Intrigue in Tampa

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Rays call a 4:15 press conference for a "major baseball announcement."

I guess one way to figure this out is to see what other teams have 4:15 press conferences scheduled.

Wouldn't it be cool if we traded for David Price?

[Edgy MD]

Moving to Norfolk.

Firing Joe Maddon after uncovering some unseemly behavior.

Signed some Cuban supastar.

Started a regional sports network and/or signed a cooperative deal with Sheffield Wednesday or something corporate.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Looks like there was a seven-player deal with the Padres...

[ashie62]

Haven't seen anything yet but the Rays have 7 guys that could start the season as SP's...

[ashie62]

Per Rosenthal the Rays signed Grant Balfour....He must have passed somebody's physical...

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Padres trade was yesterday... speculation now is they signed Grant Balfour. But I mean, who cares about that?

I want a 15-player trade and a new stadium and stuff.

[Centerfield]

Topless cheerleaders.

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

Balfour. Really not a good name for a relief pitcher.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Best name for a pitcher since "Bob Walk".

[Frayed Knot]

Yeah, that 7-payer deal was yesterday and involved all minor leaguers and no big names among them.

I suspect this may be about Price. Read about speculation that the DBacks were interested and the fact that they were one of the finalists who missed out on Tanaka may have been a prod to step up whatever they were offering to TB.

[Benjamin Grimm]

So was this really about Grant Balfour?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Apparently it is. Lot's of talk about how awesome their bullpen is now and how much Balfour hates the Orioles for withdrawing a more expen$ive contract offer when the physical looked shaky.

[MFS62]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Best name for a pitcher since "Bob Walk".

And all those pitchers named "Homer".

Later

[Edgy MD]

Stupid, ridiculous hyperbolic headline of the day:

New York Mets Failure to Land Grant Balfour Exposes Huge Problem

[MFS62]

Stupid, ridiculous hyperbolic headline of the day: New York Mets Failure to Land Grant Balfour Exposes Huge Problem

The link send us to something that looks like Yahoo Sports on crack.
Indices, no info.
Do we have to guess the writer?
I'll take "Howard Magdall" for $100, Alex.

Later

[Edgy MD]

Broken link fixed, but you ain't missing much.

The writer is... some guy.

[Edgy MD]

You want intrigue, here's your intrigue:

Ken Rosenthal (citing multiple sources): Mets made higher offer to Balfour than Tampa.

Mike Puma (quoting a Mets source): Mets made lesser offer to Balfour than Tampa.

Adam Rubin (citing an "ultra-reliable" Mets source [you gonna take that, Puma?!]): Mets made the same offer to Balfour Tampa made.

That's DRAMA!

[ashie62]

You want DRAMA? Ashie fake tweets that the Mets are in discussions with the Rays re: David Price...The Rays are believed to be holding out for a catcher and a young sp... DArnaud and Montero

[Ceetar]

• Ken Rosenthal (citing multiple sources): Mets made higher offer to Balfour than Tampa.
  
  Mike Puma (quoting a Mets source): Mets made lesser offer to Balfour than Tampa.
  
  Adam Rubin (citing an "ultra-reliable" Mets source [you gonna take that, Puma?!]): Mets made the same offer to Balfour Tampa made.

That's DRAMA!

You want intrigue, here's your intrigue:

wtf? Is Rubin like well, I can't say they bid higher, and I can't say they bid lower, hmm.... and then he kinda mocks the contradictory reports.

[seawolf17]

Frayed Knot wrote: Yeah, that 7-payer deal was yesterday and involved all minor leaguers and no big names among them.

WRONG. One of those traded from SD to TB was single-A infielder AND FORMER STONY BROOK SEAWOLF Maxx Tissenbaum.

[Frayed Knot]

Oh, I didn't realize they were talking about THAT Maxx Tissenbaum

[metsmarathon]

Yeah the problem is the mets don't necessarily need a closer and the rays do.

[seawolf17]

Frayed Knot wrote: Oh, I didn't realize they were talking about THAT Maxx Tissenbaum

The second X is admittedly a little confusing.

[Edgy MD]

Ken Rosenthal (citing multiple sources): Mets made higher offer to Balfour than Tampa. Mike Puma (quoting a Mets source): Mets made lesser offer to Balfour than Tampa. Adam Rubin (citing an "ultra-reliable" Mets source [you gonna take that, Puma?!]): Mets made the same offer to Balfour Tampa made. That's DRAMA! You want intrigue, here's your intrigue: wtf? Is Rubin like well, I can't say they bid higher, and I can't say they bid lower, hmm.... and then he kinda mocks the contradictory reports.

I don't know where you're finding ambiguity. Rubin asserts what he asserts pretty clearly. I know you dislike the dude, but I'm not sure at all what you're reading.

[Edgy MD]

I really put those three posts up to be silly. I don't care which report is most accurate. Grant Balfour. Pfft.