Some links on the eve of playoff baseball..
- The Dodgers have asked Rick Honeycutt to return next season but the pitching coach is weighing his options, tweets Ken Davidoff of Newsday.
- Dave Cameron of U.S.S. Mariner takes a look at potential second base candidates for the M's in 2011. Ryan Theriot, who was less-than-stellar for the Cubs and Dodgers this season, is among the players listed.
- Jerry Hairston Jr. told Jim Bowden of XM Radio (via Twitter) that he wants to return to the Padres in 2011.
- The Reds could be in position to contend for years to come if they keep their key pieces, writes MLB.com's Mark Sheldon.
- While the O's projected rotation for 2011 is young, GM Andy MacPhail hasn't ruled out the possibility of bringing a veteran aboard to fill the place of pending free agent Kevin Millwood.
- The Nats probably won't have Bryce Harper play in the Arizona Fall League this year, writes Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post.
- You can expect a busy winter in San Diego, writes Bill Center of the Union-Tribune.
- Mariners CEO Howard Lincoln and GM Jack Zduriencik sent a letter to fans promising better times ahead. Larry Stone of The Seattle Times notes that Josh Lueke was omitted from a list of the system's "hard-throwing pitchers".
- Jim Callis of Baseball America (via Twitter) believes that the Mets should hire Logan White as their next GM.
- The Pirates have interviewed Eric Wedge for their vacant managerial opening, tweets Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com.
- Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette gives his thoughts on John Russell's tenure as Pirates skipper.
Just found out A.J. Burnett won’t be pitching the ALDS. All I need for him is to not start for us for the next year and a half when Betances and Banuelos will probably be ready and all my dreams will come true.
Anyways what could Logan White do for the Mets? Never heard of him.
Logan White is basically responsible for all the young Dodger talent (including recommending Andre Ethier in the Milton Bradley deal). No idea how he’d be with free agents, trades, etc., but it would be a solid hire IMO.
Wish I was as confident about all the young Dodger talent as you are
Then by your nickname I take it life is miserable? J/K; Logan White would be sorely missed by LA if he were to move on, this year’s Lee pick was a freebie/fluke, but he’s done a great job picking arms in the last several drafts.
He was talking about Eithier, Kemp, Billingsley, Santana, Kershaw, Bell, Jackson, Loney, Martin, and others i think.
This Josh Lueke situation is embarrassing for other reasons. Yea the kid got in trouble and he paid for it, but Zudernick straight lied through his teeth to everyone. They both should be pardoned and given the benefit of the doubt. They keep exacerbating the situation and it makes them look, petty foolish and poorly run. Just one Angels fan’s opinion.
As a Mariners fan I completely agree. Josh Lueke might have a checkered past, but so did Dan Cortes. It’s in the past and I think this club needs to be professional about the situation. Both Cortes and Lueke are talented power arms that have the potential to close games in the near future.
I don’t understand why Harper isn’t playing in the AFL. There are plenty of young kids that do it. I know last year Mike Trout (17 at the time) put up on OPS of 925 while the pick before him, Randall Grichuk (also 17) posted an OPS of 903. I’m sure there are many, many others that are 17 that play in the AFL.
I think it’s mostly a combination of both how raw he still is, and also the incredibly high risk/reward that he represents. Baseball players are known as some of the least mentally tough athletes around, you can seriously screw up some young kids by pushing them too far beyond their limits.
Don’t really see the harm in allowing the top pick some time to develop at a nice slow pace, especially considering he’ll be among the youngest players in whatever league he’s playing in.
Neither Trout nor Grichuk played in the Arizona Fall League. Guessing you’re thinking of the Rookie Level Arizona League. Huge talent difference.
I think you’re referring to the AZL. Not the AFL.
The AFL tends to be a winter league that is for nearly MLB-ready prospects. Those minor leaguers are somewhat experienced (~AA level and up) or newly drafted highly regarded college players. Harper is a huge ceiling prospect but he is a HS player.
