Killeverything's (New)NeverEndingBaseballThread

[Facedown]

Now they're showing the 46 World Series.
However, ESPN Classic is showing Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS.

[killeverything]

The chances of Felix Pie becoming a fixture for the Cubs in center field are over.

The Cubs have reached agreement with the Orioles on a deal that will send Pie to Baltimore for left-hander Garrett Olson and Class A right-hander Henry Williamson, according to major-league sources.

I'm not sure how this is going to work with Jones. They have two CFs that both haven't lived up to the expectations. Ones a RH ones a LH, you can't platoon them though it would stunt their development.

Pie is a nice pickup IMO.

[JakeYonkel]

I think they'll stick one of them in LF, move Huff to 1B full-time and DH Luke Scott. I guess that leaves Kevin Millar out of a job, but at least they'll have a very promising young outfield.

[killeverything]

I think they'll stick one of them in LF, move Huff to 1B full-time and DH Luke Scott. I guess that leaves Kevin Millar out of a job, but at least they'll have a very promising young outfield.

I doubt Millah has a lot of options. I love the guy, always will. I'm personally looking forward to him doing commetary or something along those lines. The guy is a fucking riot.

As for Baltimore, I'm curious as to what they'll do with this trade. They're not to far off from a complete rebuilding mode. Last time I checked Baseball America ranks their Farm as #18. That was prior to the raping of Seattle in the Bedard trade though.

[Facedown]

Felix Hernandez signs 1yr/3.8 mil with Mariners
Rockies sign Huston Street 1yr/4.5 mil
Phillies extend Ryan Madson 3yrs/12 mil

[killeverything]

Felix Hernandez signs 1yr/3.8 mil with Mariners
Rockies sign Huston Street 1yr/4.5 mil
Phillies extend Ryan Madson 3yrs/12 mil

I'm shocked King Felix is going to re-sign with Seattle. That guy is like one season from becoming a superior ace, and since the M's have a lot of Bavasi damage to repair. I'm surprised he wanted to stay ( especially after the "slap in the face" with Bedard as the #1 ). They do have 4 #1 draft picks coming up, plus Tom Tango doing Baseball Operations. That's still a couple/few years away from making a difference.

Love Street. He's a Horn and the Horns always get my support. Billy Beane knows somehow just when to cut ties with his pitchers. Street has been spending more time on the DL lately ( I know since he's been on my Fantasy team ). I could see him blowing up for Colorado.

Go extension on the Phils IMO.

[killeverything]

MLB

NETWORK

RULES!!

Damn, I could spend all day watching this stuff. Got the 2007 ALCS on right now...

Fuck yes! I have spent all day for the past two watching it. It's pissing the GF off. "Are you ever going to leave the house now?" "Nope. Never again."

I'm looking forward to the Negroe Leagues program they have on tonite. That should be good. They're also showing 'Red Sox Memories' later tonite and tommorrow too.

[killeverything]

Wow. Check this out:

SHADOW GAMES: Baseball and Me
Posted on Dec 22, 2008 10:29 am
By Todd Drew

I went to a baseball game after my father’s funeral. I also went to one after finding out about my mother’s brain cancer.

It was selfish and heartless. I felt guilty before and embarrassed after, but for nine innings I felt only the game. That’s the way it’s always been between baseball and me.

It was my friend when I didn’t have any others. And it has always been there to talk or listen or simply to watch.

Baseball helps me forget and it makes me remember. That’s why it was exactly what I needed on the worst days of my life.

But there were no games when a doctor told me that I had cancer. The neighborhood was out of baseball on that cold November day. No one was playing at Franz Sigel Park or John Mullaly Park. And there wasn’t even a game of catch in Joyce Kilmer Park. The last game at the old Yankee Stadium was long gone and Opening Day at the new Yankee Stadium was long off.

So I went home and wished for one of those summer days when I was a kid and my mother would send me to the ballpark with a paper sack stuffed with her famous tuna-fish sandwiches. That was back when you could slip through a delivery gate with the beer kegs and watch batting practice. And it was always okay to come home late with a beat-up scorecard and popcorn stuck between your teeth.

The doctor told me that tomorrow’s surgery and chemotherapy treatment might keep me in the hospital for 10 days.

“At least it’s December,” I said. “There aren’t any ballgames to miss.”

