Why The A's Need The Angels To Sign Cliff Lee
by Nico on Dec 10, 2010 8:10 PM PST
Email
Print
Musical chairs. The Rangers, Yankees, Angels, and A's -- three teams for one pitcher and two teams for one 3Bman. And the A's come out best if Cliff Lee signs with their division rivals, the Angels.
The off-season began with the Rangers a cut above the Angels and A's, who were tied for "a cut below." Let's look at the likely outcomes of each possible landing spot for Lee:
If Lee re-signs with Texas, the Angels, with the money they have, likely sign Beltre. In this scenario, the Rangers stay the same, the Angels get better, and the A's don't, and the Angels are poised to challenge the Rangers while the A's watch from 3rd place.
If Lee signs with New York, the Angels, with the money they have, likely sign Beltre. In this scenario, the Rangers get worse, the Angels get better, and the A's don't, and once again the Angels are poised to challenge the Rangers while the A's watch from 3rd place.
But if Lee signs with the Angels, the A's are a heck of a lot more likely to be able to sign Beltre. In this scenario, the Rangers get worse, the Angels get better, the A's get better -- and you might have a legitimate 3-team race in which the A's are equally likely to compete for 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place depending on how things roll.
Do you want your division rival to land the most coveted starting pitcher on the free agent market? Not usually. But this time, maybe so.
{Note: For reasons unknown to me, California Golden Blogs has decided to interview me for a 3-part series on my days as a broadcaster for Cal baseball and women's basketball, as well as for Oakland A's spring training baseball and the Southern Oregon A's. Part I of this series can be found here.}
281 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I don't agree with the idea that if we don't sign Beltre, we're automatically
in 3rd place. Even if the Angels sign Beltre, we have just as good as shot at first or second as we did last year.
I agree with this
Even if the Angels sign Beltre, we have just as good as shot at first or second as we did last year.
Which is why I think the A’s must sign Beltre.
"You know, a long time ago being crazy meant something. Nowadays everybody's crazy."
-Charles Manson
by kaweahkaweah on Dec 10, 2010 8:24 PM PST up reply actions
right
like PT, lenscrafters and others have said there is no reason to not go 5/75 or 5/80
"The ego, the super-ego, and the Ed" - dannycakes
There is if you're Billy Beane
and you refuse to be sucked into a bidding war for a star player who has no intention of signing with your team. As much as I would like to see Beltre on the A’s, I can’t fault Beane for refusing to be a rube for Boras.
"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer
I know we aren't going to sign Beltre, but...
Make the Angels pay a premium for Beltre
by Colorado Fan on Dec 10, 2010 11:18 PM PST up reply actions
At the very least, yeah
All I can say about stats is…
SCOTT BROSIUS!!
by stranahanahan on Dec 11, 2010 12:50 AM PST up reply actions
If the star player has no intention of signing with your team
then you should feel completely unhindered in engaging in a bidding war for the player, because it will drive up the price for everyone else.
"We don't want our people to be preoccupied with seminude, crazy men jumping up and down who are chasing an inflated object," said Sheik Mohamed Osman Arus, head of operations for the Hizbul Islam insurgent group.
How
This would only work if there is a chance we could change said plans mind by over bidding. Otherwise he would just “take less to play for a winner”
by asfansince1989 on Dec 11, 2010 11:53 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
Well, first off, the OTHER TEAM doesn't know he won't play for Oakland
so when Boras comes to them and puts the Oakland offer on the table, they’ll feel pressured to respond.
Second, so what? Even if Boras literally doesn’t even pick up his phone, the A’s aren’t in any worse shape for dialing the number.
"We don't want our people to be preoccupied with seminude, crazy men jumping up and down who are chasing an inflated object," said Sheik Mohamed Osman Arus, head of operations for the Hizbul Islam insurgent group.
True
Forgot that Boras will do the dirty work for us. That works for me. Let the Angels bleed to death trying to sign Beltre.
by asfansince1989 on Dec 11, 2010 12:11 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
The problem is that there is likely a price at which Beltre signs with us
But that price isn’t something we may want to pay.
!#%&$#@&%&% antioxidants! - pam
needs moar bacon
by cuppingmaster on Dec 11, 2010 4:22 PM PST up reply actions
The Angels lowballed crawford
which was a greater need for them. I don’t see them outbidding the yankees. Especially after the gonzalez crawford moves by the red sox.
"The ego, the super-ego, and the Ed" - dannycakes
Unfortunately, if I'm a betting man
I put Lee on the Yankees and Beltre on the Angels, with Matsui to the A’s.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
I am not disagreeing with you
but I cannot admit that yet
"The ego, the super-ego, and the Ed" - dannycakes
In this scenario, the A's need to trade for a salary dump
and put that money to good use in a different way. That’s where the Beltrans become more intriguing.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
There was a time when i would watch baseball regardless if it was the A's or not
(well except NL baseball, that’s not baseball, hell i dont know what that is)but that time has come and gone. So admittedly i dont know much about other teams players. With beltran is it that he cant stay healthy or hasn’t really healed completely over the past couple of years
He's a 5-tool star
with serious injuries in the rear view mirror and a hefty contract. How much health and productivity he has left in the tank is anybody’s guess.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
Sorry, didnt mean to sound that far outta the loop.
I guess what i should have said was i havent paid close enough attention to things such as other teams players’ health. I seem to remember a certain other Carlos around these parts that drew similar comparisons minus a bit of pop.
Beltran = 5-tool star
Beltre = 5-star tool
by BaltimoreAN on Dec 11, 2010 11:01 AM PST up reply actions
Thank you....
now i don’t have to say it. :)
"You're early, but hang around; we'll have a fight for you sooner or later."
-John "Blue Moon" Odom
Depending on cost, how about trading for Carlos Quentin and putting him at DH?
"So, the A's new organizational philosophy involves adding Viking relievers? God save us all."
"Berserkers: the new market inefficiency."
-LonestarBall
The main problem with this is that Quentin actually sucks
Well maybe that’s too extreme, but his success is pretty strongly park-related. The one thing I like about him is that he’s actually better against RHP over his career, so he’s certainly not a platoon player type. But as a DH in Oakland, I’d expect him to be disappointing. I suspect Matsui would put up better numbers overall.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
by Nico on Dec 10, 2010 8:46 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
How so?
He obviously sucks at defense, and isn’t that great with average, but i don’t see how he overall sucks. He’s got quite a bit of power.
He doesn't suck, but he's not as good as his numbers would lead one to believe
He really benefits from playing his home games in a HR-friendly park, and he stays healthy like an A.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
My problem with Quentin
It’s not so much that he can’t hit, as he can’t stay healthy. When you also consider:
1) He’s going into his 2nd year of arbitration this offseason and will probably cost close to what the A’s would theoretically end up paying Matsui.
2) He’d also cost prospects to acquire, not just money (unlike Godzilla).
3) He may not be as open to DHing nearly all of the time as Matsui is.
The only drawback to signing Hideki would be the fear of an age related collapse.
This to me equals Matsui > Quintin
"As a rule we disbelieve all the facts and theories for which we have no use."
-Gustave Flaubert
by thinwhiteduke on Dec 11, 2010 5:24 AM PST up reply actions
Robothal sez:
#Rangers not at all optimistic about getting Beltre, backing off for now. Reduces need to trade Young, which was longshot from start. #MLB
It’s basically just the Angels now.
C’mon A’s. This is a no-brainer.
"We were shit, pathetic," Guillen growled early in spring training. "We hit too many home runs."
But the Angels
are not an hot destination for FA’s:
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-1210-plaschke-20101210,0,744789.column
Don’t believe Beltre will lead LAA to promised land, but Beltre or no, A’s must make some moves to keep out of 3rd place.
Wow. LA still has nothing on us.
They offer Crawford almost 40 million less than Boston, then complain about it?
Still, this is entertainment in it’s greatest form.
flagged for linking to Bill Plaschke
Taurus Apr 20-May 20
Honey or vinegar? That’s kind of the universal decision we have to make all the time, every day. Are we going to get what we want by being nice or being a dick? And you know what, Taurus? Every situation is different, there’s no one way to do things. Know what else? Honey and vinegar go together in a nice salad dressing.
by designatedforassignment on Dec 10, 2010 9:25 PM PST up reply actions
Out of curiosity . . .
How much money does the A’s have to spend this offseason?
Also, hooray for California Golden Blogs!! :)
LOS ANGELES ANGELS . . . ANAHEIM DUCKS . . . CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS
FUCK STANFURD.
Which really don't account for much...
All I can say about stats is…
SCOTT BROSIUS!!
by stranahanahan on Dec 11, 2010 12:51 AM PST up reply actions
True, but I wanted to be correct.
Plus at the very least arbitration will change that amount by a mil or two
Especially once you remove Kouz (if Beltre is signed) and Cust...
