Frayed Knot

So this gives the Mets (though not always at the same time): - two Chris Youngs - two Bob Millers - two Bobby Jones - two Mike Marshalls - two Pedro Martinez and probably a few others that I'm missing.

Driving down the road with a diaper wearing goat in the backseat. Or, as Jose Canseco calls it, Tuesday.

Yeah, watching the Cardinals for a sustained stretch during the post-season I was surprised at how, ummm, how do I put this, 'Not Good' Jay looked defensively. I had thought he was a lot better based on SSS (small sample size) viewings, but he's not that fast, plays very deep in an attempt to compensate, and doesn't throw all that well.

BA reviews potential Rule 5 picks: Darrell Ceciliani, of, Mets -- Any team with a gap in its system in terms of outfield depth could be enticed to gamble on Ceciliani, a fourth-round pick in 2009 who has a solid base of skills but no carrying tool. The 23-year-old bats lefthanded and has a full season of experience at Double-A Binghamton, where he ranked second in the Eastern League with 31 stolen bases. Scouts project Ceciliani to have three average tools: hitting, running and fielding, and while his walk rate dried up at Double-A, he did hit .276/.328/.390 versus righthanders and could be a functional extra outfielder.

I guess that allows Trout to move back to CF where he goes from super-duper valuable to super-duper-pooper valuable. Freese certainly fell from grace in the eyes of StL. WS hero in 2011, was barely average since.

They knew in advance that Selig wasn't showing.

Lefty Specialist wrote: Wonder if that interview with Mike F was planned, too... Seeing as how, at the same time that ARod and one lawyer were talking with Mike F., another one of his lawyers was across town talking to Michael Kay on his talk show, I'm going to venture a 'Yes' on that.

That would be this one then. I had kind of lost track of him lately.

G-Fafif wrote: ... There was no precedent for Seaver to shatter. I can't imagine anybody prior to 1967 really mulled "who's the greatest Met ever?" By 1969, the answer was evident and it's never been remotely challenged. According to the never-questioned CPF list of greatest Mets ever, the answer(s) to who was the greatest prior to Seaver were Frank Thomas, Roger Craig, Jim Hickman, Ron Hunt, Ed Kranepool, and Cleon Jones. Seaver officially took over the post at the close of the 1970 season and has held it ever since. And while it's tough to imagine anyone meaning as much to a franchise as Seaver did to those early NYM years (one possible definition of "greatest") the advantage Wright looks like he's going to have is a much longer tenure in the uniform. Seaver was dealt away from the Mets at the age Wright will be in the middle of the 2015 season and then just had the more limited contributions during his one-year return before finishing out his career in various colored sox. By CPF Rankings standards, the end of the 2015 season is also the first shot Wright would have of passing Seaver on our list, although 2016 is more likely. Injuries and/or sucking could delay it later still, or a Prince Fielder type of trade could prevent him from ever getting there. As for even contemplating the idea of Harvey as top Met ... eh, get back to me in a decade or so and I might have some thoughts on the subject.

Ceetar wrote: ... but hell, if this is a big story that deserves regular attention, I'd like someone to at least investigate the details for me. Except that the details of a employer/employee discipline deserve to be kept confidential particularly when it comes to things like drug use. That's the way things were set up and I'm sure the players want it kept that way. If/when ARod takes this to an outside legal theatre (he's either threatening to sue, or already has sued, MLB) then details will be more likely to become public and folks who choose to sit out of the arbitration hearings (as in both Rodriguez & Selig) won't necessarily have that choice.

Ceetar wrote: I guess I'd have to read it, but presumably they have to furnish this "outside evidence" to someone? Otherwise this 65 games feels like a plea bargain type deal where you aren't actually found guilty. Sure they present the evidence to someone -- the player who is being accused. We, MLB, suspend you, Ryan Braun, because we have records showing beyond our doubt that you received illegal PEDs from whatisname at Biogenesis. Do you wish to contest the charges? No? ... OK, 65 games If he doesn't like the penalty, either the length of it or that it exists in the first place, he has the right to have the case heard by an independent arbitrator who will rule either in his favor, the league's favor, or somewhere in between. This process is usually "binding" (if you agree to the process you agree to live with the results) and the rules as to how it works are spelled out in the Basic Agreement between MLB and the union and apply to various grievances not just drug violations. That Braun chose not to contend them--especially seeing as how he wasn't shy about doing so in the past--should tell you that his side didn't think the evidence was either weak or non-existent. Also it was at this point that his denials ceased, his apologies started, and his public image building with fans and the previous sample collector commenced. The other 11 chose not to contest the evidence either. The idea that only MLB's campaign against Rodriguez is weak, made-up, grandstanding, whatever, would seem odd to say the least. Maybe the size of the penalty is over-reaching (I've thought so all along) and the fact that he's fighting this makes it more likely that details will leak so maybe we will get a peak under the hood eventually, but that's not the same as saying there's no evidence or that it's not incriminating or that it doesn't fit the drug agreement in the CBA.

