For the first time since baseball expanded the playoff field to eight teams, all four divisional series have gone to a deciding fifth game. The Nationals and Orioles forced Game Fives that will take place tomorrow, so we've got one more wild day of first-round baseball in store before the LCS round. Here are some news items from around the league…
- How the Rangers decide to use Ian Kinsler next season will impact the rest of their offseason moves, writes Richard Durrett of ESPN Dallas. Durrett suggests that Kinsler should be dropped from the leadoff spot in the batting order and moved to the outfield to make room for Jurickson Profar at second base.
- Shaun Marcum doesn't expect to pitch for the Brewers next season, the pending free agent told Todd Rosiak and Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel last week. Marcum said the Brewers "haven't said anything" to him about a contract extension. "I think that ship sailed a long time ago," Marcum said. "It's just one of those things. It's baseball, it's a business and we all understand that. You play to get to free agency, so we'll see what happens."
- Also from Rosiak and Haudricourt, Francisco Rodriguez said he would "love to come back" to Milwaukee. Rodriguez surprisingly accepted arbitration from the Brewers last season, earning himself $8MM in 2012. The club obviously won't repeat the move again this year but Rodriguez could still return on a smaller deal if he can't find a closer's job elsewhere.
- The Rays have asked the city of St. Petersburg for permission to explore potential stadium sites outside of the St. Pete area, reports Stephen Nohlgren of the Tampa Bay Times. The Rays' lease at Tropicana Field runs through the 2027 season and St. Petersburg mayor Bill Foster "has been adamant" about keeping the team in his city for the duration of the lease, albeit possibly in a new ballpark.
Ian Kinsler to the Cardinals for young starting pitching.
Holy crap. I just looked at his contract. Nevermind.
Look at his road numbers and you will run away. Kinsler is definitely a product of Arlington.
I already ran away when I saw he was signed until 2017
I still think Andrus will go before Kinsler, although I wish it was the other way around.
Why do you want Kinsler to leave?
Even in a down year, Kinsler is easily a top 10 second basemen in all MLB.
Andrus:
– elite defender, steals bases, hits for a high average
– ZERO power
– very prototypical for a SS.
– signed through 2014
– age 24 (born 1988)
Kinsler
– in a good year will go 30/30
– in general he does benefit greatly from playing in Ranger’s Ballpark
– signed through 2017
– age 30 (born 1982)
Both Kinsler and Andrus have similar BB and K rates.
I can see why you want Andrus to stay, but face it, that’s why you have Jurickson Profar. Also consider the contract situation. As Andrus reaches closer to free agency, his value will drop. Sell High. Never Low.
Texas hooped themselves with Kinsler. not bad, but not good/great enough defensively, not good/great enough to lead off, just not good/great enough to be in a big run-producing spot. he’d be right in a Cardinals-type situation but his contract makes it uncomfortable
As a Ranger fan, you have nailed Kinsler. If he is moved from 2B to LF, he becomes even worse of a headache.
Andrus is still getting better each year. Kinsler has been on the decline and before this year had several health issues each/every year. If one of them is moved, you would be better off keeping the player (Andrus) that produces (positive trends) and is 6 years younger…. I understand that you dont want to sell low on Kinsler. But sometimes you have to realize what you actually have. If that means you dump a guy that’s value is low due to his contract, road splits, horrible baserunner, upper cut swing (that he refuses to change) – – – sometimes you do it.
The idea is that Profar would be at 2B and Andrus at SS. But you’re right, Andrus is coming to FA, and he’s a Boras guy. That makes me think it would be Andrus to go if they make a big trade. But I’m with the original poster – there are a few players I’m tired of – all or nothing guys – and Kinsler is one of them. The one thing Kinsler has going for him over Hamilton, Napoli, and Cruz, though, is that he at least will take a walk.
Of course. One has a plays a premium postiion and has a cheap team friendly contract, the other is a overpaid mess (talent and contract wise) for the next 5 years….
I know we’ve been over the “Marcum sucks in the AL East” thing over and over…. but I’d love to see him back in Blue.
At the very least It would be funny to have Lawrie, and still end up getting Marcum back at the end of it all.
I don’t know that “funny” is the right word. You’d received Lawrie in trade because the Brewers were willing to give up on him due to his tenure in the organization being tumultuous, at best. You’d sign (more importantly: pay FA dollars to) Marcum because the Brewers seem willing to let him go without even making an offer. Also, are we still looking at Lawrie as a surefire HOF’er? Didn’t he taper off considerably as the year went on? The end of year numbers don’t really jump out at you.
