Pitchers and catchers: The countdown begins
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Jan 12, 2013 
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One month. That’s where the countdown begins.
In exactly a month, on February 12, pitchers and catchers will report to the Yankees spring complex in Tampa. That morning — just hours before President Obama delivers his State of the Union address — manager Joe Girardi will sit for his annual start-of-spring-training press conference. It’s essentially his State of the Yankees address.
Girardi will be asked about Alex Rodriguez’s hip, Derek Jeter’s ankle and Mariano Rivera’s knee. He’ll be asked about playing Brett Gardner in center, putting David Phelps in the rotation and trusting Austin Romine behind the plate. He’ll be asked whether this team — with its aging players and injury concerns — can reasonably expect to be better than next year.
Chances are, Girardi won’t give definitive answers to many, if any, of those questions. That’s what spring training is for, he’ll say; to find those answers.
Right now, with a month of offseason still to go, the roster still has questions to address even before pitchers and catchers arrive in Tampa. Can the Yankees find the right-handed bat they want and need? Who’s going to get the bulk of the designated hitter at-bats? Is the front office working on a surprise deal that will spark some new optimism?
Last year, it wasn’t until camp opened – more or less – that the Yankees traded away A.J. Burnett and signed both Eric Chavez and Raul Ibanez. Clay Rapada showed up after pitchers and catchers reported, Cody Eppley was claimed late in spring training, and Chris Stewart was acquired just before Opening Day.
Moves will be made, and significant decisions settled, after camp opens. But in one month, Girardi will sit down to address the state of the Yankees. Is he going to have anything new to talk about?
Associated Press photo
A more appropriate title for the Yankees would be: pitchers and no catchers report in a month
excited about the pitchers…the catchers can stay home…
Blake, you’re beginning to sound like a Maple Leafs fan
jmills says:
January 12, 2013 at 9:07 am
Blake, you’re beginning to sound like a Maple Leafs fan
What are the Maple Leafs
excited about the pitchers…the catchers can stay home…
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I agree. But then the pitchers would have to do a lot of fetching.
Repost:
Shame Spencer January 12th, 2013 at 9:04 am
If they could agree on how to divvy ‘em up I’d trade 8 of my top 10 for both of them.
86 – HELL. YES.
It would be insane if they could make something like that happen. Insanely awesome. I don’t think we have enough pieces for both but I like the way you’re thinking
blake January 12th, 2013 at 9:09 am
jmills says:
January 12, 2013 at 9:07 am
Blake, you’re beginning to sound like a Maple Leafs fan
What are the Maple Leafs
—————
What’s hockey…???
86w183 January 12th, 2013 at 9:11 am
excited about the pitchers…the catchers can stay home…
**********************************************************************
I agree. But then the pitchers would have to do a lot of fetching.
————————————————–
Could change it to “a month until pitchers and fetchers report”.
I’ve heard Hockey is some form of ice soccer that they used to play in Canada?
Hockey is simple… It’s like curling with fewer teeth
“Is he going to have anything new to talk about?”
Of course.
Just not what many of us here might like to hear about.
Curling is better on TV than Hockey though….
Pujols’ wife is making empanadas with Paula Deen right now…
86 for GM.
Shame Spencer says:
January 12, 2013 at 9:19 am
Pujols’ wife is making empanadas with Paula Deen right now…
I bet the main ingredient is butter
A few years ago, a contact of mine turned in this old piece of wood considered to be the longest living hockey stick – he wisely made something like 2 mill on it. ” Oh, what a lucky man he was . “
Shame-
Those must be some magic empanadas.
Mlbnetwork is showing Cobb I think tomorrow…..I guess to celebrate what a “clean” player could accomplish
While we heard the Yankees have called on Morse and sought Hairston on a one year, we have not heard a word on Upton. Why? I believe because he is owed significant money post 2013. Even with the lower AAV calculation, it is still a big chunk of money for them.
If no Morse, then they will try Hairston and likely overpay for one year of a guy who will probably hit .240. Last year was an outlier for him.
After Hairston, the options get worse than we have in the minors. Please don’t make me watch Rivera.
Maybe the NHL should give their players steroids to save their sport?
