2006-07 MLB Offseason Thread

[Bored 0]

Anyway, about the As and their defense, they do have a very solid defense. But the As always seem to make these mental errors, including defensive errors, at key moments. I don't know what to attribute that to other than the makeup of the players and the overall tone of the clubhouse or something like that...

They looked perfectly fine against the Twins. And really outside the 2003 ALDS there isn't a playoff loss the A's have had under Beane where the A's had glaring mental errors. Jeremy Giambi being a slow, fat fuck doesn't count as a mental error.

 

For what it's worth I actually thought the A's defense was overrated by the media especially when you factor not having Bobby Crosby, a hobbled Eric Chavez at 3rd, and Mark Kotsay with a bad back in center. Throw in Ellis getting hurt the defensive team they A's fielded in the ALCS was average at best.

 

And for Macha being fired...hooray, I guess. Again I'm not a fan of most mangers and odds are the next guy will be just as mediocre as Macha and that includes Ron Washington. Nice guy, great at coaching infield defense, but who knows how good of a manger he'd be.

[Guest Felonies!]

I bet Beane will keep Washington as a coach because he's more valuable in that role than as a manager, which is kind of a weaker spot for Beane's system.

[Bored 0]

Unless he gets hired elsewhere which would be some motivation to promote him to manager. He did interview for the Marlins and Devil Rays jobs last year, if I remember correctly, and will be interviewing for the Texas job this week. When Macha was all but gone it seemed last offseason the bench coach Bob Geren was actually the one who was believed to be favored by Beane to get the job, not Washington.

[Mik 0]

Lou Pinella is already publicly campaigning for the Cubbies to trade for A-Rod.

[Brett Favre 0]

Zambrano.

[mike546 0]

A combination of Oswalt, Ensberg and someone, or Santana, Wood and someone are the two best options the Yankees should want in a trade for A-Rod. And there somewhat logical.

[CanadianChris 0]

Lou Pinella is already publicly campaigning for the Cubbies to trade for A-Rod.

Does he not realize what team he signed with?

[vivalaultra 0]

A combination of Oswalt, Ensberg and someone, or Santana, Wood and someone are the two best options the Yankees should want in a trade for A-Rod. And there somewhat logical.

 

That one won't happen. Oswalt has a full no-trade clause and without him, the Astros rotation consists of:

 

1. Jason Hirsh

2. Wandy Rodriguez

3. Taylor Buchholz

4. Russ Springer

5. Jason Lane

 

Yeah, so that one won't happen at least.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

Lou Pinella is already publicly campaigning for the Cubbies to trade for A-Rod.

Does he not realize what team he signed with?

Or that the GM who just hired him has now moved onto trying to lock up their current third baseman?

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

For Cub fans, what do you do abour Ronny Cedeno? He was beyond miserable this year, walking 17 times in 572 plate appearances and hitting .245. (And it should be noted, was not replaced by a veteran). I'd sign a replacement and option Cedeno to the minors. Let him prove himself there before he gets another crack at a starting job. His future might be as a utility infielder.

[2GOLD 0]

Zambrano.

 

Hell no. Rather have the pitching than A-Rod, no disrespect to him but the Cubs already have a third baseman and I guess they have a shortstop.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

I gave up on Cedeno long ago. He didn't impress me much in his short stint with the club in 2005, so I was surprised to hear he was supposed to be our shortstop of the future. If this club wants to compete, they can't be wasting a spot on Cedeno.

 

As for getting A-Rod, it would probably take Zambrano or Hill and at this point, I don't think the Cubs can afford to deal either one. Zambrano should be untouchable and while Hill still has a way to go before you consider him a star, he's easily their number two guy right now. No way they should be dealing what little reliable starting pitching they have for some offense. They need offense, but pitching is what really helped do them in this year. What you gain with A-Rod's offense, you lose with another vacant starting pitcher slot.

 

I also hear the Cubs want to heavily pursue Carlos Lee, which I'm torn on. I don't think superstars all around the diamond is the answer. The team needs a balanced lineup, not another team of mashers. I'm pretty high on Matt Murton and think the team should address issues up the middle before they concern themselves too much with replacing the guy who was their second best hitter after the break.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

Really odd newsbit: Theo Epstein FINALLY signed the contract that was proposed to him after the 2005 season. He had been working without a contract this entire past season. Deal is believed to be the original offer of 3 years/$4.5 million.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Great news for baseball fans. TBS will have exclusive rights to the divisional series and NLCS next season. They've also picked up rights to tiebreakers, and the All-Star selection show.

[Guest Smues]

Great news for baseball fans. TBS will have exclusive rights to the divisional series and NLCS next season. They've also picked up rights to tiebreakers, and the All-Star selection show.