All I can say about stats is…
SCOTT BROSIUS!!
by stranahanahan on Dec 11, 2010 12:51 AM PST up reply actions
If the A's sign Beltre to a 15 million/year contract, they'll have roughly the same payroll as last year.
Absolutely no reason not to spend the money.
"We were shit, pathetic," Guillen growled early in spring training. "We hit too many home runs."
by lenscrafters on Dec 10, 2010 9:06 PM PST up reply actions
If that's so,
I couldn’t agree with you more.
LOS ANGELES ANGELS . . . ANAHEIM DUCKS . . . CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS
FUCK STANFURD.
We're not 100% confident after the Crawford fiasco
There’s a lot of complaining by the fans and news media over that particular issue. Those of us that are able to look past Crawford think that there is a good shot that Beltre is an Angel next year, BUT, we can never think of it as a guarantee when Boras is involved.
LOS ANGELES ANGELS . . . ANAHEIM DUCKS . . . CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS
FUCK STANFURD.
Trade
I don’t know everyone that’s on the trading block so I cannot say definitively who they may go after.
LOS ANGELES ANGELS . . . ANAHEIM DUCKS . . . CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS
FUCK STANFURD.
I think they're at $30 mil at the moment
Looking at last year’s $55 million, we should have another 10 on top of that
How cheap is Magglio Ordonez going to go for?
Haven’t heard many teams expressing interest in him. I’d way rather get Beltre than anyone but I have a hard time believing we can get him. Can Ordonez still play RF at all? Then we could have his bat in the lineup and pick up a guy like Matsui to DH. Maybe we could get Ordonez on a 1 year contract with a vesting option for a second or something… Would that make sense?
+1
All fall I’d been hoping that they’d get Magglio, Beltre, and Cust. I liked our lineup with that. Then Cust left.(was shown the door)…
Unfortunately it looks like BB is set on a Sweeney/Jackson platoon in one of the OF spots, so there’s no room for Magglio and Matsui.
Let's play two.
I'm not sure
I think Beane was set on adding two bats this offseason, so if Matsui/Guerrero at DH is one then I expect him to add a 3B/RF also. It’s been said that they “prefer” adding via the FA market, but if that doesn’t happen I expect a trade involving one of our better relievers and a prospect or two for a bat.
What about the two RPs we got out of Toronto?
I haven’t seen any posts about them around here, but I think if we toss in a prospect or 2 with them to a team that is totally overrating RPs, we can get a good player and not really hurt our future at RP (i’m fairly sure we can always have cheap RPs anyways).
With Cust gone...
I think we’re pretty likely to pick up Matsui (or failing that, possibly Vlad). If we get Beltre that’s GREAT: Beltre+Matsui+Dejesus in the middle of the lineup would be a huge upgrade.
If we don’t get Beltre (and the Angels can have them if they want), and still get Matsui, then its basically up to us to find a COF who would make sense… Dejesus+Matsui+Magglio in the middle of the lineup looks a lot better to me than Suzuki+Cust+Kouz, especially since you get to push Kouz down to the 6-hole where he’ll probably give you 15 HRs, and Suzuki down to 7 where his numbers will probably improve.
I’m thinking we could offer Magglio 2 years and $15-16 mil, maybe plus incentives (or 1 year on a $9-10 mil Ben Sheets-style value-building contract, possibly with an option of some sort). The second year of that contract seems to me like the riskiest part at age 38. But Magglio wasn’t offered arbitration so he won’t cost us a draft pick, and just as good we don’t have to give up prospects in a trade. And his career numbers are SO consistent. The power is down (but would still be an upgrade for us) and the OBP remains high. I think I’m okay with the shoddy D.
I think we have the money, plus we don’t have to worry about the impact on our ability to lock up our young regulars because of the length of the deal (unlike signing Beltre). In this scenario I think a FA pick up is a better move and long term contracts should be given to guys like Barton, Cahill, Gio, etc. Magglio, to me, seems like the best gamble.
AndyHogan14, get the F outta AN! no frickin angels fans allowed
"A different brand of Baseball"
by section119a'sfan on Dec 10, 2010 9:08 PM PST reply actions
Actually, all well behaved Angels fans are welcome
But that’s probably what you meant.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
To be honest
I want the A’s to be a competitive team, I would love the Angels-A’s rivalry to take it up a notch . . . I personally want an all California ALCS. How amazing would that be?
LOS ANGELES ANGELS . . . ANAHEIM DUCKS . . . CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS
FUCK STANFURD.
by AndyHogan14 on Dec 10, 2010 9:11 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs
You, I like.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
I really appreciate this comment
And I completely agree.
Much as I despise the Angels, there is nothing better than playing a 3 game series at the end of the year with you guys that decides who wins the West.
All I can say about stats is…
SCOTT BROSIUS!!
by stranahanahan on Dec 11, 2010 12:53 AM PST up reply actions
As long as it's not like 2004
It's because he derived his torque from the buttocks -- cityplANner
by WaddellCanseco on Dec 11, 2010 4:00 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
My thoughts exactly
I just couldn’t remember the exact year when I wrote that comment.
All I can say about stats is…
SCOTT BROSIUS!!
by stranahanahan on Dec 11, 2010 10:55 AM PST up reply actions
i guess...as long as u dont bring a virtual rally monkey here...
"A different brand of Baseball"
by section119a'sfan on Dec 10, 2010 9:09 PM PST reply actions
Wouldn't think of it. ;)
LOS ANGELES ANGELS . . . ANAHEIM DUCKS . . . CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS
FUCK STANFURD.
Or a real monkey.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
by Nico on Dec 10, 2010 9:19 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
haha...ya, an A's Angels ALCS would be sweet
Lets go Oakland, boom boom boom boom boom
by section119a'sfan on Dec 10, 2010 9:15 PM PST reply actions
yo, at the least the angels fan knows how to use the reply button
the artist formerly known as inbillywetrust
Must. Not. Reply....
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
Oky, I'll say it..
TWSS!
"You're early, but hang around; we'll have a fight for you sooner or later."
-John "Blue Moon" Odom
Dang!
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
Ding-Dong!
"You're early, but hang around; we'll have a fight for you sooner or later."
-John "Blue Moon" Odom
any rally monkey= a bad monkey....
Lets go Oakland, boom boom boom boom boom
by section119a'sfan on Dec 10, 2010 9:19 PM PST reply actions
nobody...lets hope
Lets go Oakland, boom boom boom boom boom
by section119a'sfan on Dec 10, 2010 9:21 PM PST reply actions
To many things depends on Beltre
If the angels sign Beltre for 5/90 they are better slightly but in the long run no because Beltre is going to get weaker. If texas loses Lee they can not make him up even if Feliz go to starting staff. Beltre goes to texas and trades young then texas is weaker because of young’s strong hitting. I rather Angels not sign Soriano because Rodney is not a strong closer.
At this stage of their respective careers, I'd say
swapping Beltre’s hitting for Young’s hitting is an upgrade for Texas.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
Only defense
Beltre is much better defensively than Young who is below average at the corner. Young is the better hitter of the two. The rangers hitting next year does not look to improve and if no Lee their pitching has lost its best pitcher.
Career wise Young is a mininally better hitter than Beltre
And he’s played his entire career at a hitter’s park, so Beltre’s park adjusted numbers are a tad better. And the last few years outside of 2009 they’ve been pretty similar hitters.
And defensively, it’s as you said, no comparison.
All I can say about stats is…
SCOTT BROSIUS!!
by stranahanahan on Dec 11, 2010 12:47 PM PST up reply actions
then texas is weaker because of young’s strong hitting
hahahahaha.
All I can say about stats is…
SCOTT BROSIUS!!
by stranahanahan on Dec 11, 2010 12:54 AM PST up reply actions
HAS EVERYONE HEARD THE BIG WINSTON ABREU NEWS??????????
It’s all over cable access 97.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
I hear he gives you real flavor
Full, rich, incredibly old minor league relief pitcher flavor.
"We don't want our people to be preoccupied with seminude, crazy men jumping up and down who are chasing an inflated object," said Sheik Mohamed Osman Arus, head of operations for the Hizbul Islam insurgent group.
I'm just glad the A's signed him before the Angels snatched him up.
"You know, a long time ago being crazy meant something. Nowadays everybody's crazy."
-Charles Manson
by kaweahkaweah on Dec 10, 2010 10:16 PM PST up reply actions
well
He actually signed with the Blue Jays, not the A’s.
We got Joe Bateman, who I actually like a good amount. Nice to bring a little bit of depth in to the AAA relief ranks, been thinning out of late and I don’t like bumping 5th starter candidates to the pen.
Are you saying we didn't sign Abreu?
I was just going on the ever reliable RotoWorld.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
Correct...
RotoWorld I believe went off a tweet from Matt Eddy, which they misread.
BA reported both signed with the A's.
