HOT STOVE LEAGUE 2011 Omnibuster Thread

[pick6pedro]

Well at least Scott and Reynolds are going to be a lethal 1-2 in that category. Batting them back-to-back is going to create a ton of HRs and Ks with pretty much nothing in between.

I just checked - the O's would have to increase their K's by 50% in order to have a chance.

The 2010 D'backs amazing record was paced by these stats: of the 25 players who saw at least 20 plate appearances, 20 struck out at least once in every 5 PA's with 8 at least three times in ten.

[bignick33]

Well at least Scott and Reynolds are going to be a lethal 1-2 in that category. Batting them back-to-back is going to create a ton of HRs and Ks with pretty much nothing in between.

I just checked - the O's would have to increase their K's by 50% in order to have a chance.

The 2010 D'backs amazing record was paced by these stats: of the 25 players who saw at least 20 plate appearances, 20 struck out at least once in every 5 PA's with 8 at least three times in ten.

I would have to think being an NL team would help, as pitchers strike out more than positional players.

[pick6pedro]

Well at least Scott and Reynolds are going to be a lethal 1-2 in that category. Batting them back-to-back is going to create a ton of HRs and Ks with pretty much nothing in between.

I just checked - the O's would have to increase their K's by 50% in order to have a chance.

The 2010 D'backs amazing record was paced by these stats: of the 25 players who saw at least 20 plate appearances, 20 struck out at least once in every 5 PA's with 8 at least three times in ten.

I would have to think being an NL team would help, as pitchers strike out more than positional players.

http://eagleoutsider.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=7161&start=150#p180033

[bignick33]

Well at least Scott and Reynolds are going to be a lethal 1-2 in that category. Batting them back-to-back is going to create a ton of HRs and Ks with pretty much nothing in between.

I just checked - the O's would have to increase their K's by 50% in order to have a chance.

The 2010 D'backs amazing record was paced by these stats: of the 25 players who saw at least 20 plate appearances, 20 struck out at least once in every 5 PA's with 8 at least three times in ten.

I would have to think being an NL team would help, as pitchers strike out more than positional players.

http://eagleoutsider.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=7161&start=150#p180033

I think the Orioles should make a point of going for it. It might put fannies in the seats.

[pick6pedro]

Well at least Scott and Reynolds are going to be a lethal 1-2 in that category. Batting them back-to-back is going to create a ton of HRs and Ks with pretty much nothing in between.

I just checked - the O's would have to increase their K's by 50% in order to have a chance.

The 2010 D'backs amazing record was paced by these stats: of the 25 players who saw at least 20 plate appearances, 20 struck out at least once in every 5 PA's with 8 at least three times in ten.

I would have to think being an NL team would help, as pitchers strike out more than positional players.

http://eagleoutsider.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=7161&start=150#p180033

I think the Orioles should make a point of going for it. It might put fannies in the seats.

No, it wouldn't.

[bignick33]

Well at least Scott and Reynolds are going to be a lethal 1-2 in that category. Batting them back-to-back is going to create a ton of HRs and Ks with pretty much nothing in between.

I just checked - the O's would have to increase their K's by 50% in order to have a chance.

The 2010 D'backs amazing record was paced by these stats: of the 25 players who saw at least 20 plate appearances, 20 struck out at least once in every 5 PA's with 8 at least three times in ten.

I would have to think being an NL team would help, as pitchers strike out more than positional players.

http://eagleoutsider.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=7161&start=150#p180033

I think the Orioles should make a point of going for it. It might put fannies in the seats.

No, it wouldn't.

You have no imagination.

[BCEagle74]

Finally the Yankees have given up on Joba Chamberlain.

What a doofus. Nuke LaLoosh million dollar arma nd two cent brain.

Yankees needed Dunn and were stupid.

[BCEagle74]

Andruw "Me and Mrs.' Jones...

He either wins MVP or hits .240 with 12 and 46.

Guy needed an eye Doctor.

[BCEagle74]

The Brewers need to trade Prince Fielder to the Texas Rangers for a boatload of prospects.

