MLB Offseason 2012

[R. Star]

Mr. Laser Beam wrote:

---

Oh God, not this shit again... Linky

Ugh... you know I always thought the home team should be in white, the road team in grey and leave it at that.... but even for alternate jerseys.... those are tacky as all hell.

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ The worst thing about it is, that uniform was originally created by a fan who sent it in...

(wouldn't be so bad if they were just wearing it once, but the Sox are wearing that abomination for every Sunday game this year!)

[Tom Hendricks]

Timby wrote:

---

Phillies sign Delmon Young.

Oh, Ruben Amaro, I love you and you are the gift that never stops giving, please continue your fine tradition of "Rube gonna rube."

Part of Delmon Young's contract is tied to his weight, he can earn up to $600,000 more if he doesn't go over weight.

http://deadspin.com/5978454/delmon-y...ing-a-fat-mess

The deal for the AL championship series MVP, announced Tuesday, calls for him to get on a scale on six occasions to be chosen by the team. He'll receive $100,000 each time he makes weight, according to details obtained by The Associated Press. The first three times, he must be 230 pounds or less, and the second three, 235 pounds or less.

[Timby]

I hope they do public weigh-ins like for big UFC and boxing fights.

And when he doesn't make weight, they play the loser horn from The Price is Right.

In other content, here's an amazing article about just how calamitous this offseason has been for Rube:

At Tuesday’s press conference announcing the Young deal, Amaro said they expect their new acquisition to become the everyday right fielder.

“While obviously Delmon’s got a lot more track record as far as success in the major leagues, he still can be competing for playing time,” Amaro said. “Ideally, he’d be playing right field every day for us but that’s not etched in stone. That will happen when he shows that he can play every day in right field for us.”

Young has not played right field since his rookie season in 2007. That was six years ago.

The iPad hadn’t been invented yet.

Since then, in the rare instances in which he’s actually put on a glove and manned a defensive position, he has played left field. However, he only did that 30 times in his 151 games last year, and when he did do it, he did it very, very poorly.

Even though Young’s contract is cheap, the simple fact is that he is not a good baseball player. In 608 plate appearances last year, Young hit .267/.296/.411 for an OPS of .707 and a wOBA of .305, with 18 HRs and 112 strikeouts. For his career, Young’s on-base percentage of .317 and OPS of .742 makes him nothing more than a replacement-level type player, as his career 0.6 WAR would indicate.

In short, Young does not get on base, does not work pitchers, does not hit for a whole lot of power, possesses no speed and plays terrible defense.

[Ar-Pharazon]

Sammy Sosa thinks the Cubs should have retired his number "a long time ago".
Story

He also thinks he & McGuire belong in the HOF.
Story

Hell of a way to break years of silence, with insane ramblings like this.

[Use of Time]

Justin Upton and Chris Johnson will be traded to Atlanta for Martin Prado, Randall Delgado and two prospects.

I'm pretty excited about an outfield with Heyward, B.J and Justin Upton. Wow.

[Timby]

Use of Time wrote:

---

Justin Upton and Chris Johnson will be traded to Atlanta for Martin Prado, Randall Delgado and two prospects.

I'm pretty excited about an outfield with Heyward, B.J and Justin Upton. Wow.

Holy crap. That's absolute highway robbery, Kevin Towers has lost his mind.

[Use of Time]

Timby wrote:

---

Holy crap. That's absolute highway robbery, Kevin Towers has lost his mind.

Yeah, I mean I like Prado but he would have been a free agent at the end of the year anyway. Justin is only 24 years old which is crazy seeing as he has 5 years under his belt already. To get Chris Johnson too is ridiculous. Frank Wrenn is doing as well as John Scheurholz with about a half of the financial backing.

[Timby]

Use of Time wrote:

---

Yeah, I mean I like Prado but he would have been a free agent at the end of the year anyway. Justin is only 24 years old which is crazy seeing as he has 5 years under his belt already. To get Chris Johnson too is ridiculous. Frank Wrenn is doing as well as John Scheurholz with about a half of the financial backing.

Yeah, it's impossible to put into words just how astounded I am at how lopsided this deal was. The Braves are getting a star player with upside at a below-market deal with three years of control left, and all he gave up for him was two eminently replaceable non-commodities off their roster and three nothing prospects. The best piece going out here is Randall Delgado, for God's sake.

Towers went full Rube. You never go full Rube.

[Use of Time]

Well I really think the lynchpin was Martin Prado. Prado started the all star game at second base in 2010. Guys like him are valuable considering he has literally played every position on the field for Atlanta except pitcher/catcher. He's a solid two hitter with mid range power. The Diamondbacks outfield isn't all that bad at the moment with Kubel, Ross and Parra. I think they just tried to fill as many gaps as possible rather then keep a player who didn't want to be there.

That being said I am very excited for the season. The Braves have six guys that will probably hit more than 20 HR's (Jupton, B.J., McCann, Freeman, Uggla and Heyward) Can you imagine how good this team could be if Uggla could find his swing. My only concern is that we really don't have a leadoff hitter and the 2-6 guys are going to strikeout often.

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Carl Pavano gets injured, as only Carl Pavano can. Linky

[Ar-Pharazon]

Use of Time wrote:

---

Well I really think the lynchpin was Martin Prado. Prado started the all star game at second base in 2010. Guys like him are valuable considering he has literally played every position on the field for Atlanta except pitcher/catcher. He's a solid two hitter with mid range power. The Diamondbacks outfield isn't all that bad at the moment with Kubel, Ross and Parra. I think they just tried to fill as many gaps as possible rather then keep a player who didn't want to be there.

That being said I am very excited for the season. The Braves have six guys that will probably hit more than 20 HR's (Jupton, B.J., McCann, Freeman, Uggla and Heyward) Can you imagine how good this team could be if Uggla could find his swing. My only concern is that we really don't have a leadoff hitter and the 2-6 guys are going to strikeout often.

I wonder why there's so much talk about the lead-off hitter. He's only guaranteed to lead off once.

After that, he's as likely to bat third or fourth in an inning, at which point his speed isn't as important.

[Use of Time]

Ar-Pharazon wrote:

---

I wonder why there's so much talk about the lead-off hitter. He's only guaranteed to lead off once.

After that, he's as likely to bat third or fourth in an inning, at which point his speed isn't as important.

True, but I'm less concerned with speed than I am with having some form of contact hitter at the top of the order to help set the table for the power of the lineup. I am thinking that Andrelton Simmons will hit leadoff with either Heyward or B.J. in the two hole. The rest is immaterial as long as they break up the right handed and left handed bats a little bit.

[RevDMV]

Classic no leverage/options trade.

Upton wanted out of town and had veto power, already turning a down a trade to the Mariners. Where he wanted to go was well known.

Plus, Gibson had him in the dog house, and wanted him out.

I think the Diamondback's did as much as they could with this one...

[Aragorn]

RevDMV wrote:

---

Upton wanted out of town and had veto power, already turning a down a trade to the Mariners.

Well who wouldn't turn down a trade to the Mariners? No playoff shot and your stats will drop like a rock because of the lineup around you.