Guest DerangedHermit Report post Posted April 19, 2003 How long will it take for the Mets to release/trade/get rid of Armando Benitez? (He blew his 4th save today, the Mets would be 11-7 instead of 7-11 if not for the blown saves.) Who will be the AL and NL Rookies of the Year? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest DrTom Report post Posted April 19, 2003 How long will it take for the Mets to release/trade/get rid of Armando Benitez? (He blew his 4th save today, the Mets would be 11-7 instead of 7-11 if not for the blown saves.) The whole season and then some, if they're smart. Benitez is a proven closer who happens to be in an early-season slump. The best thing to do is pitch him in non-save situations for a week or so and have him straighten his mechanics out with the pitching coach. Then put him back in the closer role and let him do the job he's done so well for the last 4-5 years. Smart teams don't panic; patience has won a lot of titles. Who will be the AL and NL Rookies of the Year? I'm going to go with Hideki Matsui in the AL, since I think he'll have a solid season amidst a good offense, and have the NY hype machine behind him. As for the NL, I didn't really follow this year's crop of rookies in the senior circuit, so uh... whoever has the best year will win it. There you go. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vern Gagne Report post Posted April 20, 2003 Hee Seoup Choi in the NL. Although Shawn Chacon of the Rockies is 2-0, with a 2.30 ERA. I'm not certain he's a Rookie though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bored 0 Report post Posted April 20, 2003 With the subject of rookies here's a question to throw out there. Should players who have already played professionally in other countries be eligible for Rookie of the Year? I say no. Considering Hideo Nomo, Kazuhiro Sasaki, Ichiro Suzuki, and now Hideki Matsui "rookies" is laughable. Japanese professional baseball is highly competitive and these players have already played professional level competition. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Kahran Ramsus Report post Posted April 20, 2003 Smart teams don't panic So seeing that this is the Mets, we can expect him to be released tomorrow. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vern Gagne Report post Posted April 20, 2003 With the subject of rookies here's a question to throw out there. Should players who have already played professionally in other countries be eligible for Rookie of the Year? No . While they do fit the category of rookie. They have played in competive professional leagues. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest DerangedHermit Report post Posted April 20, 2003 My opinion on the Benitez matter: If there's the right deal, he's gone. Otherwise, stick with him, because you're just going to get crap if you panic. A few teams have holes in the closer position (Bosox), so that's where I see him going, if he is. NL RoY: Hee Seoup Choi or Kurt Ainsworth Dark Horse candidate - Ty Wigginton (he's eligible and if he continues...) AL RoY: Hideki Matsui Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest alkeiper Report post Posted April 20, 2003 Armando Benitez. Stick with him for the time being, but don't be afraid to plug in one of your middle relievers as the closer if Benitez isn't getting the job done. Since he's a free agent, entertain trade offers, but don't trade him if you won't get value in return. Rookies- I say keep it the way it is. The award is named for Jackie Robinson, who won the first RotY, despite playing in an advanced league. They could consider renaming it to the best newcomer award or something. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Redhawk Report post Posted April 20, 2003 Right now I would compare Armando Benitez to Kazu Sasaki. Kazu has blown three or four saves this year (well, I know for sure he's blown three...he's also had some scares where he gives up a run or walks some guys or whatever). Anyway, up here in Seattle people are all like, "What's wrong with him?" but no one has suggested the Mariners get rid of him. I say the Mets stick with Armando and see if he comes out of a slump. And even if it's a season-long slump, just bench him. Don't send him away. Great players can have bad seasons. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest alkeiper Report post Posted April 21, 2003 BTW, Shawn Chacon is not a rookie. He started 20+ games the last two years. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Some Guy Report post Posted April 21, 2003 Armando Benitez. Stick with him for the time being, but don't be afraid to plug in one of your middle relievers as the closer if Benitez isn't getting the job done. Since he's a free agent, entertain trade offers, but don't trade him if you won't get value in return. Rookies- I say keep it the way it is. The award is named for Jackie Robinson, who won the first RotY, despite playing in an advanced league. They could consider renaming it to the best newcomer award or something. I hope they do give up Benitez for almost nothing. The Sox could use him, at leats until he blows up in the post season, but any guy who calls out the the entire Yankees' bench is cool with me. I think it's bullshit that Nomo, Ichiro, et al get the Rookie of the Year award. They all played for years in what would be the equivilant of AAAA baseball. No matter what anybody says, if Tuffy Rhodes can hit 50+ HRs a season over there it ain't MLB quality. But there is a huge difference between them and Jackie Robinson. Robinson was not allowed to play in MLB because he was black, these guys are allowed to come here, at least by league rules. Therefore they chose to play in Japan and then come here as veterans they shouldn't get the rookie award that a kid who came up through the system would have gotten otherwise. I think Soriano was the one who got screwed by Ichiro, I can't remeber the guys who deserved the award, but so far it looks like Rocco Baldelli will get the hose this year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest alkeiper Report post Posted April 21, 2003 Soriano played Japanese baseball as well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vern Gagne Report post Posted April 23, 2003 How many games did Soriano play in Japan? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Redhawk Report post Posted April 23, 2003 If Ichiro and Sasaki and those guys shouldn't be considered rookies, how about Yao Ming, Pau Gasol, Dirk Nowitski or other guys who played foreign pro basketball? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest DrTom Report post Posted April 23, 2003 What about an age limit for a player to be eligible for Rookie of the Year? These Japanese players are coming to MLB with about 8 years of pro experience in their native country, putting them around 27-29 years old. What if eligibility for ROY was capped at 26? That way, the award is preserved for people who haven't played as long overseas, while a few years of Japanese ball wouldn't completely disqualify someone who met the age requirement. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vern Gagne Report post Posted April 23, 2003 That would seem fair. But what if someone is 27, and has spent their entire careers in the minors is the best Rookie that year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest DrTom Report post Posted April 23, 2003 Then they get a pat on the back and a heartfelt, "Tough shit, son, but you're just too old to win that award." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest gthureson Report post Posted April 24, 2003 Thats what the NHL did after Sergei Makarov won the Calder after playing ten years in the Russian Elite league with Red Army and three Olympic Games. Put an age cap of 26 in. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vern Gagne Report post Posted April 24, 2003 I believe it was 1989 that Modano was screwed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
