Baseball Chatter 2k11

[Light Ice]

I'm an oft-maligned Islanders fan.

I subscribe to a lot of blogs, ESPN Insider, baseball prospectus, baseball america. ETC.

A lot of it is just hearing who is being shopped and then finding a match. Boston needs a lefty reliever, Dunn is supposedly being shopped by the Marlins, there's a history there.

And then you put together the prospects that the Marlins are looking for. Right-handed bat with on-base potential, doesn't strike out, good speed. Outfielder is a serious need, on the cheap. Kalish sounds like he fits and a package around him, including a couple others like Lars Anderson (1B that was at one point the jewel in the Sox system) could work for them.

 

[catinthehat123]

I'm an oft-maligned Islanders fan.

I subscribe to a lot of blogs, ESPN Insider, baseball prospectus, baseball america. ETC.

A lot of it is just hearing who is being shopped and then finding a match. Boston needs a lefty reliever, Dunn is supposedly being shopped by the Marlins, there's a history there.

And then you put together the prospects that the Marlins are looking for. Right-handed bat with on-base potential, doesn't strike out, good speed. Outfielder is a serious need, on the cheap. Kalish sounds like he fits and a package around him, including a couple others like Lars Anderson (1B that was at one point the jewel in the Sox system) could work for them.

Before I run to the gym. Ewwww thats gotta be painful. The islanders are awfully run. Hearing Yashin is back in an islanders uniform. I wouldn't believe it, but you guys are nowhere close to the cap floor. I've gotta give you credit if you really follow them.

 

[Light Ice]

They have many moments over the course of the season that give a lot of hope. The team's youth kind of makes it fun to watch. A lot of talent fighting against experience throughout the course of a season.

We'll get there. I hope.

 

[catinthehat123]

They have many moments over the course of the season that give a lot of hope. The team's youth kind of makes it fun to watch. A lot of talent fighting against experience throughout the course of a season.

We'll get there. I hope.

I would hope there would be some bright spots. There are some talented players there. I never liked Dipetro's contract...

Great pitching these past two days and bloody shame in pit vs atlanta.

 

[Light Ice]

The contract the Islanders awarded Rick DiPietro is one of the worst in hockey history. If not -the- worst. That, combined with how far they reached to take him?

I mean, really? You pass up on:

Dany Heatley
Marion Gaborik
Raffi Torres
and Mikhail Yakubov

to grab a goalie that was projected as a second round pick on most boards -

And then you award him with a 10 year guaranteed contract before he even plays a game? WOW.

Anyway.

Huge deal today for the Blue Jays and White Sox.

The White Sox take the only part of their 6-man rotation with value and spin him for some quality prospects (not blue chips, mind you) and manage to dump Teahan and his absolutely abhorrent contract.

The Blue Jays get Colby Rasmus and some arms.

The Cardinals get a marginal starter and empty their system. What. The. Hell?!

See, this brings up a good topic of conversation. Tony LaRussa is a good baseball mind and a TERRIBLE manager. The way he treats young prospects is abhorrent. They lost a quality SS in Ryan who continues to produce because LaRussa called him arrogant and he's been downright brutal to Rasmus and his father.

And don't tell me it's old-school mentality. He certainly didn't have an old-school mentality while Mark McGwuire juiced up right infront of him and destroyed one of the most beloved records in baseball.

 

[catinthehat123]

Yeah... that was an interesting pick. He was good for a while, but man he ain't ever going back there... You guys have had some head scratchers as of late.

it's not the same at all, but i feel like this when I look at zach hamill and know that logan coture was picked right after him.

These past 2 years I have to say I love the bruins drafts.

Interesting trade indeed. Toronto clearly comes out ahead.

I like LaRussa, but I have to agree with you. Whats the story with Rasmus, his father, and LaRussa?

I just read you traded Luongo to make space for Dipietro, thats gotta burn.

 

[Light Ice]

I believe in the magic of performance statistics. It's my opinion that a player's statistical line and a scientifically scouted profile of attributes will defeat a human being's instinct 99 times out of 100. Nobody exemplifies my outlook more than the disaster that was Rick DiPietro. I was shouting at my computer when I saw the news of our pick. I was ripping my hair out when they traded Luongo (an overrated but extremely solid starting goaltender) and I nearly blew my brains out when I saw the contract they gave him.

That right there is the perfect example of what happens to a team when a GM uses his instincts and heart and ignores his scouts and their analysis. He fell in-love with DiPietro and absolutely ruined the Islanders for 10 years because of it.

