Killeverything's (New)NeverEndingBaseballThread

[WOLF]

Saw that the Lindy's and Sporting News Fanatasy Baseball Previews have hit the news stands. You know what that means? Sludge Fantasy Baseball League is just around the corner....

[killeverything]

Saw that the Lindy's and Sporting News Fanatasy Baseball Previews have hit the news stands. You know what that means? Sludge Fantasy Baseball League is just around the corner....

Yep.

You hear that PKOS? The third time wasn't a charm. The fourth? Now it's time.

[killeverything]

Arizona DFA Eric Byrnes.

Don't they still owe him like 11 million?

Damn.

[UtahRatt]

Ex-Cards slugger says ban McGwire

Jack Clark's time in the spotlight fell mostly in the years before the so-called steroids era.

That didn't stop the former Cardinals and Giants All-Star slugger from revealing an extreme distaste for players who might have availed themselves of a performance-enhancing drug during their time in the big leagues.

"A lot of them should be banned from baseball, including Mark McGwire," Clark told the
St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Clark served as the Dodgers' hitting coach several years ago. He said McGwire, who will return to baseball this season as the Cardinals' hitting coach, was in a group of players that clearly didn't warrant consideration for Cooperstown.

"All those guys are cheaters -- A-Rod [Alex Rodriguez]. Fake, phony. Rafael Palmeiro. Fake, a phony," Clark told the newspaper. "[Roger] Clemens, [Barry] Bonds. [Sammy] Sosa. Fakes. Phonies. They don't deserve to be in the Hall of Fame.

"They should all be in the Hall of Shame," Clark said. "They can afford to build it. They've all got so much money. And they could all go there and talk about the next way to rub something on your skin. The whole thing is creepy.

"They're all creeps. All these guys have been liars."

Clark, a four-time All-Star who hit .267 and belted 340 home runs in 18 seasons, mocked the apologetic and sorrowful tone of McGwire's Monday admission that he used steroids during much of his major league career.

"They're not really a man's man," Clark said. "They're just whimpering boys who are just sad to watch. They try to put it off on somebody else. I don't know how they sleep at night, looking at all their fame, let alone the money they took by faking everybody out and lying to everybody."

Clark's former Cardinals teammate, Andy Van Slyke, took a more subtle tack when speaking with the Post-Dispatch.

"I never condoned a player who used steroids while they played, but I've never been mad at a player," Van Slyke said. "But I think if you have an opportunity to tell the truth and you continue to be disingenuous and lie, then there's every right for people to be upset by the continued lying or finger-pointing.

"There's a lot of finger-pointing by Mark McGwire," Van Slyke continued. "He blames it on not being tested and he blames it on the era. Why would you blame baseball for taking steroids?

"That's like me saying the reason I was drunk-driving was because I knew that on this particular highway, they didn't have anything for me to blow into."

Van Slyke was also a teammate of Bonds. Van Slyke said he hoped the home run king would be truthful if he ever did reveal whether steroids played a role in his conditioning and performance.

"One thing about Barry -- he's not afraid to speak the truth," Van Slyke said. "For the last four years [since his appearance before a congressional committee], McGwire could have said something."

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4828816

[UtahRatt]

More Jack Clark rants.

Clark Pulls No Punches On McGwire

Former 18-year veteran Jack Clark vilified Mark McGwire in the wake of his steroids admission. More of what Clark said to the
St. Louis Post-Dispatch concerning McGwire and others:

• "If his hand-eye coordination was so good, why did he feel the need to apologize to the Maris family?"

• "It's a shame that he thinks we're all stupid, that he only did [steroids] because of injuries. That's such a cop-out, such a lie. These guys did [steroids] to take the money to pump up their egos and then take their consequences down the road."

• Steroid abusers and suspected users "are all lucky they didn't end up in jail. It's all comical to a certain point. It's a three-ring circus. It really is. From [commissioner] Bud Selig to Tony [La Russa] to A-Rod to Manny Ramirez to Palmeiro ... What a joke."

