Pitching matchups for the Angels series
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Jul 31, 2008 
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Tonight: RHP Jon Garland (9-6, 4.30) vs. LHP Andy Pettitte (12-7, 3.76), 7:05, YES
Friday: RHP Ervin Santana (11-5, 3.57) vs. RHP Sidney Ponson (6-2, 4.59). 7:05, Channel 9
Saturday: RHP Jered Weaver (9-8, 4.11) vs. RHP Mike Mussina (13-7, 3.56), 3:55, FOX
Sunday: RHP John Lackey (9-2, 2.93) vs. RHP Darrell Rasner (5-8, 4.92), 1:05, YES, WCBS 880
————
The trade deadline is at 4 p.m. today. The plan is to update you throughout the day as moves are made that impact the Yankees, directly or indirectly.
A few predictions:
* The Yankees will not make a deal for Jarrod Washburn today but will make a waivers deal for him sometime next month. While I like the moves Brian Cashman has made so far, the Yankees cannot go forward with Ponson and Rasner in the rotation. There are 55 games left. You want those two making 20-22 starts?
Pitching, pitching, pitching …
* The Red Sox will trade Manny Ramirez to the Marlins with the Pirates as the facilitator. Theo Epstein will not let the opportunity to rid himself of Manny pass by.
* The Rays will land a lefty, let’s say Will Ohman from the Braves.
* Greg Maddux to the Dodgers. Joe Torre loves him some veterans.
http://www.newsday.com/sports/.....1629.story
anyone else hear Kevin Millar taking a shot at Edwar Ramirez? Saying that he had hoped Edwar would have stayed in the game because he is “easy hitting” and lacks an out pitch. That’s really funny coming from Millar, considering that in 4 at bats against Ramirez he’s struck out 3 times!
“One hundred percent,” Millar said when asked if he thought the pitch was intentional. “I was upset they threw him out of the game because he’s really good hitting. He’s a cute little fella, he didn’t throw that hard and he doesn’t have very good stuff. So it’s probably a good idea they threw him out, because it probably would’ve been in Monument Park.”
“There just needs to be a thing about how to throw at a guy, that’s all. Stay in the waist-below, it’s part of baseball. You don’t want to mess with anybody’s career,” Millar said. “He doesn’t throw that hard, so it wouldn’t have hurt, but I wouldn’t have minded facing him.”
“If they can’t throw in,” Millar said, “then throw down, that’s all it is. It’s not a big deal. Ramirez tries his little heart out, but I love facing him. He doesn’t have many out pitches. [He is] fortunate he’s in the big leagues.”
never mind. mr pete is all over the Millar/Ramirez spat in a few entries down.
“That’s really funny coming from Millar, considering that in 4 at bats against Ramirez he’s struck out 3 times!”
Well, that’s good for Millar! I mean 1/4… Is Millar really anything more than a crummy .250 hitter?
“Well, that’s good for Millar! I mean 1/4… Is Millar really anything more than a crummy .250 hitter?”
No he’s not but all that cheap hair dye and peroxide he uses rots the brain and can cause one to become delusional.
Game 1: Garland vs. Pettite is pretty close. Pettite probably has the slight edge, but then the A’s are playing on full throttle.
Game 2: Hopefully is no longer in the tri-state area by Friday.
Game 3: Moose has the edge here, though this brand of Weaver has actually been solid.
Game 4: If Lackey pitches like Lackey, we lose.
If we could go 2-2 split, I take it and run. The Angels scare the crap out of me.
Good thing is, this time we got the arm that throws out 48% of baserunners behind the plate…and not,well, Posada. So at the very least we should inhibit their running game by a good margin.
Typo-
Game 2: Hopefully PONSON is no longer in the tri-state area by Friday.
Yankees will only take 1 out of 4.
Good pitching defeats good hitting, and Yankees hitters are still lousy.
If we win one of the four games, I will consider that a success.
Stop with the headhunting garbage.
It’s all fun and games until an opposing flamethrower retaliates and drills A-Rod and he breaks a bone.
You keep playing that game and you open up your best players to target practice.
Let it go. Beat these teams on the field. There’s no better payback than that.
Frankly, my bet is that if the Yanks do trade for a pitcher – it will be Rasner who gets moved to the pen or sent down.
I just hope I’m wrong because I’d rather not watch Ponson pitch another game for this team.
Yanks will get a new starter or two for this series.
Call me optimistic, but I really believe Phil Hughes is coming back with a tank of fire. Hughes is by far one of the best young talents in the game, and he has a lot to prove. After he got injured and struggled in 2006, he came back and was fantastic. Anybody remember how great he pitched in the playoffs?
I give Kennedy a 50/50 chance of panning out as a number 3 or 4 pitcher, but I really think Hughes can be better than any pitcher we could acquire right now. Not that I’m against the Washburn deal, I’d like to see it happen. Just to add depth and options, he has to be better than Ponson and Rasner.
They’ll give Ian Kennedy a shot at the majors pretty soon. Maybe one or two AAA starts and he’ll replace Ponson.
do the yanks keep moeller for a few more days and use pudge as the dh?
The pitcher is more important than hitters.
If Yankees can not get top pitchers,I don’t think it can win over Redsox and Rays.
Right now,Yankees mostly needed to relay on sharp pitchers,and earned the game win.
Therefore Yankees need top pitchers for champion.
lol rodriguez #12 and rodriguez #13! is that a new world’s record?
What’s going to happen with the starting catching situation next year when Posada comes back?
Who’s starting and who’s sitting?
An answer to BBB’s question in the game thread from yesterday for me — he asked “don’t you think the M’s are kinda cutting off their nose to spite their own face by letting their ire at the media dictate their moves here? If they have several teams interested in Washburn but only one that is willing to eat his whole salary, who cares what the media says? The NY Daily News isn’t paying the Mariners’ bills, but the Yankees are offering to pay one of their bills (a pretty hefty one) in this case. Why let the media’s arrogance get in the way of salary relief?”
Wouldn’t you know, one of the Seattle scribe’s put it better than I have, to date?
To quote TNT writer Larry LaRue (a guy I’ve known for 20 years and someone who takes his job seriously): “The Mariners, of course, have insisted all month that moving salary isn’t the issue this season, and that any trade they make must involve players that improve the team. Fans may finally believe that, but other teams don’t seem to be getting the message.
‘Teams acting like they’re doing us a favor by taking on players with salary for us aren’t having long conversations,’ one Mariners executive said. ‘We’ve targeted what we want and laid it out. If it’s not there, it’s not going to happen.’
General manager Lee Pelekoudas has said making a deal at the deadline isn’t urgent, that the team will be looking at waiver-wire trades in August and pursuing deals in the offseason.
The organization has made it clear, too, that Pelekoudas won’t be evaluated by the trades he makes, but by his decisions. And he has made it simple for other teams – his decision is to make no trade unless it makes sense for the Mariners.”
That makes more sense than any blather I’ve seen to date that involves salary relief, be that blather from Mariners’ fan blogs, Seattle writers’ blogs, or Yankee blogs.
If Cashman continues to deal with Pelekoudas as if he’s doing the M’s a favor, Washburn probably will go somewhere else. If Cashman actually offers a prospect or MLB player that IMPROVES the Mariners in some way, they probably will have a deal.
A “B” or “C” prospect and taking on Washburn’s salary doesn’t fit that criteria at all.
Karen, in order to receive prospects, you have to give a team something that has value. Washburn has no value to the Mariners. As the old saying goes, if they can be a god awful team with him, they can be a god awful team without him. That’s why salary relief should be MORE than enough.
So that quote is stupid. It doesn’t matter if other teams “believe” it. Look at Seattle’s record. Watch them play. They are depressing. How can that team seriously risk $14 million? That can buy them some decent players and help build a team. No one is paying that much money and giving a piss-poor team prospects for a player who ISN’T helping Seattle win. If they were anywhere CLOSE to contention, it would be a different story, but they aren’t.
karen: thank you, for your ‘un-biased’ reporting.
the entire rest of the baseball world, disagrees with you, and your mariner’s front-office.
Karen clearly is carrying the water for the Seattle side of the story. Which is ok. Its what makes the blog fun, to have differing points of view.
Jarrod Washburn is a back of the rotation starter. Back of the rotation starters don’t net you Austin Jackson, Mark Melancon or even Melky Cabrera. They don’t net you the only real AAA prospect (Gardner) in the organization. They especially don’t net you that kind of return when the team is also expecting you to take on a 14 million dollar financial obligation.
You want Jackson, Melancon and Cabrera? No problem. Put King Felix and Brendon Morrow in the deal. You will have those guys in Seattle by gametime Friday night.
In salary dump situations, real transactions work differently. If the team takes on the money, you get next to nothing (from a prospect standpoint) in return.
If the Mariners have their panties in a wad and don’t want to move Washburn to the Yankees (or anybody else), fine by me. However, there is a reason they are looked upon in baseball circles as having a completely dysfunctional organization. Its not decisions like this one, its how they react to them. They have no reason to be upset with the Yankees. They should be upset with themselves with the way they have run that franchise into the ground.
The Mariners are in the position they are in is because they overpaid for back of the rotation guys (Silva and Washburn) and thought a whack job (Bedard) could be a frontline winner for them, giving gave away their best prospects in doing so.
When it comes to making solid baseball decisions, nobody in baseball looks at what the Mariners have done in the past two years and say, “Yeah, that’s the way to do it”.
They should traded Washburn when they had the chance. Now, unless they find religion between now and 4 pm, they still will own a declining asset with a significant financial obligation attached to him. Making him even tougher to deal in the off-season.
