Posted on 01/20/2006 5:57:06 AM PST by ken5050
Good morning, fellow FReeper baseball FANatics...It's been a while since we've all caught up..( and there were a few things going on...college bowl games, the NFL payoffs, and a SCOTUS nominee hearting..Getting close to "pitchers and catchers" reporting...( February 16th) So I thought I'd run a thread to get your take on how your particular team's done in the off season, and also to find out what you think of the upcoming World BaseBall Classic..
Even if not, somebody will beat Atlanta in the playoffs.
(Now just who has taken that responsibility the last two seasons?) ;-)
I'll be having lunch with you, right? Maybe on opening day?
So is Theo now Henry's Karl Rove?
The 'Stros signed FA Preston Wilson, who will probably be playing outfield. Which means that Bagwell is probably done, and Twinkie aka Maybelline aka Berkman will be moving to first, his natural position (he's a liability everywhere else, but a solid first baseman).
Oh, and Clemens is done. At least for now. The front office refused to match what he wanted, and so the Rocket is laying low. He wasn't bluffing; I'm sure he wants to play, but he has no need to. Furthermore, I think his age is finally catching up with him, and he costs a pretty penny. He had a great, immortal career, but the time has come to retire and enjoy the non-baseball world.
I was hoping our semi-new GM Purpura would get some blockbuster trade, but it doesn't seem to be happening. Can't say that's all that bad, because the team plays well together. However, without Roger we are short an ace pitcher and even with the addition of Wilson we are still a bit short on offense (can't expect Ensberg to have the same type of year, although that be most welcome). There was briefly the hope of getting Bobby Abreau or even Tejada, but those guys carry a heavy price tag and would have meant losing great players in a significant trade. The hope is getting slim of getting Adam Dunn, at least until he becomes a FA.
Yes, the Cards fans were class acts. We in Houston tried to be the same for the White Sox after they (ugh) swept us, and gave them sustained polite applause (more of a golf clap, but hey, they can't expect us to be HAPPY about losing, even if they earned our respect). I had the privilge of being at Game 4. What can I say, Brandon Backe is a playoff hero. Almost every time he starts it is an immortal game. Just too bad we couldn't have gotten him some run support. And Lidge had a rough time. I'm not worried about him--he'll come back strong. But what a time for an uncharacteristic bad couple of innings. Same for Mo--bad time to go into a slump. Oh well, we get farther every year. It just felt right last season.
I believe the Reds hold the most INEPT general manager in baseball.
Dan O'Brien has made me long for the NFL preseason to start in hopes of seeing something successful come out of Cincinnati again.
I hope Castenelli (new owner today) fires his sorry butt and hires someone who knows something about baseball.
CF - Jeff DaVanon low, or Coco Crisp high - or something along those lines.
SS - Alex Cora until Pedroia's ready
LF - I do believe that's covered.
I trust Theo. I welcome him back.
Manny's not going anywhere, which is how it should be. The idea that we'd trade away the only WS MVP in our lifetime, an annual contender for AL MVP, and a guy who helps make David Ortiz a contender for AL MVP because we are too poor is ridiculous.
We have plenty of spare pitching to get a CF who can hit, without giving up our stud prospects. We'll probably stick with Cora, who had some streaks of good hitting last year and is nails in the field.
We currently have 7 capable starters: Bronson Arroyo, Josh Beckett, Matt Clement, Jonathan Papelbon, Curt Schilling, David Wells and Tim Wakefield. Schill and Clement are the big question marks, but that's a lot of wins credited to the starter right there.
Lenny Dinardo is at least a replacement level fill-in option as an extreme groundball pitcher in his limited IP-- 17-5 GO/AO ratio in his two multi-inning appearances last year. Jon Lester could be ready by August call-ups. Honest Abe Alvarez is available for help, too.
2006 BP vs 2005 BP: Papelbon, Mota, Seanez, Vermilyea, and Hansen vs. Halama, Harville, Mantei, and Remlinger (plus Timlin returning and Foulke hopefully making a positive difference)
Youks can be our 1B fulltime, based on his above average glove and his bat. Ortiz and Peta are still available in a pinch. JT Snow is available to lock down wins late in the game.
We can do SS by committee if we want, with Cora, Loretta, and Graffy (all having played at SS before). Alejandro Machado can play in a pinch. Pedroia could well be our late-season solution at SS-- and he's projected to be a great contact hitter.
If we can get Coco Crisp reasonably, we'd be all set, frankly. I'd even consider Drew from LA.
Will the Cleveland give up Crisp? Are you willing to trade Marte for him?
The Manny thing, while quite lately, is still not settled. But his value will rise as the trading deadline approaches, so maybe they can get some value for him this summer.
Coco is a good ball player; and as a Sox fan, I'd be happy to see him leave the Central Division.
I think the Jays are the most overhyped team in either league.
They gave away an .820 career OPS 3rd baseman in Corey Koskie for nothing and traded good players for an overpaid, overrated .850 career OPS 3rd baseman in Troy Glaus, and doubly weakened their defense picking up Glaus and trading away Hudson.
They overpaid for a closer with a very short track record and a starter with a career losing record.
They gave up decent players for an average first baseman, Lyle Overbay (.820 career OPS).
They still have weak hitters in both LF and RF, and by weak I mean worse than Alex Cora was in 2004.
Only way they come close to the wild card is if everyone stays healthy all year and plays better than their track records.
Why do they own us, then?
"Scott Rolen (possibly the best third baseman ever to play the game)"
????
Lose credibility right there....
For the right price.
Are you willing to trade Marte for him?
I'd rather not -- rather go with a short term solution.
Why do the Rays own the Yankees?
There's major league baseball being played outside of the Eastern Time Zone?
I did not know that... [/carson]
I really have no idea how they plan to use Theo. Should be an interesting press conference next week.
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