The 2010 MLB Season Thread

[stevew]

Originally Posted by samifan24

I thought the Buccos were asking Sanchez to play winter ball to make up for lost ABs due to the injury. Is that no longer the case?

I'd think so. I figure Sanchez might be up next June/July if he's really needed.

[stevew]

ST. LOUIS -- Ryan Doumit's reaction to the Pirates' acquisition of Chris Snyder to be their new starting catcher: "I was shocked, obviously. I didn't know how to interpret it. He's a starting-catcher-type guy. I'm a starting-catcher-type guy. I didn't know what to think of it. You know, obviously, I want to play. I want to play every day. I think I'm an everyday major-leaguer and ... I don't know. I'm still kind of taken aback by it."

Doumit was on the field as we spoke, playing catch, and he is right now participating in the full batting practice. He told me his concussion symptoms had cleared.

"I'm fine," he said.

sorry it didn't work out Ryan. I'm sorry that Catching the ball is a fundamental part of your job and you can't seem to do that at a decent rate.

[miked]

Poor Dunn, sentenced to toil in front of 5,000 unappreciative fans for the rest of the season.

[stevew]

I know Andrew Lambo already has a 50 game substance abuse suspension(weed) but he seems to be worth a risk at the cost of only Octavio Dotel. I think Huntington did really well today. He got some potential bounce back type players for guys that he scraped off the welfare bin this offseason. Not bad at all.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Have I missed where the Braves & Royals did their deal?

Ankiel & Farnsworth to Atlanta for Jesse Chavez, Gregor Blanco, and recently acquired prospect Tim Collins.

Braves beat blogger summed up Chavez nicely
If you break this deal down by player, Chavez’s exit will result in the loudest single cheer. At some point, the question became not whether he would make it as a Brave, but whether he would make it to the parking lot.

He had a 5.89 ERA. He had given up six home runs, 40 hits and 12 walks in 36 2/3 innings. Torch-carrying villagers were starting to wait for him outside the stadium

[Swaggs]

Originally Posted by samifan24

I thought the Buccos were asking Sanchez to play winter ball to make up for lost ABs due to the injury. Is that no longer the case?

I suspect they will either send him to Winter Ball or maybe the Arizona Fall League. He was hitting really well in A+ (.870 OPS playing w/ a lingering shoulder injury) and probably due to move up to AA by July or August. He probably could have started at AAA and moved up midseason 2011, but now I am guessing he plays at least half a season of AA next year. The new regime has seemed a little more conservative with promotions (as compared to the erratic nature of the Littlefield regime), letting players (particularly hitters) sort of master their level before advancing them.

I think they thought they could get by with Doumit until the end of the year (and then hopefully trade him after allowing him a season of healthy, productive play) and then juggle Jaramillo and Kratz next season until Sanchez was ready. Unfortunately, Doumit's defense and throwing has been so bad, I think the team was starting to feel like it was affecting the pitching staff and his injuries throughout the season gave the team the opportunity to see Jaramillo and Kratz play, with the results being very underwhelming.

[Swaggs]

Originally Posted by stevew

I know Andrew Lambo already has a 50 game substance abuse suspension(weed) but he seems to be worth a risk at the cost of only Octavio Dotel. I think Huntington did really well today. He got some potential bounce back type players for guys that he scraped off the welfare bin this offseason. Not bad at all.

I think he did really well today. All five of the players dealt (Church, Crosby, Carrasco, Dotel, and Lopez) were all short-term free agent signings who probably would have rather signed with just about anyone else in the MLB during this past offseason. And, other than Snyder (who is an established MLBer), we basically traded them for a handful of scratch-off lottery tickets (although McDonald actually looks like he might be a little promising).

[k0ruptr]

I'm depressed the White Sox didn't get another bat

[Ksyrup]

Getting McDonald for Dotel straight up seems like a steal to me.

[SackAttack]

the McDonald + Lambo for Dotel + cash trade pisses me off.

I'm giving the Dodgers formal notice that any more of this shit - trading their better prospects for marginal veterans to save on salaries, failing to offer arbitration in slam-dunk cases (see: Wolf, Randy) or drafting players they have no intention of signing to save a few bucks, and I'll stop supporting them with my money until there's new ownership in place.

If they want to behave like a fucking small-market team run by a clueless moron, I'll be happy to give them the kind of support such teams usually "enjoy."

Either McCourt and Colletti stop being fucking retarded or get rid of them. Those are the only options I'm willing to accept.

[DaddyTorgo]

LMAO

Red Sox raise the white flag on this season.

