Frayed Knot

Nasty -- the adjective du jour (along with filthy) that ballplayers and media use to describe hard-to-hit pitching.

="cooby"]I wish resigns and resigns didn't look so much alike. I get them mixed up all the time in my head. Bowden reigned in Washington after he was resigned but no more now that he's resigned.

Yes, you "heard it" at the top of this thread.

And now Johan will NOT return to NY on Monday because of the weather questions all up and down the east coast.

Saturday night brought news that the problem stems from a "strained triceps tendon" . Now, in Adam Rubin's blog for Sunday morning, comes first a report that they're going to send him to NY for tests ... followed by one where he threw 35 pitches off a mound and "felt fine". Monday is a team off-day so the trip to see the NY docs was apparently planned regardless of how today's throwing session went. And, again, all sides claim calmness and precaution rather than worry (as opposed to Gov. Patterson who - on WFAN Sat night - says he's "on the ledge") and Johan himself says he's miffed at reports that he won't be ready for opening day.

From A. Rubin's blog: Johan Santana says doctors told him it's the triceps tendon that is causing stiffness in his pitching elbow. With pitching coach Dan Warthen and manager Jerry Manuel already on the bus for Lakeland, Fla., Santana said he'll wait until Sunday to map out a plan for pitching. But it's clear he won't be in a Grapefruit League game for a while. Santana said he hopes to throw a light bullpen session on Sunday. He then wants to face hitters in a batting-practice-style setting two or three times before entering a game. With potentially two days rest in between each BP, we're possibly talking two weeks before a game appearance.

I heard he's dead but the team doesn't want to admit it!!!!

* Johan Santana scratched for the scheduled Tuesday start which was originally supposed to be Friday. Claims are that it's merely a precaution with Johan calling the elbow discomfort "just routine" * Bobby Kielty (HR on Friday) decides to abandon switch-hitting. His career RH splits are considerably better than his LH although facing same-side pitchers, particularly after not having done it for so long, is a whole 'nother ballgame * Mets sign LHP Ron Villone I thought this was a guy they should have looked at a couple years ago as a good middle-innings guy. He is now 39 and his walks took a huge jump last season (w/StL) so this ship may have passed

Radio/TV hosts (not just the likes of Francesa-Russo but their huge egos made them prime candidates) L-O-V-E saying how 'X' is avoiding them, turning any turn-down into a badge of honor: "Oh that guy wants no part of THIS show" . I heard about 5 minutes this afternoon and he was going on about the same clutch/not factor I was talking about above and I just didn't have the stomach.

Beltran on FAN re his lineup slot: "I don't care where I hit brother"

Real game against Cards this afternoon. Livan started with 2 scoreless but then Garcia walked a bunch and gave up 4 after the Mets loved me 3 times early.

1) I hope Jerry has full autonomy to decide the lineup on his own 2) I hope he decides to put Castillo up top The Francesa/Wright controversy (if there is one) most likely stems from the fact that Mike is one of the myriad of media folk who believe the clutch fairy, the theory that all players can be divided into either the clutch or unclutch variety and Wright's RISP numbers last year puts him in the UN category and therefore the Mets need players who are or they won't win. If that is indeed what Wright is mad at I can't really blame him although, in the long run, he'd be better off ignoring it.