And I will be ready to slip through a delivery gate with the beer kegs when the new Yankee Stadium opens. I’ll watch batting practice with one of my mother’s famous tuna-fish sandwiches and come home late with a beat-up scorecard and popcorn stuck between my teeth.

Cancer can’t change the way it will always be between baseball and me.

This came from a Yankee fan site.

http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/

I found it from www.38pitches.com Schilling said that the author just lost his fight with cancer. RIP, it was great writing.

[Facedown]

Bedard signs 1yr with Mariners
Pap signs 1yr/6.25mil with Sox
Russell Martin signs 1yr/3.9mil with Dodgers

[Machado]

Has the season begun yet

Read today that up to 13 Yankees could
be playing in the WBC.

[Rainbow Bright]

I still think the Mariners should sign Rickey for the outfield. He might actually get under 100 losses with him back there.

[WhiteHouseSubsAC]

Anyone think Ryan Howard gets the 18 million arbitration award he's going for?

[killeverything]

Anyone think Ryan Howard gets the 18 million arbitration award he's going for?

Howard is young, and not even in his prime yet. I understand with the economy and it's effect on teams not NY, Boston, Anaheim, etc. I would be surprised to see Philly not do everything to keep/satisfy him.

I'll look into it and post more later.

[thejuggernaut]

Anyone think Ryan Howard gets the 18 million arbitration award he's going for?

Howard is young, and not even in his prime yet. I understand with the economy and it's effect on teams not NY, Boston, Anaheim, etc. I would be surprised to see Philly not do everything to keep/satisfy him.

I'll look into it and post more later.

I disagree for 1.5 reasons.

Now that drug testing is going on, we are back to the old days of having to worry about a sharp decline post 30.

Also, the one current player you can compare him to is Ortiz in terms of build. Ortiz started to decline at 31. And he doesn't play the field. Granted, 1st base isn't overly grueling, but it's more grueling than sitting on the bench waiting for your turn to hit.

With Howard, I think the Phillies would be wise to handle him on a year to year, short term basis simply because his type can drop off more rapidly than others

[Machado]

The Yankees continued to move forward with their winter business on Tuesday, finalizing contracts with outfielders Xavier Nady and Melky Cabrera to avoid salary arbitration.
Nady agreed to a one-year, $6.55 million deal, while Cabrera signed a one-year deal worth $1.4 million.


Nady earned $3.59 million last season, and is likely to become a free agent after the 2009 season. Unless a trade changes the landscape, Nady is expected to be the Yankees' starting right fielder this year.


Cabrera, 24, batted .249 with eight home runs and 37 RBIs in 129 games. The campaign was considered a disappointment, as Cabrera was sent to Triple-A in August.

Though it is believed that he has lost some favor in the Yankees' hierarchy, Cabrera will come into the spring competing with rookie Brett Gardner to be the Opening Day center fielder. He earned $461,200 last year and had asked for $1.7 million -- the Yankees offered $1.2 million before agreeing on a figure.

[killeverything]

Anyone think Ryan Howard gets the 18 million arbitration award he's going for?

Howard is young, and not even in his prime yet. I understand with the economy and it's effect on teams not NY, Boston, Anaheim, etc. I would be surprised to see Philly not do everything to keep/satisfy him.

I'll look into it and post more later.

I disagree for 1.5 reasons.

Now that drug testing is going on, we are back to the old days of having to worry about a sharp decline post 30.

Also, the one current player you can compare him to is Ortiz in terms of build. Ortiz started to decline at 31. And he doesn't play the field. Granted, 1st base isn't overly grueling, but it's more grueling than sitting on the bench waiting for your turn to hit.

With Howard, I think the Phillies would be wise to handle him on a year to year, short term basis simply because his type can drop off more rapidly than others

Howard wants a big payday. Philly offered 16m. I think they'll settle, but Howard will be too expensive for Philly next season. Even though he's the face of the franchise right now.

On MLB Network they're comparing him to Adam Dunn, as far as salaries go. I see the similarities. The problem is IMO, I don't think Philly could afford to lose him right now. That would be a devastating blow. I think they'll probably settle at 17m. He won't win 18, no fucking way, mang. Win or lose his arb. case, I think this is last year in Philly. I see a dipshit GM going 8/160 next season for him.