• "[McGwire's] own manager never knew that [Jose] Canseco and McGwire and anybody else ever had taken steroids? Trust me, from [a former player], I have a lot of insight into who did what and when but I'm not even going to talk about it. It really doesn't matter."

• "This thing stretches a long way back and it's really ugly and just really shocking."

• "These guys are playing the game for their own benefits and it's really disgusting. ... They go up there and shed a tear and they think all is forgotten. Well, it's not forgotten and it never will be."

• "[McGwire is] a sad excuse for a player in the industry of baseball. Just seeing him in uniform makes me throw up."

• "He should not be in baseball. He should be banned from baseball more than ever."





I'm starting to think Clark don't like steroids?

[TawnyVonJagger]

Sooo I guess Carlos Beltran isn't making any friends in the Mets organization?

[killeverything]

Sooo I guess Carlos Beltran isn't making any friends in the Mets organization?

Look for him to be traded.

What's funny is would you listen to Minyana and the Mets' FO about something that involves your health and career? That is one team that doesn't know shit about anything. If I was a player I would look for advice and info. elsewhere.

[Facedown]

Padres trade 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff to A's for Scott Hairston, Aaron Cunningham and minor leaguer Eric Sogard.

[Facedown]

From the Globe: ..."none of the top seven teams in "UZR" defensive ratings made the playoffs last year."

[killeverything]

It's being reported that King Felix signed an extension with Seattle. Years and money haven't been released.

Also Florida locked up Uggla.

*edit*

It's being leaked that the extension for Felix is 6 years guaranteed, with incentives to push it over 100m. He's in his second arbitration year. He was going to be paid huge.

[killeverything]

Surfing around on THTlive I came across this interesting stat idea, that Pat Andriola was messing around with. I'm a fan of DiPS especially with gauging pitchers. Coincidentally both of our two favorite stats are xFIP ( Fielding Independent Pitching adjusted for park and League ) and tRA ( which is True Runs Allowed. It's basically a way to see the batted ball types, where it's unreliant on defense ).

Well both of these stats when done resemble ERA and is read the same way, a low one is good a high one is not, etc. Well Pat wanted to combine the two stats. He did some math stuff to do it, to where you now have one number instead of two. He calls it TRX.

The leaders were the usual suspects. I just wanted to post this here, because it shows once again how fucking good Verlander is.

The top 10 of 2009

Tim Lincecum 2.74
Justin Verlander 2.92
Zack Greinke 3.03
Chris Carpenter 3.08
Javier Vazquez 3.10
Jon Lester 3.22
Felix Hernandez 3.24
Roy Halladay 3.24
Josh Johnson 3.27
Adam Wainwright 3.32

Here's the link with a more broad explaination.

http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/blog_ ... ucing-trx/

[Facedown]

It's being reported that King Felix signed an extension with Seattle. Years and money haven't been released.

Also Florida locked up Uggla.

*edit*

It's being leaked that the extension for Felix is 6 years guaranteed, with incentives to push it over 100m. He's in his second arbitration year. He was going to be paid huge.

Deal is reportedly done. Somewhere around 5yr/80mil.

[JakeYonkel]

The turnover that Seattle has done to their roster since Jack Z. came in has been amazing.

I honestly don't know if that's a compliment to Jack Z. or a slight to Bill Bavasi, who was fucking RETARDED. It's one thing to make questionable moves, but in a span of a few months when you trade for the Indians' 1B platoon of Ben Broussard and Eduardo Perez in 2 separate deals (for Shin-Soo Choo and Asdrubal Cabrera, respectively) you have no business as a major league GM.

He is a short list of guys (along with Ed Wade and probably Brian Sabean) where as SOON as the move is made EVERYBODY is like "WTF???"

Ed Wade lets Jose Valverde walk. Valverde signs for 2 years, $14M with Detroit. Wade gives Brandon F'ing Lyon a 3 year, $15M deal. Let's see how that works out.

[killeverything]

The turnover that Seattle has done to their roster since Jack Z. came in has been amazing.