[Swaggs]

Originally Posted by HiFiRevival

Huntington has done a pretty good job. His only "mistake" was agreeing to take Lastings Milledge from the Nats. He's gotten decent returns for guys like Nady and McLouth and removed bad contracts while developing/promoting quality young talent. If he finds a way to get more good young SPs that team could be competitive within two years.

That core of McCutchen, Tabata, Alvarez, Walker and maybe Jones is pretty solid to build around.

I don't see how Milledge is a mistake. It isn't like they gave up much to get him and, both then and now, his upside is far better than that of Morgan and he has been more productive. Milledge is starting to look like he is never going to develop major league power (maybe his hand injury from last season is lingering, but it has been close to a year including an offseason at this point), but he is still only 25-years old and is considerably better than the 30-year old Morgan.

Factor in that the Pirates got Hanrahan (a pretty top-notch set up man) for Burnett (a good lefty specialist, but he will hit arb and FA before Hanrahan) and I don't imagine that there are many folks in baseball that wouldn't do Milledge and Hanrahan for Morgan and Burnett today. I'm guessing Washington would take that one back if they could.

[stevew]

I miss Tony Plush.

[dfisher]

Damnit, now Ryan Howard turns is ankle and has to be helped off the field. This is after Ibanez is scratched with a bad wrist. If he has to go on the DL, that puts the Phillies without Howard, Utley, and Victorino. Ibanez probably day to day, with Rollins just coming back. Plus, Brad Lidge is still closer.

[McSweeny]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

LMAO

Red Sox raise the white flag on this season.

Who should they have traded for and what should they have given up? I am not upset they did not bring in Kerry Wood or Chad Qualls. I also think that Felix Doubront, Michael Bowden, and Ryan Kalish will be decent upgrades. Not to mention the fact that Pedroia and Varitek will be back shortly.

The Red Sox are 7.5 games out of the division and 5.5 out of the wild card with 58 games to play. They are in the process of moving some of the deadwood out of the bullpen and are replacing it with talented youngsters. Doesn't look like a white flag to me.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

Don't mind DT, he's our resident bridge jumper.

[Swaggs]

Originally Posted by HiFiRevival

Lastings Milledge is atrocious on defense, one of the worst baserunners I've ever seen and a genuine asshole to the point the Nats threw a team party when he was traded.

At the plate they aren't that much different. Nyjer is a little lower on the SLG side of things but Milledge is a freaking RF with a .706 OPS. That's pathetic for a corner OF. Nyjer is a fantastic defensive CF who is playing well now after a very bad slump. Milledge is an asshole who has already been run off of two teams due to teammates hating him and is bad offensively and defensively.

At the end of the day, it probably isn't worth arguing about because both players are inconsequential, but Milledge is five-years younger (had just turned 24 at the time of the deal) and has/had upside. Morgan, barring a Brady Anderson or Steve Finley-like talent jump, is who is: a guy with very good speed that makes him have good range, but he has a weak arm and doesn't take good angles. He is a slap hitter, a bad baserunner (look at his career CS numbers) and a good personality/teammate. He, like Milledge, was a corner OF with the Pirates (couldn't beat out McClouth or obviously Cutch) and if he keeps a sub .650 OPS he will probably be struggling to stay in the major leagues after this year (maybe his speed, defense, good teammate reputation gets him a 5th OF job).

Milledge's attitude and professionalism has been fine with the Pirates and he has acknowledged his immaturity in the past. At the time of the deal, he had (roughly) a .725 OBP in the majors and had just turned 24. It was a good gamble by the Pirates, but unfortunately it looks like Milledge isn't ever going to be a 25+ homer guy (as most scouts projected). He is still a much better major league player than Morgan (who I like and enjoyed watching his speed w/ Cutch's while he played with the Pirates) and there is no question that most GMs would make the same deal today (Hanrahan and Milledge for Morgan and Burnett).

It is silly to call it "Huntington's only mistake," as Hanrahan looks like the closer of the future (w/ Dotel dealt) and Milledge is already considerably better than Morgan and is 5-years younger. I imagine just about anyone would rather have Milledge over Morgan and most would rather have Hanrahan over Burnett (even though Burnett has value as a lefty specialist).

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by McSweeny

Who should they have traded for and what should they have given up? I am not upset they did not bring in Kerry Wood or Chad Qualls. I also think that Felix Doubront, Michael Bowden, and Ryan Kalish will be decent upgrades. Not to mention the fact that Pedroia and Varitek will be back shortly.

The Red Sox are 7.5 games out of the division and 5.5 out of the wild card with 58 games to play. They are in the process of moving some of the deadwood out of the bullpen and are replacing it with talented youngsters. Doesn't look like a white flag to me.

