Fox Sports’ J Morosi enlightens us that MLB teams still serve alcohol after games. This was something that I assumed was banned but is not.
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/morosi-baseball-should-ban-booze-012810
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-new-inefficiency
Great article about how veterans are the new moneyball guys. It used to be on base guys, then recently was defensive guys, and now a theory about how it would be wise to stock up on veterans because they are cheap. I completely agree.
Speaking of veterans, Jim Thome is a great player on paper but if I was a GM, I would never in a million years sign him. He can’t play defense, in fact he doesn’t. He agreed to waive his no trade clause last year to go to LA on the condition that they understand he can’t play first base.
I would much rather take a lesser hitter if he could play a few positions
I thought that Jose Offerman already took an anger management class. Guess not: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4834335
Brandon Morrow was traded today. He was a top prospect for the Mariners. Most people don’t get why the Mariners would trade their top pitching prospect. I do, and it is because they don’t like him and knew theycould get value for him. So there you have it. When Morrow falters with the Blue Jays, you can laugh because the Mariners knew it.
Some random hot stove items, none are boiling
November 10, 2009
Not sure if its good news the Dodgers will bring back their whole coaching staff…If I am a team that needs a first basement, I check in on Lyle Overbay and see if Toronto is willing to pay a chunk of his salary…Some outrageous type b free agents will be available: Vladimir Guerrero, Adrian Beltre, Mark Derosa, Jason Marquis. And those with no compensation include a really stellar: Hideki Matsui, Pedro Feliz, Aubrey Huff, and Jarrod Washburn. Oh and so is Brad Penny who made 2 all star games. Wow, I would love to see who is a type A free agent. These ratings are flawed…Can you believe that Carl Pavano, Brad Penny, Vincente Padilla, and Pedro Martinez will be the most sought after free agents? Neither can I? Ask anyone last year if those guys would be on your list of best available and they would laugh in your face. To me, that is why scouts are unnecessary…It is nice to see that star of the movie “A Player to be Named Later” Marco Scutaro, is a type A free agent and will get paid like one hopefully. Search Amazon for the movie, it covers journeyman minor leaguers…Rich Harden or Erik Bedard, which potential ace without injuries do you want on your team? Neither, I would take Justin Duchsherer…And in bigger news: Steven Tyler quit Aerosmith. Wow!
Here are some baseball notes. For the most part, I got these reports off mlbtraderumors.com
I am torn on the Rays trading Akinori Iwamura to the Pirates for Jesse Chavez. I still don’t like it for the Rays but I hate it a little less when I realize that Chavez is a young productive reliever. Iwamura will give you everything that you need at second base: good batting average, decent speed, and defense. He can also play every infield position.
The Braves signed Scott Proctor to a minor league deal. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/11/braves-sign-scott-proctor.html
Cardinals surprised a lot of people and released quality reliever Brad Thompson.
Pitcher Rich Hill, outfielder Jeff Fiorentino and catcher Guillermo Rodriguez all rejected a minor league assignment by the Orioles and elected free agency instead. Alfredo Simon, who was also removed from the 40-man roster last week, accepted an assignment to Triple-A Norfolk. Hill could draw some interest this winter.
A lot of teams can do a lot worse than Rich Hill. I am curious why the Orioles didn’t try and trade him for at least cash.
MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan reports that former Colorado manager Clint Hurdle is likely to be the next hitting coach of the Rangers.
Don Mattingly passed on a chance to interview for Washington’s managerial opening, according to Alden Gonzalez and Ken Gurnick of MLB.com.
Here is a trade that I would like to see happen: Aaron Rowand to the Cubs for Milton Bradley. Cubs fans would love Rowand.
Why this trade works for both teams: Cubs need to dump Bradley and his 2 years left. Giants would love to get out of the 3 years left on Rowand’s contract. Giants would be saving money and adding a better player.
Here is why it won’t work: Barry Bonds and his bad clubhouse chemistry are still fresh in the Giants mind. I really don’t see why the Cubs wouldn’t want to it. They have to understand that they will take on a bad contract for Bradley, I would rather take Rowand than a player like Gary Matthews. Contrary to reports, the Dodgers and Cubs will never do a Milton Bradley for Juan Pierre swap. Both teams have had the other player and don’t want to see that player ever again. Also, the Angels would probably never trade for a headcase like Milton Bradley.
One very interesting scenario that I have heard about has Milton Bradley going to the Red Sox for JD Drew. There are also reports of him going to the Sox for next to nothing.
I may not be watching this years World Series but that hasn’t stopped me from hearing all the commotion about it. It seems every analyst likes the Yankees. For the life of me, I can’t see why. The Phillies are the defending champions. Everybody is also saying that the Yankees have better pitching, why? Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee are top of the rotation starters. AJ Burnett is inconsistent (somebody you would never mistake for an all star) and Andy Pettite is old and doesn’t always show up. This is not the Andy Pettite of the 90s. This will be a good series, but I would be shocked to see the Yankees dominate.
Catchers – even
First Base – even
Second Base – Phillies
Shortstop – Phillies
Third Base – Yankees
Outfielders – Phillies
Bench/DH – Yankees
Starters – even
Bullpen – Yankees
Coach – Phillies
Prediction: Phillies in 6.
In news that is not news, ESPN has suspended Steve Phillips for having an affair with a 22 year old ESPN employee. There is a lot more to the story. Below is a link.
Ironically when I was reading the story, it turns out that I was already following the girl on twitter. Under the story is a link to her twitter. Please don’t abuse her, I like following her and hope she keeps her twitter page.
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/10251190/ESPN-analyst-Phillips-in-’Fatal-Attraction’-scandal
http://twitter.com/BrookeHundley
