2010 Baseball Season/Off-Season Discussion

[pilferk]

I misspoke..here's the direct portion of the article from Buster Olney...

Also, before anybody assumes that the Yankees are going to simply hand over the keys to the vault to Jeter, it's worth reviewing the organization's bloodless history of player evaluation. When Babe Ruth stopped hitting home runs, the Yankees dumped him. When Joe DiMaggio stopped being an effective center fielder -- at a time when Mickey Mantle was waiting in the wings -- the Yankees sent signals to DiMaggio to step aside. When Reggie Jackson slumped, they let him go.

That's an oversimplification by Olney, and not remotely an accurate reflection of history...especially with The Babe and Reggie.

Dimaggio also retired as a Yank, and I've never heard him grouse about being pushed out.  And here's his quote upon retirement:

"I feel like I have reached the stage where I can no longer produce for my club, my manager, and my teammates. I had a poor year, but even if I had hit .350, this would have been my last year. I was full of aches and pains and it had become a chore for me to play. When baseball is no longer fun, it's no longer a game, and so, I've played my last game."

Maybe they sent him "subtle signals", but if they did....it wasn't the only factor in his decisionmaking.  He had a myriad of injuries, and there was the scouting report scandal, too.

Bernie Williams would have been a far better, and more recent, example.

[cotis]

Ah true, forgot about Bernie. He threw out the first pitch the other night in the ALCS.

Just giving some food for thought - kinda boring now with TEX/SF.

[GeorgeSteele]

^ Even Bernie Williams wasn't as harsh taking everything into context.  The Yankees were very patient with Bernie Williams early in his career, allowing him the time (years) to blossom into an all-star.  Asking them to absorb the other bookend of suck in his career was too much to ask.

Anyway, I don't think they're quite at the awkward stage yet with either Jeter or Rivera.  Jeter is still an above-average shortstop and he still has a lot of franchise value to the team.  Rivera, I'd still take over any closer out there.  

Thing is, with $145M committed before Jeter and Rivera sign (and Pettitte?  and Lee?), probably not much left to upgrade the offense... I'm not sure a team that led the league in runs scored needs upgrading, but their ALCS no-show does create pressure to do so.  Of course, the ALCS wasn't the only bad 6-game hitting stretch over an otherwise overall excellent season hitting-wise...  

[pilferk]

^ Even Bernie Williams wasn't as harsh taking everything into context.  The Yankees were very patient with Bernie Williams early in his career, allowing him the time (years) to blossom into an all-star.  Asking them to absorb the other bookend of suck in his career was too much to ask.

Anyway, I don't think they're quite at the awkward stage yet with either Jeter or Rivera.  Jeter is still an above-average shortstop and he still has a lot of franchise value to the team.  Rivera, I'd still take over any closer out there.  

Thing is, with $145M committed before Jeter and Rivera sign (and Pettitte?  and Lee?), probably not much left to upgrade the offense... I'm not sure a team that led the league in runs scored needs upgrading, but their ALCS no-show does create pressure to do so.  Of course, the ALCS wasn't the only bad 6-game hitting stretch over an otherwise overall excellent season hitting-wise...  

And they hit fine vs Minnesota.

I think any offense changes you'll see will be minor. Probably utility type players with decent bats.

But remember, they also lose Birkman, Kearns, Vasquez, Nick Johnson, and what was left of Randy Winn's deal off their payroll. Not to mention, A-rods pay starts to drop either this coming year or next (can't remember which). They've got some wiggle room...enough to pick up Cliff Lee and a journeyman bat....and still resign Jeter and Mo.

Thames will be around next year, and he's cheap.  If they could find a similar player for the infield..with maybe a bit better defense, they'd be all set (and those types of players come cheap enough).

They don't need a DH...they've got plenty of people to rotate through that role already.

[cotis]

Anyone else hoping Berkman is resigned (after they drop his option) to a small incentive deal for two years or so? The guy can still play...

Also, Jorge Cantu and Ty Wigginton are both free agents (according to MLB Daily Dish) and they are both off the bench, RH power bats -- can also play a few positions each.

Sign Berkman (LH power), Wigginton/Cantu (RH power), Cervelli (C), Thames (RH power), and Golson (OF defense) to round out the bench -- doesn't look to bad to me? Maybe a little stacked RH power wise...

[pilferk]

Anyone else hoping Berkman is resigned (after they drop his option) to a small incentive deal for two years or so? The guy can still play...

Also, Jorge Cantu and Ty Wigginton are both free agents (according to MLB Daily Dish) and they are both off the bench, RH power bats -- can also play a few positions each.

Sign Berkman (LH power), Wigginton/Cantu (RH power), Cervelli (C), Thames (RH power), and Golson (OF defense) to round out the bench -- doesn't look to bad to me? Maybe a little stacked RH power wise...

