Precious Roy 0 Report post Posted November 23, 2006 Potential 07 Pittsburgh Pirates lineup CF - Kenny Lofton SS - Jack Wilson 3B - Freddy Sanchez LF - Jason Bay 1B - Phil Nevin RF - Xavier Nady C - Ryan Doumit 2B - Jose Castillo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vivalaultra 0 Report post Posted November 23, 2006 That's actually not a bad lineup. If they've got a half-decent bullpen, they should be much improved. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Precious Roy 0 Report post Posted November 23, 2006 Yeah, well Kenny Lofton and Phil Nevin could just as easily be Gabe Kapler and Kevin Millar. The Pirates' usual strategy is to fill their lineup with kids and plug holes by overpaying slightly for 3rd or 4th tier veteran free agents (see: Sean Casey, Jeremy Burnitz, Joe Randa, Matt Lawton etc.), but with the market what it is right now even guys like Lofton and Nevin might be out of their price range. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Failed Bridge 0 Report post Posted November 23, 2006 It's not that you do the Red Sox. It's just that some of us live in something called "reality" where our teams make realistic choices based on our current rosters, the state of our farm systems, and the market. There are rumors of the Red Sox signing J.D. Drew There are rumors of a Manny for Michael Young deal As I said about Chad Cordero, there's talks of trying to pry him from the Nats as Jim Bowden is an idiot with a hard-on for WMP I would think both Jose Guillen and Eddie Guardado would come cheap as they're coming off injuries. Pedroia, Papelbon, Edgar Martinez, Youkilis, Hansen, David Murphy, and Delcarmen come from the Red Sox farm system (Curt Schilling too if you wanna be real anal) I could see your point if I were to have included Zito, Clemens, Schmidt, Carlos Lee, and Eric Gagne but really...what did I say I'd be happy with the additions of? 2 players with ok pasts coming off surgery, a guy who has been fairly injury prone during his career and just opted out of his contract, a pitcher whom they won the posting rights for, a back-up catcher not named Doug Mirabelli and a stud closer. Chad Cordero might be the only one I could be flamed for, but for the millionth time...JIM BOWDEN. Tell me how the situation is unrealistic since they have about 18 or 19 of the current players listed already on the roster. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted November 23, 2006 Some of the rumors are just ridiculous. I haven't heard a single substantial rumor about the Rangers dealing Michael Young for ANYONE. Chad Cordero is three years away from free agency and the Nats are not going to deal him unless they get something substantial in return. Drew? I'll buy that. Personally, I think Eddie Guardado's toast. But it's not just this one. It's that we see it every year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Princess Leena Report post Posted November 23, 2006 If Boston is giving up $51 million just for the rights to sign Matsuzaka, I'd sure as hell want him to be better than a 3rd starter. More like making Johan Santana look like a scrub. Well, the Angels just gave up $50 Million to sign a center fielder who had five more win shares than their current center fielder. That's different. He's expected to get like $15 million a year if Boston does sign him. So, if Matsuzaka doesn't live up to expectations in 3 years, which is very possible considering the circumstances, Boston would be giving $32 million a year for him. Wow. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Failed Bridge 0 Report post Posted November 23, 2006 Personally, I think Eddie Guardado's toast. I still think he could give some good middle relief innings and should be cheap. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vivalaultra 0 Report post Posted November 23, 2006 There's a Turkey Day rumor going around Houston that Woody Williams has signed with the Houston Astros. 2-year contract with an option for a 3rd. I can't imagine that it would be more than an $8 million deal. Oh well, I'm going to eat some sweet pataters. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted November 23, 2006 2 things. 1. The Dodgers are talking to the Jays about Vernon Wells. 2. They're also trying to sign Jason Schmidt, to a deal in the range of 3 years, 36 million. I'm glad that Big Ned got Pierre at the price he did, because that Matthews deal is fucking retarded. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted November 23, 2006 2 things. 1. The Dodgers are talking to the Jays about Vernon Wells. 2. They're also trying to sign Jason Schmidt, to a deal in the range of 3 years, 36 million. I'm glad that Big Ned got Pierre at the price he did, because that Matthews deal is fucking retarded. I'm not sure there's much of a difference between Pierre and Matthews. Pierre is younger and faster, but he gets caught on the bases too often to add a tremendous amount of value. Matthews has some pop and gets on base more often, but last year was a fluke and he's overrated defensively. What amazes me is that teams are spending out the wazoo for players who aren't even difference makers. Except for Alfonso Soriano, there hasn't been a deal that's made me sit and think, "they're a much better team now than before." