TWIB #5: 1 May - 7 May

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

Why is it stupid? Mark Loretta is an upgrade at 2B and they gave up a 35-year-old backup catcher to get him. Once they realized that Bard couldn't catch the knuckleball they moved on and got Mirabelli back for almost nothing.

[vivalaultra 0]

I'm not saying the current trade is stupid. I'm saying the previous trade was stupid. I mean, you can say that it was a 35 year old backup catcher, but it's not like he was just a backup catcher. He was Wakefield's personal catcher, and one of the few catchers in the Majors that can catch a knuckleball effectively. I'm just saying that I don't think that the Sox front office was very smart in thinking that they could train another backup catcher to catch Wakefield with little to no difficulty. It was pretty much on the job training. And judging from the passed balls and all that, it didn't work. But hindsight and all.

[Cartman 0]

It was all a work just to get Loretta.

 

 

Obviously the Sox knew San Diego would sign Piazza thus screwing Mirabelli out of his starting job making him expendable to be sent back for Bard whom was a throw in guy from the Crisp trade.

 

Yep!

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

I'm not saying the current trade is stupid. I'm saying the previous trade was stupid. I mean, you can say that it was a 35 year old backup catcher, but it's not like he was just a backup catcher. He was Wakefield's personal catcher, and one of the few catchers in the Majors that can catch a knuckleball effectively. I'm just saying that I don't think that the Sox front office was very smart in thinking that they could train another backup catcher to catch Wakefield with little to no difficulty. It was pretty much on the job training. And judging from the passed balls and all that, it didn't work. But hindsight and all.

 

The Sox thought that they could train an in-house solution to the Wakefield problem. It became obvious after just 5 games that Bard was more of a problem than a solution so they admitted their mistake and cut bait. In the end they wound up with Loretta to show for it all, so I still say thumbs up. But to each his own, I guess.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

Since it's now May 1st and it's being talked about in all the media outlets, anyone have any guesses as to where Roger Clemens ends up?

[vivalaultra 0]

Yeah, as for the Sox thing, Loretta's working out pretty well, so no harm, no foul.

 

As for Clemens, I'm about 99% sure that he'll either go 'Stros or retire. I'd say right now it's about 70%-30% in favor of pitching in Houston. They had a quote from the Astros general manager Tim Purpura in the Houston Chronicle today saying that they were willing to start the negotiations at $18 million and that "money is no object". I also read in that article something that I didn't know about contracts, but I found interesting. Say Clemen's agrees to an $18 million contract with the Astros and starts pitching in Houston on June 1st-He wouldn't get paid the full $18 million but the 18$ would be divided up into a daily rate based on a 185 day schedule and he would be paid the share based on when he officially starts, so if he comes back June 1st for 18 million, he'd only actually get about $12 million. According to every news source in Houston, it looks like, even though we can't compete financially with the Sox or the Yank-mes, Clemen's family likes it better in Houston than up north, Clemens doesn't wanna go back to the Sox because it would tarnish his image as a Yankee and he wants to go into the Hall as a Yankee, he likes being home so he can watch his two sons compete in high school games, he has a 10-year personal services contract to the Astros, and his son is in the Astros minor leagues, so according to everybody around here and logic, if he comes back it'll be for the 'Stros. However, it is baseball, so there's a chance Clemens could be pitching in Colorado or Arizona. Good thing he's not a Latino or Omar Minaya would make a run at him.

[the max 0]

Why go to Colorado, which would tarnish his image as a pitcher in general?

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

Yeah, I'm not really sure where he'll end up. Logically, I would think that Houston makes the most sense for all the same reasons that it made sense the past two seasons. He's near home, Kobe's in the system, he doesn't have to go on road trips, etc.

 

Boston would be the sentimental favorite and the best story. I know Roger and his family are fond of the idea of him "going home" before retirement to bring things full circle, but I just don't know if everyone can put the bad blood behind to make something work.

 

New York I think is in third at this point, but between the chance of winning a WS, his respect for Torre and the deep pocket books of Steinbrenner, it would seem that they win out in the end. Knowing that Roger has made his career of off backstabbing and general scumbaggery, it would seem fitting that he ended up there to close his career.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

I'm really tired of the Roger Clemens speculation. Honestly, I couldn't give a damn where he goes. The last thing baseball needs is one of the high payroll teams acquiring yet another mercenary.

 

As far as Loretta/Mirabelli etc. I think Boston panicked here. Maybe Josh Bard can't catch a knuckleball. There must be a dozen catch-and-throw guys in the minor leagues who can. It doesn't make sense to trade real talent just for a backup catcher. In addition, this speaks to the stupidity of last year's Gold Glove award. If Jason Varitek is really the best defensive catcher in the AL, why can't he catch Wakefield?

 

As for Mark Loretta and the Padres, you have to remember one of the objectives of the deal was to make room for Josh Barfield.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

As far as Loretta/Mirabelli etc. I think Boston panicked here. Maybe Josh Bard can't catch a knuckleball. There must be a dozen catch-and-throw guys in the minor leagues who can. It doesn't make sense to trade real talent just for a backup catcher. In addition, this speaks to the stupidity of last year's Gold Glove award. If Jason Varitek is really the best defensive catcher in the AL, why can't he catch Wakefield?