“While we heard the Yankees have called on Morse and sought Hairston on a one year, we have not heard a word on Upton. Why? I believe because he is owed significant money post 2013. Even with the lower AAV calculation, it is still a big chunk of money for them.”
Because Cashman refuses to do a trade if people know about it! Of course you’re reason is probably why….but I will hold hope until they totally dash them
I have my front teeth, thank god my parents took me out of the game; Jean Ratelle I was not. Baseball you could go to yourself on a bike without your parents.
Seriously though….the only trade Cashman has made that anybody knew about beforehand that I can think of was the AJ Burnett deal last year…..the Yanks have very few front office leaks unlike the Red Sox and some other teams
The Yankees, dashing hopes one at a time.
which is more likely, hairston batting above .275 or morse playing over 100 games?
blake January 12th, 2013 at 9:20 am
Shame Spencer says:
January 12, 2013 at 9:19 am
Pujols’ wife is making empanadas with Paula Deen right now…
I bet the main ingredient is butter
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Actually… it was LARD
Lard, butter, fatback….Paula uses all the good stuff
Caught Pete Rose on TV yesterday with his younger wife…looks like Pistol hasn’t done much moving around ( getting large) in the last few years, just sitting around at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas signing autographs…not for nothing I think he’s been doing that as long as he was a player….as a player Pete belongs in the HOF
Ys Guy says:
January 12, 2013 at 9:28 am
which is more likely, hairston batting above .275 or morse playing over 100 games?
As a DH probably the latter
blake January 12th, 2013 at 9:24 am
Maybe the NHL should give their players steroids to save their sport?
————————
jerkface will agree…
is rose’s hair still pink?
hitting 70 hrs is prob like shooting a 250 mph slapshot..on the roids
blake January 12th, 2013 at 9:24 am
Maybe the NHL should give their players steroids to save their sport?
—————-
There’s already a lot of reports about how the NHL and NFL don’t do a ton of testing but don’t get called on it a lot. I sometimes wonder if it’s just because those sports are so much more physical than baseball (and I mean that relatively, obviously a full season of baseball is a grind, it’s just different).
joeman January 12th, 2013 at 9:30 am
Caught Pete Rose on TV yesterday with his younger wife…looks like Pistol hasn’t done much moving around ( getting large) in the last few years, just sitting around at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas signing autographs…not for nothing I think he’s been doing that as long as he was a player….as a player Pete belongs in the HOF
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Yeah I saw a commercial.. he’s doing a reality show on TLC? His wife referred to them as a couple as ‘felons and melons’…. interesting.
So the inescapable conclusion and the main takaway from watching Albert’s Wife cook is:
“If you wish to be a great all-around hitter you should eat your empanadas made with lard only.”
Is that correct ?
Ys Guy January 12th, 2013 at 9:31 am
is rose’s hair still pink?
——————————
not a hairdresser but I think thats what happens when you mix grey and red
blake – You might want to send this to Mrs. blake: http://www.zingermans.com/Prod.....ID=G-bac-3
Perhaps that is why I was never a great hitter ?
I only had butter in mine.
But, other teams have leaks. The DBacks only keep quiet about the Yankees interest? I will be shocked, very happily so, if we add Upton. Morse, doubtful, but possible.
It is amazing to me the Yankees are not going all out to add a bat for 2014 and beyond they can either pair with Cano or replace him, at least in part.
MTU January 12th, 2013 at 9:33 am
So the inescapable conclusion and the main takaway from watching Albert’s Wife cook is:
“If you wish to be a great all-around hitter you should eat your empanadas made with lard only.”
Is that correct ?
—————
Yes… yes, I think so! She also made the coconut whoopie pies.. they looked delicious.
Paula Deen referring to Albert was funny. You could tell she had never heard of him lol.
Shame Spencer January 12th, 2013 at 9:33 am
joeman January 12th, 2013 at 9:30 am
Caught Pete Rose on TV yesterday with his younger wife…looks like Pistol hasn’t done much moving around ( getting large) in the last few years, just sitting around at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas signing autographs…not for nothing I think he’s been doing that as long as he was a player….as a player Pete belongs in the HOF
—————-
Yeah I saw a commercial.. he’s doing a reality show on TLC? His wife referred to them as a couple as ‘felons and melons’…. interesting.
—————————————
he was on a live show around 11am yesterday…you think he still wagers a little ?
