2006-07 MLB Offseason Thread

[devo 0]

Red Sox sign Lugo. Four years, thirty-six million.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?sectio...&id=2687819

[vivalaultra 0]

Good Lord, the Red Sox have spent, today, more money than the entire payroll of the Florida Marlins and the Pittsburgh Pirates combined!

[Brett Favre 0]

Red Sox apologist: NO! Still not the Yankees!

[Guest NYankees]

The Red Sox are narrowing that gap between them and the Yankees.

[Mik 0]

The Marlins are reportedly close to a deal (or working very hard on at least) for Rocco Baldelli.

 

If they can get it done for Nolasco and a lower class pitcher... my excitement level is gonna go through the roof.

[Vampiro69 0]

Yet the Red Sox will still miss the playoffs next season.

[devo 0]

With a lot of the quality infielders now off the market, I hope the Mets consider making a bid for Mark Loretta. His career line of .301/.391/.407 against lefties suggests that he could be a terrific platoon partner with Jose Valentin, even though the lack of any power whatsoever is a bit disconcerting. Still, I think he could easily be signed for one or two years at three or so million per and be well worth the money.

 

Edit: Also, the Mets just traded Brian Bannister for Ambirorix Burgos.

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writ...otes/index.html

 

Scroll to the bottom. Not sure how to feel about that trade, since I felt Bannister had potential but not really more so than the several other pitchers the Mets had floating around in their farm system. Maybe this is another Peterson project. Burgos is rough around the edges to be sure.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

- OPACY is supposedly getting an HD videoboard to replace the old one. YAY!

Sub-.500 high-cost-per-win baseball...IN HIGH DEFINITION! Come to the park to watch TV!

 

They really do need a new one though, the current one is terrible.

[Guest Felonies!]

- OPACY is supposedly getting an HD videoboard to replace the old one. YAY!

Sub-.500 high-cost-per-win baseball...IN HIGH DEFINITION! Come to the park to watch TV!

 

They really do need a new one though, the current one is terrible.

Somehow I think a TV is the least of the Baltimore Orioles' concerns, even though clearly it's #1 on your list. Why do you need an HDTV at a ballpark? What's more high-definition than real life? If you go to a ballgame, that's your chance to observe a game WITHOUT staring at a screen. Stupid. Watch the game. You know, with the people, standing on grass and dirt. I'll never get this approach to going to games.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

I'm a huge Red Sox homer, but I'm even questioning these moves a little bit. Not because I have anything against Lugo or Drew, who are two of the best at their positions, but I worry about the money and the years. I need to think about these signings some before I comment.

[Hawk 34 0]

He likes the cool graphics and the animated captures of whatever local franchise paid the rights to have their logo play a mock game of 'Run Around The Bases'. I don't blame him, watching the animated screens probably does provide more entertainment then the on-field product.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

- OPACY is supposedly getting an HD videoboard to replace the old one. YAY!

Sub-.500 high-cost-per-win baseball...IN HIGH DEFINITION! Come to the park to watch TV!

 

They really do need a new one though, the current one is terrible.

Somehow I think a TV is the least of the Baltimore Orioles' concerns, even though clearly it's #1 on your list. Why do you need an HDTV at a ballpark? What's more high-definition than real life? If you go to a ballgame, that's your chance to observe a game WITHOUT staring at a screen. Stupid. Watch the game. You know, with the people, standing on grass and dirt. I'll never get this approach to going to games.

 

The video board is rediculously small. See below:

 

From the Baltimore Sun:

"The $2.6 million video screen was cutting-edge when it was installed for the opening of Oriole Park in 1992. But the 23-by-31-foot board is considered out of date compared with the SmartVision screen at M&T Bank Stadium and other larger, sharper screens that have gone into ballparks around the country in recent years...

 

The old screen uses traditional television technology. Most newer boards use light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, similar to the ones that light up alarm clocks and wristwatches. Boards based on LED technology are cheaper, larger and offer superior picture quality.

 

The University of Texas, for example, recently debuted a 7,370-square-foot Daktronics screen dubbed "Godzillatron." That's 10 times the size of the JumboTron at Camden Yards, with much higher resolution to boot."

 

The video board is in the yellow circle. The team and the Maryland Stadium Authority cant agree on what they'll be replacing it with it so it might not happen this year.. They are also going to be putting in fake brick padding down the foul lines to go with the real brick behind homeplate..which will look stupid..

