2013 Hot Stove & Capella's Fabulous Cornhole Thread (1 Viewer)

[Raider Nation]

A-Rod is a massive doosh, but IMO he's dead on with this rant against Selig. He's being railroaded. If someone arbitrarily decided to suspend me for 211 games, costing me tens of millions of dollars and what was left of my legacy, I'd demand to see him in person and hear him explain himself too.

How so?

MLB is going outside the bounds of the joint drug agreement to tailor a punishment specifically for him rather than relying on a positive drug test. And as far as we know (and apparently as far as he knows, too?), the only thing they found in that investigation is those notes is a notebook with his name.

I know the Commish has broad authority to do stuff for the "integrity of the game," but I think he's abusing it here. A-Rod didn't do anything that many other players haven't also done and been caught doing. I seriously doubt they'd issue a 211 game suspension for corrupting the integrity of the game to some anonymous bench player.

True or not, nobody is going to feel bad for him. At the VERY least, this is his second PED infraction (that we know about).

I hope he gets 600 games, if nothing else just for being a prissy knob.

 

[Eephus]

There's no way Texas is actually going to let him even own a glove, right?

Impossible to say now because Daniels still has some work to do this offseason.

Even if Moreland is a better defender at 1B, there's some value in mollifying your stars. There could also be some greater incentive for Fielder to stay in shape if he's playing the field.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

There's no way Texas is actually going to let him even own a glove, right?

Impossible to say now because Daniels still has some work to do this offseason.

Even if Moreland is a better defender at 1B, there's some value in mollifying your stars. There could also be some greater incentive for Fielder to stay in shape if he's playing the field.

A weight bonus? Do we know that Fielder actually likes playing the field?

Haren talking to LA and SF.

 

[Eephus]

There's no way Texas is actually going to let him even own a glove, right?

Impossible to say now because Daniels still has some work to do this offseason.

Even if Moreland is a better defender at 1B, there's some value in mollifying your stars. There could also be some greater incentive for Fielder to stay in shape if he's playing the field.

A weight bonus? Do we know that Fielder actually likes playing the field?

His name?

June 29, 2011: First baseman Prince Fielder wouldn't rule out signing as a DH, talking to John Harper of the New York Daily News:

"I'm not ruling anything out, but as for right now, I like playing first base."

 

[Good Posting Judge]

His name?

June 29, 2011: First baseman Prince Fielder wouldn't rule out signing as a DH, talking to John Harper of the New York Daily News:

"I'm not ruling anything out, but as for right now, I like playing first base."

Well nobody's going to say that they WANT to be a DH.

I dunno, "I'm not ruling anything out" seems like fat guy code for "I want to throw my glove in the trash."

 

[Frostillicus]

$32 million for Jason Vargas (Royals)

 

[Don Quixote]

Seeing the contracts these lefties are getting, I really should have pursued pitching as a career path, versus one where I'm judged based on my awkward handshake.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Innings eater, takes the ball every fifth day, blah blah blah.

 

[guru_007]

$32 million for Jason Vargas (Royals)

15 year contract?

 

[shadyridr]

Would Fielder get a 7 year, 140 million deal this offseason if he was a free agent? I cant imagine so. Couple that with having to give up Kinsler, and I think Texas is making a pretty big blunder.

hed probably get more. You realize how much money is in baseball? Just wait until the free agent signings this offseason

 

[Eephus]

Would Fielder get a 7 year, 140 million deal this offseason if he was a free agent? I cant imagine so. Couple that with having to give up Kinsler, and I think Texas is making a pretty big blunder.

hed probably get more. You realize how much money is in baseball? Just wait until the free agent signings this offseason

Probably so. Carl Crawford got 7/$142M two years ago. At the time, he was the same age (29) that Fielder is now.

Cano and Ellsbury (and maybe Choo) will end up getting more this off-season in aggregate contract value and/or AAV.

 

[dparker713]

A-Rod is a massive doosh, but IMO he's dead on with this rant against Selig. He's being railroaded. If someone arbitrarily decided to suspend me for 211 games, costing me tens of millions of dollars and what was left of my legacy, I'd demand to see him in person and hear him explain himself too.

How so?

MLB is going outside the bounds of the joint drug agreement to tailor a punishment specifically for him rather than relying on a positive drug test. And as far as we know (and apparently as far as he knows, too?), the only thing they found in that investigation is those notes is a notebook with his name.

