Killeverything's (New)NeverEndingBaseballThread

[SkyDog112046]

Roy Halladay is on the block. Front runners are rumored to be the Angels, Dodgers, Red Sox and Yankees. Halladay has a no-trade clause. This could get interesting.

[Facedown]

Sox don't need him, Yanks don't have the bait. The price will be higher for both than the other teams cuz it's in-division.

[killeverything]

Sox don't need him, Yanks don't have the bait. The price will be higher for both than the other teams cuz it's in-division.

Anybody could you use Halladay. I hope they don't trade for him, but in all seriousness who would you rather have? ( current ) Smoltz, ( maybe rested ) Matsuzaka, Penny, Buccholz, Bowden? Buchholz's K rate in AAA is 8.03 this season. Which would translate to about 6.87 in the majors. Halladay's never been a big strikeout pitcher and his career K/9 is 6.5, albeit with fewer baserunners allowed.

Who would you rather have? Aside from his no hitter, Buchholz has been batting practice for big league hitters. It would be along the lines of Buchholz, Anderson and Bowden + for him. Jebus, could you imagine? Beckett, Lester, Halladay with Smoltz, Penny and Pappelbon coming out of the pen in the Playoffs? Wow.

The MFY have the pieces and I wouldn't be surprised to see them try to make a deal. Halladay to NY would be a game/Division changer. Him in the rotation would also allow them to put Joba back in the pen, since Halladay is under control until '11.

They could include a combo of Hughes, Montero, Romine, Melancon, Jackson which I think Cashman would do in a heatbeat. The issue is is Riccardi is unlike Beane when it comes to trading within the Division. Which I see Epstein holding off on, since it's shipping a boatload of prospects to Toronto. Plus Boston needs another big bat.

As for LAA, Montero is notorious when it comes to NEVER trading prospects. I don't see them doing anything, even with the passing of Adenhart.

I would be surprised to see him go within the Division, but fear him going to NY. The Phillies could get into it too with (Taylor/Brown, Drabek/Knapp, Marson). Halladay is a three B+ prospect trade.

This is quite a player to have on the market.

[SkyDog112046]

I've heard that it would take a package of Hughes, Chamberlain and Montero plus another prospect or Buccholz, Bowden, Bard and a positional prospect to get him because it's in the division. Reportedly Halladay already said no to Chicago. I think those packages are too steep considering he is only under contract for 1 more year. I think that an extension would have to be part of the deal.

[Facedown]

Hanley? Deal away. We need a SS. A 32yo pitcher who may or may not be on the decline? I'll pass. Trade all the pitching prospects and then Halladay goes down and then where are you. Not a risk I want to take. I seriously doubt he'll be here.
Yanks would have to give up Joba and/or Hughes just to start.
Toronto is listening to offers but doesn't "plan" on trading him.
It would have to be something mindblowing.

[killeverything]

Hanley? Deal away. We need a SS. A 32yo pitcher who may or may not be on the decline? I'll pass. Trade all the pitching prospects and then Halladay goes down and then where are you. Not a risk I want to take. I seriously doubt he'll be here.
Yanks would have to give up Joba and/or Hughes just to start.
Toronto is listening to offers but doesn't "plan" on trading him.
It would have to be something mindblowing.

What the rumors I just heard are, is Toronto has to lower payroll so whoever trades for Halladay is going to have to take someone else too. Think the Beckett/Hanley trade, Boston had to take Lowell's contract too.

Ricciardi is apparently using the Bedard trade as an example Sherril ( Allstar ), Jones ( Allstar ), Tillman ( Top prospect ), and Milkio ( just called up ). Also he has to move a Wells/Rios/Ryan with Halladay.

Reportable NY is out for the same reason as Santana ( $/extensions, prospects ). Also according to Heyman Philly is already talking about untouchables ( Drabek ). Edes is saying this should've been done last year.

Halladay IMO goes nowhere and Ricciardi is fired.

[Facedown]

Plus Bard is supposed to be the "closer of the future".
Regardless of the numbers, Pap has been anything but lights out this year and a lot of the radio people think he's gone when he's a FA.

[killeverything]

Plus Bard is supposed to be the "closer of the future".
Regardless of the numbers, Pap has been anything but lights out this year and a lot of the radio people think he's gone when he's a FA.

I remember the last "Closer Of The Future" in Hansen.

I don't know what's going on with Pappelbon. Maybe it's the massive jump in IP last season, he said he was "wearing down".

It's highly probably that he's gone soon. He wants to cash in on his upcoming Free Agency. Can't say I blame him. I have faith in Theo. We shall see I guess.