The AFL tends to be a winter league that is for nearly MLB-ready prospects. Those minor leaguers are somewhat experienced (~AA level and up) or newly drafted highly regarded college players. Harper is a huge ceiling prospect but he is a HS player.
Cliff Lee to the ORIOLES!
Not bloody likely, especially after the pasting we gave him… twice. I’d be more inclined to go after Westbrook.
Cliff Lee to the Marlins.
Cliff Lee to The Guelph Royals (the inter-county baseball team where I live).
So there’s a city named Guelph? Canada? Help me out.
Guelph, Ontario Canada. To most people from the US, “near Toronto” usually suffices! Google Map it.
Cliff Lee back to Seattle 🙂
YES!!! I knew the Pirates should go after Eric Wedge!!! One step in the right direction!
Three names that come to mind for the M’s, Kelly Johnson, Rickie Weeks, and Aaron Hill.
All of Kelly Johnson, Rickie Weeks, and Aaron Hill are under team control in 2011, will Hill under team control through 2012 with team options through 2014. So cross him off the list. With a name like Guzman available there is no reason to give up players in a trade. Johnson and Weeks are going into their 3rd arbitration years and both had strong seasons at the dish. Look for Seattle to acquire a non-tender in Theriot, a free agent in Guzman or to negotiate a new contract with Jose Lopez.
I don’t know.
Not a chance Jays sell low on Hill.
I would trade for INF, the pitching and outfield situation is good in Toronto, I recall Jim Callis saying that Toronto was in his Top Ten Farm Systems.
I would trade for INF, the pitching and outfield situation is good in Toronto, I recall Jim Callis saying that Toronto was in his Top Ten Farm Systems.
The Brewers probably won’t let Weeks go, Johnson leaving the D’backs doesn’t seem likely, Hill might get let go, but I doubt it will happen. Theriot is good for a stop gap to give Ackley more time in AAA.
I agree with Dave Cameron’s pick, Ryan Theriot would be a useful piece for the rebuilding Mariners in 2011. Theriot would likely get the bulk of playing time at 2B for the first half of the season before Dustin Ackley is called up. After Ackley’s call up Theriot is good insurance for the often injured Jack Wilson at SS. I think the team will show admitting failure and shift Figgins back to 3B in 2011 after a bad season at 2B in 2010. Give Theriot 1YR/2.5M and call it a day!
Is Figgins moving back to third?
more than likely because Lopez is going to be gone and should slide him back to 3rd.
Moving Figgins back to 3rd seems like the most logical move with 2B Dustin Ackley knocking on the door. Most writers that cover the M’s seem to be penciling Figgins in at 3B to start the season. And that is likely where he will stay.
I’d probably get a 2B to start the season with the Mariners. Just to give Ackley more seasoning at 2B, then bring him up. Smoak should be up too, he”s been considerably better since coming back up.
Wonder how hard, or even if Boston will shop Jed Lowrie this off season? His injury history with that fractured wrist over the last 2 season and getting it back to normal was long and arduous and then contacting mono last off season delayed him even further, but when he came back in July, he did with a vengeance and can play both SS and 2B pretty decent with some power.
Hopefully Boston will let him play SS with Scutaro either as the backup IF, or shop Scutaro, but would think they could get some decent BP help or prospects back from someone like Seattle for Lowrie if they choose to move him now.
Lee will fail to see that the orioles are very close to contending. We should go after Dunn. Offer him a 4 years 62 million dollars. Dunn can play 1B for 1 year with us then he moves to DH so we can sign AG. Then a real ace we could go after is Zach Greinke. Offer the Royals Pie,Tillman, Egan and Zagone. Then rotation 1: Greinke 2: Matusz 3: Guthrie 4: Bergesen 5: Arrieta/Britton. Lineup 1: Roberts 2B 2: Markakis RF 3: Burrell LF 4: Dunn 1B 5: Scott DH 6: Jones CF 7: Wieters C 8: Wigginton 3B 9: Andino SS.