Frayed Knot

I love him. He has real guns for arms and no park is to big for him. -- Yet he didn't make either of the two parks he played in this year (one favoring pitchers, the other decidedly NOT) look all that small His HR's at the HR derby down the line looked like video game laser shots. -- There's power, and then there's usable power. I'll give up the exhibition HRs in favor of real ones. I am not going to let numbers and stats dissuade me. -- You mean you're not going to let what actually happens on the field dissuade you? You might at least want to consider it. I don't think its' a coincidence that when he left the A's offense went poof. -- Take a middle of the lineup hitter out of any team and things will change. But it's still at least a partial coincidence He will bring the Mets a "big scary guy slugger" element I have not seen since Straw, Kong and early David. -- Or Duda right now ... or Granderson in an average season for him .. or even d'Arnaud on a per/AB basis A player should hit more than low-mid 20s before he earns a "Big scary slugger" moniker. I realize we're not in the 70/year era anymore, but a BSS should at least get more than that in three seasons. Do it -- It depends on the price Ugarte, on the price.

That's where I'm at at this point too - essentially rooting for whichever team lost the previous game or is behind at any particular moment.

seawolf17 wrote: BUT he's only 26. Turned 29 just last week according to BB-Ref -- DOB 10/18/95 -- plus, being Cuban, there's always the chance that he's a shade older than that even. So the guess would be that he is what he is at this point. And while his career is obviously a smaller sample than most 29 y/o ballplayers, it's that 1st year line of .292/.356/.505 which is looking more like the outlier than the norm now that he followed it up with two near identical seasons of essentially .250/.300/.450 (.251/.298/.446 to be exact). That's not a bad ballplayer, especially when the arm and GG nomination are mixed in, but it hardly suggests a great one, particularly for a corner OFer, or one that would jive with Sandy's OBP-loving philosophy.

Frayed Knot wrote: Posey, Sandoval, Pence in the 9th against, presumably, closer Holland. I have a feeling the Giants are going to get to him. Or he's going to retire the side 1-2-3 on 8 pitches ... either way.

Y'know, for all of Cepedes's rep and ASG/HR contest wins, he's a sub-.300 OBA guy over the past two seasons (1,200+ PAs) and just low/mid 20s in HRs. Not that I'm against trying to get him but I'm not going to move heaven & earth to do so - especially as he's only signed for one year (FA after 2015). I mean he was essentially Granderson this year with a few more XBHs plus a better arm, but also fewer walks and more outs.

Harold Reynolds is just discovering Now that NL/DH-less baseball is more fun and interesting? Posey, Sandoval, Pence in the 9th against, presumably, closer Holland. I have a feeling the Giants are going to get to him.

No.

Where/when was Maddon talking to 4 or 5 other teams?

Oh it's all speculation at this point so it's not like any POV is going to have facts backing it up - and of course no one is going to say that they're looking to dump their incumbent a year in advance. It's just that both the Mets & Cubs will have openings (or options to consider) 11 months from now, are expected to be teams on the rise with a sizable contingent of younger players, and both are larger markets that one would assume Maddon would want after the better part of a decade in Tampa. So while it may be speculation, it's least logical speculation even if a whole bunch of things will change between now and October 2015.

Joel Sherman already weighs in with a piece citing the Mets as #2 guess behind only the Cubs as the 2016 landing spot for Maddon. The logical assumption, the Dodgers on account of the Rays President landing there recently, seems content with Mattingly but that could change in a hurry if they're not in the mix next season with that massive payroll.

