Non Mets Off Season News

[Centerfield]

Ceetar wrote: bmfc1 wrote: Brandon Phillips to WSH. He'll have more opportunities to extend his Citi Field hitting streak. I like this move....for the Mets.

Why do you say that?

[Edgy MD]

Well, it doesn't matter, as the deal is reportedly off. Nats supposedly looking at Howie Kendrick now.

Daniel Murphy seeing a lack of affection.

[Frayed Knot]

Sounds like maybe Phillips wanted compensation -- probably in the form of an extension beyond the two years he has remaining on his deal -- for waiving his N-T rights.


As far as the Nats go, for a team that's already lost Ian Desmond, Yunel Escobar, and Dan Uggla out of the infield -- plus the likes of Doug Fister, Jordan Zimmermann, Denard Span, Craig Stammen, Matt Thorton, and Nate McLouth elsewhere -- they've got a lot of replacing to do and have so far just been nibbling around the edges (Ollie Perez, Logan Schaefer).

[seawolf17]

Aroldis Chapman to the MFYs, allegedly.

Stay classy, Yanx.

[Frayed Knot]

seawolf17 wrote: Aroldis Chapman to the MFYs, allegedly. Stay classy, Yanx.

For four prospects - no word yet on which four although the fact that Chapman is both damaged goods (from a pr viewpoint anyway) and can be a FA after the 2016 season implies that it's probably not for their top level guys.
This will basically give them a three-headed closer situation [Miller, Chapman, & Betances] which seems to be all the rage these days. It's hard to imagine that they'd trade for Chapman NOT to use him as the titular closer (assuming he's not arrested, indicted, or suspended of course) and there have been rumors all winter about Miller being traded to fix up things elsewhere so you figure it'll be Betances setting up for Chapman.



oe: "The team later announced that those minor leaguers will be RHP Caleb Cotham, RHP Rookie Davis, INF Eric Jagielo, and INF Tony Renda."
FK: Jagielo appears to be the only appealing prospect and even he's a bit of the way down the list for them.

[ashie62]

seawolf17 wrote: Aroldis Chapman to the MFYs, allegedly. Stay classy, Yanx.

Yes, for four minor leaguers, none close to the show, Chase Colton Rookie Davis etc.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Classy or not... it's pretty smart. Cynical, mebbe, yeah, but smart.

[Frayed Knot]

Battle of the AL East Bullpens:

	IP	ERA	WHiP	K/9	K/BB	SV
Andrew Miller	62	2.04	0.86	14.6	5.00	36
Dellin Betances	84	1.50	1.01	14.0	3.28	9
Aroldis Chapman	66	1.63	1.15	15.7	3.52	33
-----	---	---	---	---	---	---
Craig Kimbrel	59	2.58	0.91	13.2	3.95	39
Koji Uehara	40	2.23	0.92	10.5	5.22	25
Carson Smith	70	2.31	1.01	11.8	4.18	13

Those are the 2015 stats for the back-end of the bullpens for the Yanx and BoSox.
The only non-marquee name in there is Carson Smith, a second-year man the Sox got from Seattle last month in exchange for starter Wade Miley

So as if Yanx/Sawx games weren't long enough to begin with, next year's contests could feature the managers mixing and matching six different closers.

[Centerfield]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Classy or not... it's pretty smart. Cynical, mebbe, yeah, but smart.

Clearly not classy. But I guess it's smart. They're up there with KC now.

But does anyone know how long the suspension will be for the domestic violence? This one seems like a pretty severe case. I'd go 162 at him if I were Manfred.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Centerfield wrote: But does anyone know how long the suspension will be for the domestic violence? This one seems like a pretty severe case. I'd go 162 at him if I were Manfred.

Maybe MLB'll let Chapman buy his way out like they let Jeff Wilpon last year.

[Frayed Knot]

I don't believe there's a set number written down anywhere since 'domestic violence' can run the gamut from somewhat scary to serious felony and anywhere in between, so the commissioner has a lot of leeway on how he chooses to act although I suppose there's always a grievous process for the player if he and the union thinks the punishment is too extreme.
There are currently no charges being filed in this case as there were conflicting stories on exactly what went down and it'll be tougher to make a case for a lengthy suspension if charges never are sought.

Joel Sherman in the Post is guessing 10-25 and also points out that 40 or more would be enough to kill his FA qualification at the end of this season - which is something that might get the union's attention also.

[Edgy MD]

It's a big challenge for Marc Anthony.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Centerfield wrote: LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Classy or not... it's pretty smart. Cynical, mebbe, yeah, but smart. Clearly not classy. But I guess it's smart. They're up there with KC now.

Worked out real great when 09 Mets had Krod and Putz.

[batmagadanleadoff]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Centerfield wrote: LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Classy or not... it's pretty smart. Cynical, mebbe, yeah, but smart. Clearly not classy. But I guess it's smart. They're up there with KC now. Worked out real great when 09 Mets had Krod and Putz.

The thing to do is to get the reliever after he terrorizes his girlfriend, not before. That's where the Mets fucked up with K-Rod. But not Milwaukee. And Putz, well he's no wife-beater as far as I know so the Mets screwed that one up as well.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Frayed Knot wrote: There are currently no charges being filed in this case as there were conflicting stories on exactly what went down and it'll be tougher to make a case for a lengthy suspension if charges never are sought.

No surprise here as everyone involved first hand seems to have done everything possible to keep the incident from ever getting out. It's funny how MLB decided to do nothing while the legal process played out in Jeff Wilpon's case, probably knowing all along that there was a high probability that the matter would settle before the courts got involved. Heck, I'd bet anything that privately, the commish told Jeff that he better settle that case so that nothing would escalate and the commish's hand wouldn't be forced. Of course the the legal process never played out because Jeff essentially paid for the legal system to go away. He may be as guilty as sin. Or as liable as sin.

