The Official 2010 Hot Stove Thread.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

I haven't been following this thread very closely, but how can you say that there's no chance that the front office will re-sign a guy when there's still an entire season to go before the decision has to be made? I mean I could see if this was the D-Backs or Marlins we were talking about here...

[SoxFanForsyth]

The whole "No matter how much you stomp and scream". Why would I stomp and scream? Because I don't want him back?

 

And why don't I want him back? According to you, because I don't like him.

 

That's where it was in your previous post.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Scenario A: Paps prices himself out of the Red Sox' date=' the Sox don't [i']need[/i] Papelbon with Bard and Jenks. The only way this happens is if Bard gets hurt and Jenks implodes. Also - The Sox would be more likely to spend bigger on a DH with versatility than Papelbon, as well as a 5th man in the rotation to take over for DiceK, depending on Doubront, Britton, and Ranaudo's 2011 success.

 

Scenario B: This would be the 3rd consecutive mediocre year for Papelbon, and the Sox, after just the 2nd mediocre year, showed their willingness to depart from him when they gave Jenks a deal that outlasts Papelbon's contract and includes closer incentives, plus offering Mo a 3 year deal. A 3rd consecutive mediocre year would mean Bard, Jenks, or FA market for the 2012 closer.

 

Scenario C: Probably the most viable option. Beltre's knees, however, have been downgraded to a Weapon of Mass Destruction, as stated by President Obama on 11.7.10.

 

I've already said that if Jenks and Bard don't pan out, THEN Papelbon could be resigned. It's not based independently on Papelbon's performance. It's also based on the performances of those around him.

 

Damn. Read my posts dude.

[SoxFanForsyth]

I haven't been following this thread very closely' date=' but how can you say that there's no chance that the front office will re-sign a guy when there's still an entire season to go before the decision has to be made? I mean I could see if this was the D-Backs or Marlins we were talking about here...[/quote']

 

I'm sorry. You're right. It's not impossible for the Sox to resign Papelbon. It's about as likely as them not extending Gonzo, though.

[yeszir]

Enough, guys. Seriously. Please.

[Dipre]

I've already said that if Jenks and Bard don't pan out, THEN Papelbon could be resigned. It's not based independently on Papelbon's performance. It's also based on the performances of those around him.

 

Damn. Read my posts dude.

 

Wait, so you just admitted that the possibility exists that they may re-sign Papelbon, and that the point that they may re-sign him depends on overall pen performance?

 

Nice, i rest my case.

 

By the way, it's not that i don't read my posts, but you just contradict your statements.

 

Look at the post above for proof. First: "NO WAY IN HELL THEY RE-SIGN PAPELBON", Second: "Well depending on the rest of the 'pen, they may re-sign Papelbon", then: "NO WAY IN HELL THEY RE-SIGN PAPELBON". Sorry, hard to keep up.

 

Also a couple points: The "stomping your feet" comment in my last post (which you ignored and went fishing for older posts) is directed at your negative to admit they may re-sign him. Simple as that.

[yeszir]

This is a disagreement about baseball, which is a sport. Grown men hitting balls with sticks. This isn't nuclear proliferation. Lighten up please.

[a700hitter]

This is a disagreement about baseball' date=' which is a sport. Grown men hitting balls with sticks. This isn't nuclear proliferation. Lighten up please.[/quote']Can we discuss nuclear proliferation?

[SoxFanForsyth]

The stars would basically have to align just right for the Sox to resign Papelbon.

 

I think they would explore other options first if Jenks AND Bard both didn't work out, and Papelbon would have to have 2008 type numbers.

 

The odds of Jenks and Bard both having years so off target that the Sox lose confidence in them, paired with Papelbon completely fixing his problem and posting a 2008-esque year, combined with the other relief pitchers in the market not working out a deal with the Sox is so tiny that it's near impossible.

 

Maybe I wasn't clear enough in my posts. I think there is virtually no way in hell that all of the above happens, which is why I think it is virtually impossible for Papelbon to resign with the Sox.

 

Sorry for getting so heated, too. Got a little aggravated.

[Dipre]

Or we could talk about any of these things:

 

Athletics To Sign Brian FuentesBy Zach Links [January 19 at 12:17pm CST]

 

The Athletics have agreed to terms with Brian Fuentes on a two-year contract that includes a club option for 2013, the team announced. Terms of the deal are unknown but Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (via Twitter) reported that the deal would be for two years with an option for a third at more than $5MM per season. Meanwhile, Jon Heyman of SI (via Twitter) reported that the two sides were working on a two-year deal worth roughly $10.5MM.