His #s are still pretty good, just not 18 good. Even though he helped bring a ring to the city. I see Juggernaught's point with declining after looking into it, it's already happening.

.251/ 339/ 543
.224 .294 .451 against LHP. Consistent with career.
.241 .317 .514 away from Citizens Bank Batting Cage. Worse than career, which was actually tilted toward Away in the past.

I think they'll settle this arbitration case. My advice to Mr. Howard is don't buy that new mansion with the helicopter landing pad just yet.

[Machado]

Personally I am very happy to know that Nady will begin
the season in RF. I know there is a chance that he could be traded during the season for various reasons, but for now him on the team is the right move.

As for Melky, he has all spring to win over the Yankees coaches and earn that starting CF spot. If he fails to do that, he can't say the team did not give him a fair shot at earning the job.


Given the choice, I believe Melky is a much better asset as a starter, while Gardner could be a nice addition on the bench and a late inning defensive replacement.

[killeverything]

Personally I am very happy to know that Nady will begin
the season in RF. I know there is a chance that he could be traded during the season for various reasons, but for now him on the team is the right move.

As for Melky, he has all spring to win over the Yankees coaches and earn that starting CF spot. If he fails to do that, he can't say the team did not give him a fair shot at earning the job.


Given the choice, I believe Melky is a much better asset as a starter, while Gardner could be a nice addition on the bench and a late inning defensive replacement.

There is no way in hell, that Gardner is the starting CF. If Melky doesn't work out, they'll sign or trade for someone else.

[Machado]

Kevin Long excited about lineup upgrade
Yanks hitting coach brings high hopes to offseason workouts

Long's first stop on the winter travelogue was to visit Alex Rodriguez in Miami, meeting with the All-Star for four days. Working with A-Rod has become a regular task for Long, the third consecutive offseason that they have met for drills.

"He's got to be the best player he can be," Long said. "The most important part with Alex is to have himself ready to go for the upcoming season and have himself fully committed to winning a championship.

"That's everybody -- not just Alex. We've got to be committed to winning a championship at this point."

Robinson Cano met with Long in November, working out in the Dominican Republic and continuing the adjustments that the hitting coach suggested late in the season. Cano had hit rock bottom in terms of frustration, and only a September surge helped him raise his average to .271.

With Long's help, Cano has reduced movement at the plate, tweaks that remain constant in the overhauled stance that will be on display next month. But Long said he was blown away by other changes Cano has made, hiring a personal trainer to help reduce his body fat and add muscle for the year ahead.

"The trip to the Dominican went above and beyond what I expected," Long said. "Really, I just expected to go out there and see where he was from an offensive standpoint and mechanically, and mentally talk to him about his game plan for winter ball.

"To go out there and see what kind of shape he was in was a pleasant surprise, to say the least. He's worked hard to get himself in shape and get himself looking like a top-notch ballplayer."

Long said he also worked out with Johnny Damon and Cody Ransom before visiting Jorge Posada at the Yankees' Tampa, Fla., complex earlier this month, where the veteran catcher continues to rehabilitate from right shoulder surgery.

Posada recently estimated that he is at "75 percent" with his hitting and throwing, though his hopes of playing for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic were dashed when proper insurance could not be obtained.

While Posada may not be active defensively when pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 13, he is hitting from both sides of the plate, and expectations are that Posada will be available in the lineup when the Yankees open their season in Baltimore on April 6.

[Machado]

NEW YORK -- The Yankees have trumpeted numerous times that they expect their payroll to be lower for 2009, and after multiple forays into the free-agent market, that goal remains on track.
But as the Hot Stove plays on toward sun-splashed diamonds in Florida and Arizona, one big question remains in the Bronx. Having already added CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira this offseason, would the Yankees still have room for one more major addition?

The Yankees trotted to the first-base line last April(2008) with an Opening Day payroll of approximately $209 million, and both co-chairman Hal Steinbrenner and general manager Brian Cashman said they expect that figure to be lower when the club opens the new Yankee Stadium.

With their most recent moves Tuesday, finalizing one-year contracts for Xavier Nady ($6.55 million) and Melky Cabrera ($1.4 million), the Yankees' 2009 payroll stands at approximately $186 million for 16 players.

