The 2010 MLB Season Thread

[Swaggs]

The Octavio Dotel to the Dodgers deal is looking really good for the Pirates.

James McDonald made his third start and struck out six (two walks) and three hits in 7 IP. Andrew Lambo has a .904 OPS in AA and he just turned 22 a few days ago.

[larrymcg421]

Another Braves comeback!

[SackAttack]

Originally Posted by Swaggs

The Octavio Dotel to the Dodgers deal is looking really good for the Pirates.

James McDonald made his third start and struck out six (two walks) and three hits in 7 IP. Andrew Lambo has a .904 OPS in AA and he just turned 22 a few days ago.

Fuck Octavio Dotel, fuck Ned Colletti, but most of all, fuck Frank and Jamie McCourt. With a rusty jackhammer, by preference.

[Crapshoot]

Joe Torre's continuing abuse and general stupidity (see Bellasario's arm, see Matt Kemp, see Russel Martin, see journeymen obsession) also deserves credit from this Giants fan

[jbergey22]

Cliff Lee got beat up tonight. He has now given up 4 or more runs in 4 of his 8 starts for Texas. His record with the Rangers stands at 2-3 with a 3.44 ERA.

I'm not sure how much blame Id put on him however. He was pitching fine then was left in to get ripped apart in the 8th for some reason.

[SackAttack]

Originally Posted by Crapshoot

Joe Torre's continuing abuse and general stupidity (see Bellasario's arm, see Matt Kemp, see Russel Martin, see journeymen obsession) also deserves credit from this Giants fan

I'm not sure a fan of a Bruce Bochy-managed team has any business calling out other managers for "journeyman obsessions."

[Crapshoot]

Originally Posted by SackAttack

I'm not sure a fan of a Bruce Bochy-managed team has any business calling out other managers for "journeyman obsessions."

Hey Hey - no arguments at all there. But Joe Torre is a shitty manager who's getting shown up here - pissing off Matt Kemp, the obsession with Ronnie Belliar, the abuse of Bellasario's arm last year (visions of Scott Proctor) - tell me you don't see these as issues.

[MrBug708]

It's like worrying about a leak on the Titanic. Sure it's an issue, but at this point, is it really an issue?

[Crapshoot]

Right, lets be clear - given the choice of any NL West management, I'd pick the Padres (Hoyer and Black) - its not exactly a division full of brilliant minds (though Dan O' Dowd isn't bad, but Jim Tracy is... Jim Tracy).

[stevew]

This signing period crap needs to be streamlined. Looks like almost everyone that was likely to sign, did.

I feel for the college coaches. You get a whole bunch of stud recruits to sign with you, and then lose half of them it seems.

[MrBug708]

Zach Lee signs with the Dodgers in a rather surprising move.

Dylan Covey doesnt sign and will head to Florida State. He went to my old high school and I had assumed that he was headed to the pro's. Gotta go and talk to his coach to see why he turned down all that money for Florida State

[BishopMVP]

Covey was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes during his physical. Brewers were still willing to sign him but he and his family decided it was better to learn how to deal with the diabetes closer to home. Karston Whitson was the other big surprise not signing. LSU really got killed tonight - Red Sox alone signed Ranaudo, Cecchini and LeBlanc, plus Zach Lee was a huge surprise (and a huge number - $5.25m? really?) Bryce Harper ends up with $9.9m and a major league deal.

There has been talk of moving up the signing date by a month, but it probably won't happen until the renegotiation of the CBA after next season. The other speculation is that MLB will try to implement a hard slotting system (although I personally think it's a bad idea - how do you get 2-sport players to sign if they can't be offered more than a different draftee without that leverage.) The main problem now isn't even the date, it's the insistence of Bud Selig on having teams not announce overslot deals until the deadline. All it does is essentially cost those players 1 season of professional development.

[stevew]

I should add that I think that hard slotting is stupid. But I'd like to see the date move upwards. I suppose that a lot of pitchers would be shut down for the season anyways.

I'm just happy Neal got Allie and Taillon done. We need some arms.

