I agree with him. He must be some kind of genius.You heard it here first. Larry Walker retires. Cardinals sign Brian Giles to play Right Field. We also sign a tough lefty to come out of the pen.
I have to think they'll at least make a pitch for Paul Konerko. He'd be a perfect fit as the four hole thumper in that lineup. They'll have to outbid the Yankees though, and I don't know if they have the stones for another all out "mines bigger than yours" battle with Big Stien.Chalk me up as being wrong on the whole Matsui thing. I don't know what happened to the guy...I watched some tape of him in his J-League days, and he was incredible. One of those lightning quick "playmaker" types. He looks like a completely different player now. There isn't a lot of second base help on the free agent market (it's filled with Rey Sanchez types) so they'll probably stick with the devil they know.My Met wishlist:
1. Closer (Wagner or Ryan)
2. 1st basemen (Overbay in a trade?)
3. Catcher/2nd basemen (Not sure which Id prefer. I might take Castro behind the plate over Cairo/Matsui at 2nd, so 2nd basemen might be more a priority)
There's no chance whatsoever that the Yanks go after Konerko. Not in a million years. Their needs are:1) CFI have to think they'll at least make a pitch for Paul Konerko. He'd be a perfect fit as the four hole thumper in that lineup. They'll have to outbid the Yankees though, and I don't know if they have the stones for another all out "mines bigger than yours" battle with Big Stien.Chalk me up as being wrong on the whole Matsui thing. I don't know what happened to the guy...I watched some tape of him in his J-League days, and he was incredible. One of those lightning quick "playmaker" types. He looks like a completely different player now. There isn't a lot of second base help on the free agent market (it's filled with Rey Sanchez types) so they'll probably stick with the devil they know.My Met wishlist:
1. Closer (Wagner or Ryan)
2. 1st basemen (Overbay in a trade?)
3. Catcher/2nd basemen (Not sure which Id prefer. I might take Castro behind the plate over Cairo/Matsui at 2nd, so 2nd basemen might be more a priority)
Depending on what they want to do payroll wise, Ramon Hernandez is a free agent this offseason, and he's a pretty good lil catcher.
You think Heilman could be a cheap effective closer?My Met wishlist:
1. Closer (Wagner or Ryan)
2. 1st basemen (Overbay in a trade?)
3. Catcher/2nd basemen (Not sure which Id prefer. I might take Castro behind the plate over Cairo/Matsui at 2nd, so 2nd basemen might be more a priority)
SFG P LaTroy Hawkins exercises $3.5 million player option.
Do you think Foulke moves back in to the closer role again, Timlin remains closer until Hansen's ready, or they sign someone else?BOS reportedly sign P Mike Timlin to 1 year/3.5 million.
WDS? Shouldn't it be WAS?Anyway I think Loaiza's gonna make alot of money on the FA market.WDC P Esteban Loaiz declines player option. He is now a free agent.
Good question. I think it will be open competition between Foulke & Timlin for the closer's role throughout Spring Training and into the beginning of the season. In the end, I think it will be Timlin. Best guess is the Boston bullpen opens the season as such (not considering any potential trades):FoulkeTimlinPapelbon/DiNardoDelcarmen/HansenLOOGY (Myers or Eyre)BradfordEDIT: Clarity, and to directly answer shadyridr's question.Do you think Foulke moves back in to the closer role again, Timlin remains closer until Hansen's ready, or they sign someone else?
THAT'S A GOOD THING?!Braves Wishlist
4.)(hearing farnsworth is taking over closer duties)
IMHO, Doug Melvin is the most under-rated GM in baseball.Brewers Outlook:
Hmmm...Yanks have a hole at first and Konerko is the biggest name on the free agent market...but I'll admit I'm probably not as close to the Yanks situation as you are. I just can't see Stienbrenner letting the biggest free agent on the market go to his cross-town rival.(He was dead right about Beltran though...whatta stiff)There's no chance whatsoever that the Yanks go after Konerko. Not in a million years. Their needs are:1) CFI have to think they'll at least make a pitch for Paul Konerko. He'd be a perfect fit as the four hole thumper in that lineup. They'll have to outbid the Yankees though, and I don't know if they have the stones for another all out "mines bigger than yours" battle with Big Stien.Chalk me up as being wrong on the whole Matsui thing. I don't know what happened to the guy...I watched some tape of him in his J-League days, and he was incredible. One of those lightning quick "playmaker" types. He looks like a completely different player now. There isn't a lot of second base help on the free agent market (it's filled with Rey Sanchez types) so they'll probably stick with the devil they know.My Met wishlist:
1. Closer (Wagner or Ryan)
2. 1st basemen (Overbay in a trade?)
