jacksonianmarch

USA today is reporting that the package will be 2 minor league pitchers and a reliever, probably Brandon Medders. Therefore, the need for Monkeybitch as the 1b is apparent. Sounds like the DBacks didnt want to give up Carter.

Clemens in 05 wore down in the playoffs and had to come out of his last world series game. Clemens in 03 was a shell of his former self come playoff time and it took a miraculous 8h inning comeback for him not to be a goat. Then he proceeded to blow away the marlins in the playoffs. In 04 he didnt have much left in the tank and was beaten by Suppan in the deciding game. In 2003, his ERA was 0.6 runs per 9 higher after the AS break In 2004, Roger's era was 0.8 runs per 9 higher after the AS break. In 2005, Roger's era was a full run higher after the AS break In 2006, his ERA was 0.7 runs per 9 LOWER after the AS break and he put up a .179 BAA in september. So if he wants to play a partial season, then fine. I had wanted to groom Rasner or Karstens as trade bait anyway or for the future in our organization if they have one. An open competition for the 5 hole in ST between Pavano, Rasner, and Karstens followed by the acquisition of the rocket would make our 5 hole pretty damn good and allow us to at least see what we have in Pavano and the kids. It also allows us the ability to get out from Pavano as well if needed. If Pavano proves he is healthy in ST and has a good start to the season, then we might be able to move him before the time bomb on some body part goes off.

well, good talk. Just. Keep on. Just keep on truckin. http://www.cinema.com/image_lib/5667_011_thumb.jpg Goodnight 700.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/al/yankees/2007-01-02-johnson-trade_x.htm the dbacks broke their silence, annonymously. USA Today is reporting that the DBacks and Yankees will consummate their deal later this week. The agreement is 2 prospects and a middle reliever. Vagaries are annoying. Well, at least we know it isnt 3 prospects, lol. Nothing new to report, except this is coming from a dback org member. Sounds like they are pretty optimistic about this.

700. Cmon now man. Giambi is not necessarily being moved to DH because he cannot field. That is part of the reason. The other part is that the guy flops around like a fish too often and hurts himself. His torn wrist tendon that was fixed a few months back was a big reason why he tanked late (that or his supply of Andro was halted). In order to keep his impact bat around longer, he will be out of the field for the majority of the time. I have been a major advocate of having a defense first 1b, but if the option arises to get a 24 yr old left handed MLB ready, power hitting 1b then you have to do it. A .922 OPS and 67 bombs in 1300 minor league ABs is not something that comes everyday. Also, notice something here. RJ was a disappointment last season. He is declining. He is injured. He was disposable. Mussina on the other hand was strong last yr. He had a career rennaissance once he embraced his loss of velocity, which is something that Randy has been too bull headed to do. If we decided to deal Mussina now as well (which we cant btw since he was signed to a FA deal) then I'd be pissed. But thus far, dealing Wright and Sheffield were good moves for the overall health of the organization without leaving any major, season threatening holes unfilled. Dealing RJ for a s*** prospect and a used condom would piss me off too. But getting 2 top prospects and a young, power armed major league middle reliever is too good to be true for a guy with the 33rd best era in the AL last yr (which is something when only 39 pitchers qualified). Also, RJ's only desirable quality last season was his ability to take the bump and break 200 innings. Pettitte took his #3 slot in the rotation, and he has broken 200IP 2 yrs running and 3 out of 4. His #4 slot will be filled by the Japanese kid whose most desirable and potentially his most transferrable quality (since nobody has a clue what his production will be) is his durability. So you essentially have a younger, mini 2006 version RJ right there. Then the 5 slot will be held down (okay, laugh now) by Pavano (pussy!). Okay okay, it will be kept warm by a bunch of young pitchers who coincidentally have a penchant for eating innings (Rasner to a lesser degree and Karstens to a greater degree) until Roger makes his return to NY. And another thing this does 700, and this should worry you the most. It allows the yankees to create a corps of young pitchers in the minors surrounding Hughes. Which means that the yankees may actually be able to keep Phil Hughes, insert him into the rotation between 07 and 08 and have enough minor league pitching to make a push for a young, proven starter at the deadline or in the next off season. Quality, high level minor league arms are worth their weight in gold when trade time comes. I have said before, I think this yankee team is being molded from steinbrenner era buy everything and then buy some more to a team that will be very good right now and has the flexibility to be another dynasty. Both with the cash in the FO's pocket and with the prospects in the yankee cupboard to groom or to deal.

The Times is saying the yankees have not allowed the 72 hour window yet. They may not allow a window, they may say take it or leave it. Who knows. For the record. This is way too f***ing drawn out. Finish the damn deal, send his ass packing and get us some good prospects + cash relief to get Roger.