…you think he still wagers a little ?
—————-
LOL, that’s probably why he has to do a reality show to pay the bills.
Eat and be merry, people; I’m going to force the prune juice and porridge down.
Shame-
It’s imperative that we find out if it was the lard in the Empanadas, or the coconut whoopies, or a combination of both ?
If we know we can have the Yankees MiLB teams incorporate it into their training regimen immediately.
Emulating Pujols is a worthy goal. That may have been why some our guys were not reaching their full potential. It may have been their diet.
I have to walk the Mops now. I’ll discuss that point and others with them. See if they can can provide any more insight.
later.
Shame,
I like
Shame Spencer January 12th, 2013 at 9:41 am
…you think he still wagers a little ?
—————-
LOL, that’s probably why he has to do a reality show to pay the bills.
——————————————————————–
I go out to Vegas at least once a year and stop by (Caesars) to see what’s he’s up to, not much business as there use to be, time away from the game took care of that
Let me know your thoughts- My obligatory Justin Upton trade proposal (expanded to include a highly unlikely 2nd player coming to the Yanks): Brett Gardner, Eduardo Nunez, Austin Romine, Ivan Nova or David Phelps, Slade Heathcott, and Gary Sanchez for Justin Upton and….. Miguel Montero. How quick does Kevin Towers hang up or would he consider a proposal with a lot of quantity? He gets a starter with long term potential in either Nova or Phelps. A leadoff hitter in Gardner, another SS option in Nunez, a catcher in Romine who can man the ship until Sanchez is ready and one of our 3 OF top prospects (and the one who is closest to the majors). Any thoughts?
I’ve said it before, but I think Carlos Beltran is the mark for a Granderson or Cano trade. You can hope to get maybe the same type of value from Granderson, one A level pr
One A level prospect is about the most we can hope for. With Cano would be a little more, but less than Tex.
Jill’s,
Porridge sounds pretty good after a winter of gruel.
“How quick does Kevin Towers hang up or would he consider a proposal with a lot of quantity”
Fairly quickly I think…..that is a lot for the Yabks to give up but Towers would be giving up two really good big league established players……that deal might turn out great for the Dbacks long term……but it also could bust and leave then with nothing
RadioKev January 12th, 2013 at 9:50 am
One A level prospect is about the most we can hope for. With Cano would be a little more, but less than Tex.
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An A level prospect for 3B and the OF would be okay by me if the talent is there.
MTU – I believe the lard was just used for the empanadas.. those coconut whoopie pies looked awesome though.
Those are probably very expensive melons.
I think Pete acknowledges he still plays the horses.
If he had said the things he says now back in 1990 in terms of admitting it, accepting punishment, blaming only himself and apologizing to the game he would have be reinstated to some degree long ago.
It’s why two Hall voters I’ve spoken with indicate they may want to reward A-Rod when the time comes… IF he has some more productive post-testing seasons.
But I like the outside the box thinking
Giancarlo for Gardner, Robertson, Williams, Nunez and Sanchez….? No? One more piece? Two? Do they want pitching?
Upton for Williams, Nunez/Adams, Phelps/Nova, and….Logan? Robertson?
@jonmorosi: Mariners asked Rockies about Michael Cuddyer awhile back, but Colorado does not plan to move him.
Wonder what they’d give for Grandy
Shame Spencer says:
January 12, 2013 at 10:05 am
Upton for Williams, Nunez/Adams, Phelps/Nova, and….Logan? Robertson?
Id do it if Logan or Montgomery instead of Robertson
@RiverAveBlues: Hale: Yankees have no interest in Jim Thome http://t.co/lYNEVrSx
The only way Cano is traded is at the TD if the team is ten or more games behind. No negotiations with him and none planned. He will amazingly be allowed to become a free agent without trying to sign him or trade him.
What other team would do that?
This Lance Armstrong news overlapping with the HOF situation is some sort of kismet thing… I can’t wait to watch Oprah soft ball him and subsequently watch other journalists who soft ball other players/leagues criticize her for it.
blake January 12th, 2013 at 10:06 am
Shame Spencer says:
January 12, 2013 at 10:05 am
Upton for Williams, Nunez/Adams, Phelps/Nova, and….Logan? Robertson?
