Baseball Chatter 2k11
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DemureDryad
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Well, I don't know very much about baseball, but I know my tigers are in first place! ^^
Light Ice
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I'm a Mets fan.
Loving and oft maligned.
The Mets entered this season with their 117 million dollar pitcher on the DL recovering from injury and serious questions up and down the order. David Wright missed significant time with a back injury and Jason Bay has not returned to form.
I hope that Johan Santana comes back next year and pitches well. This isn't so much for the Mets but for the game of baseball. He's been one of the best and one of the brightest parts of the game and it lacks without him.
The Mets farm system has been in complete disarray since Omar Minaya began gutting it in 2007. Improving through trade a free agency when possible can be a positive thing but the key to building a winning club is through within. You draft well. You sign well. You develop well. The Mets have not done any of these things and the consequence is a minor league system full of uninspiring names and no legitimate options for the club when players go down with injuries. They are selling at this deadline and should be throughout the off-season.
Probable Moves:
Carlos Beltran is out. They'll find a fit and get what they can. A big need in the Mets system is outfield and hopefully they can find a left-handed bat with plus power and a solid fielder out of this. Curiously, the Mets are reportedly searching for a big right handed pitching prospect for this deal. That makes zero sense given how expensive Beltran's contract is and how important it is to move him. I think they get a fielder out of this in the end.
Mike Pelfrey should go. He's the top of the Mets rotation right now but he's really a number 3-4 in the National League at best. Pelfrey has a solid sinker and can chew up innings but he rattles easily and doesn't miss a ton of bats. He could help a team like the Brewers and the Yankees might be tempted. If the Yankees are smart, though, they'll go elsewhere. The American League East lineups are powerful and Pelfrey isn't consistent enough to do well there. The Mets have lightly shopped him and have picked up a lot of interest. They want pitching for Pelfrey as well. That makes sense and they should look at a team like the Cardinals or even the White Sox who have several pitching prospects in the system that have not developed as expected and could be thrown into a package built around someone else.
Jose Reyes will be resigned. This absolutely should not happen but it will. I understand that he's one of the most exciting names in baseball and that he is, and will be, a force in the league for years. Reyes has extraordinary talents and if he stays healthy is on his way for the Hall of Fame (I know, I know, but you're talking about a guy whose seasons line up with Ty Cobb's in comparison. That allows me to throw that out there already.) But the Mets will not contend seriously for another 3-4 years and maybe 5-6 if a few of their moves prove not to work (which absolutely can happen in baseball). They need to get maximum value for Reyes now while it will never be higher and look to build for the future. They could get a package of substantial value from a team like the Yankees that have a need and might not want to risk waiting until Free Agency to see if they can fill it.
David Wright will not be moved. He should be. David Wright is a superstar and one of the most likable young men in the game. There is no play he can't make at the hot corner and while his strikeouts have increased steadily over the years a lot of scouts believe this is because he is attempting to do much to increase the Mets fortunes. David Wright plays the game hard. He's got the ability to hit for .300 with 30 Homeruns and 30+ Steals. That's a rare stat-line for most players in the game and one he hovers near constantly. He's a tremendous clubhouse presence and accepted the role as a Leader when he was only 23 years old. It would be better for him to go to a team where he can be just another bat in the lineup and part of a winning organization. David Wright is loyal but he wants to win. The Mets will not win while he is a part of the organization. They believe inside the Front Office that they will be able to improve enough around him that when it comes time to resign they will be able to get him to stay. I don't.
Bobby Parnell will not be moved. I agree with this. It's true that the Mets could bring in another player with Parnell but not enough to justify moving him. They are sellers but they shouldn't be selling for the sake of it. It'd be just as useful to keep him now that K-Rod has been dealt.
In the end the Mets are looking up. They will restock their farm system under Sandy Alderson's steady hand and begin to rebuild for the future.
Loving and oft maligned.
The Mets entered this season with their 117 million dollar pitcher on the DL recovering from injury and serious questions up and down the order. David Wright missed significant time with a back injury and Jason Bay has not returned to form.
I hope that Johan Santana comes back next year and pitches well. This isn't so much for the Mets but for the game of baseball. He's been one of the best and one of the brightest parts of the game and it lacks without him.