[Guest Felonies!]

He likes the cool graphics and the animated captures of whatever local franchise paid the rights to have their logo play a mock game of 'Run Around The Bases'. I don't blame him, watching the animated screens probably does provide more entertainment then the on-field product.

True. I mean, they are the O's. Still, I can't wrap my head around going to a game just to do what you can do at home, without paying for public transit/parking, tickets, concessions, and souvenirs. I can see where it helps for replays and things like that, but when it gets to the point where you're just watching a screen the whole time, you might as well create the ballpark ambiance in your home: put some freshly mown grass clippings near your nose, spill cheap beer on your pants, and make some hot dogs. Save yourself the trip.

 

The video board is in the yellow circle. Per rumors they will be tearing that whole thing down and replacing it with a huge video only board that can do the in stadium box score and video instead of the current set up.

Scorecard?

[Hawk 34 0]

He likes the cool graphics and the animated captures of whatever local franchise paid the rights to have their logo play a mock game of 'Run Around The Bases'. I don't blame him, watching the animated screens probably does provide more entertainment then the on-field product.

True. I mean, they are the O's. Still, I can't wrap my head around going to a game just to do what you can do at home, without paying for public transit/parking, tickets, concessions, and souvenirs. I can see where it helps for replays and things like that, but when it gets to the point where you're just watching a screen the whole time, you might as well create the ballpark ambience in your home: put some freshly mown grass clippings near your nose, spill cheap beer on your pants, and make some hot dogs. Save yourself the trip.

 

What is deplorable about these new age stad...er..Ballparks/Fields (why are we afraid to call them stadiums now?) is that the entire place is built to distract from the actual on-field product. Why the hell do you need a damn swiming pool, 18 screen movie theatre, world-class restaurants, bowling alleys and live stage concerts? What the hell was so wrong about a simple GUESS YOUR SPEED game on the concourse?

[Annabelle 0]

The Marlins are reportedly close to a deal (or working very hard on at least) for Rocco Baldelli.

 

If they can get it done for Nolasco and a lower class pitcher... my excitement level is gonna go through the roof.

 

i doubt the rays are going to trade him or crawford until they absolutely have to.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

He likes the cool graphics and the animated captures of whatever local franchise paid the rights to have their logo play a mock game of 'Run Around The Bases'. I don't blame him, watching the animated screens probably does provide more entertainment then the on-field product.

True. I mean, they are the O's. Still, I can't wrap my head around going to a game just to do what you can do at home, without paying for public transit/parking, tickets, concessions, and souvenirs. I can see where it helps for replays and things like that, but when it gets to the point where you're just watching a screen the whole time, you might as well create the ballpark ambiance in your home: put some freshly mown grass clippings near your nose, spill cheap beer on your pants, and make some hot dogs. Save yourself the trip.

 

 

The video board is in the yellow circle. Per rumors they will be tearing that whole thing down and replacing it with a huge video only board that can do the in stadium box score and video instead of the current set up.

Scorecard?

 

Something like:

 

 

That screen in the Rogers Centre.

 

and yeah, I wish I had more to talk abou than screens..but the Os already made all their big off season moves.

 

THE O'S BULLPEN IS GONNA BE AWESOME!

[Guest Smues]

I'll admit they aren't worth the millions of dollars they cost, but I'll be damned if the giant screen at Turner Field isn't awesome. Replays, stats-o-rama, highlights from around the league, Home Depot Tool Race, you name it!

[Guest Felonies!]

I don't even think Wrigley needs that little screen under the scoreboard. I mean, they got by without it for so many years. Most Wrigley updates have been garbage. Batter's eye restaurant. Fuck that. I liked the junipers.

[Craig Th 0]

I'm a huge Red Sox homer, but I'm even questioning these moves a little bit. Not because I have anything against Lugo or Drew, who are two of the best at their positions, but I worry about the money and the years. I need to think about these signings some before I comment.

These signings will be great if they also get some pitching. If they don't get any pitching, then these signings mean jack. Simple as that.

[KingPK 0]

So, how close is Boston now to passing the Yankees for # 1 in the league in payroll?

 

Let's not single out just one team for overspending this offseason, shall we? Those two deals are damned near reasonable after we saw what Matthews and Soriano got. Though I don't like the length as both guys will be in their mid-30s by the end and probably on the decline.

