What's that you say? You want more news? You're just in time:
- MLB.com's Brian McTaggart reports that Houston Astros owner Drayton McLane has entered into negotiations to sell the team. McLane says he's in no hurry to sell the team, but has entered into an exclusive 30-day negiotiating window with an unnamed New York investment banking company.
- According to Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports, the 2010 Pirates should use this as their motto: "Pirates baseball: Where unwanted relief pitchers seek employment."
- MLB.com's Chris Haft says that with the signing of Aubrey Huff, the Giants are likely finished making improvements to their roster.
- MLB.com's Jason Beck addresses the idea of Joel Zumaya as closer. The questions around Zumaya in that role are a big reason why Detroit is linked to free agent Jose Valverde, of course.
Dear NY Investment Banking Co.,
Please tick the tires on the Dodgers first.
Sincerely,
Los Angeles
PLEASE!!!!
PLEASE!!!!
I would love to see Mark Cuban buy the Dodgers, but the other owners would never let that happen.
I dont think it would be the other owners as much as Selig. However, if the divorce gets bad enough, as it seems destined to, and the fact that Selig knows he skipped prototype to let McCourt buy the team, I think there would be no way he could deny anyone from buying them.
Also, I think Eli Broad would be more interested than Cuban at this point
How is “New York Investment Bank” sound any different than “NewsCorp”
We tried corporate ownership. It sucks. McCourt is crappy, but corporate america is worse. Ask Tribune. Ask Fox. Pass.
you are correct that corporate sucks at management. I was talking more about Eli Broad or Cuban…
Both are billionaires that are more than willing to spend money on their teams.
I dont think it would be the other owners as much as Selig. However, if the divorce gets bad enough, as it seems destined to, and the fact that Selig knows he skipped prototype to let McCourt buy the team, I think there would be no way he could deny anyone from buying them.
Also, I think Eli Broad would be more interested than Cuban at this point
I would love to see Mark Cuban buy the Dodgers, but the other owners would never let that happen.
Dear NY Investment Banking Co.,
Please tick the tires on the Dodgers first.
Sincerely,
Los Angeles
Just like in the Kansas City article, Jeff Passan is throwing out useless, short close minded opinion articles that don’t nearly list the facts surrounding the situation in Pittsburgh. This guys reputation is going to sink faster than Steve Phillips’.
His ego is hitting in after getting some public notice he hasn’t gotten in a while, for reporting the Chapman signing.
Agreed he put no effort in his research on the Pirates. Their farm system has gone from worst in the majors to somewhere in the 10-15 range in 2 years and the production at the major league level hasn’t dropped off that much. Yes the pirates are surrounded by if’s. Then again most young players and prospects are. Worthless article IMO why should the Pirates waste money on a bullpen when everyone knows this could be a very long season regardless.
I don’t think that the Pirates relief pitchers have been terrible. They’ve been pretty bad though of late.
I don’t think that the Pirates relief pitchers have been terrible. They’ve been pretty bad though of late.
I’d like to see zumaya pitch more in the 92-96 is range and basically double his control, because he really doesn’t have the control to back up the 100mph heat
I don’t like Zumaya as a closer at all, not only is he unreliable…but he cannot keep his cool, I don’t know if I want my closer pitching a hissy fit every time he gives up a walk or a hit.
Im a little curious as whether or not Bonderman/Miner can close. Bondo is done…I don’t see him ever being effective enough to start. Miner is interesting…he has a good ground ball rate and his sinker is sick and a great “out pitch” but his K/BB and WHIP rates weren’t very good this year, but this is also the first year he tried to start, and he is lights out for 2-3 innings…but man that guy just dosen’t have the stuff to go 6+ IP. I think he would be a cheap and effective way to close out the games in 2010 until 2011, when we spend big for a veteran closer
I’d like to see zumaya pitch more in the 92-96 is range and basically double his control, because he really doesn’t have the control to back up the 100mph heat
“MLB.com’s Chris Haft says that with the signing of Aubrey Huff, the Giants are likely finished making improvements to their roster.”What terrible news for Giants fans.- First off, you could argue Huff is not an improvement for this team.- Second, this implies they could still go out and sign maybe Jarrod Washburn, making their roster even worse.
i don’t think the giants are done. they might be done for now, but not done this off season. i think they’ll be waiting in the bushes for any extra players that might make the giants better. and huff will make the giants better. and most important with him and derosa; between the two, it will make the rest of the line up better.
Essentially DeRosa and Huff replace Fred Lewis and Jose Uribe’s at-bats. I’d say that’s an upgrade, but minimally so. The Giants really need Buster Posey, Pablo Sandoval, and others to step it up, otherwise, the offensive upgrade is minimal at best.
replacing Fred Lewis and Jose Uribe? Did you watch the Giants last season? First of all its JUAN Uribe and he isnt being replaced by anyone. He is signed for next season. Second of all, Fred Lewis only played the first portion of the season and then got benched because he stank it up. The only offensive hitter being “replaced” is BEngie Molina and Huff/DeRosa will be a substantial improvement over him.
