2005-06 MLB Offseason Thread

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

MLB.com is reporting that the Angels have turned down a trade that would send them Manny Ramirez in exchange for Figgins, Santana, and two prospects.

 

How come we never saw this in the rumor mill?

Because it was never a possibility. Stoneman shot it down immediately.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

On another note, it amazes me how worried people get that players might get injured in the World Baseball Classic. How many Red Sox fans are even aware that Julian Tavarez pitched competitively today?

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

MLB.com is reporting that the Angels have turned down a trade that would send them Manny Ramirez in exchange for Figgins, Santana, and two prospects.

 

How come we never saw this in the rumor mill?

 

It's one of those trades that was never going to happen. It's really just the GMs making noise to appease their audience.

 

The Red Sox can go back to Manny and say "look, we tried our best to trade you... no one will make a deal."

 

Conversely, the Angels can act like they tried to add that last big bat to their lineup, but the price was too high.

 

That's all it is really. By the way, one of the prospects was Brandon Wood, the other was Howie Kendrick. That trade wouldn't happen in a million years.

[Guest]

I don't think they'd trade Wood without Kendrick in the deal at all. He's a stud if I've ever seen one. Best player I've seen come through the A team here.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Halfway through the Caribbean World Series. New Red Sox' SS Alex Gonzalez hit a three run home run home run in the top of the ninth to put Venezuela over the D.R., 11-9.

 

Venezuela 3-0

D.R. 2-1

P.R. 1-2

Mexico 0-3

 

Venezuela can knock Mexico out of contention with a win today.

[Guest OKCoyote]

GASP! Alex Gonzalez playing! He could get injured or something!

 

Actually, it's worth noting that if he does, Boston has an out clause on him - they can drop him before March 15th and only pay $500K of the $3M they're set to sign him to.

 

Beckett avoids arbitration, signing a one year deal for $4,325,000.

[Brett Favre 0]

I think Venezuela was down like 7-1 in that game too. Good to see Venezuela and The Dominican Republic dominating.

[treble 0]

Bengie Molina signs with the Jays

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?i...ce=MLBHeadlines

 

I think it was probably a good idea, since Zaun played well but wore down as the season went on from playing too much because the team didn't have any other catcher worth a shit. Ken Huckaby was about as close to an automatic out as you can get most games.

[Red Baron 0]

When I saw him at a Jays game in August, he was batting .091. My gf asked me "How come he's hitting if he can't hit?" I replied, "He couldn't even connect to hit the ball at least once, I think the pitchers just feel bad for him"

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

When I saw him at a Jays game in August, he was batting .091. My gf asked me "How come he's hitting if he can't hit?" I replied, "He couldn't even connect to hit the ball at least once, I think the pitchers just feel bad for him"

By him you mean Ken Huckaby?

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

To update the Caribbean World Series, Venezuela plays Puerto Rico tonight. The game is ongoing currently but doesn't air until 10:30pm here. The Dominicans hold a 4-1 record, while the Venezuelans sit at 4-0. If the Venezuelans lose, tomorrow's game between them and DR is a straight up game for the championship. If they win, the Dominicans will need to win to tie and set up a final on Wednesday.

[The Man in Blak 0]

One more year for Quiroz to try to put it together, I guess. I like that Toronto has been active this year, trying to make a push in a division that everybody routinely concedes to the Yankees or the Red Sox every year.

[Boon 0]

Bengie Molina signs with the Jays

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?i...ce=MLBHeadlines

 

I think it was probably a good idea, since Zaun played well but wore down as the season went on from playing too much because the team didn't have any other catcher worth a shit. Ken Huckaby was about as close to an automatic out as you can get most games.

 

 

One more year for Quiroz to try to put it together, I guess. I like that Toronto has been active this year, trying to make a push in a division that everybody routinely concedes to the Yankees or the Red Sox every year.

AL East is gonna be interesting this year. I like it.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

The Philadelphia Phillies signed IF Alex S. Gonzalez. This is a brilliant move, as Gonzalez immediately becomes our tenth best infielder, behind only Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Chris Coste, Matt Kata, Abraham Nunez, David Bell, Danny Sandoval and Bobby Scales, in that order. Seriously, what the hell is the point? Do they give booby prizes for accumulating massive amounts of crappy infielders? Gonzalez is better than our AAA second baseman and our current pet utility infielder (Tomas Perez). That's not exactly glowing praise.

[the max 0]

Trade you Alex Gonzalez for Alex Gonzalez.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Venezuela scored two runs in the ninth to win the game and the series, 5-4. Henry Blanco's pop-up hit Erick Aybar in the head and bounced away, allowing Alex Gonzalez to score the winning run.

[the pinjockey 0]

I love that he is that terrible and still beats out Tomassssssss Perezzzzzzzzzz. What is his pie throwing motion though?

 

And he might not be the 10th IF, he might instead become one of the worst outfielders in the organization.

 

From today's inky:

That's one reason he has pursued free-agent utility infielder Alex S. Gonzalez over the last several weeks. The Phillies and Gonzalez have agreed on a one-year contract, which could be announced as early as today if he passes a physical.