The Mets farm system has been in complete disarray since Omar Minaya began gutting it in 2007. Improving through trade a free agency when possible can be a positive thing but the key to building a winning club is through within. You draft well. You sign well. You develop well. The Mets have not done any of these things and the consequence is a minor league system full of uninspiring names and no legitimate options for the club when players go down with injuries. They are selling at this deadline and should be throughout the off-season.
Probable Moves:
Carlos Beltran is out. They'll find a fit and get what they can. A big need in the Mets system is outfield and hopefully they can find a left-handed bat with plus power and a solid fielder out of this. Curiously, the Mets are reportedly searching for a big right handed pitching prospect for this deal. That makes zero sense given how expensive Beltran's contract is and how important it is to move him. I think they get a fielder out of this in the end.
Mike Pelfrey should go. He's the top of the Mets rotation right now but he's really a number 3-4 in the National League at best. Pelfrey has a solid sinker and can chew up innings but he rattles easily and doesn't miss a ton of bats. He could help a team like the Brewers and the Yankees might be tempted. If the Yankees are smart, though, they'll go elsewhere. The American League East lineups are powerful and Pelfrey isn't consistent enough to do well there. The Mets have lightly shopped him and have picked up a lot of interest. They want pitching for Pelfrey as well. That makes sense and they should look at a team like the Cardinals or even the White Sox who have several pitching prospects in the system that have not developed as expected and could be thrown into a package built around someone else.
Jose Reyes will be resigned. This absolutely should not happen but it will. I understand that he's one of the most exciting names in baseball and that he is, and will be, a force in the league for years. Reyes has extraordinary talents and if he stays healthy is on his way for the Hall of Fame (I know, I know, but you're talking about a guy whose seasons line up with Ty Cobb's in comparison. That allows me to throw that out there already.) But the Mets will not contend seriously for another 3-4 years and maybe 5-6 if a few of their moves prove not to work (which absolutely can happen in baseball). They need to get maximum value for Reyes now while it will never be higher and look to build for the future. They could get a package of substantial value from a team like the Yankees that have a need and might not want to risk waiting until Free Agency to see if they can fill it.
David Wright will not be moved. He should be. David Wright is a superstar and one of the most likable young men in the game. There is no play he can't make at the hot corner and while his strikeouts have increased steadily over the years a lot of scouts believe this is because he is attempting to do much to increase the Mets fortunes. David Wright plays the game hard. He's got the ability to hit for .300 with 30 Homeruns and 30+ Steals. That's a rare stat-line for most players in the game and one he hovers near constantly. He's a tremendous clubhouse presence and accepted the role as a Leader when he was only 23 years old. It would be better for him to go to a team where he can be just another bat in the lineup and part of a winning organization. David Wright is loyal but he wants to win. The Mets will not win while he is a part of the organization. They believe inside the Front Office that they will be able to improve enough around him that when it comes time to resign they will be able to get him to stay. I don't.
Bobby Parnell will not be moved. I agree with this. It's true that the Mets could bring in another player with Parnell but not enough to justify moving him. They are sellers but they shouldn't be selling for the sake of it. It'd be just as useful to keep him now that K-Rod has been dealt.
In the end the Mets are looking up. They will restock their farm system under Sandy Alderson's steady hand and begin to rebuild for the future.
Light Ice
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And that Cabrera sure can hit, jesus. I watched him come up through the system when he was a kid and saw him play quite a bit as a Marlin. If he can stay away from the booze he'll go to the Hall.
Light Ice
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The Tigers have one of the best managers in the game in Jim Leyland and one of the most impressive farm systems in baseball. They were poised to make a push to the World Series four years ago but two of their most highly touted prospects fizzled and delayed them.
Up and down the Tigers have made improvements designed to put them over the hump. Justin Verlander is one of the best pitchers in the game today and they're steadily working a powerful core around him.
Serious questions still linger, however.
3B - They need an everyday guy. If the Mets were selling on David Wright the Tigers would push hard and have reportedly already inquired. It'd make a ton of sense for both teams. But the Tigers will find an answer here.
Magglio Ordonez - Boy, they can't wait to get his contract off the books. Had he kept producing circa his numbers in 2003-2004 the Tigers would have at least made a run. He didn't. They almost did anyway. Good news for the Tigers is that they have several outfielders coming up in the system that can plug this hole.