I know the Commish has broad authority to do stuff for the "integrity of the game," but I think he's abusing it here. A-Rod didn't do anything that many other players haven't also done and been caught doing. I seriously doubt they'd issue a 211 game suspension for corrupting the integrity of the game to some anonymous bench player.

True or not, nobody is going to feel bad for him. At the VERY least, this is his second PED infraction (that we know about).

I hope he gets 600 games, if nothing else just for being a prissy knob.

Its impossible to have an infraction when there is no rule in place. So his confession about using while in Texas can't be an infraction.

 

[Limp Ditka]

A-Rod is a massive doosh, but IMO he's dead on with this rant against Selig. He's being railroaded. If someone arbitrarily decided to suspend me for 211 games, costing me tens of millions of dollars and what was left of my legacy, I'd demand to see him in person and hear him explain himself too.

How so?

MLB is going outside the bounds of the joint drug agreement to tailor a punishment specifically for him rather than relying on a positive drug test. And as far as we know (and apparently as far as he knows, too?), the only thing they found in that investigation is those notes is a notebook with his name.

I know the Commish has broad authority to do stuff for the "integrity of the game," but I think he's abusing it here. A-Rod didn't do anything that many other players haven't also done and been caught doing. I seriously doubt they'd issue a 211 game suspension for corrupting the integrity of the game to some anonymous bench player.

True or not, nobody is going to feel bad for him. At the VERY least, this is his second PED infraction (that we know about).

I hope he gets 600 games, if nothing else just for being a prissy knob.

Its impossible to have an infraction when there is no rule in place. So his confession about using while in Texas can't be an infraction.

This is horsecrap.

 

[Hilts]

$32 million for Jason Vargas (Royals)

Meh. Don't think it's a smart move but Angels were offering the same $, only three years instead of four.

Still curious to see what LAA will do. They allegedly don't want to increase the budget a lot but I wouldn't be surprised if their lunatic owner decided to lose the first round pick and open the wallet for Garza or Ubaldo.

 

[Eephus]

Mets sign Chris B. Young for 1/$7.25M. Their OF was so bad that Young is an improvement.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Seeing the contracts these lefties are getting, I really should have pursued pitching as a career path, versus one where I'm judged based on my awkward handshake.

Ironic that in the Catholic school I went to they tried turning lefties toward the right path.

 

[dparker713]

A-Rod is a massive doosh, but IMO he's dead on with this rant against Selig. He's being railroaded. If someone arbitrarily decided to suspend me for 211 games, costing me tens of millions of dollars and what was left of my legacy, I'd demand to see him in person and hear him explain himself too.

How so?

MLB is going outside the bounds of the joint drug agreement to tailor a punishment specifically for him rather than relying on a positive drug test. And as far as we know (and apparently as far as he knows, too?), the only thing they found in that investigation is those notes is a notebook with his name.

I know the Commish has broad authority to do stuff for the "integrity of the game," but I think he's abusing it here. A-Rod didn't do anything that many other players haven't also done and been caught doing. I seriously doubt they'd issue a 211 game suspension for corrupting the integrity of the game to some anonymous bench player.

True or not, nobody is going to feel bad for him. At the VERY least, this is his second PED infraction (that we know about).

I hope he gets 600 games, if nothing else just for being a prissy knob.

Its impossible to have an infraction when there is no rule in place. So his confession about using while in Texas can't be an infraction.

This is horsecrap.

Only if you hate logic.

 

[Limp Ditka]

A-Rod is a massive doosh, but IMO he's dead on with this rant against Selig. He's being railroaded. If someone arbitrarily decided to suspend me for 211 games, costing me tens of millions of dollars and what was left of my legacy, I'd demand to see him in person and hear him explain himself too.

How so?

MLB is going outside the bounds of the joint drug agreement to tailor a punishment specifically for him rather than relying on a positive drug test. And as far as we know (and apparently as far as he knows, too?), the only thing they found in that investigation is those notes is a notebook with his name.

I know the Commish has broad authority to do stuff for the "integrity of the game," but I think he's abusing it here. A-Rod didn't do anything that many other players haven't also done and been caught doing. I seriously doubt they'd issue a 211 game suspension for corrupting the integrity of the game to some anonymous bench player.

True or not, nobody is going to feel bad for him. At the VERY least, this is his second PED infraction (that we know about).

I hope he gets 600 games, if nothing else just for being a prissy knob.

Its impossible to have an infraction when there is no rule in place. So his confession about using while in Texas can't be an infraction.

This is horsecrap.