Not smart. Then again, its the Mariners. One shouldn’t expect anything less.
No players for Washburn. Take the salary on or let Seattle eat dust.
Pudge is a type-a free agent after this year so unless Yanks sign him there should be no issue re Jorge.
There is no way that Ponson should be allowed on the mound on Fri. I would rather take my chances with Giese or IPK if he is ready.
Potential line-up:
Damon (l) dh
Jeter (r) ss
Abreu (l) rf
A-Rod (r) 3b
Giambi (l) 1b
I-Rod (r) c
Cano (l) 2b
Nady (r) lf
Melky (s) cf
Chet
Karen:
Question:
What is worse than paying Jared Washburn $11 Million and finishing in Last Place?
Answer: Paying Jared Washburn $11 Million next Season and finishing in Last Place!
No other MLB Team is interested in
Washburn at his current salary. THAT should tell Pelekoudas what kind of options are left.
Why do the Marlins want Manny when they can have Jason Bay? Bay’s cheaper, is signed atleast through next-season, ad is still in his prime while Manny is likely due for a down-fall one of these years?
Bring up Aceves and Kennedy for those two starts. They won’t be any worse than Sid and Darrel. Even if one is worse at least it won’t be a foregone conclusion that they will be worse and we’d all like to at least see them try. Ponson and Rasner are just bandaids whose time has come.
Pelekoudas is a rookie GM and is acting like rookie GMs do, which is to say overvaluing his players and not making a deal out of fear that “he could have gotten more”. See the Twins GM with Santana. Totally overplayed his hand with NYY and BOS and ended up with less from the Mets. Expect the same from Seattle. They will call next April and will offer to pay some of his salary, but at that point it will be too late b/c we will have land CC.
“Why do the Marlins want Manny when they can have Jason Bay? Bay’s cheaper, is signed atleast through next-season, ad is still in his prime while Manny is likely due for a down-fall one of these years?”
2 reasons:
1) Ramirez really cost them nothing in terms of money. Boston will pick up most, if not all of what’s left of his contract. They can let him go next year and get a couple pix. Bay would cost them $10M or so over the next season and a half.
2) Manny puts some fannies in the seats. Bay does not. With Ramirez in their lineup, the Fish have a chance of getting fourteen, maybe even fifteen thousand a night. (:
“Pudge is a type-a free agent after this year so unless Yanks sign him there should be no issue re Jorge.”
Pudge likely will be a Type A free agent but the Yankees won’t get anything out of that. There’s no way they offer him arbitration. Why??? Same reason they won’t offer it to Giambi. He’ll accept it. He’s 38 years old to start the season next year. His defensive skills are diminishing and he’s an average to below average hitter. Nobody is offering him a long term deal (and he may not want one at his age) and nobody will come within $5 million of what the Yanks would have to pay him if he accepts arbitration.
They stood a better chance of landing draft pix by keeping Farnsworth and letting him go via FA. But this move was for ’09 and it was a good deal for the Yankees….and the Tigers.
July 31st, 2008 at 8:01 am
“Why do the Marlins want Manny when they can have Jason Bay? Bay’s cheaper, is signed atleast through next-season, ad is still in his prime while Manny is likely due for a down-fall one of these years?â€
2 reasons:”
…and even at his age, Manny is eons better than Jason Bay offensively, which is what the Marlins sorely need in their lineup.
Ken Griffy Jr to CWS
Today we get to find out if Seattle is the poorly run franchise they portray themselves to be by willing to bite their nose to sprite thir face or do the sane thing by doing a salary dump to the Yankees for a back of the rotation starter.
Odds are that they will blink by 4:00 PM and come to their senses.
“…and even at his age, Manny is eons better than Jason Bay offensively, which is what the Marlins sorely need in their lineup.”
Not anymore. Bay has had a pretty successful career as the only bat in a bad Pittsburgh lineup. He’s hitting nearly as well as Ramirez is this year. Put him in a lineup with some other bats and who know? Ramirez ducking guys Joba and Felix Hernandez speaks volumes about his confidence in own abilities at this point. He’s still a very good hitter, but he’s not agreat one anymore.
I think if the Yankees are going to take on Washburn, THEY should receive a prospect (B or C level of course). But to be sporting, let’s throw in Carl “I’ve got sand in my Va J J” Pavano, and cover his salary. What the heck, we have to pay it anyway.
next time we face the O’s joba should rock millar in the face, or veras, somebody that can make sure he is out cold. that guy is worse than Youks. He talks sh*t, of course he can against the yankees, but otherwise he is a washed up piece of crap that no team wants.
Fredo Corleone,
My understanding is that teams sometimes offer arbitration to players, but have a handshake agreement with the agent / player, where the player will not accept it, so the team can get the draft picks.
I can see the Yankees doing that with Giambi’s agent (Arn Tellem, I think), because there is a good relationship there.
Boras is a dirtbag, so I would be wary about offering I-Rod arbitration, but you would think that the Yankees and Boras deal with each other so much (A-Rod, Gerit Cole, Ian Kennedy, Tim Bleich), that he could not afford to screw them on this one b/c like it or not the Yankees are where the money is.
Just a thought.
Fredo-
Thanks for the correction. I completely forgot about the Arbitration issue.
Chet
Why did the Boston ownership group fly with the team on their last road trip to L.A. and Seattle ?
To solidify once and for all in their minds that they had been challenged by Manny Ramirez too many times and saw for themselves that it would continue.
Their minds were made up then and when the team returned home to face the Yankees, they saw even more acts of defience which should have sealed the deal.
If they don’t sign off on Manny now they look like bigger fools for continuing to tolerate Manny being Manny.
Ed:
Not a chance. Both guys would be giving away millions. Neither is getting a long term contract for big money from anyone. If Giambi were to be offered arbitration and accpets, he’s looking at something on the order of $18M. He’d be lucky to scratch out half that elsewhere. Pudge would be looking at $13M. Nobody will come near that.
“But this move was for ‘09 and it was a good deal for the Yankees….and the Tigers.”
Oops! Meant to say this deal was ’08 (not ’09).
when you read the whole quote from millar including the part about throw at hitter’s legs instead of thier heads, i have to agree with him.
what is with the headhunting? why cant we throw at thier hips, where they have even less chance of getting away? guys accept this as part of the game and they just take thier base, but this year the yankees seem to want to throw at guy’s melons all the time. what gives?
Fredo,
This is a common practice between teams and agents. Look it up. Point is Yankees would only offer arbitration if his agent promised beforehand, that he would not accept it. If the agent did not promise, the Yankees would not offer. Sure you take the chance the agent screws you, but guess what, that agent will be done dealing with the Yankees and will lose leverage with other teams if the Yankees are “not in on a player”.
Mike & Mike saying there was a big trade in baseball to report – hopefully they are not just planning to rehash yesterday. I’ll let you all know what I hear
“Ken Griffy Jr to CWS”
Odd. Where do they plan to play him? Doubt he’s playing over Dye and Quentin. Can he play center anymore???
re: manny vs. bay/hermida, et al
bay may be a better hitter than manny now, but when you’re putting together a team for the postseason run, you’d much rather have a guy like manny, who has shown he can and will produce in the PS clutch, than a younger guy having a better year who has little or no playoff experience.
past PS success is what teams need, especially teams like florida who has nobody who has been in the BIG spotlight and thrived. bay may be a better everyday player, but we know for sure what manny can do in that BIG moment.
this is why pudge is such a great addition, despite the fact that his skills are somewhat diminished, he has shown time and again in his career that he will come through in the BIG moment.
they’re probably just talking about the griffey trade
Ken Rosenthal saying Ken Griffey Jr. to the White sox. Griffey to decide about waiving NTC this mornign
yeah sorry – I just woke up
” what is with the headhunting? why cant we throw at thier hips, where they have even less chance of getting away? guys accept this as part of the game and they just take thier base, but this year the yankees seem to want to throw at guy’s melons all the time. what gives?”
thats the point. throwing at a batter isnt as easy as it looks. sometimes it will go wild. you never know. so when they risk throwing in on our batters and hitting arod and jeter their players are in risk of serious injury too.
notice the last 2 shots arod took were head level.
google news has nothing on griffey being traded yet.
The deadline for offering arbitration is 12/01/2008 and the player either has to accept or decline by 12/07/08.
Another way the Yankees would get draft picks is if the player[I-Rod for example] signs with another team before 12/02/08.
The first 15 picks are protected, so let’s say the Nationals sign I-Rod in November, the Yankees would still get 2 picks but would not get the Nationals 1st round pick.
although i should point out that i found out here that tim russert died right here on this blog before google news showed anything.
“Yankees would only offer arbitration if his agent promised beforehand, that he would not accept it.”
They won’t get that promise. Why would these guys give away millions that they can’t get anywhere else just to appease the Yankees??? Doesn’t matter who the agent is. He has to represent the interests of Giambi and Irod in this particular case and if they are offered arbitration, their best interests lay in accepting…….which is why the Yanks won’t offer it.
“Can he play center anymore???”
no.
it doesnt make sense to me either.
Could the yanks get A.J. Burnett in a trade today? That dude can strike some people out!
If Posada comes back and the Yankees also have Molina under contract for another year, that means that Pudge wouldn’t have as much playing time as he will probably get these last couple of months. He proposed the trade himself in order to get more time behind the plate.
That can change what Pudge is willing to take in terms of a contract. The other possibility is that the Yankees come to a deal with him for another year with the understanding that Posada may supplant him when he is ready.
Giambi won’t net much in terms of return for offering arbitration, so he will just end up being a buy out.
