jacksonianmarch

I think the Ravens take this one over the Pats in a high scoring affair.

Yeah, but they arent looking to win this season. If they wanted to get a guy whose potential may be greater, we certainly could have given them a Chase Wright (who is right along the lines of Gabbard) and a Marquez (who is younger and has more promise than Gabbard long term). I just dont see their fascination with a lefty who has shown to be erratic in and out of the zone and doesnt have stuff that will project him past a #5. My prediction is that Gabbard will be in AAA by next season and run the shuttle up and down for the rest of his career. And for him to be the biggest name moved in the Gagne deal while other options were available is atrocious.

I wouldnt give up Cabrera either. He's a 23 yr old switching hitting CFer who has hit .280 and .290 in the past 2 yrs respectively who is showing improving defensive and offensive skills while continuing to show patience at the plate. He has given us BA and OBP wise what Damon gave us last yr with better defense and a better arm. He shouldnt be moved, he is very necessary to this team right now.

http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18650342&BRD=2185&PAG=461&dept_id=418202&rfi=6 The Yankees start a series on Monday in Toronto. I will explain how this play into things. They are sending Joba back to NYC to get a passport. Now when he was in the minors, they travelled by bus, and no passport was needed to get into Canada. But the big club flies into Toronto and a passport or proof of a passport application is needed to fly into and out of Canada. Hence, they are having him apply, then will likely demote him to AA so he can pitch in the area (Binghamton, about 3 hours north) and then most likely will be ready for departure to Toronto to start his major league career.

This deal was awesome for the sox. I was listening to Mike and Mike on my way into work and he said that the price for the yankees was Melky or Kennedy and a lower level pitching prospect. Then the sox nab him with a #5/spot starter, a projected backup OFer, and a 17 yr old kid who is 4-5 yrs away if he makes it at all. Maybe the Rangers just hate the yankees, who knows, but the deals dont add up.

this isnt a sign of surrender and doesnt kill us, but it does leave one scratching their head. I dont like the idea of taking away our biggest innings eater out of the pen while another relief arm has been sucking and sulking and then not replacing them with anything but rookies. Now if our manager were any different, I wouldnt react this way. I think we have some nice minor league options who could be very effective if given a chance, but Torre refuses to use them and then sets them up to fail. It doesnt make much sense. Now if they told Torre that he had a quota for innings to give to guys like Edwar, Ohlendorf, or Joba and that he couldnt go under or over that quota, then maybe, just maybe, our pen could improve. But if Cash just activates Joba and lets Torre do his thing, Joba will either end up hurt or sucking.

that sucks. This late in the season most likely means he'll miss a good chunk of next season as well.

And I am thinking more like a small market team these days because the high level pricy FA's dont come around all that often as they all sign extensions now that revenue sharing has increased the pockets of all teams. If there was a Carlos Zambrano available every offseason, then I wouldnt give two craps about the minors.

I am very surprised that Texas took 2 fringe major leaguers and then a kid who is likely 3-4 yrs away and swings a bat rather than throws a ball. The value you guys gave up is way less than what I thought it would take. Astonishing really.

In terms of value, Betemit is a switch hitting power guy who can play 1b and 3b. Not sure where you heard he was below average defensively, because the guy is a converted SS who is noted for being good defensively. And with his IsoPo and IsoPa trending upwards, he some serious offensive potential if he gets regular playing time. He becomes the best internal option if ARod decides to fly the coop. In terms of Proctor, his trends show serious decline and he may be primed for a serious letdown. But as I said, I hate this deal for this season since we have no contingency plans other than a rookie and the Farns.

I chimed in on a yankee board, but why not here after my shift and on my way to bed. In terms of value, we win out on this one. Betemit had a solid IsoPower and IsoPatience this season and as a part time player, he might improve with PT. That he is a switch hitter also helps. He is kinda like WMP with less power but more patience. If we can get him going right, he could really be something. If we dont, then whatever. And with Proctor, we gave up a declining reliever who will likely be flamed out due to workload by next season. But my biggest criticism of this move is that it leaves no room for contingency. You have Farnsworth calling out ARod, Torre, Steinbrenner, Billy Crystal, Babe Ruth, etc. The guy wants out in the worst way and has played like a guy destined for Trenton rather than respectability. And then you take away the most trusted reliever on the team and replace him with nothing. So instead of a kinda crappy pen with guys who could at least be average, we create 2 holes by having an unhappy POS and then a deal that takes away the other. You fill one with a rookie and then nothing? No deals, no moves, nothing to fill our biggest weakness, except we make a deal that digs the hole deeper? It makes no sense. If we bring up Joba, here is what will happen. Torre will leave him on the bench for a week, then use him, see that he is okay and then use him till he is hurt. This is Torre's mantra and he wont change. Knowing this and THEN weakening Torre's BP arsenal is nothing short of assinine for this season. Now I dont blame Cashman for not getting Gagne because I think that Horne or Kennedy is too steep a price, but we couldnt beat Kyle Davies for Dotel? We couldnt get Reyes from TB? Nothing? I dont like this contingency and I dont like our pen in front of Mo. And with how short winded our rotation is, I dont like the idea of running into a playoff chase having 2 inning per game (at least) determined by a rookie and a bunch of shitbums. So for the future, this could be a very solid deal. For now, i dont like it and it may have hindered us significantly in our chase to win the WC or the East.

