jacksonianmarch

What I did get out of that is that Coke will be training to be the 5th starter. Thats good news. Since out of the trio of Hughes, Coke and Joba, he's the only one who has been built up enough to take on a full MLB workload as he threw 150IP last yr and should be in line to see 180.

On the Bay front, signs are pointing to the yankees dealing one of their OFers. It seems that the yankees are not sold on Damon's capacity to play CF 140 games out of the yr (nor am I), so they are prepared to go with the winner of the ST competition between Melky, Gardner and Jackson. With that said, Matsui and Damon are not going anywhere. Both have NTCs, both have one yr left and both, when healthy are better than the rest. So that RF slot is coming down to Swisher or Nady. And right now, both players are getting lots of interest. If the yankees deal Swisher away, then they will be left with no established OF talent after the season. They will likely have a CFer out of their young guys, but both corners and the DH slot will be empty. I could see them resigning Damon since he fills a need in the leadoff slot, but that would mean both LF/DH and RF are open. That could mean that either Holliday or Bay, or both end up in stripes next yr. I would think that Bay would be a moron to accept an extension right now. Think about it. We'll be looking for a DH or LF (depending on if we resign Damon and where he will play) and definitely a RF. These are the major offensive attractions coming available after this yr. Adam LaRoche Mark DeRosa Brian Roberts Adrian Beltre Coco Crisp Johnny Damon Hideki Matsui Xavier Nady Chone Figgins Jason Bay Matt Holliday Aubrey Huff Jermaine Dye Miguel Tejada of those players, Bay, Huff, Holliday and Dye are the only ones with great bats right now. Some are decent (LaRoche) others have a different dimension like Figgins. Some are old but could be solid in Damon and Matsui. But Bay and Holliday will both be the cream of the crop. Young, powerful, great eye, middle of the order presences. And after seeing what the top dog from this yr got, I doubt he'd pass up the chance to be the top dog in next yrs class, especially if Holliday struggles outside of coors. If Bay hits the market while the yankees have need for 2 OFers, you better expect Bay's offers to break 15 mil a yr and likely approach 20

Smoltz will need to go soak in some HGH and maybe some veterinary roids in the DR before he can assume any role.

The embodiment of a yankee fan? I believe I was responding the jeers of not winning anything this millenium, like we have been cellar dwellars.

Those pinstripes look good on Tex. Pictures to come

Spot on ORS. They had their shot at Tex. They were given hard parameters and a hard number and they chose to walk away. That number was 4 mil over what the yankees eventually paid for him, and a total of 1.5 million more per yr than their final offer. Those who try to perform post analysis revisionism are off base. 1.5 mil per, less than what Cora made.

Reading is fundamental. I said that our lineup, provided health, would have no holes offensively with Damon in CF and Swisher in LF. That being said, I dont think that will be our lineup on opening day and health for both of our teams is a serious concern. If both teams are totally healthy, though, I still think you gotta give the yanks the edge offensively after the signing of tex.

Jim, Cano has excellent range for a 2b, his problem is that he sometimes doesnt seem interested and f***s up routine plays. Jeteris the opposite. No range, but handles the routine well. Damon's range has diminished? His range is worse than Bay's? You're smoking crack. Damon's range is still plus for a LFer. His arm sucks, I will concede that. Nady has improved 3 straight yr, so I dont think a sept swoon and a half season of mediocrity should sway you into thinking that is what to expect. Cano had a career low season and his numbers after april were way better than Lugo's. Matsui and Posada's stats were skewed by injuries. Saying Posada is a shadow of his former self when his last healthy season (2007) was a career offensive yr is a joke. Gardner played part time and had a rough start to his career. He is a pretty good singles hitter who will walk. That being said, I dont think he's gonna get the bulk of the time. You forgot about Swisher, who had a career worst yr last yr but maintained the patience and power in the face of horrible luck (BABIP of .249) Dont delude yourself into thinking our lineup isnt awesome if everyone stays healthy. And I wont do the same with your lineup. That being said, all things equal and everyone fully healthy, it will be hard to beat the lineup (offensively) that we put up. No holes if Swisher is in LF and Damon in CF. And if Gardner comes around, we'll be in even better shape. The sox still have SS, C, and CF to deal with even if fully healthy. Thats before you think of Papi looking pedestrian without his bat speed in the playoffs and Lowell just status post hip surgery. One thing is for certain, it will be a fun ride

you would give the edge in bullpen and lineup to the sox. I see. Of course you would. Even though the yankees pen gets a full yr of Marte and was the second best pen in the game last yr while having one of the highest workloads. I see. Figures. In terms of lineup, either could be better IMO and picking a winner right now isnt wise. If you included the caveat of everyone healthy then once again, it would be close. The crux of the argument is who has more health in their lineup and will the slumps/superstar performers from 08 continue that into 09 or will they regress to their norms.

who cares about K's. They all will reach base a ton and hit a s*** ton of homers.