“The deadline for offering arbitration is 12/01/2008 and the player either has to accept or decline by 12/07/08.
Another way the Yankees would get draft picks is if the player[I-Rod for example] signs with another team before 12/02/08.”
Which is why no team (even Seattle)would be dumb enough to sign one of these guys without 1st seeing how the arbitration thing pans out.
wondering if the pale hose will play griffey at 1b. they are RH heavy in thier batting order and konerko is batting .214
Griffey trade was just reported on Mike and Mike.
Fredo,
I hear you, but this happens all the time. If the agent does not make that promise, the Yankees do not offer arbitration, so he is no better off. He is not, not representing his player by saying no to an offer he would not get if there was any chance that he would accept it.
Why would an agent do that ? B/c the Yankees will return the favor one day (i.e. give the player an extra $500k, which means another $25k for Boras based on a 5% commission). $25k for doing nothing
Some team will sign Pudge to a 2 or 3 year deal after this season. He’s still great on defense and an average bat which means he’s above average for catchers.
“wondering if the pale hose will play griffey at 1b. they are RH heavy in thier batting order and konerko is batting .214″
Suppose the other possibility is moving Quentin to center. Griffey to left and Swisher to first. I don’t know. Seems like they are merely adding depth.
Really confused on this Griffey trade. Not really sure where it makes any sense.
burnett would be a great replacement if we let pavano get away from us.
hey, you’ve got a disabled list, you gotta USE it don’t you?
As for the Manny circus, it seems to me that when the “big” deadline trades actually happen they’re the ones you don’t hear much about UNTIL they happen. There’s been a lot of talk about this one.
If what I’m reading on baseball.suite101.com are accurate, this I didn’t know.
The Elias Sports Bureau Ranks the players in one of five positional groups based on the last two years of statistics.
The statistical criteria vary by position.
1. 1B/DH/OF
2. 2B/SS/3B
3. Catchers
4. Starting Pitchers
5. Relief Pitchers
So if Abreu is lumped with 1B/DH/OF will he be in the top 20% to be classified as a Type A?
Ken Griffrey Trade to the white Suxs
Ken Griffrey Trade to the white Suxs
I think there is going to be some real crazy trades today if the Griffey trade is real.
Fredo
I think you are correct if the trade does happen (griffey needs to wave his NTC). Swisher does play first base.
“Some team will sign Pudge to a 2 or 3 year deal after this season. He’s still great on defense and an average bat which means he’s above average for catchers.”
He’s not great on defense anymore. Pete has it right. He believes the Yanks won’t offer arbitration because he’d get $13M and he’d take it because he can’t scratch that anywhere else.
rosenthal’s report on fox posted 14 min ago, says its awaiting griffey’s approval.
That duo of Rasner/Ponson really puts more of a damper on this series. They can’t make the playoffs with those 2.
“So if Abreu is lumped with 1B/DH/OF will he be in the top 20% to be classified as a Type A?”
I believe so, and among the guys who could leave via free agency, Abreu is the one guy who would almost certainly pass on arbitration and net the Yankees 2 top pix. He’s got one last shot a big pay day via free agency.
Fredo,
Wink, wink deals re: arbitration for veteran players happen all the time between teams and agents.
Why? Because its good business for both sides. If the agent and team have a good relationship, they will do more business together over the years. Its one hand washing the other.
If Pudge pans out, and the Yankees decide this is just a rental situation, don’t be surprised if he is offered arbitration, decline it, and they will get the picks.
If he plays well, teams will give him a 2-3 year deal. The game is berefit of catchers and he can still play at a pretty high level. Perhaps not to his former level but, certainly at a level higher than most catchers in the game today.
Even on the “decline”, he is third in the AL among catchers in OPS this season. That equals another multi-year deal if he keeps it up.
strange when you see these things happen before 9 a.m. the baseball world generally doesnt get outta bed till after 10 (they work nights). thats a helluva wake up! 2 future HOF’ers move in about 18 hours, another one just about to move…
If the Griffey deal gets done, it might not be the last we hear from Chicago on the trade wire today.
i should say 2 more future HOF’ers(maddux and manny) about to move
keep hearing on espn that Maddux probably wont happen
olney put the chances of maddux moving at 70% pregame last night.
Ortiz’s take on the state of the Sox and the Pudge trade
http://www.bostonherald.com/sp.....id=1110183
“He’s not great on defense anymore.”
According to BBTF’s analysis at the all-star break Pudge had 5.6 defensive runs saved which is good for fourth in the AL. Maybe he’s not great but he’s solidly above average. Add to that his above average hitting and you’ve got yourself a pretty darn good catcher. Considering the lack of talented catchers some team will give him a 2 or 3 year deal.
SJ:
So what you’re saying is the agent will sell out his client in the name of maintaining a relationship with a team???
I’ve heard of these deals when not accepting arbitration serves the players best interests (like it would for Abreu for example), but in this case it doesn’t. He’d be leaving millions on the table.
iv been saying for a while that the wasburn thing is not gonna play out today b/c its a stone cold lock he will pass through waivers and be available all next month before rosters have to be set. this gives the yankees time so assess kennedy and aceves more and see if they think hughes (or buttock) can help.
Man do those matchups look weak with Sir Sid and Rasner going against Santana and Lackey. Hopefully Mussina can rebound from monday’s debacle. We need a W tonight or it could be a real bad weekend. Hoping the Angels catch that post fenway letdown like we did this week. I think Cashman should just piece some spare parts together and get Washburn. Seattle just doesn’t want to look like idiots in front of their fanbase, ticket holders etc.. I realize they want to improve but I hope they realize that shedding that money will help them improve. Anyway I dont feel we can spare any more games waiting for something to happen. IPK seems to be the only guy that can come up anytime soon but does he really need that kind of pressure? I can’t see him responding too well to that.
“but in this case it doesn’t. He’d be leaving millions on the table.”
but if he signes a multi-year deal, even at 2 years with a paycut, say like $7-8 million a year, he’s got job security and now anywhere from $2-3-4 million more in his bank account.
i watched the tigers play a few times this week and i posted on here “pudge is STILL a stud!” b/c i was so impressed with his game. i think this is a BIG pickup. i really LOVE what molina has done for us this year and i see both of them producing more by sharing the duties. i think we’re still gonna see alot of molina. and our batting order is back to 8-strong bats plus melky, which is great. pudge isnt the hitter he was but he is still clutch and has great at-bats all the time.
really hoping he has a big game today to kick it off right in pinstripes!
There are all kinds of ways to get the player to turn down arbitration. I think Pudge could get a decent deal after this year. Also, remember that he proposed the trade himself so he could get playing time. If the Yankees have 3 catchers, it means he won’t get much time behind the plate.
You have to look at the whole situation, not just the dollars.
I think its still up in the air depending on Pudge and arbitration. We’ll see at the end of the year where it all stands. It all depends on the market for catchers and how Pudge finishes the season.
He wouldn’t be selling out his client Fredo.
Agents know the market prior to putting a player out on the market. At least the good one’s do.
How would he be selling him out if he got him a 2 year deal for over 20 million dollars? That’s more than what accepting arbitration would bring him. Which is what he will get if he plays well for the Yankees over the next two months.
The Marlins were ready to give him an extension under those terms now, if they were able to work out a deal with the Tigers. They couldn’t agree on the terms, which is why the deal got scuttled.
Even as much as Boras messed up his relationship with Arod, he had the market pegged properly. He left 81 million on the table and his client got a new 275 million dollar deal.
Say what you will about Boras but, nobody knows the market better than he does.
Why do you think Pudge pushed the Tigers to trade him to the Yankees? He knows that if he performs well, another contract comes his way.
In so doing, they will do right by the Yankees if the situation arises. Its just the way business is done in the game with certain teams.
Can’t do it with everybody but, the Yankees are one of those teams players and agents (for the most part) look to work with in these areas.
i’m gonna guess that the washburn deal doesnt happen today. we’re philosophically too far apart. he could still end up here next month though. i hope cash is working on something else today though. and i hope it involves melky getting shipped, that would mean its big time
Y’s guy this morning he said he thought it wasnt going to happen i was too sleepy to hear what changed.
On the Griffey thing I wonder what the SOx have to give up to get him we are only hearing one side. Who picks up the money, will he as that his option be picked up.
INteresting morning and day so far.
fuhgoobagaz makes a great point. The Yankees already have two very good catchers signed for 2009. If they offer Pudge arbitration its pretty unlikely he would accept because he knows he wouldn’t get play time.
We are setting ourselves up for the split this weekend, can’t really blame Girardi. 2 of our most reliable vs. 2 of their backend (Garland and Weaver is a serious backend, jeez) and 2 of their aces vs. 2 of our duds… I think most of us here would certainly be happy with a split this weekend. Would be fantastic if Ponson or Rasner (most likely Rasner, IMO) could step up and have a big game against these guys. Taking 3/4 would be huge and send a big message to the league.
Jayson Stark’s report this morning:
Here’s what I know about the status of this deal, as of this morning:
• An official of one of these three teams placed the odds of this getting done today at “50-50.”
• Multiple sources have said that outfield prospect Mike Stanton is not in this trade, although Boston asked for him and Pittsburgh has been insisting on a prospect of his caliber, in addition to Jeremy Hermida and other prospects.
• Despite reports that left-handed reliever John Grabow would wind up in Boston, indications are that he would actually go to the Marlins if this trade gets done.
• The status of Marlins pitcher Ryan Tucker (recently sent back to the minor leagues to be converted to the bullpen) remains uncertain. Tucker, according to a baseball man who has spoken to the teams involved, is still a name that’s “in play.”