Perfect match.

Ranger need first baseman and can sent Young at $18M or combo or prospects.

Boras?

Please that kid is so gone from Milwaukee even if they won the World Series.

[bignick33]

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/r ... pbox_links

[flyingelvii]

The Brewers need to trade Prince Fielder to the Texas Rangers for a boatload of prospects.

Perfect match.

Ranger need first baseman and can sent Young at $18M or combo or prospects.

Boras?

Please that kid is so gone from Milwaukee even if they won the World Series.

Young has a limited no-trade until May when he gets 10-5 rights. And I doubt a relatively small market club like Milwaukee would want to take on that salary. Also, I'm not sure how well stocked the Rangers are in the prospect department after the Cliff Lee trade.

[BCEagle74]

Brewers are nuts if they keep him and any team getting him has to ahve the Adrian Gonzo window to get contract or wait until opening day.

Mets?

Dodgers?

Who knows...

[BCEagle74]

1.9 Million a win.

Chan Ho Park, Pavano's Yankee years, --Now the big deals with Santan and Burkett--arm trouble--Burnett arm trouble---Lee and Sabathia????

Since baseball is guaranteed money I wonder if he worked out $5M deal or so with Royals? All he had to do was go on DL with sore shoulder/surgery and collect $11M??

???
*********
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)—Gil Meche(notes), whose $55 million, five-year contract as a free agent in 2007 signaled a sharp change in fiscal policy for the Kansas City Royals, announced Tuesday that he is retiring.

In a statement released through the Royals, the right-hander, who was plagued by shoulder problems last year, said he preferred retirement to spending the final year of his contract in the bullpen.

Meche was the Royals’ opening-day starter in 2007, ’08 and ’09. His best season was 2008 when he was 14-11 with a 3.98 ERA, but the Royals still finished 75-87.

He retires with a 84-83 record in 10 seasons with Seattle and Kansas City. With the Royals, he was 29-39 with a 4.27 ERA in 111 games, including 100 starts. In the last two seasons, he was 6-10 with a 5.09 ERA and 0-5, 5.69.

“After a lot of thinking and prioritizing of issues in my life I have decided to retire from baseball,” Meche said in the statement.

“As a competitor my entire life, this is the hardest decision that I’ve ever faced, but it’s not fair to me, my family or the Kansas City Royals that I attempt to pitch anymore. I came into this game as a starting pitcher and unfortunately my health, more accurately, my shoulder, has deteriorated to the point where surgery would be the only option and at this stage of my life I would prefer to call it a career rather than to attempt to pitch in relief for the final year of my contract.

“I can’t thank the Kansas City Royals and their fans enough for my four seasons there and if I have any regret, it’s that we weren’t able to accomplish on the field what the goal was when I signed there.”

Shut out of the postseason since 1985 with an overmatched low-payroll team, Royals fans hoped Meche’s signing would encourage owner David Glass to begin increasing payroll. To some extent, he did, signing free agent outfielder Jose Guillen(notes) to a three-year, $36 million deal before the 2008 season. Guillen, after spotty success in Kansas City, was traded last August to the San Francisco Giants.

On June 16, 2009, then-manager Trey Hillman let Meche threw a career-high 132 pitches in a complete-game shutout of Arizona. Soon after, Meche began experiencing back and shoulder problems, and Hillman was criticized for overworking him.

[bignick33]

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/r ... t_mov.html

[BCEagle74]

Wow--super deal....

Catcher who can hit and be spelled.

2 weak spots were first base and catcher...

Superb trade.

RANGERS ACQUIRE MIKE NAPOLI

The Texas Rangers acquired catcher-first baseman Mike Napoli on Tuesday from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for right-handed pitcher Frank Francisco and cash considerations.

The 29-year-old Napoli had been acquired by Toronto along with outfielder Juan Rivera from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for outfielder Vernon Wells on Friday. Napoli batted .238 with 26 homers and 68 RBIs in 140 games with the Angels in 2010, his fifth season with the club. Napoli set career bests for games, at-bats (453), hits (108), doubles (24), homers, and RBIs. He led the Angels in homers and slugging (.468), tied for fourth in doubles, and ranked fifth in RBIs. Napoli also batted a team-best .305 (43-141) vs. left-handed pitching.

