March goes in like a lion, but the lion is cut when the rosters get trimmed to 25…
- Benjamin Kabak at River Avenue Blues takes a look at how the Yankees can include an ownership stake in Derek Jeter's next contract.
- Former Yankee Melky Cabrera is also in the news, with MLB.com's Mark Bowman detailing how his game translates in the National League. As should surprise no one who has watched both leagues lately, the move figures to help Melky.
- Brian Walton of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat has a rundown of the Cardinals' 21 new signings from Venezuela and the Dominican Republic. Tops among the new signings appears to be Amauris Capellan, an outfielder who has drawn comparisons to Raul Mondesi.
- Taiwan Baseball has an update on Min-Tzu Chen, an outfielder-turned-pitcher three months ago, who is now sporting a fastball at 90-93 MPH. According to the site, the Royals and Padres have both made offers in the $150K-$200K range.
- Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe thinks the Red Sox may have found something special in offseason acquisition Boof Bonser.
Bonser wont help the Sox pen too much, they have enough depth that don’t even really need him that much
Actually, he has shown to turn his career around. He looks like a steal.
What are you basing the fact he’s turned his career around on?
From reading the article and following all 30 teams and their news coming in to and during Spring Training.
They aren’t really going to be negative about him. Just because someone says they are “changing their career around” or think they’ll be “much better this year” doesn’t mean it’ll happen.
Anything can happen. Its simply optimism by Peter Abraham who is a great writer.
Anything cannot happen.
Anything cannot happen.
Speaking of Abraham, I was enjoying most of his articles as I flipped through the archives yesterday, until I found one article, about AGon and possibly getting Jayson Werth. He suggested signing Werth and putting Drew as DH for his last year Not only will that never happen, I can’t fathom how he thought that was a reasonable suggestion.
Why is that never going to happen?
Well, here’s what I think. JD Drew is clearly valued extremely highly by Epstein, higher than anyone else in fact; for that reason alone I can’t easily see them taking him off the field for Werth. Also, unless his minor injuries he always deals with turn into a big one that impacts his defense, it would be an extremely insulting move for the team to move him to DH in his walk year. Significantly hurts Drew’s salary in the year ahead, because his impressive peripheral offensive stats look much weaker from the DH position. Plus, even with Lowell and likely Ortiz leaving the team, we’ll always have plenty of guys ready to take the DH position. I keep thinking that if those guys leave and we get a Doumit, or if Exposito impresses, etc. V-Mart will be resigned to specifically play DH, and spot at 1st/C. Plus Ortiz could come back if he explodes. Also, the next two years look to be pretty strong FA classes for big boppers, either first base or DH. So it might be easier in fact for them to work towards signing one of them; even if they don’t get AGon, a player like Carlos Pena could still be very appealing.
Basically, after all those reasons, the one reason that stands out that makes me think this is impossible is the fact that Epstein adores Drew, and, as an already overpaid and disliked player, it would hurt Drew’s rep even more as an overpaid DH who doesn’t hit tons of home runs. Plus, while Werth is a good player, I don’t think playing him instead of Drew in right field is anywhere near the game changer that bringing someone like AGon in would be. And I mention that because that’s how Abraham’s article was structured, saying that if AGon doesn’t work out, here’s another possibility.
Oh, and I love Drew. So I wouldn’t want to see him leave anyway. 😛 I think he’s a very underrated player, who’s abilities are shadowed by the fact that yes, he’s a bit overpaid. But even with that fact, he’s a walks machine, does hit better than we think (Red Sox fans seem to prefer the energy of a hitter over the actual performance, and don’t really notice Drew’s heroics compared to other players), and plays great defense.
I think Victor will check in to other teams in need of a catcher before DHing full time.
Anything can happen. Its simply optimism by Peter Abraham who is a great writer.
They aren’t really going to be negative about him. Just because someone says they are “changing their career around” or think they’ll be “much better this year” doesn’t mean it’ll happen.
“From reading the article?”
You’re probably one of the guys that honestly believes every time Player X says he’s never felt better before, or that ‘he think he’s gonna have another year like (insert career year here)’.
Did I ever say that?
Yes.
Yes.
Did I ever say that?
“From reading the article?”
You’re probably one of the guys that honestly believes every time Player X says he’s never felt better before, or that ‘he think he’s gonna have another year like (insert career year here)’.
From reading the article and following all 30 teams and their news coming in to and during Spring Training.
What are you basing the fact he’s turned his career around on?
Actually, he has shown to turn his career around. He looks like a steal.
If I had respect for Abraham it would be gone now… Bonser’s a reliever and a spot starter. Nothing more.
The guy throws one inning against a college team and there is already an article about it.
no kidding, at least wait until he makes a couple appearances against some big league hitters before proclaiming anything
Randor Bierd had 2 strikeouts, I think his pick up last year was something special… damn, I wonder if I could get someone to pay me to say that.
Randor Bierd is the first Major League Baseball player who could double as a Star Wars character.
Well played, sir.
Well played, sir.
Nonsense. Ponson or Colon could double for Jabba the Hutt.