I think after seeing the RS getting swept at home, a split would be OK. I would like to see the Yankees get an upgrade over Ponson or Rasner to take one of those starts.
I agree completely with SJ44 about Pudge, Boras, and the Yankees, i.e., it’s a win-win for everyone.
The Yankees’ biggest problem at catcher was a lack of flexibility. Without Pudge, if Posada’s rehab didn’t go smoothly and he wasn’t in catching shape next season, the Yankees would have had no choice but to go with Molina/??? again.
Now, if the Yankees need Pudge back as their starting catcher next year, they can offer him arbitration and he might just take it. Even if the Yankees overpay, they will have him for one year, which would be perfect.
If he doesn’t take it, the Yankees get their Type A draft picks, which they wouldn’t have received if they kept Farnsworth and he left as a FA.
Now if Posada is ready to come back, the Yankees can still offer Pudge arbitration, which he will decline because (a) he doesn’t want to be a backup and (b) he can get a multiyear deal somewhere else. The Yankees get their draft picks and Pudge gets what any late-30s catcher wants the most: a multiyear deal.
The flexibility the Yankees just gained at catcher is another reason why this trade is so great.
if the yanks take 3/4 from anaheim and manny leaves boston, they’re gonna be jumping off the zakim bridge!
o what fun!
molina is getting $2M/yr and i doubt he has an ntc. he would start on alot of clubs. if all 3 catchers are ready to go next year, jose can be easily moved if they choose to go that route.
If you get a split this weekend, you take it and be very happy about it.
Anaheim is a very, very good team. Better than the Red Sox and better than the Yankees right now.
If you gain a split, nothing wrong with that.
The key is beating the bad teams. Its why losing home series to teams like Baltimore, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Detroit, while splitting a 4 game home series with the Royals, hurt so much.
Gotta pound the bad teams and split with the good one’s to get to the playoffs.
There is talk that the deal for Manny might colapse from the Pirates’ side. I think that Boston will try hard to get something done though. Manny has been giving the RS a huge middle finger throughout all this, and if they do nothing they lose credibility.
I think something will end up happening with Manny. His face while holding the sign in last nights game said it all.
They won’t trade Molina to keep Pudge. Molina is perfect for what he is…..a backup catcher.
They aren’t going to tie up over 20 million bucks on two catchers. That would be dumb.
Unless Posada has a significant setback, or they make a decision to move him to first base permanently (doubtful, IMO), Pudge is a rental and nothing more.
I’m not so sure that the Yankees would want to lose Molina, though. A lot depends on how well Pudge does, but if Posada comes back healthy enough, Pudge will take a second seat. I don’t think he is quite ready to accept that. Its what brought this trade on in the first place.
Peter, where I think the Yankees could get into some slight trouble with Washburn is in regards to the 2009 season. Wang, Joba, Hughes are locks for the rotation. And Pettite obviously if he wants to come back. But if the Yankees get Washburn, is that it? Wouldn’t that limit their flexability to pursue a Sabathia or someone else? Or even bring back Mussina (though I would be careful there regardless of how well he has pitched this season).
This may just be a big charade for the Red Sox to tell Manny, “We tried but we couldn’t do a deal”, and hope Manny decides to play hard for them the rest of the way.
They trade Manny, they are reducing their chances of winning another championship significantly.
Jason Bay isn’t as good a hitter as Manny Ramirez. Before all the stat folks go crazy quoting stats, its a whole lot different playing in Boston, with something on the line everyday, than playing in Pittsburgh.
Manny, while still crazy, is still Manny in big games. Jason Bay has no big game track record.
Its why I would be surprised if they trade him, no matter how much they want him out of Boston.
For better or worse, both sides still need each other at this time.
I highly doubt Pettitte comes back next year. He doesn’t want to play anymore. And I don’t think the Yankees re-sign Mussina
“I highly doubt Pettitte comes back next year. He doesn’t want to play anymore. And I don’t think the Yankees re-sign Mussina”
is it opposite day?
hey i think jeter is going to ask to be traded to the washington nations
Breaking news: Reds agree to trade Griffey pending his approval. espn has it!
AP actually said he is very intrigued about the idea of pitching in the new stadium. Honestly, I think it is the only reason he is even considering pitching again for us next year.
I think he stays for one more year. Unless we get 27/08… Then he’ll probably like to leave being on top.
“Breaking news: Reds agree to trade Griffey pending his approval. espn has it!”
Um, this was breaking news two hours ago.
Bruney is on his way back up
Jon-
Pettitte has said numerous times he wants to pitch in the new stadium. IF, and thats a big IF, we pick up CC, our 1-4 are: Wang/CC/Joba/Hughes…we need a veteran with all those young guys. Wang and CC are somewhat vet’s but not in a true sense. i would LOVE Pettitte as our #5 that gives guys a good veteran presence.
im saying i was watching SC and it said breaking news! I kno it was breaking news 2 hrs ago!
Jon-
Where do you get your info from???? AP will be back next year because of the new stadium!!!
Andy would probably like the historical aspect of closing the Stadium and opening the new one. Even with another WS I think he will lean toward coming back.
I didn’t realize Pettitte was saying that about the new stadium. I know he’s been trying to leave the game for awhile now, he keeps getting dragged back.
Jon, I think its more like the Favre syndrome with Andy. For a while the retirement looks good, then reality sets in and he sees himself sitting on a porch instead of playing… the only thing that would make it likely for him not to play next year, IMO, is if his arm doesn’t feel great at the end of the season.
Yeah he gets dragged back, kicking and screaming, with $16 million contracts and the chance to win another ring. Poor guy. Just when he thinks he’s out, they pull him back in.
He’s not getting dragged. Nobody is forcing the man to come back. He said if he feels healthy, then he likes pitching. If he was trying to leave the game, trust me, he would not be in pinstripes right now.
Andy Pettite:
“Every time I think I’m out, they pull me back in!!”
I was listening to John Heyman on WFAN this morning and he was saying how the Yankees need to go out and trade for another reliever now that Farnsworth is gone. Isn’t that what they just did with Marte? Its getting absurd how little credit the Yankee bullpen gets. Veras, Ramirez, Robertson, Giese and Rivera have all been fantastic. Marte will be great despite his one bad outing and now we have Bruney coming back and possible Melancon? Incredible depth, and for me the bullpen isn’t a worry in the least.
SJ I agree I dont think this trade will happen and it will be like usual when this has happened in the past Manny resigns himself to staying in Boston and then goes on a tear. Unfortunately for him he has now lost the respect of his teamates in the locker room and Manny being Manny just wont cut it anymore. He will play out the year and I think any chance of them picking up his option is now gone, although like we have sai in the winter it only takes one owner to say spend the money so he may get he money he thinks he can get.
All these good trades are SJ44′s worst nightmare. Now the Yanks can’t sell and rebuild and trade Cano like he wants.
Can anybody explain why we just gave away Hawkins like that? I mean I know the guy is worthless to us, but we have a much better than average bullpen. Some team could have used him and given up maybe a little more than a Single-A infielder. I’m not complaining, as we have made two great moves so far, but the Hawkins move was a bit surprising considering we got diddly. the guy is still a major league reliever.
This is pretty much Boras bashing, but I can’t help it. Any chance to post something that knocks Boras down a couple pegs puts a grin on my face:
From Maddon’s article on Pudge:
“When Dombrowski got to the ballpark in Cleveland, he called Rodriguez into Leyland’s office at which time they made a courtesy call to Rodriguez’s agent Scott Boras, who, predictably, immediately started making demands for compensation to his client in exchange for waiving his no-trade clause. At that point, Rodriguez reportedly got on the phone and told Boras to butt out; that this was his wish and that everything had already been signed off on.
Interestingly, wasn’t that how this whole Yankee season got started way back last November – when another Rodriguez told Boras he wanted to be a Yankee and to butt out?”
Hahahaha
“The Seattle Post Intelligencer reports that the Rockies were “shocked” when the Mariners asked for both Dexter Fowler and Casey Weathers in exchange for Jarrod Washburn.
No wonder the Yankees backed out of the rumored deal for Washburn. The newspaper also notes that the Mariners asked for “Jon Niese and/or Fernando Martinez or another top prospect” from the Mets, which is even more laughable. ”
Is Pelekoudas high?
So, get this… The guy who wrote that article blaming the Yankees for the Washburn deal not being done yet http://www.thenewstribune.com/.....28266.html that Pete posted yesterday ticked me off, so I emailed him and told him how ignorant he was and how unprofessional his article was (including the “fugetaboutit” reference).
I also forwarded him a piece from Buster Olney’s blog to show that it wasn’t just Yankee fans that thought it was rididuclous that they haven’t taken the Yankees money and run…. The blog entry basically said that the 14M was a “gift from the baseball Gods” and how “Right now, the Washburn market is a market of one.” Here’s the entry http://insider.espn.go.com/esp.....ney_buster
So, this guy responds to me late last night with basically, Seattle’s majority owner Hiroshi Yamauchi is worth $6.5 billion more than Steinbrenner, we don’t need his money…. In the article, he had referred to Washburn as a “card to play.”
Ahhhh, OK. But that doesn’t make Jarrod Washburn an Ace-in-the-hole, and certainly doesn’t make him worth anything more than a salary dump!! It never ceases to amaze me how morons like this guy continue to get jobs (ie Francessa) that give them the public ear.
Tell me Seattle wants to eat his contract and get players instead. Ok, fine if that were the case. But don’t tell me they deserve the salary relief AND good players for a washed up, number 5 starter.
