The best of what’s (still) left
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Jan 24, 2011 
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A little more than a month ago, the remaining free agent market offered enough to put together a solid — thought defensively challenged — 25-man roster. Today, the market has thinned considerably. There aren’t many unanimous decisions on this list. It’s pretty much a matter of personal preference.
Lineup
Scott Podsednik LF
Cristian Guzman 2B
Vladimir Guerrero DH
Russell Branyan 1B
Jorge Cantu 3B
Jim Edmonds CF
Bengie Molina C
Lastings Milledge RF
Felipe Lopez SS
A lot of veterans who still have some power but not much else. Of these nine, the only ones who might fit for the Yankees seem to be Milledge and Lopez, who could fit as bench players. Andruw Jones is technically still a free agent — his deal isn’t official — but I decided not to count him.
Bench
Troy Glaus 1B
Ryan Church OF
Orlando Cabrera SS
Chad Moeller C
Just go through a list of free agents and take a shot in the dark. Maybe you like Bobby Crosby’s chances of a bounce-back or David Eckstein’s veteran experience. There’s no such thing as a sure-thing here.
Rotation
Andy Pettitte
Kevin Millwood
Freddy Garcia
Justin Duchscherer
Jeremy Bonderman
I still think there’s a good chance one of these five ends up going to spring training with the Yankees. Wonder which one they’d prefer?
Bullpen
Lance Cormier
Chris Ray
Blaine Boyer
Elmer Dessens
Juan Cruz
Joe Beimel
Dennys Reyes
This might be the position that’s taken the biggest hit in the past month. When I made a list like this in mid-December, the bullpen was incredibly deep and powerful. Now it’s questionable and unreliable, but with a lot of arms that are capable of playing a legitimate role at the big league level if things go well.
If NYYs needed another outfielder, I’d take Edmonds over any of them, regardless of what his birth certificate says.
Still wish they could find enough ABs for Vlad to bring him aboard.
Pat M,
After consulting with others and looking at the contract. The Mlb transaction page lists no money changing hands. The bluejays paid all of Wells signing bonus which amounts to 3.5 mil per yea… but the payments were 8 mil ever march until 2010, so that is already taken care of.
The Angels are on the hook for the entire shebang per year.
23 21 21 21 mil the next 4 seasons. They paid 10 mil for the luxury of downgrading offensively and defensively.
Off Topic -
I just watched a Jenny Craig commercial done by Carrie Fisher. It just made me cry. Has anyone seen it.
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there’s no one on the list, aside from Andy Pettitte, that I want the Yankees to have.
mlb hot stove is suggesting that Vlad may return to the Rangers
Doreen
why did it make you cry? Carrie Fisher is one of my favs
If you like Carrie Fisher-
Did you watch “Wishful Drinking’” on HBO. AWESOME special!
Face….I can’t go into great detail about the money part of the transaction and team salaries, maybe it’s there I don’t know, however you’re a most resourceful guy keep looking ….Follow the money in other words……The other thing about Napoli that has him in Mike’s doghouse is his after game activities that Mike believes effects his next day readiness….Maybe SJ is willing to share on anything he’s heard whispered around the league….Just saying…..
The only starter other than Pettitte that I wouldn’t mind for the Yankees is Duscherer. Had a few (maybe only 1, I don’t remember) good years but derailed by injuries. Why not take a chance? They took it with Prior.
I don’t have HBO, but I did read “Wishful Drinking”, and thoroughly enjoyed it
Pat you’re dodging, I’m asking you specifically what makes Mathis a better player. I’m not asking why Scoscia plays him over Napoli (off field issues) or whatever, because its obvious the angels had no idea what they had with Napoli or else they would have been platooning him instead of playing him randomly.
I am asking you why you believe Mathis is better. I want to find out what in Mathis’ catcher errors, passsed balls, wild pitches, and caught stealing% show he is valuable at back stop.
upstate kate -
You have to see the commercial to understand why it made me cry. I won’t get into details on this blog, but she also reminds me of someone I’m very close to.