Id do it if Logan or Montgomery instead of Robertson
————-
Yeah I didn’t wanna put Robertson in the Upton deal.. just wasn’t sure if they’d want a reliever. I’d give them Montgomery AND Logan if that was the deal lol.
Blake,
You could also substitute Granderson for Gardner so Arizona would not really lose power production from the lineup for 2013.
getting me excited about putting Gardner in trades……keep it up maybe Cash will be looking in
Coney,
That’s a really big deal…..I just can’t see the Dbacks trading Upton and Montero in the same deal
Blake,
I can’t either. It’s just a stretch to say the least. The only way I can see that is if Arizona is looking to shed contracts that will be growing over the next couple of years. Montero is going to be 30 and his $$$ starts increasing the next few years to around $13MM. Maybe KT doesn’t want to pay $13MM for a 32 or 33 year old catcher.
they are not going to give Cano what he wants ( no home team discount) …..they have to trade him or lose him
I think they’re doing this one year stuff for the sole purpose of giving Cano what he wants… I’m just worried we’ll also lose Phil and the opportunity to sign other players and they’ll shove it in our faces like, ‘well, you wanted us to retain Cano, right? So now we did and can’t do anything else for a while.’
so giving Cano 6-7 years $150 mil + is the thing to do….
Wrecking the team to re-sign Cano is moronic. But, I agree that looks like the plan.
they are going to lock up all their $$$ on a few players & when giving out 1 year contracts we see what type of players they are giving them to…..
austinmac says:
January 12, 2013 at 10:29 am
Wrecking the team to re-sign Cano is moronic. But, I agree that looks like the plan.
The best plan would probably be to sign Canonand for ownership to not let it wreck the team…..guess that’s not an option though
Somebody needs to get Maury Povich on the case. There is just NO WAY Hal can be of George’s loins. Milkman, Mailman, Beggarman, Thief. Someone else has Gotta be responsible for what we are seeing and hearing.
Is there a bona fide MLB’er that Wants to play in Seattle? And if I’m Hal or Levine, (Cashman NO longer is relevant), I do NOT even inquire about King Felix. Still good, but NOwhere near what he was, and falling quickly.
I thought the Academy Nominations were pretty weak. NO Batman, NO Hobbit, NO Bond, NO Avengers. These people continue to bite the hand that feeds ‘em.
I think 5/175 is the floor of what you can expect to get Cano for…..that’s basically Hamilton plus 2 more years…..Cano plays a more premium position and doesn’t have the injury or off field issues that Josh did…..so you have to figure that’s close to his floor.
The dodgers are gonna be in on him…. He makes too much sense for them not to….so the Yanks ownership needs to make a decison here.
Are they gonna pay Cano his market value knowing that he will be declining for a big portion of the contract…..or are they gonna let him walk?
Cano is one of the best players in baseball…..if you go by WAR he was worth about 4 more wins than any other 2B in baseball last year and he has the most cumulative WAR of any single player since 2009…..he gives them a huge positional advantage daily on the field.
That said…..if ownership isn’t willing to absorb his decline (like they haven’t been with Arod)….then they need to strongly consider letting him go and spreadin his money around to other areas.
It’s a tough call…..Id prefer them to just be the Yankees…..pay him…..then deal with his deine when it happens and not let it kill the team….we will see what they do
DONNYBROOK January 12th, 2013 at 10:44 am
Somebody needs to get Maury Povich on the case. There is just NO WAY Hal can be of George’s loins. Milkman, Mailman, Beggarman, Thief. Someone else has Gotta be responsible for what we are seeing and hearing.
——————–
You should make a list of all the people that might have really fathered Hal!
That’s an idea. Offer Granderson to the Mariners. But it’s not like NYY haven’t been shopping Granderson. They put him on the market right after the World Series supposedly. Maybe now Seattle is more open since many options have fallen off the board.
The Yankees could maybe use a key Seattle prospect in an Upton package and surround him with players Towers likes such as Betances, Eduardo Nunez, David Adams…
If I’m Texas, I don’t spend any more money this off season and try to create an infield of Cano, Andrus and Profar in 2014.
The Dodgers will push hard though.. so will the Tigers if they decide they have the money.
SEA prospect + Mason Williams + Betances + Nunez + Adams = Upton?
