26 to 6

While I agree with the premise of your post, I couldn't help but shake my head as I was reading it. :thumbdown But all in all, you're a Yankee fan so I got your back. Just be careful with all that enthusiasm, it tends to rub people around here the wrong way For the most part though, this is a pretty cool site to just sit back and talk baseball with other fans. Welcome... Oh and btw, I have to disagree with one thing. I don't see the Sox passing the Yanks in World Championships, nor do I think I will in my lifetime ever see them reach 27. That's just me though

Well I obviously didn't know the background behind your offer, or when it was made. But either way, I wouldn't think twice about accepting that offer if I were rhet. I would have wanted you to maybe add another piece or 2 to sweeten the deal. I'm not asking you to overpay for anyone, but instead of simply looking at the individual player and their worth, look at the packages on both sides overall and how they balance each other out, and also how they improve and address your team's needs overall. Not go and just decline because one player included in the offer on my side may not be as good as a player (or in some cases a multiple players) on your side. I always try to address needs and balance my offers out with the complementary players.....it's a lot easier to match up with somebody on a package of players than it is on just one particular player. As for Johnson/Polanco, Polanco got off to a really hot start out of the gate and I didn't think he would keep it up, so I decided to sell high and try and move him. I didn't think he would keep that pace all season, and he hasn't. In hindsight do I wish I would have maybe kept him? Definitely (just like in hindsight I wish I wouldn't have released Hughes when he was being skipped the first 2 or 3 times through the order to start the season). It was a risk I took than didn't pay off. At the time I thought Johnson would remain more consistent than Polanco throughout the course of the entire season, so I figured I would hang onto him. Obviously it didn't work out, but because baseball is such a streaky game, it's hard to project every little thing. I'm not the only one to ever make a regrettable deal. I'm still debating whether or not I regret making either of the trades that I've recently made. But when it comes down to it, a lot of it has to do with risks and sacrifices. You're not gonna get a good player unless you give up a good one in return, just like you're not going to get a superstar without giving up another great player in return. Different teams match up differently, and we just happen to not match up well right now. No big deal. I'm pretty sure that wasn't the entire offer.

To be fair though, if I'm not mistaken isn't that scouting report/assessment from almost 2 years ago? I agree his mechanics need to improve as he goes along, but I didn't see any bright red flags in watching him throw yesterday. Mainly just a handful of things that he needs to adjust, but adjustments are a part of the game; players are constantly making adjustments over the course of their careers. He looked a little (I don't want to say herky-jerky...) uneasy at times last night, but I saw a lot of nice, smooth deliveries. He just needs to be more consistent with muscle mechanics in his motion. Overall though, I think he looked pretty damn good in his debut, all things considered. He could very well be a legend in the making. I agree with all these points. He still has a lot to prove at this level, and he's still yet to face much better competition (although just being in the NL East, and the NL in better gives him an major edge) at the big league level, but I think there's no doubt going forward that he's capable of having a very special career. He's got all the stuff, poise, and talent to do so. We call 'em "intangibles" around here. lol See Joba Chamberlain

The difference in the situation though is that I wasn't trying to spark anything. We had been having ongoing discussions, but his requests were ridiculous. Scott Rolen was worthless to him, and it seemed like he saw Zimmerman as like an average, knock-around type player comparable to the Jorge Cantu's, Mike Lowell's, and Aubrey Huff's of the world. He doesn't seem to value him with the same regard as I do, as one of the elite young players in the game at his position, with possibly a very bright future (possible HOF type of career?) ahead of him. That trade was more of a reaction to one of his unsatisfactory offers, although I did include what players on each side that I would be interested in including in a package either way, just obviously not that match-up.

Hey I was drunk when I made that offer to you , because I definitely didn't mean to ask for Utley. I have him in another league and he's sucking dick this season. I can't practically give him away, so being that he's a "cant-drop" player he just clutters up my bench lol. But to be fair I don't remember the specifics surrounding that offer when I sent it....I remember seeing you say it was the worst offer you've ever gotten so I went back to look and see what it was, because I honestly didn't even remember at the time, and I laughed my ass off when I saw it lol. That's a different story, the situation was a little different lol. If I recall correctly I just randomly sent that, I don't believe we were involved in any ongoing negotiations at the time haha. Also if I remember correctly, David Eckstein was on a pretty hot streak at the time. ;p;

This is another example of what I'm talking about when I say you are very different in the way in which you value players in fantasy baseball. If I were rhet, and I had gotten that offer, I probably would have been somewhat insulted. The way you (not "YOU" specifically, but in general) value players in fantasy is different than in reality, or even like a video game type platform; where you're building a franchise or something, in that in fantasy you simply assess what the player is presently doing NOW, or in the immediate past or future. You look at the numbers and see who's hot and who's playing well this season, and who has improved and fallen off throughout the season, and how a particular player addresses your team's needs....as well as to a lesser degree short-term projections. You're not worried about how the player will fit into the organization 3, 4, 5 years from now and their arbitration, free agency, contract extension, chemistry, etc. The players on a fantasy team in no way have any influence on a team's performance beyond themselves and how they perform. When you rejected most of my counters I bet you didn't even look at all of the numbers, splits, etc. The Rolen deal I first came to you with was more than fair, but you instead requested Zimmerman replace Rolen, without offering much more to compensate in the significant gap that exists between the two of them. So you can continue to badmouth my offers all you want, but you haven't even brought anything fair to the table yourself. And on another note, not necessarily just directed at you diony, but I've always been under the impression and thought of it as sort of breaking an unwritten rule, or breaking etiquette to publicize all of the specifics of any type of negotiations, not just in fantasy sports but even in general. Now that I know some of you're tendencies and behaviors I'll be sure to keep them in mind during any possible future negotiations.

