Frayed Knot

Not only did the deal fall through but the day ended with the Angels simply declining the option they held on Haren making him a free agent. The team took the $3.5mil buyout rather than go with the $15.5mil option or with what may have been available on the trade market. With Ervin Santana gone and FAs Haren & Greinke on the open market, the Angels have shaved a ton of money off their 2013 payroll (probably $40 million worth + they're declining the option on Toriiiii Hunter) but also now need to restock most of their rotation.

Yanx make FA-qualifying offers ($13.3 mil) to Rafael Soriano, and Swisher, or Kuroda. Swisher and Soriano are expected to decline and seek long-term deal while the soon to be 38 y/o Kuroda might accept the one-year contract. By offering the deals the Yanx can receive compensation if any of those players sign as a FA elsewhere.

Vic Sage wrote: Vic is lowest on Tejada, highest on Pelfrey I've a bunch of adjustments Noted. Anyone who decides to make changes should either: a) put up a new post with your new list or let us know that you've edited your old post so the changes aren't missed in the tabulating

I didn't realize the big switch-over was last night (I guess I assumed that it had already happened) so, when I turned on the radio briefly a bit before midnight, I couldn't figure out what Waldman was doing schmoozing with Schmoozer. I kept it on for a minute thinking there may be some breaking Yanqui news (perhaps something Suzyn picked up via pillow talk with Hank Steinbrenner) but when they just seemed to be joking about the good ol' days I clicked it off. Now I feel turrible about missing out on such a piece of momentous history.

SteveJRogers wrote: Were the 4 extra wins THAT much bigger of a deal back then? Yes, that was a big part of it. Also 40 extra innings pitched and half the number of walks. And with Seaver only besting Jenkins by 0.1 in WAR that season many voters probably felt it OK to simply discount that difference although I don't seem to remember any writers specifically citing that as their reason.

And another ex-catcher graduates to manager. This time in Florida TEAMMANAGERSTATUSUPDATESBRAVESFredi GonzalezSigned thru 2013 + 2014 optionMARLINSOzzie GuillenSigned thru 2015 - Fired 10/23Mike Redmond hired on a 3-year contract METSTerry CollinsSigned thru 2012 + 2013 optionOption picked up for 2013PHILLIESCharlie ManuelSigned thru 2013NATIONALSDavey JohnsonSigned thru 2013CUBSDale SveumSigned thru 2014REDSDusty BakerSigned thru 2012Extended thru 2014BREWERSRon RoenickeSigned thru 2014 + 2015 optionPIRATESClint HurdleSigned thru 2013CARDINALSMike MathenySigned thru 2013 + 2014 optionDIAMONDBACKSKirk GibsonSigned thru 2014 + �15 & �16 optionsROCKIESJim TracySigned thru 2013 - Resigned 10/7DODGERSDon MattinglySigned thru 2013PADRESBud BlackSigned thru 2013 + options for �14 + �15GIANTSBruce BochySigned thru 2013 + option for �14ORIOLESBuck ShowalterSigned thru 2013RED SOXBobby ValentineSigned thru 2013 - Fired Oct 2012Hired John Farrell away from Toronto - signed thru 2016YANKEESJoe GirardiSigned thru 2013RAYSJoe MaddonSigned thru 2015BLUE JAYSJohn FarrellSigned thru 2013 - Had his rights traded to BostonWHITE SOXRobin VenturaSigned thru 2014INDIANSManny Acta=#FF0000]Fired Sept 2012Hired Terry Francona - signed thru 2016TIGERSJim LeylandSigned thru 2012Extended thru 2013ROYALSNed YostClub option for 2013TWINSRon GardernhireSigned thru 2013ANGELSMike SciosciaSigned thru 2018ATHLETICSBob MelvinSigned thru 2014MARINERSEric WedgeSigned thru 2013RANGERSRon WashingtonSigned thru 2014ASTROSBrad Mills=#FF0000]Fired in AugustBo Porter hired for 2013 - ?? Mike Redmond is one of those guys where, I know the name, but even though he played for 13 seasons in the majors and as recently ago as 2010, there's nothing in particular I remember about him. The good thing about him getting a 3-year deal is that the Marlins will finish paying for him right at the same time they finish paying for Ozzie. Looks like we're just waiting on the Rockies and Blue Jays at this point and that'll be the last of the red ink for this winter.

