It was on this day in 1938 that Reds lefthander Johnny Vander Meer became a baseball immortal by throwing his second consecutive no-hitter. What better way to commemorate the Vanderversary than with some news items?
- Adam LaRoche is prepared for another summer of hearing rumors and possibly being traded again, reports Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal.
- What would be fair value for Cliff Lee? Fangraphs' Dave Cameron breaks down the question.
- ESPN.com's Jayson Stark is impressed by how the entire Nationals franchise seems to have turned around in a year's time.
- Hayden Simpson seemed to be a reach for the Cubs as the 16th overall pick, but Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times thinks that Chicago scouting director Tim Wilken's past drafting record "has earned [him] the benefit of the doubt." Maybe so, but implying Simpson could be "the next Roy Halladay" is a bit much.
- Had the Dodgers picked up a veteran starter or two in the offseason, the L.A. Times' Steve Dilbeck says the team could've avoided using so many young arms to plug holes in their injury-plagued rotation.
- Omar Minaya hinted that the Mets could add a starting pitcher, but "is reluctant" to do so at the expense of dealing promising minor leaguers, reports Andy Martino of the New York Daily News.
- R.J. Anderson of Fangraphs thinks the Marlins will likely be sellers at the trade deadline. Responding to Anderson's story, Juan C. Rodriguez of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel agrees, but thinks a potential deal could bring back more than just prospects for the Fish.
- Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette chats with Pirates fans and covers a few hot stove topics, including the likelihood of Zach Duke being dealt.
- Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports (via Twitter) that Ozzie Guillen thinks "it was a good sign" that A.J. Pierzynski wasn't traded before his ten-and-five rights kicked in. Guillen believes the non-deal "sends a message to the Sox players that there is still time to fix things."
“Omar Minaya hinted that the Mets could add a starting pitcher, but “is reluctant” to do so at the expense of dealing promising minor leaguers”
What is common sense to most GM’s is a newsworthy revelation to Omar.
I really can see Seattle keeping Lee.
2011 is setting up to be a banger draft and 2 picks there maybe more valuable than anything teams would be willing to offer for just a “rental” player.
I would love it if Seattle could coax a slugger out of a deal for Lee. Someone that could be in the bigs in the next year or two.
Honestly, not sure how much they will get. Not because of lack of talent, but lack of suitors. Boston and Tampa are probably out and I think NYY will be out as well. That is the two biggest markets(trade wise, usually) that are gone, and one of the richest farm systems. Their best chance is Texas gets approval from MLB to take on some payroll and they deal some of their prospects for the rental in Lee…
“Had the Dodgers picked up a veteran starter or two in the offseason, the L.A. Times’ Steve Dilbeck says the team could’ve avoided using so many young arms to plug holes in their injury-plagued rotation.”
Um… correct me if Im wrong, but didnt the Dodgers get to the place they are by giving young guys a shot? So why the hell does Dilbeck think that we should have overpaid veterans to block the same type of player that brought them to contention?
Aside from Ely, who appears to be coming back down to Earth in his last two starts, the combination of Haeger, Ortiz and Monasterios in the #5 spot has been mediocre. Monasterios has done OK, but as a starter he’s averaged 4.55 IP in his 4 starts with a 4.34 ERA. Now with Billingsley out we’re going to be relying on Padilla, Ely and Monasterios in the #3-#5 spots? I don’t think that is very promising, especially facing the Reds, Red Sox, Yankees, Angels and Giants this month.
The Dodgers shouldn’t have signed Padilla, but someone more reliable/consistent like Garland. Ely would’ve still had his opportunity in the #5 spot after the inevitable implosion of Haeger and the Ortiz brothers, and Monasterios would’ve stayed in the bullpen where he belongs.
Ely’s stats are backed fairly well by his advanced stats(3.38 ERA, 3.11 FIP, 3.82 xFIP, 3.65 tERA). He has a very good KK/BB ratio and his BABIP is 287, fairly average. No one thinks he will post an ERA under 3, but his start doesn’t seem to be regression-expected…
Billingsley is on the 15 day DL with a groin strain. If he is able to just miss the 15 days(or about 3 starts), there is no reason to panic. With Padilla, we simply need him to be an average 5th starter. We arent expecting a 3.20 ERA like last year, but an average #5 guy… So we need to rely on Monasterios for 3 starts and if he impresses, it will be a decision on if Padilla or Monasterios stays in the rotation when Billingsley comes back.
When at full strength, it is a rotation of Kuroda, Kershaw, Billingsley, Ely, Padilla/Monasterios. Now, you could say we should have signed Garland, but it was costs.. 5M compared to 7M. The McCourts are VERY cheap, remember…
Cubs past drafting record has earned him the benefit of the doubt? Who was the last major league impact player the cubs drafted Prior? Personally as a cub fan I am disappointed almost every year with our drafts.
The article in question is about Tim Wilkens’ draft history, which when looked at in detail is pretty good. He was with the Blue Jays when they drafted players like Halladay, Rios and Wells. Then he was part of the team that built the Rays farm system into the beast it currently is. He’s only been with the Cubs since ’06, and two of HIS three first rounders are currently on the major league roster.
I think that given that track record one has to take more of a ‘wait and see’ approach rather than a ‘here we go again’ approach to Simpson.