Erica -
I do like Carrie Fisher – I think she is a most intelligent, poignant and funny person. Is “Wishful Drinking” on again? Or on On Demand?
I’m going to check.
Maybe it’s wrong to question Cutler’s toughness, but is it right to question those brave enough to put their thoughts on Twitter for anyone to see?????
Pat,
The money has been laid out for you. $0 dollars changed hands.
was napoli out drinking with martin?
My thing with Cutler is that folks were condemning him before even seeing the medical report. I have no idea if he could have played or not….if it was a sprain then technically he probably could have but how effective would he have been? It depends on how much pain he was in and how much he could handle it. I think Cutler’s personality and body language work against him here….
I have to admit, I was surprised at just how many guys broke ranks in the fraternity to speak out against Cutler.
I think a lot of it came from them not seeing him do what injured guys do on the bench.
No ice or wrap on the knee. No brace. No looking at the polaroids (which shows sets and tendencies) with the QB’s entering the game.
He just seemed to check out of the game. When some players and coaches see that, they go nuts.
Erica -
I am so proud of myself. I did a search for “Wishful Drinking” and set my DVR to record it!!! A moral victory.
Face….I understand what you’re attempting to do however I’m keeping my eye on the ball……Maybe The Angels just didn’t want to pay Napoli almost 4 times what The Yanks are going to pay Andruw Jones for a lesser role….Even if you discount my impressions of watching Mathis & Napoli behind the plate for the past several years…..Mathis is the cheaper option by far….And by the way even Rivera makes more than Andruw Jones…….And neither are the player that A. Jones is……
SJ,
yea I totally agree there. I think it was his actions on the sidelines that brought the controversy. If he had “looked more hurt” I don’t think it would have ever been an issue.
Mathis is the cheaper option by far
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Cheaper and worse in every way. And now suddenly the Angels care about cost? They just blew 86 mil on vernon wells for 4 years. Weren’t you telling me that money is nothing to Moreno?
So, if a player “looks hurt” it’s ok, because it makes him look more like a team player? Maybe he hasn’t had the acting lessons and time spent mugging for rhe cameras that those players that are doing the most yammering have. As for the media idiots and the fans without a clue to the pain/damage, screw them. Not everyone has a pain tolerance of a Mantle, Namath or Andre Dawson.
GB,
yes, that’s what I’ve gathered today. Everyone wanted him to look different on the sidelines…..
Doreen January 24th, 2011 at 7:20 pm
Erica -
I am so proud of myself. I did a search for “Wishful Drinking” and set my DVR to record it!!! A moral victory
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YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Let me know what you think. I was hysterical. Loved it!
upstate kate January 24th, 2011 at 7:08 pm
I don’t have HBO, but I did read “Wishful Drinking”, and thoroughly enjoyed it
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No HBO?!?!
Dude couldn’t throw off his plant foot. Who cares what he looked like on the bench.
Players also don’t like him personally…………and they enjoyed piling on. I felt very badly for Cutler because, per a CNNSI article, he seemed to be hurt about how the players reacted……….but his season is over and he’s a tough guy. By the time 2011 season rolls around, he won’t think about or care what anyone thinks…………and that’s good.
Caleb Hanie defended Cutler very strongly today, saying he did help him out – the TV camera doesn’t catch everything. As for those who care about whether Cutler looked hurt or not, they’re clueless. They don’t like the guy and so they enjoyed piling on him.
Doreen,
When is the show on, and is it regular HBO?
GB……Ali fought the final 10 rounds vs. Kenny Norton in 73 with a broken jaw………Face, I just made a call about the money deal part of the trade….You’re either not doing your due diligence or taking advantage of my lack of stat sites….It’s a team payroll site that is mentioned here all the time……Scroll down to the bottom of the Angels payroll obligations……Mathis who is better defensively is going to catch until Hank Conger is called up which could be this season……He’s close to being ready with the bat, he needs to put some time between him and his injury…….Keep your eye on the ball or you’ll whiff once every 4 at bats like Napoli
Tom in NJ….I think that what Jay Cutler needs to tell the Chicago media, that he couldn’t help his team because of that……..I did enjoy the Sanchez change-up comment by the way…..