Taurus Apr 20-May 20
Honey or vinegar? That’s kind of the universal decision we have to make all the time, every day. Are we going to get what we want by being nice or being a dick? And you know what, Taurus? Every situation is different, there’s no one way to do things. Know what else? Honey and vinegar go together in a nice salad dressing.
by designatedforassignment on Dec 11, 2010 9:20 AM PST up reply actions
Good for Brett Anderson!
That guy just has such interesting tweets.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
Twitter used eddymk works for BA, right?
If so, you misread his tweet, and he clarified it.
I like his strikeout ability. Not a bad NRI
It's because he derived his torque from the buttocks -- cityplANner
by WaddellCanseco on Dec 11, 2010 4:01 AM PST up reply actions
I'm not sure the Angels go for Beltre as a result of missing out on Crawford and Lee...
Via Sam Miller on Twitter:
Angels’ payroll now at $132 million. They said at beginning of offseason it would be $135 million.
I know Moreno can open his pocketbook wider, but I’m wondering if there’s a difference between one of the elite names, like Crawford or Lee, and Beltre – a top FA but not in the same class.
A full time A's fan in Portland who spends part of his time on AN.
Not so much tweeting as squawking: http://www.twitter.com/yusebio
The only thing is they listed Crawford, Lee, Beltre in that order as plans A, B, and C
So we’ll see, when Lee is off the table, whether the Angels make an offer to Beltre or not. If they do, he signs — clearly that’s his preference. If they don’t, suddenly Beltre “always was open to playing in Oakland…”
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
Yeah...I don't know what's going on with Tony Reagins...
Because they act like plans A and C were “overpay for relief pitching” while plan B was to make a borderline insulting offer to Crawford.
A full time A's fan in Portland who spends part of his time on AN.
Not so much tweeting as squawking: http://www.twitter.com/yusebio
Again, there is no source that said Beltre doesn't want to play in Oakland
Everything is assumption based on the fact that he didn’t pay attention to what Boras I’m sure felt was a low ball offer.
Billy is bringing spoons to a spork fight with the way he’s dealing with Boras…
All I can say about stats is…
SCOTT BROSIUS!!
by stranahanahan on Dec 11, 2010 12:56 AM PST up reply actions
This is all egos
Boras wants a team to over spend on his player nothing to do with Oakland. Boras tried to waesle more money and Beane called his bluff. Now it stands Boras needs to call Beane and asked for that offer back. So it goes will boras swallow his pride and call Beane.
This is very possible.
Not guaranteed, but possible. Guy doesn’t want to sign right now? Fine. A pulled offer can always be reinstated. Why get into a bidding war where none exists?
"We don't see things as they are, we see things as we are."
~ Anais Nin
I don't think Beane called his bluff
Beane put a competitive offer in to a Free Agent whose agent is notorious for waiting to get his clients signed. If anything, Boras called Beane’s bluff…
All I can say about stats is…
SCOTT BROSIUS!!
by stranahanahan on Dec 11, 2010 12:51 PM PST up reply actions
Here's the problem
Beane thinks if he makes a good offer Beltre would have taken it. Unless a team over pays Boras never takes the best offer unless all is played out. Beane’s stubbornness of thinking Boras would bite has taken this thing longer than it should have. Beane should be smart in never saying who you are after and never making you best offer first. So now will Beane put the offer back on the table or will Boras make the call. Who will break first is the question?
there is no break
the situation has totally changed now, the angels are in a weak position and can be kicked down further by the A;s overpaying for Beltre
"The ego, the super-ego, and the Ed" - dannycakes
I just think it's possible BB wanted Beltre, put in a competitive offer, an when it didn't look like it'd be accepted.
He rescinded it because he didn’t want to be used as leverage for a Boras client. Simple as that.
"Never have a motto, that's what I always say" - Me
http://marcel-oehler.marcellosendos.ch/comics/ch/1986/05/19860506.gif
You're smart.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
Being used as leverage by a Boras client might be bad for Beane's ego
but it’s good for the Oakland A’s, as I’ve already outlined higher up on the thread.
Once again, just as in the Cust/Jackson situation, if there is a conflict between the two, and Beane is choosing his personal ego, that’s a violation of his duty to the team.
"We don't want our people to be preoccupied with seminude, crazy men jumping up and down who are chasing an inflated object," said Sheik Mohamed Osman Arus, head of operations for the Hizbul Islam insurgent group.
That has failed to deter many a boss.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
Lack of deterrent doesn't make it any less unethical, it just means it's harder to punish
"We don't want our people to be preoccupied with seminude, crazy men jumping up and down who are chasing an inflated object," said Sheik Mohamed Osman Arus, head of operations for the Hizbul Islam insurgent group.
It also makes it harder for me to get my clothes clean
Oh, “deterrent” — sorry, I misread that.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
Are we sure it really helps the A's though?
I mean, sure in the short term whoever signs him pays more, but that signing just inflates costs of comparable players including (and especially) their own.
Choosy Feebas choose Leopold Bloom nipples
Daring. Sensual. Invigorating. Squirrel.
BLOOM. For men.
If the eggs actually hatch I made more than a mistake, I made some scientifically impossible crime.
And there's no competition
Literally, no one else has made an offer or even expressed interest, beyond Boston saying, “Well we won’t go more than 4 years” and then quickly dealing for Adrian Gonzalez, and Baltimore saying, “We’re so interested we’re trading for Reynolds.”
5/64 may be the best offer Beltre gets, period. And it’s 5 years and it’s on the West Coast. Let us know when that offer looks ok, AB.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
That's not true
Supposedly Baltimore expressed interest and were basically told we have no interest in you.
Choosy Feebas choose Leopold Bloom nipples
Daring. Sensual. Invigorating. Squirrel.
BLOOM. For men.
If the eggs actually hatch I made more than a mistake, I made some scientifically impossible crime.
Poor Baltimore.
But this is my point: That 5 years and West Coast are a combination Beltre is unlikely to find anywhere else. And at $13M/year for ages 32-36, it’s a deal he shouldn’t pass up so confident that someone will top it.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
Then give Beltre a call and let him know
Choosy Feebas choose Leopold Bloom nipples
Daring. Sensual. Invigorating. Squirrel.
BLOOM. For men.
If the eggs actually hatch I made more than a mistake, I made some scientifically impossible crime.
Link?
All I can say about stats is…
SCOTT BROSIUS!!
by stranahanahan on Dec 12, 2010 12:39 PM PST up reply actions
Can't remember if this is the original source
But it’s mentioned at the end of this.
One player Boras represents that is still on the board this offseason is third baseman Adrian Beltre. The Orioles covet Beltre, but it’s long believed that he has no desire to come to Baltimore. Boras freely admitted that he has told some teams this week that Beltre was not interested. And, for sure, that was the message the Orioles received last year from Beltre’s camp.
When asked specifically if the Orioles were one of the teams Boras has told, "Thanks, but no thanks," the agent said: "That is something I would let every general manager comment on if they will, but there were a number of teams, when they came to us, we let them know that was not an environment we wanted to go into. If their general managers want to address that, I’ll let them do that."
Choosy Feebas choose Leopold Bloom nipples
Daring. Sensual. Invigorating. Squirrel.
BLOOM. For men.
If the eggs actually hatch I made more than a mistake, I made some scientifically impossible crime.
Agree 100%
It must be a Christmas miracle because PT and I keep getting on the same page. If Beane knows that Beltre won’t accept Oakland’s offer then he should go huge (5 years/$75-80 million) just to get their division rivals to spend more. Otherwise he is letting his personal pride hinder his team’s future chances.
by King Billy Royal on Dec 12, 2010 1:17 PM PST up reply actions
What if the Angels don't intend to make an offer in the first place?
The A’s should offer 75-80 and pay it, instead of 64 and pay it?
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
Really, I'm thinking we're in a pretty good position.
We’ve stated what we’re willing to pay. Angels are still a possibility, but I haven’t heard serious efforts from them (doesn’t mean they aren’t interested, of course). I think they’re more focused on Lee than Beltre, and cannot do both. Other serious suitors appear to be virtually non-existent. Boras and Beltre just ignored the A’s. they didn’t say ‘no’.
It’s very possible that at some point Boras will come calling and ask if the 5/64 offer is still doable. Not crawling… this is Boras, after all, and he’ll try to spin it that the A’s need to up their offer due to some “mystery team”… but 5/64 or close may actually happen.
"We don't see things as they are, we see things as we are."
~ Anais Nin
The pride factor probably means
the A’s bump it up a tad so Beltre can save face, and he signs for 5/67 with the team “he always felt good about signing with.”
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
I can definitely see that happening.
"We don't see things as they are, we see things as we are."
~ Anais Nin
Wow. They're already at 132 million?
If they don’t like Beltre that much to go that far over their set limit, they may just choose to bow out all together and wait till next year….
