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What is 'more than a smattering' equal to?You can still buy plenty of really good seats on ticketmaster. There are going to be more than a smattering of Texas fans there. I imagine there will be seats available to all games walk-up all the way to the world series.Far be it for ESPN to report this after bashing this area for a week straight, but games A and B of the ALDS are sold out. Took less than 2 hours apparently.
Who knows. There are some groups getting charters together. Still tickets available on ticketmaster tonight, but some here I guess still call it "sold out". Some groups are trying to get there by way of orlando tickets which are cheap this time of year. It won't be like a yankees/red sox thing both for fanbase reasons and that most here assumed the yankees would win the AL East. Trop is sort of a let down and many may just hope for a 2nd round which will have the better atmosphere.What is 'more than a smattering' equal to?You can still buy plenty of really good seats on ticketmaster. There are going to be more than a smattering of Texas fans there. I imagine there will be seats available to all games walk-up all the way to the world series.Far be it for ESPN to report this after bashing this area for a week straight, but games A and B of the ALDS are sold out. Took less than 2 hours apparently.
There were very few White Sox fans here for Games 1 and 2 in '08...I'd guess there will be even less Rangers fans.Probably why the Trop was so loud in '08 and will be so loud again.Who knows. There are some groups getting charters together. Still tickets available on ticketmaster tonight, but some here I guess still call it "sold out". Some groups are trying to get there by way of orlando tickets which are cheap this time of year. It won't be like a yankees/red sox thing both for fanbase reasons and that most here assumed the yankees would win the AL East. Trop is sort of a let down and many may just hope for a 2nd round which will have the better atmosphere.What is 'more than a smattering' equal to?You can still buy plenty of really good seats on ticketmaster. There are going to be more than a smattering of Texas fans there. I imagine there will be seats available to all games walk-up all the way to the world series.Far be it for ESPN to report this after bashing this area for a week straight, but games A and B of the ALDS are sold out. Took less than 2 hours apparently.
Not worth getting into a pissing match on this, but the playoff system since Tampa showed up on the scene is much more favorable if you can make it in. The Rangers didn't have a chance in the pre wild-card era, and in the post wild-card era we had a ridiculous ownership structure. It happens. This is a team that is well built to compete at a lower payroll level for the next half decade, and has some real likable guys on it. I don't think this is the year to really shock the world, but a year to build on and gain playoff experience. I'd like to think that just pointing out that there are tickets available isn't arrogant. I think it's helpful as there are people that may want to go to the game and were misinformed that that wasn't possible through the team. You for some reason took great offense to this. There are some people who are fans that want to see a playoff game on the road. It's a bucket list thing for some people and who knows if it will happen again. The groups on some of the fan boards are disappointed that it's not in a better venue and also upset it's versus a team that will not get a better timeslot, but whatever. Tampa earned the right to be there, and nobody debates that.Premier said:Uh, you should just hope for a 2nd-round at all. Anything can happen in a short series, but the Rays have been the better team all season. Still, arrogant Ranger fan kills me. The Rays haven't been around two decades and already have more playoff wins and World Series visits. And yet you're in here talking about "atmosphere" as if your stadium is Fenway or something.
What he said.Pitching wins championships. And the Rays have very good pitching. I think Hellickson is going to be a beast in a full time role this year.
Johnson's 2010 slash line is pretty comparable to Pena's (and Uribe's if you just use OBP & SLG).The Rays will get above average offensive production from 3B and possibly C, CF and one of the corner OF. They should get average production from the MIs. That leaves DH, 1B and the other corner which generally isn't where most teams are deficient.
Hey, Pena was garbage 4 years ago too. Wouldn't be totally crazy if Johnson was decent. They need Sean Rodriguez to be big and for Zobrist to rebound. With their SP, I still think they'll contend.
No, I'm sure they've hit their budget mark. They have 6 legit ML starting pitchers, all locked up for quite a while. Price/Garza/Shields/Davis/Niemann/Hellickson, and then Jake McGee who made a mockery of the minors last year. McGee likely headed to the pen next year though. So, 6 starters...5 spots, it makes sense to trade Garza for a big bat to address 1B or LF.
And that's coming from the Cubs ? Because that's the only team I've heard him going to.
Looks like the Rangers might be in the mix too. Brewers appear out of it.
Not in the game plan at the moment. Last I heard, some local investors/businessmen were trying to cobble something together to keep it as much out of the taxpayers hands as possible. The economy here is devastated, it's sad really. I imagine something will get done eventually (this area does love it's pro sports, despite the rap it gets), but it's going to be uniquely done. Not going to be straight taxpayer deals like the Bucs/Lightning stadiums were.Edit: To answer the question, something will have to be in place by 2017. That's when it starts to make sense for them to leave without having to pay an obscene buyout.
I wonder who this would be exactly. The only thing the Cubs system lacks is power hitters. Vitters is the best hope but he is RH. LH Russ Canzler hit 21 in 355 at bats in AA at age 24 but had not shown that power for a few years. Colvin has the best left handed power in the organization. Brett Jackson is currently their best hitting prospect and a legit center fielder but he profiles as a 15-25 HR guy. Catchers Chirinos and Castillo have power but are both RH. The rest of the known power is in the AAAA class of players like Hoffpauir. They have some players with projected power in rookie ball but the most highly thought of is RH OF Reggie Golden. Pretty sure slugger doesn't describe anybody in the Cubs system.Basically the Cubs have B+ type of prospects in Jackson, SP Chris Archer, and SP/RP Trey McNutt. After that, they have a ton of depth in starting pitchers, middle infielders, and athletes in the outfield. My assumption is that the Rays were going after one of the bigger three plus some. I am sure the Rays see players they like so it might come down to whether the Cubs would include one of those three.
