MLB Offseason Thread

[I am a huge CUNT]

Dec 23, 2008 22:07:09 GMT -5 Loki said:

You look back on our big free agent signings and see what percentage of those actually worked out vs. the little players we signed/traded for who wound up helping a whole lot more. History is pointing against us.

I'll be the first one to eat crow if this doesn't work out. We have had one of the best off-seasons I can remember, not like years past. We got two of the top pitchers on the market, and filled a hole at first base with a proven player.

I think this off-seasons different.

[Loki]

Just for reference...

When we signed Giambi 2002, he had hit .342 with 38 homers and 120 RBI's with Oakland. He left Oakland with three consecutive +.300/30 HR/120 RBI seasons, including an MVP season in 2000. He came over and had one good season in 2002 and then fell apart. One bad BIG signing.

Randy Johnson came in 2nd place for the Cy Young in 2004, striking out 290 batters with an ERA of 2.60. He came to New York going blown up as this big deal and guaranteed megastar pitcher for us...Johnson went 17-8 with 211 strikeouts and a 3.79 ERA. Many of his victories, like always with our pitchers because we've NEVER really had great pitching, came out the account of our amazing offense. The next year, Johnson crumbled to bits. He went 17-11 with a 5.00 ERA and struck out 40 less batters than the year before. In 3 postseason games, Johnson was 0-1 (somehow) with an ERA around 8.13

Let's skip to A-Rod. I've tried and tried to put my faith in him and I've loved when he's actually stepped up and for that, I try to give him the benefit of the doubt but the fact is simple, he's terrible in the clutch. With the exception of 2007, A-Rod has done little to necessarily benefit the team in a way that validates his huge contract and then, he just collapsed in the playoffs. In classic A-Rod fashion, the only time he has done anything in the post season, is when no one's on base or we're down by like 10 to the Indians in the 8th inning and he hits a solo shot. He strikes out too much, causes a whole lot of drama, and sometimes seems so careless at the play when he does the old A-Rod infield flyout on the first pitch deal with people on 1st and 3rd. His numbers are misleading in a nutshell and despite the fact that he tried to screw us over and leave, we gave him a huge contract to stay when he came crawling back because no one else is dumb enough to sign a man for that kind of money. No one else is dumb enough to sign a man who can't do anything when it matters to a contract of his size. Thankfully if history means anything, he's going to have a huge year this year.

Those are just three of our dumbass free agent signings. We took Giambi over Tino and failed. We took Randy when everyone knew what was coming and failed. We were fooled to believe Jaret Wright and Carl Pavano were the real deal after one above average season in the NL for both and a good job by Pavano in the WS...and failed. So that's...Jason Giambi, Randy Johnson, Carl Pavano, Jaret Wright, Kevin Brown, Alex Rodriguez, and also Gary Sheffield. Big contracts, big busts. I feel like I'm still missing people too.

[Cerrano39]

The Yanks cannot sign Manny. They have signed 3 Type A Free Agents, the MLB limit.

Sox clearly set their limit but I wonder if Boras gave them a chance to counter the Yankees offer. The no-trade clause was the main sticking point apparently and it means the Yankees have very little flexibility with their roster. The team as currently assembled, minus the corner outfields, will be in place for several years. It could turn out very well for the Yankees. However, with the exception of Texiera, their defense is terrible.

Tex was much more of a need for the Yankees entering the offseason, although I am not sure he is worth all that money.

The Red Sox have done nothing this off-season and have many areas of concern to address. Mike Lowell and Ortiz are unknowns.

The Yankees and Rays (David Price moving to the rotation) are ahead of us on paper, but there is still a long way until October.

Its a bad day for a Red Sox fan and anyone who claims it isn't has had too much egg nog.

[I am a huge CUNT]

Dec 23, 2008 22:35:16 GMT -5 Loki said:

Just for reference...

When we signed Giambi 2002, he had hit .342 with 38 homers and 120 RBI's with Oakland. He left Oakland with three consecutive +.300/30 HR/120 RBI seasons, including an MVP season in 2000. He came over and had one good season in 2002 and then fell apart. One bad BIG signing.