 

Fuentes, 35, registered a 2.81 ERA last season with 8.8 K/9 and 3.8 BB/9 for the Angels and Twins. The 6'4" left-hander is represented by the Beverly Hills Sports Council.

 

The A's have remade their team quite a bit this offseason, facilitating trades for David DeJesus and Josh Willingham while signing Grant Balfour and Hideki Matsui as free agents. Fuentes would join Balfour in an already strong bullpen that features Michael Wuertz, Craig Breslow, Brad Ziegler, and All-Star closer Andrew Bailey.

 

ESPN's Buster Olney pointed out that geography could work in Oakland's favor since Fuentes is from nearby Merced. The Blue Jays were also considered a serious suitor to sign the lefty reliever, and both the Yankees and Rays were connected to him earlier this month. Fuentes was said to be seeking Scott Downs money a few weeks ago, though it's likely that his asking price has since come down.

 

Steve Phillips of AOL Fanhouse first reported (via Twitter) that the two sides were close to finalizing an agreement.

 

Nationals To Sign Jerry Hairston Jr.By Ben Nicholson-Smith [January 19 at 12:35pm CST]

 

The Nationals have agreed to sign Jerry Hairston Jr., according to MLB.com's Bill Ladson (on Twitter). Hairston has passed his physical and will earn a base salary of $2MM, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, who first reported the deal (Twitter link). Hairston, a CAA client, can earn another $1MM in incentives.

 

Hairston hit .244/.299/.353 in 476 plate appearances for the Padres last year, playing all over the diamond, as usual. The 34-year-old appeared at short, second, third and in both corner outfield positions in 2010. Hairston hasn't shown much of a platoon split throughout his career; the right-handed batter has an OPS of about .700 against right-handers and left-handers.

 

The Nationals have been in the midst of a back-and-forth with the Mets this week. First, the Mets signed longtime Nats utlity player Willie Harris. Then the Nats signed former Mets utility player Alex Cora. We heard yesterday that the Mets are likely to sign Scott Hairston and the Nats responded by agreeing to terms with his brother today.

 

Mariners' Bradley released from custody

 

Mariners outfielder Milton Bradley was arrested on Tuesday morning in Encino, Calif., on a felony charge of making a criminal threat to an unidentified female and was released from custody later in the day, according to The Los Angeles Times.

 

Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik confirmed on Tuesday night that Bradley had been arrested, but he declined to comment on any specifics of the case.

 

"After reaching Milton Bradley's representatives tonight, I was able to confirm that Milton had been arrested, and subsequently released, in Los Angeles," Zduriencik said in a statement. "While we do not yet have full details on what occurred, we are aware of the situation and take it very seriously. We are in the process of determining the full circumstances of what occurred today. Until we have more information, we will not be able to comment further."

 

Bradley was taken into custody about 10 a.m. PT and booked on suspicion of making criminal threats, according to the Times, then released after posting $50,000 bail. He has a Feb. 8 arraignment in Van Nuys Municipal Court.

 

Bradley, 32, played in 73 games for the Mariners last year after being acquired by trade from the Chicago Cubs. He sat out 14 days in May while being placed on the Major League restricted list while receiving counseling upon leaving the team during a game.

 

Bradley returned for six weeks before going on the disabled list on July 31, then sat out the remainder of the season following arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.

 

Bradley hit .205 with eight home runs and 29 RBIs in 244 at-bats. He has one year remaining on his contract and is due to make $12 million this coming season.

[a700hitter]

Fuentes would join Balfour in an already strong bullpen that features Michael Wuertz, Craig Breslow, Brad Ziegler, and All-Star closer Andrew Bailey.

This is one hell of a bullpen.

[Palodios]

Oakland... they very well could win that division.

[SoxFanForsyth]

What do you guys think?

 

If Papelbon took a little velocity off of his fastball, and concentrated more on painting the corners with a 91-93 mph heater rather than missing a little more often with a 95-96 mph fastball, would that make him more or less effective?

 

Seems like last year he was trying to throw so hard that often times he was overthrowing and missing his spots, leaking fastballs over the middle of the plate, getting in hitters counts which in turn made his splitter less effective because hitters could sit dead red and wait on a mistake pitch rather than be overly aggressive and chase something out of the zone.