He wants me to trade him Zimmerman for Swisher, Freddy Sanchez, and either Lilly or Hamels. Not happening. I explained to him I'd be willing to explore a similar package (with less in return my way, or another piece or 2 going his way) for Scott Rolen, who finally healthy is having a great season at the Great American Ballpark. His response indicated that he felt insulted or something. But what can I do, I honestly think overall that the trade with you, ital, might have weakened my team in the long-run, therefore if I do move Zimmerman I expect a fair return that addresses at least 2 or 3 of my team's needs.

I knowingly send offers that people might not be too keen on, but the purpose is to get the ball rolling on negotiations. Rather than simply decline and bitch about the offers, make a counter or get in touch with me so we can discuss negotiations. Half of the offers I send I don't expect people to accept, but rather do it to give the other manager an idea who I like on their squad, and what pieces I would like to move. When you don't respond to my PM's in an attempt to negotiate, I have no other choice. So I send the offers hoping for a response, which 95% of the time never happens, or consists of the person who received the offer bitching about how unfair it is, as if they don't have the ability to send a counter-offer. I get some pretty bad offers too at times, but I send the manager a counter or a message explaining my position on each of the players involved, and try and work something out anyway. In general theory, 95% of trade discussions never come to fruition anyway, so I just put things out there for people to consider. So like I said, rather than bitch, send me a counter and lets work something out. I don't have contact info for everybody, so the communication between teams isn't ideal. What else am I supposed to do?

I really want a shortstop, anybody shopping one?

Anytime I decide to bench a player he has a huge day. Why? Such ********!

Yeah Jeet! I really think we need to score, because unless Joe's going to Mo I'm not comfortable with our bullpen trying to hold onto a tie game in extra innings on the road. Thankfully Joba was good today, but there's been too much inconsistency to really trust in the pen.

Yeah but I feel like one day should be sufficient to veto a trade. I hate waiting for my players. Honestly, I wouldn't mind if the trades took effect immediately...I think the veto system is somewhat unfair or flawed. Gom and I had agreed to a trade that was eventually vetoed in another league a few years back, for no good apparent reason. The only thing I could think of was because we were both Yankee fans. I feel like if two managers agree to a trade that that's their business and the rest of the league should deal with it, or unless it's an obvious case of cheating or unfair play, give the commissioner veto rights. But either way, I don't really care too much. I just hate the wait. I agree, there should be more DL spots. I'm unfamiliar with the starts limit though, what is it? As for everything else, I really don't mind. Sure it would be nice if all of the teams were from talksox, but the fact that they aren't doesnt bother me too much. SFoC always had family members participate in the talksox leagues that he acted as commissioner for. As for them being his friends, who cares. I don't mind, what I do mind though is that it seems like most of them aren't very active, which is no fun. But what can we do at this point....

ohhh, my bad. I didn't intend to reignite a debate that would upset suns...

I already bitched to him about it lol

Where did that come from? (Unless I missed something...) _________________________________________________________ Also, idk if this is the right place for this kind of roster news/speculation/rumors/predictions, but I looked and couldnt find, and don't even know for sure if there's an existing general MLB news thread this season (like there was in the offseason with the offseason roster moves thread or whatever), and I didn't feel it deserved a new thread..........but Randy Winn is apparently close to signing with the Cardinals. I've never been much of a Winn fan, and I definitely thought he was a horrible fit with the Yanks from the day they signed him, but I'm glad a guy with his experience, knowledge, and tools is getting an opportunity to help another team. Hope it goes through and that all goes well for him there. Like usual I'm pulling for either a Yankee/Dodgers or Yankee/Cardinals World Series.

Why do trades take so damn long to process?

http://livingonthecostadelsol.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/webtroll.jpg

2 questions... 1) who else besides me really likes Bob Lorenz doing the play-by-play? I've always thought they should put him in the booth ever since he did a few SI Yanks games on YES a couple years back. Nice to see that they got him to fill in tonight. 2) who did the pregame, Nancy Newman?

Better than supporting a Cleveland fan. Besdies, I don't even think he's taking sides, but rather just pointing out the facts

Girardi just said that due to personal circumstances he has o take a leave of absence and will be given as much time as he needs. Girardi also commented that things between the two of them are great, as to indicate that there is nothing going on in-house between the two and that rather it is something of a personal nature. He wouldn't comment further. Let me see if I can find the link again...

With Dave Eiland away indefinitely on a personal leave of absence, bullpen coach Mike Harkey will take over his duties as pitching coach for the time being.

I'm curious to see what you guys have cooking.

It pains me to say it, but I kind of feel where suns is coming from. Not for the same reasons as him, but I'm sick of hearing about it and seeing the replay and all of that stuff. I realize it's a big story and it deserves the coverage and attention that it's getting, but it just disgusts me to continue to have it constantly shoved down my throat (not directed to ANYONE at all in particular, but rather in general....just wanted to be clear about that lol) when there's so much else going on in baseball right now. I know this isn't the thread for this but it just really sucks for Griffey that like his incredible talents and hall of fame career, which were overshadowed by injuries and cheaters, to have to have his departure from the game he loved and respected so much be overshadowed by this f***ing ******** call. That being said Selig and co. need to address the situation and implement some sort of review system. Also on another unrelated note that didn't deserve a thread of its own, but I think it's interesting, is the imminent firing of Dave Trembly in Baltimore. They plan on having their third-base coach, Juan Samuel, assume the role of interim manager for the time being. Whether they go look for a permanent manager in-season or wait until the offseason, it's going to be interesting to see who they choose to try and fix up that mess again. In my opinion, the guy I think would be an amazing candidate for that position for many various reasons, is Bobby Valentine. Anyway, intoxicated rant over. Thanks for listening talksox...