Links for Wednesday night..
- Longtime major leaguer Juan Castro told MLB.com's Ken Gurnick that he never considered retirement at any point this winter. The 38-year-old is trying to hook on with the Dodgers in 2011 for what would be his fourth stint with the club.
- Earlier today, Yankees GM Brian Cashman told versatile Astros veteran Bill Hall that the club was "this close" to signing him, tweets Jack Curry of the YES Network.
- A source close to the Rockies told Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated that the Rangers sought a "very good player" for Michael Young, but didn't elaborate on who that player might be.
- Some in the Rangers front office feel that Neftali Feliz could develop into the type of starter that would otherwise cost a bundle in a trade, writes T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com.
- Yankees fans have been hard on A.J. Burnett, who is set to earn $16.5MM annually through 2013. However, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports writes that Burnett's career numbers are not all that different from Boston's Josh Beckett.
- Outfielder Travis Buck views his arrival in the Indians locker room as a fresh start, writes MLB.com's Jordan Bastian.
Travis buck was a complete let down in Oakland
People in baseball named Buck are usually letdowns, unless their first name was Jack.
although i never thought a whole lot of John buck
“However, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports writes that Burnett’s career numbers are not all that different from Boston’s Josh Beckett ”
I’ve said this numerous times. However, I think anybody today would easily take Beckett over Burnett.
Just another example of numbers not showing the whole picture.
I’d probably take Beckett because he’s over three years younger, and Burnett is on the wrong side of his prime.
That’s probably my main reason also.
My reason is that Beckett has a track record of being very good every other year. It’s not clear that Burnett will ever be good again.
That’s probably not as good as it sounds. I mean, If they have similar numbers, but Burnett is 3 years older, it might indicate that Beckett’s decline curve will be higher (just sayin’, I’d have to truly analyze the numbers).
i think it says beckets has like 30 fewer loses and 2 more wins in less years
Ken Rosenthal must feel really smart about this similarity between the two, but the reality is you can put a bow around a piece of junk, but it is still a piece of junk (Burnett).
He had a bad season. At least he contributed to giving the Yankees #27 so he has not been completely useless. And I’ve been saying this repeatedly, I definitely think he will have a decent season. Not Cy Young, but decent and will give them some big games. Everyone seems to have already jumped on the anti-Burnett bandwagon and forgot that the guy can be effective. Consistency has been the issue but a lot of pitchers suffer from that as well.
Plus, the Yanks have a new pitching coach. Rothschild may not have the instant name recognition that Mazzone, Duncan or Peterson have, but if he was pitching coach under Baylor, Baker and Piniella he might have a couple of good things to give to the pitchers. I hope that Girardi’s staff can become an asset to the organization. Kevin Long as already done some great things for some batters and if Rothschild can help the development of the young pitchers and some veterans regain form, they will make the teams management more appealing for free agents.
Absolutely man. Beckett, when healthy, is as dominant as they come. AJ’s a headcase. Even thought I hate the Yankees, Josh is easily a better pick.
Good thing Hall went to the Astros, at least he will get some playing time. He filled in fairly well for the Sox last year. Beckett is far superior to Burnett lol…Rosenthal forgot to mention the fact that Burnett has pitched about 30 more games than Beckett therefor Beckett’s 112-74 is a lot better than 110-100. In Burnett’s 12 seasons he has only once had a WAR above 3. Beckett has had a WAR above 3 in 5 of his 10 seasons(two of those times above 4). Point is that it is not a fair comparison at all, no idea what point Rosenthal was attempting to make.
A 3 WAR isn’t really a very good WAR. And as you pointed out yourself, he’s gone less than a 3 WAR 5 of 10 times (although I’m sure some of them were due to not full seasons, although with the year he had last year there was no way that was leading to a 3 WAR even in a full season),
Well yea 3 WAR isn’t that good but 2 WAR is average for pitchers. Which would mean that Burnett is around the average pitcher mark while Beckett is an above average pitcher in terms of WAR. I would say elite pitchers would start at about 5 WAR and up.
Rosenthal is dumb for bringing up the W-L to begin with. However to counter your argument though, for those who are at least interested, AJ Burnett has only pitched in a season 1 time before he came to the Yankees in which his team won at least 89 games. Beckett has pitched on a team who has at least won 89 games 6 times already(2003, and 2006- 2010 and probably counting), for Burnett, just 2003 and the last 2 years.
If you want to go down that road, consider Beckett pitched for the 2005 Red Sox who finished 3rd that year to the Blue Jays who scooped up Burnett only to watch him opt out and sign with the Yankees who are perennial 90+ wins.
My mistake, I meant 2005-2010 every year but 2006. At first I thought it was 2005 they finished in 3rd.