It would be nice to be the Yankees who acquired other team’s talent instead of losing their own. Multiple free agents gone this year and a slew next year.
Hal says we don’t have to spend as we will rely on all of Cashman’s minor league talent.
Folks, this is not going to end well unless they change paths.
Blake – like your point about it being a museum and not a hall of morality. Me is trying to live and learn. And , yes, Shame, the kids need to see the machinations of this world within digestible limits.
The Braves are “lying in the weeds” in conversations about Upton, reports ESPN’s Buster Olney (on Twitter). Atlanta would be guaranteed an outfield of Jason Heyward and the two Uptons for three years.
The Diamondbacks like Mike Olt according to Olney (on Twitter), so presumably he would be someone they target during trade conversations with the Rangers.
Read more at http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/#4Aychd3eo47bXXRd.99
I would think if the cost to the Rangers were only Olt + that deal would have already been made.
No way the Rangers don’t surrender Olt and a lot more for Upton IMO.
I’m betting they also wanted either Andrus or Profar, and maybe a good arm included.
Blake-
How bout we trade Austin to the Tigers for Castellanos like you mentioned and then flip Castellanos + + to the Snakes for JU ?
Might wind up with the Bravos anyway. I think Upton squared plus Heyward has got be very appealing.
Rangers front office is a huge prospect hugger base – they have been even called out on it in the press – - – -
Anybody that regards Coooperstown\HOF as a “museum” just don’t get it. I recommend repeated viewing of “Field of Dreams”.
SB-
Well if they would not trade a guy like Olt for JU then they’re nuts IMO.
Oh I think they will/might – be they it will still seem it as painful to them and lament – - – -
“How bout we trade Austin to the Tigers for Castellanos like you mentioned and then flip Castellanos + + to the Snakes for JU ?”
If the Tigers would make that deal then I might just make it and keep Castellanos
DONNYBROOK says:
January 12, 2013 at 11:41 am
Anybody that regards Coooperstown\HOF as a “museum” just don’t get it. I recommend repeated viewing of “Field of Dreams”.
That’s a movie about redemption and also about a guy unfairly being kept out of baseball…..in addition to the main theme just being about a father and sons relationship. Probably my favorite movie ….one of them anyways
joeman January 12th, 2013 at 9:31 am
blake January 12th, 2013 at 9:24 am
Maybe the NHL should give their players steroids to save their sport?
————————
jerkface will agree…
—
According to Jerkface steroids both saved baseball but also don’t do much, so you’ll have to ask him which stance he’s taking to make his argument today.
Speaking about baseball movies – trailer for the Jackie Robinson movie:
http://www.aintitcool.com/node/60296
I don’t know if the Rangers have enough to get Upton without Andrus or Profar…,maybe they do but I think the yanks could match them
Harrison Ford as Branch Rickey should be a laugh. That part was made for Wilford Brimley. “Check your steroids, and check them often”.
The tricky thing with the Rangers is that they are now thin on pitching – so it is difficult for them to trade any of their pitching depth without already depleting that base – they are already talking about turning Robbie Ross into a reliever – who I would like to acquire – - – -they have the depth and quality – but can they afford to include pitching???
“So you’re basically saying my father did a poor job in teaching me right from wrong?”
Hell no! Maybe we were the kind of kids that really needed things drilled into us, I don’t know, but what I am telling you is that my father put the fear of God into us. And we didn’t ever think he was joking. For a lot of my young life I am sure I stayed on the straight and narrow not because I was so morally convicted but I was scared to death of the consequences. My father was definitely the disciplinarian, my mother the patient angel who taught us gently – but she still taught us. My father told us that if we were ever caught doing something wrong, he’d take us to the police station himself. Do I believe he would have? Absolutely and unequivocally. The combination of their lessons stayed with all of us. My dad was the most ethical human being I ever met in my life. So maybe you can understand where I’m coming from when I say the things I do. I don’t see grey, I see right and wrong.
I am hardly an angel, I make mistakes all the time. But I am pretty darned moral. I don’t cheat in life, and I certainly don’t cheat other people. It isn’t like the steroid users cheated themelves. They cheated any players who were NOT on steroids, they cheated any record holders who may have played the game honestly (yes, I believe that there were many many many who did so), they sullied the reputation of a beautiful game, and they deserve to go down in flames, IMO.