[TawnyVonJagger]

Hanley? Deal away. We need a SS.

MY Hanley?? I think not! We just signed him to a long term (shocker, I know) last year. He'll be with us when we open the new pond.

Sad news for me. My beloved Amazing (Alfredo Amezega) is out for year, he had microfracture surgery on his knee. Fuckfuckfuck. I love that lil beaner, hope he sticks around the clubhouse, they need him!

And a big WOOHOOO to Chris Volstad, who got his first CG, five hit shutout today. THAT'S my boy I know and love!

[tin00can]

Hanley? Deal away. We need a SS.

MY Hanley?? I think not! We just signed him to a long term (shocker, I know) last year. He'll be with us when we open the new pond.

Sad news for me. My beloved Amazing (Alfredo Amezega) is out for year, he had microfracture surgery on his knee. Fuckfuckfuck. I love that lil beaner, hope he sticks around the clubhouse, they need him!

And a big WOOHOOO to Chris Volstad, who got his first CG, five hit shutout today. THAT'S my boy I know and love!

I remember when Amazega was on the Angels. Good times.

Man, the Angels are in trouble with starting pitching. Santana sucks balls, Saunders is inconsistent, Lackey isn't pitching like a guy in a contract year...the only thing we have going for us is L'il Weave. I am now officially Worried.

[Taco Torres]

Lifetime, die-hard Blue Jays fan here (fuck off - we'll always have 92 & 93!).

I've seen probably 90% of Halladay's starts over his career, and it has been a true pleasure. He's the best in the game, and first fucking class off the field too. In Toronto, he is legend. Never an ounce of controversy. Rents a private suite at the 'dome and fills it with sick kids nightly. All that stuff. Taken two hometown discount contracts to stay with the Jays.

But dude wants to win, probably won't re-up when his contract expires in 2010, so better to deal when the price is high, I guess.

Believe me, you want him pitching for your team. Fuck that "on the decline" bullshit. Fuck that "3 B+ prospects" bullshit - it'll take waaaay more than that to get a deal done. As it should.

I miss the sonofabitch already, and he might not even get dealt. FUCK.

[killeverything]

Lifetime, die-hard Blue Jays fan here (fuck off - we'll always have 92 & 93!).

I've seen probably 90% of Halladay's starts over his career, and it has been a true pleasure. He's the best in the game, and first fucking class off the field too. In Toronto, he is legend. Never an ounce of controversy. Rents a private suite at the 'dome and fills it with sick kids nightly. All that stuff. Taken two hometown discount contracts to stay with the Jays.

But dude wants to win, probably won't re-up when his contract expires in 2010, so better to deal when the price is high, I guess.

Believe me, you want him pitching for your team. Fuck that "on the decline" bullshit. Fuck that "3 B+ prospects" bullshit - it'll take waaaay more than that to get a deal done. As it should.

I miss the sonofabitch already, and he might not even get dealt. FUCK.

I feel ya, but I think you midread my post or I had the wrong implications. By 3B propects +. It means three soon to be Major League starters, plus two badass prospets/rookies. Use the MFY as an example. It would take ( this is from Edes-type writers ) Hughes, Joba + 3 top-tier.

It will be a steep price. I don't think he's moved, because as I'm led to believe it will also include an extension. I'm not saying it's not worth it. It's just going to be expensive. Ricciardi was using Baltimore's raping of Bob Melvin and Seattle for Bedard as an example.

I'm surprised at the job Ricciardi didn't do in Toronto. He was Beane's right hand man in Oakland. I was expecting more of the same. Maybe I was just romanticized by Moneyball .

Toronto needs to do something. I think it starts with firing Ricciardi.

[Machado]

Torre is once again using his bullpen like slaves.
Heard a stat today that shocked me.
Torre has his team 22 games over .500, but his bullpen has the 2nd most
innings pitched so far in '09.
WOW!!!!
Obviously his move to the west coast did not change his approach to working the bullpen very, very hard.

[McGuirk]

Toronto wants a SS, I heard, in a deal for Doc.

I'm a Mets fan, but would send them Jose Reyes in a deal without a second thought.

[Facedown]

Hanley? Deal away. We need a SS.

MY Hanley?? I think not!

Don't worry, it was just an example of what I would give away the top prospects for.

[killeverything]

Hanley? Deal away. We need a SS.

MY Hanley?? I think not!

Don't worry, it was just an example of what I would give away the top prospects for.

Theo said the same thing when he contacted the Marlins FO about Hanley.

It was a reported 15 second conversation.

"Would you accept a package deal for Hanley Ramirez?"

"Nope."

"Okay....bye."

"Bye."