In which case, woohoo!
"We were shit, pathetic," Guillen growled early in spring training. "We hit too many home runs."
by lenscrafters on Dec 10, 2010 10:11 PM PST up reply actions
If we think LAA won't go hard after Beltre...
Do we stay at $65m? It’s a delicate balance… Angels could just play us. We could play them. I wonder if either team will be made aware of the other’s offer. I guess id still prefer we just make our max offer. Maybe ask Beltre who he wants at DH and get a package deal.
I say sweeten it a bit, for sure
Just to be sure, at this point, really what’s another $1-2M per year?
All I can say about stats is…
SCOTT BROSIUS!!
by stranahanahan on Dec 11, 2010 12:56 AM PST up reply actions
No
I don’t think we wait – we sweeten it. Maybe not as much as we are ultimately willing to go but I would like to see Beane offer at least 70 this weekend and try to push the issue.
by longtimeasfan on Dec 11, 2010 10:44 AM PST up reply actions
the Angels supposedly lost money last year.
I’m going to sit here and doubt that he’s going to go significantly past 135MM.
In other words, maybe another reliever or a DH on a shorter deal, but I think they’re out on definitely Lee and Beltre unless he falls into their laps (which would be a massive FAIL by the A’s).
MOAR SPARTACUST. NOW.
and this is assuming a trade of Napoli to make more than 3MM's worth of room for the new signing
MOAR SPARTACUST. NOW.
I'll take Napoli.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
by Nico on Dec 11, 2010 10:01 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Me too...
Might be the only way to get a day off for Zooks: give Geren two guys he wants to play every day. Too bad one of them isn’t a lefty.
A full time A's fan in Portland who spends part of his time on AN.
Not so much tweeting as squawking: http://www.twitter.com/yusebio
The A's have the money crying out to be spent on someone
and Beltre is the guy to spend it on. I just don’t get what the holdup here is. Put the offer back on the table, boost it with some incentives if you need to, and wait for Boras to concede defeat with his supposed other “suitors” and pick up the phone.
"We don't want our people to be preoccupied with seminude, crazy men jumping up and down who are chasing an inflated object," said Sheik Mohamed Osman Arus, head of operations for the Hizbul Islam insurgent group.
"The A's are convinced Beltre doesn't want to come to Oakland."
"We were shit, pathetic," Guillen growled early in spring training. "We hit too many home runs."
by lenscrafters on Dec 10, 2010 10:13 PM PST up reply actions
I know a guaranteed way to find out for SURE whether someone wants to come to Oakland:
Offer to pay them large sums of money to come to Oakland and play baseball for the Oakland Athletics.
"We don't want our people to be preoccupied with seminude, crazy men jumping up and down who are chasing an inflated object," said Sheik Mohamed Osman Arus, head of operations for the Hizbul Islam insurgent group.
by PaulThomas on Dec 10, 2010 10:14 PM PST up reply actions 8 recs
heh. rec'd
"We were shit, pathetic," Guillen growled early in spring training. "We hit too many home runs."
by lenscrafters on Dec 10, 2010 10:17 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Fucking seriously
All I can say about stats is…
SCOTT BROSIUS!!
by stranahanahan on Dec 11, 2010 12:57 AM PST up reply actions
You mean lowballing them and then whining isn't the way to go?
It's because he derived his torque from the buttocks -- cityplANner
by WaddellCanseco on Dec 11, 2010 4:12 AM PST up reply actions 5 recs
this should be green too.
Taurus Apr 20-May 20
Honey or vinegar? That’s kind of the universal decision we have to make all the time, every day. Are we going to get what we want by being nice or being a dick? And you know what, Taurus? Every situation is different, there’s no one way to do things. Know what else? Honey and vinegar go together in a nice salad dressing.
by designatedforassignment on Dec 11, 2010 9:22 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
That probably works
but I’m a bit apprehensive about a player begrudgingly signing a deal. What if he gives less than 100% effort and mopes for five years? You can offer the dude enough to convince him to play in Oakland, but he doesn’t necessarily have to like it while he’s there. Maybe I’m paranoid, but I can see a scenario where Beltre ends up being a disappointment.
by scatterbrian on Dec 11, 2010 5:59 PM PST up reply actions
Two Words:
, , , , Matt Holliday.
"Life without geometry has no point"
Two words:
, , , , Franchise Destroying Gnome.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
I Give Up . . .
. . . you gnome more than me.
"Life without geometry has no point"
HAHA
Classic!!!!! Hey PT, are you growing a little tired of the way the A’s have been handling FA negotiations in recent years? I was wondering what you would do differently if you were the A’s.
by King Billy Royal on Dec 12, 2010 1:19 PM PST up reply actions
A little, yeah
I’m an elitist when it comes to free agents. I think 90% of them are worthless garbage that should be avoided by any team wanting to win. The only ones I care about are the star players. I’m totally fine with a roster of one highly-paid megastar and a bunch of low-paid pre-free-agency players.
"We don't want our people to be preoccupied with seminude, crazy men jumping up and down who are chasing an inflated object," said Sheik Mohamed Osman Arus, head of operations for the Hizbul Islam insurgent group.
Wouldn't that only work if the FO is very good at drafting?
All I can say about stats is…
SCOTT BROSIUS!!
by stranahanahan on Dec 12, 2010 5:19 PM PST up reply actions
Me too
And the frustrating thing is, this was the offseason to sign a star.
Next year the best free agent is Prince Fielder, who lacks a position; the year after that it’s Grienke, with no great offensive player in that class.
Frustrating.
The Oakland A's: If you have a no-trade clause in your contract, we're in it.
by notsellingjeans on Dec 12, 2010 6:13 PM PST up reply actions
It definitely is the off season to sign a type A
Close to competitive, protected pick, available talent at needed positions…sigh
"The ego, the super-ego, and the Ed" - dannycakes
I agree with this 100%
I don’t mind when teams overpay for the elite players but I hate when they overpay on the secondary players. I almost look at it like basketball where you need to have your 3 star players (i.e. Jordan/Pippen/Rodman, Duncan/Parker/Ginobli) and then you surround them with decent, cheap role guys.
by King Billy Royal on Dec 12, 2010 6:39 PM PST up reply actions
And just to clarify
I don’t mean you only need 3 star player in baseball (unless their names are Bonds, Pedro, and Ruth in their primes)
by King Billy Royal on Dec 12, 2010 8:01 PM PST up reply actions
Also
Boras clients take the most money. If the A’s want to attract a big time free agent for the first time in a decade they need to be prepared to spend over market value if necessary.
by King Billy Royal on Dec 12, 2010 1:18 PM PST up reply actions
Offer him a 5 year 80 million deal, no way he wont accpet that.....hopefully......well maybe....
Lets go Oakland, boom boom boom boom boom
by section119a'sfan on Dec 10, 2010 10:26 PM PST reply actions
Why would you do that if you think he might be signable at 5/64?
If the Angels bow out, the A’s are his only known suitor, period.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
Just because he has nowhere else to go doesn't mean he'd sign with the A's for 5 years, no matter how much money is on the table.
If the A’s are his only choice, he might opt to try the one-and-done thing again, and see if he can land somewhere else next year. It’s not what I’d do, but he might think differently.
Since he wants more years more than anything,
if the A’s are the only team making him an offer, and it’s a 5 year deal worth $13M/year, he’ll sign it.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
wouldn't it be great
To know what is being said between Beltre and Boras right now.
Beltre"we should have taken that offer from Oakland".
Boras “be patient look at what I got Werth.”
Bletre “why hasn’t the Angels called lately.”
Boras " Just lay low for another week"
Beltre" “Damn you better not screw me or I will turn mad rub head on you”
I'd be stoked to get Beltre for 1/13
"Burt Reynolds witnessed the conception of his own dad, and frankly, that's what's wrong with him."- TPDMTD!
by Gaijin_Suketto on Dec 11, 2010 3:30 PM PST up reply actions
oops...bad spelling
Lets go Oakland, boom boom boom boom boom
by section119a'sfan on Dec 10, 2010 10:27 PM PST reply actions
No you don't,
I can ass-ure you of that.
by BordickBrosiusBerroa on Dec 11, 2010 12:59 AM PST reply actions
I'm thinking the Rangers are the class of the division even if they don't sign Lee
Feliz as a starter would make a big difference — he has the potential to be the best starter in the division outside of Hernandez — and is probably right up there with Haren, Weaver, Lewis and Anderson. Wilson, Holland and Feldman/Hunter round out a rotation that’s probably just a hair behind the Angels and better than the A’s or Mariners. If Perez can come through in the 2nd half, that’s the best rotation in the division. The OOOF pen of Ogando, Oliver, O’Day and Francisco is probably up there with the A’s as the most talented in the division too.