Up and down the Tigers have made improvements designed to put them over the hump. Justin Verlander is one of the best pitchers in the game today and they're steadily working a powerful core around him.
Serious questions still linger, however.
3B - They need an everyday guy. If the Mets were selling on David Wright the Tigers would push hard and have reportedly already inquired. It'd make a ton of sense for both teams. But the Tigers will find an answer here.
Magglio Ordonez - Boy, they can't wait to get his contract off the books. Had he kept producing circa his numbers in 2003-2004 the Tigers would have at least made a run. He didn't. They almost did anyway. Good news for the Tigers is that they have several outfielders coming up in the system that can plug this hole.
DemureDryad
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I am clearly out of my league in this conversation. 
But I will say that we love Cabby up here in michigan.
And re: Magglio, I'll always like him for his walkoff home run to clinch in the playoffs a couple years ago, when the Tigers suddenly stopped being terrible.
But I will say that we love Cabby up here in michigan.
And re: Magglio, I'll always like him for his walkoff home run to clinch in the playoffs a couple years ago, when the Tigers suddenly stopped being terrible.
catinthehat123
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Sox are in first place in the AL. What a surprise after that horrendous beginning.
Pitching -
Big questions loom about their rotation. When healthy the team should be great. Losing Dice-K might have been a mixed blessing. Lackey seems to have come back to earth. When both Bucholz and Lester are healthy, watch out. Right now with a tandem of Wake, Aceves, and Miller pitching everything seems allright.
Come playoff time, I don't see a better starting 3 (Besides for Philly) then Beckett, Lester, and Bucholz.
Offense -
Adrian Gonzalez should win the MVP for the AL outright.
Crawford hasn't lived up.
Bats overall are coming alive.
Pitching -
Big questions loom about their rotation. When healthy the team should be great. Losing Dice-K might have been a mixed blessing. Lackey seems to have come back to earth. When both Bucholz and Lester are healthy, watch out. Right now with a tandem of Wake, Aceves, and Miller pitching everything seems allright.
Come playoff time, I don't see a better starting 3 (Besides for Philly) then Beckett, Lester, and Bucholz.
Offense -
Adrian Gonzalez should win the MVP for the AL outright.
Crawford hasn't lived up.
Bats overall are coming alive.
Light Ice
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Sox fan? Rejoice. You've some serious good times ahead.
Crawford will live up. He's batting close to .400 since a couple weeks before the injury and had a tremendous game yesterday. All signs point to him finally coming around. There's an adjustment period for players going from small market teams to places like Fenway or Yankee stadium. Crawford is a pure athlete. He's not a thinking man's player like A-Gon. That might explain how one turned it around quickly and the other needed to hit his stride later.
The rotation has holes but word out of Boston is that they handled Lester with care strictly to protect him for the playoff push and he's fine. Beckett finally being healthy allowed them to do this (along with Miller and borderline Hall of Famer Tim Wakefield doing what he always does).
The bigger question is Bucholz. If his injury is bad, bad enough to warrant all the doom talk from Boston fans, then that's terrible news. He's a very likable kid and definitely a top of the rotation guy who would help huge in the playoffs.
The bigger story out of Boston right now though is Josh Reddick appearing ready and able to take over everyday duties in Right Field and the absolutely class act that J.D Drew has been about the entire thing. This allows Boston to spend its efforts trying to acquire more pitching help (bullpen a priority) and not waste time kicking the tires on Carlos Beltran or other available outfields.
I think, especially if you watch them now, you're looking at a World Series Champion caliber ball club. Tim Wakefield has been an unheralded hero during the course of the season by eating up valuable innings as a reliever and spot-starter and they are getting production from everywhere.
Marco Scutaro's value continues to shine. He is not an everyday player for Boston (he could be for other clubs) but he is absolutely priceless coming off the bench. (Doesn't strike out, pesky at the plate, solid defensively and able to play every infield position).
Boston's going to be active at the deadline. I expect bullpen help being the focus here (although a right handed bat would be a good idea, too, especially if it was an outfielder).
After the year look for them to part ways with Jon Papelbon and push to resign Elsbury (who might take them to free agency but -will- remain a Red Sox player).
DarkWarrioress
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Baseball geekery. It's sexy. Love it.