There wasn't really anyone available that would have been an upgrade, but they're too far out now, and Tampa and NY are playing too well.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by Ronnie Dobbs2

Don't mind DT, he's our resident bridge jumper.

I didn't even make it onto the bridge to jump this year.

I had never really realized it, but I guess I'm in the same boat as Simmons - this year's team is just kinda...uninteresting. Devoid of personality.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

That's such a facile argument. What is the difference between this year and last year? We lost the world's most boring man, Jason Bay, and added a fun guy in Adrian Beltre.

[molson]

It's kind of a boring season, but if they managed to get crazy hot the last few months, the season would suddenly be interesting. I think Simmons was over-analyzing things a bit.

2004 was a very boring season until near the end. I remember this because I was working in Rhode Island during the Summer, listened to WEEI all the time, and was annoyed at how depressed and apathetic everyone was about a team that was clearly in contention.

Not saying this team has the same destiny, but they're a 10 game win streak away from being interesting. (As is almost every team in baseball)

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by HiFiRevival

Lastings Milledge is atrocious on defense

Both UZR and Dewan's system have him as a touch above average the past 2 years.

Originally Posted by HiFiRevival

Nyjer is a fantastic defensive CF

His UZR and +/- numbers are below average this season. Last season was also an outlier as his centerfield numbers were better than his corner OF numbers (red flag #1) and they didn't come close to what he was throughout his minor and major league career up until that point (red flag #2).

Both players are hovering around replacement level this season so there's really no point in arguing which is better or claiming the Nationals somehow came out on top in the trade. However, if given the choice between the two players I think most people would take a chance on Milledge putting things together since Morgan is looking like nothing more than the easily replaceable 5th OFer he was every year except last.

[McSweeny]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

There wasn't really anyone available that would have been an upgrade, but they're too far out now, and Tampa and NY are playing too well.

6.5 games out of first place is too far out? How exactly are they "waving the white flag"?

[TreeInNewEngland]

Originally Posted by McSweeny

6.5 games out of first place is too far out? How exactly are they "waving the white flag"?

Better them wave the White Flag now, than get their hopes up and beat the shit out of me again.

[LastWhiteSoxFanStanding]

Being 3.5 games out on July 31 and trading 2 of your starters and your closer for prospects that are years away. Now that is waving the white flag.

Don't steal our thunder

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Flag_Trade

[jbergey22]

Perhaps the Red Sox just feel they have a strong enough to team to get into the playoffs.

They do have Ellsbury and Pedroia coming back soon while Becket atleast looks close to the pitcher of past years his past 2 starts. On paper they are more than capable of making up 6.5 games.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Have I missed where the Braves & Royals did their deal?

Ankiel & Farnsworth to Atlanta for Jesse Chavez, Gregor Blanco, and recently acquired prospect Tim Collins.

Braves beat blogger summed up Chavez nicely
If you break this deal down by player, Chavez’s exit will result in the loudest single cheer. At some point, the question became not whether he would make it as a Brave, but whether he would make it to the parking lot.

He had a 5.89 ERA. He had given up six home runs, 40 hits and 12 walks in 36 2/3 innings. Torch-carrying villagers were starting to wait for him outside the stadium

Absolutely thrilled with this trade. As the blogger notes, Chavez was thrown in and won't do much, but landing Blanco and Collins for those two guys is very nice.

[miked]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

Absolutely thrilled with this trade. As the blogger notes, Chavez was thrown in and won't do much, but landing Blanco and Collins for those two guys is very nice.

Maybe you are on drugs...Gregor Blanco is soon-to-be 27. In his only full season, he put up an OPS+ of 83. Somehow he managed 500+ PA with 1 HR, a SLG of .309, and 100 K's. Oh, and he plays bad defense. Not that Ankiel is anything special, but they got poop. A nice pile of poop.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

Absolutely thrilled with this trade. As the blogger notes, Chavez was thrown in and won't do much, but landing Blanco and Collins for those two guys is very nice.

Collins is about all you gained, Blanco had a good June for the Braves but otherwise hasn't done much of anything over parts of three seasons.

Of course, neither does the unenhanced Ankiel, but it's really more of a wash than anything.

[kingfc22]

Sweep!

[stevew]

atocep....uzr is obviously important but it doesn't account for dumb defensive plays that shouldn't happen at the ML level. And Milledge has had several.

swaggs-if someone(please Kenny) claims Doumit you're letting him go like a hot potato....right?

