Frayed Knot

I was pretty sure he'd accept also but there were recent rumors to the contrary.

Not very way back actually, not quite even three years in this case. But I thought back http://archives.thecranepool.net/26200/f1_t26276.shtmlto the existence of this thread upon hearing that Giancarlo Stanton turned 31 on Monday. Part of the populace melted down over the news that Stanton was headed to the Bronx: crying FIX!!; demanding that the Commissioner nix the deal; just generally crying the blues. Part of what I wrote at the time was -- ... how this works out is going to depend a lot on whether the Yanx get 2015 & 2017 version of Stanton where he clocked in 150 games/year and a 975 OPS or the 2013-2014, 2016 model where he averaged 103 games/year at more like 850 Not that the lesser version represents a hole in the lineup or anything, but at $30 million per for the foreseeable future as he starts to get into his 30s it's like the situation we discussed this summer with Pujols and maybe even Miggy Cabrera depending on whether his 2017 season was an outlier or merely the direction of things to come. Now with seven more seasons to go in his deal, the one he decidedly did NOT opt out of a few weeks back, this question doesn't yet have a final answer but what they've gotten so far is closer to the bad Stanton than the good one. His 914 OPS as a Marlin and the 1007 in the MVP year he was traded off of led to an OPS of 860 as a Yanqui which makes it seem like maybe they 'bought high'. And after his one good/full season in the Bronx he's followed that up with two essentially non-existent ones [72 & 94 PAs] due to injuries. It's hard to predict injuries of course. With Stanton it hasn't been one recurring thing that indicates he's falling apart and therefore prone to more of the same. With him it seems to be more like a string of unrelated maladies that could be looked at just flukey rather than endemic. But those problems do seem to follow him; in Ten ML seasons (not counting his partial season call-up year) he's failed to play half the games in three of them and missed at least 25% or more in three others. Anyway, it's one of those fun wintertime threads we sometimes have around here, even if half the folks there aren't around much lately.

Yeah, the whole point was for them to phase out those low-level/short-season leagues like the NYP. The closest Sally Lg teams to either Bingo or Brooklyn are Lakewood NJ, Hagerstown MD, and Delmarva which is in I believe Dover DE, so I suppose it's possible for them to include either/or, although much of the rest of that circuit is in the Carolinas and Georgia, much further than most Low-A teams usually travel.

Extended ST is in St Lucie and it will certainly stay there. The overall ML plan is to cut down from the norm of six affiliated teams per franchise down to four, but all of those four would be part of established leagues. A plan floated more than once had the demise of Binghamton with Brooklyn slated to take its place in the AA Eastern League. Maybe that's changed, but there doesn't seem to be another logical spot for Brooklyn to wind up nor is there a logical candidate among the four listed to fill a slot in either of the two Low-A leagues, the Sally or Midwest.

And what any of this has to do with the Mets failure to get Realmuto two years ago, I have no idea. Because you've griped multiple times here over the last couple of years about the Mets failure to sign Realmuto back when Philly got him, including as recently as a month ago: "The Mets should've signed Realmuto two years ago when they signed Ramos. But the fucking Wilpons." as if the facts of his acquisition are irrelevant, and you certainly seem to be doing the same with Lindor as recently as a couple of hours ago: "Do the Mets really need Gimenez and Rosario if they're signing Lindnor?" If you want to argue for a trade this off-season involving Lindor on the assumption that he's a lock to sign a year and that some of your more tradable chips won't be needed for other spots, then do that. But otherwise you're arguing against points that aren't being made here, in opposition to an owner who no longer owns, and for signings that either couldn't then (Realmuto) or can't now (Lindor) be made.

Benjamin Grimm wrote: But that trade could include a negotiating window. Possibly. Those are rare but they do happen occasionally. Johan came here that way and the oddity there was at his insistence that it be done that way. Most players, particularly those not yet 30 and at or near the top of their game, don't like to simply give away their maybe one and only shot at the free market. And would that still be the best use of resources? Folks can argue all they want that money is now limitless (although even limitless money has limits) but here you'd be spending FA bucks AND skimming your best young trade chips off the top who would then not be available for potential different deals for positions where we have clearer needs and less depth. Make the smarter moves, even if they aren't always the splashiest ones. I always thought that the best quote from MONEYBALL (the book, not the movie) was that it's easier to recover from the player you don't sign than it is to recover from the guy you sign at the wrong price. And price can mean dollars or bodies or a combo of the two.

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Sandy also said that the Mets would have teams in Syracuse, Binghamton, Brooklyn, and St. Lucie. I had thought that Brooklyn was going to replace Binghamton in the Eastern League. So I'm not sure how this alignment is going to work. Brooklyn to Low-A maybe, effectively replacing Columbia (SC) Fireflies? It would still be a half-step up from NY-Penn Lg for Brooklyn but they wouldn't be all that close to any So Atl Lg teams. Something doesn't seem right about that quartet. Bingo out and Columbia still in makes more sense.