="Centerfield":33hc15pz]Nice time for Omar to swoop in and steal him.[/quote:33hc15pz] But for what? If the key to snagging Manny is to offer him a 3rd year guaranteed I don't want to do that (and I'm positive the Mets don't either). metirish Feb 27 2009 10:01 AM ="Gwreck"]I'm rooting for the Dodgers here. From all accounts, they've offered fantastic offers, none of which Ramirez has accepted. I think their next public statement is to suggest that while they clearly want him on their team, he doesn't want to be there -- that they'll keep their offer open but need to prepare for the upcoming season and can't be bothered with a distraction like this. ] "We love Manny Ramirez," Dodgers owner Frank McCourt said, "and we want Manny back, but we feel we are negotiating against ourselves. When his agent finds those 'serious offers' from other clubs, we'll be happy to re-start the negotiations." Fman99 Feb 27 2009 10:01 AM I wonder if Ollie would've been doing the same thing had the Mets not upped from 3/30 to 3/36. DocTee Feb 27 2009 10:05 AM My guess: the Giants swoop in and deflate their division rivals and wrap up the West before the season begins. They have had a very nice offseason already and this would be the perfect way to wrap it up. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 27 2009 10:17 AM Perhaps he could make this a year of service: like Kane in "Kung Fu" (or Jules at the end of "Pulp Fiction," or Ricky Williams post-marijuana suspension), he could wander the earth, stopping wherever the wind blew him, or a scary right-handed bat could help make the world a better, clutchier place. Or, since Boras is involved, maybe a "Have Dreads, Will Travel" scenario? (If only this were the NBA, land of 10-day contracts.) 'Cause, you know, I don't think there's an f-ing way the Dodgers are ponying up significantly more than 25 mil a year. Nymr83 Feb 27 2009 12:17 PM hold firm, Dodgers. It is almost March 1st, I doubt there are many/any other teams out there who still have $25 mil left in ther budget for this year, much less the desire to commit multiple years in this economy to a player known to whine his way out of town when he gets unhappy. He'll end up a Dodger, and likely at the price they've offered, give or take a small amount so BorASS can save face. Centerfield Feb 27 2009 12:47 PM ="Frayed Knot":32cq35mr]="Centerfield":32cq35mr]Nice time for Omar to swoop in and steal him.[/quote:32cq35mr] But for what? If the key to snagging Manny is to offer him a 3rd year guaranteed I don't want to do that (and I'm positive the Mets don't either).[/quote:32cq35mr] Match the offer. It would offer them a way to save face by taking the same terms and claiming "We wanted to be in New York all along." Nymr83 Feb 27 2009 03:20 PM I would worry that matching the offer lets Boras/Ramirez use he Mets offer as leverage against LA with no actual intention of coming here. I wouldn't make the offer unless I thought it was going to be accepted, and even then I'd say to Boras (perhaps not publicly) that its a take it or leave it offer, we are under no circumstances going higher or dragging this out Vic Sage Mar 02 2009 08:58 AM there is no offer to match. LA pulled their latest "off the table" and are now insisting on dealing from scratch. I'm loving this. Rockin' Doc Mar 02 2009 09:05 AM This is turning into an interesting game of chicken. Both sides need the other, but neither wants to give in. I don't blame the Dodgers for not wishing to bid against themselves. I hope the Dodgers hold firm against Manny and Boras. Let Manny see how he likes watching from the sidelines with Bonds. If there is no contract, then there is no windfall pay day for Boras, so I still expect the two sides will eventually come to an agreement. Benjamin Grimm Mar 02 2009 09:09 AM I'd love it if Manny ended up as a Long Island Duck this year. Not that I give a rat's ass about the Ducks, but because of the big dose of humility that would come with it. I don't expect that to happen, of course, but I also have no idea what will happen. Probably some other team (other than the Dodgers or Mets, that is) will end up signing Manny to a one-year deal, perhaps for less than $20 million. Frayed Knot Mar 02 2009 09:12 AM Reading some crawl this morning (forget where) Boras is claiming that the Dodgers have not responded to team-Manny's last three proposals. Not sure if those were actual proposals or just something that exists in Scott's head. Nymr83 Mar 02 2009 01:31 PM My guess would be it was Borass repeating his original offer from November 3 more times. I am really rooting for Manny to be playing outside MLB right now. I wonder if anyone in Japan wants him? LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 02 2009 01:52 PM RE: Manny in Japan "Mann-u being Mann-u?" would make a FANTASTIC midwinter-doldrums video rental. Edgy DC Mar 04 2009 05:58 AM Reports have an agreement in principle of two years, $45 million with the Dodgers. Benjamin Grimm Mar 04 2009 07:32 AM Which is basically the offer that Manny rejected and that the Dodgers pulled off the table! metirish Mar 04 2009 08:13 AM New reports have different money angle Scott Boras Able To Get Manny Ramirez $20 Billion In Economic Stimulus Money ] WASHINGTON�After a series of closed-door talks, Scott Boras, the agent known for representing the highest-paid players in baseball, set another record for the game's largest contract when he finalized Manny Ramirez's $20 billion agreement with the United States federal government on Thursday. "Manny's .396 batting average last season with the Dodgers, as well as his playoff performance, proved that he is as important to this country as infrastructure projects, health care, and renewable energy development," Boras said during an interview, adding that Ramirez is especially satisfied with the indefinite length of the contract. "He's promised to cut 47 hours of antics this year and to make necessary attitude adjustments in order to remain solvent. Any criticism Manny receives for this contract is simply what comes with getting a huge amount of money from the government during a time of crisis." A clause in the contract states Ramirez could receive an additional $6 billion if he successfully saves the American auto industry. The Onion Frayed Knot Mar 04 2009 08:28 AM ="Benjamin Grimm"]Which is basically the offer that Manny rejected and that the Dodgers pulled off the table! All the back-and-forth has apparently been over different versions of the same 2@$45 deal. - One had the 2nd year at a club option - another put the option in Manny's court but deferred some of the cash - and the Manny/Boras camp has supposedly been making couter-offers although no one seems to know what they are. Then, of course, there are all those offers from the mystery teams to consider. seawolf17 Mar 04 2009 08:54 AM ="Frayed Knot"]Then, of course, there are all those offers from the mystery teams to consider. "I'm just saying we were in the mix." Edgy DC Mar 04 2009 08:57 AM Buddy looks a little more like an aging mob accountant every year. metirish Mar 04 2009 09:04 AM ="Edgy DC":wpmn8dqi]Buddy looks a little more like an aging mob accountant every year.[/quote:wpmn8dqi] True , he's got a bit of "Paulie Walnuts" in him.