Apologies to Juan and his family for the mistake. I hope I won’t do the same with other Giants like Tom Lincecum.
Anyway, yes, I did watch my share of Giants games, and pretty sure it will be Buster Posey replacing Molina and not Huff / DeRosa. DeRosa probably slots in LF, where Giants’ hitters batted a collective .261/.332/.411 last season versus DeRosa’s .228/.291/.405 after coming to the Cardinals. We’ll leave it up to debate how much the wrist impacted those numbers, though I will concede it’s an upgrade, but not a “substantial” one.
Huff COULD be a bigger upgrade after Giants’ 1B batted .271/.328/.405, though those numbers were greatly enhanced by Pablo Sandoval’s 91 1B at-bats, and he’s obviously moving to 1B. Problem with Huff though is that he was simply awful last year.
At least I know there’s one optimistic Giants fan out there. Most whom I’ve talked to are less than enthusiastic about the offensive “upgrades” this offseason.
Huff replacing Jose Uribe is a HUGE upgrade being Uribe is dead!
I had to laugh at that comment.
i don’t think the giants are done. they might be done for now, but not done this off season. i think they’ll be waiting in the bushes for any extra players that might make the giants better. and huff will make the giants better. and most important with him and derosa; between the two, it will make the rest of the line up better.
“MLB.com’s Chris Haft says that with the signing of Aubrey Huff, the Giants are likely finished making improvements to their roster.”What terrible news for Giants fans.- First off, you could argue Huff is not an improvement for this team.- Second, this implies they could still go out and sign maybe Jarrod Washburn, making their roster even worse.
As an Astros fan, this gets me really excited. Drayton is close to, if not the worst owner in baseball. While he does have a commitment to spending on players, he has no commitment to player development, he only has a win-now approach that just is not working. While I think he has finally come to his senses and realized that the astros are a rebuilding team, I would hope that he would sell the team.
As an Astros fan, this gets me really excited. Drayton is close to, if not the worst owner in baseball. While he does have a commitment to spending on players, he has no commitment to player development, he only has a win-now approach that just is not working. While I think he has finally come to his senses and realized that the astros are a rebuilding team, I would hope that he would sell the team.
It seems like the Giants are not interested in winning the NL West
you can’t be that narrow minded and actually say that 1 team stands out in the NL west can you? i like many other smart people see a possible 4 team race excluding the padres. anyone else?
aha, your name is dodger_suck, but you call me narrowminded.
And no, I dont think anyone has the divison on lock. But, based on the rosters, I think it is the Dodgers and Rockies, then the Giants, with the Dbacks as a wildcard. The Giants are returning the same team, with very minor changes. Their offense will be the same or worse, and their pitching will not be as good as Cain is bound to regress, based on his career FIP/ERA. The Rockies are basically the same team, and the Dodgers seem to be replacing Wolf with Pinerio and letting DeWitt make a name for himself, instead of the inconsistent Belliard and Hudson.
inconsistent hudson? i honestly hate the dodgers, but i give credit when its due. hudson was a gold glove winner, and was really good most of the year with his bat. dodgers don’t have pierre anymore who was batting what? over .340 mostly while manny was gone? thats 2 huge parts of the offense gone. wolf, a 10 game winner gone. not replaced yet.
yea, inconsistent. Hudson went through a hot spell at the start of the year and vanished in the 2nd half. Thats the reason Belliard got playing time and started in the playoffs. And gold glove? His UZR was around -3… he didnt deserve it, and I will say that as a Dodger fan.
Pierre batted over 300 because his BABIP was like 360. His BABIP evened out to his career average, and he sucked in the second half.
I do think the biggest lost could be Wolf, but at 3-30, Im OK with letting him walk. If we get Pinerio and he pitches anywhere near last year, he will have nearly replaced that production.
Whether or not Belliard/Hudson were “inconsistent” last year, thinking that Dewitt will be able to match their production is a little to hopeful.
I dont know. Hudson and Belliard hit ~280 combined. Belliard hit 351 in LA, which we all know is not the real him. Also, given the fact his season BA was 277, even with the 351 BA in LA, it shows his time in LA was a fluke. Take DeWitt’s year last year with a grain of salt. He was called up 7 times from AAA to the majors. He never had time to settle in anyone place, and that can seriously mess up a players timing. Mix in the fact that he was still learning 2B, and it was a year that he should have been left alone in the minors, not called up 7 times, only to sit on the bench.
A little too hopeful, yes. I haven’t seen anything special in Blake DeWitt. He’s had his shot in spring training last year, and the Dodgers decided to sign Orlando Hudson because DeWitt was unimpressive. Then again, when Hudson seemingly hit a wall, they acquired Belliard. So it’s really saying something when the front office would rather look elsewhere than give you another shot.