Napoli has a career Major League average of .251, having collected 92 homers and 249 RBIs in 506 games with Los Angeles from 2006-10.

[BCEagle74]

Bartolo Colon---he either goes 18-3 or has shoulder surgery in August and on the DL?

Was once lights out and has he finally made it back?

Michael Young --3 years at $18M---where will he end up and how much will the Rangers pay another team?

[Endless Mike]

Why would the Brewers trade Fielder now? They're going to be competitive.

[BCEagle74]

Why would the Brewers trade Fielder now? They're going to be competitive.

He will have one point in time for the Brewers if they are out of the race.

The first trading deadline before waivers have to be secured is what 07-31?

Then he has to clear waivers and since he is not YBW...year before walk....it is very dicey.

Brewers could be very close or ahead by07-31, but do they have the talent to win the World Series, or do they set themselves back with a Boros guy that will be a Dodger, Met or team run other by the Brewer management and yikes Wisconsin??

I say trade him now and be done with it. He has more value now! He will not sign now and will not sign later--- even with a major off year.

If Brewers get 10 back in late June, he will be bundled for whatever they can get up until trade deadline.

[BCEagle74]

Playing cathcup with the Res Zox and Rangers --I also think the WHite Sox will pass the Twins.

Source: Yanks, Freddy Garcia

The New York Yankees have reached an agreement on a minor league contract with pitcher Freddy Garcia, a baseball source told ESPN.com.

Garcia will receive a $1.5 million base salary if he makes the big league club. He can earn $3.6 million in possible incentives, topping out at 30 starts, according to a source. It also lets Garcia opt out by March 29, according to a report.

Garcia, 35, has a career 133-87 record with a 4.13 ERA in 12 big league seasons. He went 12-6 in 28 starts with the Chicago White Sox last season.

Garcia is expected to compete for a spot at the back end of the rotation for the Yankees, who have CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Phil Hughes in the first three spots and still are waiting to hear whether Andy Pettitte will return to pitch in 2011. Ivan Nova and Sergio Mitre are among the other candidates in the mix for spots in manager Joe Girardi's rotation. Garcia, Nova and Mitre will have to fight off challenges from recently acquired right-hander Bartolo Colon and several prospects the Yankees believe are nearly big league ready.

Garcia bounced back from three injury-interrupted seasons to pitch well for the White Sox last season. The Yankees got a close-up look at him when he threw seven impressive innings to beat them in Chicago on Aug. 27. Garcia also lost at Yankee Stadium in late April.

Garcia enjoyed successful, durable years early in his career with Seattle. He went 17-8 as a rookie in 1999 and was 18-6 with an American League-leading 3.05 ERA and 238 2/3 innings in 2001. He was an All-Star for Seattle in 2001 and 2002

[BCEagle74]

Still say the Yanks shoulda put Dunn or Texiera in the outfield and signed this Bomber, even though both are first basemen and one is now a DH.

Hell if Yogi Berra could play in the OF because of his bat???

Yikes.

Adam Dunn's come around once every 10 years. This guy is a 3 run homer every third game. he hits ahead of Konerko, and the otehr guys comeback... he could bomb 50+ in Chicago. 50-135

[Endless Mike]

Why would the Brewers trade Fielder now? They're going to be competitive.

He will have one point in time for the Brewers if they are out of the race.

The first trading deadline before waivers have to be secured is what 07-31?

Then he has to clear waivers and since he is not YBW...year before walk....it is very dicey.

Brewers could be very close or ahead by07-31, but do they have the talent to win the World Series, or do they set themselves back with a Boros guy that will be a Dodger, Met or team run other by the Brewer management and yikes Wisconsin??

I say trade him now and be done with it. He has more value now! He will not sign now and will not sign later--- even with a major off year.

If Brewers get 10 back in late June, he will be bundled for whatever they can get up until trade deadline.