Dont be jealous 700. It isnt our fault that we are about to fleece the s*** out of a newb GM. I could win 17 games if I got 7.5 runs a game and I havent pitched in a game in a long time. It breaks down to dealing a 43 yr old pitcher on the decline stuff and numbers wise. A guy coming off back surgery which may make him miss significant time at the beginning of next yr. A guy who left nothing on the table for the playoffs and essentially turned the tide of both playoff series by his suckitude. And we might get the DBacks best pitching prospect, their best power prospect, and their best young reliever. That is fleecing. As for Carter mashing in a soup kitchen, well, if he comes over, he will be the first baseman breaking camp. Power, average, plate discipline. He'll get his shot in a loaded yankee lineup. Expectations will be low, but lefty power in Yankee stadium can only be good. Plus having Owings around can make a future deal for a big time pitcher better.

they certainly dont have a great track record.

when you sign Jason Marquis for 3 yrs 21mil, then you suck as an organization, and the entire FO should be sodomized with a rusty pole. Nothing says future success like the highest ERA in the NL and huge HR numbers moving to the most HR friendly park at sea level.

ZIPS did not do him justice. He was listed as having a high 4's era on ZIPs. I dont see it. I'll go on record as saying Wang will win 15+ games and have a sub 4 era. I'll take heat if I am wrong, but I think this guy can keep the ace seat warm until Hughes gets his big league legs under him.

The Yankees will win the east going away this season. Yeah I said it.

Now that is comedy.

which they wont. They'll be out of it by august.

Soriano's signing is one of the worst signings I have ever seen. His contract will be a bear on that franchise in 3 years. Once his speed goes, he will be Carlos Lee with less discipline.

balls die in RF of fenway too.

Kilo, nice new av my friend. In terms of Wang, I consider him in a completely new light. He is brilliant. I like to hear what other players think of a pitcher. For instance, after Irabu beat Detroit in his debut, the tigers hitters said that he has okay stuff, but is nothing better than average compared to the league. They were right. When asked about Wang, most players say he is like trying to hit a 95mph bowling ball. They cannot lift it. So why bother going for the K's? If nobody can lift the ball, he doesnt worry about getting hurt with the HR, so he pitches to contact. What I find interesting, is that he can rear back and get the K when he needs to.Half of his K's are with runners on, while he had 170 less ABs with runners on. He can get he K at times when he most needs it. But he is smart. A K guarantees at least 3 pitches to a hitter. While a groundout could be just one. Hence, he lasts a ton longer. In essence, I expect over time for one of his secondary pitches to develop to a plus level. He has a nice changeup and a very nice slider, but they are so inconsistent that he ditches them when he gets to crunch time. I expect the K's to rise is what I am trying to say. He averaged nearly a K per inning as a minor leaguer until he learned the sinker at the end of 2004. So he has the stuff to miss bats. But when you have a 95+mph sinker that moves like crazy and is impossible to lift, why not just stick with it? I understand those who are married to stats and say that everyone regresses to the mean. This was right about Chacon, Small, et al. But those guys have mediocre stuff who essentially got lucky in a short span of time. Wang obviously has amazing stuff. Players cannot lift it, players can hardly center it, so why change? He'll be just as good as that sinker is. If you see that thing biting at 95, then he will be just as good next yr, maybe better. If that sinker aint biting or loses speed, then he will get a lot worse.

Wang is an anomaly to the conventional rule. http://mvn.com/mlb-yankees

If Bladergroen's power is so adversely affected by the right field seats, how will he be in fenway, with one of the least favorable fence arrangements for a powerful lefty in the majors. I think they got him for Monkeybitch, right? I was surprised at the time, but it looks like this kid is sunk.

Article by Keith Law on ESPN insider. I agree with him to a degree. I still think that the sox biggest need was bullpen and that went largely unaddressed. Also, if Drew comes out and plays 140 games a yr in this contract, then this offseason is a building block to future prosperity for the sox. If he declines or is injured, then his contract will be a major burden for yrs to come.

i know he was a CFer. He sucked in the minors and when he was dealt to the reds for Hermansen, they converted him to a pitcher last I checked. Edit: Just checked baseball cube. Looks like he sucked as a pitcher and they kept him in the OF. AA seems to be as high as he can perform. He is running out of time.

ou technically won the game against Oregon but the PAC 10 refs f***ed em. They lost to Texas who fell off the face of the earth without McCoy. I always considered them a 1 loss team with a stellar defense and a powerful run game. Boise shredded that defense.

he is pitching. He couldnt hit for s***, but he had a stellar arm. I got to see him play a few times in all star games in high school.