=bmfc1 post_id=50363 time=1605039052 user_id=73] The MFYs have made Somerset, NJ their AA home (they were in Trenton).

Frayed Knot wrote: You keep discussing this as if there aren't players involved, you did the same w/Realmuto over the past two years. No one is disputing that Lindor would be an upgrade or that our new friend Stevie won't be able to afford him. The issues are: because he's only signed thru 2021, and because there are bigger weaknesses with less depth than SS, is this the best place to spend the chips it would take to get him?? In my fantasy world, Lindnor signs with the Mets. That's a no-brainer. I'm not talking risk of a one-year rental. Then that's a question for next winter. In the meantime, the topic being discussed here was dealing Rosario + Gimenez + ??? for him this winter specifically as a one-year rental because there's no other way but a trade to get him right now. And Realmuto and Springer are free agents. It won't take any trade capital to get those two. Just money, which Cohen has lotsa. Which is again not what's being discussed or is something anyone is disputing. It's like you're arguing with ghosts just so you'll have someone to disagree with. The only reason I even brought up Realmuto is that, like you seem to be doing with Lindor here, you've said multiple times that the cheap-ass Wilpons should have signed him two years ago ignoring the fact that he wasn't available for signing until around two weeks ago.

You keep discussing this as if there aren't players involved, you did the same w/Realmuto over the past two years. No one is disputing that Lindor would be an upgrade or that our new friend Stevie won't be able to afford him. The issues are: because he's only signed thru 2021, and because there are bigger weaknesses with less depth than SS, is this the best place to spend the chips it would take to get him??

=batmagadanleadoff post_id=50308 time=1604981711 user_id=68] Do the Mets really need Gimenez and Rosario if they're signing Lindnor?

=Fman99 post_id=50305 time=1604976634 user_id=86] Yeah I hate the top 3 reveal. It's reality-show-stupid.

The NYC tabs went with: IT'S JOE TIME (Post) and JOEBILATION (NYDN)

And just like that, the brief off-season managerial merry-go-round is over. TEAMMANAGERCONTRACT THRUHIRED ANGELSJoe Maddon2022Oct '19 ASTROSDusty Baker2021Jan '202021 Option picked up July ‘20 ATHLETICS Bob Melvin 2021Jun ‘11 BLUE JAYSCharlie Montoyo2021 + 2022 OptionOct ‘18 BRAVESBrian Snitker 2020 + Option for 2021May ‘16 Signed Extension for Feb ‘20 BREWERSCraig Counsel 2023May '15Signed Extension thru '23 in Jan ‘20 CARDINALS Mike Schildt2022 July ‘18 CUBS David Ross2022Oct '19 DBACKS Torey Luvello 2021Nov ‘16 DODGERS Dave Roberts 2022 Nov ‘15 GIANTSGabe Kapler2022Nov '19 INDIANS Terry Francona 2022 Oct ‘12 MARINERS Scott Servais?? Oct ‘15 Signed multi-year extension in July 2018 MARLINS Don Mattingly 2021 + 2022 Option Nov ‘15 METS Luis Rojas2021 plus club optionsJan ‘20 NATIONALS Dave Martinez 2023 Oct ‘17 Sept '20, signed Extension thru 2023 ORIOLES Brandon Hyde ???? Dec ‘18 PADRES Jayce Tingler???Oct '19 PHILLIES Joe Girardi2022 + '23 OptionOct ‘19 PIRATES Derek Shelton2020 + ??? Nov ‘19 RANGERS Chris Woodward 2021 + 2022 Option Sep ‘18 RAYS Kevin Cash 2024 + 2025 Option Dec ‘14 RED SOXAlex Cora2022Nov '20Take two - replaces interim Roenicke REDS David Bell 2021 + 2022 Option Oct ‘18 ROCKIES Bud Black2022Nov ‘16 ROYALSMike Matheny2020 + ???Oct ‘19 TIGERSA J Hinch2021 + ???Oct '20Replaces the retiring (9/19/20) Ron Gardenhire TWINSRocco Baldelli ??? Oct ‘18 WHITE SOXTony LaRussa 2021 + ???Oct ‘20Rick Renteria not retained (10/12/20) YANKEES Aaron Boone 2021Dec ‘17

Not surprised or outraged. He got a punishment, he lost his job over it, he served his time. And now he's being given a second chance by the team he managed for two years and won a title in one of them. Also his 'crimes' were committed when on a different team as he was absolved (or at least not proven) of wrongdoing while w/the Sawx And in case it escaped anyone's notice, AJ Hinch got a new job more than a week ago.

