10/29/07 DLD: The 2007 season is finally over
by gotgreen on Oct 29, 2007 9:52 AM PDT
Email
PrintWho else is ready for the 2008 season to start?!
The end of the postseason means it is the start of rumors, trades, and signings!
Here are some tidbits from around the league:
- The Yankees officially made an offer to Joe Girardi for the manager job and he is expected to accept. (link). Buster Olney also reports that Don Mattingly will NOT accept a position on the Yankees coaching staff.
- A-Rod opted out of his contract with the Yankees. (The AN discussion about that is here.) The younger Steinbrenner says:
"It’s a shame," Hank Steinbrenner, who is now running the Yankees, said late Sunday night. "But we are all in agreement: myself, my dad, my brother, all the baseball people. If you don’t want to be a Yankee and paid what you’re being paid, we don’t want you, that’s the bottom line. You’d be hard-pressed to argue that point. If you don’t understand the magnitude of being a Yankee and understand what that means, and being the highest-paid player in baseball, I think it’s pretty obvious."
- The NY Post says that the Dodgers and manager Grady Little are discussing a buyout so that Joe Torre can manage the Dodgers. (link) Hmm, if Torre goes to the Dodgers, is there a better chance A-Rod will go to LA too?
- And since it's almost Halloween, here's an article about baseball and ghosts! (link)
Sox centerfielder Coco Crisp tells a story about a haunted elevator in the Westin St Francis hotel in San Francisco, visiting team hotel of the Oakland A's. Crisp recounts an eerie ride up to his room that left him sleepless that night. His teammate at the time with the Cleveland Indians, C.C. Sabathia, thought a ghost entered the elevator while he was on it and got off on the 17th floor. Veteran teammate and former Sox outfielder, Ellis Burks, swears a ghostly woman walked by him. Burks asked to change rooms.
Michael Young: "My roommate wakes me up in the middle of the night and says he saw a ghost above him. He was freaking out. So I got a big glob of toothpaste and put a big cross on the door and I told him, 'Is this good enough for you? 'Cause I'm going back to sleep.'"
HAHA!
CONGRATS TO BRAD ZIEGLER AND HIS WIFE ON THE ARRIVAL OF THEIR BABY GIRL! :)
109 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
My first thought this morning
was, thank goodness the offseason is finally here.
Girardi -- good choice, I think.
girardi
considering he wanted to trade all the talented young players on the marlins for overpaid veterans, he is a good choice to manage the yankees.
I read it
which MUST mean I've been an A's fan too long.
Hm
That prediction about the Marlins' performance this year doesn't look so hot right now.
In fact, pretty much this entire season has been ammo for the argument that Girardi was a significant part of the Marlins' pseudo-run last season.
He was clearly the right hire for the Yankees. He's not a dolt; compared to the other leading lights of the Fox crew, he was far and away the most intelligent. I don't doubt that he made some significant errors in his first year (as I'm sure everyone does), but I think he (unlike many managers) will take a lesson from them.
Whoa there
2007 Marlins ERA: Last in the NL
- 8th out of 16.
What the hell does that have to do with the manager? maybe the new guy didn't leverage his pitchers well, but it's extremely unlikely that the manager has much at all to do with that.
I certainly didn't mean to reopen that argument so that's the last I'll say about that.
I dunno, seems appropriate given his likely hire
To borrow (and slightly misuse) a debate term, the Girardi argument was retroactively non-uniqued.
His successor managed to do exactly what people were afraid Girardi would, namely, get a bunch of young pitchers injured.
To put it another way, the good things that Girardi is supposed to have done (helped out the rookies, coaxed a few extra wins out of the team with strategy, and so on) were not matched by his successor, while the theoretical bad things (pitcher injuries, Olsen's rageaholism) are increasingly looking like they were beyond his control.
josh johnson
"His successor managed to do exactly what people were afraid Girardi would, namely, get a bunch of young pitchers injured."
but girardi is the one who got josh johnson injured.
It seems about 8376482 times more likely
that Johnson was already disposed toward injuries (as evidenced by his recurring problems this year, which Girardi obviously had nothing to do with) than that somehow one game caused him to be irreparably damaged for life.
I mean, I suppose it's possible, but it's about as plausible as saying that all of Harden's problems this year really were just a freak accident from reaching for a ball.
girardi's successor
so girardi isn't responsible for injuries because certain players are already disposed towards injuries... but his successor is to blame for injuries?
"His successor managed to do exactly what people were afraid Girardi would, namely, get a bunch of young pitchers injured."
Eh... I don't really believe Gonzalez CAUSED
the pitchers to get injured. It takes a pattern of stupid behavior on a manager's part to materially increase a pitcher's chances of injury.
That comment was sarcastic, not literal.
Or alternatively
one could argue that Girardi's abuse of his young pitchers caught up with them in the form of injuries the following year. Honestly, there isn't much to go on here.
Of the two pitchers mikeA mentions, Johnson was injured in the first week of spring training (with an irritated ulnar nerve, the same injury that Huston Street had), made a brief attempt to pitch in midseason (4 starts, 16 innings total), and then was shut down again for Tommy John surgery. Sanchez made only 6 starts (never more than 6 innings or 110 pitches) before getting injured. I don't see how you can blame Gonzalez in either case.