And the story with Rasmus and his Father is that they are incredibly close. Colby's father helped him build his swing and helps him maintain it. Colby goes to his father for advice before anyone else. He is not uncoachable by any means but he does have a stubborn dedication to his dad.

A lot of people see that as a trademark of his tremendous character. Colby believes it was his father that got him here and won't turn his back on him.

Tony LaRussa thought his father was an idiot and treated him accordingly. When introduced, as the story goes, LaRussa made a point to pull Colby aside and to lecture him on keeping the old man out of the clubhouse. That didn't sit well. It got worse from there.

LaRussa doesn't like prospect players. Never has.

I can see how he'd be a tad annoyed that his full-grown boy/man of a blue chip centerfielder defaults to Daddy all the time. But honestly? He's homegrown and loves feeling like he's part of a family. The bust-your-balls and crush your spirit coaching of LaRussa just didn't fit him.

My guess, in a much more friendly and understanding clubhouse managed by former Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell, Colby Rasmus becomes the .300 30/30 +Defensive player that his tools and scouting reports touts him to be. Every scout in the league has been hot on him and spoon-feeding the buzz boards with hate for LaRussa and how he's completely screwed with this kid's development:

-Yanking his at-bats.
-No consistent time in the line-up
-Constantly moving him around in the line-up
-Constantly moving him around in the outfield

It's nonsense. If an organization believes a kid isn't ready to play everyday then they don't sit him. They put him down in AAA where he can get repetitions and sharpen his skills. The abomination that has been the way the Cardinals have allowed LaRussa to treat their legitimate Ken Griffey Junioresque prospect is one of the great shames in baseball.

And they'll pay for it when the roster of young kids implodes and all their high age free agent talent jumps ship or goes over the hill.

 

[catinthehat123]

I would have to imagine that would be the case.

I'm afraid St. Louis has enter the realm of the Sox and the Yanks. Money is no longer an issue, they will spend to be able to compete.

Colby sounds like a stand-up guy, though there is a time parents should stay out of the club house. To say something along the lines of limit your interaction with your father is a whole other issue in and of itself. No one that I've heard so far has thought that St. Louis made a good trade.

Toronto is a much friendlier place to play. Though because of the competition in the NL east I don't expect them to compete seriously for a world series anytime soon.

 

[Light Ice]

Agreed. And to be honest, I imagine it is pretty awful to play baseball in Canada.

 

[catinthehat123]

Your definitely second fiddle as a sport. Besides that I imagine your in a much laid back culture, and money wise the Canadian Dollar is now more valuable than the American. And this will likely continue as the wonderful US government will default in only a few days. If you have any real investments in american companies I may suggest the thought of moving them to something else.

 

[Light Ice]

I also encourage all of you to sell out of your portfolios.

So that I can buy at cheap.

Like I did with Ford 4 years ago (at 3.00 a share - now trading at over 50.00)

and Caterpillar ( 2.75 a share - now trading at over 40.00).

 

[catinthehat123]

Sam Adams supposedly dropped to a quarter. There's a bit of new reglations to make sure things like that don't happen as frequently.

But good to hear you made a killing. Are you a financial analyst/trader?

I don't see anything substantial happening with caterpillar, Ford though may hit a bump

 

[Light Ice]

No, that's not my profession.

I just believe very strongly in buying companies with strong direction and weight behind them. The plunge in the market a few years ago was an opportunity for most of us to cash in on everyone else's insanity by using some reason. Ford did not take any bailout money and restructured it's power players. It raised its own capital and sat on it while everything started going badly.

Caterpillar has huge overseas production going for it. If you want a backho or a tractor and you're building somewhere in Europe right now you're ordering Caterpillar.

A lot of these things were tips made to me by my broker. I don't get into day-trading or any of that and my portfolio is pretty diverse and pretty low-risk. Lots of bonds more than anything.

 

[Slugger31]

I wish my ChiSox would roll off a 4 or 5 game winning streak. This win a couple lose a couple BS is driving me crazy. The AL Central is so winnable and if Dunn and Rios would contribute ANYTHING on a regular basis this would be a hell of a lot easier.

 

[Light Ice]

I wish my ChiSox would roll off a 4 or 5 game winning streak. This win a couple lose a couple BS is driving me crazy. The AL Central is so winnable and if Dunn and Rios would contribute ANYTHING on a regular basis this would be a hell of a lot easier.

The White Sox have a few problems.