But no, I am certainly not saying your father did a poor job! I’m sure your parents did a great job. I believe parents teach by example, too. Back to the person I know who bends every rule that she can possibly bend. What chance do her kids have? It’s not an unknown that kids role model after their parents, good and bad.
Blake seems to be on it.
The Braves seem well positioned to make this deal.
I hope we’re in the weeds behind the weeds they’re in. Just in case.
Braves are best fit…..I do hope Cashman has at least tried to get him and has tried the 3 way with Seattle as there could be something there and Cash has a relationship with both GMs
Stone, thanks for the trailer; reminds me of , ” Don’t Look Back – the Satchel Paige story,” which I haven’t seen in ages.
Has there at least been a made for TV movie on Jackie up until this point? Hard to believe if not…..
Cashman has been rendered impotent. It’s Hal and Levine. Cashman’s contribution would be laying the ground work, and making runs to Starbuck’s.
The Rangers system in general gets fairly thin after the top guys….they have some real talent in the lower levels but after Profar and Olt they are farther away than the Yanks best guys are.
Perez has been hurt and underperformed….. They do have Martin but tough to know if he’d be a big enough piece to get a deal done either.
There has already been a flick made on the life of Jackie Robinson.
Boston could sneak in and nab Upton if he’d wave his no trade….they have the prospects now most likely. Probably would take Boegarts though and they may not part with him
Who is gonna play Jackie?
“We all allowed it to happen”
No WE ALL did NOT allow it to happen. Maybe you allowed it to happen blake, and then I can certainly understand your attitude about it. I did not allow it to happen. I come to the table with clean hands on that one. Maybe my naivety and seeing the world through rose-colored caused me to miss some things, but I did not allow it to happen. And if I knew what was happening, I wouldn’t have turned a blind eye to it and just merrily went along my way enjoying the game. I would have been screaming about it.
And I can tell you that since I do not get a case of the vapors over home runs, the last thing I would have cared about is the proliferation of homers!
Finally, though I have been a fan of the Yanks my whole life, quite a few years of my life have been spent in higher education and I can honestly tell you that during those years, I wasn’t able to focus on the game the way I can now. So if I missed some tell-tale signs during those years, then I did. But still, I would never have accepted them blithely or ignored them. Just not who I am.
************
“Trisha-
To this day I thank my Father for the discipline he provided.
Thought I often resisted his teachings at the time if it were not for him I’m sure I would have sunk to an even lower level.
He was a wonderful mixture of discipline mixed with compassion.
I wish he were still with us so I could tell him that. It will just have to wait a while I guess.”
MTU, he sounds wonderful. And I think you can tell him that. I truly believe that they can hear us. I talk to my dad all the time. You might want to consider talking to your dad and letting him know how you feel and how much you appreciate the man he was and is. I bet he’ll smile proudly and appreciatively from above. What a wonderful job your parents did with you. But I think the had something very special with which to work. I’m sure this hard-headed kid was responsible for some of the grey hairs on her parents’ heads!
If you fixate on the worse-case scenario and it actually happens, you’ve lived it twice.” Michael J. Fox
Some of the Rangers talen played in High A bALL – it is really not that much different than what the Yanks have – plus their international signings – even if you take out Profar and Andrus – they have the chips to beat out a Yankees offer – it is just a matter of whether how much Daniels and his crew want to hug their prospects – - – -Rangers have a better farm system – even minus the best prospect in baseball in Profar – - – -
Boston could offer Bogarts and Barnes and that beats most teams…..