Randor Bierd is the first Major League Baseball player who could double as a Star Wars character.
Randor Bierd had 2 strikeouts, I think his pick up last year was something special… damn, I wonder if I could get someone to pay me to say that.
no kidding, at least wait until he makes a couple appearances against some big league hitters before proclaiming anything
He’s also spent the last two weeks pitching in Red Sox camp but you are right.
He’s also spent the last two weeks pitching in Red Sox camp but you are right.
The guy throws one inning against a college team and there is already an article about it.
If I had respect for Abraham it would be gone now… Bonser’s a reliever and a spot starter. Nothing more.
The only thing Melky should surprise people with is that new beard that makes him look like Jhonny Peralta!
Honestly though, Melky could really provide some possitivity with his bat, glove, and personality, I really think the Melkman is due for another pretty good season.
Don’t forget his sex tapes.
Don’t forget his sex tapes.
The only thing Melky should surprise people with is that new beard that makes him look like Jhonny Peralta!
Honestly though, Melky could really provide some possitivity with his bat, glove, and personality, I really think the Melkman is due for another pretty good season.
Melky stinks. As a Yankee fan I’ve watched him for 4 years. No power, no speed. A good arm but doesn’t cover a ton of ground in the OF. A switch-hitter in name only, doesn’t do much from the right side.
That they were able to flip him and his escalating-through-arbitration salary for a quality SP in Javier Vazquez was an absolute steal.
There’s a reason why Vazquez only cost Cabrera. The Yankees will learn why soon enough. Once again.
How does everyone forget Vizciano and Dunn in that trade? Cabrera wasn’t even the headliner of the trade, Vizciano was.
For now, they’re only prospects. Can’t get too excited until they’re ready to produce on the major league level.
There’s a reason why Vazquez only cost Cabrera. The Yankees will learn why soon enough. Once again.
Melky stinks. As a Yankee fan I’ve watched him for 4 years. No power, no speed. A good arm but doesn’t cover a ton of ground in the OF. A switch-hitter in name only, doesn’t do much from the right side.
That they were able to flip him and his escalating-through-arbitration salary for a quality SP in Javier Vazquez was an absolute steal.
I, for one, am thrilled to see that the St. Louis Globe-Democrat is back in business.
I, for one, am thrilled to see that the St. Louis Globe-Democrat is back in business.
I thought Kevin Kernan’s column about giving Jeter an ownership stake was a joke. I’m kind of surprised that it has received any attention.
I thought Kevin Kernan’s column about giving Jeter an ownership stake was a joke. I’m kind of surprised that it has received any attention.
Any team should do it for David Weathers.
Any team should do it for David Weathers.
This American League versus National League comparison stuff is bunk. Pull out the DH stats and see what you get. I’ll help you, the Phillies at the top and the Rockies in the top five. Pull out the HR stats from the DH slot and, to be fair, the HRs hit by NL pitchers and see what you get. What a surprise, the Phillies at the top and the Rockies in the top five.
This American League versus National League comparison stuff is bunk. Pull out the DH stats and see what you get. I’ll help you, the Phillies at the top and the Rockies in the top five. Pull out the HR stats from the DH slot and, to be fair, the HRs hit by NL pitchers and see what you get. What a surprise, the Phillies at the top and the Rockies in the top five.
As a power pitcher Boof struck out a lot guys and had some moments in Minnesota, but his calling is out of the pen and with the Twins as a starter he would put together 4-5 solid innings and the roof would fall in. Then he got hurt and tried pitching hurt and that never works. A fresh start with a new role as a setup guy and he could be a big addition for the Sox if he is really healthy. Stay tuned…
Boof Bonser? Seriously? Red Sox sign him and suddenly he could become a Cy Young candidate? I followed Pete Abe when he was a Yankee beat writer. He is entertaining, but take everything he writes with a grain of salt. He was pushing the Morgan Ensberg signing as the second coming of Pujols when the Yanks gave him an invite to spring training two years ago. The guy lasted about a month as a bench guy and was released to never play again in MLB. Boof Bonser is not a make or break signing for the Sox. Even him at his best is a replacable relief pitcher. Cameron and Lackey staying healthy is what Sox fans should be hoping for and Pete Abe writing about. Not much offense and a few risky FA signings. Don’t get me wrong, a healthy team will give them great defense and pitching, but remember when they won it all. It was Manny and Papi who carried the team through the playoffs.
I’m so glad you wrote this. Facing a DH vs. facing a pitcher is one thing that really stands to benefit pitchers switching from the AL to the NL, but let’s be clear… the NL is not the high minors. Why are we acting like the Melk-man is, just by virtue of a move to the NL, is going to be a better player? There’s no factual basis for that, as far as I can tell.
This was what I was making fun of in the Yonder Alonso thread the other day, if anyone was wondering.
Agreed on all points. He is also going to a pitcher’s park in ATL, as opposed to the hitters park in NY. The only advantage I can think of is that he will get to face the weak pitching staffs of the Nats and Mets more often. On a whole though I don’t agree at all with the AL superiority theories that has seemed to become common knowledge for some baseball writers.