If I’m the Rangers I’m more worried about the offense than the pitching, but their offense is still the best in the division. If the Rockies really want to give up something for Young, I’d do that and sign Beltre.
It's because he derived his torque from the buttocks -- cityplANner
Hmm. I don't really see how you're ranking these rotations....
I’m sure Feliz will be good, but definitely not the second best in the division. Especially not in his “rookie” year as a starter. Lewis and Wilson aren’t a 1-2(last season was the best for both of them, and I can’t see them keeping it up), and their 5th spot is up for grabs. I’m not under the delusion that the A’s dominate the West’s rotations, but there’s no way that the Rangers rank above them without Lee.
ZiPS projects 12-6, 3.43 for Feliz as a starter. That's about a 130 ERA+ in about 150 IP.
Lee is at 141 ERA+. Lewis and Wilson are at 122 and 120 and Anderson is at 100. I’m pretty comfortable putting Feliz on the same level as the Lewis, Anderson, Haren and Weaver
It's because he derived his torque from the buttocks -- cityplANner
by WaddellCanseco on Dec 11, 2010 12:48 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
I've got to think that it's a bit optimistic with Feliz
It’s not that I don’t think he has the ability to be a very good starter, but I think it’ll take him at least a year to transition….
All I can say about stats is…
SCOTT BROSIUS!!
by stranahanahan on Dec 11, 2010 12:53 PM PST up reply actions
I'm sorry, but that's just loony-tunes
There is no way that Neftali Feliz is 30% better than Brett Anderson.
"We don't want our people to be preoccupied with seminude, crazy men jumping up and down who are chasing an inflated object," said Sheik Mohamed Osman Arus, head of operations for the Hizbul Islam insurgent group.
by PaulThomas on Dec 11, 2010 11:00 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
It's more than 30%. Anderson's ERA benefits from the A's defense.
I was very surprised by how crappy the A’s pitching projected in general in ZiPS.
It's because he derived his torque from the buttocks -- cityplANner
by WaddellCanseco on Dec 12, 2010 5:37 AM PST up reply actions
Ok, well, I know you can't just take a handful of these to judge a system
But, that doesn’t look right. Is ERA+ supposed to be park neutral?
"Not in your wildest alcoholic nightmare would you ever imagine such events unfolding!" Bill King
by Buck Turgidson on Dec 12, 2010 9:17 AM PST up reply actions
Yes, it's supposed to be park neutral
It's because he derived his torque from the buttocks -- cityplANner
by WaddellCanseco on Dec 12, 2010 6:57 PM PST up reply actions
I'm not at all comfortable seeing how...
…an upgrade from Kouzmanoff to Beltre on the Athletics somehow makes the team match-up with a rotation of Lee, Weaver, Haren, Piniero, and Kazmir any better.
As it is now, I see how it would help the team match-up with the Rangers better. But I don’t believe the Rangers are done spending.
And in all this mess discussing ‘paper wins’ and WAR in other threads, I see many of the folks who talk of young player development from other rotations [pitchers like Holland come to mind], they seldom talk about player development [gains from experience] from Oakland’s young players. In other words, I think that adding up player WAR from what our favorite team has and assigning a prediction about some .500 record in 2011 leaves out some possible vast improvement(s) from younger positional players and pitchers that are currently rostered.
"It boils down to this. You guys aren’t fans of our management and look through that prism." ~ DrDoom
Subtract Lee and if
Wilson (huge innings jump, huge BB numbers) and Lewis (breakout year or career year?) regress sharply the Rangers look very vulnerable. Not bad, but catchable.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
I dont
"We don't want our people to be preoccupied with seminude, crazy men jumping up and down who are chasing an inflated object," said Sheik Mohamed Osman Arus, head of operations for the Hizbul Islam insurgent group.
know what happened with that post.
What I was actually going to say is, I don’t know why no one seems willing to believe that Colby Lewis is actually a good pitcher now when he’s been a good pitcher for three consecutive seasons.
There’s nothing unsupportable or fluky about his 2010 season.
"We don't want our people to be preoccupied with seminude, crazy men jumping up and down who are chasing an inflated object," said Sheik Mohamed Osman Arus, head of operations for the Hizbul Islam insurgent group.
He's only had one good season, after struggling when called up the years before.
There’s his pitching in Japan, but it does not translate over well. For all we know, teams may have noticed his flaws at the end of last year and will be primed to take advantage next season.
On another note, I don’t understand why we didn’t give him a better chance in 2007 with us, when he posted 1.88 at AAA. I know it’s only AAA, but he still had potential.
So you're saying he's had not three, but four good seasons in a row?
It's because he derived his torque from the buttocks -- cityplANner
by WaddellCanseco on Dec 11, 2010 12:48 PM PST up reply actions
I neglected to mention that he got destroyed when he pitched in the majors that year
I need to re-emphasize the fact that he pitched in Japan, which isn’t at the level of the MLB. That’s why the A’s were hesitant on giving money to Iwakuma. Sure, he had a good 21-win season a couple years ago, but it’s not as if he’s going to repeat it here.
You don't need to re-emphasize that Japan isn't MLB, because that's already
taken into account in the ZiPS and CHONE projections. I think the A’s are going to regret the way they handled the Iwakuma negotiations. The guy may well be worth 4/48 or whatever it would have taken to sign him.
It's because he derived his torque from the buttocks -- cityplANner
by WaddellCanseco on Dec 12, 2010 5:43 AM PST up reply actions
I doubt it
Iwakuma just never really was that good to begin with
"Some field has fences, and sometime, the field cant hold a player, but most of the time, a field cant hold Domingo"
www.domingobeisbol.com/Domingo/Home.html
this isn't directed at this comment per se, but
I don’t believe there is a “figured out” thing going on with pitchers or hitters. Sure some hitters may be weak on a slider low and away {coughbobbycough} but those things are fairly obvious. Guys don’t get figured out, they just play to thir natural talent.
"The ego, the super-ego, and the Ed" - dannycakes
Well it's not just "if" they can throw a pitch well or not
It’s more like they have a tendency to throw certain pitches on certain counts. If hitters can learn that pitch, for example, the pitcher’s entire rhythm can be thrown off and can lose the ability to use his out-pitch, which can lead to some bad outings. It might take him months to get out of the habit and rebound.
It works the same for hitters. For example, when Kouz was on that hot streak in June, he started taking pitches and stopped swinging at garbage, which forced the pitchers to throw him something good.
That amazing second half that Rajai had in 2009...
is I think a good example of this. He stopped swinging at bad pitches, and started taking walks. THEN he started getting pitches to hit (and hit them). It was almost like he turned into this whole other player (which we can quantify with his batting stats) for a couple of months just by improving the COGNITIVE decision making side of his game (which we can’t quantify because all the important events took place in Rajai’s brain).
You're throwing around a lot of causality where there isn't any.
Who knows what happened to Rajai in that second half? Was it an adjustment he made? Was it just BABIP luck? We have no idea.
While we have no idea
I do think it’s possible (probable?) that some of these streaks are a result of just random “locked” “in the zone” moments. But while they’re fun to consider in philosophical terms, they should and can have no bearing on deciding whether a player is good or not. And you can basically completely throw them out insofar as suggesting a player can sustain it. People just have moments where everything in life just clicks for them, but they’re fleeting and don’t last.
Choosy Feebas choose Leopold Bloom nipples
Daring. Sensual. Invigorating. Squirrel.
BLOOM. For men.
If the eggs actually hatch I made more than a mistake, I made some scientifically impossible crime.
From what I saw of him during that streak,
it was 100% dumb luck. He was doing exactly the same stupid shit that he does all the time (swinging at high fastballs on 3-1 counts, etc.). He happened to get a bunch of bleeders and ducksnort bloop singles at a similar time. Whoop-de-freakin’-doo.
"We don't want our people to be preoccupied with seminude, crazy men jumping up and down who are chasing an inflated object," said Sheik Mohamed Osman Arus, head of operations for the Hizbul Islam insurgent group.
I have to admit, I will miss your Rajai rants PT
You get really downright mean with Raj…..its almost like you know him personally that way you go after his intelectual prowess.
He was just such an infuriating player to watch
Absolutely no conception of his own talents and limitations. If there was a dictionary of baseball cliches, the phrase “trying to do too much” would have a picture of Rajai Davis next to it.
"We don't want our people to be preoccupied with seminude, crazy men jumping up and down who are chasing an inflated object," said Sheik Mohamed Osman Arus, head of operations for the Hizbul Islam insurgent group.
For me it was the fact that so few people understood that walks were really good and SB were really not that helpful
He’s the anti-Cust that way.
"There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want" -Bill Watterson
I think Lewis will still be a good pitcher
But a 4.4 WAR from the guy?
I mean, damn!
All I can say about stats is…
SCOTT BROSIUS!!
by stranahanahan on Dec 11, 2010 12:54 PM PST up reply actions
CHONE projected him at about that in August, I recall. I can't find the August projections now.