There was a movie about Jackie Robinson – and Mr. Robinson played himself – - – -
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt00.....fn_al_tt_1
There was also a subsequent tv movie made – - – -
Mike Olt could go on to become Mike Lowell – or Matt LaPorta – you just don’t know – - – -
“even if you take out Profar and Andrus – they have the chips to beat out a Yankees offer”
I disagree….I think minus Profar they are pretty silmilar overall
Thanks, Stone; where the hell have I been living? ( and don’t say hockey land
)
just have to agree to disagree – Olt leads their farm system – Yanks cannot trump that – and many of their lower minor league talent mirrors the Yanks as possibly even better – Gallo and Beras alone last year brought in to their farm system Yanks could not match for 2012 – add Cody Buckel – and even though Perez is their Banuelos – at least he is still pitching – - – -I still think a Rangers farm system led by Mike Olt and their depth outpaces the Yanks farm system at this point – a year from now it could be very different if the Yanks big four offensive prospects perform in the higher minors – but again – jmo – - – -
The Return of Stoneburner says:
January 12, 2013 at 12:19 pm
Mike Olt could go on to become Mike Lowell – or Matt LaPorta – you just don’t know – – – -
He couldn’t be nothing at all too
Meant to add this informal top 10 list from Jim Callis at BA – he has the Yanks in at #11 (based on his twitter feed) – he mentions prospectS – with none better than Profar – - – -
1. Cardinals
Loaded big league club awaits Oscar Taveras, Shelby Miller and Trevor Rosenthal.
2. Mariners
Their best prospects, even 2012 first-rounder Mike Zunino, have had Double-A success.
3. Marlins
Blockbuster trade with Blue Jays propelled this system from middle of the pack.
4. Rangers
No organization has more high-ceiling prospects, or one better than Jurickson Profar.
5. Red Sox
Help is on the way with Xander Bogaerts, Jackie Bradley, Matt Barnes and Allen Webster.
6. Rays
Dealing for Wil Myers and Jake Odorizzi helps to make up for recent lackluster drafts.
7. Twins
The best collection of bats in the minors, led by Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano.
8. Pirates
System isn’t deep but has impressive trios of arms and bats that most can’t match.
9. Diamondbacks
No. 6 on my list before subtracting Trevor Bauer and adding Didi Gregorius.
10. Astros
Rebuilding will take time, but trades and 2012 draft are steps in the right direction.
Maybe Mike Olt could become Mr. 511 Mel Ott.
He couldn’t be nothing at all too
*****
I am not sure what you mean – if you meant he could nothing at all too – that is why I included Matt LaPorta – who has been a big, disappointing RH bat from college – but hit well in the minors – similar to Olt as far as minor league track record to date – - – -
Shame, to us it’s just a game. To little kids growing up, to kids playing t-ball, then little league, Babe Ruth, and on, the kids who wear uniforms with the names of MLB teams on their shirts, you can believe it’s more than a game. It’s a passion, almost a religion. And their heroes are the guys actually playing the game. So the lessons they get from those players, the lessons they are seeing when they are still in formative years, may be very important lessons.
Don’t forget that one of the things that got Congress involved was the number of suicides of high school players who had been using steroids, and the overlap of the MLB players using steroids.
Castellanos was moved to RF in AA – does not mean much – - – but there is a divide in the community according to bA whether Castellanos can stick at 3b – too early to tell – - – -
What would be great a year from now is – not a complete list:
Heathcott is ready for the majors
Austin becomes Mike Olt 2.0 – albeit – playing RF instead of 3b
Greg bird becomes Austin 2.0 and makes his way to High A Tampa
Bryan Mitchell and DePaula show they are for real
The Yanks have 4 guys ranked similarly to Olt….he just happens to be a little closer.
But the Rangers have the single best prospect in baseball and that’s a huge difference
Stone,
What in saying is that without Profar I think the Rangers and Yanks would be ranked pretty similarly ….
Hi Trish, I think we all agree drugs are a huge problem. I do think the word, ” hero, ” should be left out when discussing athletes. Legend, yes, hero unfortunately, no.
Castellanos was probably moved to RF primarily cause Miggy is blocking him in Detroit….even if there were questions about his defense there youd think they’d leave him at 3B for now anyways just cause his value would be higher…..
Trisha,
If you weren’t protesting in 98 and against Clemens when he was with the Yanks then naive or not you were part of allowing it all to happen.
Stone,
What in saying is that without Profar I think the Rangers and Yanks would be ranked pretty similarly ….
I still disagree – or else he would not have used the plural with prospects – - – -
From BA re: Castellanos defense – as I said – it is still too early – but there appears to be a divide in the community about what position he will land:
Castellanos was probably moved to RF primarily cause Miggy is blocking him in Detroit….even if there were questions about his defense there youd think they’d leave him at 3B for now anyways just cause his value would be higher…..