On the whole Dodgers v. Giants, and who is the best of the West. Sure, the Giants have made minor upgrades to their offense and their starting rotation is very good, but I think they were one big bat away from putting themselves over the top. The Dodgers, as we all know, have been tied down by economical restraints. While they seem to be on stealth mode, their only real question is their rotation. Both teams are evenly matched.
Only reason your saying Hudson didnt deserve that Glove is cause he is not a dodger anymore, but if he was you would be praising him. Lets get real, De Witt aint going to do much.
It has nothing to do with what team he is on, or not on. He statistically didnt deserve the gold glove. As well as Derek Jeter didnt when he won it. It is a popularity contest, not if someone deserved it… Oh, am I not a Yankee fan because I said Jeter didnt deserve it?
With DeWitt, I know no one other than Dodger fans, and even some Dodger fans, will say DeWitt will do nothing. he has a linedrive bat and is learning 2B daily, while working with our infield coach. He struggled in 08 after the first couple months because he didnt adjust to the pitchers. If he does learn 2B and is his bat is anything like it is projected to be, he will be fine.
inconsistent hudson? i honestly hate the dodgers, but i give credit when its due. hudson was a gold glove winner, and was really good most of the year with his bat. dodgers don’t have pierre anymore who was batting what? over .340 mostly while manny was gone? thats 2 huge parts of the offense gone. wolf, a 10 game winner gone. not replaced yet.
Saying a 25 year-old Matt Cain will regress is probably wishful thinking as a Dodger fan. Same deal with thinking DeWitt > Hudson / Belliard, but we’ll see.
Not at all. It is not because of age. His career FIP has been around 3.8, with his ERA staying in a similar range. His FIP last year stayed the same, but his ERA dropped by a run. Expect him to be like 08, not 09, Cain next season.
yes! this is exactly what i mean. with what the dodgers have lost and the giants have added their ball clubs are similar. not to mention that players will get better. lincecum will continue to figure batters out, same as kershaw so don’t get up panties in a wad there lakersdodgersyankees4life. we will have a consistent 2nd baseman unlike dewitt who still needs to adapt to the majors just like posey needs to. i really don’t see any team running away in the west.
LOL…you are definitely the kind of Dodger fan that can’t have an honest baseball conversation.
2010 Giants starting lineup > 2009 Giants starting lineup
DeRosa LF > Lewis LF
Sanchez 2B > Burriss/Frandsen/Downs
Uribe SS > Renteria SS
Huff 1B > Ishikawa
Posey C > or = Molina C (Molina will hit for more power, but Posey will have better OBP and speed
Pitching will be as good? meaning Timmy won’t win THREE Cy Youngs in a row? OK I buy that.
Timmy = ACE and Best pitcher in NL. I know you won’t agree.
Cain = SOLID #2
Zito = Decent #3 I know you won’t agree again, but his numbers were far better and his fastball is back up to 88-90 instead of 85-87.
Sanchez = SOLID #4
Bumgarner > Martinez/Sadowski
Meanwhile Dodgers lose Wolfe/Pierre/Hudson and replace them with Carroll?? Come on…REALLY
I agree the Dodgers are still the team to beat, but it will be a FAR better race than last year which was a great race. Don’t forget the Giants were still in it with SIX games left.
Not to mention Pablo will likely hit over 30 Hr’s, so that’s more improvement.
I also forgot..
Schierholtz / Bowker > Winn
and
Me > Howry
I agree 55saveslive, but would add that a healthy Renteria SS > injured Renteria. I also agree that Schierholtz > Winn (not as sure about Bowker, but probably also true). The bench is also considerably better.
In your LF, anything would have been better than Lewis. However, do you honestly think that DeRosa will stay healthy? Or his numbers wont be like 09?
Your 2B is probably improved, but not by as much as some think.
Uribe wont start.
Statisically, Travis was the better player than Huff. I dont see how you think it is an improvement.
If Posey plays like he did in the minors, yea, he is much better. But if he plays like many expect(average season, #8 hitter), then you lost your 2nd best power threat(even though Molina is NOT a good player), it is a wash.
Timmy is an ace. He is the best pitcher in the NL. Have I ever said that he is not the best pitcher in the NL right now?
Cain is a solid #2. Not SOLID. According to his career path, his ERA should jump by ~1 run. His FIP stayed the same last year when his ERA went way down. Basically, he was lucky.
Zito is a decent #3 if he throws in the low 90s, but not if he throws in the mid 80s. But his value goes way down, IMO, because of his salary.
Sanchez isnt a SOLID #4. Want to know why? He has not thrown a whole season with being bad for a stretch of time. Sometimes, really bad.