Golson already is with them...he's not FA or arbitration eligible for awhile.   Ditto Cervelli.  Thames is already signed.

Birkman is going to want a multi year deal, and he's going to want to play every day.  The Yanks can't/wouldn't give him either one.  He was a GREAT trade at the deadline, but he's not going to be with the club next year.

[tim_m]

There's no doubt Jeter and Mo stay yankees. Its just a matter of how much and how many years. If Cashman let Jeter get hit 3000 in another uniform he would be murdered literally. Not trying to sound morbid but honestly i could see some asshole doing that if he let Jeter walk.

Just going with an article I read online...

Yanks cut ties with Reggie Jackson when he wasn't performing, same with Babe Ruth, and lastly with Mickey Mantle...

Just goes to show that, in some people's opinions, Yankees have no care for sentiment.

Not saying I agree, but it's just another perspective.

I understand that. However, Jeter is going to be the first yankee in history to get 3000 hits as a yankee. You just can't let him do it in another uniform. You just can't. By the time he finally retires. He will have so many yankee records its ridiculous. He is still way too valuable to the team to let him finish his career anywhere but with the yankees.

[GeorgeSteele]

I know most aren't too thrilled about Texas / San Fran, but I'm pretty excited about Game 1 and the Lincecum / Lee matchup... also looking forward to Hamilton facing Lincecum and Brian Wilson pitching against anybody.

By the way, Mets will soon officially announce Sandy Alderson as the new GM.  He was the safe pick, I think I would have preferred Jon Daniels from Texas, but I guess the team couldn't wait out the World Series.  I'm guessing Alderson, the architect of those McGwire/Canseco A's teams, will promptly get the lineup on a solid steroid regiment.

[Falcon]

Quick hitters..

Alderson is a nice move for the Mets, that said - he has alot of work to do..

The Yanks off season will be interesting to say the least.  Love Girardi and their 3 year commitment to him, managerial stability with a roster in a state of flux is a must.

I'm with pilf, can't see Berkman in pinstripes next year.  There's just too many more cost effective solutions for the kind of production he may or may not supply..

Jeter and Mo should and will die Yankees.  One personifies the Bombers of his generation and the other is the best closer in the history of the game - period.

As for Lee automatically going to the Yanks, I'd hardly say it's a given.  If the Rangers win the series it's going to be hard to turn down The Express and a new ownership flush with money from the outrageous broadcast deal that starts next year.  No doubt a bidding war will ensue and whoever wins will overpay and over extend years.  For me, Lee's worth starts and stops with Doc Halliday money, 3 years at 20 per.  Anything over that is just silly for a 33 year old pitcher..

Looking forward to tonight, The Freak and Cliff - liking the home team in this one..

[tim_m]

Well tonight was not the game i expected. Lee was BAD. Lincecum was good enough for the win. It was a pretty ugly game. Some of the sloppiest baseball i've seen this postseason. Vlad was a disgrace in RF.

[pilferk]

Another tough one for the Rangers....Bullpen can't get out of it's own way.

And, as expected, Girardi signs a new, 3 year, 3 million per, deal with the Yanks.

[Falcon]

Matt Cain was just sick, the Giants definitely have "that look" about them.

The Rangers have little choice but to bring back Lee at home in Game 4, dude's got all winter to rest..

[GeorgeSteele]

Matt Cain was just sick, the Giants definitely have "that look" about them.

The Rangers have little choice but to bring back Lee at home in Game 4, dude's got all winter to rest..

Should be a no-brainer, he didn't exactly pitch deep into Game 1. 

Seeing San Fran on the run they've been on is just another example of the ebbs and flows of baseball... it's the hottest team standing at the end, not always the best. 

In the last decade or so, baseball franchises have been building teams by depending more on advanced statistical data over scouting/observation.  I think the next trend will be to more fully understand the psychological issues that cause slumps or hot streaks and then to learn to control that.  And then from there, similar to what happened with steroids, I think we may see illegal PED usage designed to achieve a desired psychological state that correlates to being 'in the zone'.  Sounds a little quacky, but, hey, I'm just riffin here...


 

[pilferk]

In the last decade or so, baseball franchises have been building teams by depending more on advanced statistical data over scouting/observation.  I think the next trend will be to more fully understand the psychological issues that cause slumps or hot streaks and then to learn to control that.  And then from there, similar to what happened with steroids, I think we may see illegal PED usage designed to achieve a desired psychological state that correlates to being 'in the zone'.  Sounds a little quacky, but, hey, I'm just riffin here...
 

Not as quacky as you think.

