Killeverything's (New)NeverEndingBaseballThread

[killeverything]

Fangraphs now has splits!

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.ph ... hs-splits/

[Machado]

Steve Phillips speaks about Sex Addiction:
Steve Phillips, the former ESPN baseball analyst and New York Mets general manager, said Monday that he knew he had a sex addiction problem in August -- two months before he was fired from his role with the network.

"What I want to do is take ownership," he said in an interview with Matt Lauer on NBC's Today Show. "I made some mistakes ... I'm fully responsible for what I did."

Phillips spoke publicly for the first time since he left the Pine Grove Behavioral Health and Addiction Services clinic in Hattiesburg, Miss., the same clinic golfer Tiger Woods reportedly attended.


Phillips didn't talk extensively about his time at Pine Grove, but did say that it is a place for people who are "broken" and "struggling to find answers."

Phillips said he realized he had a sexual addiction problem in August, while he was having an affair with ESPN production assistant Brooke Hundley. That affair eventually included Hundley contacting Phillips' wife at their home. It made its way to the New York tabloids, where Phillips was front-page fodder, in October.

"I recognized in August, I needed help," Phillips said. "I started calling facilities."

He said he had made the decision on Friday, Oct. 23, 2009, to attend the sexual addiction clinic. He was fired by ESPN two days later. Hundley was also let go by ESPN.

At the time, a representative for Phillips said he was entering a treatment facility "to address his personal issues."

"I couldn't stop myself from doing the things I was doing, even knowing the consequences," Phillips told Lauer on Monday.

A month earlier, Phillips wife, Marni, had filed for divorce. The couple had been married for 19 years. He has four children.

He said he has returned to his home, but doesn't know if his marriage can be saved. He declined to say if he had anything to tell Hundley.

"All of that is in the past," he said. "My focus is moving forward, trying to save my family."

Hundley, in a taped piece that preceded the Phillips interview, said that she was "young" and had made mistakes as well.

Phillips was the general manager of the Mets from 1997-2003. He said during that time, while taking a leave of absence from the team after a sexual harassment allegation, he had counseling locally for sexual issues, but didn't enter a treatment facility.

He worked at ESPN from 2005 through October.

[Facedown]

Yankees sign OF Marcus Thames to 1yr minor league contract.

[Machado]

Yankees sign OF Marcus Thames to 1yr minor league contract.

I was at the game when he hit his 1st career HR of
R. Johnson
I guess the signing is ok.
Just one more player that will try to get that 25th spot on the roster

[killeverything]

Only two more days till truck day.

[SkyDog112046]

Only two more days till truck day.

At least the Sox don't have to worry about the truck getting in an accident on the way to spring training. There's nothing in the entire organization capable of hitting anything very hard.

[Facedown]

Mets are dropping their center field wall from 16ft to 8ft.

[killeverything]

Mets are dropping their center field wall from 16ft to 8ft.

It's only CF though. I don't think it's going to make that much of a difference, like say the MFY right field.

[Machado]

Last night ESPN mentioned the reds have a need for LF/lead-off hitter, but not $$ to pay Damon.

Boras really fucked Damon with no vasoline in the off-season.

[Machado]

nationals are said to be in serious talks to
sign Wang

they are probably the 1 team that will guarantee Wang
a roster spot for the entire season.

[killeverything]

Atlanta offered Traitor a one-year deal.

[JakeYonkel]

$2M + $2M deferred! LOL

[killeverything]

$2M + $2M deferred! LOL

Boras will advise him not to take it. Remember that reportably, Boras was alluding to Derek Jeter money for him.

[Machado]

$2M + $2M deferred! LOL

For that kind of money, Damon could have signed with the Yankees as early as December.


Boras should be fired for misrepresentation

[JakeYonkel]

Don't blame it on Boras. Johnny (like all of Boras' other clients) is a big boy and ultimately HE calls the shots.

Boras may have advised him to pass on the Yankees' offer but ultimately Damon makes the decision. Boras works for HIM, not the other way around.

I don't think Boras is the devil. I think he does his job and some of his claims are ludicrous, but he's damn good at what he does (mostly). He just had a severe market mis-read with Damon.

Damon's previous contract was signed in a much different market and obviously he was overpaid. His value was inflated and he felt that to not be paid at least that much again (when he's now 4 years older) would be an insult by the Yankees. A tad reminiscent of the Joe Torre shit. These guys think they're worth what they're being paid until the Yankees come back to reality and then they feel "insulted."

Well, the Yankees truly were his best opportunity to win another World Series and possibly pad his stats for a potential Hall of Fame career. His two remaining options are both fringe contenders. He has no business being a full-time OF'er (like he would be in Atlanta) and for that matter it seems that Detroit's DH spot is filled by Carlos Guillen.

So he'll be back in a less than ideal situation where his shitty defense is on display every night AND he'll expose his brittle 36 year old body to the rigors of playing the field.

Or he could have accepted an above-market 2 year, $20M Yankee offer, likely made the playoffs, not played defense, and chugged towards 3,000 hits.

OOPS.

[killeverything]

Don't blame it on Boras. Johnny (like all of Boras' other clients) is a big boy and ultimately HE calls the shots.

Boras may have advised him to pass on the Yankees' offer but ultimately Damon makes the decision. Boras works for HIM, not the other way around.

I don't think Boras is the devil. I think he does his job and some of his claims are ludicrous, but he's damn good at what he does (mostly). He just had a severe market mis-read with Damon.

Damon's previous contract was signed in a much different market and obviously he was overpaid. His value was inflated and he felt that to not be paid at least that much again (when he's now 4 years older) would be an insult by the Yankees. A tad reminiscent of the Joe Torre shit. These guys think they're worth what they're being paid until the Yankees come back to reality and then they feel "insulted."