And dont expect anything from Bumgarner if his velocity doesnt rebound. At the speed he was throwing last season, he will not make it in the majors.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers lost Wolf, Pierre and Hudson. Yes. However, Pierre is not a good player for the Dodgers. His BABIP was ~360 when he subbed for Manny. It wasnt a miracle that he was bad after Manny came back, simply because his BABIP went back to normal. He will be replaced by Xavier Paul, who has the defense Pierre doesnt, contact that Pierre doesnt, the arm that rivals Ethier’s and possibly Kemp’s, and speed that is close to Pierre’s. Paul is the better player, and by a long shot.
Hudson wont hurt as much as people think. He was simply bad after the first few months. I’ve said it before, fans other than Dodger fans, and even some Dodger fans, dont think DeWitt can handle a starting job. I am perfectly fine with DeWitt starting at 2B.
As Ive said, Wolf will be hard to replace. If we sign Pinerio, and his season is close to last years, it is a wash. If we sign him and he isnt as good as last year, it would be a downgrade. If we dont sign him and let Haegar and Elbert be our 4 and 5, I think it would be an upgrade over last year’s rotation. We never really had a #5, and just had a cycle of pitchers, none of which did well. Elbert is a former top prospect and has the stuff to succeed in the majors, and proved last year he can stay healthy all year.
Why wouldn’t DeRosa stay healthy? He got beaned in the hand last year, so what? In 08 and 07 he played 149 games and in 06 he played 136. Not exactly an injury risk.
Uribe wasn’t penciled in to start last season either and ended up playing far more than Renteria in the second half.
Cain’s ERA should jump by 1 run? LOL Way to speculate.
Zito’s value due to salary has no bearing…what has bearing are his numbers as a #3. Which were much better last season than previous two.
Bumgarners velocity – Oh DAMN a 19 year old in his first season in AA/AAA and show got tired? No way he can every perform!! (rolls eyes)
It’s funny how you say Giants players numbers will go down or that prospects probably won’t perform, but Xavier Paul who has very little experience and didn’t show anything in Sept. callups and Elbert who’s numbers were horrible in the show will somehow be much better.
Like I said before…Dodger fans would rather die than give the Giants any credit. On paper we are MUCH better than last year…we’ll have to wait until September to find out…
I’ve stated many times here that the dodgers are still the team to beat, that Kemp is easily one of the best CF in the MLB and players like Either and the Dodgers pen make them tough. SEE, it’s not hard to give credit to the opponent. Your arguments are still Dodgers are better because they are the Dodgers and Giants are bad because they are the Giants…It’s weak and tiresome.
According to a report I will link below, DeRosa hopes that he will be ready for ST. The wrist injury he had was considered to be serious by many. Many don’t heal correctly and 100% from wrist injuries and the wrist is extremely important in hitting.
About Cain, this is copied from a comment I made earlier in the thread, but it applies here as well:
The reason I ignore last year for Cain is simple. AND I WILL SAY THIS NOW, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE RIVALRY. With Cain, from 2005 to 2009, his FIP has been 4.08, 3.96, 3.78, 3.91, and 3.89. Very consistent. His ERA during that same time: 2.33, 4.15, 3.65, 3.76, and 2.89. Fairly consistent, with the exception of the first and last year. The first year was in 7 games and is FIP was 4.03, which means he was lucky. Last season, His FIP stayed in his career norm, but his ERA dropped by nearly a run from 08. HE WAS LUCKY. Statistically, not from a fan of the Dodger’s perspective.
Looking at Zito’s stats, they are a good #4 or really good #5. His ERA over the last 3 years: 4.53, 5.15, 4.03. The difference from last year and the year before was his strikeouts, going from 6 to 7.2. The last time he averaged over 7K/9 was in 2002, when he won the Cy. I think its pretty safe to say his Ks will come back to the ~6 per 9 range next season. With Elbert, we should use 25 2/3 MLB innings over two years, none of them starts, to prove he can do nothing? OK…
And no one has problems giving the Giants props, Timmy is the best pitcher in the NL and is there or 1A to Felix in the majors.
And what’s weak and tiresome is the fact that no one has given me a useful stat to prove me wrong. And no, 25 innings over two seasons is not a useful stat.
Dude, no one ever said that Bumgarner will never perform. Just saying that when a 19 year old loses velocity with no reason/injury, it can be scary. Now, as I said above, it could simply be him getting adjusted to AA/AAA. However, if its not, then you should be concerned.
With Paul, will you really use 11 games, or 14 ABs against a guy. And ignore the 328 BA he had in AAA? Oh, and you should get your facts straight, he got a staph infection that he reportedly could have died from and was out most of the year. His last MLB AB was on May 20…
I don’t bother posting stats to Dodger fans….if you look at yours, 661, vta…it’s always the same thing…”We are better because we are the dodgers” blah blah blah…
It’s repetitive…
Xavier Paul had great numbers in AAA….So did Bumgarner/Posey/Schierholtz/Bowker/Ishikawa….But since Paul is a Dodger, he is going to be great whereas Giants prospects are “worriesome” or “unproven”
Cain is only 25. MLB pitchers don’t peak until 28-32…but of course Cain’s numbers are going down because you say so.