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by Ronnie Dobbs2

That's such a facile argument. What is the difference between this year and last year? We lost the world's most boring man, Jason Bay, and added a fun guy in Adrian Beltre.

Yeah, it's been real fun to watch him injure half our starters. We should have traded him to TB/NY so he could fuck up their outfielders.

(I do agree that we're still in contention, and adding Pedroia/Ellsbury/Beckett/Martinez is more than any other team did at the deadline. Obviously I would have loved a 3rd closer-level bullpen arm like Soria, but it wasn't worth trading a Casey Kelly or a Kalish for a reliever.)

[Swaggs]

Originally Posted by stevew

atocep....uzr is obviously important but it doesn't account for dumb defensive plays that shouldn't happen at the ML level. And Milledge has had several.

swaggs-if someone(please Kenny) claims Doumit you're letting him go like a hot potato....right?

I think we keep him and give him enough spot ABs (hopefully a places other than C) to see if he can get his OPS up in the .750 - .775 range. If he gets there (which isn't much of a stretch if he is only getting 10-15 ABs a week and not getting nicked up every other game), I think we can flip him to an AL club in the offseason for a couple of middling prospects or a young MLBer that has fallen out of favor with their current team (a la Milledge, Hart, Tabata, Morton, etc.). If he doesn't get his numbers up, we can probably deal him for a player in a similar situation as his (fallen out of favor), but maybe at a more useful position (SS? Relief?). I don't think you just ditch him -- he is still one of only a handful of guys on our roster than is a big league calibre hitter.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by larrymcg421

I've never liked the way home plate calls were made. I never understood why if a catcher gets the ball, applies the tag, but THEN the ball gets knocked loose, the runner is somehow safe. The runner should be out as soon as the catcher tags him with the ball. What happens after that should be meaningless. Call it that way and there's less incentive to crash into home plate.

Bump for the pending Carlos Santana debate.

[JPhillips]

That's the way, Dusty. Let Heisey play!

[rowech]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

That's the way, Dusty. Let Heisey play!

His ass should be in right versus lefties and should be getting playing time in center.

[JPhillips]

I'd like to see him get at least a start in each OF position per week.

[samifan24]

Originally Posted by Logan

Bump for the pending Carlos Santana debate.

Watching Santana get carted off like that really hurt. As an Indians fan, hope is all we have. Santana is the centerpiece of our entire rebuilding process. I hope he is ok.

All of that being said, he had his leg in a compromising position. Kalish went in hard, as he is supposed to do. I don't blame Kalish.

[stevew]

gotta feel for Cleveland. I figure something bad will happen to Cribbs now. And the new Kid CuDi album will suck.

[Butter]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

I'd like to see him get at least a start in each OF position per week.

He should replace Gomes as the full-time starter, IMO, and the Reds need to bring Dickerson back up to platoon with Stubbs in CF.

Gomes had the hot May and all, but he has regressed to his mean and playing him now is not really getting us anywhere.

I mean the guy was hitting something like .600 with RISP at one point, you can't expect to keep that up forever.

[Dr. Sak]

Ouch?

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/4...at-he-deserved

[samifan24]

Originally Posted by Dr. Sak

Ouch?

Cleveland Indians Catcher Carlos Santana Got What He Deserved | Bleacher Report

Classy

[rowech]

Originally Posted by Dr. Sak

Ouch?

Cleveland Indians Catcher Carlos Santana Got What He Deserved | Bleacher Report

Tend to agree. The form on that entire play was awful. He didn't "deserve" to get hurt but he sure put himself in a position to get hurt.

[Swaggs]

Hah... thought this was funny. From Ryan Doumit's baseball reference sponsor:

An Anonymous Supporter sponsor(s) this page.

Even though it's his position, let's be real; calling Doumit a "catcher" is like calling diarrhea "constipation"

You can sponsor a page.
Page Expires: 2010-12-28 Alert Me!

[dawgfan]

Originally Posted by samifan24

Classy

Also correct. Maybe it seems like piling on, but the author is dead-on correct.

[Scoobz0202]

This isn't the way I wanted to see Janish get his time at short, but in my opinion, this injury may help the team more then hurt the team. (Reds, Orlando Cabrera hurt)

Apparently Francisco may be getting called up as well. We're about to see if my fantasy lineup (PLEASE ONLY BE ONLY TILL THIS CARDS SERIES VOTTO!) actually works. Well, my fantasy defense. Baker will fuck the lineup all up.

Read on Reds Reporter that the Cards are going with a six man rotation this week? To set up a Carp-Wainwright-Garcia matchup for the Reds. Bring it pussies