The Brewers traded for Marcum. They want to compete. They might as well, their division is wide open and Fielder's value is down a bit after last season. If they're out of the playoffs by the deadline and he's having a good year, they can get max value.

EDIT: I forgot they traded for Greinke too. They're obviously going for it.

[pick6pedro]

The Orioles appear largely done (pending Vlad's acceptance - which I don't expect) after inking Justin Duchshererererer, which probably bumps Arrieta to the bullpen or minors. Spoilers I tell ya.

[bignick33]

The Orioles appear largely done (pending Vlad's acceptance - which I don't expect) after inking Justin Duchshererererer, which probably bumps Arrieta to the bullpen or minors. Spoilers I tell ya.

It's not your fault.

[pick6pedro]

The Orioles appear largely done (pending Vlad's acceptance - which I don't expect) after inking Justin Duchshererererer, which probably bumps Arrieta to the bullpen or minors. Spoilers I tell ya.

And Vlad joins the drastically revamped lineup.

[BCEagle74]

JOBA THE HUT..

Hideki Irabu the Fat Toad...Part II

TAMPA, Fla. -- New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman acknowledged that Joba Chamberlain has put on weight but said the team will handle it privately.

"He's obviously heavier," Cashman said. "That's as much as I'll say."

When asked if he was unhappy with Chamberlain's conditioning, Cashman just said: "He's heavier, which you guys already know."

Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain pours water on his face after running in the outfield during a spring training workout Tuesday.

He later said that the team will deal with the situation and "not certainly in the public arena."

Like last year, Chamberlain is listed at 230 pounds on the official Yankees roster. However, Chamberlain appeared noticeably heavier, and neither the Yankees nor Chamberlain would say what Wednesday's weigh-in revealed.

"This is the last time I'm going to answer this question," Chamberlain said. "I know you guys have to ask it. But I feel great. I'm stronger physically. I'm better in my bullpens. Right where I was at the end of last year, getting my mechanics."

Chamberlain isn't the only Yankee with a weight issue, but starter CC Sabathia showed up to camp slimmer, saying he lost 25 pounds.

Chamberlain's role with the Yankees is up in the air. After the signing of Rafael Soriano to be the eighth-inning guy, Cashman said that Chamberlain will fight it out with David Robertson for middle innings.

"Robertson is a competitor and he is a fighter," Cashman said. "He has no problem taking an important spot in front of Joba despite not having as a big of a name."

Cashman and manager Joe Girardi have not ruled out the possibility that Chamberlain could be sent down if he doesn't have a good camp.


Brian Cashman
Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman says that Joba Chamberlain is heavier.

More Podcasts »

"I think he is trying to find his niche and where he fits," Cashman said.

Chamberlain said weight isn't an issue in that process.

"You know what?" Chamberlain said. "Everybody's going to say weight, but you know what, scales are scales. It's how your clothes fit, how everything goes like that, and I feel great. I'm getting to know my body better. I've learned to pitch in the big leagues. I've kind of adjusted every year. I'm kind of at that point where I've kind of done everything. I'm to the point know where I feel comfortable enough that I know what I need to do. I've changed a few things in the offseason. I feel great coming in."

Chamberlain first came up in 2007, raising expectations by being the lockdown eighth inning bridge to Mariano Rivera. He posted a 0.38 ERA in 24 innings.

He then was shuffled back and forth between starter and reliever. In 2008, he posted a 2.60 ERA in 100 1/3 innings, making 12 starts. As a member of the rotation in 2009, Chamberlain's ERA ballooned to 4.75, and he had a pedestrian 9-6 record.

Last season, Chamberlain lost the fifth starter competition to Phil Hughes in the spring. He went back to the bullpen but struggled and lost his eighth-inning role. The Yankees were forced to acquire Kerry Wood. Chamberlain finished with a 3-4 record, 4.40 ERA and had 77 strikeouts in 71 2/3 innings.

This spring, despite having major question marks at the No. 4 and 5 spots in the rotation, Cashman said there was no discussion about returning the 25-year-old Chamberlain to the rotation because his stuff isn't really starter quality since a 2008 shoulder injury in Texas.