Cot’s has a Well’s ‘bonus’ of $3,642,857 is being paid by the Jays.
http://spreadsheets.google.com.....utput=html
SAS January 24th, 2011 at 7:38 pm
Doreen,
When is the show on, and is it regular HBO?
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It was a special she filmed based on her one-woman Broadway show.
Its on pretty constantly if you check your channel guide
Tom, is that for the duration of the contract ???? I don’t know but that’s what I was told ???/
SAS -
It’s regular HBO – and it’s on Tuesday at 1:30 a.m. EST.
Which is why I recorded it.
Face, I just made a call about the money deal part of the trade….You’re either not doing your due diligence or taking advantage of my lack of stat sites….It’s a team payroll site that is mentioned here all the time
–
Cots MLB has the contract for Wells. He is owed 86 over the next 4 years.
http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.c.....aheim.html
# 7 years/$126M (2008-14)
* signed extension with Toronto 12/06
* $25.5M signing bonus ($8.5M payment each March 1, 2008-10)
* 08:$0.5M, 09:$1.5M, 10:$12.5M,
11:$23M, 12:$21M, 13:$21M, 14:$21M
* full no-trade clause (waived 1/11)
* Wells may opt out of contract after 2011
* award bonuses: $0.25M for MVP, $0.2M for WS MVP, $0.15M for LCS MVP, $0.1M for most All-Star votes in league
* Wells to donate $143,000 annually to Blue Jays charity
* acquired by LA Angels in trade from Toronto 1/21/11
25.5 M signing bonus / 7 = 3.5 mil per season, but its already paid off. MLB transaction page lists no cash going to Anaheim. Due to the URL rules I will post it separately.
SO Wells will cost 86 mil for the Angels. And I am no longer discussing the trade as a whole with you, you have this idea that you keep saying where Napoli is not worth it but Mathis is. You said Mathis is an upgrade, you said he is better. I want to know why.
The stats obviously don’t back that up.
Pat, I knew about Ali, but, I wonder how much it hurt for Cutler to try digging in and planting into that frozen turf at Soldier field. I just don’t see him begging out because of a hangnail. That cold couldn’t have helped. It had to make the knee throb like a toothache.
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/transac.....;year=2011
MLB transaction page, no cash.
So they have arbitration numbers on Cots now. Here’s what the top 3 currently are at.
1. Yankees: 194 million
2. Red Sox: 161 million
3. Phillies : 159 million.
Pat, it looks as if the Jays are paying $3,642,857 every year of Wells’ deal.
Andy Laroche picked up by the Athletics, I thought he would have been a good move to stick in AAA as third base insurance.
Doreen, Erica,
Thanks a lot.
Pat, it looks as if the Jays are paying $3,642,857 every year of Wells’ deal.
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They aren’t COTs just puts signing bonuses evenly across all years, even though the bonus was paid in installments of 8 mil for 2008-2010.
3.642857 x 7 = 25.5 , the jays did not pick up any money they finished paying that off in 2010.
Cutler always throws off his back foot. That’s why he throws so many interceptions. His mechanics are horrible.
Bears players take their lead from Urlacher. He’s the leader of that team and he did yesterday what you are supposed to do……….defend your teammate no matter what.
Jay Cutler is one of the most unpopular players with other players in the league.
That definitely played into the harshness of the criticism.
These guys have a gladiator type mentality. At this point in the season, there are guys playing with injuries more severe than a sprained MCL.
When the QB doesn’t try to get back on the field with a minor knee injury that won’t require surgery, it’s going to cause a stir among players.
Gotcha, Jerkface.
What good would Laroche be? He’s never proved that he could hit or field the 3rd base position. That’s hardly much of an insurance policy.
SAS -
You’re welcome.
I guess his mechanics go back to Vanderbuilt days – Per Martz. If they could just rebuild them over the off-season, he might be ok.
Face….I don’t know whatelse to say….I’m just going my what a friend who’s close to the organization has told me…..I’ll it at that, although he’s always been reliable over the years…..