Randy Johnson came in 2nd place for the Cy Young in 2004, striking out 290 batters with an ERA of 2.60. He came to New York going blown up as this big deal and guaranteed megastar pitcher for us...Johnson went 17-8 with 211 strikeouts and a 3.79 ERA. Many of his victories, like always with our pitchers because we've NEVER really had great pitching, came out the account of our amazing offense. The next year, Johnson crumbled to bits. He went 17-11 with a 5.00 ERA and struck out 40 less batters than the year before. In 3 postseason games, Johnson was 0-1 (somehow) with an ERA around 8.13

Let's skip to A-Rod. I've tried and tried to put my faith in him and I've loved when he's actually stepped up and for that, I try to give him the benefit of the doubt but the fact is simple, he's terrible in the clutch. With the exception of 2007, A-Rod has done little to necessarily benefit the team in a way that validates his huge contract and then, he just collapsed in the playoffs. In classic A-Rod fashion, the only time he has done anything in the post season, is when no one's on base or we're down by like 10 to the Indians in the 8th inning and he hits a solo shot. He strikes out too much, causes a whole lot of drama, and sometimes seems so careless at the play when he does the old A-Rod infield flyout on the first pitch deal with people on 1st and 3rd. His numbers are misleading in a nutshell and despite the fact that he tried to screw us over and leave, we gave him a huge contract to stay when he came crawling back because no one else is dumb enough to sign a man for that kind of money. No one else is dumb enough to sign a man who can't do anything when it matters to a contract of his size. Thankfully if history means anything, he's going to have a huge year this year.

Those are just three of our dumbass free agent signings. We took Giambi over Tino and failed. We took Randy when everyone knew what was coming and failed. We were fooled to believe Jaret Wright and Carl Pavano were the real deal after one above average season in the NL for both and a good job by Pavano in the WS...and failed. So that's...Jason Giambi, Randy Johnson, Carl Pavano, Jaret Wright, Kevin Brown, Alex Rodriguez, and also Gary Sheffield. Big contracts, big busts. I feel like I'm still missing people too.

Most of those guys that came in Loki were past their prime. Brown was like 35, Johnson almost 40, Pavano already had issues, Wright had issues, and Shef was old. Giambi did well in his time here. A-Rod is doing fine. There were a lot more problems than him in the playoffs.

[Chief Bstn]

Lowe signed with Atlanta, Papelbon agreed to a one year deal and Varitek is still a free agent.

[bearcat]

Prince Fielder also re-signed with Milwaukee for 2 years at 18M total.

Good move by the Beermakers to keep some talent in a small-market.

[Jewel27]

Wow...Cubs trade Olson and Cedeno for Heilman

Cubs got it up the ass

[Loki]

This country's ruining baseball with their annoying steroid witch hunt. Does anyone really care? I'm sick of hearing about Bonds and Clemens and Canseco and now A-Rod.

[Buzz Killington]

Loki took steroids! SHE'S A WITCH! BURN HER!!

(I actually agree with you, but what I just said was more funnier.)

[JackTheRipper]

Feb 7, 2009 15:07:21 GMT -5 Buzz Killington said:

Loki took steroids! SHE'S A WITCH! BURN HER!!

(I actually agree with you, but what I just said was more funnier.)

You would think so, wouldn't you?

[Just Blaze]

A-Roid, A-Fraud, etc....

I dont know what to believe anymore when it comes to MLB and Steroids

[Loki]

The MLB may be looking at some fat lawsuits for this because these tests were supposed to be kept confidential for surveying purposes. I honestly don't care at this point. I just want them to play, they cheat, fine whatever. It wasn't cheating back then so why do we have to ruin their careers for it? They didn't break a rule so why does everyone have to be so crude about it? It's as irrational as hating on every pitcher in the early days for putting all that garbage on the balls like they did back then.

Steroids in an era where it was not banned =/= Gambling like Pete Rose did and I can't stand seeing that comparison.

[Just Blaze]

big props to A-Rod for confessing. I thought he would avoid the subject for a long time.