ORS

Yes, because we need more pitchers when two OFs have gone down in the first week. Wells in RF, anyone? The Pena acquisition was dealing from a postion of depth in order to cover an area of weakness. Sure, it could have been for someone else, but the FO decided for the lottery ticket instead of the sure fire mediocrity. Wily Mo still needs to develop and that development is going to involve some growing pains. Unfortunately, he was signed to a Major League deal so he can't go down without being put on waivers (which he won't clear). Hell, he may never develop. But, if he does hit his potential, he's got the tools to be a special player. They took a risk, and in the long run it cost them a league average pitcher. Hardly anything to develop a case of hives over if you ask me.

Clippard isn't as good a prospect as Lester is. Sure, he has some potential and this is the year where the rubber meets the road since he will be the same age Lester was in the Eastern League last year. That said, the bar is set high since Lester was the Pitcher of the Year in that league. Unfortunately, TC is off to a pretty rocky start: 4 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 2 K Given their age, Duncan a Jones are both post-prospects. Lester is rated higher than Hughes, so the central piece of your Realm of Possibility is going to have to begin with Hughes. There is no way the Marlins are taking anyone's 2nd or 3rd rated pitching prospect in return for a 24 y/0 that just finished 2nd in the NL Cy Young voting.

Not in league 1.

You picked Papelbon in the 7th round, not the day after the draft. Check the draft results on the league page. Everyone thought you picked him too early, and given what we knew at the time, we were right. There was no indication that he'd be closing games by the end of the first series. In other words, you got lucky. It's OK to admit it.

I saw this over at nyyfans.com. Very clever.

You don't have to. Moneyball isn't a specific statistical philosophy. It is about finding underappreciated value. However, when a team is willing to spend $80M more than the next highest team, they don't need to look for value.

Love and emotion? Jesus, write a poem if that's how you feel about it. Although, where do I claim it is an emotionless game? I love the passion of baseball, but that passion doesn't belong in the FO. You think baseball teams should be run from the heart, but they aren't. They are run from the head, and when comparing players or analyzing/proposing trades I don't see where emotion enters the discussion. Feeling someone is better than someone else despite statistical evidence contrary to that opinion just won't cut it.

Same could be said of Thome too. I got him in the 12th round.

Please. Lowell and Mota were coming off career worst years. They were baggage in that trade and everyone knows it, even intelligent Yankee fans.

This line of thinking never dies, does it? Excuse me for being intelligent enough to digest the relevance of modern statistics. And, you couldn't be more wrong. Baseball at the MLB level is, first and foremost, a business. And, statistics is the mathematics of business. That is life. Accept it. I played ball, and I played very well. The highest level I played was u/ 15 in Fairfax, VA. But, I didn't quit because I wasn't any good, in fact I was one of the best in every league I played. Proof? The best player I ever faced was in u/15 ball, a lefty named Bill Pulsipher. I went 2/3 with a double in the one game he pitched against our team. We both made and started on the AS-Team. I was better than every kid who played on my HS baseball team. Why didn't I play? My dad split when I was 14 and I got pissed at the world. I got drunk for the first time that year and was doing drugs by the end of it. In other words, I got a little sidetracked.

Thanks for the vote of confidence.

Beckett came with baggage (the Lowell salary dump) and question marks (injury, home/road splits), and it took 2 top-50 BA prospects (something the Yankees don't have) to get him here. There is no baggage to be dumped, the Marlins payroll is ~$15M now, and there are relatively no questions about D-Train, so they will be dealing from a position of extreme strength. That is what you fail to realize, and it's clearly obvious, so I'd refrain from tossing the idiot name around since it seems to apply to you more than anyone. What a complete load of fantastical horseshit. We need to realize what goes into trades? Funny, I thought is exactly what we did by breaking down the factors of the Beckett trade, but I guess that isn't as enlightened as your trip down fantasy lane.......Maybe this guy really likes this, you never know? Dontrelle wants to go to NY? Tough titties. Pre-FA trades involve getting the best value for the team possible. The only time requested destinations happen is when the player has 10-5 rights or a NTC. It doesn't matter where Dontrelle wants to pitch. Those are the facts. To include them as a factor just shows how completely off base you are. Maybe, just maybe, the Marlins HATE Lester? You couldn't be more wrong. He was the first pitcher they asked for in the Beckett trade. But, don't let something silly like what's reported get in the way on your trip to hypothetical land. Please, respond again. I love how you keep inching your way toward complete irrelevance on this board.

Aloha.

Those of you doubting the Pena/Arroyo trade, here is the reason they made it. Depth. Besides, Pena needs some regular playing time, and there are a string of LHP in the upcoming schedule. Probables 4/12 vs. TOR - Chacin 4/13 vs. TOR - Lilly 4/14 vs. SEA - Moyer 4/16 vs. SEA - Washburn 4/18 vs. TB - Fossum 4/20 vs. TB - Kazmir

Speaking metaphorically, dead birds are A-OK in my book.

http://www.cfa.ilstu.edu/galleries/images/dead_bluejay.jpg ONE DOWN

Ten-hut!

Papelbon's splitter is getting borderline illegal.

Where the AAA Pawtucket PawSox play.

Lowell is swinging the bat well today.

That ball was tagged, but, FWIW, it hit Pena in the glove just as his back hit the wall. Tough luck.

Papi. Extended.

Rocky start. He struggled mightily with command but settled down. He's been pitching to contact lately and retired 10 of the last 11. Seven strong with only one run, that seems to be becoming a theme. I like it.

I don't think the Angels matchup with the Marlins as well as we do. They are deep in position prospects, but their pitching prospects aren't as ours, and the Marlins seem pretty set with position players. CIF: Miggy, Jacobs MIF: Uggla, Ramirez COF: Hermida C/OF: Willingham I think the Marlins need pitching and/or a 2B or CF. I like Stern, but he's really starting to make a name for himself and they might want to consider cashing that check in while the value is high. I think a Lester, Delcarmen, and Stern deal might get the job done*. *Assuming the Marlins want to deal him. I think they'll actually be good enough to think they have a shot in the next couple of years, and that will make them want to keep Dontrelle while he's still relatively inexpensive.

Trot Nixon hurt? The hell you say.