DarkWarrioress
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As for me.. I'm still phased out on sports in general but if hard pressed to name one, I'd have to say my own, backyard team The Oakland A's. Currently third in the American League West, I believe. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Light Ice
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But with an outstanding young pitching staff, great farm system, and a little bit of payroll flexibility. They're building still but things look very good, to start, for the Athletics. I think a big question for them is whether or not they can find a long-term solution for the middle of their lineup.
A lefty-bat with plus power would do them a world of good.
Light Ice
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And they're soon to be new Right Fielder - Carlos Beltran.
zydrate
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waves pennant more
catinthehat123
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Have I met someone who may actually understand baseball? What a marvelous thing.
Crawford at 20 million better turn it around. Thought Dice-K and Lackey cost about 20 per and haven't done much. Though I remain a strong supporter of Lackey.
If our rotation gets healthy, theres not a better starting 3 in the AL. I love the idea of beckett lester and bucholz in the playoffs. I think they ease bucholz back in making sure hes ready for the playoffs. He will be ready.
I hated this talk about Beltran for bucholz and then I'm told we would need to give up more than reddick. No thank you. Reddick is a beast I want to see this kid develop. Beltran is an interesting option and would be here for more than one year, but I see our team being able to compete now as is and in the future with our farm strength. I can see us getting bullpen help, but at what cost and who's available? No one really.
Production is certainly coming from the most unlikely places which is terrific.
Also I LOVE Wakefield. I want him to get 200 wins as a sox so there's absolutely no way his number can't get retired. He'd have given us 200 wins, something close to 2000 strike outs, 3 world series, and been here for something like 20 years being the first play in MLB history to basically say "hey guys, I just want to play here for the rest of my career... money's not an issue"
Light Ice
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Wakefield got his 2,000th strikeout last night. 
As for the package the Mets asked for when it came to Beltran Bucholz was not included. He's not available, for any reason, and the Red Sox front office has made that very clear to teams. No worries, Lester and Bucholz are long-term Red Sox guys.
Lackey has given me serious reasons to worry. I don't doubt his ability or his heart, I doubt his health. Rumors are still circulating he's putting off surgery to compete this year. That scares me. Otherwise, he got AJ Burnett money. He's worth it.
Don't hate on Crawford. He's quiet. He's flashy on the field. But he's worth the money. The guy transforms your team when he's producing (like he has for about a month minus injury time).
Reddick is a huge, huge question mark for me. Right now he's hitting extremely well but I want to see how he adjusts once the pitchers have started finding holes in his swing. Plus Power, Plus Defense, Best Arm in the Red Sox system, but a serious question remains about how effective he's going to be against solid left-hand pitching.
If he turns up to be a suck against lefties then the Red Sox have to make a decision very quickly whether to stick with him or move him before the word gets out and his value takes a hit.
My guess is that this won't be a problem. The Red Sox organization has, in the last six weeks, decided that he's JD Drew 2.0 and are clearly moving away from the idea of getting another everyday outfielder.
Beltran would cost too much for a rental. The Red Sox would never resign him at cost.
I'd look for them to pick up a platoon bat. Josh Willingham is tempting out of Oakland.
Priority for the Sox, though, is lefty relief. Matt Thornton out of the White Sox looks to be a great fit for their bullpen. He's a solid lefty reliever and he is affordable.
As for the package the Mets asked for when it came to Beltran Bucholz was not included. He's not available, for any reason, and the Red Sox front office has made that very clear to teams. No worries, Lester and Bucholz are long-term Red Sox guys.
Lackey has given me serious reasons to worry. I don't doubt his ability or his heart, I doubt his health. Rumors are still circulating he's putting off surgery to compete this year. That scares me. Otherwise, he got AJ Burnett money. He's worth it.
Don't hate on Crawford. He's quiet. He's flashy on the field. But he's worth the money. The guy transforms your team when he's producing (like he has for about a month minus injury time).
Reddick is a huge, huge question mark for me. Right now he's hitting extremely well but I want to see how he adjusts once the pitchers have started finding holes in his swing. Plus Power, Plus Defense, Best Arm in the Red Sox system, but a serious question remains about how effective he's going to be against solid left-hand pitching.
If he turns up to be a suck against lefties then the Red Sox have to make a decision very quickly whether to stick with him or move him before the word gets out and his value takes a hit.