Per Buster Olney. Imminent signing apparently. 1 yr with an option for a second

f***ing thieves!

2 yrs 16 mil. Wow. His defense coupled with his hostile personality and off and on production really cost him

because he's 25, one of the top 10 offensive players in the game and is a lineup altering force.

Is that your excuse. THEY TRIED!! I PROMISE!! They did make a big offer, that much we know. But they didnt go the extra mile. They didnt ensure that their #1 priority was suiting up with them. And because of that, questions like these exist

just the fact that you are now willing to trade talent to get a guy who is on Tex's level offensively makes me smile. Do you really think dealing the amount of talent you would have to deal to get Miggy and his step down in defense is worth not signing Tex?

it is insane. If they are dealing Miggy it is likely because they are shedding salary. Why the hell would they accept a guy with 2 yrs and 18 mil left on his deal if they were shedding salary?

And, if the Tigers are looking to move Miggy, it would be in a rebuilding move. In no way, shape or form is Lugo a guy you get when you are rebuilding. He's old, bad, and overpaid

There is seriously whacked out s*** on this site today and ever since Tex signed with us. 1. For those who would rather hang onto Mike Lowell rather than sign Mark Teixeira, you are on crack. Some cite his intangibles. Well, Lowell has played on 3 playoff teams in his career. In 03, when he had an .880OPS but batted .196 in the playoffs. In 2007, when he was WS MVP and had an OPS of .879. And 2008, when he had a .799OPS and was 0 for 8 in the playoffs. So, one solid postseason, one awful one and one injured one. And only 3 appearances in his 10 yrs in the league. Lets look at Tex. In Texas, Mark had no chance at the playoffs. But each time he was dealt, he jumped up in the standings and had a playoff shot. In 07, he had a 1.019OPS after being dealt from the last place Rangers to the Braves who were 4 out. In 08, he was dealt from the Braves (who were 14 games out I believe) to the Angels who were leading their division, and he had an OPS of 1.081. Both times he was thrust into a possible playoff situation he thrived. How did he do in his one series in the playoffs? 7 for 15 with 4BB. Not bad. The whole intangibles thing is ridiculous and I think we can see that Mark, just like Lowell, steps up when winning is on the line. Couple other things - Tex is FAR and AWAY better than Lowell offensively. Lowell's career OPS is one point less than Tex's career worst OPS. Lowell has hit 30+ homers once in his 10 yr career, Tex has done it 5 of 6. Lowell has reached 100 RBI 3 times in his 10 yr career, Tex has done it 5 of 6. Tex's second worst season of his career (.885OPS) was better than Lowell's career best season (.880OPS). It isnt even f***ing close. - Tex, right now, is a better defender at his position than Lowell is. Factor in age and injury as well as Lowell's dip in D over the past 2 yrs, and you have a player who is rapidly approaching average to possibly below average depending on how that hip heals - Tex is 6 yrs younger - Lowell is coming off surgery on his hip that was rather involved. get the point. By saying that you want to keep Mike Lowell instead of Mark Teixeira is either blind stupidity or post signing revisionism. 2. Not signing Tex is GREAT because Lars should be ready by 2010 or 2011!!11! First of all, Lars is a solid talent, but his upside is Tex, so the likelihood is something less than Tex. Also, you didnt have to give up Lars to get Tex. You could have both! And with papi coming off the books after 2010 or 2011 (depending on if the sox exercise the option) then you have a spot for Lars. Or, god forbid, you could move him to the OF or deal him for another need. 3. The only reason with some validity is the money aspect. But at the same time, you cannot really use it when talking about the sox. They cut their payroll by 50mil and are now intent on pocketing it. I am sure the media will be spinning stories about how the sox are trying to make a deal and are gonna use that money. But the fact remains that they got cheaper while charging the same amount. The bottom line is, those who wish to try and downplay the Tex signing by saying he isnt better than what the sox had are in denial. Those who dont want to block Lars could have sought solace in the fact that the DH spot would open up or he could be an OFer. And those who fret about the sox money could have been happy to know that the sox still could have been 20mil below their 08 cap number after signing Big Mark. So that leaves me with this poll. If the sox had signed Mark Teixeira for the 7 yr 180 mil figure that the yankees nabbed him for, would you have been happy. Yes or no.

The Tigers have Miggy locked up for a LONG time.

I should have said good OFers. Dunn is being hurt by his lack of a good position.

says who? 30 yr old OF bats with OPS in the .900 get paid that much on the open market.