Just like Russell Martin is still the best catcher even though his numbers the past two seasons have been awful. Oh but its Mattingly…not Martin blah blah.
Nevermind…The Dodgers are going to go 162-0 and win the World Series in a sweep over the yanks…You got me!
Dude, statiscally, Cain will regress to 08. Not to Barry Zito in 08. Damn, accept it, based on career numbers, his last year was lucky.
The only rap on Bumgarner is his lost of velocity. everyone has agreed that if he comes back throwing normal velocity, all is fine. If he comes back in the 80s there is a problem. Same with Lincecum, Kershaw, Billingsley, Elbert, anyone. If you magically lose velocity and come back the next season at the same velocity, there is trouble.
Their isnt a rip on Posey, but rather if 1. is he ready, I think he is, 2. can he handle 140-150 games, 3. can he replacing Molina’s #s. Yes, I know they are different players, but Giant fans know that Bengie was their 2nd best power hitter last season.
I have not seen anyone rip on Bowker or Ishikawa on this site…
And no, Martin isnt the best catcher. I dont know, maybe you cant read. MARTIN IS NOT THE BEST CATCHER IN THE MAJORS, OR NL! Statiscally, Yadier Molina was above Martin on defense and offense. Mauer is above all. However, earlier in the year, BA said that Molina was the #1 defensive catcher, and Martin was 2.
The combination of Martin’s hitting approach has suddenly changed and a new coach has come at that exact same time, and the fact that the Dodgers apparently felt Martin was an iron horse in 06, 07, 08 and 09, have all lead to his offensive struggles.
In your LF, anything would have been better than Lewis. However, do you honestly think that DeRosa will stay healthy? Or his numbers wont be like 09?
Your 2B is probably improved, but not by as much as some think.
Uribe wont start.
Statisically, Travis was the better player than Huff. I dont see how you think it is an improvement.
If Posey plays like he did in the minors, yea, he is much better. But if he plays like many expect(average season, #8 hitter), then you lost your 2nd best power threat(even though Molina is NOT a good player), it is a wash.
Timmy is an ace. He is the best pitcher in the NL. Have I ever said that he is not the best pitcher in the NL right now?
Cain is a solid #2. Not SOLID. According to his career path, his ERA should jump by ~1 run. His FIP stayed the same last year when his ERA went way down. Basically, he was lucky.
Zito is a decent #3 if he throws in the low 90s, but not if he throws in the mid 80s. But his value goes way down, IMO, because of his salary.
Sanchez isnt a SOLID #4. Want to know why? He has not thrown a whole season with being bad for a stretch of time. Sometimes, really bad.
And dont expect anything from Bumgarner if his velocity doesnt rebound. At the speed he was throwing last season, he will not make it in the majors.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers lost Wolf, Pierre and Hudson. Yes. However, Pierre is not a good player for the Dodgers. His BABIP was ~360 when he subbed for Manny. It wasnt a miracle that he was bad after Manny came back, simply because his BABIP went back to normal. He will be replaced by Xavier Paul, who has the defense Pierre doesnt, contact that Pierre doesnt, the arm that rivals Ethier’s and possibly Kemp’s, and speed that is close to Pierre’s. Paul is the better player, and by a long shot.
Hudson wont hurt as much as people think. He was simply bad after the first few months. I’ve said it before, fans other than Dodger fans, and even some Dodger fans, dont think DeWitt can handle a starting job. I am perfectly fine with DeWitt starting at 2B.
As Ive said, Wolf will be hard to replace. If we sign Pinerio, and his season is close to last years, it is a wash. If we sign him and he isnt as good as last year, it would be a downgrade. If we dont sign him and let Haegar and Elbert be our 4 and 5, I think it would be an upgrade over last year’s rotation. We never really had a #5, and just had a cycle of pitchers, none of which did well. Elbert is a former top prospect and has the stuff to succeed in the majors, and proved last year he can stay healthy all year.
aha, your name is dodger_suck, but you call me narrowminded.
And no, I dont think anyone has the divison on lock. But, based on the rosters, I think it is the Dodgers and Rockies, then the Giants, with the Dbacks as a wildcard. The Giants are returning the same team, with very minor changes. Their offense will be the same or worse, and their pitching will not be as good as Cain is bound to regress, based on his career FIP/ERA. The Rockies are basically the same team, and the Dodgers seem to be replacing Wolf with Pinerio and letting DeWitt make a name for himself, instead of the inconsistent Belliard and Hudson.
I don’t think Arizona will contend, if the Giants had added better bats I think they’d be a better shot than the Dodgers (I think the Dodgers/Giants are about even right now).
However, I also think it’s irrelevant who is better between the Giants/Dodgers because unless the Giants do add a bat or the Dodgers do add a starter, I think the Rockies could win that division by at least 5 games.
I dont know. I undoubtedly think they will be a very good team, but they seemed to go through a couple hot and cold stretches over the last few years.