Well everyone looking for a manager now has one signed for 2015 except for the Twins, and it seems unlikely that Maddon threw over his long-time employer just to jump to a different low-budget team only one in worse shape and with worse weather (Maddon likes to bicycle to his home games and even travels w/a bike on the road). So this puts him in great shape to sit out a year (while letting various networks trip over each other to throw money at him in the meantime) and start sorting out offers for 2016 - at which point there might be an opening in Queens, NY TEAMMANAGERSIGNED THRUSTATUSMETSTerry Collins2015 + option for '16BRAVESFredi Gonzalez2015PHILLIESRyne Sandberg2016 + option for '17NATIONALSMatt Williams2015 + options for �16 + �17MARLINSMike Redmond2015Extended through 2017CARDINALSMike Matheny2017PIRATESClint Hurdle2017 + option for �18CUBSRick Renteria2016 + options for �17 + �18REDSBryan Price2016BREWERSRon Roenicke2015 + option for �16DODGERSDon Mattingly2016GIANTSBruce Bochy2016PADRESBud Black2015DBACKSKirk Gibson2014 -- Fired, Sept 2014Chip Hale hired for 2015-16ROCKIESWalt Weiss2016RED SOXJohn Farrell2016YANKEESJoe Girardi2017ORIOLESBuck Showalter2018BLUE JAYSJohn Gibbons2015 + option for �16RAYSJoe Maddon2015Mgr Opted out of contract's final yearTIGERSBrad Ausmus2016 + option for �17INDIANSTerry Francona2016ROYALSNed Yost2015TWINSRon Gardenhire2015Fired Sept �14WHITE SOXRobin Ventura2014ANGELSMike Scioscia2018RANGERSRon Washington2014 - Resigned Sept 2014Hired Jeff BanisterMARINERSLloyd McClendon201?ASTROSBo PorterFired Sept 2014AJ Hinch - Hired Sept 2014ATHLETICSBob Melvin2016

Complete Gold glove candidates list: [u:3sxcznzw]AMERICAN LEAGUE[/u:3sxcznzw] PITCHER: Mark Buehrle (Blue Jays), Felix Hernandez (Mariners), Dallas Keuchel (Astros) CATCHER: Alex Avila (Tigers), Yan Gomes (Indians), Salvador Perez (Royals) FIRST BASE: Miguel Cabrera (Tigers), Eric Hosmer (Royals), Albert Pujols (Angels) SECOND BASE: Robinson Cano (Mariners), Ian Kinsler (Tigers), Dustin Pedroia (Red Sox) THIRD BASE: Josh Donaldson (A's), Adrian Beltre (Rangers), Kyle Seager (Mariners) SHORTSTOP: Alcides Escobar (Royals), J.J. Hardy (Orioles), Alexei Ramirez (White Sox) LEFT FIELD: Michael Brantley (Indians), Yoenis Cespedes (Red Sox), Alex Gordon (Royals) CENTER FIELD: Jackie Bradley Jr. (Red Sox), Adam Eaton (White Sox), Adam Jones (Orioles) RIGHT FIELD: Kole Calhoun (Angels), Kevin Kiermaier (Rays), Nick Markakis (Orioles) [u:3sxcznzw]NATIONAL LEAGUE[/u:3sxcznzw] PITCHER: Zack Greinke (Dodgers), Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers), Adam Wainwright (Cardinals) CATCHER: Jonathan Lucroy (Brewers), Russell Martin (Pirates), Yadier Molina (Cardinals) FIRST BASE: Adrian Gonzalez (Dodgers), Adam LaRoche (Nationals), Justin Morneau (Rockies) SECOND BASE: DJ LeMahieu (Rockies), Brandon Phillips (Reds), Chase Utley (Phillies) THIRD BASE: Nolan Arenado (Rockies), Pablo Sandoval (Giants), Juan Uribe (Dodgers) SHORTSTOP: Zack Cozart (Reds), Adeiny Hechavarria (Marlins), Andrelton Simmons (Braves) LEFT FIELD: Starling Marte (Pirates), Justin Upton (Braves), Christian Yelich (Marlins) CENTER FIELD: Billy Hamilton (Reds), Juan Lagares (Mets), Denard Span (Nationals) RIGHT FIELD: Jason Heyward (Braves), Gerardo Parra (Brewers), Giancarlo Stanton (Marlins)

Span is quite good defensively and had a better year offensively - something which shouldn't matter but most think it does. I didn't see enough of Hamilton to make a fair judgement but in small doses he didn't seem to me to be an outstanding OK gloveman, more just a good one who happened to be ridiculously fast and therefore able to out-run his own mistakes and seemingly the ball itself at times. Lagares is the lone Mets finalist at his position. What, no Murphy?!?