Hose -- a somewhat out-dated slang for throwing arm; That right fielder has a great hose!

Manny rejects latest Dodger offer. Essentially it was the same 2/$45 deal he scoffed at before except this one put the 2nd year option in the player's hands rather than the club's. This way, iffin' he had a good year, he was free to fly the coop and search for a new deal maybe in a better economy ... but NOOOOOoooooo! If I'm the Dodgers now I counter with a lower offer.

Is it an "early Doors" IGT because that 'B' squad provides only a soft parade of hitters?

- 5th starter will be a question to be answered in ST. Doesn't feel pressured to bring along a younger guy there since most of the rest of the staff is already young. - too early to get a read on Fartinez. Needs to stay healthy and get more reps at minors - thinks Murphy will eventually hit for more power

- 3 more times on base for Castillo - staff allowed just 3 hits

w/Francesa - trying different lineups to "get guys going". Not necessarily married to any of these changes yet. - prefers an extra bat as opposed to a 12th pitcher - not concerned about the lack of LHPs in the pen since the late-inning/closer types are, virtually by definition, cross-over guys who shouldn't need constant matchup shuffling.

]Wieters is supposed to be the second coming of Piazza. More than one prospect tout has described Wieters' potential as a cross between Piazza's offense and Joe Mauer on defense. If he comes anywhere close to that he'll be a freakin moster. ]There is quite a difference in the top ten of both publications. Not really. Seven guys were on both Top-10s and the the exact order or a difference of a handful of spots matters very little. If anything Kevin Goldstein (BP's guy) seemed to be more willing to put recently drafted guys (Alvarez, Porcello, Posey) with little or no pro experience higher up based solely on their potential while BA showed a bit more caution.

A cutter -- slang for cut fastball, not a new pitch but mostly a modern term for a hard breaking pitch somewhere between a fastball and what is now called a slider. Probably close to what was originally called a slider. Not to be confused with a Cutter, a term for blue-collar townies living in or around Bloomington, Indiana circa 1979

I know that Castillo led off the game with another single - good sign. Also, Jerry batted Ollie 2nd in the order (and apparently intends to do so w/pitchers for a while) so that they'll all get at least one hitting/bunting situation in before their two/three innings are up.

BA Top-100 Prospects[/url:2m6vgxt0]: 1 - Wieters, Matt (C, Orioles) 2 - Price, David (LHP, Rays) 3 - Rasmus, Colby (OF, Cards) 4 - Hanson, Tommy (RHP, Braves) 5 - Heyward, Jason (OF, Braves) 6 - Snider, Travis (OF, Blue Jays) 7 - Anderson, Brett (LHP, A's) 8 - Maybin, Cameron (OF, Marlins) 9 - Bumgarner, Madison (LHP, Giants) 10 - Feliz, Neftali (RHP, Rangers) 30 - Martinez, Fernando 47 - Flores, Wilmer 77 - Niese, Jonathon 94 - Holt, Brad Baseball Prospectus[/url:2m6vgxt0] 1 - Matt Wieters (C, Orioles) 2 - David Price (LHP, Rays) 3 - Madison Bumgarner (LHP, Giants) 4 - Pedro Alvarez (3B, Pirates) 5 - Travis Snider (OF, Blue Jays) 6 - Neftali Feliz (RHP, Rangers) 7 - Rick Porcello (RHP, Tigers) 8 - Colby Rasmus (OF, Cardinals) 9 - Buster Posey (C, Giants) 10 - Jason Heyward (OF, Braves) 44 - Fernando Martinez (OF, Mets) 54 - Wilmer Flores (SS, Mets) 94 - Jefry Marte (3B, Mets)

="Benjamin Grimm":10h0742j]Having two O. Perezes would really complicate Schaefer voting.[/quote:10h0742j] And really, is anything more important than that?

The name of the nightly show on MLBN has morphed from 'Hot Stove' to 'MLB Tonight' - something that sounds like thier way of acknowledging that games (even meaningless ones) are starting on a daily basis. And their nightly preview feature '30 Teams/30 Days' visits Port St. Lucie for their Mets run-down tonight (and likely repeated 7 or 8 times over the next few days).