My guess is that this won't be a problem. The Red Sox organization has, in the last six weeks, decided that he's JD Drew 2.0 and are clearly moving away from the idea of getting another everyday outfielder.
Beltran would cost too much for a rental. The Red Sox would never resign him at cost.
I'd look for them to pick up a platoon bat. Josh Willingham is tempting out of Oakland.
Priority for the Sox, though, is lefty relief. Matt Thornton out of the White Sox looks to be a great fit for their bullpen. He's a solid lefty reliever and he is affordable.
Light Ice
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Edited to add:
The Red Sox are certain Salty isn't the catcher of the future. Or are they? If he continues to show improvement behind the plate (throwing out runners and calling games are both getting highly improved marks by in-organization sources and league-wide scouts) then maybe they have something here.
He's shown a sudden ability to hit opposite field and has, after an awful start (like several Red Sox), brought his average up to .260.
If he can consistently hit .260+ with 20 HR power (which he has) and do well behind the plate? Well, he might be a good-enough keep there for them to look to improve through the draft and not consistently be stuck hunting catchers during the off season.
The Red Sox are certain Salty isn't the catcher of the future. Or are they? If he continues to show improvement behind the plate (throwing out runners and calling games are both getting highly improved marks by in-organization sources and league-wide scouts) then maybe they have something here.
He's shown a sudden ability to hit opposite field and has, after an awful start (like several Red Sox), brought his average up to .260.
If he can consistently hit .260+ with 20 HR power (which he has) and do well behind the plate? Well, he might be a good-enough keep there for them to look to improve through the draft and not consistently be stuck hunting catchers during the off season.
catinthehat123
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Wakefield got his 2,000th strikeout last night.
As for the package the Mets asked for when it came to Beltran Bucholz was not included. He's not available, for any reason, and the Red Sox front office has made that very clear to teams. No worries, Lester and Bucholz are long-term Red Sox guys.
Lackey has given me serious reasons to worry. I don't doubt his ability or his heart, I doubt his health. Rumors are still circulating he's putting off surgery to compete this year. That scares me. Otherwise, he got AJ Burnett money. He's worth it.
Don't hate on Crawford. He's quiet. He's flashy on the field. But he's worth the money. The guy transforms your team when he's producing (like he has for about a month minus injury time).
Reddick is a huge, huge question mark for me. Right now he's hitting extremely well but I want to see how he adjusts once the pitchers have started finding holes in his swing. Plus Power, Plus Defense, Best Arm in the Red Sox system, but a serious question remains about how effective he's going to be against solid left-hand pitching.
If he turns up to be a suck against lefties then the Red Sox have to make a decision very quickly whether to stick with him or move him before the word gets out and his value takes a hit.
My guess is that this won't be a problem. The Red Sox organization has, in the last six weeks, decided that he's JD Drew 2.0 and are clearly moving away from the idea of getting another everyday outfielder.
Beltran would cost too much for a rental. The Red Sox would never resign him at cost.
I'd look for them to pick up a platoon bat. Josh Willingham is tempting out of Oakland.
Priority for the Sox, though, is lefty relief. Matt Thornton out of the White Sox looks to be a great fit for their bullpen. He's a solid lefty reliever and he is affordable.
my number were for being a sole sox player. Which he hasn't done yet. Yes I know he got 2000 Ks last night. He's also just a few wins away. I want all this in a sox uniform alone.
Lackey has up and down games. I've heard some chatter about his injury, not much mind you. I think his wife weighs on his mind more than anything.
Crawford has bounced back, it took him a while.
Some players get lucky when they come up because scouting reports aren't out on them yet. I imagine he will fall back down to reality, but I love watching him play at the moment. He also has the potential to be a starting outfielder and i want to see that happen.
I think we'll pick up a pen pitcher, though once playoffs start our pen gets bolstered anyways. If wheeler and jenks were healthy this wouldn't be a conversation.
(Also what the hell is going on down in texas at the moment)
catinthehat123
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I didn't have much faith in the kid when they got him. This was a kid they had followed forever. I think they gave up ways too much. At the moment the idea is to have Varitek mentor the kid and then have him take over completely. There is no help coming from pawtucket for this position.
He has stepped it up.
Light Ice
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I still think, even with Wheeler and Jenks healthy, the Red Sox could really use another lefty arm in the bullpen.