Well, the Yankees truly were his best opportunity to win another World Series and possibly pad his stats for a potential Hall of Fame career. His two remaining options are both fringe contenders. He has no business being a full-time OF'er (like he would be in Atlanta) and for that matter it seems that Detroit's DH spot is filled by Carlos Guillen.

So he'll be back in a less than ideal situation where his shitty defense is on display every night AND he'll expose his brittle 36 year old body to the rigors of playing the field.

Or he could have accepted an above-market 2 year, $20M Yankee offer, likely made the playoffs, not played defense, and chugged towards 3,000 hits.

OOPS.

There is a possibility that Traitor makes it to 3,000. I just wouldn't count on it with his age. With the MFY is he just going to DH? They have too many DHs, especially with Posada.

He's 475 short of 3,000. Traitor hasn't aged badly, and apparently 86 people have reached that number from age 36 on. 3 more 100+ hit seasons, plus one of about 85 get's it done. If he makes it to 3,000. It would blow my mind to not see him in the Hall. CF for two WS winners?

I just don't think the likelyhood of him reaching that number is going to happen. If so what cap will he wear?

[JakeYonkel]

He would have been brought in basically to DH with the Yankees. Between the Granderson trade and signing Nick Johnson, Matsui and Damon's spots were filled.

Posada's still under contract for 2 seasons but they are hoping they can get another full year out of him behind the plate and I'd imagine he'll probably be a basically full-time DH and maybe backup catcher in 2011. I guess that's why they only signed Johnson for one year with an option, it depends on Posada this season.

Fortunately the Yankees are getting younger and I imagine Jeter and ARod will be able to stay on the field for a few more seasons.

It'd be possible for Damon to get 3,000 but I doubt it also. Teams typically like big power bats for the DH spot, not guys like Damon. And even if he can squeeze 2 more seasons out of his body to play the field, by then there's no way he's not just a full-time DH. So I don't see him playing long enough to amass another 500 hits.

But yeah, that'd cement his HOF status. Rings with both the Yankees and Red Sox? If that's happened before it obviously hasn't happened in at least 90 years. I'd say he'd probably wear a Red Sox hat, he had his best years there and was part of THE TEAM in 2004.

[Facedown]

Sox claim Gaby Hernandez off waivers from Mariners.
Reports are that the Giants have offered Lincecum 3yr/37mil deal.
Glavine to retire and join Atlanta FO.
Mets are close to signing Hisanori Takahashi and Mike Jacobs.

[JakeYonkel]

Apparently Mr. Pizza Pizza (aka Detroit owner) has authorized a 2 year, $14M deal for Damon.

Who exactly are they competing against? Atlanta offered 1 year and $4M!

Great negotiating skills there.

[killeverything]

Apparently Mr. Pizza Pizza (aka Detroit owner) has authorized a 2 year, $14M deal for Damon.

Who exactly are they competing against? Atlanta offered 1 year and $4M!

Great negotiating skills there.

No shit?

There is a reason Boras is the best there is at what he does. I expect offers that fucking retarded to come out Ed Wade or Omar Minyana....


*edit*

Apparently the White Sox are also in the bidding.

[tin00can]

Apparently Mr. Pizza Pizza (aka Detroit owner) has authorized a 2 year, $14M deal for Damon.

Who exactly are they competing against? Atlanta offered 1 year and $4M!

Great negotiating skills there.

No shit?

There is a reason Boras is the best there is at what he does. I expect offers that fucking retarded to come out Ed Wade or Omar Minyana....


*edit*

Apparently the White Sox are also in the bidding.

That is just unfucking believable. Not that he isn't "worth it" when you look at the contract of someone like Abreu, but these teams are essentially bidding against themselves. Holy fuck.

I generally don't wish injury on anybody, but in this case I hope Damon gets injured in the first game of the season and is gone for the rest of the year. I also hope none of these owners bitch about contract prices. This is just like the Dodgers signing Manny last year.

[Facedown]

Lincecum signs with Giants for 2yr/23mil.

[Machado]

Lincecum signs with Giants for 2yr/23mil.

the giants did a great thing by avoiding arbitration. nothing positive would have come from that meeting with the club vs player.

[johnk5150]

#35 for the White Sox is making it official right now.

For being so blessed and beloved, he sure seemed pretty fucking unhappy a lot of the time here. He could be a gigantic implement.

His press conference is all butterlfies and gumdrops right now though.

[JakeYonkel]

He did seem like a surly MF, I think I read some crap about how he refused to shake hands with teammates in Toronto and they benched him so he wouldn't reach plate-appearance incentives.

[killeverything]

He did seem like an unhappy motherfucker. I've always loved Frank Thomas. I think it has more to with the fact when I was a kid, his baseball cards ( which I had ) were a big deal. Frank Thomas Top Prospect. Yeah, bitch.

I only have two cards now.

[Machado]

#35 for the White Sox is making it official right now.

Did he do enougH to earn a 1st time ballot into
the HOF??

[johnk5150]

#35 for the White Sox is making it official right now.

Did he do enougH to earn a 1st time ballot into
the HOF??

Good question. He'll be on the ballot with first timers Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux.

[Machado]

#35 for the White Sox is making it official right now.

Did he do enougH to earn a 1st time ballot into
the HOF??

Good question. He'll be on the ballot with first timers Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux.

Maddux is in on the 1st try. That much we know.
Glavine vs The Big Hurt???
Sentimental baseball purists might want Glavine to enter the hall with
Maddux over having The Big Hurt ruin the photo op.

[killeverything]

i think Glavine will be to. Throughout baseball history that is the most dominate pitching staff of all time. i think the voters will show that.