I know ... one's a crime and the other's a civil matter. But I don't think those differences are meaningful in determining the proper approach baseball should take.

[MFS62]

I can just hear Suzyn now:
"Oh my GAWD, John. That pitch was ONE HUNDRED miles per hour. And she still managed to dodge it."

Later

[Edgy MD]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: I know ... one's a crime and the other's a civil matter. But I don't think those differences are meaningful in determining the proper approach baseball should take.

Is the difference between employment discrimination and aggravated assault meaningful?

[batmagadanleadoff]

Edgy MD wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: I know ... one's a crime and the other's a civil matter. But I don't think those differences are meaningful in determining the proper approach baseball should take. Is the difference between employment discrimination and aggravated assault meaningful?

You can find differences anywhere. But I don't think that one act (Chapman's. Allegedly.) merits MLB involvement whether or not there's legal intervention while in the other (the Jeff Affair) MLB does nothing under the premise (bullshit story) that MLB shouldn't interfere with the legal process. Knowing all along that Jeff was likely gonna essentially pay so that the courts wouldn't involve themselves. I guess MLB has different standards depending on whether the alleged wrongdoer is a player (labor) or an owner (management).



Or whether the owner's a Wilpon or a McCourt.

Look, I'm just ranting a little. Baseball's still an old boys club run like a college fraternity. It protects its own and applies the rules inconsistently whenever it sees fit. What I was getting at is that MLB should've investigated the Castergine matter. Not that I'm surprised that it looked the other way and whitewashed whatever was made public.

[Edgy MD]

Stephen Drew to the Nats. One year. Three mills.

I just hope he can give them everything he gave the Yankees the last two years.

[Centerfield]

Frayed Knot wrote: I don't believe there's a set number written down anywhere since 'domestic violence' can run the gamut from somewhat scary to serious felony and anywhere in between, so the commissioner has a lot of leeway on how he chooses to act although I suppose there's always a grievous process for the player if he and the union thinks the punishment is too extreme. There are currently no charges being filed in this case as there were conflicting stories on exactly what went down and it'll be tougher to make a case for a lengthy suspension if charges never are sought. Joel Sherman in the Post is guessing 10-25 and also points out that 40 or more would be enough to kill his FA qualification at the end of this season - which is something that might get the union's attention also.

Yankee fans are downright giddy over this move. Nice to see how much "pride" and "class" and the "Yankee Way" matters when a guy can bring it at 100 MPH.

Reports are that he threatened his girlfriend with a loaded gun and fired shots. To me, this is much closer to "serious felony".

Good news is that if he gets charged with a serious felony before ever throwing a pitch, I think this immediately qualifies him for "True Yankee".

[nymr83]

Edgy MD wrote: Stephen Drew to the Nats. One year. Three mills. I just hope he can give them everything he gave the Yankees the last two years.

I actually like this deal. dirt cheap for anyone past arbitration age. what if he somehow finds even part of the skills he had 3-4 years ago? he isn't that old yet. they can still cut him in a heartbeat if he sucks

[Edgy MD]

Yeah, well, I can still hope.

I'm guessing he turns into the new Lombardozzi. The guy who OPSes .600 (which isn't as non-viable as it used to be) and stays on the roster all year by playing all over the diamond.

[Frayed Knot]

Plus look at his likely role(s): back-up/insurance policy for Trea Turner at SS and a sub for Murph at late-inning defense.
They don't need him to be good, just decent.

[MFS62]

Scott Kasmir to the Los Angeles NL team.
3 years.
Didn't hear the terms.

OE- 3 yrs, $48 million

Later

[Frayed Knot]

That Kazmir deal contains the currently popular opt-out -- although this one is after just one season so he could be a FA all over again next winter.
It also potentially gives the Dodgers an all-lefty starting staff: Kazmir, Kershaw, Alex Wood, Brett Anderson, and, if recovered from surgery in time, Hyun-Jin Ryu


- the 1983 Yanquis have the record 127 games started by LHPs: Shane Rawley (33), Ron Guidry (31), Dave Righetti (31), Bob Shirley (17), Ray Fontenot (15). Oddly they got less than 40 IP that season out of LH relievers
- In 2008 Oakland started 19 consecutive games by LHPs although that was late in the season when some injuries cropped up.
- this past season the White Sox had exactly 2/3 (108) of their game-starts from southpaws

[nymr83]

where are you getting those numbers (other than thinking of teams that had lots of lefties and looking them up one at a time)

[Frayed Knot]

Nymr83 wrote: where are you getting those numbers (other than thinking of teams that had lots of lefties and looking them up one at a time)

Made em up!! ... same as I do with all my "facts" around here.

Actually they were in a short article on MLB.com about the Kazmir signing.
The only thing I looked up on my own were who the LHPs were who made all those starts for the '83 Yanx. I obviously knew Righetti & Guidry but wouldn't have come up with the others no matter how much time I was given.

[Edgy MD]

Wonder if that lefty party in LA is going to lead to the Giants dialing 1-800-CESPEDES.

[Centerfield]

Doesn't Cespedes have reverse splits? Or did I make that up?

[Edgy MD]

He does. Or, at least he did last season. It has been more like even over the course of his career.

But it's still an appealing prospect I think. Sometimes, the opposite-side batter strategy gives you an advantage not because of your batter's particular acumen against the opposite hand, but merely because it neutralizes the opposition's particular acumen against the same-side hand.

Anyhow, "CESPEDES" (or more correctly, CÉSPEDES) has eight letters, so his hotline would more likely be some contraction like "1-800-CSPEDES" or the like.