And as for Catcher:
Tim Federowicz is still pretty far away but he looks at the very least to be a solid, defense-first catcher. He's a line-drive hitter without much projected power (but so was Varitek as a kid) and while he bats strictly righty he brings the added bonus of plus speed.
I think they won't wait for him. And I think he'll end up being a back-up catcher in the big leagues. But there's hope he might become a Buster Posey (average hitting with average power) catcher in the big leagues.
That's a huge concern for the Red Sox and they will make something happen in the next year or two if they are able.
Man, I tell you, everytime I talk baseball I find myself talking the Red Sox. They have such a stocked farm system and such a talented (and YOUNG) group of players at the big league level that it's awe-inspiring how much potential this roster has.
And as for Catcher:
Tim Federowicz is still pretty far away but he looks at the very least to be a solid, defense-first catcher. He's a line-drive hitter without much projected power (but so was Varitek as a kid) and while he bats strictly righty he brings the added bonus of plus speed.
I think they won't wait for him. And I think he'll end up being a back-up catcher in the big leagues. But there's hope he might become a Buster Posey (average hitting with average power) catcher in the big leagues.
That's a huge concern for the Red Sox and they will make something happen in the next year or two if they are able.
Man, I tell you, everytime I talk baseball I find myself talking the Red Sox. They have such a stocked farm system and such a talented (and YOUNG) group of players at the big league level that it's awe-inspiring how much potential this roster has.
catinthehat123
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They've learned to manage well. When we loose Papelbon this summer, our farm gets like 3 top 40 picks which is crazy. The compensation stuff in baseball is ridiculous.
Its odd thinking about a team like the sox. They waiver from year to year, they have a ton of big money players, but their best player at the moment tend to be home grown talent. The core of it is also extremely young and should get better.
Since your a NL fan. Please tell me whats going on in pittsburgh.
Light Ice
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Pittsburgh has a dedicated owner and found a great manager. Hurdle isn't the best at maintaining a star-studded club's focus but he's extraordinary at coaching young talent. (See the Rockies during their big playoff push under him)
That, and through stripping their roster for ten years straight and being awarded tons and tons of compensatory picks, they've actually got serious athletes in the system. The pitching, especially, is solid and deep. They don't have a ton of guys who project to be legitimate top of the rotation guy but when you're 8 deep in legitimate number 3 starting pitching you're going to do well over a long season.
Give them time. Maybe a big bat acquisition or two; they will take a step backwards next year but a huge leap in 2 or 3.
The best move they ever made was trading Jason Bay for the stash of prospects and cash. That was an incredibly gutsy move for a team that at the time was considered absolute garbage.
Notice Bay's weaknesses now that he is aging, playing in a park that doesn't treat fly-ball hitters well, and requires him to cover a ton of ground on defense. Sigh. Worst. Signing. Ever. (And I like Jason Bay but, seriously, you couldn't have gone after a line-drive hitter with plus-range to fit Citi Field and save yourself a ton of money?!)
They won't make waves in the post season (if they get there) but they're going to be a feel-good story.
That, and through stripping their roster for ten years straight and being awarded tons and tons of compensatory picks, they've actually got serious athletes in the system. The pitching, especially, is solid and deep. They don't have a ton of guys who project to be legitimate top of the rotation guy but when you're 8 deep in legitimate number 3 starting pitching you're going to do well over a long season.
Give them time. Maybe a big bat acquisition or two; they will take a step backwards next year but a huge leap in 2 or 3.
The best move they ever made was trading Jason Bay for the stash of prospects and cash. That was an incredibly gutsy move for a team that at the time was considered absolute garbage.
Notice Bay's weaknesses now that he is aging, playing in a park that doesn't treat fly-ball hitters well, and requires him to cover a ton of ground on defense. Sigh. Worst. Signing. Ever. (And I like Jason Bay but, seriously, you couldn't have gone after a line-drive hitter with plus-range to fit Citi Field and save yourself a ton of money?!)
They won't make waves in the post season (if they get there) but they're going to be a feel-good story.
catinthehat123
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I LOVE Jason Bay, regardless of what he's done. He was such a relief from the horror that was Manny.
He has been a disaster as of late.