So ESPN is reporting that Kyle Lohse is now on the market. He wouldn’t be a bad option at all. Because of his career year though, I am afraid of what the Cardinals would be asking for in return.
The Mariners should be contracted
Could the yanks get A.J. Burnett in a trade today? That dude can strike some people out!
Dude he has an opt. out, now maybe it means nothing to you but if we are giving away prospects for a player not even committed to stay also if he were to stay would be a DL waiting to happen I’d think the majority of us would have a problem w/ that.
Pelekoudas doesn’t have a clue on what he can and can’t do.
Washburn will get nothing back. Unless Karen were a GM, then she would trade the world for him.
What brilliant insight Mike! What would this blog do without your daily “contributions”.
When I’m finished hanging out with your mom, I’ll let her know its time to change your diaper.
I have to agree with SJ. We’ve seen this “Manny movie” before. I’m not convinced he’s going anywhere. I hope I’m wrong, though, I would rather face Jason Bay in a big spot.
“Can anybody explain why we just gave away Hawkins like that? I mean I know the guy is worthless to us, but we have a much better than average bullpen. Some team could have used him and given up maybe a little more than a Single-A infielder. I’m not complaining, as we have made two great moves so far, but the Hawkins move was a bit surprising considering we got diddly. the guy is still a major league reliever.”
Huh?
He was designated for assignment.
If the Yankees didn’t trade him (to the Twins, Tigers, or Astros, apparently), he’d be a free agent, and the Yankees would, at most, get ~$150,000 in salary relief.
As is, the Yankees got ~$1,500,000 in salary relief.
I’ll take the latter with a token non-prospect, thankyouverymuch.
“Is Pelekoudas high?”
yes, high on crack. that offer is flat insulting to Colorado’s intelligence.
“When I’m finished hanging out with your mom, I’ll let her know its time to change your diaper.”
Angels no doubt will sweep. The very best we can hope for is not to be routed in all 4 games. If we get blown out in only 2 games, that would consider to be a successful series for the Yanks.
So ESPN is reporting that Kyle Lohse is now on the market. He wouldn’t be a bad option at all. Because of his career year though, I am afraid of what the Cardinals would be asking for in return.
So why are you even advocating it ?
Everyone reaches a breaking point.
Patrick,
It is funny how the Yankee bullpen is a “mirage” to the national baseball columnists.
Perhaps it is but, ALL bullpens are mirages in a sense. You ride hot hands and you hope they hold up over the course of the year.
The toughest thing to do in baseball is build a bullpen because they are so up and down from year to year.
The one area of the team that has depth is the bullpen. Now, if they can get another lefty (thereby making Marte the 8th inning guy), I could see the logic in that.
To say they “must” get another bullpen arm is something I disagree with because its less of a need (IMO) than finding another starting pitcher.
No on Lohse. He’s the classic case of Dave Duncan’s magic (see Jeff Weaver’s year in St. Louis for example) and the benefit of a change in leagues.
He would get killed in the AL. Just as he did prior to going to St. Louis.
SJ44? Just curious about your name. A Reggie Jackson fan? 44 years old?
From mlb.com:
The momentum that built throughout Wednesday night that Manny Ramirez could be dealt to the Marlins continued into Thursday morning. Talks are continuing, according to a source early Thursday, and indications are a deal could in fact be reached by the 4 p.m. ET non-waiver deadline.
Brandon-
Not exactly advocating. I was more along the lines just trying to report it and let it be known.
Only reason I said it wouldn’t be a bad option is because who is in the back of the rotation at the moment. Do I think we will pursue it? No. Do I think we should? Not really. Like I said, my intention was more along the lines of letting it be known that he was available. Nothing is really out of the question at this point.
JoeyA said July 31st, 2008 at 9:55 am “Can anybody explain why we just gave away Hawkins like that? I mean I know the guy is worthless to us, but we have a much better than average bullpen. Some team could have used him and given up maybe a little more than a Single-A infielder. I’m not complaining, as we have made two great moves so far, but the Hawkins move was a bit surprising considering we got diddly. the guy is still a major league reliever.”
JoeyA, read SJ44′s answer to me at 7:15 above. If you don’t get answers like that from others on the blog in response to your question, it’s hypocrisy.
BTW, SJ44, I thoroughly agree with your general assessment of the Mariners organization, as it was constructed under GM Bill Bavasi. Some of the stupidest deals and contract $$ were handed out under his watch.
I can’t blame the current interim GM (with presumably an OK from above) for attempting to rebuild even a jot with the still-usable-but-expendable body parts they have. The M’s DON’T need to dump salary for the sake of dumping salary. Even with the lousy team, they still rake in the dough from their TV deal, their merchandising, Ichiro’s draw from the Japanese market (tons of tourists), and even the gate. They’re not Pittsburgh or KC.
If they don’t find a way in the next 6 hours, they will in the next 31 days, or the next 6 months. I don’t really care (except that yes, I’m presenting the Seattle fan POV here), since this season is so far into the toilet that they’re “fighting” the Nationals for 1st place in the June draft. Ack.
Did anyone post about Griffey to the WS? Not sure what the WS plan to do with him. It’s a stupid deal if it goes through.
“Perhaps it is but, ALL bullpens are mirages in a sense. You ride hot hands and you hope they hold up over the course of the year.
The toughest thing to do in baseball is build a bullpen because they are so up and down from year to year.”
Yeah no doubt. There are so few relievers that are consistent from year to year.
Speaking of the bullpen, when do you think Melancon will get a callup? I’m thinking it could happen within a week or two if someone with the Yanks falters. The only problem is every spot in the pen is held by someone that deserves it with the only possible exception being Bruney. Melancon dominated A and AA, he really doesn’t need much time at AAA (like Joba last year) but I’m not sure we need him yet. What do you think?
Clay,
Reggie fan.
I said this yesterday, but it bares repeating. I’ll believe that BOS is going to trade Manny when I see him playing in the other team’s uniform.
SJ44-
Completely agree. while most of my friends are Met’s fans, they are all VERY knowledgable on baseball, particularly northeastern baseball (not the college). They know the yanks pretty well and all hate boston, but they have no idea how good our bullpen is, nobody does. some announces still claim we need Joba in that 8th inning spot. forget about Veras and Ramirez, whom are having very good years, and marte who has been a top of the line lefty reliever for some years now, but Robertson has been great for us and you can’t ask for a better long man than Giese. Farnsworth was more than expendable and was not to be trusted in tight 8th inning spots, especially against good teams (both sox, angels, rays). no credit to our bullpen on the national level
I guess Bruney gets the callup today while Moeller goes down. If Bruney falters a couple times, they bring up Melancon
Matt-LI we have Philip Hughes, Ian Kennedy is still here and Wang may return, we also have Chase Wright who has been making a case for himself all year in minor league ball and Alfredo Aceves if we need a backend SP w/o giving up anything. Again it’s about the deals the Yankees want not what they are forced to make.
Ex.: Farnsy for Pudge (our deal because we have BP depth and Farnsy wasn’t the best guy in the pen)
“Angels no doubt will sweep. The very best we can hope for is not to be routed in all 4 games. If we get blown out in only 2 games, that would consider to be a successful series for the Yanks.”
If Rasner and Ponson are Rasner and Ponson I will say yes it would be successful to take 2/4. However, if our bats wake up with Nady and now Pudge, this could be a great series to watch. Suddenly, when we have our starters on the field, our only black hole is Melky. Imagine Matsui comes back formidable and we move Damon back to center:
Damon, Jeter, Abreu, A-Rod, Matsui, Nady, Giambi, Cano, Pudge… “Holy Cow”
SJ44 – I disagree about Bay. I don’t think his previous experience in big game situations (or lack thereof) widens the gulf between Bay’s expected performance and Manny’s expected performance (which, objectively, is rather small, when you consider as bad as Bay is defensively, he’s still arguably an upgrade over Manny) for the rest of the season.
I think there’s a better argument to be found in Bay having to adjust to a new league and new pitchers, and perhaps the challenge of fielding balls off the Green Monster (which Manny admittedly did very well).
After all, Ortiz wasn’t known as a high-leverage/big game kind of player before he got to the Red Sox. His postseason batting lines with the Twins in 2002 and the Red Sox in 2003 aren’t all that spectacular; it wasn’t until Ortiz’s 2004 MVP-caliber season (and otherworldly postseason success that same season) that put him on the map as a “clutch” player.
I guess I just think that of the things you could (potentially) knock Bay for, lack of big-game experience is probably the smallest one you can find. I’ll grant that there is the uncertainty of how he’d perform in the playoffs, but you have to deal with that uncertainty with almost all players at one point or another in their careers. I’ll take my chances with a prime player who has been a proven offensive performer over his career, even when he was the only dangerous bat on a bad team’s lineup.
http://www.rotoworld.com/conte.....038;spln=1
.
Rockies ‘shocked’ by price for Washburn
Jarrod Washburn – S – SEA – Jul. 31 – 9:50 am et
The Seattle Post Intelligencer reports that the Rockies were “shocked” when the Mariners asked for both Dexter Fowler and Casey Weathers in exchange for Jarrod Washburn.
No wonder the Yankees backed out of the rumored deal for Washburn. The newspaper also notes that the Mariners asked for “Jon Niese and/or Fernando Martinez or another top prospect” from the Mets, which is even more laughable. Jul. 31 – 9:50 am et
Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer
.
This is SO funny !
You guys are way off on the arbitration offer thing—
RARELY does a player agree to not accept arbitration UNLESS it is to extend the negotiating window with his current team. If you decline arbitration and sign with one of the top 15 teams that team loses its # 1 pick, which really cuts into your negotating leverage… half the teams would have a major deterrent to offering you a contract.