As compared to the (still emerging) consensus: Swan is low on not only Duda but also Nieuwenhuis (clearly he hates lefty-swinging OFers) and also Hefner who he left off the top-30 entirely. He's higher than most for Thole and for relievers Hampson & Carson who got their only points from his ballot. JCL is low not just on Johan but on starters in general (Gee & Young included) while higher than most on relievers and backup infielders FK balances things out by going low on those same backups (Turner & Cedeno) and is highest on Frank-Frank Monk goes high on fill-in starters Batista & Hefner, but low on relievers like Rauch & Byrdak Vic is lowest on Tejada, highest on Pelfrey Not that any of this means you need to change your votes in some sort of conformity ritual. Merely pointing out the bigger variations for entertainment purposes only, or as places to either re-check your initial impressions and/or dig in your heels and argue your case.

Edgy DC wrote: Ah, don't indulge Yankee fatalism. It's not that guys in decline suddenly get good when the Yankees sign them Well sure they do, because the ones that don't are ... wait for it ... not true yanquis!!!!

Yeah, that would be the team that beat them in spite of Valverde, not because of him. Soriano landing in Valverde's spot on the roster is a lot more likely than the other way around. Soriano's agent btw, one S. Boras, is reportedly telling the Yanx that he can get 4yrs/$60 for his client. Now we all know that young Scotty has shown a knack for extracting money from teams often at rates beyond what common sense would dictate. We also know that he's been known to throw some wild numbers in the air at times so his claim remains to be seen (I'm betting the under). What will shirley happen is that the rejection by Soriano of his $14mil option allows the Yanx to put in the $13.3mil qualifying offer which would put Soriano into the category of FAs that would require a compensation pick to sign, something that would figure to reduce his attractiveness on the open market particularly as that pool of players will be much smaller this year as compared to the recent past.

G-Fafif wrote: In Mo� Better Blues, a 1990 feature ... Spike Lee�s character, Giant, bets on the Pirates to sweep the Mets a doubleheader because �the Mets need to get some more black ballplayers.� If I recall correctly the character of the bookie in that film was named Eli from Westchester.

Angels rumored to be looking to deal pitcher Dan Haren and his $15.5 option for 2013. No rumor at all in that they did pick up their $13mil option on RHP Ervin Santana and dealt him (along with a chunk of that bill) to the Royals for a minor league pitcher.

Edgy DC wrote: Is the difference between him and, say, Bobby Parnell that vast? No, but the Yanquis don't operate on the same sort of logic as the rest of the league. Remember this is the crew that signed Soriano to a 3/35 deal in the first place (over the objections of their GM) strictly for the purpose of being a set-up man and insurance against Mariano getting old before his contract ended. As it turns out they didn't lose a step at the end of games this season after MR screwed up his knee in early May and may have lost the division without him or would have been forced to make a more desperate in-season move. As it stands now they'll make some kind of move to replace him and if Rivera doesn't come back they're suddenly looking at David Robertson as the closer rather than as the 7th inning man. I think they believed he was the closer of the future two years ago but some of the shine came off him in 2012.

Raphael Soriano opts out of the $14mil option he had for the 2013 season with the Yanx, freeing him up to negotiate elsewhere (including with the Yanx). A somewhat risky move for him in that it'll be tough to match that $14/year even if it does open up the possibility of a multi-year deal coming off his excellent 2012. You wonder if he's doing this because he believes Mariano [u:3uwljedv]Won't[/u:3uwljedv] come back -- thus giving him some pretty big leverage in negotiations in the Bronx and, in turn, elsewhere as well ... or if he's doing this because he believes that Mariano Will come back -- knowing that he'd be demoted back to set-up man even though a ridiculously highly-paid one?