I supported Ken Williams when he traded for Rios. I thought, given what little they gave up, that rolling the dice on a kid who could dominate so many facets of the game was a solid gamble. It didn't pan out and now the worst case scenario is unfolding.

Adam Dunn is getting eaten alive by American League pitching. He isn't the only major slugger that changed leagues and struggled at first. Adrian Gonzalez had a rough couple weeks. The difference between The Donkey and A-Gon is that A-Gon is a thinking man's player. He figured out the step-up very quickly. The Donkey just swings and hopes to run into things and it isn't working for him. I think they have to cut bait on him as quickly as possible. Which will be hard given his contract.

I like their rotation (even Phil Humber). They need to patch up that bullpen even though Jessie Crane has been pretty lights out (minus the other night against the Red Sox).

But boy, their lineup card is a mess. AJP is at the end of his rope as a big-league starter. Beckham and Konerko are studs but Vizquel is basically washed up and A-Ramirez is a bout as streaky as it gets.

The outfield is a disaster. Quentin is alright but pretty sub-par on the defensive side of things (minus his huge, huge arm) and Rios plays like he's half-asleep. They are platooning the other outfield position and getting mediocre production in doing so.

And they have a DH that absolutely cannot produce. He can't even make productive outs right now.

They're out of it for this year and have some serious retooling to do. Their farm system isn't wiped out but it isn't going to produce help for another couple years, either.

I don't think Ozzie comes back as manager next year, either.

 

[Slugger31]

The White Sox have a few problems.

I supported Ken Williams when he traded for Rios. I thought, given what little they gave up, that rolling the dice on a kid who could dominate so many facets of the game was a solid gamble. It didn't pan out and now the worst case scenario is unfolding.

Adam Dunn is getting eaten alive by American League pitching. He isn't the only major slugger that changed leagues and struggled at first. Adrian Gonzalez had a rough couple weeks. The difference between The Donkey and A-Gon is that A-Gon is a thinking man's player. He figured out the step-up very quickly. The Donkey just swings and hopes to run into things and it isn't working for him. I think they have to cut bait on him as quickly as possible. Which will be hard given his contract.

I like their rotation (even Phil Humber). They need to patch up that bullpen even though Jessie Crane has been pretty lights out (minus the other night against the Red Sox).

But boy, their lineup card is a mess. AJP is at the end of his rope as a big-league starter. Beckham and Konerko are studs but Vizquel is basically washed up and A-Ramirez is a bout as streaky as it gets.

The outfield is a disaster. Quentin is alright but pretty sub-par on the defensive side of things (minus his huge, huge arm) and Rios plays like he's half-asleep. They are platooning the other outfield position and getting mediocre production in doing so.

And they have a DH that absolutely cannot produce. He can't even make productive outs right now.

They're out of it for this year and have some serious retooling to do. Their farm system isn't wiped out but it isn't going to produce help for another couple years, either.

I don't think Ozzie comes back as manager next year, either.

I will disagree with you on just a few points.

Rios was worth taking the gamble on originally. And last year he produced enough to justify his contract. Now he's not doing anything. He either pops the ball straight up or grounds out softly to second. He needs to change his stance and I don't care if he's been using it forever. He has all the talent in the world and I think he's playing a lazy center field. He can get to the ball and he can catch it, but his throws and how quickly he gets them off have been horrible this year.

Dunn is a completely mystery. It's easy to say "well it's AL pitching" and that might be true on some level. But only because he hasn't seen a lot of these pitchers before. It's not like AL pitchers do something otherworldly different than NL pitchers. He just needs to get used to them. I think Dunn will turn it around eventually. Whether he'll figure it out by the end of the season I don't know. But I think when you look at the back of his baseball card you have to understand that he's been consistent through out his whole career and you need to look at right now as a freak year and have faith in the future.

The bullpen is fine. Not any questions there at all except the lack of a true long reliever. Santos has taken to the closers role. Thornton is back on track. Crain has been awesome. Sale is doing well again after a shaky start. And they just acquired Jason Frasor who has done well in his first couple of appearances. The bullpen has been the best in baseball recently with an ERA of around 1.00 the last month or two.

Quentin is a streaky hitter, but when he's hitting he's unstoppable. His fielding hasn't hurt the team this year at all. A.J. is doing fine. He can't throw runners out for shit, but his hitting has been better than expected. Konerko is doing awesome even though he's cooled off a tad. Alexei plays a gold glove shortstop and is one of the better offensive shortstops in the game. Beckham for some reason hasn't become what I thought he'd be. Though I still think he's going to be a great player. Pierre is finally becoming useful again. 3rd base should go to Morel and they should leave him there so he can get used to hitting the big leagues. And Morel is a plus defender as well.