The award is 75 percent based on input from NL managers and coaches and 25 percent based on defensive metrics. -- although which metrics and who determines them makes a difference. As many as seven personnel per team may vote for the award, but voters are prohibited from selecting someone from their own team. -- are bat boys included in those seven? Seems like a bit of an odd method to me. Plus, it's still a bit unclear as to whether the finalists are determined by the vote or whether some other method narrowed it down to three at each position and then the voting process whittles it down from there.

d'Kong76 wrote: I can't see a guy who managed to play only 49 games this year as someone I want to give a two year contract to? Is also just a year removed from a 500 AB season where he hit (a Coors-aided) .331/.389/.570 Yeah, you'd need to satisfy yourself that the 2014 injury problems weren't likely to linger. But he'd seem to work well is RF (moving Grandy to LF) for at least one season (particularly if semi-platooned with the likes of a Nieuwenhuis or MdD) plus, as mentioned, the occasional fill-in at 1B vs LHP. Could even play 3B in a pinch. And you just know it'll end up being a three or four year one. No thanks. Under some regimes I'd agree with this. But I think even those reluctant to give Sandy credit for much would have to give him points for the willingness to walk away from a price too high (or long) as opposed to those days when NYM mgmt would decide what they wanted first then agree to whatever the cost it took to get it no matter where they went. If he wants more than two years then go in a different direction.

"Because the Mets don't have enough of those." Like?

The only thing in sports that lasts longer then that 5 run half inning is a hockey post game show. Well, football pre-game shows often last longer than the game itself, but that's a whole 'nother category. In retrospect, between that 6th inning involving 5-runs, 8-baserunners, 7 pitchers plus a near brawl, added to the increased commercial time and the for-some-reason now required 7th inning stretch production, it's surprising that the game took only 3:25

5 days after end of World Series � Deadline for teams to make qualifying offer to eligible FAs 12 days after end of World Series � Deadline for FAs to accept or reject qualifying offers. Nov 10-12 � General managers� meetings, Phoenix Nov 10 � Rookies of the Year awarded Nov 11 - Managers of the Year Nov 12 - Cy Young Awards Nov 13 - Most Valuable Players Dec 2 � Final day for teams to offer 2015 contracts to unsigned players Dec 8-11 � Winter meetings, San Diego Jan 13 � Salary Arbitration filing Jan 16 � Salary arbitration figures exchanged Feb 1-21 � Salary arbitration hearings

Hunter Strickland: Not ready for prime time reliever. Also lesson 396 about how throwing 100 mph ain't everything.

Mets � Willets Point wrote: I'm irrationally irritated that there's a man in a Marlins' jersey sitting directly behind home plate. Somebody did a profile on that guy the other day. Seems that he's a Florida attorney who reasons that, with no wife and no kids, he has the money to go all over the place to sporting events ... so he does.

d'Kong76 wrote: 1. Giants 3B Pablo Sandoval has reached base in 24 consecutive postseason games, tied for fourth-longest streak behind Miguel Cabrera (31, 2011-13), Chase Utley (27, 2007-09) and Boog Powell (25, 1966-71). Wait, I thought Jeter held all post-season records!!

As Harold Reynolds went yapping merrily along about Escobar's failed 1st inning steal attempt--about how exciting it was and about what a positive affect it was for KC's game--do you suppose at any point he noticed that it cost them at least one run in that inning alone plus the ability to keep the frame moving for at least one more batter?

All true - Keith in particular got on him pretty good during a telecast this year for his bouts of lackadaisical play, particularly on defense. But he's also young and young players sometimes grow out of such habits. On the flip side he doesn't turn 25 until next spring, has a knowable and hardly outrageous contract set for the next five seasons ($44 mil/5 or $59/6), and already has 5 seasons mostly full seasons under his belt where he averaged just under 50 XBHs/per.

* Tough to call Addison Russell 'untouchable' - especially seeing as how he's already been touched (so to speak) and is now on a team that has several options at SS. The price for him will be really steep, but I'm betting Theo & co will listen. * Castro is certainly far from perfect, but nobody is and there are a number of positive things about him too.

If Posey doesn't make that out at home then I'm not sure Shields would have survived the 1st inning. By the time Morse came up it would have been 4-zip with 30+ pitches and only one batter retired - and at that point I think Yost would have at least had action in the pen.