Also, consider that if Iannetta struggles, Olivo is the starting catcher… that isnt a team I give the divison to by 5 games.
Even if the Dodgers dont get another SP, Id be OK. Honestly, better than how I felt just a couple months ago. We’d have Haegar(knuckleballer with a FB and curveball that is respectable) and Elbert at the 5th. Top prospect in 06, but had shoulder surgery. Missed most of 07 and pitched in relief in 08. Took 09 to prove he could start everyday, and pitched to a 3.8 ERA in AA/AAA. He has a running FB, change up, curve, and killer slider. Was considered better than Billingsley in 06, when they both were in the minors.
That catcher part is hardly a knock on the Rockies. Even when “struggling”, Ianetta posted a .344 OBP with a 460 SLG%. His BAbip was ridiculously low as well at .253 if that goes up, and he can even come close to his .232 ISO from last season, Ianetta will be a VERY valuable player.
And that Olivo signing only costed 2 mil, put him playing a decent amount of his games in Coors, you’ll most likely get a good signing.
I do like Haegar and think he should get the 5th starter spot, but the Dodgers still need a starter that can throw 200+ IP. Kris Benson was considered a great prospect at one point, look how that turned out.
I was just pointing out that if Ianetta does struggle, the only option is Olivio.
If we sign Pinerio, he’d be the 200 inning guy. If not, Haegar gets the 4th spot and Elbert gets the 5th. As a knuckleballer, he can easily throw 200 innings.
And for ever failed prospect, there are ones that flurish. The only way you know how a player will do is to give him a shot. If the only rip you have is that other great prospects have failed, from different organizations, then Elbert should be given a shot at the 5th spot.
how can you be optimistic about haegar and elbert but say sanchez isnt a solid 4 and bumgarder wont make it in the pros? hmm
Simple, neither Haegar or Elbert have had random velocity drops over a full year or have been as inconsistent as Sanchez. If Bumgarner regains his velocity, yea, he is a great #5 for next year. But the fact that no one knows why he lost his velocity is.. scary. Sanchez had the no-no and not much else in 09.
Meanwhile, Haegar is a knuckleballer who has amazing control of the pitch. Elbert is a strike out guy with a running FB, slider thats a strikeout pitch, change up that was called the best in the system, and a great curve. He was hurt in 07 and was brought back slowly in 08. They had him relieve all year to make sure he was healthy. He came back in 09 to prove he could handle a full season of pitching, and he did. He could have been ready in 09, but they wanted him to start, so they left him in AA/AAA for most of the year.
Oh, and the 3 stints by Elbert over multiple years dont really mean much in determining how he will do in the majors next year.
atlest it makes sense in your own mind.
atlest it makes sense in your own mind.
In fact Sanchez’s numbers are comparable to chad billingsley so your argument doesn’t really work. Unless you want to tell me how chad billingsley isn’t solid either.
No, the numbers are not. Career ERA- 4.8 for Sanchez, 3.55 for Billingsley, 180 Ip average for Billingsley, 150 for Sanchez, 1.449 WHIP for Sanchez, 1.375 WHIP for Billz, 4.1 BB/9 for Billz, 4.9 BB/9 for Sanchez(neither are good, just pointing it out).
Im going to assume you are talking more about last year than career, because Billingsley has dominated compared to Sanchez. The difference between Sanchez and Billingsley is Billingsley was hurt while pitching, Sanchez was not. So when an injury to the leg, which a pitcher like Billz uses for power and control, occurs and his numbers are similar to a completly healthy pitcher in Sanchez, I wouldnt use that comp…
Just talking about last year. But still if the Giants number 4 is comparable to the Dodgers number 2 then I think he is pretty solid injured or not. Sanchez has lowered his ERA the past two seasons and things are pointing up for him. As well as Bumgarner. His minor league numbers are much better than than elbert. And he pitched well in his short stint in the majors last year too.
With Billz and Sanchez, I just dont see it. Sanchez’s best year is worse than Billingsley’s worst. And Sanchez is nearly 2 years older. A better comp is Cain and Billingsley. Career ERA 3.55(Billz) to 3.53(Cain). And when we take out Cain’s last year(because statistically, his season was a fluke), Cain’s career ERA is 3.74. Their hits are nearly even. Cain’s ERA+ for his career(minus last season) is 119. Billingsley, with his worse season included? 119. Without last year, it jumps to 130. With Cain’s best season included, his career ERA+ is 126. They arent the exact same pitcher, but much closer than Sanchez and Billingsley…
Bumgarner’s MiLB stats have been amazing. Espically at such a young age. However, and I think many Giants fans would agree that the loss in velocity is a little scary, espically when he just turned 20… If he regains his velocity, that would be a killer 1-2 with Timmy and Bumgarner. I think everyone in baseball has accepted this.