Vic Sage wrote: 1B -- LaRoche (Wash) & Teixeira (NYY): both are legit gloves who didn't win it with their bats this year, as both get it over some superior hitters. 2B -- Barney (CHC) & Cano (NYY): i know nothing about Barney, but Brandon Phillips appears to have lost some range and i'm not sure Hill ever had any, so good for Barney. Cano? a joke, i think. won it with his bat. SS -- Rollins (Phi) & Hardy (Bal): I've long thought Hardy a great glove, but Rollins? He lost it years ago. That's a total joke. 3B -- Headley (SD) & Beltre (Tex): These seem legit to me, even if it was Mr. Wright's best year in a while. LF -- Gonzalez (Col) & Gordon (KC): I would've gone with Braun and Jennings, but i can't argue. CF -- McCutcheon (Pitt) & Jones (Bal): Is this the beginning of the anti-SABR backlash against Trout? McCutcheon is great. RF -- Heyward (Atl) & Reddick (Oak): Is Heyward all that and a bag of chips? Not with his glove he ain't. I'd take Bruce's cannon-shot arm. Reddick? I don't know. He seems like a solid all-around play P -- Buehrle (Fla) & Hellickson (TB)/Peavey(CWS): It seems to me this award would favor the junkballers who pitch to contact, so i don't take it all that seriously. LaRoche had a great offensive year to go with his usual steady defense, and with Votto missing large chunks of time and Pujols & Fielder moved to the AL he probably was among the best hitting 1st sackers this year also. I was reading something this summer about Barney which was arguing for his season to be included among the best defensively by a 2B evah!! I haven't seen him enough to argue for or against but the author was pretty certain. Cano is good, but his lackadaisical style annoys folks and looks that much worse when he does make mistakes as in the playoffs this year. Suddenly his 'coolest guy in the room' act wasn't as attractive to MFY fans as before. Anti-SABR/Trout? I dunno, this is managers & coaches voting remember, not media. Plus Jones is real good. Under the old 'three OFers' method they'd both win but I think we all prefer this version better even if one of those guys has to lose. Heyward seems more the type to me who can simply out-run any mistakes. Bruce has the better arm but is slower and might be more erratic. Based on small eye-samples plus word-of-mouth rep, Reddick was most deserving.

C -- Molina (StL) & Weiters (Bal) 1B -- LaRoche (Wash) & Teixeira (NYY) 2B -- Barney (CHC) & Cano (NYY) SS -- Rollins (Phi) & Hardy (Bal) 3B -- Headley (SD) & Beltre (Tex) LF -- Gonzalez (Col) & Gordon (KC) CF -- McCutcheon (Pitt) & Jones (Bal) RF -- Heyward (Atl) & Reddick (Oak) P -- Buehrle (Fla) & Hellickson (TB)/Peavey(CWS) tie Hardy, Reddick, Hellickson, Peavey, LaRoche, Barney, Headley, McCutcheon & Heyward are first-time winners

Book-keeping procedures really now that the deadlines for such stuff is only three days away. Options are being picked up (or, in some cases, declined) all over baseball this week. Nothing surprising certainly as they weren't going to lose either guy for nothing even though some I'm sure were hoping to see at least a Wright extension announced within this period. Maybe it means that such talks aren't proceeding as quickly as hoped but that's pure speculation at this point.

So is the Jerry Manual talk real or just to satisfy quota interviews? I'm betting on the latter. And it turns out that at least getting to the WS is good enough to net one-year extensions for Jim Leyland and all his coaches in Detroit. TEAMMANAGERSTATUSUPDATESBRAVESFredi GonzalezSigned thru 2013 + 2014 optionMARLINSOzzie GuillenSigned thru 2015 - Fired 10/23 METSTerry CollinsSigned thru 2012 + 2013 optionOption picked up for 2013PHILLIESCharlie ManuelSigned thru 2013NATIONALSDavey JohnsonSigned thru 2013CUBSDale SveumSigned thru 2014REDSDusty BakerSigned thru 2012Extended thru 2014BREWERSRon RoenickeSigned thru 2014 + 2015 optionPIRATESClint HurdleSigned thru 2013CARDINALSMike MathenySigned thru 2013 + 2014 optionDIAMONDBACKSKirk GibsonSigned thru 2014 + �15 & �16 optionsROCKIESJim TracySigned thru 2013 - Resigned 10/7DODGERSDon MattinglySigned thru 2013PADRESBud BlackSigned thru 2013 + options for �14 + �15GIANTSBruce BochySigned thru 2013 + option for �14ORIOLESBuck ShowalterSigned thru 2013RED SOXBobby ValentineSigned thru 2013 - Fired Oct 2012Hired John Farrell away from Toronto - signed thru 2016YANKEESJoe GirardiSigned thru 2013RAYSJoe MaddonSigned thru 2015BLUE JAYSJohn FarrellSigned thru 2013 - Had his rights traded to BostonWHITE SOXRobin VenturaSigned thru 2014INDIANSManny Acta=#FF0000]Fired Sept 2012Hired Terry Francona - signed thru 2016TIGERSJim LeylandSigned thru 2012Extended thru 2013ROYALSNed YostClub option for 2013TWINSRon GardernhireSigned thru 2013ANGELSMike SciosciaSigned thru 2018ATHLETICSBob MelvinSigned thru 2014MARINERSEric WedgeSigned thru 2013RANGERSRon WashingtonSigned thru 2014ASTROSBrad Mills=#FF0000]Fired in AugustBo Porter hired for 2013 - ??