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Defensively, Castellanos is still looking for a permanent home. He came up as a third baseman, and still might end up there eventually, but the Tigers moved him to right field at midseason. He has earned mixed reviews at third base. Some scouts think he has stiff actions and can be too timid on balls, often getting caught in between hops. Others felt he was solid at the hot corner with quick reactions and above-average arm strength. In mid-July, the Tigers shifted him to right field. He’s still learning to read balls off the bat and to take clean routes on flyballs. With more experience, he could be an average outfielder. He has below-average speed but moves well for his size and runs the bases well.
Gotta run – going to see Zero Dark Thirty – take care the lohud – - – -
See ya’, Stone; bring me back some music!
There was a piece on riveraveblues.com regarding a trade. Castellanos for Williams or Austin. It would be a good trade for both teams considering need. Both trading prospects almost never happens
But trading prospect*
Exception for hero – Thurman, who was just trying to make it back to his family.
“Hi Trish, I think we all agree drugs are a huge problem. I do think the word, ” hero, ” should be left out when discussing athletes. Legend, yes, hero unfortunately, no.”
Hi jmills! Unfortunately, to kids sports figures are heroes. And to some adults, too. Legends to others, but to some, heroes.
http://www.youtube.com/embed/l.....#038;rel=0
Great, sincere Thurman tribute
@mikeaxisa: And now I just learned Dickerson was released. For shame.
That sucks
Stone,
I think if the Tigers has a big league opening at 3B then Castellanos would still be playing there most likely
Why when Goose speaks of outrage at cheaters does he get the negative reaction?
Yet when the Mt Rushmore of Cheats (5 of them, you know who they are) get caught yet thumb their nose at the public, of which baseball writers are members of, they get sympathy?
Boggles the mind.
Collateral damage? Sure…Piazza feels that.
To say we are part of the problem b/c we “knew” when all the HR’s were flying is ludicrous.
So now it’s everybody else’s fault?
What a racket and so-called intelligent fans are siding with them to let them in when they wagged their fingers and lied to YOUR face. That’s where the line is drawn.
If you want to cheat, you will, that’s not even the issue, it’s what happens after you’re caught.
Did they cheat in the past? Sure, it’s part of baseball and all sports.
But when you insult the public on top of that then screw you….
That’s all I wanted to hear
mick January 12th, 2013 at 1:00 pm
“Why when Goose speaks of outrage at cheaters does he get the negative reaction?”
Because he himself played with and against guys that cheated
“To say we are part of the problem b/c we “knew” when all the HR’s were flying is ludicrous.”
Maybe not part of the problem but fans definitely enjoyed watching balls fly out of the stadium. We didn’t know how widespread it was but c’mon when Canseco became a Yankee I couldn’t help but think roids.
aaao
sure when he cat is out of the bag…wagging your finger in front of congress will do that, then the game is over.
even the year bonds had to show the world he was the best and destroyed the HR record became unenjoyable.
if they would have wanted the HR’s to continue to where a 100 HR year would be the norm they would have but something else came into play.
some kind of morality play where congress intervened.
eventually the fraudent behavior that resulted in abnormal numbers would have been poo pooed by the public as a fraud.
mick January 12th, 2013 at 1:06 pm
aaao
sure when he cat is out of the bag…wagging your finger in front of congress will do that, then the game is over.
even the year bonds had to show the world he was the best and destroyed the HR record became unenjoyable.
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You’re referring to the single season record or all time?
both
I disagree about the single season record but the all time record was unenjoyable because at that point the steroid story was beaten into the ground.
i found bonds AB’s more entertaining than his HR’s as McGwire/Sosa broke the mold with that.
his vision was impeccable. he was walked intentionally with bases loaded how many times?
you couldn’t throw a ball by him.
the more HR’s that would have been hit if this went unstopped would have diluted the game.
the outrage in the wrong places is what confounds me.
is it that it is a conversation stopper?
a knee jerk reaction by fans who just want to discuss the next hypothetical trade on the horizon?
sure baseball exists for your self gratification and lets get on with the game and all that but
it will all play out, no need to rush it…
I found the whole thing interesting. I never anything like that in my life. I guess my point is the genie is out of the bottle and things usually go forward not backward. Can anyone imagine what they will be using 30 yrs from now.
never saw**