“only to watch him opt out and sign with the Yankees who are perennial 90+ wins. “. What’s wrong with doing that? He’s not the first player to ever opt out.
just pointing out the whole 112-74 vs 110-100 is not best comparison you can look at W/L or you can lookat Becket pitching for the Sox while Burnett played for teams who didntwin as many games as the Sox, and that’s not his fault completely. I’m not defending burnett as i am saying one of your points isn’t a good point either. At this point Idc if burnett outpitched koufax ovr his career, I just want to see him pitch well this season.
Yeah I mentioned that. The Blue Jays did have a few winning seasons but not as much as the Red Sox (except for 06). Beckett has been on a team that has won at least 89 games 6 of the last 8 years.
Anyone else find Cashman’s exchange a little perverted?
“I almost had you. It was this close.”
Sheepish Bill Hall: “Sorry.”
Yeah exactly – what was the nature or context of this conversation. Did Brian really just call him and say “You could’ve been here, but we took a pass”?
Earlier today, Yankees GM Brian Cashman told versatile Astros veteran Bill Hall that the club was “this close” to signing him, tweets Jack Curry of the YES Network.
—
So Cashman probably said “Ahh we need pitching though so we can’t have him”. However I wonder if Cashman has seen Bill Hall has pitched in a game before! So yes Cashman, he can pitch!!!
3 up 3 down
If were that desperate for pitching we always have Nick Swisher
I’m sure Aaron Miles would be easy to obtain, too.
Transitioning Feliz to the rotation could end up being one of the best “additions” to a team this offseason, but if his replacement(s) end up with more blown saves than Feliz has wins, there could be a lot of second-guessing the change. The pressure is on not only Feliz but the remaining Texas bullpen.
“Earlier today, Yankees GM Brian Cashman told versatile Astros veteran Bill Hall that the club was “this close” to signing him”
I have to imagine that if Cashman was “this close” to signing Hall, Hall probably would be well aware of the fact already.
Truly shows how overrated Beckett is.
When it comes to post-win cream pies I think it’s safe to say Burnett has Beckett soundly beaten.
Post-win cream pies is a dumb tradition, it makes me think of the most stupid gag jokes by comedian clowns back in the day, only thing they don’t have is a spritzer bottle in the end, really lame.
I think I read somewhere that the Rangers were asking for Tulo, CarGo, and Ubaldo as a starting point for Michael Young, hahlef
*hah
I was gonna say, you laugh oddly 🙂
ken rosenthal is 4 feet tall. that fact is about as relevant as the stats he dug up to try to pretend beckett and burnett are similar. what a garbage piece that was. -5 bowtie boy
beckett was injured in 2010, but even if you pretend he wasn’t and count it against him, it stands out as a radical anomaly. here are the three full seasons prior to his injury:
player – 2007 – 2008 – 2009 – total
beckett – 6.1 WAR – 5.1 WAR – 5.4 WAR – 16.6 WAR
burnett – 2.6 WAR – 5.5 WAR – 3.4 WAR – 11.5 WAR
really want to add in 2010? go ahead – beckett 1.4, burnett 1.3.
over those 4 seasons beckett has pitched 713 innings, burnett has pitched 779. in 65 fewer innings (about a third of a season), beckett has produced 5+ WAR more over burnett. they do not belong in the same discussion
literally the only way to pretend these two pitchers are similar in any meaningful way at all is to go back and dig up numbers from 5 or more years ago. yes brilliant ken 2000-2006 will give us great insight into 2011 and beyond
the red sox should be concerned about some serious regression from kevin youkilis this year too, as 5 years ago in 2006 he only posted 2.4 WAR. chew on that compelling piece of information sports fans!
I think most would take Beckett over Burnett, but both pitchers have had their share of highs and lows, Beckett with more success obviously. As of now both have to answer the critics with strong years. Burnett is an enigma and needs to prove he can be MORE consistent and Beckett needs to prove his numbers are not leading to an early decline.
Couldn’t agree more. Well said.
There is way too much war on this thread
WAR, what is it good for?
Absolutely nothing.
Edwin Starr knew.
Calculating an individual player’s value in comparrison to other players at his position.
I’m tired of this burnett to beckett comparison… I understand it sure… But take this one for example (only using Yanks cause it came to mind).
You can compare the careers of Randy Wolf and Andy Pettite by major league stats. Sure Wolf doesn’t have the same wins, but lets face it he played on inferior ballclubs his whole career. But 200 innings and just above a 4.00 ERA is what you are going to get from both pitchers. I hardly think any analyst would classify them in the same category.
The biggest difference in Beckett and Burnett is the way that they approach hitters, counts, and situations. Burnett is physically virtually the same pitcher Beckett is. 95 or so power fastball. Not afraid to challenge hitters upstairs. Beckett has the change-up and moreso its the mental element that Beckett has down that keeps him ahead of a guy like Burnett. Burnett still pitches scared when he starts getting hit.
Funny ehough, they are both huge injury risks too (though burnett has been healthy thusfar as a NYY)