Also, this likely means that if the sox do get Gagne, then you likely are looking at dealing off Masterson as well. Now ORS said before that Gagne would be a Type A, but since he missed last yr, I wouldnt be so sure. I'd think he'd be a type B. Either way, lets assume the sox make these moves.... Sox get: 3 months of Dye 3 months of Gagne Sox Lose: Masterson WMP DelCarmen then received the equivalent of 2 top 50 picks and a second rounder, I cannot see how this is anything but a good deal for now and the future. Losing Delcarmen and Masterson would hurt in the shorter term since one is in the majors and another is in AA. Masterson projecting out as a reliever anyway means you lose 2 relief prospects from an already loaded relief corps. Losing WMP does nothing really for the team since he wasnt playing. And getting 3 picks means you could stock up in deficient areas. You are dealing from a strength and not necessarily hurting your future. This makes a lot of sense.

Called it if it is true. By determining that he'd be a Type A FA (thanks BSN) it makes absolutely no sense for them to not get 2 players that can help them now.

No names are being mentioned in this one, as most of the name throwing involves Dye. But prior to the Yankees pulling the plug on the Gagne train, they had asked for Chamberlain, Kennedy, or Hughes. They were turned down obviously. But now Newsday is reporting that the Rangers wanted a package consisting of Alan Horne and the yankees refused to part with him either. If they are looking for a pitching prospect like Horne, the sox may be in the same predicament as the yankees. The sox wont deal Lester or Buchholz, that much is understood. The Rangers want pitching on the level of Horne, so the sox may need to include Masterson or Bowden. I am unsure if they are willing to do that.

Gerald Green has upside. Jefferson might end up being a dominant big man. Either way, the C's sealed their fate when they dealt for Allen. They were going all out for the immediate future while sacrificing the long term. This is a career saving move for Ainge, but it also may be a publicity saving move for the C's who have been nothing but awful since Pierce and Walker broke up the first time.

Well, dealing from a financial advantage has its upside. But this team needs to be put together "Torre-proof". Proctor allows that to some degree. He is a rubber armed reliever and Torre demands that from all of his relievers. Hence, getting rid of him means more strain on the rest of the pen, which hasnt been all that fabulous either.

So, the Yankees are apparently still trying to pry Betemit from the Dodgers for Proctor. WHAT IN GODS GREEN EARTH MAKES YOU THINK PROCTOR IS DISPENSABLE??? Farnsworth just imploded to the media. Our pen sans Vizcaino and Mariano have been atrocious. Proctor has been serviceable and able to eat lots of innings. Why the hell would we deal him for a utility player? I like this deal if we were dealing from a strength, but we arent.

The could mean 2 players from the sox 40 man. MDC and Hansen? Or it could mean the white sox are in the midst of another deal with another team, maybe Garland. IMO, the sox have to deal Dye. With the season he is having, he may be at most a type B FA which wont give them much in terms of compensation. And with the sox being an older team with nowhere to go but down offensively, getting a guy like WMP could be a very solid move. At the same time, their pen is atrocious, so they would need an upgrade there as well.

I think that is what he is saying. In terms of Gagne, apparently the Yankees were considered to be close a few days ago, but then Texas upped the ante. It was said that the Rangers liked Jeff Marquez and Tyler Clippard, and I think the Yankees were willing to make that move. Then the Rangers insisted on Kennedy or Horne who are both untouchables at this point and that prompted the Yankees to move Joba to the pen. I wouldnt be surprised if the yankees were out of the running altogether.

Joba K'd the side last night in his only inning of relief...

Good for the Celts. They should have 2-3 yrs of top level basketball in them.

Nope. The Yankees are not on his limited no-trade, but Boston is. If the sox acquire Gagne, they would likely have to guarantee him the 3 mil in incentives he can make as a closer.