Links for Sunday, as the White Sox complete a weekend sweep in Boston….
- Xavier Nady has been doing quite well since the Cubs dealt Derrek Lee to the Braves, writes MLB.com's Carrie Muskat.
- Cal Ripken Jr. told Dan Connolly of The Baltimore Sun that recently-appointed O's manager Buck Showalter is one of the best baseball guys he has spoken to.
- Javier Lopez tells Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle that he's not too upset about falling just short of free agency heading into next year.
- There's a chance Rod Barajas remains a Dodger past this season, according to Steve Dilbeck of the Los Angeles Times.
- NPB Tracker, via Twitter, passes on a news item from Sponichi that says the Mets, Rangers, and Rays all watched Yu Darvish pitch this weekend.
- Toni Ginnetti of the Chicago Sun-Times wonders if Carlos Zambrano's impressive performance over the last month means the Cubs may not ditch him after all.
- What does the future hold for the Yankees' "Core Four"? Joel Sherman of the New York Post explores that question in his latest column.
- Tim Wallach's number one goal this winter is landing a major league managerial job, writes Kevin Baxter of the Los Angeles Times.
- Newsday's Ken Davidoff lists three "hot names" for potential general manager openings this offseason: Damon Oppenheimer, Kevin Towers, and Logan White.
I think signing Darvish would really boost the Mets fanbase. We’re all getting sick of the current management, but a big signing like this could help.
Just my 2 cents, but speaking as a New Yorker, the Mets fanbase seems to be perennially hooked on the latest flashy move or big signing, rather than doing what it really takes to win. Developing kids, at the time, like Wright and Reyes was the right way to go, but the temptation to compete with the crosstown guys in headlines had them tossing draft picks, shipping out useful or good prospects and etc for the last decade.
I’m not saying signing Darvish (if possible) wouldn’t be a good move or not, but isn’t this just the latest version of the same old plan?
Is Yu Darvish another Ichiro? or Kaz Matsui…Take a chance?
Both of those guys are position players. Big difference.
He’s a pitcher. There’s not many japanese pitchers to compare him too. During the WBC I watched a game he pitched and his stuff is filthy. Hard fastball with great breaking stuff. He’s most likely going to get more than Dice-K if he comes over, so whoever gets him better be ready to break open the bank.
I know who Darvish is. I’ve seen him pitch in Japan before the hype got started.
I was just pointing out that comps of position players to give us an idea of how successful a pitcher would be is as useful as evaluating 1B/DH Berkman’s success, or lack thereof, to gauge how well SP Roy Oswalt might do in the AL. I wouldn’t be overly concerned about comparing him to just any ole japanese MLB player that much. I think we’re past the point of reassuring ourselves that Asian players can play in the bigs or not (e.g. Kuo, Choo, Nomo, Matsui, Ichiro, etc, etc..). I think it’s about as certain that Darvish has a chance to be a successful MLB player to come from Japan ever on the mound as, say, Aroldis Chapman does right now.
Anyways all of this is just hype and very premature. US news outlets don’t cover this, or may not have easy access to due to the language barrier, but Darvish has made repeated and very public announcement about he will stay in Japan and not go to the bigs. To him, it’s an integrity issue. Also, in japan, he us a mega star that transcends just sports. Why would he leave that?
I was also impressed by Yu Darvish during the WBC. I’ve been waiting for him to come over and see what he can do, regardless of who he signs with.
I was also impressed by Yu Darvish during the WBC. I’ve been waiting for him to come over and see what he can do, regardless of who he signs with.
Cubs need to deal Zambano now that his value has gone up. I think Darvish will go to Boston or Yankees. He is going to cost alot of money and those teams always seem to be in the mix for big contracts. I hope one of them sign him for like 7 years and he sucks..
I don’t. With all the BS he’s gone through in Japan for being part Iranian and what not I hope he is a raging success, and with his stuff he probably will be.
Who the hell is the core four?! I know Bernie retired years ago but it’s actually the core five!
Mariano, Pettitte, Jeter and Posada I believe.
The Yankees need to give one of Damon Oppenheimer or Kevin Towers to the Royals =/
The Yankees need to give one of Damon Oppenheimer or Kevin Towers to the Royals =/
Loosing Tim Wallach and/or Logan White would be a huge blow to the Dodgers organization. It seems like the media has been giving Tim Wallach more and more positive attention lately, so hopefully that helps him land the job next year.
Loosing Tim Wallach and/or Logan White would be a huge blow to the Dodgers organization. It seems like the media has been giving Tim Wallach more and more positive attention lately, so hopefully that helps him land the job next year.
Rays watching Darvish. Strange. Especially because they’re cutting payroll and buying Darvish’s posted contract would cost $80MM+.
Who are they kidding?
Now I can see the Rangers or Mets making that move. The Mets need that No. 2 or new No. 1. And I can see the Rangers letting Cliff Lee sign with another team in FA.
Boy I’m a Yankee fan and I feel sorry for the Mets fanbase. With that payroll they should be a way better team.
the rays have 7 starters plus afew in the minors .i doubt yu would be coming to the mlb anytime soon.the mets are doing well finding guys thole pagan bay wright reyes carter davis beltran thats a pretty good team.i think rivera might be the most important of the 4 and i honestly cant wait till he does retire he is one guy who is always good.he would be the hardest to replace to once he leaves.
the rays have 7 starters plus afew in the minors .i doubt yu would be coming to the mlb anytime soon.the mets are doing well finding guys thole pagan bay wright reyes carter davis beltran thats a pretty good team.i think rivera might be the most important of the 4 and i honestly cant wait till he does retire he is one guy who is always good.he would be the hardest to replace to once he leaves.
Darvish would indeed get Mets fans excited. If nothing else, such an acquisition would definitely put butts in seats. I’d be all for it if he’d be willing to work his way up through the minors. If all goes well, he and/or Mejia, could be ready midseason next year when/if the rotation needs help.
In the mean time, I really like Dillon Gee, and have since I saw him in 2009 Spring training. He gives up a lot of homers, but in Citi that might not be a factor. To start 2011, in no particular order:
Santana (duh)
Neise (hope his recent struggles end soon)
Dickey (2010 might be a fluke, but you still have to hand it to him)
Gee (ok, maybe I’m jumping the gun)
Pelfrey (losing my patience)
I hope I’m wrong, but I’m willing to bet 2 out of those 5 will fail, but I’m really looking forward to 2012 realistically anyway.