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted November 23, 2006 There's not a huge difference, but I have a hard time placing Gary Matthews as someone who should be making 11 million dollars a year. Getting Pierre fixes what would be a hole with the loss of Lofton for a while, at a little bit less of a cost. Since neither the Angels nor the Dodgers need to worry about money, that's not a big deal. It's just what it gets spent on. The league is such an even playing field now that the littlest things can push a team over the top. What teams that get the one marquee free agent in the offseason nowadays is able to parlay that into a ring? The market is just really inflated. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Man in Blak 0 Report post Posted November 24, 2006 Potential 07 Pittsburgh Pirates lineup CF - Kenny Lofton SS - Jack Wilson 3B - Freddy Sanchez LF - Jason Bay 1B - Phil Nevin RF - Xavier Nady C - Ryan Doumit 2B - Jose Castillo And then, when the Cubs figure out that Alfonso Soriano isn't a center fielder, they'll deal Ronny Cedeno to the Pirates for Lofton and make the playoffs. It's like deja vu all over again! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted November 24, 2006 I'll bash the Cubs for a lot of things about that deal, but I have no doubts that Soriano can play center field. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MarvinisaLunatic 0 Report post Posted November 24, 2006 The Jays need to trade Vernon Wells now. There's no way they'll be able to re-sign him if someone like Gary Matthews is getting $10 million a season. Gibbons and Benson.. Honestly If the Os can pull that trade off Id do it in heartbeat. They wont get Carlos Lee and they need an OF Bat. Odds are though, sadly..they wont sign anyone. JAMIE WALKER = 2007 PLAYOFFS Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CanadianChris 0 Report post Posted November 24, 2006 The Jays need to trade Vernon Wells now. There's no way they'll be able to re-sign him if someone like Gary Matthews is getting $10 million a season. Gibbons and Benson.. Honestly If the Os can pull that trade off Id do it in heartbeat. Of course you would, since it's so ridiculously one-sided in Baltimore's favour. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Annabelle 0 Report post Posted November 24, 2006 The Jays need to trade Vernon Wells now. There's no way they'll be able to re-sign him if someone like Gary Matthews is getting $10 million a season. Gibbons and Benson.. Honestly If the Os can pull that trade off Id do it in heartbeat. They wont get Carlos Lee and they need an OF Bat. Odds are though, sadly..they wont sign anyone. JAMIE WALKER = 2007 PLAYOFFS thats the worst trade in history. thats the worst prediction for a trade in history. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MarvinisaLunatic 0 Report post Posted November 24, 2006 The Jays need to trade Vernon Wells now. There's no way they'll be able to re-sign him if someone like Gary Matthews is getting $10 million a season. Gibbons and Benson.. Honestly If the Os can pull that trade off Id do it in heartbeat. They wont get Carlos Lee and they need an OF Bat. Odds are though, sadly..they wont sign anyone. JAMIE WALKER = 2007 PLAYOFFS thats the worst trade in history. thats the worst prediction for a trade in history. I had nothing to do with that..I read it somewhere. The Os want to trade Gibbons and can afford (I guess) to trade Benson (since he doesn't really wanna stay in Baltimore). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CanadianChris 0 Report post Posted November 24, 2006 The Jays need to trade Vernon Wells now. There's no way they'll be able to re-sign him if someone like Gary Matthews is getting $10 million a season. Gibbons and Benson.. Honestly If the Os can pull that trade off Id do it in heartbeat. They wont get Carlos Lee and they need an OF Bat. Odds are though, sadly..they wont sign anyone. JAMIE WALKER = 2007 PLAYOFFS thats the worst trade in history. thats the worst prediction for a trade in history. I had nothing to do with that..I read it somewhere. The Os want to trade Gibbons and can afford (I guess) to trade Benson (since he doesn't really wanna stay in Baltimore). Who do they think is running the Jays, Isiah Thomas? Don't believe everything you read at this time of year, because most of it is pure, unadulterated bullshit. Like this. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bruiser Chong 0 Report post Posted November 24, 2006 Lee for six years with Houston is apparently all but a done deal. He's the kind of player I can envision breaking down within a few years, but considering the Astros need for offense and the crazy figures mediocre players are grabbing this offseason, it probably won't be a bad signing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MarvinisaLunatic 0 Report post Posted November 24, 2006 I should be used to the Os ineptitude to sign players that are worth anything in the offseason. Ramon Hernandez coming here last year was a product of no one needing a catcher that badly and he pretty much got stuck with the Os which I guess was a stroke of luck. 6/100 for Lee would never have happened from the Os..I dont even think they wanted to do 6/75 The question now is does that whole "Trade Tejada!!!" thing happen or not. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bruiser Chong 0 Report post Posted November 24, 2006 Shouldn't the O's be more concerned about getting pitching, anyway? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MarvinisaLunatic 0 Report post Posted November 24, 2006 Shouldn't the O's be more concerned about getting pitching, anyway? Starting Rotation: Bedard/Benson/Cabrera/Loewen/Wright or Lopez or Penn The bullpen is where the work is needed and they've addressed one spot but they could use more. Offensively they need at least 1 OF (Left or Right), a 1B and a DH. How the hell can they do anything with 1/3 of their offense in question? Right now if they dont make any moves you have no one to play 1B, Gibbons as the DH (he cant play 1B and hes injury prone), and I have no clue what they'll do for the OF (Patterson at CF and Markakis at one of the corners..probably David Newhan in the other). Holes that big at 1b and DH that big are going to hurt the team offensively yet again this year. You cant really expect Roberts/Mora/Tejada/Hernandez to carry the team offensively. Markakis is a question mark going into his 2nd season..if hes as good as he was last season they'll at least be able to count on him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tominator89 0 Report post Posted November 24, 2006 I'm interested in seeing what Gillick has up his sleeves. I still think he'll end up making a few trades. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted November 24, 2006 Lee for six years with Houston is apparently all but a done deal. He's the kind of player I can envision breaking down within a few years, but considering the Astros need for offense and the crazy figures mediocre players are grabbing this offseason, it probably won't be a bad signing. Defense really isn't a big deal (for Lee) when the Astros play at home, because any fly balls that he would have to chase in other parks are probably flying out into that short porch. The CF's would be getting the balls in the gap regardless of who plays LF. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MFer 0 Report post Posted November 24, 2006 Lee for six years with Houston is apparently all but a done deal. He's the kind of player I can envision breaking down within a few years, but considering the Astros need for offense and the crazy figures mediocre players are grabbing this offseason, it probably won't be a bad signing. Yep, for $100 mil. Agree with everything you said there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vivalaultra 0 Report post Posted November 24, 2006 Well, it's not 8/$118 or anything...but it's still massively overpaying, but, such is the nature of the FA market. Last I heard yesterday, the deal on the table was 5/$73. But 6/$100 is like...Lance Berkman money. There's a definite need for offense from Houston; Carlos Lee's been as consistent as anybody in driving in 100 runs for the past 10 years or so, but, still...he's a pretty big dude...(although he did steal 19 or 21 bases last year), so hopefully there's not a no-trade clause or anything...ship his 400 pound ass to Kansas City in a couple years or something... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted November 24, 2006 Someday I'll figure out how a guy can steal 19 bases AND ground into 22 double plays. Edit: I checked for the heck of it, and 14 players have turned the trick, including Julio Franco three times. There's some impressive names on that list including Hank Aaron, Minnie Minoso and Jackie Robinson. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vivalaultra 0 Report post Posted November 24, 2006 He's slow out of the box, but he gets good jumps? Or his portly physique lulls pitchers into a false sense of security, maybe? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
v.2 0 Report post Posted November 24, 2006 Stealing signs might help. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted November 24, 2006 He's slow out of the box, but he gets good jumps? Or his portly physique lulls pitchers into a false sense of security, maybe? I think so. Out of the 14 batters, 13 were right handed hitters. Only one (Gregg Jeffries) was a switch hitter. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