Only if you hate logic.

http://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/11/sports/guessing-score-open-secret-special-report-steroid-suspicions-abound-major-league.html

It is against federal law to use steroids without a prescription, and in theory, baseball's policy mirrors the law. But in practice baseball's policy is rarely enforced. Testing is not allowed under the current collective bargaining agreement, so most of the evidence of illicit use has been anecdotal: tales of players putting on 30 pounds of muscle in a year, doubling the number of home runs they hit one year to the next and showing the symptoms of steroid use, such as violent mood swings and acne on the back.

http://espn.go.com/magazine/vol3no07steroids.html

The Major League Drug Policy says, "There is no place for illegal drug use in Baseball." And that there is a "need to maintain the integrity of the game." And yet a page later it says, "Major League players are not subject to unannounced testing for illegal drugs." That, right there, tells you how serious Major League Baseball is about steroids. They've set a speed limit but don't believe in putting police out on the road with radar guns to catch those who drive too fast.

Just because the league didn't have the teeth, or balls, to enforce the rules doesn't mean they were non-existent.

 

[Don Quixote]

Tim Brown‏@TBrownYahoo2m

Source: Freese for Bourjos expected to be announced within the hour.

 

[Brady Marino]

Tim Brown‏@TBrownYahoo2m

Source: Freese for Bourjos expected to be announced within the hour.

Prospects also reportedly involved. Thought is they are going Cards way.As a Cards fan who was equally frustrated by Freese and Jon Jay, I love this deal. Big fan of Bourjos when he is healthy.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Bourjos is a great fielder, at least. Not sure what the appeal of Freese is, unless the Angels can figure out how to fix his swing.

 

[Brady Marino]

Word is Freese and Fernando Salas for Bourjos and Randal Grichuk.

 

[Hilts]

Angels needed a body at third and something in the bullpen. Looks like they filled two needs, though not sure this is a good deal for the halos.

 

[Brady Marino]

@DSzymborski: "I'll give you $30 for your ham sandwich. Wait, that's a bad trade. How about $60 for your sandwich and can of Coke?" #bourjostrade

 

[Brady Marino]

Think of this: Bourjos has three degrees of separation from Kent Bottenfield.

1. Cards trade 18 game winner Bottenfield to Angels for Jim Edmonds

2. Cards trade Edmonds to Padres for David Freese

3. Cards trade Freese and Salas for Bourjos and Grichuk.

And the gift of scrap heap signing Kent Bottenfield keeps giving.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

I think any time the Angels and Cardinals do business, you know which team is going to get rubed.

 

[Brady Marino]

I think any time the Angels and Cardinals do business, you know which team is going to get rubed.

Angels just don't trade well in general, it seems. That Wells/Napoli deal was a doozy.

 

[Hilts]

Mlbtraderumors: Angels trade 3 years of Bourjos and one of their top prospects for two years of Freese and three years of Salas. Angels are also taking on 4 million in 2014 salary.

Who thought this was a good idea? What's wrong with Anaheim?

 

[Eephus]

Grichuk is kind of an interesting OF prospect. He's had some injury issues but turned 22 a few months ago. He has hit for power but had some problems (.256/.306/.474 ) in the Texas League. If he can make some adjustments, he has a non-zero chance of being the most valuable piece of the trade.

 

[dparker713]

A-Rod is a massive doosh, but IMO he's dead on with this rant against Selig. He's being railroaded. If someone arbitrarily decided to suspend me for 211 games, costing me tens of millions of dollars and what was left of my legacy, I'd demand to see him in person and hear him explain himself too.

How so?

MLB is going outside the bounds of the joint drug agreement to tailor a punishment specifically for him rather than relying on a positive drug test. And as far as we know (and apparently as far as he knows, too?), the only thing they found in that investigation is those notes is a notebook with his name.

I know the Commish has broad authority to do stuff for the "integrity of the game," but I think he's abusing it here. A-Rod didn't do anything that many other players haven't also done and been caught doing. I seriously doubt they'd issue a 211 game suspension for corrupting the integrity of the game to some anonymous bench player.

True or not, nobody is going to feel bad for him. At the VERY least, this is his second PED infraction (that we know about).

I hope he gets 600 games, if nothing else just for being a prissy knob.

Its impossible to have an infraction when there is no rule in place. So his confession about using while in Texas can't be an infraction.

This is horsecrap.