Dude is going nowhere. I'd still do the deal again in a heartbeat too. The 3 year extension for Lowell after 2007? Not so much.

[SkyDog112046]

Theo said the same thing when he contacted the Marlins FO about Hanley.

It was a reported 15 second conversation.

"Would you accept a package deal for Hanley Ramirez?"

"Nope."

"Okay....bye."

"Bye."

Dude is going nowhere. I'd still do the deal again in a heartbeat too. The 3 year extension for Lowell after 2007? Not so much.

Of course Hanley Ramirez isn't going anywhere, for now anyway. He is signed for relatively short money and is the centerpiece for them to build around until he either nears free agency or they do their next salary dump. If he doesn't sign an extension when he gets a year out from free agency they will trade him, but they will be looking for a ton in return.

[SkyDog112046]

St Louis is said to be offering Toronto any 5 prospects in their system for Halladay, and the Phillies are said to be willing to part with a package including top prospect Kyle Drabek.

[killeverything]

St Louis is said to be offering Toronto any 5 prospects in their system for Halladay, and the Phillies are said to be willing to part with a package including top prospect Kyle Drabek.

The rumor right now is ( it was reported by ESPNDepospanishsomething, and proven false but negotiations are ongoing ) that Philly is going to sign Pedro as a 5th starter, and then trade for Halladay.

Anyone getting Halladay is going to be a better team. With Philly's pitching struggles like Hammels having an offseason, etc. Could imagine them with Halladay at the front of the rotation? Scary.

[tin00can]

Beating the Yankees in part because of errors by both Jeter AND A-Rod is pretty sweet. And I don't care if it is just the regular season.

[killeverything]

Beating the Yankees in part because of errors by both Jeter AND A-Rod is pretty sweet. And I don't care if it is just the regular season.

Fuck yes! Although the two three run HRs helped.

What's funny is I was about to make a post when they were down 4-1 about "remember back in the day? When NY just couldn't beat Anaheim especially in CA? That was sweet". I had to delete the post and take care of something for a sec.

Comeback see the game. The MFY are down 10-6.

I was coming here to gloat about the Anaheim DLgels and their victory.

[UtahRatt]

manny is trying hard to ruin the dodgers season.
did anybody catch his "antics" last night vs the mets?
after being ejected, he tells the media he only planned to play 5
innings anyway. that was news to Torre.

Kruk on ESPN was all over manny last night for his outrageous behavior.
not sure if MLB will suspend him for his actions, but i would be happy if
MLB did.

What makes it hard dealing with Manny's shit is the odd man out Juan Pierre has been playing awesome and actually earning his paycheck.
Wish we hit a interleague span to keep him in the regular lineup.

With the Dodgers going on a terror after Mannys suspension it proved to everyone including the team they don't need him to win, his antics are more meaningless now.

[tin00can]

Beating the Yankees in part because of errors by both Jeter AND A-Rod is pretty sweet. And I don't care if it is just the regular season.

Fuck yes! Although the two three run HRs helped.

What's funny is I was about to make a post when they were down 4-1 about "remember back in the day? When NY just couldn't beat Anaheim especially in CA? That was sweet". I had to delete the post and take care of something for a sec.

Comeback see the game. The MFY are down 10-6.

I was coming here to gloat about the Anaheim DLgels and their victory.

And now it looks like Rivera will probably be out for the rest of the series (if not longer...gulp) so for the next two games we'll be without our 3-4-5 hitters. Fortunately, we have Lil Weave going today, and he is nails at home. Sunday will depend on which Lackey shows up.

If the Yankees pulled off a win like that, ESPN would be creaming themselves.

[killeverything]

Beating the Yankees in part because of errors by both Jeter AND A-Rod is pretty sweet. And I don't care if it is just the regular season.

Fuck yes! Although the two three run HRs helped.

What's funny is I was about to make a post when they were down 4-1 about "remember back in the day? When NY just couldn't beat Anaheim especially in CA? That was sweet". I had to delete the post and take care of something for a sec.

Comeback see the game. The MFY are down 10-6.

I was coming here to gloat about the Anaheim DLgels and their victory.

And now it looks like Rivera will probably be out for the rest of the series (if not longer...gulp) so for the next two games we'll be without our 3-4-5 hitters. Fortunately, we have Lil Weave going today, and he is nails at home. Sunday will depend on which Lackey shows up.

If the Yankees pulled off a win like that, ESPN would be creaming themselves.

True. For having a considerable amount of the team ( at least the scary part ) on the DL. It was a fucking sweet victory.

Joba The Fat couldn't get it done again. At least he wasn't fist pumping and screaming after he walks off the mound as the LOSING pitcher. Like he did against Boston.