If Pittsburgh finished above .500 that will be a huge accomplishment. I'm always surprised when I think about Pittsburgh sports that pirates seem to be the disrespected disregard step child. The penguins and the Steelers are loved and supported to the max.
I should start one of these for hockey season and so what response i get, I imagine not much.
Lester was good last night. 1 run in 7 innings, even against kansas city thats pretty good.
Light Ice
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Jason Bay is a great personality and a solid lunch-pail guy. He was a prototypical fly-ball hitter from the right-hand side and that made him perfectly suited for Fenway. He did great things for them.
And definitely start one for Hockey. That's the sport I actually played and follow the most closely.
Lester looks, like you and I both agreed, just fine. The DL stint was precautionary at its worst and most likely anticipated at its best. Teams do clever things to limit the innings their pitchers work in a season and to find places to give them breaks. A stretch through the All-Star area is typically the perfect time.
I am getting very interested in the Red Sox trade chatter. Word is Mike Dunn is available and that move makes a ton of sense. The Sox and Marlins already have a very positive working relationship when it comes to deals and Dunn is a power lefty reliever who really helps the back-end of a bullpen. If he can get a little more precise with his fastball he could be a closer.
He hits 93-95 with his fastball and has pushed it to 98 the last time I saw him play.
Lefties absolutely struggle against him because he loves to pitch in with that power fastball and then break his absolutely filthy slider low and away. The biggest mistake any Lefty makes in Fenway is pitching fastball away to hitters. The Green Monster favors hitters attempting to slap the ball the other way and its always been the case that a pitcher that works hard inside with his heater (Lester, for instance) generates a lot of outs on players not strong enough to inside-out the ball or foolish enough to actually try and come-round on it and pull it into right.
Aside from that one corner area where the fence is short that outfield rapidly becomes pretty big.
Felix Dubront isn't ready to be a bullpen lefty through the playoffs. He has a filthy changeup that works extremely well against Right-Hand hitters but he's actually struggles against left-handed hitting. That has been a major hurtle for him and will continue to be. Francona won't hold a roster spot for a LHP that can't get lefty-bats out. Let's hope he continues to work on his curveball. The guy could be special.
Another Marline, Randy Choate, will draw interest. The Red Sox would much rather acquire Dunn (who wouldn't) given his tremendous upside and youth but Choate has been pitching really well this year against left-handed hitters.
In the National League.
Against teams full of strikeout happy lefties. (Phillies, Mets, Braves, Nationals)
So I think a move for Choate would be a mistake. He's a journeyman lefty who at one time was given a chance to close. He imploded. For two and a half years. The Diamondbacks waited and waited for him to get his head straight and it never happened. He's like Brad Lidge after Albert Pujols destroyed his world (with a 500 foot HR, to win Game 7 of the NLCS, while Andy Pettite got caught on camera mouthing "OMG" over how huge that shot really was) but without the bounce-back season that Lidge had when he joined the Phillies.
He doesn't strikeout a ton of guys and relief pitching is mostly about missing bats in the playoffs. Inning eaters are for early in the season to hep you get there (see Tim Wakefield).
Still, there's chatter he's the guy for the Sox. I doubt it.
But who knows at this point. I don't know if I've ever heard so much noise about a team that's in first place and looking to add some relief help. It makes me wonder if they're actually pulling off something much bigger.
(Like a year ago when they were rumored to be offering a 4-player plus compensation package to the Mariners for King Felix.)
Don't worry, I don't mean that. If anyone is going to empty their system to pull in a top-tier pitcher it's the Yankees. Which is funny given the fact it's almost certain CC Sabathia goes to free agency this year (using his opt out clause) and performs his best attempt at high-way-robbery to take advantage of the pitching-deprived yankees organization.
But could we see something big like Heath Bell?
I wouldn't rule it out. At all. Especially with Papelbon about to walk.
And definitely start one for Hockey. That's the sport I actually played and follow the most closely.
Lester looks, like you and I both agreed, just fine. The DL stint was precautionary at its worst and most likely anticipated at its best. Teams do clever things to limit the innings their pitchers work in a season and to find places to give them breaks. A stretch through the All-Star area is typically the perfect time.