 

Al, I always respect your opinion, but what real talent did the Sox give up to acquire Mirabelli. It's a nothing deal that solidifies the backup catcher spot for the rest of the year. Bard had no future in Boston, and Meredith is AAA lifer. He's barely even a top 20 prospect in their system.

 

Boston had an open competition for the Wakefield spot during the spring and found no one. Bard is on pace for 77 PB this year and the MLB record is 35! According to Theo Mirabelli was available so they jumped at it. Wasn't like they were bargaining with no leverage.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

It is awfully early to label Cla Meredith as a AAA lifer, considering he didn't even have 100 professional innings coming into this season. That's a side issue though. Backup catchers are a dime a dozen. Philly has three catchers who could easily fill in at the major league level. Not all of them could catch the knuckler of course, but I find it hard to believe Mirabelli's the only one. For Boston to trade two/three players for a backup catcher is not an encouraging sign, IMO. I apologize that I do not have this year's data available, as my computer does not want to visit every site tonight.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Angel Hernandez just did us a favor by tossing Charlie Manuel.

[Guest NYankees]

Robinson Cano with a big 2 out single to drive in 2 to give the Yankees a 3-1 lead over the Red Sox.

[Hawk 34 0]

Arroyo doesn't pitch different when not playing Chicago...so maybe it's not just a mirage after all.

[devo 0]

Thank you, Jose Reyes, for getting only the third Mets hit of the night and then throwing away your much needed baserunning presence by getting caught in a rundown while trying to stretch it into a triple.

[Guest StylesMark]

Wang is looking good after a bad first inning.

[Guest Felonies!]

Way too early, but the Rockies are 10-3 on the road. If they win the NL West, all five teams will have won the division in the last five years. Hm.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Rollins tied the game on a heads up baserunning play, scoring when Dan Uggla stopped paying attention.

[Guest Smues]

Tim Hudson throws a 1-hit shutout and the Braves win 2-0. Awesome. 3 walks, 5 strikeouts, and I think he retired the last 17 batters he faced.

[Hawk 34 0]

Arroyo completes a 4 hit CG over the cardinals.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Today's Chris Wheeler idiocy moment...

 

"The great closers have been strikeout pitchers."

 

Yeah, except for Kent Tekulve and Dan Quisenberry. Most of the great closers are strikeout pitchers, but there are visable exceptions.

 

"The exception I guess would be Mariano Rivera."

 

Yeah, the guy who strikes out merely 8.2 batters per nine.

[devo 0]

Mets win with an amazing stroke of luck as the Nationals reliever throws away a double play ball that would have brought the game to extra innings. What was most encouraging about this contest is Zambrano's performance; 6 IP, 1 R, 5 H, 2 BB, 4 K. That's a hell of a lot better than his previous three starts.

[mike546 0]

Another lefty you can cross off on the LONG list of supposed LOOGY's the Yankees have tried since Stanton left the first time as Myers gives up a three run homer to Ortiz.

[Guest Felonies!]

Murton gives the Cubs the go-ahead run in the 8th. Dare I say clutch?

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Another lefty you can cross off on the LONG list of supposed LOOGY's the Yankees have tried since Stanton left the first time as Myers gives up a three run homer to Ortiz.

It's one thing if he gives up one to Tony Womack, but Ortiz is perhaps the best hitting lefty in the game. Is it really fair to cross off Myers for that?

[the max 0]

Ortiz is hitting lefties better than he's hitting righties so far. Plus, any team that pitches to him in the later innings in big spots is just asking for trouble.

[Dobbs 3K 0]

Brewers beat the Astros 4-2 tonight at Miller Park. Always nice to beat teams within your own division. Derrick Turnbow is 9-for-9 on save attempts this year, and now leads the NL in saves.

[mike546 0]

Another lefty you can cross off on the LONG list of supposed LOOGY's the Yankees have tried since Stanton left the first time as Myers gives up a three run homer to Ortiz.

It's one thing if he gives up one to Tony Womack, but Ortiz is perhaps the best hitting lefty in the game. Is it really fair to cross off Myers for that?

 

 

No, I'm just annoyed anybody who pitches to Ortiz on the Yankees turns into crap.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

Murton gives the Cubs the go-ahead run in the 8th. Dare I say clutch?

I didn't get to see the game, but did just see the highlights. A win's a win, but it looked like it was another fundamentally unsound game (i.e. the Jones' Alou impression).

 

I'm still not sold on the Reds, although with Harang and Arroyo anchoring the rotation, they're better off than they were in 2004 when they had a similar hot start.

[Hawk 34 0]

Murton gives the Cubs the go-ahead run in the 8th. Dare I say clutch?

I didn't get to see the game, but did just see the highlights. A win's a win, but it looked like it was another fundamentally unsound game (i.e. the Jones' Alou impression).

 

I'm still not sold on the Reds, although with Harang and Arroyo anchoring the rotation, they're better off than they were in 2004 when they had a similar hot start.

 

The difference is that Cincy isn't relying on the 3 run homer to win games. They are scoring runs in all sorts of ways or just winning by pitching (of all things).