 

Or - it could be that at 91-93 would be a bit too hittable, especially since Pap's fastball is pretty straight, and his location would have to be too perfect, and when he missed even slightly, he would get hit harder than he does when he pumps it up.

 

Thoughts?

[Dipre]

Control, splitter and control.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Control' date=' splitter and control.[/quote']

 

But do you think he's got enough finesse to be effective at 91-93 and straight, assuming that's where his fastball would be?

 

One thing that would be interesting would be that his splitter and fastball would have very limited to no velocity discrepancy.

 

Other than rotation, it would be difficult to pick up the splitter, which would probably induce more ground balls but less swing and misses, as the hitters wouldn't be off balance.

[italstallianion]

Can we discuss nuclear proliferation?

 

 

Haha, don't make me go nuclear on your a**.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

Oakland... they very well could win that division.

 

I'm curious to see who wins this division. I still believe the Rangers will win it but the A's aren't a team to sleep on. Along with the Angels.

[a700hitter]

Haha' date=' don't make me go nuclear on your a**. [/quote']I just found it funny that Yeszir brought up the topic as an example even though he would never let us discuss it, because the discussion would get out of hand.

[italstallianion]

I just found it funny that Yeszir brought up the topic as an example even though he would never let us discuss it' date=' because the discussion would get out of hand.[/quote']

 

 

I'd say that that is Ironic but then YOTN would immediately fly to his computer from wherever in the world he is and dragon punch me.

[a700hitter]

I'd say that that is Ironic but then YOTN would immediately fly to his computer from wherever in the world he is and dragon punch me.

OMG! You are looking to get banned.

[Dipre]

But do you think he's got enough finesse to be effective at 91-93 and straight, assuming that's where his fastball would be?

 

One thing that would be interesting would be that his splitter and fastball would have very limited to no velocity discrepancy.

 

Other than rotation, it would be difficult to pick up the splitter, which would probably induce more ground balls but less swing and misses, as the hitters wouldn't be off balance.

 

At 93, he'd probably be sacrificing velocity for a bit more tail, but i remember reading that Papelbon's fastball seems to naturally tail toward's lefties wheelhouse, which more movement may help fix.

 

In general, sacrificing K rate for control and groundballs seems like a good idea to me.

 

(Dragon Punch © Dipre, 2010)

[italstallianion]

OMG! You are looking to get banned.

 

 

Haha and for the 2nd time it'd be your fault.

[italstallianion]

Dipre, can I still use Shoryuken in lieu of dragon punch?

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

At 93, he'd probably be sacrificing velocity for a bit more tail, but i remember reading that Papelbon's fastball seems to naturally tail toward's lefties wheelhouse, which more movement may help fix.

 

In general, sacrificing K rate for control and groundballs seems like a good idea to me.

 

(Dragon Punch © Ryu, 2010)

 

Fixed.

[Dipre]

Yes you can Ital.

 

And f*** you RSFFL.

[yeszir]

I just found it funny that Yeszir brought up the topic as an example even though he would never let us discuss it' date=' because the discussion would get out of hand.[/quote']

 

I brought it up as an example of a topic that would get out of hand fast, maybe more deservedly so than a discussion about Papelbon.

[BSN07]

I'd say that that is Ironic but then YOTN would immediately fly to his computer from wherever in the world he is and dragon punch me.

 

[SoxSport]

I brought it up as an example of a topic that would get out of hand fast' date=' maybe more deservedly so than a discussion about Papelbon.[/quote']

 

Looking at that Pic of TSW in the cockpit, I just read that Navy jet fighter pilots in the 50s had a 1 in 4 chance of being killed and a 1 in 2 chance of having to use their parachute in their careers.Ted came close, but he was lucky. Ran into a guy once who served with Ted in Pensacola. Said he was a good guy and well-liked.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Wow -

 

Did anyone else see that Cashman announced, at Soriano's press conference no less, that he did not recommend the deal?

 

I think everyone knew that he didn't, but I can't believe that he announced it publicly at the press conference.

[a700hitter]

I brought it up as an example of a topic that would get out of hand fast' date=' maybe more deservedly so than a discussion about Papelbon.[/quote']I knew how you were using it. That's why I winked when I asked if we could debate the topic.