[stevew]

Lee's deal is split over 5 years, as he's a "2 sport athlete."

[Tigercat]

Originally Posted by MrBug708

Zach Lee signs with the Dodgers in a rather surprising move.

He got top 5 pick money, 5-6 million dollar signing bonus. As an LSU football fan, it is tough to lose your QB of the future because the Dodgers wanted to save face. Which is definitely what this move looks like. He doesn't even have the best pitching talent of future LSU players drafted by the Dodgers this year. I think Lee's brightest future is in football, and it will be a tough bet for him to realize being worth that kinda money in a late 1st round pick. But in the end, his best future on the field might be in football, but his best future is taking 5-6 million in his pocket right now!

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by stevew

I should add that I think that hard slotting is stupid. But I'd like to see the date move upwards. I suppose that a lot of pitchers would be shut down for the season anyways.

I'm just happy Neal got Allie and Taillon done. We need some arms.

Pittsburgh's doing a decent job of spending money in the draft now. Tampa Bay showed it could be done, now hopefully some of that talent can matriculate up to the big club before McCutcheon and Alvarez start getting too expensive.

On a side note, I went to a wedding this weekend that held the reception at PNC Park. I thought Turner Park was a little nicer inside when I went to a wedding there, but I did really like the location of PNC. They'll probably never be a big market team, but I think if they can get even one .500+ season they could start drawing pretty well. (Not as much a fan of that location for the casino - walking distance of downtown, right next to bars and a football stadium? No way that ends well.)

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by Tigercat

He got top 5 pick money, 5-6 million dollar signing bonus. As an LSU football fan, it is tough to lose your QB of the future because the Dodgers wanted to save face. Which is definitely what this move looks like. He doesn't even have the best pitching talent of future LSU players drafted by the Dodgers this year. I think Lee's brightest future is in football, and it will be a tough bet for him to realize being worth that kinda money in a late 1st round pick. But in the end, his best future on the field might be in football, but his best future is taking 5-6 million in his pocket right now!

Yeah, $5 million is set for life money if you have competent financial advice, and you can always go back and play football in the future.

Kyle Parker signed with the Rockies, but only for $1.4m and he'll play QB this fall. He wanted $3m to give up football immediately.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by HiFiRevival

25 of the top 26 picks signed, 33 total. With 6 pitchers from last years draft at high A or above (including Stras and Storen) it's starting to look like Mike Rizzo is a drafting genius.

Drafting genius... or the system was devoid of talent. I'll be a lot more impressed if some lower picks do well at the MLB level, rather than sure-thing #1 overall picks. I also think "relationship with Boras" is overrated - offer the money (and major-league deals) and they'll sign.

[SackAttack]

I just really hope somebody in the Nats' system kicks Harper's ass up between his ears and tells him to knock it the fuck off with that eye black.

If you want to honor a wrestler, you should've joined the damn WWE.

[samifan24]

The Indians signed all 14 of their top picks and 20 of their top 23, an impressive haul. They signed top three picks Pomeranz, Washington and Wolters in seven minutes right before the deadline.

[JPhillips]

When the measure of success is how much money was spent over slot, the system is broken.

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by Crapshoot

(visions of Scott Proctor)

Don't forget Mike Jackson and Paul Quantrill!

[Poli]

I find getting excited about stats in rookie league baseball to be as entertaining as getting excited about 8th grade football team stats.

[Poli]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

When the measure of success is how much money was spent over slot, the system is broken.

Yep.

I must say, though, I am pleased with Washington. They draft the top kids in the past two draft knowing they might have problems signing them and get it done.

Pittsburgh and Kansas City: Please take notice.

I hate it when teams pass on talent due to concerns about signing the player.

[JPhillips]

With Harper I don't think there was ever a great risk of not getting a deal done. He skipped out on HS to get to the majors quicker. He was always going to sign as long as the deal was adequate.

btw- As far as I can tell from fans on multiple boards every team had a great draft this year. Imagine how great next year will be!

[stevew]

Poli

Take notice at the 30 plus million the Pirates have spent in 3 years.