So where does Gonzalez fit in?

In the infield, naturally.

And maybe the outfield.

Manuel said yesterday from his Winter Haven, Fla., home that he would like to see Gonzalez, who has spent the majority of his 12-year career as a shortstop, and infielder Abraham Nunez play a little in the outfield this spring.

The Phillies suddenly are an outfielder short after they traded Jason Michaels to the Cleveland Indians for relief pitcher Arthur Rhodes. Bobby Abreu, Pat Burrell, Aaron Rowand and Shane Victorino are considered the team's top four outfielders, with a fifth spot open. The Phillies also could make a trade in the spring to get a fifth outfielder.

"I think those guys could play out there," Manuel said of Gonzalez and Nunez. "Tomas [Perez] is still in the mix. I want to play [Matt] Kata in the outfield. You know what? We want the best team out there. So there's going to be some competition. Going in, people are going to have to play. We've got a lot of players in the mix, and we want to see what our best team is going to be."

 

If any one of those weak hitting middle infielders gets any OF playing time, someone needs to be fired immediately.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

If any one of those weak hitting middle infielders gets any OF playing time, someone needs to be fired immediately.

 

It depends on if they can outproduce the team's fifth outfielder. The fifth outfielder spot isn't as important as last year because the Phillies no longer have a center field platoon. Looking at the numbers, Matt Kata and Abraham Nunez could out-produce any of the fifth outfielder candidates. Kata is the best utility infielder candidate and also played some outfield last season, so of course he will be sent to AAA.

[Vern Gagne 0]

Twins Asst.GM Wayne Krivsky named Reds GM.

[devo 0]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=2323682

 

Guh. As someone in this thread said earlier, Sosa in RFK definitely has the potential for hilarity.

[The Czech Republic 0]

That was Bruiser Chong, I believe. And yes, it's gonna be great watching him in RFK. The only thing better will be his return to Wrigley Field. Ohhhhhh man.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Plus, the Os play the Nats twice in interleague play as well.

[Precious Roy 0]

I'm kind of surprised LeCroy didn't get a better offer from anyone. I didn't even realize he was on the market.

[Bored 0]

Now it's non-stories like this that makes you want the damn season to start already.

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-y...ov=ap&type=lgns

Jeter thinks Clemens may pitch this season

 

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- New York Yankees captain Derek Jeter thinks Roger Clemens will pitch in the majors this season.

Baseball Jesus talks so it makes ESPN and Yahoo's front page.

[Brett Favre 0]

I thought that was the whole article for a sec.

 

"More on this as soon as we get more information."

[devo 0]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=2326042

 

I can't imagine this ending well.

[The Czech Republic 0]

NEW YORK -- Rickey Henderson is back in the major leagues, this time as an instructor with the New York Mets.

 

Henderson, baseball's career steals leader, hasn't played in the big leagues since 2003, when he was with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 47-year-old outfielder spent 2004 with the Newark Bears of the Atlantic League and 2005 with the San Diego Surf Dawgs of the Golden League.

 

"In my mind, Rickey Henderson isn't really done playing," he said Friday during a telephone conference call. "Rickey Henderson loves playing the game, but right now Rickey Henderson hasn't had the opportunity to go out and play. Rickey Henderson feels that Rickey Henderson has a lot to give back to the game."

 

Omar Minaya, the Mets general manager, sat next to Henderson during a game of the 2002 World Series and brought up the topic of instructing young players. Dave Stewart, Henderson's former Oakland teammate, let Minaya know during the offseason that Henderson was ready.

 

Minaya mentioned Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran as players who will work with Henderson, learning tips on baserunning and getting on base.

 

"In my opinion, Rickey is the best leadoff hitter in the history of the game," Minaya said.

 

Henderson will spend about 10 days with the Mets during the second half of spring training and will join them for a week at an unspecified time of the regular season.

 

"Rickey Henderson still thinks Rickey Henderson can play the game of baseball," he said. "Rickey Henderson is going to camp to (teach) the young kid about basestealing ... how to run the bases, what to do at certain times."

 

Henderson's real desire is to add to his 1,406 steals and 2,295 runs -- both major league records.

 

"Rickey Henderson was looking, of course, to get the opportunity to play in the major leagues," he said. "Rickey Henderson thinks that's what his goal in his heart (is), the desire to go out and play baseball."

 

Henderson played for the Mets in 1999 and part of 2000, then was released by New York after he failed to run out a drive. He and Bobby Bonilla were accused of playing cards in the Mets' clubhouse during 1999's season-ending, extra-inning loss at Atlanta in the NL championship series.

 

"Rickey Henderson thinks playing cards gave Rickey Henderson the opportunity to relax in the game," Henderson said.

[Vern Gagne 0]

Who was the above article about?

[devo 0]

Answer the phone, Rickey.

[The Czech Republic 0]

Answer the phone, Rickey.

AAAAAND THAAAAAT'S THE RICKEY HENDERSOOOOON BIIIIIIIT