What good would Laroche be? He’s never proved that he could hit or field the 3rd base position. That’s hardly much of an insurance policy.
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Career minor league OPS of .900, his fielding percentage at third isn’t great but his range is ok. Seeing as how the Yankees choices to play third right now are laird and then Nunez/Pena, having an extra warm body who was once a top prospect at third would be beneficial. When Laird plays the outfield, Laroche could play third. He could work other positions in the mean time, like first.
Cutler basically took a knee at the half?
on Mlbnetwork now….game #17 of the “greatest games of all time” is game 4 of the 2004 ALCS….with Millar as the guest. I think I’m going to be sick….
Worst comes to worst and they could just release him. He signed a minor league deal.
Face….I don’t know whatelse to say….I’m just going my what a friend who’s close to the organization has told me…..I’ll it at that, although he’s always been reliable over the years…..
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Your source apparently likes Cots.
He instructed me to pass that on to the guy who was disputing the claim, that’s all……It does make the Wells deal a little better…….If he puts up similar numbers as he did in 2010 the Angels will be very happy…..I think anyone getting out of SkyDome will be renewed…….Abreu, Morales, Wells, Hunter, Kendricks is a very dangerous spin through the lineup for any pitcher…..
When Pittsburgh kisses off a player making $450,000, after 3 years plus, that tells be all I need to know.
When Pittsburgh kisses off a player making $450,000, after 3 years plus, that tells be all I need to know.
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No team has ever made a wrong choice. No player has ever bloomed late, he is only 27. A minor league deal for him would not have hurt, the organization is thin at third.
When Pittsburgh kisses off a player making $450,000, after 3 years plus, that tells be all I need to know.
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Except its not really true. Even if you count them covering the signing bonus, it doesn’t pay off any of the annual salary of 23, 21, 21, and 21 mil.
Copy and paste
meant to quote pat m, well I hope thats understandable
Is there a 9:00 ( est ) curfew here now ????
Pat M
Both GMs said there is no money in this deal. Can’t get a better source than that.
Nick Johnson didn’t make the list.
Bring him back!
Top 10 Right Now Left Fielder on MLB Net.
Will Gardy make the list?
GMs lie, what does ownership have to say????
Nick in SF says:
January 24, 2011 at 9:05 pm
GMs lie, what does ownership have to say???
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What about team President? Who is the Randy Levine of Canada?
Pat M. January 24th, 2011 at 8:52 pm
Is there a 9:00 ( est ) curfew here now ????
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I was driving home from work. Did I take the fun with me?
My Stevie tickets arrived today… YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you really want to creep yourself out, imagine the Randy Levine of Quebec.
LGY says:
January 24, 2011 at 9:03 pm
Nick Johnson didn’t make the list. ?
Bring him back!
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One of the boys at my work has some baseball game for the wii and nick johnson is one of the players you can play as. I told him not to play as nick johnson because he would get injured and you’d have to start over.
One of the boys at my work has some baseball game for the wii and nick johnson is one of the players you can play as. I told him not to play as nick johnson because he would get injured and you’d have to start over.
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MLB power pros is literally one of the best baseball simulations ever, ironically enough.
tyanksfan36 January 24th, 2011 at 9:13 pm
LGY says:
January 24, 2011 at 9:03 pm
Nick Johnson didn’t make the list. ?
Bring him back!
—-
One of the boys at my work has some baseball game for the wii and nick johnson is one of the players you can play as. I told him not to play as nick johnson because he would get injured and you’d have to start over.
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It’s more likely that playing the simulated Nick Johnson would either give the computer a virus or burn it up.
Jerkface
I got mlb 10 the show for playstation and I’m awful at it. I was not blessed with video game talents like my older brother and I think its just ridiculously difficult. I don’t know how anyone figures it out.
# tyanksfan36 January 24th, 2011 at 9:22 pm
Jerkface
I got mlb 10 the show for playstation and I’m awful at it. I was not blessed with video game talents like my older brother and I think its just ridiculously difficult. I don’t know how anyone figures it out.