[Ksyrup]

KC and Pittsburgh have been two of the biggest draft/international spenders (infrastructure and players) of the past 4-5 years. Yet another "small market teams refuse to spend money" myth from the media.

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by Poli

I hate it when teams pass on talent due to concerns about signing the player.

That's a complicated issue that's got more to do with an owner's relationship with Selig than small market/large market. Teams with a strong connection to Selig are less likely to piss him off by supporting his attempt at a slotting system, so they are pretty much hamstrung by that relationship in signing overslot players. I think the perception now is that any benefits of siding with Selig are not worth losing out on some of the talent that's out there.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

btw- As far as I can tell from fans on multiple boards every team had a great draft this year. Imagine how great next year will be!

I also love when 150 players are described as "first round talent"

[JPhillips]

In 2015 the Reds should be starting five Bob Gibsons and eight Ted Williamses. The only thing that will keep them from being the greatest dynasty ever is that every other team will have comparable talent.

[Swaggs]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

KC and Pittsburgh have been two of the biggest draft/international spenders (infrastructure and players) of the past 4-5 years. Yet another "small market teams refuse to spend money" myth from the media.

Pittsburgh's strategy under the new ownership/front office (in the past three years) has been very good, in my opinion. I'm not sure that they've always done the best job scouting the right players to receive in return for trades (they've seemed to grab a lot of former prospects that have fallen out of favor like Andy LaRoche, Lastings Milledge, Charlie Morton, Jeff Clement, Tim Alderson, etc. with some hits, but mostly misses), but I think their draft talent acquisition in that time has been very good. Guys like Taillon, Allie, and all the mid-round prep guys they paid overslot for last season may not develop, but I think they are making the right choice by trying it that way. College guys like Alvarez and Sanchez look like sure things to at least become legitimate MLB starters.

In the past, they seemed to always draft for the easily signable, but medium ceiling guy (Bullington, Benson, Moskos, and JVB come immediately to mind). And, when those guys don't reach their medium ceiling and become AAAA players, it feels worse than when a potential superstar fails but becomes a big league contributor.

[Poli]

Originally Posted by Swaggs

Pittsburgh's strategy under the new ownership/front office (in the past three years) has been very good, in my opinion.

In the past, they seemed to always draft for the easily signable, but medium ceiling guy (Bullington, Benson, Moskos, and JVB come immediately to mind). And, when those guys don't reach their medium ceiling and become AAAA players, it feels worse than when a potential superstar fails but becomes a big league contributor.

This is kind of where I'm going with Pittsburgh.

[Poli]

Originally Posted by stevew

Poli

Take notice at the 30 plus million the Pirates have spent in 3 years.

How does it compare to what other teams are spending? I'm guessing the Pirates have upped their "ante" in recent years, but is it comparable to other teams?

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

It is more than most other teams.

[Poli]

Well, sure, that I'd guess by selecting as high as they are. I guess where I'm going with that question is are they selecting players based on the talent or signability?

I ask because I know the Cardinals well enough to know they drafted Shelby Miller last year and he "fell" (at least according to them) because of signability. Same story from what I read about this year's guy, Zach Cox.

Rick Porcello comes to mind as well.

[Poli]

Potential dola: If they are signing the best guys out there like, for example, Washington...then good on them!

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

They signed Alvarez for $6M last year, so yeah they have started signing the best guys out there. They could probably spend more (drafting high a significant amount of their total outlay is in one player), but they're much better than they have been in years past. I'm not sure, if the same draft were held in today's climate, Porcello would have fallen so far.

[Scoobz0202]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

btw- As far as I can tell from fans on multiple boards every team had a great draft this year. Imagine how great next year will be!

Agreed.

The Reds are going to be so fucking awesome!

[Easy Mac]

Originally Posted by Easy Mac

She should have worn a shirt that showed more of her chest.