It's because he derived his torque from the buttocks -- cityplANner
by WaddellCanseco on Dec 12, 2010 5:37 AM PST up reply actions
I think it's just "worst-case scenario" thinking
Better to assume that other teams’ players will get better and yours won’t, than to bet on your guys improving and not be prepared if they don’t.
If only the Athletics were to woo Lee. Then I think Oakland would be the team to beat in the AL West...
…even though I believe more games would be nail-bitters without the offense everyone seems to crave.
"It boils down to this. You guys aren’t fans of our management and look through that prism." ~ DrDoom
by LowcountryJoe on Dec 11, 2010 10:20 AM PST up reply actions
I'm willing to sacrifice Geren's nails for wins.
It's because he derived his torque from the buttocks -- cityplANner
by WaddellCanseco on Dec 11, 2010 12:49 PM PST up reply actions
cross out the "'s nails for wins"...
and change willing to want. That would be my opinion
Hmm...well if we can't get free agents to sign for decent money...
We could try doing a ritual human sacrifice or two to see if that helps the team’s luck.
A full time A's fan in Portland who spends part of his time on AN.
Not so much tweeting as squawking: http://www.twitter.com/yusebio
He seems to favor the sacrifice
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
Assuming that all players have an equal likelihood of improvement is silly
The Rangers are studded with former top 50 prospects. The A’s have a lot of guys who really kind of exceeded expectations to even get to be as good as they are now. Who are these “vast improvements” coming from?
"We don't want our people to be preoccupied with seminude, crazy men jumping up and down who are chasing an inflated object," said Sheik Mohamed Osman Arus, head of operations for the Hizbul Islam insurgent group.
by PaulThomas on Dec 11, 2010 11:50 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Barton and Sweeney finding their power stroke
Pennington hitting for a much higher average, and not throwing the ball away. Anderson taking the next step to acehood, etc. The majority of it is unlikely, but any of the young players can improve. If a few of them can grow, it will cause an overall team growth.
There is nothing to believe that Sweeney will ever find his power stroke
That ship has sailed. And the fact that he doesn’t even think it to be necessary makes me think he is unwilling to even give it much of a shot.
And as far as Pennington goes, you realize the reason he threw the ball away was because he had insane range? His defensive numbers this year were phenomenal, and probably unsustainable.
All I can say about stats is…
SCOTT BROSIUS!!
by stranahanahan on Dec 11, 2010 12:57 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
W/Penny we only have one true year of his UZR to evaluate if is sustainable or not
My understanding is there is no way to predict regression w/this small of a sample size:
1. Not enough info for to evaluate what happened to predict what will most likely happen
2. No way to properly evaluate a players true talent to what actually happened performance wise.
use your eyes
pennington is good at defense
When we played softball, I’d steal second base, feel guilty and go back.
- Woody Allen
by rhymeswithelephant on Dec 11, 2010 7:50 PM PST up reply actions
the sweeney thing should be in Rebuilding Season's Post
"The ego, the super-ego, and the Ed" - dannycakes
I'm not saying Sweeney will.
I’m saying that that would count as a “vast improvement.” As for Pennington, I’m not doubting his range, just him knowing when to HOLD ON to the ball. Frankly, that’s the only thing he can improve upon defensively.
this logic is sound and all
except for the fact that if the angels sign cliff lee, yea their down a beltre, but they will have signed CLIFF FUCKING LEE. that makes their pitching EXTREMELY scary looking, with lee weaver adn santana going 1,2,3. the angels offense is considerably better than ours even without matsui in their lineup.
bottom line, it would be best if the angels missed out on both beltre and lee. but when it comes down to it, i would much prefer beltre on the angels than lee
Damn! I forgot about Santana.
That rotation [with a hypothetical Lee in it] is looking very formidable indeed.
The Athletics should be signing Cliff F’ing Lee!
"It boils down to this. You guys aren’t fans of our management and look through that prism." ~ DrDoom
by LowcountryJoe on Dec 11, 2010 10:42 AM PST up reply actions
No wonder they never say his middle name on telecasts
Jeez, nice parents.
The Oakland A's: If you have a no-trade clause in your contract, we're in it.
by notsellingjeans on Dec 11, 2010 12:53 PM PST up reply actions
haha
All I can say about stats is…
SCOTT BROSIUS!!
by stranahanahan on Dec 11, 2010 12:57 PM PST up reply actions
I'd settle for being the Red Sox
It's because he derived his torque from the buttocks -- cityplANner
by WaddellCanseco on Dec 12, 2010 5:40 AM PST up reply actions
I disagree, Nico...
If the Yanks sign Lee, which I think they will, and the Angels do in fact get Beltre, that’s better than the Angels getting Lee and the A’s getting Beltre.
Lee is a 6-7.2 WAR player. Beltre only has 1 season where his WAR was more than 5 in the past 6 years. Excluding Beltre’s 2004 mega-season, and last year was the only season his WAR was ever above 5. So Lee is clearly the better player and clearly more likely to be better over the next few seasons. So in your scenario, the Angels are better off than the A’s.
But on top of that… Lee would probably pitch against Oakland 4 or 5 times per year. Anyone who watched Lee pitch against the A’s over the past few years knows that the A’s don’t stand a snowball’s chance in hell. So it’s very likely that the Angels would win the season series and the A’s would lose more games because Lee pitches against them so often.
The chances of Beltre sucking over the next few years are much higher than the chances of Lee sucking.
What I think would happen would be that Lee would continue his run of 6-7 WAR seasons and Beltre will be around 3-5 WAR per season. That gives a significant advantage to the A’s.
If the Angels got Beltre and the A’s got no one, at least the Angels would have signed someone (Beltre) who has a much better chance at being worse.
Bottom line is I don't want Lee in this division no matter what the A's do.
by Brett Narloch on Dec 11, 2010 11:40 AM PST up reply actions
the only problem is that if the Rangers do not get Lee
they stand a real good shot at trading for Greinke..
JD’s like, "you want some fucking pitching? Here’s all the pitching you can stand. Now choke on it, bitches!"- RCCook
I'd rather they have them get Greinke and have fewer prospects...
than Lee – who is much better – and all of their prospects.
by Brett Narloch on Dec 11, 2010 2:53 PM PST up reply actions
I don't think Lee is "much better" than Greinke. You've got two of the top five AL pitchers there.
It's because he derived his torque from the buttocks -- cityplANner
by WaddellCanseco on Dec 11, 2010 7:08 PM PST up reply actions
And one has hit his career peak
Lee is very good but he’s not going to get better, and at some point he will find that balance between where he’s been lately and earth.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
Ok.. let's say that they're the same over the next few years.
Them trading for Greinke still means giving up top prospects. That’s good for the A’s.
by Brett Narloch on Dec 11, 2010 7:55 PM PST up reply actions
I very much agree with this
Especially considering Greinke also costs $13.5M/ year and then he goes to Free Agency in 2 yeats.
Basically, if Anaheim is intent on adding one of Beltre, Lee or Greinke, then Greinke has got to be best case scenario for us…
All I can say about stats is…
SCOTT BROSIUS!!
by stranahanahan on Dec 11, 2010 8:10 PM PST up reply actions
I think we were talking about the Rangers trading for Greinke...
But if the Rangers or Angels are intent on getting a big name, I think Beltre is the best from the A’s perspective because he’s the worst of the 3 and the difference between Beltre and Kouz won’t be all that much. For the record, I do believe the A’s should keep trying to get Beltre… I just don’t think he’d be more than 2 WAR better.
If the Rangers or Angels get Lee and/or Greinke, they would be replacing bums in the rotations where the difference in WAR would be 6 or 7.
by Brett Narloch on Dec 11, 2010 8:55 PM PST up reply actions
oh yeah, that is what I meant, though
I dunno why I wrote Anaheim there at the bottom
All I can say about stats is…
SCOTT BROSIUS!!
by stranahanahan on Dec 11, 2010 8:56 PM PST up reply actions
Well if you're going to compare WARs, you need to compare the differences, not totals
Measure the added WAR of Lee over whoever gets booted out of the rotation against the difference that Beltre has over the black hole that is the Angels’ 3rd Basemen. I’m sure Lee will still be worth more, but not as much as between him and Beltre.
So, you're in favor of seeing what kind of season...
…the PEDs dispenser is going to spit out next, Nico?
"It boils down to this. You guys aren’t fans of our management and look through that prism." ~ DrDoom
I think the A's are already better.
Significantly so. The largest points: can we reasonably expect the A’s to keep breaking their own world record year after year in time spent on the DL? Has Suzuki actually fallen off a cliff in his age 26 season, or is he going to regress to a 2+ WAR player? Is not DeJesus a 3 WAR improvement over last years’ combined outfieldery (sans Crisp)? If this team can just grab a WAR here and there (Manny Ramirez? Kouzmanoff hits better and maintains his defense? Cahill regresses but Anderson and Gonzalez improve fairly drastically? Carter goes nuts? Barton improves entering prime years?) – we can reasonably expect a 90+ win team over last year. A couple lucky hot streaks and this a playoff team already.