The non-acceptance “unofficial” agreements are strictly to allow the two sides to keep talking, because if there is no offer of arbitration the current team can’t negotiate with you until May.
Thus it doesn’t happen unless both sides are confident they will work something out.
The Yanks will have a very good idea of the progress of Jorge’s rehab before they have to committ to offering Pudge arbitration. Tehre will also be a number of cheaper insurance policy type free agent catchers if the Yanks want the freedon to be ultra patient with Jorge.
“Rockies ’shocked’ by price for Washburn”
As they should be. The people currently running SEA have absolutely no idea what the hell they are doing. It’s no wonder that the team is playing so poorly.
“JoeyA said July 31st, 2008 at 9:55 am “Can anybody explain why we just gave away Hawkins like that? I mean I know the guy is worthless to us, but we have a much better than average bullpen. Some team could have used him and given up maybe a little more than a Single-A infielder. I’m not complaining, as we have made two great moves so far, but the Hawkins move was a bit surprising considering we got diddly. the guy is still a major league reliever.â€
JoeyA, read SJ44’s answer to me at 7:15 above. If you don’t get answers like that from others on the blog in response to your question, it’s hypocrisy.
BTW, SJ44, I thoroughly agree with your general assessment of the Mariners organization, as it was constructed under GM Bill Bavasi. Some of the stupidest deals and contract $$ were handed out under his watch.
I can’t blame the current interim GM (with presumably an OK from above) for attempting to rebuild even a jot with the still-usable-but-expendable body parts they have. The M’s DON’T need to dump salary for the sake of dumping salary. Even with the lousy team, they still rake in the dough from their TV deal, their merchandising, Ichiro’s draw from the Japanese market (tons of tourists), and even the gate. They’re not Pittsburgh or KC.
If they don’t find a way in the next 6 hours, they will in the next 31 days, or the next 6 months. I don’t really care (except that yes, I’m presenting the Seattle fan POV here), since this season is so far into the toilet that they’re “fighting†the Nationals for 1st place in the June draft. Ack.”
I already answered him, at 10:02 am.
The Mariners are asking for the MOON for a BACK of the rotation starter. Fernando Martinez or Niese? That’s downright INSULTING to the Mets. The Mets aren’t/weren’t willing to trade those guys for Sabathia/Harden/Holliday/Manny, and the Mariners have the GALL to ask for them for WASHBURN????!!!
If that interim GM becomes the full-time GM, he is losing a -lot- of credibility -very- quickly with other GMs.
Washburn is a salary dump. The Mariners will not get legitimate talent for him. MAYBE a B prospect if THEY eat his salary.
They’re asking for prospects for Vidro – they’d be lucky if another team would give them pennies on the dollar for him. He -stinks-. Vidro is not a major leaguer, at this point. He’s worse than Sexson.
I don’t know if it’s strictly the interim GM or the ownership, but the Mariners are absolute garbage of a front office right now.
The Yankees will offer Pudge Arby. Pudge will be looking to get more than one year on the open market, and accepting arby from the Yanks would mean limited playing time with Posada and Molina in the mix. Worst case, he accepts, and the Yankees deal him when Posada comes back. Catching is at a premium right now. Here in Boston, all they talk about on WEEI is Tek’s decline, how there are no replacements available, and that Tek is therefore likely to resign for 2 years at seasons end. If Tek & his .219 average can get 2 years, then I’d like to think that Pudge and his .290, with better defense, can get two also.
The Yankees need to make a move for a starter. Having Ponson & Rasner going against the Angels is scary. If we lose the Pettitte game, we could realistically be swept. This series scares me from a pitching match-up POV.
Seattle asked for Dexter Fowler and F-Mart for Washburn..Is that franchise high !
Nick said July 31st, 2008 at 8:16 am “Today we get to find out if Seattle is the poorly run franchise they portray themselves to be by willing to bite their nose to sprite thir face or do the sane thing by doing a salary dump to the Yankees for a back of the rotation starter. Odds are that they will blink by 4:00 PM and come to their senses.”
Then WHY are the Yankees (or their media mouthpieces, or their fans) still talking about Washburn if he’s so worthless as to be a “back of the rotation starter”? I mean, the Yankees have All-Stars at nearly every position in the lineup, shouldn’t they be angling for an All-Star pitcher?
I think it depends on how Bruney does in NY. If he struggles, and Melancon is fresh and healthy, I could see them calling him up.
If not, he will most likely be a September callup.
Personally, I hope they call him up sooner rather than later. The kid is a beast.
He would automatically make a good bullpen even better. He’s more of a strikethrower than Bruney.
However, the Yankees owe Bruney. They wanted him to have surgery and he chose the rehab route. He busted his hump to get back this year. To that end, you can’t hose him and callup a rookie.
How you run your business is viewed by every player. If you do things right, you become a desirable destination for free agents. In Bruney’s case, I think the Yankees appreciate that he worked so hard to get back and will give him first crack at filling the slot in the ‘pen.
If he falters, or isn’t healthy, then going to Melancon is the next best course to take.
That was me, btw.
And I can see the sense in the M’s not getting greedy and asking for TWO prospects from any of the teams they’re talking to. But ONE decent prospect isn’t asking too much, IMO.
Maybe I SHOULD be GM…
The Mariners are looking like fools with the value they are putting on Washburn. Karen will end up getting to watch Washburn for the next season, and wondering why her team is still in the bottom of the division.
Brandon-
I agree with you. Notice I said that I do not want to pursue it, nor do I think we should. I only stated it because nothing is ever out of the question. I think we can handle our pitching problems internally. I still have faith in IPK, I would like to give Aceves a shot and it would be nice to see what Hughes can give us when he returns.
“Then WHY are the Yankees (or their media mouthpieces, or their fans) still talking about Washburn if he’s so worthless as to be a “back of the rotation starterâ€? I mean, the Yankees have All-Stars at nearly every position in the lineup, shouldn’t they be angling for an All-Star pitcher?”
The Yankees are not trading their top prospects.
They could have had Sabathia, but it would have taken at least Hughes. Ditto Harden.
The Yankees are not trading their top prospects. They’re reluctant to trade their B prospects.
There are no All Star pitchers that can be had for B prospects.
Karen, GM’s have to know the market and the true value of those players they have that they want to trade.
While you could probably do a better job than what the M’s have currently, that isn’t saying much. Sorry. Washburn isn’t worth his cost, let alone a decent prospect.
Just don’t trade Melky. We need his defense and hustle.
can someone wake griffey up and let him know he was traded
The bottom line is, if Seattle doesn’t want/need to dump salary, then eat Washburn’s contract, he is not worth anywhere near the $14M, and ask for players instead of the money. The problem is, they are asking for BOTH and you can’t expect to dump salary AND get good prospects or impact players.
Even if they eat his contract entirely, the level of talent Jarrod Washburn can fetch is limited to begin with.
I just saw on ESPN.com that Kyle Loshe is available. He could fit nicely as the fourth starter. Thoughts?
Most interesting day of the year–and I get to spend it in the dentists’ office.
Have I mentioned that I hate teeth?
“Then WHY are the Yankees (or their media mouthpieces, or their fans) still talking about Washburn if he’s so worthless as to be a “back of the rotation starterâ€?”
Ahhh, because we need a back of the rotation starter….. Point is, don’t overvalue the guy. He is what he is and the Yankees are willing to pay for what he is. Actually, they’re willing to pay for more than what he is, which is what makes it so silly for Seattle to ask for or expect even more.
Lohse sucks, we’re better off with Ponson
If Cashman listened to this sj blowhard all year we’d be watching a last place squad. Every idea I’d plan he’s advocated has been an all out disaster.
Karen,
See Jim Bowden for how not to run a franchise. He was asking for Dexter Fowler/Austin Jackson (A List prospects) types for Tim Redding. Tim Redding!!
Unfortunately for him (just look at how he handled the Soriano situation a few years back), Redding imploded, teams laughed off his asking prices, and now he can’t get a bag of balls for Redding.
Bowden’s reputation of asking for the moon in every deal is so prevelent within the industry, teams don’t even bother wasting their time dealing with him anymore. The end result? He oversees the worst franchise in baseball.
When you ask for guys who are WAY out of the stratosphere for the player(s) you are looking to move, you lose credibility within the GM fraternity.
You see this a lot with younger GM’s who are so afraid not to make a mistake, they overplay their leverage.
Its not about “asking for the moon and settling for less”. Its about not wasting time.
If you waste other GM’s time, they begin to re-think the proposed deal and decide not to pull the trigger.
The worst thing you can do with a GM you are negotiating a trade with is give the guy time for buyers remorse. If you do, 9 times out of 10, they pull out of the proposed deal.
Do the Mariners “have” to cut payroll? No. But, if you have a chance to do it, and it doesn’t happen because your demands are completely illogical, it doesn’t sit well with ownership.
No matter how much money these owners have, they ALWAYS like saving some of it when they can.
When you ask for guys like Seattle has for a back end starter who has only pitched well the last 5 weeks, you end up showing how dumb, and not how smart, you are.
I just saw on ESPN.com that Kyle Loshe is available. He could fit nicely as the fourth starter. Thoughts?
He’s the perfect case of sell high before his stock drops. His last start vs the Mets he was horrible if Dave Duncan couldn’t keep him solid then I’d doubt we’d want that.
I have to agree with someone’s sentiment above that Manny will NOT be traded, and undoubtedly go on a tear, and rip us a new one. Now, I will love the fact that his teammates probably hate him now, and that the BoSox will not get anything for him…but, I dread the thought of him playing us in a big game.