Only if you hate logic.

http://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/11/sports/guessing-score-open-secret-special-report-steroid-suspicions-abound-major-league.html

It is against federal law to use steroids without a prescription, and in theory, baseball's policy mirrors the law. But in practice baseball's policy is rarely enforced. Testing is not allowed under the current collective bargaining agreement, so most of the evidence of illicit use has been anecdotal: tales of players putting on 30 pounds of muscle in a year, doubling the number of home runs they hit one year to the next and showing the symptoms of steroid use, such as violent mood swings and acne on the back.

http://espn.go.com/magazine/vol3no07steroids.html

The Major League Drug Policy says, "There is no place for illegal drug use in Baseball." And that there is a "need to maintain the integrity of the game." And yet a page later it says, "Major League players are not subject to unannounced testing for illegal drugs." That, right there, tells you how serious Major League Baseball is about steroids. They've set a speed limit but don't believe in putting police out on the road with radar guns to catch those who drive too fast.

Just because the league didn't have the teeth, or balls, to enforce the rules doesn't mean they were non-existent.

They didn't have the ability under the CBA. They not only didn't have the will, they lacked the authority. Despite the Commissioner's broad powers, the CBA ruled in this area and an unenforceable rule is no rule at all.

 

[Bruce Dickinson]

I'm gonna miss Freese. Since we're from the same part of the same city and he played in the same little league system I did as a kid, I had an emotional attachment to him stronger than I would with an average Cardinal. But I don't disagree with the trade - NL pitchers figured out how to get him out and he isn't a plus fielder.

With Carp retired, Freese traded, Furcal and Westbrook not wanted back, and Beltran presumed gone... that's a lot of money to spend without exceeding last year's payroll. Curious to see if there's a big move or two coming.

 

[Brady Marino]

With Carp retired, Freese traded, Furcal and Westbrook not wanted back, and Beltran presumed gone... that's a lot of money to spend without exceeding last year's payroll. Curious to see if there's a big move or two coming.

I think this is only the beginning. I still think the Cards get one of Tulo/Andrus/Profar. Still hope Oscar Taveras opens the year as the Cards starting RF with Craig at 1B and Adams + Shelby moved in a Tulo/Andrus/Profar deal.

 

[Bruce Dickinson]

With Carp retired, Freese traded, Furcal and Westbrook not wanted back, and Beltran presumed gone... that's a lot of money to spend without exceeding last year's payroll. Curious to see if there's a big move or two coming.

I think this is only the beginning. I still think the Cards get one of Tulo/Andrus/Profar. Still hope Oscar Taveras opens the year as the Cards starting RF with Craig at 1B and Adams + Shelby moved in a Tulo/Andrus/Profar deal.

I wonder if Texas's asking price for Andrus or Profar just went up since they can play one of them at 2B now. And with the Rangers adding Fielder, they've already filled the fat-lefty-bat-who-can't-move position with a better hitter than Adams.

That said, I sure hope the Cards aren't done adding infielders. Matt Carpenter at 3B and Kolten Wong at 2B is an upgrade defensively from last year's edition, but it makes a team that relied on stringing hits together even more dependent on that.

 

[Brady Marino]

With Carp retired, Freese traded, Furcal and Westbrook not wanted back, and Beltran presumed gone... that's a lot of money to spend without exceeding last year's payroll. Curious to see if there's a big move or two coming.

I think this is only the beginning. I still think the Cards get one of Tulo/Andrus/Profar. Still hope Oscar Taveras opens the year as the Cards starting RF with Craig at 1B and Adams + Shelby moved in a Tulo/Andrus/Profar deal.

I wonder if Texas's asking price for Andrus or Profar just went up since they can play one of them at 2B now. And with the Rangers adding Fielder, they've already filled the fat-lefty-bat-who-can't-move position with a better hitter than Adams.That said, I sure hope the Cards aren't done adding infielders. Matt Carpenter at 3B and Kolten Wong at 2B is an upgrade defensively from last year's edition, but it makes a team that relied on stringing hits together even more dependent on that.

Yeah, they will need at least a 1B/3B type. Casey McGehee hit 27 hrs in Japan last year and seems ideal for a Ty Wigginton role (only he would be better).

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Andrus has a bazillion dollars left and can't hit. I think Texas would amnesty him if such an option were available.

 

[Eephus]

Andrus has a bazillion dollars left and can't hit. I think Texas would amnesty him if such an option were available.

his contract makes Andrus a less attractive trade target but it's not an albatross. He has one more cheap year and even after that, $15M doesn't go nearly as far as it used to. Chances are he'll opt out long before the end date of the deal.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Andrus has a bazillion dollars left and can't hit. I think Texas would amnesty him if such an option were available.

his contract makes Andrus a less attractive trade target but it's not an albatross. He has one more cheap year and even after that, $15M doesn't go nearly as far as it used to. Chances are he'll opt out long before the end date of the deal.