Do you best? I put insect voices! (Laughs) (laughs)
I think you're asking for more than a couple lucky hot streaks
All I can say about stats is…
SCOTT BROSIUS!!
by stranahanahan on Dec 11, 2010 12:58 PM PST up reply actions
If "ifs" and "buts" were candy and nuts...
we’d all have a merry Christmas.
by Brett Narloch on Dec 11, 2010 2:02 PM PST up reply actions
Or my personal favorite...
If your aunt had balls she’d be your uncle.
by Brett Narloch on Dec 11, 2010 2:02 PM PST up reply actions
I think there's a 0 point none chance the Angels sign Lee.
Look at that low offer to Crawford. They don’t have much money left, and Lee is going to the highest bidder.
I could see the Angels using their remaining few million on a 4th outfielder upgrade – someone to push Rivera in left, or even replace Rivera and push Rivera to 4th.
Napoli or Abreu DH’s, right?
The Oakland A's: If you have a no-trade clause in your contract, we're in it.
by notsellingjeans on Dec 11, 2010 12:58 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
0% chance they sign Lee,
25% chance they sign Beltre.
They’re near the top of their budget, and Arte Moreno would rather stab Scott Boras in the neck than sign one of his free agents.
"Burt Reynolds witnessed the conception of his own dad, and frankly, that's what's wrong with him."- TPDMTD!
by Gaijin_Suketto on Dec 11, 2010 3:34 PM PST up reply actions
What would be nice, of course, is
Lee out of the AL West, Beltre and Matsui to the A’s.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
Best case scenario:
Yankees sign Lee, A’s sign Beltre, and Matsui, trade kouz for scott downs
Lets go Oakland, boom boom boom boom boom
by section119a'sfan on Dec 11, 2010 4:12 PM PST reply actions
Since when
can you acquire free agents by trade?
Ah, he's no longer a free agent
I see he was just signed. . . by LAA.
Uh, what?
We don’t need Downs, nor his contract on our hands.
All I can say about stats is…
SCOTT BROSIUS!!
by stranahanahan on Dec 11, 2010 4:32 PM PST up reply actions
why would a trade a younger, everyday player that's good at defense for an older reliever? leaving aside the difference in WAR per year, kouz will produce more WAR over the rest of his career than downs will.
if you’re gonna trade kouz to the angels for downs then we better get more from the angels.
the artist formerly known as inbillywetrust
Downs cannot be traded right now
"We don't want our people to be preoccupied with seminude, crazy men jumping up and down who are chasing an inflated object," said Sheik Mohamed Osman Arus, head of operations for the Hizbul Islam insurgent group.
How long is the waiting period?
Just curious, in general…
All I can say about stats is…
SCOTT BROSIUS!!
by stranahanahan on Dec 11, 2010 11:51 PM PST up reply actions
June
Taurus Apr 20-May 20
Honey or vinegar? That’s kind of the universal decision we have to make all the time, every day. Are we going to get what we want by being nice or being a dick? And you know what, Taurus? Every situation is different, there’s no one way to do things. Know what else? Honey and vinegar go together in a nice salad dressing.
by designatedforassignment on Dec 12, 2010 2:26 AM PST up reply actions
Technically he can be traded right away if he gives his consent to the deal
But… why would he?
The monster at the end of this blog.
Because we're so cool
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
Buyee's remorse?
Choosy Feebas choose Leopold Bloom nipples
Daring. Sensual. Invigorating. Squirrel.
BLOOM. For men.
If the eggs actually hatch I made more than a mistake, I made some scientifically impossible crime.
I think he can be traded with his consent, but I'm not sure.
stranahanahan: the waiting period lasts until June 15.
"We've come a long way, and I'm not talking about Virginia Slims, either." - Art Howe
we need some better relievers, and if we signed beltre, we wouldn't need kouz anyways...
Lets go Oakland, boom boom boom boom boom
by section119a'sfan on Dec 11, 2010 8:28 PM PST reply actions
Reply button
Yeesh.
"We don't want our people to be preoccupied with seminude, crazy men jumping up and down who are chasing an inflated object," said Sheik Mohamed Osman Arus, head of operations for the Hizbul Islam insurgent group.
Boston have an abundnce of OF
They only have 2 spots for Mike Cameron, Jacoby Ellsbury & Ryan Kalish, and JD Drew is in a walk year AND they have been linked to Magglio Ordonez. So…..Trade. For. Drew. Now.
While youre at it, trade nothing for Carlos Beltran and have Drew & Beltran flip between RF & DH. Does this sound decent enough for everyone? We dont give up much and get a short term RF/DH solution.
It would be intriguing
But I think if they trade anyone, Boston’s gettin rid of Cameron…
All I can say about stats is…
SCOTT BROSIUS!!
by stranahanahan on Dec 11, 2010 11:50 PM PST up reply actions
We need to get Beltran out of our heads
He has a full no trade clause, and he’s not going to waive it to come to Oakland.
"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin
by Helloooo 1st on Dec 12, 2010 1:03 AM PST up reply actions
ON crack medical staff, more like
"We don't want our people to be preoccupied with seminude, crazy men jumping up and down who are chasing an inflated object," said Sheik Mohamed Osman Arus, head of operations for the Hizbul Islam insurgent group.
He might if the other choice is Boston. He knows gets a full time gig in RF in Oakland.
Of course he probably also has that in New York.
It's because he derived his torque from the buttocks -- cityplANner
by WaddellCanseco on Dec 12, 2010 5:38 AM PST up reply actions
On the OP topic
Nico, you do realize the Angels are not in a position to add much money right? Haren put them over budget and they are going to have to trade if they want to make a major signing. We also should hope CJ Wilson signs with Boras and leaves Texas after the 2011 season. However, MLB’s new focus of promoting the Texas market plays against that (and is getting REALLY annoying. Watch how much attention is paid to the Rangers and soon Astros now compared with 3 years ago, ugh, its gross.).
I want the following to happen:
Cliff Lee to Washington Nationals
Your 2011 Oakland Athletics
CF: Crisp
1B: Barton
3B: Beltre
DH: MannyorThomeorMagglio
RF: *
LF: Dejesus
2B: Ellis
C: Suzuki
SS: Pennington
*Anyone but Sweeney or CoJax, preferably someone we can get in a Kouzmanoff-led package possibly including Sweeney or CoJax. I’d like Carlos Beltran or JD Drew, but both those teams have a 3B so a third team might need to get involved.
I’d also like to sign Rafael Soriano and Justin Duchscherer.
Cliff notes**:
Billy goes on a signing rampage, getting us: Beltre (5/80), Soriano (3/27), Duchscherer (1/2), and one of Manny (1/8), Thome (1/9) or Magglio (2/18) .
Billy turns Kouzmanoff, Sweeney and prospects into either Beltran or Drew.
**major wishcasting alert. please be advised.
Not trying to take this out on you, personally, but can I just say that the use of
“You realize that __, right?” is fast becoming one of the most tired and lame devices I’ve seen in a long time. It’s usually designed to say, “You probably don’t realize this, but let me inform you in a condescending way…”
This has nothing to do with you, PL78; it’s just time for this rant, and accompanying piece of information: Every time someone uses this lame device, God actually gives emphysema to a baby kitten. This is documented fact, as evidenced by the fact that it has been misreported by RotoWorld.
As for your actual point, at the time I wrote the OP I wasn’t aware of the extent of the Angels’ salary constraints. However, a team that has just made a $100M+ offer to a player less than a week ago can probably afford to offer $80-90M to another player if they so choose.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
If someone (again, speaking generally here) negligently fails to take account of public, easily available information
then saying “you do realize xyz, right?” is an excellent way to smack them with a wet noodle and encourage them to be more thorough the next time.
What’s wrong with giving someone a (really rather mild, when you think about it) rebuke?
"We don't want our people to be preoccupied with seminude, crazy men jumping up and down who are chasing an inflated object," said Sheik Mohamed Osman Arus, head of operations for the Hizbul Islam insurgent group.
by PaulThomas on Dec 12, 2010 11:10 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Because it's so disingenuous
You’re saying “You realize” to mean “You don’t realize,” and “right?” to mean “I know the answer,” and frankly it just sounds condescending.