It's been quite the roller coaster for Chamberlain in his young career, and now he's getting "weighed down" by another controversy.

"It is all part of being a professional," Cashman said. "You get built up. You get torn down. It is all those things. It is our job to worry about the mental and the physical and keep these guys pointed in the right direction.

"He's a good kid. His bullpens look fantastic. But, yeah, he's heavy."

[Cadillac90]

It doesn't make a lot of sense for the Brewers to trade Fielder now when they have a legit shot at winning the division or competing for the wild card. If they get to late June / early July and the pitching hasn't been there for them, then they should try to get something for him.

[BCEagle74]

It doesn't make a lot of sense for the Brewers to trade Fielder now when they have a legit shot at winning the division or competing for the wild card. If they get to late June / early July and the pitching hasn't been there for them, then they should try to get something for him.

You and Endless make perfect sense, and that division is weak and the Brewers are the steam hot spring training favorites, but when the season ends in the playoffs, title or not, Fielder and Pujols are gone goodbye and Fielder is the only one that cna be traded since Pujols in a 10 year man.

The Cards offered Pujols the 10th base salary level rank in baseball and 8 years. The 8 years I can see, even less, but he was below Yankee YES Network funny money ($32.5M) --- maybe $27.5 X 7 or $200M??

The Cards have a new stadium, high ticket prices, the deep deep pocket owners, the region and 3M fans.

Wow..how stupid..

Astros are rebuilding, Reds were a 1 year wonder, the Cubs need a bat and Pitt has the Maz statue.

[BCEagle74]

It doesn't make a lot of sense for the Brewers to trade Fielder now when they have a legit shot at winning the division or competing for the wild card. If they get to late June / early July and the pitching hasn't been there for them, then they should try to get something for him.

You and Endless make perfect sense, and that division is weak and the Brewers are the steam hot spring training favorites, but when the season ends in the playoffs, title or not, Fielder and Pujols are gone goodbye and Fielder is the only one that cna be traded since Pujols in a 10 year man.

The Cards offered Pujols the 10th base salary level rank in baseball and 8 years. The 8 years I can see, even less, but he was below Yankee YES Network funny money ($32.5M) --- maybe $27.5 X 7 or $200M??

The Cards have a new stadium, high ticket prices, the deep deep pocket owners, the region and 3M fans.

Wow..how stupid..

Astros are rebuilding, Reds were a 1 year wonder, the Cubs need a bat and Pitt has the Maz statue.

[Cadillac90]

It doesn't make a lot of sense for the Brewers to trade Fielder now when they have a legit shot at winning the division or competing for the wild card. If they get to late June / early July and the pitching hasn't been there for them, then they should try to get something for him.

You and Endless make perfect sense, and that division is weak and the Brewers are the steam hot spring training favorites, but when the season ends in the playoffs, title or not, Fielder and Pujols are gone goodbye and Fielder is the only one that cna be traded since Pujols in a 10 year man.

The Cards offered Pujols the 10th base salary level rank in baseball and 8 years. The 8 years I can see, even less, but he was below Yankee YES Network funny money ($32.5M) --- maybe $27.5 X 7 or $200M??

The Cards have a new stadium, high ticket prices, the deep deep pocket owners, the region and 3M fans.

Wow..how stupid..

Astros are rebuilding, Reds were a 1 year wonder, the Cubs need a bat and Pitt has the Maz statue.

I am not sure what you are trying to say. Irregardless, if the Brewers think they can win now, they are going to see it through for as long as they can without trading Fielder. It's a low risk proposition for them, see where they are in June and make the decision then to trade him or not. Plus when you trade a player, it looks bad to the fans that you "gave up." They rented Sabathia for a half a season to win now so I think their track record shows they want and need to win today. Don't forget that they have a relatively new stadium and the best way to sell tickets is to make a run for the World Series this year, not in 3 years.

[EagleNYC]

'74, the Daily News ran a "Joba the Hut" partial back page headline today.