Some links for Veterans Day…
- MLBTR echoes commissioner Bud Selig's thoughts on the death of a legendary Mariners broadcaster: “All of Baseball is terribly saddened … by the tragic news that Dave Niehaus, the voice of the Seattle Mariners, has passed away."
- Randy Messenger has agreed to a deal with the Hanshin Tigers, according to Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker. The five-year MLB veteran pitched for the Mariners in 2009.
- Three former White Sox employees were indicted on federal fraud charges yesterday, according to Melissa Segura of SI.com. They allegedly accepted $400K worth of signing bonuses intended for Latin American prospects.
- Russell Martin's agent repeated to Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times that the catcher wants to play for the Dodgers in 2011. There's been extensive speculation that the Dodgers could non-tender or trade Martin.
- Pirates GM Neal Huntington told MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch that Andy LaRoche has to prove his worth to the Pirates, who are attempting to determine the best way to maximize the 27-year-old's value.
- Russell Branyan has left Dan Lozano and is now represented by ACES, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick (on Twitter).
My goodness what a huge bust Andy LaRoche was…He went from top prospect status in all of Baseball to a back up infielder.
Crasnick clarified that Branyan left Beverly Hills last summer. He’s with ACES now after leaving Dan Lozano.
Does anyone know if and how the White Sox can be punished for this scouting mess? It seems like they got scammed in this whole thing, and lost money in it, but shouldn’t they be a little more alert?
Its the scouts that did the wrongdoing, and they are ones indicted and hopefully doing the jail time. Why should the White Sox be punished for their ineptitude in hiring personnel?
I don’t know, but this is a big deal. A lot of cash is exchanging hands illegally, and though I’m no legal expert, it would make sense if the organization got punished for having people scamming people for money. Hope your right, but in some cases, ignorance is not always bliss.
I have a feeling that this sort of thing has been going on with at least some of the the teams that have a Latin American presence for a long time now. This is just the first time anyone has been called on it. The system of “buscones” just lends itself to these, and other abuses of the scouting and development process (read: PDA’s).
That being said, I hope they tack these guys to a cross for screwing these kids like that. Of course, the Sox are going to make themselves look like the victims here, even though a good case could be made that they were a willing participant in taking advantage these kids. I don’t have a lot of sympathy for them.
Whatever happened to the similar situation with Bowden and the Nationals?
Martin will be the first to be herded into free agency. The McCourt vision is to keep payroll the same and over the next 7 to 8 years double the price of everything from parking to the putrid Dodger dog.This was the business model presented to the courts. Of course there is 20 million for divorce lawyers. As Kemp, Looney and the others become too costly we will see minor league replacements, neer do wells , never was, and also rans signed on the cheap. Dodger stadium is a destination spot on a warm summer night in los angeles it is an LA institution the masses will go and spend. There is a very small core of hardcore fans like the East coast teams have. When the Cubs, or mets or Phillys are in town there are more fans cheering for the road team then the home team. Dodger stadium will always get 3.5 million or more.
Fail.
Colletti has already come out and said the Dodgers are INCREASING payroll. Of course it won’t be to the level that it should be, but your doom-and-gloom scenario is a tired argument.
As long as they have shmucks like you to opay the freight it is not.
I have never seen a visiting team have more fans than the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium (although the Yankees came close), and McCourt has recently said that he will allow a raise in payroll
which Dodger stadium have you been to? even when the yankees were in town it was still at least 80% dodger fans. you’re out of your mind.
I think Martin will return to the team on an incentive-laden one-year deal. Even in an off year, he still posted a 2.1 WAR, so it’s not like we’re talking Jason Kendall territory just yet. Still plenty of time for him to turn things around. That said, Dodgers should still bring in a solid plan B – Olivo, Barajas, or the like.
Whenever using Russell Martin’s name in an article, the writer should always use his full name in order to meet the word quota associated with the submission… Russell Nathan Coltrane Jeanson Martin.
Clearly Laroche had a down year and he has looked lost at the plate, but only a year ago he posted a 2.6 WAR. Nothing spectacular, but there was and is something there. He needs a change of scenery for sure. He can’t stick as a utility guy. If the Diamondbacks do trade Reynolds then he could be a good fit if is non-tendered by the Pirates. The guy is only 26 so it may be a little early to call him a complete bust.