The problem with BVW wasn't that he was hired or even his unconventional route to the job but rather why he was hired in the first place, that was of course because the 'Pons were comfortable with him which just served as another example of them being unwilling to leave their comfort zone. While two seasons is scarcely time enough to do a full evaluation of a GM, the biggest mark (either for or against) is going to be his first "splash" move, the Cano/Diaz deal. It's also why I tend to cringe when I hear NYM fans calling for "splash" moves as if demonstrations of spending money and the stealing back pages of tabloids are goals unto themselves ... but I digress. As unpopular as that move was and is, it's not even certain that it was a bad one despite starting off worse than anyone had a right to reasonably expect: Diaz, who had not just success for his entire 2-1/2 year ML career at that point but was better each year during that time, spent virtually the entire 1st season seemingly lost at sea; Cano looked done done for at least the first half of the first year; Kelenic took a leap forward in his progress right out of the gate. But Cano righted himself [301/334/542 // 876 over 350 PA since mid-'19], Diaz looks to be back and still just 25 y/o and under two years of control, and this was a lost season for Kelenic (never called up yet no real games at the minor league level) who might turn out great or might be mediocre. Brodie will ultimately get judged on this deal more than any other single move but even here the verdict isn't written yet.

https://nypost.com/2020/11/06/sandy-aldersons-mets-knockout-punch-is-telling-power-move-sherman/https://nypost.com/2020/11/06/sandy-aldersons-mets-knockout-punch-is-telling-power-move-sherman/ Nice summation by Sherman of Alderson's first go-around and now of the potential future of this new Alderson/Cohen partnership.

Numerous things to drink to tonight.

Willie Mays Aikens and Ryne (named after Duren) Sandburg both say hi.

It was no secret that Reinsdorf/ChiSox was trying to build a stop Cohen coalition but wasn't finding takers (or enough of them anyway). Not sure if Reinsdorf was simply pro-ARod or if he had reason to be anti-Cohen as well ... or maybe some combo of the two. Hadn't heard about the Snakes, Reds, and Halos or what their particular beefs may have been.

Also the Gold Gloves have already been awarded 1B - Anthony Rizzo (CHC) - Evan While (SEA) 2B - Kolten Wong (StL) - Cesar Hernandez (CLE) SS - Javier Baez (CHC) - JP Crawford (SEA) 3B - Nolan Arenado (COL) - Isiah Kiner-Falefa (TEX) LF - Tyler O'Neill (StL) - Alex Gordon (KCR) ...Gordon wins in his final season CF - Trent Grisham (SDP) - Luis Robert (CHW) RF - Mookie Betts - Joey Gallo (TEX) C - Tucker Barnhart (CIN) - Roberto Perez (CLE) P - Max Fried (ATL) - Griffin Canning (LAA)

So while we were paying attention to trivial things like the future of democracy, MLB announced the 'finalists' for each of their major awards. I'll say again that I have no idea why they started doing things this way a couple years back as all it does it pre-reveals who the top three vote-getters are. I guess they think it builds excitement. It doesn't. -- NL MVP Mookie Betts (LAD) - Freddie freeman (ATL) - Manny Machado (SDP) -- AL MVP DJ Le Mahieu (NYY) - Jose Ramirez (CLE) - Jose Abreu (CHW) ... this news here is that Mike Trout won't be in the top three for just the 2nd time in his nine full ML seasons (4th in 2017) -- NL CY Jacob deGrom (NYM) - Trevor Bauer (CON) - Yu Darvish (CHC) -- AL CY Shane Bieber (CLE) - Hyun-Jin Ryu (TOR) - Kenta Maeda (MIN) ... so Maeda, Darvish, and Ryu were all recently discarded from the new WS champ LA Dodgers -- NY ROY Alex Bohm (PHI) - Jake Cronenworth (SDP) - Devin Williams (MIL) -- AL ROY Christian Javier (HOU) - Kyle Lewis (SEA) - Luis Robert (CHW) -- NL MOY Don Mattingly (MIA) - David Ross (CHC Jayce Tingler (SDP) -- AL MOY Kevin Cash (TBR) - Charlie Montoyo (TOR) - Rick Renteria (CHW) ... one of the three is already out of a job The awards will be announced next week. I wonder if the trophies this year will be 63% smaller?

Don't know if they were thinking about this at the time, (probably not) but the move to trade for Stroman towards the end of the previous season is what put the Mets into this situation where they've got the choice of offering him the QO and/or getting a draft pick out of it. Had they traded for him in 2020 they wouldn't have had that option.

Michaels did both the Reds & Giants locally in addition to his work on national games.

Not that I've seen a lot of McCann, but he looks to be a good fit. 30 y/o, his offense has taken a jump over the last couple years, and he has a good reputation defensively except when it comes to pitch-framing but I'm hoping that pitch framing disappears in a year or two when we get Robo-Ump.