That sucks. I thought I remembered reading something a few years ago that it wasn't too far off, something like 2014.This team/city deserves a brand new ballpark.
I have been struggling with who the Rays should want and who the Cubs should give. Garza is a solid starting pitcher who can have #2 type years. The Cubs have a very deep system but not huge impact depth especially at the plate. If the want LH power, it has to be Colvin. But the Cubs need LH power. If they are asking for Colvin and Archer/McNutt, that is steep and deal probably isn't going to happen. Colvin is a Soriano type of hitter from the left side. I see a normal season at 325 OBP and 500 SLG. He should be a valuable #5 or #6 slugger but I would be surprised if he became much more than that.If it is Colvin plus a Jay Jackson that is much tougher for the Cubs to turn down. But I am not sure if they would put Colvin in the deal simply because they need his LH power.
I just don't think that is too much for a legitimate # 2. Garza has gone over 200 innings the last 2 years (and 185 the year before), pitches in the toughest division in baseball, and has a lot of big game experience. Now move to the National League. He could be putting up # 1 stats. And he is under control for 3 years. And rememner, the Cubs prospects are just that - prospects. Remember the two can't misses the Tigers gave up for Miguel Cabrera? Andrew Miller and Cameron Maybin. Well, it turns out they missed.That is why I don't understand why more teams aren't falling over themselves trying to get him.
It isn't that I think that Garza isn't worth Colvin plus. It is just that the Cubs may value Colvin more than his true value due to their lineup options. If I was in charge, I would give Colvin plus to get Garza and just play Kosuke opening up a spot for Brett Jackson next year who I think will be a better player than Colvin. I would bet against Colvin becoming a 900 OPS guy while I think Garza will be a strong starter for the Cubs for as long as they want to keep him.Of course, there is some reason more teams are not going after Garza.
Not alot of bright gms. People are falling over themselves throwing huge $$$ at free agent pitchers when they could get an excellent # 1 and # 2 in trades in Greinke and Garza.It isn't that I think that Garza isn't worth Colvin plus. It is just that the Cubs may value Colvin more than his true value due to their lineup options. If I was in charge, I would give Colvin plus to get Garza and just play Kosuke opening up a spot for Brett Jackson next year who I think will be a better player than Colvin. I would bet against Colvin becoming a 900 OPS guy while I think Garza will be a strong starter for the Cubs for as long as they want to keep him.Of course, there is some reason more teams are not going after Garza.
The price for Grienke is obscene and a team that makes a move for him needs to either win in the next 2 years or lock him up long term, and to lock him up long term will take a ton of money, just like the free agent pitchers. At least signing a guy doesn't decimate your farm system. The Brewers just gave up their #1 prospect and they're still going to have to fork over the cash to keep Marcum beyond next season.How many years is Garza controllable for?Balco said:Not alot of bright gms. People are falling over themselves throwing huge $$$ at free agent pitchers when they could get an excellent # 1 and # 2 in trades in Greinke and Garza.It isn't that I think that Garza isn't worth Colvin plus. It is just that the Cubs may value Colvin more than his true value due to their lineup options. If I was in charge, I would give Colvin plus to get Garza and just play Kosuke opening up a spot for Brett Jackson next year who I think will be a better player than Colvin. I would bet against Colvin becoming a 900 OPS guy while I think Garza will be a strong starter for the Cubs for as long as they want to keep him.Of course, there is some reason more teams are not going after Garza.
Guy has been decent the past two years. Seems like a decent 7th-inning option.
Real good opportunity for Rays to restock the farm, especially if they are willing to pay over slot for some guys. That is crazy. 11 picks? Wow. Hit on 2 or 3 and they are golden.Two more coming when Balfour signs, as well.Has to be a record.
Looks like I called this one. Still not sure where I stand on the trade for the Cubs. I guess that means it was pretty fair. Anything you guys want to know about the prospects?
Sure, anything you have would be good to read. In particular, the LH outfielder they got (Suld?). His numbers seemed ok-ish last year. Why do so many seem to be down on him?
They've got #'s 24, 31, 32, 39, 42, 43 (sandwich pick for Balfour), 54, 59, 62, 63 (sandwich pick for Chad Qualls, who just signed with the Padres) and 78 (from the A's for Balfour). Damn.Real good opportunity for Rays to restock the farm, especially if they are willing to pay over slot for some guys. That is crazy. 11 picks? Wow. Hit on 2 or 3 and they are golden.Two more coming when Balfour signs, as well.
Largely because at 29 Fuld is not regarded as a prospect and at 5'10 and 175 projects at best as a fourth outfielder.In 368 AB at AAA last year he hit only 272 with four HR and 21 SB
Yea I'm not talking about a star, but as a 4th-OF guy who plays once to twice a week. Seems like a good guy to have on your roster.
Yep, boatload of picks in a very deep draft.thx for the link, Captain HookTwo more coming when Balfour signs, as well.Has to be a record.
