Guest Bottled Black Report post Posted January 13, 2004 I don't see how the Mets are a better team than they were last year. I think they can easily finish last. Up the middle Defense? That's all I got.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MarvinisaLunatic 0 Report post Posted January 13, 2004 Former Oriole Rick Shelli.. I mean Rick Helling signed a minor league contract with the Twins. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DerangedHermit 0 Report post Posted January 13, 2004 http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/story/7003462 Yankees announce hiring of Krause as special assistant Jan. 13, 2004 SportsLine.com wire reports NEW YORK -- George Steinbrenner thinks Jerry Krause is a gym rat. The former Chicago Bulls general manager joined the New York Yankees this week as a special assistant in baseball operations. Before he helped the Bulls win six NBA titles with Michael Jordan, Krause was in baseball scouting for 16 seasons. "I have always considered Jerry Krause the quintessential 'gym rat,' and I mean that in the most complimentary way," Steinbrenner said Tuesday. "All he does is work, work, work." Krause already has been at the Yankees' minor-league complex in Tampa, Fla., this week. Krause was with the Bulls from 1985-86 through 2002-03. Before that, he was an area and special-assignment scout with Cleveland, Oakland, Seattle and the Chicago White Sox. "I have worked for a great owner for the last 22 years in Jerry Reinsdorf. Now I'm working for another great owner in George Steinbrenner and I couldn't be happier," Krause said in a statement released by the Yankees. "My role will encompass the width and breath of scouting from high schools to the major leagues as well as evaluating the talent in our own organization." At the complex Tuesday, reliever Steve Karsay threw 25 pitches in his first bullpen session since shoulder surgery last May. "I'm pleased with the progress," Karsay said. "It's one step in a long process." Karsay is scheduled to throw off the mound again Friday at the Yankees' minor-league complex. He missed all of last season and his status is uncertain. Closer Mariano Rivera is among the players taking part in early workouts. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vern Gagne 0 Report post Posted January 13, 2004 Former Oriole Rick Shelli.. I mean Rick Helling signed a minor league contract with the Twins. That better not be it for free agent signings. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dr. Tom 0 Report post Posted January 13, 2004 Former Oriole Rick Shelli.. I mean Rick Helling signed a minor league contract with the Twins. That better not be it for free agent signings. If the Twins are looking for more former Orioles to bring on as free agents, I hear Albert Belle is still available. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DerangedHermit 0 Report post Posted January 14, 2004 Padres rejected the offer of Jason Kendall for Jeff Cirillo and Ramon Hernandez. They also signed Jay Payton. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted January 14, 2004 I don't see how the Mets are a better team than they were last year. I think they can easily finish last. Up the middle Defense? That's all I got.. 1. Mike Piazza will likely play 120-130 games, instead of the 68 he played last season. 2. A full season of Jose Reyes, replacing a half season of Rey Sanchez/Joe McEwing. 3. Kaz Matsui replaces Roberto Alomar/Joe McEwing. 4. Mike Cameron in center, replacing the centerfielder by committee. Of the top three CFers last season in terms of playing time, Timo Perez topped the list with a .301 OBP. Cameron will vastly improve the defense as well, improving the hits allowed stats of the pitching staff. 5. Cliff Floyd should miss less time this season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted January 14, 2004 I am too worried that the Glanville signing is just something to get an ally of the organization in the clubhouse. After last year, they probably went looking for one of their "guys". If they trade Utley or Michaels for something good, then I won't mind this signing. But if Michaels and/or Utley get sent down I won't be too pleased. Especially in the case of Utley. At that point the organization is saying that their top hitting prospect can't keep Doug Glanville out of the 25 man roster. That can't be too good for the kids to see. Hopefully that Utley/Kim deal is still on the table. The Phillies already have Ricky Ledee on the roster. Most teams (if not all) don't carry six outfielders, so Michaels is likely the odd man out. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest OctoberBlood Report post Posted January 14, 2004 I don't see how the Mets are a better team than they were last year. I think they can easily finish last. Up the middle Defense? That's all I got.. 1. Mike Piazza will likely play 120-130 games, instead of the 68 he played last season. 2. A full season of Jose Reyes, replacing a half season of Rey Sanchez/Joe McEwing. 3. Kaz Matsui replaces Roberto Alomar/Joe McEwing. 