I honestly don't know if that's a compliment to Jack Z. or a slight to Bill Bavasi, who was fucking RETARDED. It's one thing to make questionable moves, but in a span of a few months when you trade for the Indians' 1B platoon of Ben Broussard and Eduardo Perez in 2 separate deals (for Shin-Soo Choo and Asdrubal Cabrera, respectively) you have no business as a major league GM.

He is a short list of guys (along with Ed Wade and probably Brian Sabean) where as SOON as the move is made EVERYBODY is like "WTF???"

Ed Wade lets Jose Valverde walk. Valverde signs for 2 years, $14M with Detroit. Wade gives Brandon F'ing Lyon a 3 year, $15M deal. Let's see how that works out.

The job he's done is amazing. I don't think it has too much to do with remaining glare of Bavasi being a fucking imbecille.

The Felix deal is great for both sides. They lock up one of ( if not the most ) dominant pitchers in baseball until he's 28. Then if he stays healthy he can hit FA still in his prime. Good deal for both. This is good for baseball.

Hernandez sounds pretty sincere about not wanting to leave Seattle ( I know I know see: Damon, Johnny ). He's in love with the organization especially after the management change.

[Facedown]

Rangers keep Josh Hamilton. 1yr/3.25mil

[Facedown]

Sox keep Pap. 1yr/9.35mil

[Machado]

Yankees sign 2 players

$2.95 million Chad Gaudin, in contention for 5th starter role or long reliever
$590,000 Boone Logan, lefty specialist to go with Damaso Marte

[killeverything]

Sox keep Pap. 1yr/9.35mil

That's good. I'd like to keep Pappelbon around for as much as possible, but when he hits FA there is no way he doesn't test the market. Can't say I blame the guy. He should look at what King Felix did.

I wouldn't want to lock up Paps to a big contract ( Lackey, I know ). He has an injury history and lost his splitter. Schilling was saying once that the splitter comes and goes with some pitchers. Throwing strengthens your tendons between your fingers, where you lose your "feel for it".

It's been speculated that Papelbon was changing his delivery too much, trying to reaquire that pitch. His split was fucking wicked.



Gammo reported ( again, I know I know ) that the Mighty Red Sox and Bay had a 4/60 deal in place as early as July. Except they took an MRI of his knees and saw signs of possible structural damage. Then they went to 2 years. I don't know the validity of it. After all it is Gammons, but it's interesting and kind of telling regardless.

Yankees sign 2 players

$2.95 million Chad Gaudin, in contention for 5th starter role or long reliever
$590,000 Boone Logan, lefty specialist to go with Damaso Marte
Yankees sign 2 players

$2.95 million Chad Gaudin, in contention for 5th starter role or long reliever
$590,000 Boone Logan, lefty specialist to go with Damaso Marte

Not a bad signing for the price. I always liked Gaudin in Oakland.

I wonder what they're going to do with Traitor. With the money and years he wants, it would surprise me to see him back.




As for the King Felix deal. This officially makes Beckett and Lee the best two pitchers on the FA market next season. Beckett ( rightfully so ) want's a Lackey-esque deal from the FO, and has stated he'll test FA.

I wonder what those two will command. With Hernandez off the market and Lincecum still ( I believe ) two years from FA. They both could command a lot.

[Machado]

lincecum is asking for $13 mil from the giants

i think, i think the giants countered with an offer of $8 mil

arbitration in this instance would be worth watching
on video.
imagine how the giants will state their case that the kid does
not deserve the money he's asking?
during these hearings, teams go out of there way to mention
anything and everything that the player either did wrong or
did not do well enough.
doesn't seem fair to lincecum to be forced to hear negative
things from his bosses.

[killeverything]

lincecum is asking for $13 mil from the giants

i think, i think the giants countered with an offer of $8 mil

arbitration in this instance would be worth watching
on video.
imagine how the giants will state their case that the kid does
not deserve the money he's asking?
during these hearings, teams go out of there way to mention
anything and everything that the player either did wrong or
did not do well enough.
doesn't seem fair to lincecum to be forced to hear negative
things from his bosses.