Plus, it’s often not used for people negligently failing to take things into account that they clearly should have known — it’s more often used for people simply not knowing something that somebody else knows. I just think it sounds really stupid.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
by Nico on Dec 12, 2010 11:15 AM PST up reply actions 2 recs
As much as I appreciate you singled me out to make sure I was not being targeted,
I really disagree, its not condescending at all if the entire basis of a post is not really correct and there’s a point the poster clearly missed. You wrote a fanpost that can never actually happen that plays into the (frankly BS, IMO) “sky is falling/we are screwed” attitude that this site has taken on since the first Beltre offer was pulled and Berkman signed elsewhere for less. There is a tremendous chance Cliff Lee is not signing with anyone in the AL West, its so much a long shot its almost comical. You then make the point that “well, if they don’t get Lee, they will get Beltre”, which is also difficult for LAAA to do, as I pointed out that they are at $135MM and cannot really add a big contract like Beltre.
The reality is the Angels might not make any more signings this offseason, and Texas, despite getting to the dance last year, remains a really miserable place for pitchers to play, and we all know pitching and defense is as important as offense. I sincerely doubt Lee signs with an AL West team, and therefore this post is really more harmful than worthwhile as it plays in the doomsday vibe this site has taken. Sorry, but I’m not buying that we arent contenders in 2011, we absolutely are. DeJesus instead of Raj and a full year of Sweeney/CoJax might be all we need. Its not what I want or ideal, as we definitely could put this division out of reach if we got Beltre, Soriano and a DH named Manny or Jim, but things are nowhere near as bad as the vibe on AN has been lately. I dont post as often anymore because its gotten so illogically bad (if we were .500 with our ace, our closer and our OF being hurt and our catcher underperforming, we are definitely going to be way over it with all those players healthy and Suzuki regressing), and this post plays into that. I’ll post more when you all quit acting like we are 75 win team next year.
There was a rumor that LAA matched Boston's offer to Crawford
just a rumor but there is at least an outside chance that they were willing to spend $142m but were just late to the party. So Nico’s assumptions, while unlikely are at least possible.
We know they offered over $100M
That’s not an assumption, it’s verified.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
I am saying that they then offered more
I forget where I saw it… Think maybe Heyman mentioned someone else reporting it. Teams were told 7/142 was the number and were given a deadline. Boston came back first and Crawford made up his mind. Then LAA came in at same number but was too late.
If true then LAA is willing to spend but is slow-playing the market. I guess we will know their intentions soon enough.
that was reported
I read it too, the question is, is it true and did the Angels give it knowing they passed the deadline or not.
"The ego, the super-ego, and the Ed" - dannycakes
For your own sake, don't ever watch a cross-examination of an expert witness in court
That’s basically how every question is phrased.
"We don't want our people to be preoccupied with seminude, crazy men jumping up and down who are chasing an inflated object," said Sheik Mohamed Osman Arus, head of operations for the Hizbul Islam insurgent group.
I watch the People's Court
And it has nothing to do with Judge Marilyn Milian’s uber-hotness; I just like her questioning techniques.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
That's not an actual courtroom though
It’s a very TV-ified form of arbitration.
"We don't want our people to be preoccupied with seminude, crazy men jumping up and down who are chasing an inflated object," said Sheik Mohamed Osman Arus, head of operations for the Hizbul Islam insurgent group.
I know. She's just "all that," IMO.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
I gotta agree with Nico on this one
2 Reasons…First, if they could offer Crawford 100Mill then I dont see why they couldn’t offer Beltre 80Mill. I don’t think they will, (I see them going the trade route since Beltre was Plan C and Crawford Plan A) but obviously they aren’t handcuffed and unable to offer FA big contracts. Second, that is a very condecending statement, PL78 is halfway hinting that you are not smart (or dilligent, not sure which) enough to check on their financial situation before making the post, then saying he is smart/dilligent enough to check their financial situation. I don’t like it because there is a level of superiority attatched to the statement with the way it’s worded.
by Po' Boy on Dec 12, 2010 12:34 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
I do see PT's point though
It wasn’t blatent in-your-face disrespect, it was a mild comment, but still not the best way to correct someone.
by Po' Boy on Dec 12, 2010 12:42 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Oh my god....AN is just brutal now.
God, AN sucks so hard right now. WHY do I keep getting accused of things that I CLEARLY did not do????
1. I’m apparently racist in that I merely pointing out that Ron Washington did cocaine and thats a bad thing because manages a team with a junkie superstar on it. This hurts. I am in an interracial relationship right now, I am definitely not a racist and love everyone who isnt a pedantic dilweed. I do not come to AN to get accused of this utter crap, and I really think StJoe should be banned for making such an illogical conclusion.
2. I’m a “plagiarist” in that I posted something from the internet that was reposted 1000 times today where I even gave credit to the person who wrote it, therefore it being the opposite of plagiarism. Funny thing is, I didnt even first read it from where I was getting accused of taking it from. PT trolled my harmless post that contains not one iota of plagiarism, accused me of such, and that needs to be dealt with.
3. Being “condescending” and thinking Nico is not smart by pointing out something he missed and quickly moving onto my points on the matter. I respect the shit out of Nico, he’s maybe my fave poster on here, I think we understand our points of view and I was absolutely not being disrespectful. I think he was wrong here, but thats only my opinion. Its word choice, and I think its also harmless. You are a bad person for calling me out like I was trying to do anything else other than that. Please do not make such ridiculous connections in future.
So in short, yeah I GET IT. The vocal minority (dfa, flashfire, PT and the mindless morons who follow them blindly) do not want me here. I have no idea why, I’m not a nerd who gets off on thinking their opinion is correct and I actually dont like arguing unless I get accused of things, but I’m pretty harmless and have opinions on baseball and my fave team is the A’s, that’s why this site exists isn’t it? I’d say the group I mentioned have gone out of their way to make AN a worse, unforgiving, unwelcoming place than helped it by making good posts, but that’s just me.
Whatever, you cant get rid of me forever, I’ll be back when the A’s make a move. You can get rid of this doomsday bullshit though, the A’s are going to contend in 2011 whether your Nostradamus projection metrics think they can or not. Just know you can make stats say anything you want to, and the Giants won the WS last year with an offense worse than what we have currently. See you around AN. I’m not looking at you for a while….
by PL78 on Dec 12, 2010 1:56 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs
Again, I've been wanting to rail on the "you do realize, right" meme
for a while and just decided, randomly, to do it this time because it was at the bottom of the thread and I just finally felt like it. PL78 is not a frequent offender and this particular comment wasn’t one of the worst examples — so again, I want to make clear that this has NOTHING to do with you, PL78, or this comment in particular. Just something that’s been bugging me lately.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
I never said you think Nico isn't smart
I said the device your using is either you hinting that hes not smart enough to look them up or not dilligent enough to look them up, it could be either one or neither, I am not inside your mind therefore I could never know. But reading that and it not being the first time ive read something similar, I can see why Nico said something about it, since to most readers it does come off as condescending. I was not aware of the two previous points you made in this comment since I wasn’t there and didn’t comment in either thread, but I’m sorry a few posters here have made you feel unwelcome and/or that your opinions here are unwelcome. I think I speak for most when I say that this is not a cult, its a community with a common interest, and every person is entitled to free thought, opinions, and disagreements about the Athletics. P.S…..I hope you weren’t inferring that ~ am a moron follower, I have thoughts and opinions just as you do.
by Po' Boy on Dec 12, 2010 2:51 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
One more thing....
I agree that it was word choice and said that it was mild, so I don’t see how you became so aggressively defensive. You calling me a bad person and a moron for agreeing with Nico doesn’t help your case for people not jumping down your throat, in fact, I’m almost positive it hurts your case since those are the kind of comments that bring this sorta thing about.
by Po' Boy on Dec 12, 2010 2:57 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Have you run into this guy before?
The slightest criticism and he’s up on the cross crying persecution.
"We don't want our people to be preoccupied with seminude, crazy men jumping up and down who are chasing an inflated object," said Sheik Mohamed Osman Arus, head of operations for the Hizbul Islam insurgent group.
I'm partly to blame here -
my point had nothing to do with him but I made it in reply to his comment. I should have waited for a similar comment by a less “high profile” user.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
I made one, but it was already too late.
And it was directed at myself, which perhaps trades condescension for irony.
Your poem here.
So the Phillies want Cliff Lee
According to mlbtraderumors, the Phillies are in on Lee and want to unload Blanton. It appears to be a salary dump to free up money for Lee, so they may not want much in return. How about re-acquiring Blanton and throwing money at Beltre?
Otay!
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
The only problem with throwing money at Beltre
have you ever made a paper airplane with a dollar bill? It doesn’t fly very far.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Athletics Nation
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
Baseball Nation Recent Stories
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- Get a grip: Reds’ Todd Frazier loses bat, still connects for home run (Video)
- Eric Hosmer redefines the Baltimore chop with infield double (Video)
- College player makes impossible over the fence catch to save tournament game (Video)
- Security!: Camden Yards guard collides with Royals’ Mike Moustakas
- The Juice: Nelson Cruz matches career high eight RBIs, Pujols stays hot in Seattle