The only problem I have with the rotation at all is Jake Peavy. And not because I didn't like the trade at the time. But because his arm doesn't have any endurance this year. He's still recovering from surgery. He's shot right around the 75 pitch mark. He needs to build his arm strength up again. Other than that, I'm fine with the rotation.

I don't think the Sox are done this year just yet. If they get 6 or 7 games back and show no signs of life from Rios or Dunn then yeah, I"ll probably be willing to put a few guys on waivers. But Detroit is the only time that concerns me in the division and they have their flaws as well. The division is winnable. It's a matter of getting a couple guys going down the stretch.

 

[Light Ice]

Well, we seriously disagree on Adam Dunn.

Just some numbers, basic ones, to start my argument.

162 Game Career Averages for Adam Dunn:

BA .245
SO 186
OBP .376

He's never been able to hit for average. That's a huge red-flag for a power hitter that's creeping out of his power-prime. By now, generally speaking, a power hitter should begin to adjust to age and learn to hit the gaps. Dunn seemed to be doing that last season when he hit a career high 36 doubles (the only time he has ever hit 30 doubles). But that's deceptive.

I watch a lot of National League baseball and I can tell you that Dunn benefitted from the mammoth parks of the NL East. Citi Field and National Park are cavernous outfields. His splits were typical. Doubles in Citi Field and National Park (along with a plummet in his average) and Homerun's elsewhere with a slight spike in average.

I'm not saying Dunn is done. I'm simply saying that the contract that he was given and the way he was sold to the fans of the White Sox was unfair to what he actually projects. I blame Ken Williams for that, honestly.

He has never been the kind of bat that people were afraid of. He was the kind of bat that pitchers hoped they didn't make a mistake to but always considered pitchable. That's a huge, huge difference then the way he was marketed in the media and to the White Sox faithful.

And there is a huge adjustment in switching from the National League to the American League. Dunn has played almost his entire career in the NL and has spent those years getting accustomed to the release point, arm action, and tendencies of National League pitching.

The American League is new to him and his eye has never, ever, been a strong suit. The fact he's struggling to recognize breaking balls, even in breaking ball counts, is not surprising.

But what is surprising, and freakish, is how badly he is struggling against fastballs. Power hitters, particularly guys who have never hit for average, are frightening because they drop off very, very quickly. Age and their own tendencies catch up to them.

 

[Light Ice]

I don't know. You're 4 games back in a division where the Tigers are the only legitimate team. I don't think you should be that fond of your roster particularly when the Tigers have a host of problems, too.

You'd be in alright shape if your minor league system was healthy but it's highly suspect. The Indians did you a huge favor of burning out their future for Jimenez (an awful, awful trade for a team that isn't really a playoff team right now). I just think you need to make some serious moves and get out from some of the legitimately awful contracts that you have.

 

[Light Ice]

One of the classiest moments of the year just happened tonight.

Red Sox, extra innings at Fenway against the Yankees, get a walk-off hit from rookie sensation Josh Reddick. Meanwhile, JD Drew, currently ousted from his place as a starter and looking at a possible end to an otherwise tremendous career, is one of the first out of the dug-out with his hands raised for the new kid.

JD Drew's handling of the situation, and Reddick's surge as a clear starter for the Sox in the outfield, has allowed the team to move on without any questions or controversies (see Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada as an antithesis to this point).

 

[Light Ice]

Playoffs!

What an amazing last day of the season. The Red Sox and Braves both collapse and the Rays and Cardinals charge into the playoffs.

This makes for a ridiculously interesting post-season.

AL Rankings:
The Red Sox were the most powerful team in the AL East and after a boggling collapse will miss the post season. Injuries are a huge part of what happened to the Sox late. Their rotation took serious hits before the season even started and continued to battle injury problems. Tim Wakefield clearly is no longer a spot-starter/depth piece for the organization. I'll come back to this more later but by collapsing the Red Sox have opened up the AL Playoff picture.

1. Texas Rangers
When the Rangers get pitching they're the most dangerous team that nobody is talking about. They have the deepest line-up and the best bullpen. I think they're the team to beat.

2. Detroit Tigers
Another power lineup and the best rotation in the American League Playoff Tree gives the Tigers their best chance to return to the World Series. Miggy is absolutely raking and Austin Jackson is growing into a great centerfield.