4. Mike Cameron in center, replacing the centerfielder by committee. Of the top three CFers last season in terms of playing time, Timo Perez topped the list with a .301 OBP. Cameron will vastly improve the defense as well, improving the hits allowed stats of the pitching staff. 5. Cliff Floyd should miss less time this season. They are counting on 4 guys who are almost 40 years old to perform like they always have, which I highly doubt. Piazza at catcher = not a good idea. His selfish self needs to move to first so he can stay healthy, and also keep runners from walking to 2nd. Glavine was not that good last year. Lieter was solid and Traschel was a surprise, but I doubt you'll see that again. Alot of IFs. But we'll see. Anyways, Jay Payton goes to San Diego... solid signing IF he can stay healthy. They are seriously stacking up. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted January 14, 2004 The Pinstriped Bible Another good article from Steven Goldman. Goldman discusses Clemens, the Yankees' roster, and best of all, the most inept Yankees' World Series games ever played. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MarvinisaLunatic 0 Report post Posted January 14, 2004 A couple more Os notes: Greg Maddux's Agent, Scott Boras, has stated that an East Coast team has made an offer close to what they wanted (2 years 18-20 million) and its believed that the offer is either from the Mets or Orioles. Maddux wants to sign with a team out west, preferably an NL team, but his asking price has effectively priced him out of signing with a team in either (or both) situation. It is not known whether he will accept the offer but Boras has said that he expects a deal to be done by the end of the week. The Orioles have also come to a preliminary agreement with Sidney Ponson on a 3 year contract according to the Washington Post. The Orioles also signed Catcher Keith Osik. He will probably be sent to AAA, with the backup to Javy Lopez battle likely being between Geronimo Gil and Bill Haselman. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest OctoberBlood Report post Posted January 14, 2004 It'd be really nice if the O's can sign both Maddux and Ponson. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
geniusMoment 0 Report post Posted January 14, 2004 Cameron is good for defense and thats it. He has a horrible on base percentage and strikes out way too much. Anywhere you put him in the lineup there is going to be an immediate easy out. I have never seem someone who hits .230 get such good press. He became a joke in cincy midway through his only year here and was routinely booed by the fans. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bored 0 Report post Posted January 14, 2004 Well forget the batting average as he was playing in SafeCo a park very favorable to pitcher's. Problem is Shea isn't much better so don't expect a significant improvement but he is better than his batting average tells you, nevermind that batting average is highly overrated. His OBP isn't horrible, it's not great but the league average last year was .330 and he had a .344. He's an above average hitter and a great defensive player. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest FrigidSoul Report post Posted January 14, 2004 SportsCenter said it was the Mets offering Maddux a contract. They would like to reunite him and Glavine. How much would that piss off Braves fans? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vern Gagne 0 Report post Posted January 14, 2004 Well if Maddux pitches like Glavine last year, than Braves fans won't care. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest OctoberBlood Report post Posted January 14, 2004 Well forget the batting average as he was playing in SafeCo a park very favorable to pitcher's. Problem is Shea isn't much better so don't expect a significant improvement but he is better than his batting average tells you, nevermind that batting average is highly overrated. His OBP isn't horrible, it's not great but the league average last year was .330 and he had a .344. He's an above average hitter and a great defensive player. He's always been an awful hitter. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bored 0 Report post Posted January 14, 2004 How is Mike Cameron an awful hitter? He had one awful year in 1998 but he's been above average every other year. Here are his OPS+ numbers since he became a regular player in 1997. Oh and if you don't know what OPS+ is then click on this link. An OPS+ of 100 means your at the league average. 1997: 109 1998: 63 1999: 108 2000: 111 2001: 124 2002: 114 2003: 106 So again outside of '98 he's hardly been awful. Like I said he's an above average hitter. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dr. Tom 0 Report post Posted January 14, 2004 Greg Maddux's Agent, Scott Boras, has stated that an East Coast team has made an offer close to what they wanted (2 years 18-20 million) and its believed that the offer is either from the Mets or Orioles. Everything I've read indicates that it's the Mets. I'd like to see the Orioles get Maddux, though. Sure, he's toward the end of his rope and he'd only be a two-year stopgap, but so many young pitchers could learn SO much about how to actually *pitch* from him that it makes him a worthwhile investment. Presuming they sign Ponson, the O's are only looking at a payroll of around $50 million. Next year, they'll be rid of the contracts of useless pieces of shit Marty Cordova and David Segui, so they're looking good for the next offseason, too, when Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Beltran will be available. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Smell the ratings!!! Report post Posted January 14, 2004 The Cubs are also going for Maddux. And people think Cameron is a shitty hitter because of his 8 billion strikeouts. His power brings him back up to average. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sfaJack 0 Report post Posted January 14, 2004 Maddux won't be a Met, apparently. http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/met...-mets-headlines Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2GOLD 0 Report post Posted January 14, 2004 I'm kind of shocked the D-Backs aren't making him an offer since they lost Shilling. Sounds like it might either be the Cubs or O's but I wouldn't be stunned to hear that the D-Backs, San Diego and the Angels are in on this. Ponson seems headed to the Orioles, which isn't a shock since he seemed to love playing there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bruiser Chong 0 Report post Posted January 14, 2004 Here's hoping it's the O's who get 'em. The Cubs would look like idiots to trade him away before he broke up and then sign him after his best days. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DerangedHermit 0 Report post Posted January 14, 2004 Ponson goes back to the O's for 3 years and $22.5 million. Not a surprise here. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest OctoberBlood Report post Posted January 14, 2004 How is Mike Cameron an awful hitter? He had one awful year in 1998 but he's been above average every other year. Here are his OPS+ numbers since he became a regular player in 1997. Oh and if you don't know what OPS+ is then click on this link. An OPS+ of 100 means your at the league average. 1997: 109 1998: 63 1999: 108 2000: 111 2001: 124 2002: 114 2003: 106 So again outside of '98 he's hardly been awful. Like I said he's an above average hitter. His career OPS is .777. Not good. He was decent for 3 [99, 00, 01] years, outside of that he's been awful offensively. He strikes out ALOT, he shows some solid power, and walks a decent amount. Maybe calling him awful is over-dramatizing it, but he is not a good hitter, nor is he worth what New York is paying him. Defensively, he's one of the best. In conclusion, Cameron is great defensively, and just about average offensively. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted January 14, 2004 The 777 OPS is compared to a league average of 757. Besides, the last few center fielders the Mets have played were Jeff Duncan, Timo Perez, Jay Payton, and Brian McRae. Not exactly all stars. As for the strikeouts, they're overrated. Another thing about Cameron. Check out his home/road splits. In four years at SafeCo, Cameron hit 30 home runs at home, and 57 on the road. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2GOLD 0 Report post Posted January 14, 2004 Ponson goes back to the O's for 3 years and $22.5 million. Not a surprise here. Yeah, that signing has been done since the Giants were eliminated from the playoffs. The O's grab one of the Giants top pitching prospects and they get back the guy they traded. Smart business decision and I hope it's a sign of the future. And the Cubs made a 2yr offer worth 7 million a year to Maddux so we'll see. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2GOLD 0 Report post Posted January 14, 2004 ESPN tossed out the O's projected line-up and it looks like it should be pretty fun to watch. Brian Roberts/Jerry Hairston, 2B Melvin Mora, 3B Miguel Tejada, SS Rafael Palmeiro, 1B Javy Lopez, C Jay Gibbons, RF B.J. Surhoff, DH Luis Matos, CF Larry Bigbie, LF Sidney Ponson, RHP Rodrigo Lopez, RHP Kurt Ainsworth, RHP Eric DuBose, LHP Matt Riley, LHP/Omar Daal, LHP It's a solid core of veterans and young players mixed nicely and if Riley/Ainsworth come up like the scouts believe they can, it could be very interesting in the AL East. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sfaJack 0 Report post Posted January 14, 2004 If Maddux takes that offer from the Cubs, I don't know if it's a great thing or not. Their rotation would be absolutely loaded, but I'm afraid they will have overspent in that area. It could hamper them if/when they go to make a mid-season deal for, say, a leadoff guy, something they need in a pretty bad way. On the bright side though, they'd definitely have the edge over Houston in the arms race again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DerangedHermit 0 Report post Posted January 15, 2004 Minor signing as the Mets sign bullpen batterer, groundskeeper grappler Karim Garcia. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