I dont know why you would ignore last season. By that logic signing Aubrey Huff was very good. And I dont think sanchez is as good as billingley, but I do think that he is a pretty solid #4. Especially if you look at his numbers after the allstar break. I honestly think he gained some confidence last year after the no no. And it was only his second full season as a starter.
I’ll reply here and copy and paste it as a response to someone else:
The reason I ignore last year for both Billingsley and Cain is simple. AND I WILL SAY THIS NOW, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE RIVALRY. With Cain, from 2005 to 2009, his FIP has been 4.08, 3.96, 3.78, 3.91, and 3.89. Very consistent. His ERA during that same time: 2.33, 4.15, 3.65, 3.76, and 2.89. Fairly consistent, with the exception of the first and last year. The first year was in 7 games and is FIP was 4.03, which means he was lucky. Last season, His FIP stayed in his career norm, but his ERA dropped by nearly a run from 08. HE WAS LUCKY. Statistically, not from a fan of the Dodger’s perspective. With Billingsley, he showed what he can do when healthy in the first half. I dont have the exact numbers, but I remember it was Timmy, Cain and Billingsley 1-2-3 in the CY race, with the last two interchangeable. He got hurt and put up really bad numbers. However, it was obviously nothing serious, or else he would have been shut down(by serious I mean it needs surgery). He pitched through it and his stats showed he was clearly injured….
We will see about Sanchez. No one knows how he goes after this year. Just pointing out he is not on Billingsley’s level, at least not yet.
Cain and Billingley are both young so I would put more weight on what they have done lately rather than craming stats of their first 3 or 4 years. Those years are usually outliers. As for Sanchez his sample size is still small but like you said we will see.
Usually, Id agree. However, the fact that Cain had been SO consistent since he came to the majors, according to both FIP and ERA, and then this year the ERA drops but the FIP stays the same, that is usually the outlier.
Not to mention that the most likely cause of the drop in velocity is DUE to the fact that he is only 20. At that age his body isnt as mature as it will be when he is 25 and Im sure it isnt used to the stress of a full season. Nothing I have read said that he was injured so there is no reason to believe he will not regain his form.
I was just saying that it should be scary when a young guy magically loses velocity without an injury. And yes, it is likely that it was just because he wasnt used to the extra innings. However, if he comes back in the 80s, then he is in trouble…
In fact Sanchez’s numbers are comparable to chad billingsley so your argument doesn’t really work. Unless you want to tell me how chad billingsley isn’t solid either.
Simple, neither Haegar or Elbert have had random velocity drops over a full year or have been as inconsistent as Sanchez. If Bumgarner regains his velocity, yea, he is a great #5 for next year. But the fact that no one knows why he lost his velocity is.. scary. Sanchez had the no-no and not much else in 09.
Meanwhile, Haegar is a knuckleballer who has amazing control of the pitch. Elbert is a strike out guy with a running FB, slider thats a strikeout pitch, change up that was called the best in the system, and a great curve. He was hurt in 07 and was brought back slowly in 08. They had him relieve all year to make sure he was healthy. He came back in 09 to prove he could handle a full season of pitching, and he did. He could have been ready in 09, but they wanted him to start, so they left him in AA/AAA for most of the year.
Oh, and the 3 stints by Elbert over multiple years dont really mean much in determining how he will do in the majors next year.
how can you be optimistic about haegar and elbert but say sanchez isnt a solid 4 and bumgarder wont make it in the pros? hmm
I don’t think Arizona will contend, if the Giants had added better bats I think they’d be a better shot than the Dodgers (I think the Dodgers/Giants are about even right now).
However, I also think it’s irrelevant who is better between the Giants/Dodgers because unless the Giants do add a bat or the Dodgers do add a starter, I think the Rockies could win that division by at least 5 games.
you can’t be that narrow minded and actually say that 1 team stands out in the NL west can you? i like many other smart people see a possible 4 team race excluding the padres. anyone else?
It seems like the Giants are not interested in winning the NL West
Passan is wrong about the motto for the Pirates. It should be “America’s Value Team.” Also, instead of PNC Park, they should change the name of the stadium to Dollar Tree Park. Much more fitting.
lmao…
lmao…
Har Har Har! everyone make fun of the Pirates! Everyone else is doing it!
Maybe people will think I’m cool if I make up some lame play on words about the Pirates. People will laugh because they are also sheep.
Har Har Har! everyone make fun of the Pirates! Everyone else is doing it!
Maybe people will think I’m cool if I make up some lame play on words about the Pirates. People will laugh because they are also sheep.
Passan is wrong about the motto for the Pirates. It should be “America’s Value Team.” Also, instead of PNC Park, they should change the name of the stadium to Dollar Tree Park. Much more fitting.
I am an Astros fan . Mclane bought the team for around 115 million. I recently heard the Astros are worth around 400 million. i hope he does sell it to a group that would let our general manager put the money forward so we can get a decent team on the field.
I also hope this “unnamed new york investment banking company” would not decide to move the team.
It isn’t like the Astros are a small market team though.