Loshe would be perfect for us however, STL wants a Bat and prolly a reliever we dont have a major league bat to give them guys, and i dont think they want prospects so we are out of that one
Kyle Lohse is 12-3 for a team in the wild card race. There’s no way he’s available. He would have been a nice March signing for under $ 5 mill, but the Cardinals took the chance and got the payoff.
Seattle is nuts to play hardball with that awful roster and payroll combination. If they can’t get him for cash and a box of shoelaces then forget it. With the $$$ he has coming, that is more than enough of a price to pay.
Lohse is 10 times better than Sid n DR
Don’t know if anyone has reported about this yet but Schilling was on WEEI trashing the hell out of Manny, the Sux organization AND the fans – in a way that only Schilling could do it. He really is so matter of factly about that stuff. He was talking about how he found it amazing that the fans were getting upset now with Manny seeing he pulled the stuff he did for the past how many years and always had the fan support. He also said that he felt the press enabled Manny being Manny too. He pointed out the fact that when Francona was asked a question the other night about whether he was frustrated with Manny not running fast enough down the line and his response was something to the effect of “We’re used to Manny doing that”. Something like that. And Schilling was incredulous at what that response indicated about how much everyone was willing to give Manny a pass instead of insisting that he play hard all the time.
Manny being Manny.
I’m happy he isn’t ours. The Yankee way is to show malcontents out of town when they become too big a problem. Witness Gary Sheffield.
Thanks for the compliment! lol
Gotta love “gutsy” 12 year olds on the internet. They are so much fun!! lol
So, how many screen names today to stalk me? Four, five? Too funny.
I never agree with Schilling, but he’s right there…the media in Boston and the fans fed into this “Manny being Manny” thing, and just gave Manny license to do as he pleased. It has gotten them 2 championships, so I don’t know how much they regret it, but in this particular situation, it has come back to bite them in the arse.
The Yanks should go call OAK and send the farm system for Duch and Street. that would fill all are needs.. not gonna happen but WOW thatd be great for us
Pettite has a player option for 2009. I think it will be hard for fim to turn down 16 mil to pitch in new Yankee Stadim although I think it depends oh how his elbow feels over the last 2 hopefully 3 months.
Everybody pencils Hughes in to the rotation for 2009 but we did that last year and look how it turned out.
Washburn would be an insurance policy albeit a slightly expensive one. If we don’t need him he could probably be traded as he will be in a contract year. Maybe if we’re desperate to get rid of him we eat some of his contract.
I still have a feeling Bronson Arroyo will be a Yankee by the end of the day. Just a hunch.
I doubt we will get an arm, I would be suprised..
Unless Brian gets another call late..
Get past this series and bring up one of the kids.
“Lohse is 10 times better than Sid n DR”
He is a dave duncan made pitcher, if he comes to the yankees hes going the be the same as DR/SP.\
Lohse is not coming here we dont match well with STL, Arroyo is not getting traded CINN has already come out and said they are not trading him..
I still have a feeling Bronson Arroyo will be a Yankee by the end of the day. Just a hunch.
Lets pray he doesn’t otherwise I’m going to have the same reaction Billy Beane had when his staff drafted Jeremy Bondermon
dont make a trade for any of the cards pitchers
Just changed my tagline.
amazing how all the people who said this team was dead in may are back. That means u SJ. Maybe next year your whole Yanks are Done thing will be true. Back to back years u look foolish.
you dont trade with billy beane, he usually get the upper hand
Lohse is good…in the National League.
where is omar? shouldnt he be screwing up the mets right about now?
MEts want lohse that is intersting after the trade lohse will return to lohse from last year
Gee Lohse or Ponson? Real tough
thats interesting about rhodes because the sox were after him. is he becoming part of the manny deal?
“Pettite has a player option for 2009.”
No he doesn’t. The player option for 16 million was last year. Pettitte is a FA in November.
Trisha – read your post on Schilling and I can’t believe I’m saying this but I agree with him. I also think that they won’t trade Manny today because of that. They are so used to him doing his “act”, that they’ll put up with it for the next 2 months.
“According to ESPN’s Peter Gammons, the Marlins have acquired lefty reliever Arthur Rhodes for 22 year-old righty Gaby Hernandez”.
awww Why cant Arthur Rhodes be trade to an Al east team….
Tricia – you have my condolences. Did you see Farnsy on the post-game yesterday? Heartbreaking.
if Ponson goes to the cards he is the nexy kyle Lohse
SJ44, you do realize more than one person here thinks you are a pompous bore?
guys i know the angels are good, but there hitting stats are pretty bad, they only have one hitter over .300, they play smallball, and pudge and molina can stop that. For some reason i think Ponson will suprise us with a win. We have played good against good teams. i think we will get 2/4 or 3/4. I dont think we can lose this series. After this series we go to texas where i believe some of are batters will wake up.
Arthur Rhodes is out of the AL? Aw, man! That means that we won’t get to beat up on him anymore. What a downer!
The Yanks can only pray that Rhodes is part of a Manny deal.
whats the update on freddy garcia?
Sj on fire today.. If I was the mariners I would trade every veteran they have. the only players I would not trade are morrow, felix, and maybe another player or 2 I am not aware of..
Any young guys they get for there overpriced, older talent(including for sure Ichiro), is restocking the farm..They are a mess and yrs. away of competing for 2 yrs of mistakes it takes 5 yrs. of doing things right to turn things around.
Jojhima, batista, washburn, sexson, beltre, and on and on all terrible overpriced signings…. I could have predicted all except Beltre….
they should do what Baltimore did. Baltimore traded tejada and bedard and got back I think 12 bodies.. Yeah Baltimore is not very good, true.. They were not going to be very good with the 2 big shots.. They saved a ton of money and got upside talent.
fans will not mind a rebuild as long as it is a total rebuild, but the mariners are morons…
I dont want to see Sir Sidney pitch again.
Yankeefanfoev13:
I agree we need to go at least 500 in this series, but I would put my money on Andy and Mike..
could you imagine if it was rhodes going to boston with bay? what a great day
The trade deadline is not a good day to try and get things done at work.
I know no real risk as far as betting…
Steve in CT
This is a baseball forum, no one needs to read your personal attacks.
I think Lohse is worth a shot, dont sell the farm, but hes better than Sidney Ponson.STL wants a reliever & a bat. Give em’ Wilson Betemit & someone in the bullepn, just not Ramirez, Veras,& Robertson & anyone with value …haha…plz just get rid of Betemit. trade him for a bag of chips..idk
http://www.bostonherald.com/sp.....8;srvc=rss
Silverman has it at ‘less than 50/50.’ He’s also citing disagreement in the Sox FO, which might be the most disturbing thing. If you have the two other teams demanding more from the trade and voices of dissent about whether to even do the trade, that certainly puts the deal on the ropes.
Rhodes to the Red Sox would have made my day, btw. We demolish him.
Were do you think Joe will bat I-rod?
“As of 10:30 a.m. ET, the Mariners and Yankees had not picked up the threads of their conversations about pitcher Jarrod Washburn, and executives involved in the trade talks don’t expect that their standoff will be resolved. The Yankees are willing to pay the rest of Washburn’s salary, about $14 million, but aren’t willing to trade a good prospect in the deal, and the Mariners asked for the Yankees’ best pitching prospect. It is a situation, however, that could change rapidly with one phone call …”
Top pitching prospect for Washburn? what are they smoking
Fran, Schilling is one of the most egotistical, overblown big-mouth players that I have ever come across and I cannot stand his ego. But I have to say that he absolutely told it like it was. Kurt really does have a way of doing that, and he does it in a no-frills, down-to-earth, matter-of-factly way. I caught him on EEI on the way to work. So all I got was the parts I heard in the car. Well they just played back some of it that I didn’t hear, and it seems that Manny was never a big clubhouse guy. Schilling said he would always be by himself and isolate himself from everyone else.
Is this stuff affecting the team? Think about the Mets with all of the press Willie stuff. Think of how the team progressed when that was removed. Think about the Sux with all of the press Manny stuff. It has to be affecting them.
people say they hate facing the angels offense, but i’m sure teams are not thrilled when they face hitters like damon, jeter,abreu,arod,nady,cano,and pudge.
Stuart,
Exactly. Blow it up and start over. Use the savings to load up on younger guys in the Latin American Market, rebuild your farm system, and leave slots available for the right free agents.
There is no honor in finishing with one of the worst records in baseball possessing a payroll as high as theirs.
Its not the way to go. All it does it make the rebuilding process take longer.
Steve, I’m well aware of that. There also a number of people who think you are a horse’s ass. So, what’s your point?
My guess is I-Rod hits 6th or 7th, depending on if Joe wants to break up Giambi and Cano. Damon, Jeter, Abreu, A-Rod, Giambi, I-Rod, Cano, Nady, Melky. The length of the lineup is back.
“Yankees are after Bedard.”
thats like saying yankees are after Manny
SJ44 is right guys. Boston IS different from Pittsburgh. Manny is still Manny in Boston, shoving down 65 year old men and getting away with it. He cant do that if he doesnt wear the Red Sox uni.
Motown thanks. I saw Kayle on the postgame show. Even worse was reading the accounts of the things we didn’t see on the postgame show. I guess the snippet we saw with Kim Jones was nothing compared to his heartbroken reaction as reported by the print press. I am happy we didn’t have to see that and they had the dignity not to show it. Though I have to believe that they probably didn’t get it on tape because you know how gruesome the press is with that stuff.
I really hope I-rod helps more than losing Kyle hurts.