 

There's a little more than a week to go in the Matsuzaka signing period. I'm hoping it's something in the 3/21, 4/32 range (around $7-$8M/yr), but this is Boras we're talking about.

[Precious Roy 0]

the current 'SportsNation' poll on ESPN.com is 'Would you want Barry Bonds on your favorite team?' Only one state is saying yes, North F'n Dakota...

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Just to illustrate something on the Julio Lugo deal.

 

Lugo's Win Shares the last three years: 20, 24, 13

 

Boston Shortstops the last three years: 13*, 14, 9

 

*Pokey Reese, Nomar Garciaparra and Orlando Cabrera combined.

 

And remember Lugo played less games this year due to playing time issues after the Dodger trade. He's far more productive and consistant than what the Red Sox enjoyed from shortstop in the recent past.

[Cartman 0]

Lugo is a fine player but I personally prefer defense over offense at that particular position. Gonzales was a fine 9 hitter and a phenominal defensive SS. There are enough Bats to cover for him anyways. Did Cincy overpay Agon? maybe. But The Sox are throwing money around anyways I don't understand why they wouldn't keep Gonzo. Not to mention they won't have to worry about gonzo popping up in the local newspapers for beating the shit out of his girlfriends/wives.

[Guest NYankees]

Mike and Mike were on the radio this morning discussing the Red Sox production from ss and rf compared to Lugo and Drew last year. The Red Sox rf and ss combined for 5 less homeruns but like 5 more rbi's and 4 more runs last year than Lugo and Drew. The main point was how the combined salary was like 10 million last year and the Red Sox are now paying 23 million this year for a marginal improvement based on last years numbers.

 

Baseball News

 

Barry bonds and his agent are at the Winter Meetings to meet with teams. It is obvious he is having a hard time finding a team that is interested in him.

 

The Mets are trading Brian Bannister to the Royals for a relief pitcher. I didn't catch the name.

[Darthtiki 0]

Word around the campfire is that Dodger closer Eric Gagne is going to sign with another team.

 

God I hate the Dodger ownership.

[Guest NYankees]

There is a Mets rumor that they might trade Lastings Milledge to the A's for Rich Harden. Michael Kaye was on Espn radio and stated that a high ranking baseball official stated that the Red Sox payroll is going to be near 160 million.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

There is a Mets rumor that they might trade Lastings Milledge to the A's for Rich Harden. Michael Kaye was on Espn radio and stated that a high ranking baseball official stated that the Red Sox payroll is going to be near 160 million.

 

After last night's signings, the true payroll amount was either $116 or $125 (depending on the Clement insurance payout), but the taxable value was $136 million. Factor in Matsuzaka ($10 million), a back-up catcher ($3 million) and whatever they spend on relief pitching ($5 million-$10 million?) and you do get close to that number. I think they will make a couple more moves, including dumping Mike Lowell onto whoever wants him. The luxury tax threshold is $148 million, and the team is determined to stay under that mark.

 

Once again, I like Lugo and Drew, but I don't care for the years. Both contracts are very reasonable in this market and I guess if you want to upgrade, you have to pay the price. I think there were more reasonable alternatives out there, but I guess the front office disagrees.

 

And NYankees, you know better than to cite runs scored and RBI numbers on this board. Lugo and Drew are HUGE upgrades over Trot and A-Gon, who were just black holes of offense last year. 2007 should be a strong year, but I wonder how the cash resources are going to look 3 or 4 years from now.

[Guest NYankees]

I was citing Mike and Mike in the morning. The point that they made was that the ss and rf for the Red Sox last year put up similiar numbers to that of JD Drew and Lugo combined last year. The difference was that Boston paid them 10 million last year and are going to be paying 23 million this year.

[Guest]

Word around the campfire is that Dodger closer Eric Gagne is going to sign with another team.

 

God I hate the Dodger ownership.

I'm glad.

 

He wants 10 million a year.

[Prophet of Mike Zagurski 0]

I want him to play for the Angels so I can go to games and boo the shit out of him.

 

I'm glad nobody's signed him.

 

QFT

 

Now, I like Eric Gagne as closer and I hope with all the surgeries he's had that he can regain his form.

I didn't think the Dodgers were going to lose players unless they got Manny.

I also think Greg Maddux to a divisional rival going to hurt them a lot.