3. Catcher/2nd basemen (Not sure which Id prefer. I might take Castro behind the plate over Cairo/Matsui at 2nd, so 2nd basemen might be more a priority)
Depending on what they want to do payroll wise, Ramon Hernandez is a free agent this offseason, and he's a pretty good lil catcher.
2) RPs
3 defensive 1B
Angels are loaded down on the farm with 1B types (Kotchman, Kendry Morales, etc) so I don't know if they'll put all their eggs in Konerko's basket. If Washburn books, I can see them making a push for Burnett (who is just going to make a boatload of cash).He would be a crushing loss for the Sox, so I anticipate they'll make every effort to keep him there. The Sox could have avoided all this and stepped up to the plate before the season started and inked him to a somewhat reasonable deal. I'd say they cost themselves roughly 18 million extra dollars they're going to have to pay him in order to stay.I think the teams that would be interested in Konerko are the White Sox, Mets, Angels, and Red Sox.
Do you think Nelson Cruz will get a shot to make the team. He was named the minor league player of the year and when i was working with the Huntsville Stars he was awesome- 4.5 tool player (not great speed but enough to get by)Brewers Outlook:
C: D. Miller
1B: Fielder
2B: Weeks
ss: Hardy
3B: Hall
LF: Jenkins
CF: Clark
RF: Lee
Bench:
Cirillo
Hart
SP: Sheets
SP: Davis
SP: Ohka
SP: Capuano
SP: ?????
BP: Eveland
BP: Helling (Hopefully)
BP: Wise
BP: Capellen
BP: Adams
BP: Bennett
CL: Turnbow
Now what we need is this. We should trade Overbay for a 5th starter, 3rd baseman, or catching help. Prospects will work as well if we go the FA route. Also, Ohka might be on the block as well as Jenkins because of age, streakiness, and salary. Also, bench help and a another lefty in the pen would work. Here is my ideal solution to it all.
Grab Washburn as a FA. He did say he had a strong desire to come home yo Wisconsin so a hometown discoun t might come into play. With that you have 4 good lefties, a dominant righty, and Ohka who is a very servicable number 5. I would then bring back both Branyon and Cirillo and give Hall 3 days a week at #B, one at SS, and one at 2B. The other days at 3B can be platooned between Cirillo and Branyon. An Overbay trade can then go for a prospect of immediate need like Shopplach from Boston who can split with Miller who is getting older.
All in all it is a good time to be a Brewer fan compared to the last 12 years.
I was a little leary about putting Cruz in there because I would like to see him play everyday. There are three possibilities I like for Cruz (none of them being rotting on the bench, thats what Hart is for)1) Give him another year at AAA and wit to see what happens with Lee/JenksDo you think Nelson Cruz will get a shot to make the team. He was named the minor league player of the year and when i was working with the Huntsville Stars he was awesome- 4.5 tool player (not great speed but enough to get by)Brewers Outlook:
C: D. Miller
1B: Fielder
2B: Weeks
ss: Hardy
3B: Hall
LF: Jenkins
CF: Clark
RF: Lee
Bench:
Cirillo
Hart
SP: Sheets
SP: Davis
SP: Ohka
SP: Capuano
SP: ?????
BP: Eveland
BP: Helling (Hopefully)
BP: Wise
BP: Capellen
BP: Adams
BP: Bennett
CL: Turnbow
Now what we need is this. We should trade Overbay for a 5th starter, 3rd baseman, or catching help. Prospects will work as well if we go the FA route. Also, Ohka might be on the block as well as Jenkins because of age, streakiness, and salary. Also, bench help and a another lefty in the pen would work. Here is my ideal solution to it all.
Grab Washburn as a FA. He did say he had a strong desire to come home yo Wisconsin so a hometown discoun t might come into play. With that you have 4 good lefties, a dominant righty, and Ohka who is a very servicable number 5. I would then bring back both Branyon and Cirillo and give Hall 3 days a week at #B, one at SS, and one at 2B. The other days at 3B can be platooned between Cirillo and Branyon. An Overbay trade can then go for a prospect of immediate need like Shopplach from Boston who can split with Miller who is getting older.
All in all it is a good time to be a Brewer fan compared to the last 12 years.
The Boston Globe reports BOS General Manager Theo Epstein re-signs for three years.
They have already stated that Heilman will not be a closer. He will be in the 5 man rotation opening day next yearYou think Heilman could be a cheap effective closer?My Met wishlist:
1. Closer (Wagner or Ryan)
2. 1st basemen (Overbay in a trade?)
3. Catcher/2nd basemen (Not sure which Id prefer. I might take Castro behind the plate over Cairo/Matsui at 2nd, so 2nd basemen might be more a priority)
I dont want Konerko. His power will be cut big time in Shea, and we will all be crying when hes at .265/25/75 in September. Overbay is a better hitter that will be able to find the gaps better.I have to think they'll at least make a pitch for Paul Konerko. He'd be a perfect fit as the four hole thumper in that lineup. They'll have to outbid the Yankees though, and I don't know if they have the stones for another all out "mines bigger than yours" battle with Big Stien.My Met wishlist:
1. Closer (Wagner or Ryan)
2. 1st basemen (Overbay in a trade?)