Since 2006:
* 2009: $102,996,414
* 2008: $ 88,930,414
* 2007: $ 87,759,000
* 2006: $ 92,551,503
From Cots Baseball contracts.
It’s more the contracts being given out by Ed Wade and their poor player development.
However, if it gets rid of Wade as well as McLane, selling the team would be a great thing for all Astros fans, IMO.
More like Purpura not Wade, Purpura was the one who gave out the big contracts with the exception of Lyon Wade has not given out a multi year contract.
Oh, thanks for letting me know that. I guess McLane does need to go then, and allow McLane to finally deal at least one of the contracts that seem to be hurting that team right now (Berkman, Oswalt, Lee).
Kazuo Matsui too.
Oh yeah i forgot about that one.
I don’t think I’d be too worried about them getting moved if sold. Houston seems to be a pretty decent market, atleast better than trying to create a new one elsewhere.
I sure hope your right because i would go nuts with out my Astros here in Houston.
Passan’s an idiot. Even good teams sign a lot of minor league free agents.
Look at the Mets.
…OK, maybe that was a bad example of a good team…
Earlier this off-season Sabean mentioned that slotting Bumgarner in as the 5th starter makes the rotation particularly young and he would like to counterbalance that with another veteran in the ‘pen. So I could see the Giants upgrading their pitching staff some as there are still good bullpen arms out there as free agents.
Aubrey Huff= rather have him than Travis Ishikiwa anyday anytime
Why exactly?
WHy r all u guys hating the giants for this move…think of it as in…the giants at least made some acceptuonal moves this winter and they didnt overpay anyone
i know. the giants might actually throw out a decent line up in 2010. all with out moving any of their pitching.
if the astros get bought, i hope they switch to the AL West. It annoys me that there’s six teams in the NL Central and four in the AL West.
You must not understand how scheduling works. Funny how people STILL don’t get the concept of unbalanced leagues, come on people, its simple math.
People get the reasoning for it. They also get that it’s unfair and stupid. The justification for the six team NL Central usually boils down to “Well, the Pirates usually suck…”
I don’t think interleague play throughout the season would be such an incredibly horrible thing, but Selig has had to fight the “traditionalists” enough already.
Actually, no. It is entirely mathematically possible to schedule a league with an odd number of teams. The difference would be that at least 1 team would be off everyday (you’d occasionally have 3 or 5 teams off, but always an odd number) rather than an even number of teams off on the same day (traditionally most off days are scheduled on weekdays, usually Thursdays).The problem you’d encounter is that series would not all be played in sync. You’d have series starting and ending at different times. Therefore you’d have fewer Fri-Sun series (some would have to be Thurs-Sat or Sat-Mon, etc.). At least one team would have to take Saturday off, at least one team would have to take Sunday off, which probably wouldn’t go over well with owners.Even without interleague, it is entirely possible. With interleague play it is even easier to schedule.
plus it balances things little more in the AL West
Safeco-pitcher park
Colliseum-pitcher park
Angel Stadium-average
Arlington-Hitter’s park
Minute Maid-hitter’s park
An odd number of teams in both leagues…yes that will go over well.
It would go over well with a bit of imagination and innovation.
I doubt that the Sabean & Co. are officially done attempting to improve the roster. Here is how I see it currently…they offered 2/17 to LaRoche, that is money already budgeted to be spent for the upcoming season. They spent 3 of the 8.5 that was allocated to LaRoche’s offer on Huff, leaving roughly 5mil that they could “potentially” spend on other FA’s…specifically a Veteran Bullpen arm, possible Catcher or backup, or if the price is right a Outfielder, these being the most pertinent needs that the front office (not necessarily I) feels the teams needs.
All this being said, I still feel like there is one more move left in this offseason. There is a reason that the team did not wait for LaRoche to either lower his price or settle on the offer the Giants placed in front of him. As well, there is NO DOUBT that the team would have loved to bring LaRoche aboard…but there must be (*as warped as it may be) a new direction that they are looking into, ie. bringing in one more player to fill one of these rolls. LaRoche would have capped off their offseason spending (which would not have been bad…adding LaRoche and DeRosa).
My guess….Kiko Calero and a Veteran Catcher on a Minor League deal to cap off the 09-10 offseason
As a Giants fan, I’d like to state that Sabean makes me sick. Huff is a typical Sabean signing. An veteran with marginal numbers that he think will find the fountain of youth at Pac Bell. What a joke. I just pray to god that the ownership has the smarts to not pick up his option after this season… I wont be holding my breath though.
New York investment banker sounds like code for a Steinbrenner trying to buy the Disastros. Unfortunately for any potential buyer, Uncle Drayton is like Dr. Evil and will only sell the club for “one gazillion dollars”.
I’m OK with the Huff signing. Low risk, high possible reward AND sets us up to get Adrian Gonzalez, who becomes a free agent next year. A multi-year contract to LaRoche would have negated that possibility. Sabean is not an idiot.