I remember, as part of the media's ongoing attempt to "fix" baseball, someone proposing just that a bunch of years ago. They (it was probably S.I.) had the lavish ceremony taking place in Las Vegas rather than Radio City but the concept was the same. The biggest problem I can see would be getting the players to actually show up. Between the end of a long season, winter ball, and the scattered corners of the globe to where the players tend to head for the off-season, there'd probably need to be an incentive to get them to such a gathering above and beyond simply the possibility of accepting an award.

Did you know that the candidates for GGs were narrowed down to a list of finalists prior to the winner being announced? Yeah, neither did I. But apparently that's the case although I have no idea if it's always been like this and I'm just finding out now or if this is some new idea. It's also not entirely clear if the votes cast (by managers and coaches) are just on the nominated players or if the winner is the result of their vote from all candidates and this idea of announcing the top three or four as "finalists" is merely MLB's way to try to build tension or something. Whatever the case, here is the list of finalists with the winners to be announced tonight (9:30 on ESPN2 of all places). Most positions have three nominees although in some there are four. Again, I have no idea why the difference ... ties maybe? Wright is the only NYM nominee (I have no problem with that) with SD's Chase Headley & Milwaukee's Aramis Ramirez as his competition. bmfc's best buddy Bob Carpenter (Nats TV announcer) is going to have a stroke when he finds out that Ryan Zimmerman didn't even make the cut as one of the final three among 3rd-sackers.

Exactly! Like supposing the Yanx had won the WS (I know, crazy huh, but humor me here) then Jeter could hit for team USA while they're at bat but also field his own ground ball for the pin-stripers and do the jump-throw thing just in time to nip himself at 1st base. The ump would call Jeter-runner safe due to the throw from Jeter-fielder pulling the 1st baseman off the bag, but the official scorer would credit Jeter-runner with the hit anyway which of course would be doubly great because it will spare Jeter-fielder from getting charged with the error.

PITCHERS: Dickey - No explanations needed Niese - Solid season and this time went wire to wire with it Santana - HIs final 5 horrid starts ruined all the stats from what had been a great 1st half Gee - Of the three half-season starters he had the best ERA & WHiP, just not as good a peak as Santana Young - A decent, even if not great, 20 starts, although that’s 16 more than we got last time. Parnell - The best of a bad pen even if he occasionally frustrated the hell out of me Harvey - 10 starts, gave up 3 runs or fewer in 9 of them. He’d win this if we were voting on future points. Rauch - Lousy early on, but the most dependable reliever over the 2nd half even though he was at times inexplicably limited to 1 and 2 batter stints Byrdak - As the only LHR for a long stretch he held up his end quite well while he was there Francisco - It’s tough for a full-time closer to finish this low. FF somehow managed. R. Ramirez - Spent most of the year being neither good enough to want to see come out of the pen nor bad enough to want off the team Edgin - More or less was the back half of Byrdak, just for a shorter span Hefner - A handful of good games but more bad than good Pelfrey - Good news: Nice three starts. Bad news: Only three of them Acosta - Gets points for being a workhorse but points off for being a bad one Batista - Appeared in 30 games, started 5, finished 7. That’s all I got Carson - 17 appearances, 13 innings, mixed results. McHugh - For one glorious start Familia - Promising looking, but not enough in this season to rank any higher Hampson - Actually pitched well when he was in there, but 10 innings over 13 appearances only gets you so far Schwinden - 3 games, 2 starts, and 13 runs allowed Beato - Started late, seemed tentative when he did pitch, then was traded for some reason Carrasco - No soup for you Egbert -- Olson -- Someone will need to refresh my memory as to who these guys were. I think BB-Ref is making them up. And all mashed together ... 30 - DICKEY 29 - WRIGHT 28 - NIESE 27 - DAVIS 26 - MURPHY 25 - SANTANA 24 - TEJADA 23 - HAIRSTON 22 - GEE 21 - YOUNG 20 - DUDA 19 - PARNELL 18 - HARVEY 17 - NIEUWENHUIS 16 - RAUCH 15 - BAXTER 14 - TORRES 13 - BYRDAK 12 - FRANCISCO 11 - VALDESPIN 10 - R.RAMIREZ 9 - THOLE 8 - EDGIN 7 - CEDENO 6 - HEFNER 5 - TURNER 4 - PELFREY 3 - SHOPPACH 2 - ACOSTA 1 - BAY