I am getting very interested in the Red Sox trade chatter. Word is Mike Dunn is available and that move makes a ton of sense. The Sox and Marlins already have a very positive working relationship when it comes to deals and Dunn is a power lefty reliever who really helps the back-end of a bullpen. If he can get a little more precise with his fastball he could be a closer.
He hits 93-95 with his fastball and has pushed it to 98 the last time I saw him play.
Lefties absolutely struggle against him because he loves to pitch in with that power fastball and then break his absolutely filthy slider low and away. The biggest mistake any Lefty makes in Fenway is pitching fastball away to hitters. The Green Monster favors hitters attempting to slap the ball the other way and its always been the case that a pitcher that works hard inside with his heater (Lester, for instance) generates a lot of outs on players not strong enough to inside-out the ball or foolish enough to actually try and come-round on it and pull it into right.
Aside from that one corner area where the fence is short that outfield rapidly becomes pretty big.
Felix Dubront isn't ready to be a bullpen lefty through the playoffs. He has a filthy changeup that works extremely well against Right-Hand hitters but he's actually struggles against left-handed hitting. That has been a major hurtle for him and will continue to be. Francona won't hold a roster spot for a LHP that can't get lefty-bats out. Let's hope he continues to work on his curveball. The guy could be special.
Another Marline, Randy Choate, will draw interest. The Red Sox would much rather acquire Dunn (who wouldn't) given his tremendous upside and youth but Choate has been pitching really well this year against left-handed hitters.
In the National League.
Against teams full of strikeout happy lefties. (Phillies, Mets, Braves, Nationals)
So I think a move for Choate would be a mistake. He's a journeyman lefty who at one time was given a chance to close. He imploded. For two and a half years. The Diamondbacks waited and waited for him to get his head straight and it never happened. He's like Brad Lidge after Albert Pujols destroyed his world (with a 500 foot HR, to win Game 7 of the NLCS, while Andy Pettite got caught on camera mouthing "OMG" over how huge that shot really was) but without the bounce-back season that Lidge had when he joined the Phillies.
He doesn't strikeout a ton of guys and relief pitching is mostly about missing bats in the playoffs. Inning eaters are for early in the season to hep you get there (see Tim Wakefield).
Still, there's chatter he's the guy for the Sox. I doubt it.
But who knows at this point. I don't know if I've ever heard so much noise about a team that's in first place and looking to add some relief help. It makes me wonder if they're actually pulling off something much bigger.
(Like a year ago when they were rumored to be offering a 4-player plus compensation package to the Mariners for King Felix.)
Don't worry, I don't mean that. If anyone is going to empty their system to pull in a top-tier pitcher it's the Yankees. Which is funny given the fact it's almost certain CC Sabathia goes to free agency this year (using his opt out clause) and performs his best attempt at high-way-robbery to take advantage of the pitching-deprived yankees organization.
But could we see something big like Heath Bell?
I wouldn't rule it out. At all. Especially with Papelbon about to walk.
catinthehat123
Really Really Experienced
- Joined
- Jun 18, 2011
- Posts
- 386
I probably will, but it will be slow. Post it on the general board, get hit my some crazies. The one other forum that I visit is for hockey. Whats your team? Mine is, of course, the bruins. I simply can't get enough hockey talk.
Bay Certainly is a lunch pail kind of guy and boston loves that.
Lester hopefully returns strong and is a fixture in the rotation.
This conversation has made me return to mlbtraderumors. Where are you getting your insights?
The only thing I'll be happy with the sox doing is trading for a player who will help now and in the future. The team is built to be competitive this year and in the future, I don't want to loose too many pieces.
Theres a lot down on the farm that could come up and be interesting.
i wouldn't mind King Felix. If moved I would see him being a fixture for a while. Though I don't see the likelihood of it happening at all.
I am so HAPPY that Papelbon is on his way out.
Bay Certainly is a lunch pail kind of guy and boston loves that.
Lester hopefully returns strong and is a fixture in the rotation.
This conversation has made me return to mlbtraderumors. Where are you getting your insights?
The only thing I'll be happy with the sox doing is trading for a player who will help now and in the future. The team is built to be competitive this year and in the future, I don't want to loose too many pieces.
Theres a lot down on the farm that could come up and be interesting.
i wouldn't mind King Felix. If moved I would see him being a fixture for a while. Though I don't see the likelihood of it happening at all.
I am so HAPPY that Papelbon is on his way out.