I think the Cards are smarter than this. They can find an all-glove/no-hit SS for far cheaper and for fewer years. I'm sure inflation won't make that money seem as scary, but I don't see any sign of Andrus' bat becoming anything but a negative.

They already have Kozma.

 

[Eephus]

Andrus has a bazillion dollars left and can't hit. I think Texas would amnesty him if such an option were available.

his contract makes Andrus a less attractive trade target but it's not an albatross. He has one more cheap year and even after that, $15M doesn't go nearly as far as it used to. Chances are he'll opt out long before the end date of the deal.

I think the Cards are smarter than this. They can find an all-glove/no-hit SS for far cheaper and for fewer years. I'm sure inflation won't make that money seem as scary, but I don't see any sign of Andrus' bat becoming anything but a negative.

They already have Kozma.

The Fielder trade makes it a lot more likely that Andrus will be with the Rangers on opening day. There's no MI logjam anymore and there's less need to bring in someone like Matt Adams.

 

[Bogart]

With Carp retired, Freese traded, Furcal and Westbrook not wanted back, and Beltran presumed gone... that's a lot of money to spend without exceeding last year's payroll. Curious to see if there's a big move or two coming.

I think this is only the beginning. I still think the Cards get one of Tulo/Andrus/Profar. Still hope Oscar Taveras opens the year as the Cards starting RF with Craig at 1B and Adams + Shelby moved in a Tulo/Andrus/Profar deal.

I think Andrus or Profar are a long shot at this point, and if the Cards did get one, Taveras would be starting for Texas.

 

[RnR]

With Carp retired, Freese traded, Furcal and Westbrook not wanted back, and Beltran presumed gone... that's a lot of money to spend without exceeding last year's payroll. Curious to see if there's a big move or two coming.

I think this is only the beginning. I still think the Cards get one of Tulo/Andrus/Profar. Still hope Oscar Taveras opens the year as the Cards starting RF with Craig at 1B and Adams + Shelby moved in a Tulo/Andrus/Profar deal.

I think Andrus or Profar are a long shot at this point, and if the Cards did get one, Taveras would be starting for Texas.

No deal.

 

[Michael Brown]

Yanks and mccann close

 

[Northern Voice]

Yanks and mccann close

They deserve each other.

 

[Balco]

Not sure what the Yankees are doing here if they are giving 5 years to McCann. That is a tough roster of old, injured players. They need to spend a couple of years shedding shedding salary and getting younger. I also said the same thing about the Red Sox last year, so what do I know.

 

[coolnerd]

Yanks and mccann close

Yanks and mccann close

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/11/23/report-brian-mccann-on-verge-of-long-term-deal-with-yankees/

 

[Michael Brown]

Part of me thinks this is another big money contract to an aging player. The other part realizes that we had the worst catchers in baseball last year and it's an enormous upgrade at a position of need.

My own verdict is that Yankee Stadium helps him, and the deal ends up being more palatable when we see how much money will be spent on FAs this offseason.

 

[shadyridr]

Love mccann. He's 29 guys. Not old by any means. Huge upgrade. Perfect fit for the yanks

 

[Raider Nation]

Free agent SS Jhonny Peralta closing in on a deal with STL, source confirms.

 

[Brady Marino]

Free agent SS Jhonny Peralta closing in on a deal with STL, source confirms.

Best FA option available, IMO. Only question is how long can he stay at SS.

 

[JaxBill]

Love mccann. He's 29 guys. Not old by any means. Huge upgrade. Perfect fit for the yanks

He'll be 33 before spring training of the third year of the five year deal.

It's an upgrade but is the upgrade worth this?

The Braves extended a qualifying offer to McCann before he hit free agency, so the Yankees would have to surrender their first-round pick (No. 18 overall) in order to sign him.

 

[shadyridr]

Love mccann. He's 29 guys. Not old by any means. Huge upgrade. Perfect fit for the yanks

He'll be 33 before spring training of the third year of the five year deal.

It's an upgrade but is the upgrade worth this?

The Braves extended a qualifying offer to McCann before he hit free agency, so the Yankees would have to surrender their first-round pick (No. 18 overall) in order to sign him.

when have the yankees had a good 1st rd pick. Theres a ton of good free agents that will cost a 1st rd pickAnd 33 isnt old.