3. Catcher/2nd basemen (Not sure which Id prefer. I might take Castro behind the plate over Cairo/Matsui at 2nd, so 2nd basemen might be more a priority)
Lyle Overbay at Shea = Doug Mientkiewicz at Shea (IMO)I've been able to see a lot of Konerko, having lived in Illinois the previous 3 years, and he's really grown as a hitter. You can just tell in his approach at the plate that he's one of those dangerous type hitters that you absolutely want no part of. He's the only FA in this years class that I see being worth huge money.I dont want Konerko. His power will be cut big time in Shea, and we will all be crying when hes at .265/25/75 in September. Overbay is a better hitter that will be able to find the gaps better.I have to think they'll at least make a pitch for Paul Konerko. He'd be a perfect fit as the four hole thumper in that lineup. They'll have to outbid the Yankees though, and I don't know if they have the stones for another all out "mines bigger than yours" battle with Big Stien.My Met wishlist:
1. Closer (Wagner or Ryan)
2. 1st basemen (Overbay in a trade?)
3. Catcher/2nd basemen (Not sure which Id prefer. I might take Castro behind the plate over Cairo/Matsui at 2nd, so 2nd basemen might be more a priority)
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-r...ov=ap&type=lgnswow10/31 5:30 PM.
Boston media reporting Theo Epstein has not re-signed. That, in fact, he has "quit."
Wow.
$1.5M a year? So basically you're offering the guy who put together a World Series-winning team the same amount of money you pay utility infielders?http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-r...ov=ap&type=lgnswow10/31 5:30 PM.
Boston media reporting Theo Epstein has not re-signed. That, in fact, he has "quit."
Wow.![]()
I'm shocked.http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-r...ov=ap&type=lgnswow10/31 5:30 PM.
Boston media reporting Theo Epstein has not re-signed. That, in fact, he has "quit."
Wow.![]()
Konerko - 1BGiambi - DHThere's no chance whatsoever that the Yanks go after Konerko. Not in a million years. Their needs are:
1) CF
2) RPs
3 defensive 1B
Theo made some good moves and some awful moves. Sure, he won them the championship, but it's really selling Dan Duquette short to give him no credit. People here know I'm no Theo Epstein fan, but he really gets a lot more credit than his moves would seem to indicate. The Red Sox salary allowed him a lot of leeway (Byung Yung Kim, Ramiro Mendoza, getting rid of Orlando Cabrera, Pedro, and Lowe all at once, the Wade Miller project, etc.)seems like the redsox ownership group is becoming a little too big for their britches. I hate the sox with a passion, but you have to give theo credit for building that team. They are gonna miss him big time
I have doubt. I have serious doubt.There is no doubt that Konerko will resign with White Sox.
I'd be surprised if the White Sox don't sign Kornerko long-term.There is a mutual desire for both sides to work a deal out - as long as some team doesn't offer an insane deal, the White Sox should get him back.I have doubt. I have serious doubt.There is no doubt that Konerko will resign with White Sox.
The White Sox cannot depend on Frank Thomas to be their DH - if he proves them wrong, so be it, but I think what they do is go with Brian Anderson, whom GM Kenny Williams says is ready to play full-time next season. He'll probably rotate into each of the OF spots, giving Podsednik, Rowand, and Dye plenty of rest, and could also keep Thomas, should he resign, from being overworked.So will Epstein take over the Dodgers or the Phils?
Unrelated news - Cubs resign Glendon Rusch for 2 yr/6 mill. Good signing if he is a starter. Not many lefties out there to be had.
White Sox decline option on Carl Everett. They may resign him but doubtful. There is no doubt that Konerko will resign with White Sox. Sox will probably buy out Frank Thomas contract for $3.5 mil and try to bring him back to take Everett's place.
I think I read on SoSH that Jesus Christ himself is considering the position.Some of the names reported as potential successors to Theo Epstein in Boston:
Ben Cherington
Paul DePodesta
David Forst
Grady Fuson
Pat Gillick
Jed Hoyer
Gerry Hunsicker
Doug Melvin
Brian Sabean
Kevin Towers
Peter Woodfork
I've read in a lot of places that it all came down to that article in the Boston Globe.I see this Shaughennesy guy on ESPN every once in awhile but don't know much about him. Was this is an inside hatchet job on Epstein?I'd have to say this is one of the best SPorts Guy columns I've ever read.
I agree with everything on there (except maybe the "he's a good guy" thing)