I'll never understand that. You got a strikeout on an outside pitch. You gave up 5 runs. Way to go fatboy.

I hate that fucking guy.

[tin00can]

Joba The Fat couldn't get it done again. At least he wasn't fist pumping and screaming after he walks off the mound as the LOSING pitcher. Like he did against Boston.

I'll never understand that. You got a strikeout on an outside pitch. You gave up 5 runs. Way to go fatboy.

I hate that fucking guy.

I don't know much about him, but I remember a few years ago when I kept hearing about the "Joba rules" the Yanks were following, like this guy was some once-in-a-lifetime pitcher (Since he's on the Yankees, he must be! He probably farts unicorns!) and I immediately hated him. My hatred hasn't abated.

God, I want a sweep heading into the AS break.

[Sabu]

Joba continuing to struggle trying to become a starter could actually help the Yanks land Halladay. I'm pretty sure they don't want to admit that the entire organization was wrong, and everyone else was right, by trying to make him a starter... so having Joba as the centerpiece of a deal for Halladay saves them the embarrassment of having to put him back in the pen and admit they were dead wrong. Let him go to Toronto and be a dominant closer for a team that will be battling it out for 3rd-5th in the division pretty much every year.

Joba & Montero, who from all accounts is much better suited to be a DH than trying to catch at the majors...and the Yanks will never have the problem of not being able to acquire a DH, would have to be about as strong a top 2 in a package that you could offer.

[killeverything]

Joba continuing to struggle trying to become a starter could actually help the Yanks land Halladay. I'm pretty sure they don't want to admit that the entire organization was wrong, and everyone else was right, by trying to make him a starter... so having Joba as the centerpiece of a deal for Halladay saves them the embarrassment of having to put him back in the pen and admit they were dead wrong. Let him go to Toronto and be a dominant closer for a team that will be battling it out for 3rd-5th in the division pretty much every year.

Joba & Montero, who from all accounts is much better suited to be a DH than trying to catch at the majors...and the Yanks will never have the problem of not being able to acquire a DH, would have to be about as strong a top 2 in a package that you could offer.

There is no way that happens. It would too much of an admittance of a fuckup. "Wait, you're trading the guy you could've traded earlier for Johan Santana to a team in the Division?"

Plus if the rumors are true, Ricciardi is wanting a lot for Halladay one of which includes a SS. So it would be something like Hughes, Joba, Montero + for him. If he's moved IMO it's to Philly or another NL team.

[JakeYonkel]

So I'm still on vacation but dropping in for my Citi Field review. My buddy had bought tickets months ago, and we had no clue we'd be winding up with a stellar matchup - Fernando Nieve vs. Bronson Arroyo.

Anyway, the place is a beautiful ballpark. I echo the common complaint in that if you didn't know where you were, you've have no idea who the home team was. The Jackie Robinson Rotunda is adorned with photos and quotes of the man himself (who never played in Queens). The seats in the park are a dark hunter green, rather than orange or blue. Just bizarre. But the place isn't breezy at all (it was actually about 10 degrees cooler in the concourses) so I can understand why nobody can hit a ball out of the park there.

The concessions are great - the Shake Shack was high quality, and there's a Premio Italian sausage place just about every 10 feet. There's a promenade back behind center field with loud music and concessions that was really cool. The advertising all over the wall back there looked a little minor league, but I digress.

You can go visit the old home run apple right behind the bullpens, which was cool, too. The only other complaint I had was that the staircases to get to your seats are actually out in front of your field of vision, and not only do the rails block your view, but people going up and down the stairs to their seats was aggravating as hell. Architectural fail.

Some pics:

Approaching the stadium via the Long Island railroad...


My buddy and I at the #42 Jackie Robinson memorial in the rotunda (nice place, btw):


The infamous Shake Shack:


View from our seats. Note the glass wall at the bottom of the frame, this is what I was talking about. People come up and down all game.


At the home run apple:

[killeverything]

Awesome post Jake. Thanks for sharing.

[TawnyVonJagger]

Cool pix, Jake. You'd better come down and see our pond when it's built!

Speaking of our new pond, the groundbreaking ceremony will be this coming Saturday. Betcha ass me and Mr. TVJ will be there. We'll even be part of the ceremony...we'll get to shovel some dirt at home plate as well. And Uncle Charlie and Benny Santiago will throw out the first pitch. I'm really gacked about this, but my husband has been waiting for this since 92, so he's been sporting wood for awhile.

3 more years, I'll be sitting in AC and shade, and no more fucking rain delays!!!!!!1