3. New York Yankees
The Yankee lineup is powerful and they have some good bullpen pieces but they are very, very flawed. This team does not play great defense and its rotation is a mess.

4. Tampa Bay Rays
Who is going to hit for this team besides Evan Longoria? They're the weakest team that I've seen make it to the Playoffs since the 07' Cardinals that won the World Series. They have a great bullpen and a pretty decent rotation but I don't think this great story can keep going.

Teams That Missed:
Boston Red Sox-
Sox Nation is about to leap off of a building collectively. They should take a step back. John Lackey was in the middle of a divorce throughout this season and clearly wilted under the pressure and expectations. Carl Crawford battled injuries and had the worst season of his MLB career. The rotation suffered from a lack of depth and needs to be addressed and the bullpen needs some help, too, after Jenks and Wheeler were lost for the year.

But this team still won 90 games and could have easily made the post-season and rode its great top three starters into a deep run. They're going to be a force next year and if Crawford and Lackey make even small steps back to their usual selves and the injury bug doesn't bite quite as hard. They are on the doorstep of 100 wins.

LA Angels-
Losing Morales was a death rattle for the Angels five months ago but they still managed to battle close. This team is more complete than the Rays, however, and that's why they were able to get close. Imagine the Rays without Longoria for a season. Exactly. Heads up, here, but the Angels have missed out on highly coveted free agents for four straight years now. I would not be surprised if they swept in and made a big play for Pujols to allow Morales to slip into the DH. They're not far away from being a force themselves but are still, organizationally, a bit behind the Red Sox, Yankees, Tigers, and Rangers.

NL Rankings-
I love the Braves. They're going to be a tremendous team in three years and that was the plan from the start. You've got young arms all over the Organization. Bad news, however, is that Jason Heyward does not seem to be the real deal right now. If they can get a few bats to protect an aging Chipper Jones, dangerous Dan Uggla, and Brian McCann.

1. Phillies
Rotation. Rotation. Rotation. Has anyone lived to see something like this before? They're four deep. Better than the Braves dynasty with Maddux and Glavine. The lineup isn't what it used to be and can be beaten because of the pure amount of strikeouts it racks up against it, but Hunter Pence is a great right-handed piece that has clearly helped it. They are by far the best team in the NL even with a questionable bullpen.

2. Brewers
Look, the rotation needs help even if it's been playing better lately, but this bullpen is pretty good and the line-up is just shy of great. They could be the kryptonite to the powerhouse Phillies.

3. Diamondbacks
Ian Kennedy was always highly rated. The Yankees simply lost patience with him. This team, though, is riding Justin Upton through a weak division. Period. They are ranked 3 only because I feel their bullpen has a bunch of strikeout capable, young arms and they always seem to run into a ball and put it out.

4. Cardinals
This team is a mess. Tony LaRussa did what he could and they should be proud but they remind me of a Colorado Rockies team that simply didn't have the talent to really compete in the playoffs.

 

[Noon_Shadow]

Playoffs!

What an amazing last day of the season. The Red Sox and Braves both collapse and the Rays and Cardinals charge into the playoffs.

Gah! I can't get away from the collapse of my Braves anywhere!

 

[Light Ice]

Gah! I can't get away from the collapse of my Braves anywhere!

Hey, as a fan of the Mets, I thank your Braves.

Not only did you erase our otherwise historic 7 game collapse...

but you're in our division. Hahaha. I mean...

Sorry.

 

[Noon_Shadow]

Hey, as a fan of the Mets, I thank your Braves.

Not only did you erase our otherwise historic 7 game collapse...

but you're in our division. Hahaha. I mean...

Sorry.

We'll never live this down. I'm officially ignoring baseball until opening day next season-I will absolutely refuse to get up spring training baseball, which is usually a good time. I'm currently trying to pretend like the sport does not exist.

 

[Light Ice]

We'll never live this down. I'm officially ignoring baseball until opening day next season-I will absolutely refuse to get up spring training baseball, which is usually a good time. I'm currently trying to pretend like the sport does not exist.

You guys were on the three year plan. It's a miracle you guys were as close as you were with as young a team as you're building. These kids get some experience and you make a couple little tweaks and you're a force.

And don't ignore Spring Training. You'd be crazy! You've so much talent and depth in that organization.

 

[HeDoesntLikeYou]

Hope I can join the thread! I'm a Yankees fan from WNY. Disappointing Game 2 today, and kind of scared of Verlander tomorrow! Eeek!