There are already some "focus" drugs (stuff like Ritalin and atemoxotine) that are widely used amongst those in Baseball.  In fact, about 8% of MLB players are "diagnosed" with ADHD...which is ridiculously high.  And that spike seemed to manifest pretty much right after the 2006 Drug Policy banned almost all stimulants.   Getting an ADHD diagnosis isn't all that hard to do, if you want one. I'm not saying they're abusing the system (or working to circumnavigate it to get at the stimulants they want/crave)....I'll leave that to conjecture amongst the group.  But something about that stat, and when it manifested itself, certainly seems odd, doesn't it?

http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/01/12/more-mlb-players-diagnosed-with-add-than-ever-before/

[tim_m]

Cain has just been insane this postseason. Game 3 is a must win. If they can't win tomorrow the rangers are gonna die fast and quiet.

[Falcon]

The 2010 Fielding Bilble Awards were announced today:

http://fieldingbible.com/

First Base ? Daric Barton, Oakland
Albert Pujols' four-year lock on the award was finally broken by Barton thanks to the 20 runs he saved defensively for the A's.

Second Base ? Chase Utley, Philadelphia
Utley has consistently proven himself to be one of the best second basemen around, and this year he was rewarded with his first Fielding Bible Award. Now the question, can Utley win his first Gold Glove award?

Third Base ? Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay
In the closest race of the awards, Longoria prevented Ryan Zimmerman from winning his second consecutive award by a single point (92 to 91).

Shortstop ? Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado
Tulowitzki's bat garnered more of the limelight this season as he led the Rockies in another near-miraculous end-of-season comeback, but it's his glove that saved the Rockies 16 runs and earned his second-career Fielding Bible Award.

Left Field ? Brett Gardner, New York Yankees
In the big upset of the awards, Gardner unseated three-time winner Carl Crawford by 10 points in the scoring. The judges recognized his speed and skill in covering the spacious left-field territory in the Yankees new stadium.

Center Field ? Michael Bourn, Houston
The 'Stros are lucky to have Bourn patrolling their center field. He saved his team 16 runs, despite missing 20-25 games due to injury.

Right Field ? Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle
Winning his second consecutive Fielding Bible Award, third career win, Suzuki made three home-run-saving catches last year, saving five runs for the Mariners.

Catcher ? Yadier Molina, St. Louis
Hands down, bar none, Molina is the best catcher in Major League Baseball. This is his fourth-consecutive award, tying him for most career Fielding Bible Awards with Albert Pujols, and very nearly his fifth as he lost in '06 by only six points. Factoring in his runs saved, Misplays and Good Plays, Molina saved the Cards a whopping 20 runs defensively in 2010.

Pitcher ? Mark Buehrle, Chicago White Sox
Buehrle won this award handily?runner up Zack Greinke only had 63 points. Buehrle's edge is his ability to control the running game. He only allowed six of 12 would-be base thieves to steal against him, and he picked off six additional baserunners.

[Falcon]

From the AP Wire:


Albert Pujols hoping for extension

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic -- Albert Pujols hopes to negotiate a contract extension for beyond 2011 with the St. Louis Cardinals.

St. Louis exercised a $16 million option for 2011 on Oct. 6 for the three-time NL MVP.

"I hope that before the season begins I get an extension," the 30-year-old Pujols said during a news conference Thursday.

The team has said there's no specific timetable for beginning negotiations on a new deal with Pujols, who can be a free agent after next year's World Series.

Pujols said he wants to spend the rest of his career with the Cardinals, "but that is something that I cannot control."

Pujols led the NL with 42 home runs, increasing his career total to 408, and won his first league RBIs title with 118. He batted .312, less than a percentage point behind team leader Matt Holliday.

He said it was his best season but was disappointed the Cardinals finished 86-76, five games behind the NL Central champion Cincinnati Reds.

"Personally it was a great season, but I feel bad because my team did not make it to the playoffs," he said.

Pujols also praised Mark McGwire, who just finished his first season as the Cardinals' hitting coach and agreed to stay on for next year.

"I believe that McGwire does not get the credit he deserves as the great batting coach that he is," Pujols said.

[Falcon]

Let's not forget the passing of the great Sparky Anderson, from the Big Red Machine through his years with Tigers.

One helluva manager.

[Falcon]

Here are the National League's Gold Glove winners for 2010 (with career Gold Gloves in parentheses):

P: Bronson Arroyo, Cincinnati Reds (1)

C: Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals (3)

1B: Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals (2)

2B: Brandon Phillips, Cincinnati Reds (2)

3B: Scott Rolen, Cincinnati Reds - 8

SS: Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies (1)

OF: Shane Victorino, Philadelphia Phillies (3)

OF: Michael Bourn, Houston Astros (2)

OF: Carlos Gonzalez, Colorado Rockies (1)

[D]

Jeter winning is a joke. C'mon

He made 6 errors cause he can't get to enough balls to screw it up.

he fielded 200 less balls than the Whitesox Shortstop.