Also, she's sounds as dumb as a brick in the Wrigley Field wall.

just to follow up on the foul ball girl, she should have worn something like this:
hxxp://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/11/2010/08/sara_saco-3.jpg

[SackAttack]

Originally Posted by HiFiRevival

He said months ago that he wouldn't do that once he was in the pros.

I'm just sayin', if you're doing that before the pros, you're not really sending me happy signals as to where your mental state of readiness to be IN the pros is.

If he's going to knock it the fuck off, that's fantastic, however.

[Swaggs]

Originally Posted by Poli

How does it compare to what other teams are spending? I'm guessing the Pirates have upped their "ante" in recent years, but is it comparable to other teams?

Under the prior owner/GM, they took college righty Bryan Bullington #1 overall in 2002 and proclaimed him to be a future #3 or 4 starter at the major league level. I think the straw that broke the camel's back was in 2007, when they took college lefty Danny Moskos, whose upside was considered a lefty bullpen guy, with the #4 overall after catcher Matt Wieters (who has actually been somewhat of a disapointment so far), who was considered to be close to the majors and under consideration for #1 overall, fell due to signability concerns.

Guys like Alvarez and Taillon, who are represented by Boras and the Hendricks Bros, would probably not even have been on the draft board for the Pirates a few years ago.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by SackAttack

I'm just sayin', if you're doing that before the pros, you're not really sending me happy signals as to where your mental state of readiness to be IN the pros is.

If he's going to knock it the fuck off, that's fantastic, however.

I've heard from the message board people who stalk facebooks that his came off as pretty immature, but I'm not sure what people expect. He is only 17 after all. Which is why the Major League deal is kind of crazy - one injury setback or dely in development and he'll be an unfinished 21y/o on a major league roster. The only other player I can remember in that situation was Wily Mo Pena and it pretty much ruined his career - could have desperately used another season+ seeing curveballs every day in AAA.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by HiFiRevival

His option years don't run out until he's 22. He'll do instructional league and AFL this fall. Depending on AFL production he'll either start at low A or high A next season. I live less than 5 miles from the Nats high A team and would certainly be going to more games if he's here. That gives 4 full pro seasons for him to develop before they have to bring him up. That's the 2015 season at 22 before he has to be on the roster. 4-5 years is exactly the right timeframe for a top tier high school/JUCO player to develop.

I forgot they weren't starting the contract until next year. I agree that it's the right timeframe if all goes according to plan (and he may even try playing in the AFL this year), but a one year setback in the plan and things could get interesting - our best prospect had brain surgery.

#6 overall pick Barrett Loux (aTm/Diamondbacks) will be granted free agency September 1st. Reportedly had elbow and labrum issues during his physical. If they're going to radically change the draft, I think adding in physicals before the draft would be a good addition, even if most teams would perform their own afterwards.

In MLB discussion, Red Sox are playing the Angels again. Game 1 leads off with a matchup of two young pitchers outperforming their peripherals in Buchholz and Weaver. Weaver I've never been able to explain, Buchholz seems to have the stuff to have a much higher K-rate (and has had one in the past), but seems to be pitching to contact this year so he can go deeper - I'm guessing that K rate will jump again next year onward. We do get Pedroia back also, so hopefully that will spark the team.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by BishopMVP

In MLB discussion, Red Sox are playing the Angels again. Game 1 leads off with a matchup of two young pitchers outperforming their peripherals in Buchholz and Weaver. Weaver I've never been able to explain...

Maybe it's about time you stop trying to explain and just accept.

[bhlloy]

The situation with Barrett Loux is really rough. Kid was ready to sign the $2m contract but because the team can leave him unsigned and get the same pick back next year, there's no reason for them to take a risk on him. He'll be lucky to see a minor league deal with the stigma around him now. Not blaming the Dbacks, I wouldn't want my team to spend $2m on a guy who might be done either, but still very tough for a kid who thought he had something and then had it snatched away.

Mandatory physicals before the draft are a no brainer and a good step, but teams shouldn't be able to take a contract off the table and get the compensatory pick next year either. You shouldn't be compensated if you don't try and sign the player. Passan wrote a pretty good article on Y! Sports about this a few weeks back.