With Opening Day right around the corner, the Yankees are set to enter the 2012 season with tremendous pitching depth. Yesterday, we learned that the Bombers offered Freddy Garcia to the Marlins but couldn't get the Fish to bite on a deal. Here's more on the Yanks' pitching and other items out of the American League East..
- The Rays say that they haven't talked with the A's about Kurt Suzuki, tweets Buster Olney of ESPN.com. Earlier today, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe wrote that the Rays have been pushing hard to land the catcher.
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes the Yankees' wealth of left-handed pitching this season is a change of pace from what they've had in years past. Aside from a David Wells here or a Sabathia there, Sherman argues that the club hasn't been successful when it comes to developing and importing lefty arms.
- Players' union president Michael Weiner is happy about the Rays increased payroll and hopes to see the club's attendance numbers rise along with it, writes Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Owner Stuart Sternberg has said they made the increase essentially as an investment, hoping that spending beyond their means will lead to more wins, and, in turn, better attendance.
- Brett Lawrie told Jayson Stark of ESPN.com that he wasn't thrilled with the way that the Brewers were looking to develop him and happy to be dealt to the Blue Jays.
So the bigger the lefties, the better in the Yankees’ case. Interesting.
Interesting that someone is going so hard after Suzuki. I’m actually surprised this is the first rumor surrounding him I’ve heard. With all the catching depth the A’s have, it’s going to be hard to imagine Suzuki staying in Oakland beyond this season.
I wish a Suzuki deal would get done. Oakland needs young arms and Tampa Bay needs a catcher. It’s just that both the A’s and Rays have possibly the best GM’s in the game
What about a 3 way trade involving the Cardinals? Cards send M. Carpenter and Kyle McCllelen to A’s. Rays send Nieman to Birds and pitching prospect Archer to A’s. A’s send Suzuki to Rays.
A’s get a starting 3rd basemen, a solid reliever or spot starter in McCllelen and a B level prospect in Archer. Cards get a starting pitcher to replace C. Carpenter.
Niemann and Archer for K. Suzuki seems too high a price to pay.
Mute point as now it seems Cards will go with Lynn and M Carp appears will go North with the team as a reserve who can play 4 positions.
I believe it is “moot”. So that maybe you don’t get it wrong on an essay or something in the future.
Quoted from the article on Lawrie “He was frustrated that the Brewers insisted on having him start in low Class A ball and earn his way up to Double-A and beyond.”
I’m thinking the Brewers wanted him to start in low-A because he was 19 years old and didn’t have a position defensively yet. It’s not like they didn’t think he was a stud, drafting him in the first round and all, or allowing him to change positions at a whim (catcher, 2nd base, 3rd base, and I believe he picked up an OF glove for awhile as well)
I would say Lawrie’s outright refusal to play in the AFL (with the understanding he’d be going to big-league camp at 19 if he did) says more about his character than his supposed leadership qualities shown in Toronto.
I think his ability to hit a ridiculous amount of triples and beat out routine grounders to first base say more about him being amazing than anything else that doesn’t even matter.
oh please.
if he was 25 acting like that then fine, but at 19, 20? Immaturity is to be expected, and he’s now thriving in a different environment. To question his character now is unfounded and baseless
People were saying the same thing about Morrison early on when he was 1st called up in 2010 and talking a lot.. At the ripe old age of 22.
Edit: Logan Morrison
Immaturity is to be expected, certainly. But to suggest he’s a leader in the clubhouse after only 40 some games is just as unfounded and baseless.
Maybe I shouldn’t have used the word character, but rather intelligence. If you’re looking for the fastest route to the show, then you accept the assignment to AFL (which is really an honor in its own right) to get yourself to big league camp, and then prove you belong there.
Look, as a Brewers fan, I liked Lawrie despite his clear character/immaturity issues. I still like him, I’m just not exactly sure those issues have been entirely put to rest.
So one article citing this says more negative things then anything positive already seen in Toronto because? There’s very little details, no reasoning as to why he didn’t want to play in the AFL, comes off as more of a smear job then trying to find out the who/what/where/why/when of the actual situation. Apparently the Brewers were so spineless they let Lawrie change position whenever he felt like it too.
No, if you read the article, you’d find it actually pretty positive towards Lawrie. There IS reasoning why he refused the AFL assignment–because he was expecting a big league call-up and refused to settle.
The Brewers were patient, not spineless, as you must be with any extremely young, talented, and immature player–as long as he developed as a hitter, I’m sure they didn’t really care where he ended up playing.
I see nothing wrong with him wanting to play in Sept…he had a good season as young guy at the level playing in. Anybody in that situation that doesn’t want the Sept. call up, well keep those guys off my team. I am sure he is not the first guy to say no to the AFL. Not a big deal.
I agree, I’m sure he’s not the first, but as a 19 year old, playing in the AFL is kind of standard if you have prospect status, and if a invite to big league camp comes with it–why wouldn’t you just play?
It makes no sense–the article goes out of it’s way to show that Lawrie wanted the fastest route to the bigs (who doesn’t)–yet a big league camp offer at 19 years old didn’t sway him to spend a few weeks proving himself in AFL?
It’s not exactly like the Brewers were conservative with moving him up through the minors as long as he performed–105 games at Low-A, jumped straight to AA (148 games), and likely a mid-season callup in 2011 after a couple of weeks in AAA if he doesn’t get traded for Marcum.
Tremendous player and talent, but Lawrie has an attitude. When you’re 19, you listen to what you’re bosses tell you. Plain and simple. He wanted to do things his way, and that’s what cost him in Milwaukee. He will thrive in Toronto as long as he hits. Of course, I’m speaking from experience. Five organizations in seven seasons doesn’t happen by conformity…
“When you’re 19, you listen to what you’re bosses tell you. Plain and simple.” Why? Nothing in life is simple and plain. Brett is no ordinary player and he’s not the only one who can tell.
Or his attitude may cause him to peak early. As in, not achieve his potential.
How in the world is he going to learn anything if he already knows it all?
oh give me a break
The only attitude that causes a prospect to not reach potential is laziness, of which I have never heard to describe Lawrie.
When I was 19 I didn’t listen to anybody. A trait I think commonly shared amongst teenagers who think they know everything.
I understand that, and that is very typical. However, when you are a professional baseball player you need to, and are expected to mature at a faster rate. I’ll give you that it is unrealistic, but it is the truth when you are put under a microscope.
There also needs to be some leadership from management, if it’s true that the Brewers allowed him to change position a couple of time because he felt like it would get him to the majors faster then it’s of little surprise Lawrie did whatever he wanted.
The Rays say that they haven’t talked with the A’s about Kurt Suzuki, tweets Buster Olney of ESPN Earlier today, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe wrote that the Rays have been pushing hard to land the catcher.
To settle this matter, I think there should be an independent arbiter named, possible Shyam Das if he is available. Since he did such a good job earlier this year. The independent arbiter can determine as to who is correct by determining as to whom has the bigger desk, that’s right desk. Occam’s Razor should be used or in this case Occam’s Ruler. In the event of a tie, the tie breaker will be who has a corner office or who has the closest office to the corner. Then only only then can we determine who is more right. Or at least that is how I would handle this situation.
Easy. Nick Cafardo says that the Rays have been pushing hard to get Suzuki. Therefore, the Rays have no interest in Suzuki.
zuki for beckham and guyer make it happen billy