[killeverything]

NEW YORK -- The Yankees have trumpeted numerous times that they expect their payroll to be lower for 2009, and after multiple forays into the free-agent market, that goal remains on track.
But as the Hot Stove plays on toward sun-splashed diamonds in Florida and Arizona, one big question remains in the Bronx. Having already added CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira this offseason, would the Yankees still have room for one more major addition?

The Yankees trotted to the first-base line last April(2008) with an Opening Day payroll of approximately $209 million, and both co-chairman Hal Steinbrenner and general manager Brian Cashman said they expect that figure to be lower when the club opens the new Yankee Stadium.

With their most recent moves Tuesday, finalizing one-year contracts for Xavier Nady ($6.55 million) and Melky Cabrera ($1.4 million), the Yankees' 2009 payroll stands at approximately $186 million for 16 players.

Yeah, they plan on lowering it to $208.9M


If they are at $186M and still need to add 9 more players to get to 25, they are going to be a $200M team again. That's not lowering payroll. Lowering payroll for them would be chopping $20M from the payroll, not $5-7M. What they are doing is simply semantics.

Remember all that talk surrounding Joba the Fat, how the MFY had "changed their ways" and were a developmental team now which no longer sought to buy their success with obscene amounts of money? Yep, all crap. All of it. Complete con job from end to end.

[Machado]

Stop your god damn crying already.

Doesn't the fact that they do all this and still not win make you fuckers happy? You're complaining about what makes you happy and why it has sucked to be a Yankees fan over the last seven years.

One more acquisition? MANNY! MANNY! MANNY!

No, we weren't complaining. We were just pointing out to the person who refers to the Yankees as "we" that the team isn't cutting payroll when they have $186M comitted to 16 players and still need to fill a 25 man roster.

Society is so quick to judge. It amazes me all the time.

Before we judge the Yankees payroll in 2009, why don't we wait until they have completed signing players for the upcoming season.

The perception is the Yankees spent so much money on free agents. That they should have either saved that money or not spent so much.
People are quick to forget that the money being spent this off-season is money they had available.
Why the media does not report that more often is beyond me.
Fucking media biased BULL-SHIT!!!

The Yankees-
You either love 'em or hate 'em. There is no middle ground. I love it!!!

[Punk]

That's not the point...the point is that they continually said they were going to reduce said payroll (a point often echoed around here, specifically by Yonkel if I remember correctly), and they're not.

[Punk]

No wonder they can't win.

[Punk]

As a Pirates fan, I object to this entire discussion.

[Punk]

Suck a dick. And may I include a preemptive suck a dick to the Red Sox losers for thanking me for Bay.

[Machado]

As a Pirates fan, I object to this entire discussion.

Thanks again for
Nady and Marte.

We wish your team well

[Machado]

It really sucks when fans know their team is already eliminated before pitchers and catchers report... A commissioner with some balls would do something about it.

Just like they said about The Rays last year. And The Rockies the year before.

Not to mention the yankees and the Mets didn't make the playoffs last year.

And what would this commissioner do? Tell the Yankees to stop spending money? no. You want revenue sharing, in a league without a national televsion contract.

Just up. we've gone over this. If you look at the 24 teams of the 1970's, a smaller percentage of those teams won World Series than over the last 10 years. So what is your fucking harping on this issue about?

lickety only wants to hear himself complain and is desperate for
a sympathy hug.
his arguement gets tossed out of court before anybody has a seat.
now that is fast

the ant-Yankee fans can not make up their mind.

are these people thrilled that we have not won a world series since 2000 or are they upset that we spend a lot of money?
pick your poison!!!

take a stand and shut up. it's that simple.

i would think that you would be more than happy that once again our team did not win, and that we failed to make the playoffs.

but no, here we go again with complaints regarding how much $$ we have and are spending.

[Machado]

He's upset about Texiera. If the Red Sox were smart enough to go from $160 to 180 million, there would be no discussion.

And instead of the Red Sox signing Smolz and Baldelli and all those guys, they should have just bought The Pirates.

if those chowder-heads would have offered
Texiera $1.5 million more per year, they might have been able to sign him.

[Machado]

The 2009 season will begin in about 10 weeks and once again
the Yankees have just one goal-

Win the World Series

That's the only goal we have. It's been 8 yrs since and about 5 yrs since
we lost the series to florida.

I'm tired of losing and last year was 'rock bottom' for me. Not making the playoffs. Does it get much worse than that? NOPE!!