainwright has three strong seasons, so I can’t see ’09 as a fluke.
Why would you mention Cain over Lee, when Cain has had two slightly above average season and one excellent one while Lee has had one slightly above average season and two excellent ones?
Also, Tim Lincecum and Jon Lester have had 2 seasons as well. There is no reason to stack one above Lee, unless of course Lincecum and his Cy Young’s. But Cliff Lee has had 2 dominant seasons and two good ones as you said.
Granted Tim has had 2-3 excellent seasons, you can’t knock him for that like the others. Those have been his only seasons. He hasn’t had a bad/mediocre one. A guy with ROY, CY, CY, in all his 3 years respectively, you’re given every reason to believe he can continue that way. Why his agent wants to go year to year is beyond me. I guess Tim doesn’t have very far to move up, if at all possible. I wonder if people can learn his movement and copy it.
It’s not exactly a bad thing that Julio Lugo would be getting less at-bats.
Anything to keep him from playing between 2nd and 3rd (His defense is worth being called shortstop play)
The Cardinals have too many middle infielders. If they can maybe unload one for a decent Starting Pitcher or Relief Pitcher like Ronald Belisario (just for example. If anybody thinks a Skip Schumaker for Belisario or Cory Wade trade will do than this isn’t an example)
Why would u put this crap on here?
I’m good on the Lacoste clothing! Let’s Talk Baseball!!!!!!!
That bit about second baseman makes a little sense, but I wouldn’t take it too seriously. First baseman are usually Tier 1 Hitters who can’t field at all, and are placed at the position where they are the smallest defensive liability…dosen’t mean they are bad ball players
What starting pitcher could we possibly get for Julio Lugo?
Jo-Jo Reyes, maybe.
Why not, you already have Thurston
Thurston’s not going to make the team anyways, unless he suddenly turns into a hitting machine in Spring Training. Conrad is already on the 40-man roster so him being on the bench wouldn’t require any further roster moves. I’d like for us to add a guy that’s able to play SS before teams head north though.
I don’t know that Lugo by himself would net much, but I think the Cardinals should wait a month before trying to move him (if they want to move him at all). A lot can happen in a month for the Cardinals and for potential trading partners. An injury in the middle infield for another team might make trading Lugo a more lucrative proposition than it appears today.