 

I'd be happy if they weren't phasing out the Braves.

[the max 0]

Great news for baseball fans. TBS will have exclusive rights to the divisional series and NLCS next season. They've also picked up rights to tiebreakers, and the All-Star selection show.

 

That does sound good right now. Maybe they'll hire that brutal racist Steve Lyons.

[bob_barron 0]

Great news for baseball fans. TBS will have exclusive rights to the divisional series and NLCS next season. They've also picked up rights to tiebreakers, and the All-Star selection show.

 

Not for Braves fans though

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Are the Braves moving to Turner South, or are they abandoning the Turner network entirely?

[Guest Smues]

I think I heard that they were pretty much leaving the Turner network and going to be mainly on Fox Sports South, but I'm not sure.

[Vern Gagne 0]

They'll have crappy announcers like the other stations. Probably will end up with Joe Morgan doing the NLCS.

[Precious Roy 0]

Lou Pinella is already publicly campaigning for the Cubbies to trade for A-Rod.

Does he not realize what team he signed with?

Or that the GM who just hired him has now moved onto trying to lock up their current third baseman?

 

Yeah, but you figure that if A-Rod waives his trade clause he expects to go back to shortstop

 

A deal with the Cubs doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me, the Yankees would need a pitcher, third baseman and/or A level prospects to justify a deal, and the Cubs don't really have the pieces to make it happen. Of all the ideas bounced around A-Rod to the White Sox for Beuhrle/Crede or Fields seemed like the one that was the best fit for both teams involved. Really, looking around the league, I can't come up with many plausible scenarios for A-Rod to be traded.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Lou Pinella is already publicly campaigning for the Cubbies to trade for A-Rod.

Does he not realize what team he signed with?

Or that the GM who just hired him has now moved onto trying to lock up their current third baseman?

 

Yeah, but you figure that if A-Rod waives his trade clause he expects to go back to shortstop

 

A deal with the Cubs doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me, the Yankees would need a pitcher, third baseman and/or A level prospects to justify a deal, and the Cubs don't really have the pieces to make it happen. Of all the ideas bounced around A-Rod to the White Sox for Buehrle/Crede or Fields seemed like the one that was the best fit for both teams involved. Really, looking around the league, I can't come up with many plausible scenarios for A-Rod to be traded.

 

How does this benefit the White Sox? Their pitching wasnt that good this season. The last thing they need to trade is a good pitcher. Even for a great player like A-Rod.

[Guest Felonies!]

But Buerhle is coming off a poor year, and has what, one more year on his contract? He's good as gone for St. Louis. Crede is a Boras guy, so those impending negotiations will be tough. Fields is the one they need to stick with, though.

[Precious Roy 0]

It would open up a spot for Fields who should probably be in the bigs by now and give them a huge upgrade at SS. They need to get Brandon McCarthy into the rotation anyway, sticking him in middle relief is stunting his development, so trading away one of their starters is desirable. They'd still have Garcia, Contreras, Garland and Vazquez. And even though we all know Buehrle is better than he showed this past season, he was basically their worst starter.

 

I highly doubt it will happen, but it's the kind of deal that could benefit both teams.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

I'm sorry, but I would much rather let Garland or Vasquez go before I do Buehrle.

[Precious Roy 0]

I'm sorry, but I would much rather let Garland or Vasquez go before I do Buehrle.

 

Of course you would. And I'd like to trade Jaret Wright for Ryan Zimmerman. If the Yankees are going to give up Alex F'n Rodriguez they're going to want someone more valuable than John Garland in return. Do I even need to comment on Javier Vasquez?

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Exactly. I wouldn't want A-Rod if it meant Buehrle going. And you wouldn't want anyone less than Buehrle and more. This is why the White Sox shouldn't trade for A-Rod.

 

Of course, this said, I fully expect Al to come in and cite 2,002 reasons why A-Rod > Buehrle. Doesn't change my personal sentiment towards the guy, who has been the Sox's ace for a few years now.

[Brett Favre 0]

It was already offered (Crede and Buehrle, Garcia, or Vazquez), but the Yankees countered with Fields and McCarthy, and I think that was declined.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Okay, if the White Sox already offered it, but I personally don't want to see it, is all.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

mlb.com is conducting a vote for the "All-Clutch Team." That's beyond ridiculous. I'm not even providing the link.

 

With all the A-Rod to wherever talk, don't forget that Manny is once again going to be on the market. I've heard some rumblings about Manny to LAD for JD Drew (obviously with other parts going both ways). Can anyone with a buzz on LA tell me if this is even reasonable or not? Are they interested in Manny? Would they move Drew?