I’m not knocking the trade I think it was a good trade.
They obviously need a starting upgrade. Lohse Washburn whoever. They cannot keep running Ponson out there. The drunk stinks to high heaven.
Now people will miss Krazy???
* Kyle
On paper the line-up looks good.
the percentage of manny trade is down every hour this lasts
SJ44 is the Jim Bowden of this board.
Mike, we get it. ok?
You don’t like SJ44. We get it.
We got it the first 5000 times.
The overwhelming majority of the posters here that engage in discussion appreciate and value his input. At the very least, they aren’t obsessing over holding him accountable for every word he has ever typed on the blog. Your constant need to try and discredit him is not going to sway everyone’s opinion, so what is the point? Is it envy for the attention he draws? Is it little dog syndrome driving someone to take down the big guy? Whatever the excuse is, it is still pointless. It’s the toy poodle in the neighbor’s yard yipping and yapping incessantly for no reason other than to get attention.
We get it. You don’t like him. Please move on already.
“They obviously need a starting upgrade. Lohse Washburn whoever. They cannot keep running Ponson out there. The drunk stinks to high heaven.”
Interesting take on a guy who pitched shut out ball against the Mets and allowed one ER against the Rays. I would think that he certainly has earned more starts, especially as someone who was basically taken off the scrap heap and gotten to be a 4th or 5th starter for very little money.
Yankeefanfoev13, I’m with you. I have also said that I believe we will go 3 for 4. Here’s hoping!
Francona is the guy caught in the middle. He’s trying to field a team in defense of a championship and will probably be the last to know when the fate of Manny is decided.
A Billy Martin would never stand for the acts of defience that Manny has shown his team and neither would George Steinbrenner have tolerated it.
The deciders in Boston must be weighing in with the thought that a deal done today gives the team and their fans a day to digest what it means opposed to trying to prepare for a game tonight.
Oh No! The 8th inning!!
Guys Giambi needs to be put in the bottom third of the lineup.
I cannot take trishas defense of any player seriously.
Manny will be traded at the deadline.. I agree with SJ at least 60% of the time.. He is a little to doom and gloom but very insightful..
who is in a worse situation as a organization; seattle, the nats, or Sf.. These teams stink at the major league level and have crappy reinforcements….
The mets have a good big league club but how bad is there minor league talent base?
thanks….
“And I can see the sense in the M’s not getting greedy and asking for TWO prospects from any of the teams they’re talking to. But ONE decent prospect isn’t asking too much, IMO.”
If Seattle wants to try to get a prospect for Washburn and is willing to eat the rest of his contract instead of using it constructively to rebuild their franchise that’s 100% their prerogative.
But to ask for Casey Weathers and Dexter Fowler for Washburn is embarrassing.
That’s not negotiation. You make that request (especially to Dan O’Dowd) that’s the end of negotiations.
Fowler and Weathers are not just “prospects.” They are both high ceiling blue chip prospects. Both played in the futures game this year.
To put this in a Seattle context, that would be like someone asking for Adam Jones and Brandon Morrow for Washburn. That’s how ridiculous the request is. Fowler and Weathers are not quite as good as Jones and Morrow but their up their.
Would you trade Adam Jones and Morrow for Washburn? Or would you laugh at the GM making that proposal – a proposal that sounds like it’s made up by a fan calling up a radio talk show?
Instead of being pragmatic Pelekoudas has decided to make Washburn a symbolic issue. The Mariners aren’t going to get pushed around anymore. This is a myth of course – no one particularly perceived the Mariners as a franchise that was needy or could be pushed around.
What people have perceived about the Mariners was that they are amongst the worst run organizations in the game. They brought all of this on themselves. I’m a yankee fan and I could have told you that the Bedard trade was an impending disaster – no way I’d have traded Adam Jones for Bedard.
Franchises take years to recover from a trade like that. And in addition to Jones, Chris Tillman has blossomed in AA and Sherrill has been terrific.
You don’t make good decisions when you see a situation as being symbolic. You just don’t.
Pelekoudas seems more concerned about the rest of baseball perceiving the Mariners as a “small market” team that is financially constrained than he does in making a pragmatic deal. Here what one of the front office people said in the paper:
“”But I think he’s prepared to not do anything. He isn’t going to give anyone away. We aren’t a club that has to do things based on money. I’m not sure everyone knows that, but that’s the way it is.”
The Bavasi era is going to take a long time to wash away.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/.....ade31.html
I disagree with calling up Kennedy or Aceves to soften the blow this weekend as some people here suggest.
I think this would be a horrible time to try to get them back and into the big leagues. I know I wouldn’t want Kennedy thrown out there against the Angels right now.
If and when we call up either, and I assume it would be IPK, I think we would be better served starting them against a ‘lesser’ team instead of throwing them to the wolves.
Jon Heyman is still calling the Manny trade “more likely than not” and noting that Boston was confident enough that the trade will happen that they notified the commissioner’s office of the negotiations (from http://www.sportsillustrated.cnn.com as of 10:51 a.m.)
My question is, how unusual is that? Do teams generally let the commissioner’s office in on the negotiations, or is this an indicator of how likely the trade is to take place?
I think everyone know Ponson stinks and is on borrowed time even with a over 5.00 ERA he is on borrowed time..
Ponson has to be replaced real real soon..
no Joe Saunders
I wouldn’t trade our top pitching prospect for Washburn if THEY paid US $14M… Who would our top pitching prospect be? I’m assuming Hughes is no longer considered a prospect, or is he? I wouldn’t even trade IPK for Washburn, not even if they ate his entire contract.
Homer bailey for salt
I caught Heyman on WFAN this morning and when asked if any big names would be traded this morning, such as Griffey–he said No to Griffey. He’s too “settled in at home with his family” to want to go to compete.
A few minutes later, Heyman was proved wrong!
Seattle has a very easy choice in my opinion.
A. They can trade Washburn to the Yanks or another team and get back a marginal prospect or two and take $13-14 million off the payroll.
B. They can keep Washburn, pay him $3-4 mill for the rest of this year and $10 million next year. In the end they will probably get a sandwich pick in 2010.
Is an extra pick in 2010 worth $14 million? I don’t think so..
Griffey has approved the trade. Rosenthal says its a done deal.
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/s.....-White-Sox
having ponson and rasner pitch in the series is a killer.
absolute killer.
SJ is wrong most of the time. He is a defeatist doom and gloomer. I like to remind all his fans of all the times he’s been totally wrong. Don’t cry SJ. Its not becoming of a quitter like you.
“In the end they will probably get a sandwich pick in 2010. ”
I doubt Washburn would be good enough to get back any draft picks..
Ponson starting anymore is indefensible.
“Pettite has a player option for 2009.â€
No he doesn’t. The player option for 16 million was last year. Pettitte is a FA in November.
You’re totally right. Time flies with Pettite.
My bad. Well now we;ll really need an arm.
“I doubt Washburn would be good enough to get back any draft picks..”
He would most likely be a type B which would net them a sandwich pick…
Question:
I see that Pudge has chosen to wear #12. Would this future HOFer be deemed worthy enough to wear #21 or would this create a fanbase meltdown again?
CB,
Your post on Seattle was excellent. Thank you for a good read.
Aren’t Adam Jones and Brandon Morrow on different teams?
“He would most likely be a type B which would net them a sandwich pick…”
I know a type B would net a sandwich pick, just don’t know he’ll be good enough by then to be a type B. He could be, who knows…
Either way, you’re right, there is no reason for Seattle to hang on to him what-so-ever.
JR, not sure, but he’s a rental player, why would he even want to go there….
“I cannot take trishas defense of any player seriously.”
I sleep well despite this but respect your right to process player information in any way that makes sense to you. I do the same thing.
Stuart – it is apparent that not everyone thinks Ponson stinks. The organization does not think he stinks. He may be on borrowed time but the fact that he is still starting a game tells me that he is still trusted to take the ball. Otherwise you would see someone else slated to pitch in his place. Please don’t tell me there isn’t anyone. If they really didn’t trust him someone from AAA would be here right now. He has done what a back-of-the-rotation pitcher is expected to do. Hate that he gave up 7 runs to Bostn? Well check it out Stuart. Our front end of the rotation has also given up 7 ER during some games.
In any event, “everyone” here knew that Farnsworth stunk too didn’t they. Yet if Jorge didn’t go down, he would still be here. “Everyone” here also knew it was time to get rid of Giambi. (Or is it still time because he has cooled off…)
One thing people here don’t seem to ever be able to assimilate is that the Yankee organizations isn’t comprised of people who panic whenever someone doesn’t hit the ball or throw a strike. And despite not taking the advice of all of the “sage” GMs on this forum, the Yankees are within striking distance of first place.
I totally trust their ability to decide the time that someone isn’t working out. I totally distrust the same of the majority of people who post here.
But I respect the right for everyone to have their own opinion. That’s what makes the world go round.
2 out 4 and thats all im gonna ask for
“I see that Pudge has chosen to wear #12″
Nice. I have a Pudge jersey. For 2 months but whatever . Anybody else out there with a Soriano jersey waiting for a good player to pick up # 12. Pudge is a big upgrade over the likes of Tony Womack and Kenny Lofton!
i bring up kennedy and aceves at the same time and take pressure of ian of being the only callup. let aceves pitch in the 4 spot and let kennedy pitch in baltimore and build confidence.
Sweet about Pudge’s number, I still have a Soriano shirt from 2001 so all I have to do now is black out his name.
Although I still secretly like him..
yo ponson and rasner can’t start two out of the 4 games this weekend any opions>?