Here are the latest notes from ESPN.com's Buster Olney (Insider-only link)….
- The Diamondbacks "fully intend" to bring back Kelly Johnson next season. The 28-year-old will be entering his final arbitration year, and should earn a significant raise on this year's $2.35MM salary, but the D'Backs don't have plans to move him this winter.
- Some "early speculation" around baseball suggests that if Tony La Russa doesn't return to St. Louis next year, Seattle could be a potential destination for him.
- The D'Backs are considering installing a humidor at their Triple-A park in Reno, as Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic writes. Olney supports the idea, noting that it should help the development of Arizona's young pitchers, who would be less reluctant to pitch to contact.
- Olney also agrees with Joel Sherman of the New York Post, who argues that the Mets should consider trading some of their young talent if they think it could improve the team.
Jonathan Stone
I think he means a humidifier. A humidor is where you store your cigars (though that would be awesome at a ballpark too-a cigar lounge section)
NickinIthaca
I’m pretty sure he does mean a humidor, similar to what they installed at Coors Field to try and combat the thin air at the Mile High elevation… But I do think they should include a cigar lounge section at stadiums – and maybe a little jazz to really class things up
Dave_Gershman
So you’ve never head of Coors Field?
Jonathan Stone
@SpanD I’ve been to Coors, but my point is that when you are trying to raise the humidity in a building, you install a humidifier. When you want to store cigars at the appropriate temperature and humidity, you install a humidor.
Dave_Gershman
Oh. So you’re saying the terminology is wrong…I think it’s just a fake name to make it sound cool. You know?
Flharfh
A humidor is just an enclosed unit (could be a small box or as big as an entire room) used to keep humidity constant. A humidifier is usually a portable unit that evaporates water into the air, raising humidity. Humidor is the correct term for this usage.
usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2007-10-26-3457255919…
Ferrariman
hey seattle, we’ll trade you La Russa for King Felix 🙂
ellisburks
That would have to be a sign and trade as La Russa is a free agent after this year. But I like your style! 😉
Dave_Gershman
No that would make absoultley Zero sense. It would have to be King Felix for La Russa AND a PTBNL. come on Ferrariman!
mrsjohnmiltonrocks
LaRussa to Seattle? That’s almost as funny as LaRussa to Pittsburgh. Whoever told you that Olney, is making stuff up.
KeithLawSucksInStl
It’s not the first time, ala Pujols for Howard earlier in the year
ZoinksScoob
I certainly hope that LaRussa is NOT coming to Seattle. He’s past his prime and isn’t the kind of manager a rebuilding team needs. Besides, there’s no pitcher to bat 8th in the AL… he wouldn’t know what to do with himself. My vote is for Bobby Valentine to get the M’s job, but he won’t like the muzzle that comes along with the position, so he won’t take it. If I had to guess, Willie Randolph will be the next M’s manager.
trentona
how does a manager pass their prime?
ZoinksScoob
A manager passes his prime when the game passes him by and he’s clueless about events around him. Look at Lou Piniella the last few years. Now look at LaRussa, who still manages like it’s 1990. He thinks he knows his players, but given the recent problems with Scott Rolen and Colby Rasmus, that’s not the case. And the whole thing about the Glenn Beck rally shows that he’s living in his own little reality. His strategic in-game decision making is very much questionable these days. He still tries to rotate his players too much, especially those who can play multiple positions. They’re called utility players for a reason; they’re not supposed to play every day. And even if they were, there’s not a Tony Phillips in the bunch (Aaron Miles? Felipe Lopez?) That’s not what Seattle needs right now. They need someone to guide them through a very rough stretch coming up. LaRussa isn’t that guy.
On the flip side, LaRussa wouldn’t be happy shepherding a boatload of kids, which is what he’d get in Seattle next year; he wants to win a World Series soon, and the Mariners are not the team to get him there in the next 2-3 years.
Dave_Gershman
Kelly Johnson has been a great story in Baseball this season. I love watching him hit and it’s going to be exciting to see the Diamondbacks try to win again next season with this awesome lineup they have plus more expierenced Ian Kennedy and Daniel Hudson. Nice!
Tigerfan93
I can guarantee you, if Tony LaRussa becomes available, the Detroit Tigers will vacate their manger position to get him.
Ferrariman
why? lol i’d take leyland over la russa any day.
j6takish
I’d rather have Alan Trammel circa 2003 back than La Russa
KeithLawSucksInStl
I’d rather have 2006 LaRussa over etc etc etc, 20-20 hindsight etc
Henry Castellanos
The Mets are rushing Jenrry Mejia. That guy shouldn’t have even made his major league debut yet. But I’m pretty sure some other team would take him off your hands…
Just_MLB
mejia would be a college junior right now…
of course the mets feel he should be pitching to pujols, howard and a-rod his rookie year !
smh…
yazpik
Noooooooooo!!!!! La Russa no!!!! Maybe Saunders and Smoak would lose his job for Kotchman and Tui…. Jack, Please not hire La Russa, is awful
Just_MLB
yes trading away young talent is always the best solution !
look at the talent AZ had in their instructional league back in 2003 or 2004
cris carter 1B
dan uggla 2B
steven drew SS
mark reynolds 3B
carlos gonzalez LF
carlos quintan RF
miguel montero C
Eric Foster
Cardinal Fans. Lets start our petition to get Joe Madden in a STL Uniform
Henry Castellanos
Joe Maddon won’t leave the Rays. Who would with their young pitching?