———————-
What are you having trouble with hitting, pitching, both
Erica….Good for you..I’m still vascilating over the expense as my wife isn’t pushing it as she rather go to Catalina Island for the weekend…..I’m glad you haven’t hammered me on a bet this winter ……
GB7
Nick Johnson is the DH in my mlb 10 game, I’m hoping he doesn’t somehow ruin my ps2 because that would be a waste of the 20 dollars I paid for it 5 years ago.
get a Wii and power pros, its more fun and easier and its one of the only MLB games that simulates every kind of hit.
might be old and posted a couple times here already but link to some pics of AROD having dinner w/ Prez Clinton, cool stuff if you haven’t seen it
http://www.page2live.com/2011/...../#comments
Pat M. January 24th, 2011 at 9:32 pm
Erica….Good for you..I’m still vascilating over the expense as my wife isn’t pushing it as she rather go to Catalina Island for the weekend…..I’m glad you haven’t hammered me on a bet this winter ……
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This has been bizarro offseason. There hasn’t been anything I had a sure feeling about.
Against All Odds says:
January 24, 2011 at 9:30 pm
# tyanksfan36 January 24th, 2011 at 9:22 pm
Jerkface
I got mlb 10 the show for playstation and I’m awful at it. I was not blessed with video game talents like my older brother and I think its just ridiculously difficult. I don’t know how anyone figures it out.
———————-
What are you having trouble with hitting, pitching, both
—-
The whole thing, seriously…I wasn’t too bad at hitting but pitching and fielding was really difficult. I couldn’t figure out defense so I just skipped innings so all I had to do was hit. I might talk to my brother because he has a skill of automatically figuring out any video game regardless of difficulty. He hates baseball so he probably won’t.
I was pretty sure Carl Crawford wouldn’t be a Yankee, now I wanna get paid!
# tampayank January 24th, 2011 at 9:34 pm
might be old and posted a couple times here already but link to some pics of AROD having dinner w/ Prez Clinton, cool stuff if you haven’t seen it
http://www.page2live.com/2011/…../#comments
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ex Pres looks like he enjoys his red and the way he’s looking at AROD’s lady, he also looks like he wants some-some
Nick in SF January 24th, 2011 at 9:38 pm
I was pretty sure Carl Crawford wouldn’t be a Yankee, now I wanna get paid!
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I was positive Lee wasn’t going to be a Yankee
Cameron diaz sure hangs out with some winners. 2 cheaters. Not that I judge.
You could’ve snagged $25 from me on a Cliff Lee bet, you missed out.
# Nick in SF January 24th, 2011 at 9:46 pm
You could’ve snagged $25 from me on a Cliff Lee bet, you missed out.
————————————————————————————————–
I could have used some extra cash
Nick in SF January 24th, 2011 at 9:38 pm
I was pretty sure Carl Crawford wouldn’t be a Yankee, now I wanna get paid!
***************
I was too…
But we didn’t put these things in writing beforehand
Have to laugh at a gossip columnist who calls Dirk Ziff, Sandy Weill and Jamie Dimon “hangers on” at a dinner with Clinton, Cameron and Alex.
# tyanksfan36 January 24th, 2011 at 9:37 pm
Against All Odds says:
January 24, 2011 at 9:30 pm
# tyanksfan36 January 24th, 2011 at 9:22 pm
Jerkface
I got mlb 10 the show for playstation and I’m awful at it. I was not blessed with video game talents like my older brother and I think its just ridiculously difficult. I don’t know how anyone figures it out.
———————-
What are you having trouble with hitting, pitching, both
—-
The whole thing, seriously…I wasn’t too bad at hitting but pitching and fielding was really difficult. I couldn’t figure out defense so I just skipped innings so all I had to do was hit. I might talk to my brother because he has a skill of automatically figuring out any video game regardless of difficulty. He hates baseball so he probably won’t.
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I know the feeling I have friends that play games on the hardest level and win like it’s nothing. Baseball takes a while getting used too especially hitting. Hitting is always the thing that I get the hang of last.
A few notes and link on a cold, slow day