Ceetar wrote: And how about an answer to this..if Braun fails a test this year, how many games is he suspended for? Is this part of the three strike policy or no? He's never been found guilty of failing a test. (or however you want to word that) Failing a test is not the only way of violating the league's PED ban. 'Outside evidence' (or however they specifically word it) can be evidence of guilt as well. So if Braun were to fail a test in the future, that would I guess qualify as strike #2 and a 100 game ban. Why he agreed to 65 games rather than fight for 50 is unknown to me but most likely falls into the category of judging that the details becoming public would be worse than the extra 15 games, especially as those extra games were to be essentially throw-away games at the end of a season in which he was rehabbing injuries anyway. If there were only 53 games left in the season or 71 the penalty probably would have been a 53 or 71 game suspension. Rodriguez obviously has different ideas on his matter although I don't claim to know who's right here. I personally think Selig is over-shooting but ARod, rather than negotiate for something between 50 & 211 or even 50 and no more, is holding out for ZERO with no compromises in between as he maintains a full Lance Armstrong denial stance.

Ceetar wrote: ... but arbitrarily going after the 'big guys' on possibly sketchy (or no) evidence is about putting forth an effort more than cleaning anything up. I don't believe that they're arbitrarily going after 'big guys'. This biogenesis stuff landed in their lap courtesy of a small Miami newspaper and they're simply prosecuting the names who got caught up in it. Fernando Martinez got snagged in the net the same way ARod & Braun did. If the evidence against Rodriguez is truly lacking then I hope that comes out, although count me among those who don't tend to believe the angle that Selig & MFY mgmt concocted this whole thing out of personal hatred coupled with an attempt to reign in big salaries. Remember also that Selig et al have A TON to lose in credibility if they swing and miss on this. The fact that the other dozen or so guys took their punishment without a fight (including Braun who took a longer punishment despite showing the willingness to fight) suggests that evidence is there. Could you imagine the shit-storm if they opted NOT to pursue this?

I'd be very surprised if this move was made as a reaction to his poor playoff performance. I think Tiger mgmt is too smart to be swayed* by such a small sample size even if it remains the go-to motive for many in the press. * I almost typed 'suede' there

metsguyinmichigan wrote: And, of interest to a very small portion of the Crane Pool Forum, the Tigers now have TWO University of Missouri players on their roster. Kinsler joins Max Scherzer. Go MIZZOU! Two Tigers on the Tigers as it were.

metirish wrote: I would love to see Selig in the witness seat though , fuck him too. Sure, but we wouldn't see it anyway (these arb hearings aren't generally open to the public) and there's still the whole matter of Team ARod pretending that there's something that would come out in the hearing if Bud were testifying that wouldn't come to light with Rob Manfred, Bud's #2 guy, as the point man for the league. This being insulted (or surprised) that Bud wasn't going to be forced to show (he never is part of these from what I understand) sounds more like an excuse to bolt the proceedings (thereby not testifying himself) than it does an actual legal complaint. That ARod embellishes it with his whole, 'Bud hates me/Bud hates New York' song and dance doesn't add to his credibility. Now if this ever got to a full blown legal case then Selig could be compelled to testify and it would become must-see theatre. But, again from what I hear, these kinds of cases generally don't go to trials because, short of evidence of flat-out perjury or a blatant disregard for the rules in the hearing, judges tend to look at cases like this and say: 'Hey, it was binding arbitration that your union and your employer agreed to ... I'm sorry you didn't like the result but, again, note the binding adjective here'.

It's certainly an interesting topic from a Milwaukee point of view: He was the face of THEIR franchise, then lied to THEM, disappointed THEIR fans, and THEY get out from under a very large contract, even if it's one that the player's performance is still earning. Depending on how they feel about all that they could be running the gamut between slightly interested to wildly interested (or anywhere in between) in using this moment, now that the suspension has run out but before he suits up with them again, to cut ties. I know a lot of Brewers fans that HATE Braun. Actually, I'd say the majority of them that I know do. Given the choice between watching a struggling team with Braun or watching a struggling team with the rookie OF Davis, I imagine most might lean towards Davis. I was thinking more about how Brewer mgmt might feel about the whole deal - although certainly their reading of how the fans feel would be part of that. I heard a quote this morning while flipping the radio dial (although I don't recall the specific source) which said the Brewers would love to deal him 'just to get away from his ego'. No doubt that Braun has an ego over and above all the PED stuff; Tim Kurkjian tells the story about how Braun, as a 1st year player in the minors, was telling everyone within earshot that he could hit .300 in the majors "right now". I suspect it's the rare MLer who doesn't have an ego even though there are certainly differences is how they're displayed and I wouldn't have a tough time believing that Braun's is a bit more out there than most.