- End of World Series (aka: Now!!!!) Eligible players become Free Agents - Sixth day after WS -- First day for FA to sign with teams other than their own (a smaller exclusivity window than in previous years) - Twelfth day after WS -- Final day for players to accept arbitration from former club - November 12th -- RoY Awards Announced - November 13th -- MoY Awards - November 14th -- CY Awards - November 15th -- MVP Awards - November 15-18 -- Remaining World Baseball Classic Qualifiers - November 30 -- Final day for teams to tender contracts to players - December 3-6 -- Winter Meetings in Nashville, Tenn - December 6th -- Rule 5 Draft - March 2 -- World Baseball Classic begins - March 17-19 -- WBC Finals, ATT Park, San Francisco

Mets � Willets Point wrote: So when do they announce the Cy Young awards? November 14

Personally I've gotten as far as: DICKEY WRIGHT NIESE for my top three, but then get a bit lost after that and would love it if someone could talk me out of naming Ike Davis as the 4th best NYM player of 2012 Here's my thinking on the position players at the moment -- * Wright - 1st half MVP candidate had a rather ordinary 2nd half but still led the Mets in virtually everything (Hits, 2Bs, RBIs, RC, RC/27, and even SBs) * Davis - Seems odd to call him the 2nd best offensive player of 2012 after calling for his demotion early in the year. But between the power, the ridiculous knack for displaying that power with runners on base, and his high walk totals to somewhat negate the bad BA he overcomes his flaws better than the other flawed candidates * Murphy - Lots of doubles but virtually no HR power and surprisingly few walks. Was able to hang at 2nd base all year without totally embarrassiing himself, surprising several of us here and maybe on his own team too. * Tejada - Good BA + very good defense vs no power + missed a month * Hairston - Not a complete player by any means, but having half your hits go for extra-bases while filling in decently at all 3 OF positions has its value * Duda - Not enough power considering the downside of his defense and low BA * Baxter - More RC/G than anyone except for Wright. If he could only hit LHP (1-for-19 w/8 Ks) he might actually earn himself more ABs and do more damage. * Nieuwenhuis - An exciting start but then couldn’t adjust to pitchers’ adjustments * Torres - Ummmm, he played CF * Valdespin - A handful of huge moments * Thole - The sad part is that this was the best of our catching corps * Cedeno - Decent back-up all-around infielder * Turner - Similar to Cedeno but with a lesser glove * Shoppach - Not K-ing in 1/3 of your ABs would be a nice start toward improvement * Bay - There’s no hiding a .165 BA * Johnson - He was better than Nickeas * Nickeas - He was Nickeas Quintanilla, Lewis, Rottino, Lutz & Satin played too briefly to contemplate.

To paraphrase that old commercial for the place that apparently needs to update its brand/logo: It’s time to make the Rankings You should all know how this works at this point. Rank from 30 down to 1, based on actual contributions (as opposed to say expectations or per salary) as to who on this year’s squad added most or least to the team and be williing to discuss and/or defend your choices. Or simply join in on the banter. Just hashing out who was the season’s 2nd best position player could be a whole discussion just on its own. There were 47 fellows lucky enough to don the team colors this year from which to choose your personal top 30. 22 position players (listed in order of ABs) WRIGHT -- MURPHY -- DAVIS -- TEJADA -- DUDA TORRES -- HAIRSTON -- THOLE -- NIEUWENHUIS -- BAY BAXTER -- VALDESPIN -- CEDENO -- TURNER -- NICKEAS SHOPPACH -- QUINTANILLA -- JOHNSON -- ROTTINO -- LEWIS LUTZ -- SATIN And 27 pitchers (in order by IPs) DICKEY -- NIESE -- SANTANA -- YOUNG -- GEE HEFNER -- PARNELL -- RRAMIREZ -- HARVEY -- RAUCH ACOSTA -- BATISITA -- FRANCISCO -- BYRDAK -- EDGIN McHUGH -- ERANIREZ -- PELFREY -- MEJIA -- CARSON FAMILIA -- HAMPSON -- SCHWINDEN -- BEATO -- CARRASCO EGBERT -- OLSON