Maybe I just misheard or something. I thought that they've already settled. They were saying on MLBN last nite that he'll set the record for arbitration.

No shit. How can you say anything about him being not worth 20 a year, much less 13? The only negative thing he can hear would be, we just don't want to pay that kind of money to anyone, but someone who shouldn't get it. After all look at our track record.

( Barry Zito say's "sup" )

[Machado]

lincecum is asking for $13 mil from the giants

i think, i think the giants countered with an offer of $8 mil

arbitration in this instance would be worth watching
on video.
imagine how the giants will state their case that the kid does
not deserve the money he's asking?
during these hearings, teams go out of there way to mention
anything and everything that the player either did wrong or
did not do well enough.
doesn't seem fair to lincecum to be forced to hear negative
things from his bosses.

Maybe I just misheard or something. I thought that they've already settled. They were saying on MLBN last nite that he'll set the record for arbitration.

No shit. How can you say anything about him being not worth 20 a year, much less 13? The only negative thing he can hear would be, we just don't want to pay that kind of money to anyone, but someone who shouldn't get it. After all look at our track record.

( Barry Zito say's "sup" )

the giants front office really handicapped themselves with the zito signing. i think, i think zito is getting $20 mil in 2010.
if the hearing actually takes place between the giants and lincecum, the 2 time cy young winner will be forced to hear the giants come up with numbers proving that tim DOES NOT deserve the money he is asking.
that can not be easy to put together or hear in a formal setting

[WhiteHouseSubsAC]

...but enough about the Yankees, Machado. HOW BOUT DEM COWBOYS???

[Machado]

...but enough about the Yankees, Machado. HOW BOUT DEM COWBOYS???

Hilarious. Take that comedy on the road already.
Can't win 'em all. Just ask the phillies
This week I am enjoying the MLB Network replay of
The World Series. I believe tonight is game 4

[UtahRatt]

...but enough about the Yankees, Machado. HOW BOUT DEM COWBOYS???

Hilarious. Take that comedy on the road already.
Can't win 'em all. Just ask the phillies
This week I am enjoying the MLB Network replay of
The World Series. I believe tonight is game 4

As soon as I seen that manchowder posted I came here to ask him the same question, funny how he's been quiet since the beat down.

So how bout dem cowboys? Bet you liked that game huh? Think Romo is the man? Did you like that last TD? Don't be shy...Fag....

[Machado]

...but enough about the Yankees, Machado. HOW BOUT DEM COWBOYS???

Hilarious. Take that comedy on the road already.
Can't win 'em all. Just ask the phillies
This week I am enjoying the MLB Network replay of
The World Series. I believe tonight is game 4

As soon as I seen that manchowder posted I came here to ask him the same question, funny how he's been quiet since the beat down.

So how bout dem cowboys? Bet you liked that game huh? Think Romo is the man? Did you like that last TD? Don't be shy...Fag....

keep proving to me and the rest of us how stupid you are.
this is a baseball thread PUTO!!!

yeah i liked the last TD. just gives the Cowboys motivation and every reason in the world to return the favor and than some whenever
the rematch happens.

[tin00can]

Angels get Joel Pinero, 2 years $16 million. I'm cautiously optimistic. Good ground-ball pitcher with solid control and low walks. I hope he can translate back to the AL and be effective.

[JakeYonkel]

Angels get Joel Pinero, 2 years $16 million. I'm cautiously optimistic. Good ground-ball pitcher with solid control and low walks. I hope he can translate back to the AL and be effective.

Just remember it was 2 years ago he was pining for a spot in the Red Sox bullpen because he was so awful in the rotation for Seattle.

Dave Duncan works wonders. He's young enough that if he's taken anything from Duncan, he could be successful for a few years.

But I love how these guys are somehow able to have one decent/above-average season and all of a sudden demand ridiculous amounts of money.

The baseball market is SO friendly to the player, it's not even funny.