I guess this solves the problem for Detroit of essentially having three guys going forward for two position: Miggy, Prince, and Carlos Martinez at 1B & DH -- one that everyone knew they were headed for the moment they took on Cabrera. It'll allow them to move Miggy back across the diamond (or he and Martinez can share 1B/DH duties), strengthen a weak position for them (Omar Infante was good at 2B in 2013 but is a FA), get out from under Prince's contract while he's still young, AND it makes room for their best prospect Nick Castellanos who had been mostly a 3B-man as an amateur and through the minors before being shifted to OF due to the overcrowding at the ML level. Not that Kinsler's contract is all that small itself (a minimum of $62 mil plus the $30mil sent over to even things out) plus he's two years older than Prince, but they can be done with him after 2017 instead of 2020 and you'd think Kinsler's body is a better bet to hold up better over time.

WHOA ... Didn't see THAT ONE coming!

I haven't been following the details recently of this whole mess, but ARod's imitation of Al Pacino today; THIS WHOLE TIAL IS OUT OF ORDER, followed by his lengthy post-outburst press statement, seemed pre-planned if you ask me. That Selig wasn't going to be there, the thing that is seemingly pissing Sir Alex off, had to nave been known by his team and the storming out and saying, to the arbitrators, ah, just do what you want but WE aren't going to put up with this was just designed to take the heat off of them and throw it to MLB's side. I caught only seconds of his visit w/Francesa but Rodriguez was playing the angry, innocent man role quite well. Having said all that, the one thing I've been saying all along here is that Selig can't afford to swing and miss on this one. If this 211 game suspension (still don't know how he came up with that number) gets wiped out or even if it's merely knocked down to the standard 50 (ARod is still technically a first offender here) then it's going to look like a victory for camp AR while Bud is going to look real weak on his way out the door.

It's certainly an interesting topic from a Milwaukee point of view: He was the face of THEIR franchise, then lied to THEM, disappointed THEIR fans, and THEY get out from under a very large contract, even if it's one that the player's performance is still earning. Depending on how they feel about all that they could be running the gamut between slightly interested to wildly interested (or anywhere in between) in using this moment, now that the suspension has run out but before he suits up with them again, to cut ties.

It's not that he cheated. It's that he told the fan base very emphatically that he did NOT cheat...and the fans backed him 100%. He took his suspension last season and has never really explained himself to fans. I don't even remember an apology...although there may have been one. If there was, it wasn't nearly enough to make up for the level of disappointment. As I recall the timeline: - at the first suspension he not only denied but promised explanations ... which never came - then after the getting off via the technicality he trashed the collector, implying personal prejudice along the way, and acted as if the whole thing vindicated him - he then got caught the very next year and agreed to a longer than dictated suspension (65 days vs 50) rather than allow the details to become more open by fighting it. IOW, a public airing wouldn't have made him look very good so why not take the entire year (Brewers weren't going anywhere anyway) rather than go through an awkward late-season return None of which means he should be shunned for life or anything. One would think this whole thing has made him at least a little bit humble and contrite and maybe a bit less douchy (although I wouldn't count on it) and his status probably subjects him to more frequent future testing. Certainly I wouldn't want the Mets to dismiss it all out of hand.

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Leah Niese said to have delivered Graylee Mae Niese as well this week. That's a lot of vowels!!

Baseball Prospectus lists Corey F. Hart on its list of Ten Free Agents Likely to be Overpaid this winter. Of course that's all kind of speculative since we don't know what each is going to get paid, but it's their guess. There are two ways to look at Corey Hart, the free agent. On the glass-half-full side, he's a slugger who has hit at least 20 homers in five of his last six seasons, including 25 in his last three healthy seasons. He's also a career .276 hitter, so it's not like he's solely a power threat. On the glass-half-empty side, he's a poor defensive outfielder coming off missing a full season due to microfracture surgery on his knee (read: he's only a realistic option at first base, and he's been a below average one thus far). He also has seen his contact rate drop each of his last five seasons and is coming off a career high strikeout rate. Oh, and all those high home run totals were aided by playing in one of the top parks for power--his career slugging percentage is .539 at Miller Park and .446 everywhere else. A one-year deal for Hart is reasonable for both sides, as it's a way for a team to minimize its risk and Hart to try and rehabilitate his value in order to get that One Last Big Contract. Unfortunately, there's probably a team or two out there willing to give him a multi-year deal, and with the amount of money likely to be involved, it's bound to be full of buyer's remorse by the time it's over. Life is tough for an tall, aging slugger and one team is about to find that out the hard way. Follow the link and see that they stick Granderson & Ellsbury on that list also.

Muffy's actual brother The announcers would mention every once in a while how David would always insist that his brother was going to be a way better player than him. But, while you wouldn't eliminate him as a future major leaguer based on his career to date, an average-ish season in the Midwest Lg at age 23 doesn't exactly put him on the fast-track.