The thing is that the Brewers wouldn’t have given up on Lawrie, and could have benefited from him in the lineup this season and into the future. He’s what it took to get a starting pitcher. I’m not sure that his “tenure in the organization being tumultuous, at best” is accurate…that’s trying to spin it to make it look like they were going to dump Lawrie. The Brewers loss is Toronto’s gain…spin it however else you want.
I’m not saying Lawrie isn’t a good ballplayer – what I’m saying is that he did not seem to enjoy being a part of the Brewers organization. He was constantly changing positions based upon what he felt was his quickest route to the Bigs, and he outright refused an optional assignment to the Arizona Fall League. You typically don’t hand over your top prospect, but under the circumstances, they dealt him straight up for a 2-3 starter. I still look at it as a good move for Milwaukee, because while he imploded at the end of the ’11 season, and in the postseason as well, I doubt they win the division without Marcum in the rotation.
Either way all I was stating is that it would be funny to essentially give up nothing( if he was resigned) for a pretty promising 3B. Brewers made a move for the NOW and it didn’t pan out , all GM’s have to make those moves eventually when they feel they are close to winning it and just can;t afford to wait on a prospect when they have other glaring needs.
It didn’t “pan out” in the ultimate sense of “panning out.” It did, however, help win the Brewers a division crown… and while I know you’re not a Brewers fan, I can tell you as one, that we’re appreciative of just winning the Division, and making it to the NLCS. Pitching was in need in Milwaukee in the ’10-’11 off-season… no doubt about it. Without the 1 for 1 move for Marcum, and the 4 for 1 move for Greinke, they don’t do either of those things. They received a pretty decent return on a half-season of Greinke too… so yeah, neither of those moves were bad moves. I don’t like defending Doug Melvin, but he did good, and didn’t lose out on either of those deals.
For a 22 year old? You’re overlooking defence as most do on here , he played a very good 3rd base to go along with respectable numbers for his first full year in the bigs. So yes a 22 year old having a 3 WAR season and getting back the pitcher we traded for him would infact be funny to me.
Lawrie was not at all known for his glove in the minors. In fact, he was lacking a true position in the Brewers system at the time he was dealt. To be labeled a great defender, you really need to play more than one season of adequate to above adequate defense, wouldn’t you agree?
Brewers clearly lacked the vision to move him to 3rd , because his range is fantastic there. If he’s that good already at 22 , do you see him regressing as he gets more and more experience at 3b? I don’t see that happening personally.
but he really does suck in the AL East
Dam it, lunchbox.
I’m all for K-Rod coming back. Both him and Axford were turning their seasons around at the end of the year, dropping both of their ERA’s a run. He should come at another discount based on his struggles this year.
As for Marcum, there are too many question marks with him, and he didn’t show up at all late in 2011, up to and during the playoff run. He was key in getting the Brewers there in the first place, so it was nice while he was here.
My question is, who else will be out there that Milwaukee can afford? They need another veteran in the rotation and Marcum still as a whole put up very respectable numbers in Milwaukee. Not to mention he’s going to be still somewhat inexpensive. I don’t see why they wouldn’t want to bring him back. Melvin’s already stated he doesn’t expect to spend much on the FA market so here’s a chance to re-up someone at a reasonable rate that can help the team.
As long as the Rays are playing in St. Petersburg, that team will never draw. Amazing a municipality puts having the team above what is best for the entire area with regards to having a baseball team that can exist and compete.
is it St. Pete or that they play baseball inside a Costco?
I think it is more of a state wide issue than a city/Costco issue. The Marlins played in a brand new Costco and still drew poorly.
Location. location, location. New Marlins stadium isn’t in the best location either.. St. Petersburg limits drawing fans from 1 side of the Bay and Tampa itself as fans. **if** the Rays want to exist in the area? They will break the lease, Fight St. Petersburg and probably have league support in the process and build the new stadium on the East side of Tampa, where they can draw from TB, Orlando and ALL of Tampa without anyone being bottle necked having to cross rickety 2+ mile bridges that are accident prone to hour+ long total stoppages to get to a game.
East side of the city? I-4, I-75 and SR60 would be major thoroughfares taking fans to a stadium built at say.. The old fair grounds.
That locale is a 100x better fit than anything St. Petersburg could possibly dream up as a possible next location.
It is high time the Rays get serious with the city of St. Pete and fight them. Maybe if there was no revenue sharing they already would have over it.
Kinsler’s bat really doesn’t look that hot once you move him from 2B.
Well, Marcum blew my illusion…I thought players played for the love of the game…what’s this money talk?