Not gonna lie, I would have pointed and laughed if/when the Mets signed both him and/or Bengie Molina. But seriously, now that both are off the market, who the hell are the Mets going to have catching and in the back of the rotation next year? Rod Barajas or Yorvit Torrealba? Jon Garland? Yikes.

[killeverything]

Angels get Joel Pinero, 2 years $16 million. I'm cautiously optimistic. Good ground-ball pitcher with solid control and low walks. I hope he can translate back to the AL and be effective.

I've always like Pinero. I think he'll be fine in Anaheim.


John Dewan's Stat Of The Week 01/20/10

The Angels in 2009 advanced from first to third on a single 128 times — twenty more than any other major league team. The only three major league players who have gone from first to third on a single more than 50% of the time in their careers (50 or more opportunities) are Torii Hunter, Chone Figgins and Erick Aybar — all Angels in 2009.

Angels 2009- Advancing 1st to 3rd
Advances 128
Opportunities 367
Pct 35%

This is an example of over 300 nuggets from the Bill James Gold Mine 2010, coming out in March. Here's another nugget:

Why Does This Always Happen to Cleveland?

The Indians lost their last 15 road games of the season, the most consecutive road losses by any major league team to end a season since the infamous 1899 Cleveland Spiders.

[killeverything]

Angels get Joel Pinero, 2 years $16 million. I'm cautiously optimistic. Good ground-ball pitcher with solid control and low walks. I hope he can translate back to the AL and be effective.

Just remember it was 2 years ago he was pining for a spot in the Red Sox bullpen because he was so awful in the rotation for Seattle.

Dave Duncan works wonders. He's young enough that if he's taken anything from Duncan, he could be successful for a few years.

But I love how these guys are somehow able to have one decent/above-average season and all of a sudden demand ridiculous amounts of money.

The baseball market is SO friendly to the player, it's not even funny.

Not gonna lie, I would have pointed and laughed if/when the Mets signed both him and/or Bengie Molina. But seriously, now that both are off the market, who the hell are the Mets going to have catching and in the back of the rotation next year? Rod Barajas or Yorvit Torrealba? Jon Garland? Yikes.

@ Mets troubles.

Here's an interesting discussion I got on THTlive about the Pinero signing.

In 2009, Piniero put up some pretty insane numbers. He struck out 4.42 batters, walked 1.14 and allowed just 0.46 home runs per 9 innings last year. That's good for a 3.27 FIP in 214 innings, making him one of the best pitchers in baseball last year.

I wrote about Pineiro a little while back, specifically looking at his improvement from 2008 to 2009. Some general notes for those who don't want to read through the article.

He threw more sinking fastballs in 2009

He attacked the bottom of the zone more in 2009, especially early in the count

He threw a higher percentage of fastballs in 2009

Got more groundballs


Got fewer whiffs (swings and misses)

Got more "extra" strikes called


So this is a guy who clearly changed his approach last season. The fact that he threw more sinking fastballs and more pitches in the bottom of the strikezone implies that his insane GB rate last year is in large part due to a change in talent rather than random variation. His improved BB rate is a result of him throwing more pitches in the strikezone overall and allowing more contact, especially early in the count; however, he also got a few more called strikes go his way last year.

Last year, Pineiro was worth 4.8 WAR according to FanGraphs. Given his awful 2007 and 2008 numbers, we can expect some pretty big regression from that. A typical Marcel's approach, which consists of basic weighting of previous seasons and regression to the mean, would have Pineiro at about 3.0 WAR next year. However, given his obvious change in approach in 2009, we should weigh his 2009 season more heavily than we otherwise would.

A 2/16 deal is essentially paying him as a 4-4.5 WAR player over the life of the contract. He should be able to clear that pretty easily.

http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/blog_ ... l-pineiro/

The comment after it had a poster comparing Cliff Lee and Pinero. I wouldn't neccesarily use that as a reference. But they both are certainly different players removed from a bad season.

[WhiteHouseSubsAC]

Joe Blanton 3 year 24 Million extension.