On the other hand, Girardi was hardly Dusty Baker. Neither of those pitchers ever threw more than 120 pitches in a start in 2006. But they did both have quite a few starts in the 100-115 pitch range. Is there any causal connection between that level of use and both pitchers getting injured the next spring? I don't think the data supports anything either way beyond mere speculation.
marlins
"That prediction about the Marlins' performance this year doesn't look so hot right now."
that's the only comment i regret (yeah that's right, i don't regret accusing grover of saying chone figgins should be AL MVP):
"the marlins will win more games next year than they won this year."
obviously what i meant was however many games they win, the manager will have little to do with it.
so the marlins went from 78 wins to 71, probably because of a little bit of good luck (pokey reece disappearing and being replaced by uggla) turning into bad luck, some players regressing to the mean, and more injuries this year than last year.
and again, girardi wanted the marlins to trade a lot of their young players for veterans, but beinfest didn't want to.
ZOMG he likes veterans!!!1
Dude, if you were handed that crap and told to put an acceptable team on the field, wouldn't you ask for a few veterans? It's Girardi's job to tell the front office what he thinks the team needs. It's the front office's job to figure out if it can afford it and how to obtain it.
A couple of solid vets might well have put the Marlins in the playoffs last season.
Hmm...
"If you don’t understand the magnitude of being a Yankee and understand what that means... I think it’s pretty obvious."
So what does being a Yankee mean?
It means getting booed for a pop-up.
Can't imagine why A-Rod wouldn't want to lose money to stay.
Amen.
I beg to differ.
This season sucked rhino ass.
And when I read my subject line, my brain read "beg to dilfer," which reminded me that the 49ers' season is sucking rhino ass, too.
When does the NBA season start?
I beg to Druckenmiller
(in other words, could be worse)
by Leopold Bloom on Oct 29, 2007 10:58 AM PDT up reply actions
Sorry
I hurt you. Jim Druckenmiller really isn't a name one should casually toss around.
by Leopold Bloom on Oct 29, 2007 9:13 PM PDT up reply actions
sad thing about 49ers
is the Patriots get their first pick, which is looking like it could be top 5...
49ers traded their 2008 1st round pick
for the patriots 2007 1st round pick on the theory that they were getting better (and so their 2008 pick would be higher [as in #]). Oops, I guess they didn't realize they got very lucky in their 7-9 season (played more like a 5-11 team).
not quite as bad, but
instead, our first round pick is that of the Colts. IE, we have 2 second round picks. Maybe the pats will let us get our pick back out of pity?
Who understands Boras
much less A-Rod, but I can completely understand him running as fast and as far from New York as he can. The place has been nightmarish for him. And, as much as we all hate the thought, the best fit for ol' Purple Lips is probably Anaheim, both in terms of a good fit for them and a good fit for him.
Offseason Calendar
Important Dates with predictions
November 6-9: GM Meetings (Rumors of Blanton/Haren to NYM, Billy says "we look at every possible trade")
December 1: Last day to offer salary arbitration (Day that Piazza becomes a FA)
December 3-6: Winter Meetings (Rumors of Blanton/Haren to NYM, Billy says "we look at every possible trade")
December 7: Last day for free agents to accept arbitration (Day Scutaro becomes a FA)
December 21: Day of Mega Trades (Blanton to TB, Street to Yankees, Beckham to SJ Earthquakes)
January 19: Day of Signings (random backup MI and relief pitcher signed)
How do I miss these things????
Clearly I need to do a better job finding random events to attend.....
The object of the game was simple: Easley handed participants yardlong cylinders of cardboard. They dueled in pairs until one of the tubes broke. Rules included no stabbing, no hitting in the face and no blocking with anything other than cardboard.
This year in Baseball Awards is on MLB.com
So far the only Oakland A to make an appearance is Eric Chavez and his juggling act in foul territory.
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/awards/y2007/...
I voted a couple times for him even though it wasn't the best. Makes me miss him.
Here is my plan for the A's
(Listen up, Billy!)
- Sign A-Rod to 12 year, 25 million/per contract.
- After five years, plant roids, guns, and letters from al qaeda in his locker, and void the contract.
Just change the name on the contract to Mike Vick
Then sue him for 63 Billion.
by theblackpearl on Oct 29, 2007 1:22 PM PDT up reply actions
I just saw an ad
for a compant that is "Seeking Copy Editor's".
I would say there need is desparate.
What's a "compant?"
I choose not to speculate, lest I suggest some relationship to a certain blue dress.
by The Dogfather on Oct 29, 2007 2:40 PM PDT up reply actions
Why would they want a Poofeeder?
by kaweahkaweah on Oct 29, 2007 1:02 PM PDT up reply actions
I've read a few poofs
Oscar Wilde was fun and E.M. Forster was incredible. Um, to read, that is.
by Leopold Bloom on Oct 29, 2007 9:17 PM PDT up reply actions
Well, my day just got better.
The tomato juice bath
is a lot more fun if you add a few gallons of vodka, a bunch of celery, a cup of celery salt and a few bottles of Worcestershire sauce.
Or so I've heard.
Seems a little disloyal
that the hotel for teams visiting the Oakland A's is in San Francisco. I imagine the Westin is nicer than the Oakland Marriott, but gee whiz.
by kkdaz on Oct 29, 2007 1:14 PM PDT reply actions
They used to stay at the Oakland Airport Hilton
...until there were some break-ins and jewelry, etc., was stolen from players. Now they all stay in the city.
But here's my question: Roommates? Roommates? All that stinkin' money and they still share rooms?
Give me a break.
yay!
trades are starting to happen!
Tigers acquired shortstop Edgar Renteria from the Braves for RHP Jair Jurrjens and outfielder Gorkys Hernandez.
from rotoworld
Clearly those names are made up
Nice try :)
by franks a lot on Oct 29, 2007 1:30 PM PDT up reply actions
Poor Renteria
Keeps playing well, keeps getting traded.
I'm surprised the Braves took so little for him, but I guess they were desperate for a blue-chip pitching prospect.
ATL should have held out for Bonderman
by AsWin on Oct 29, 2007 2:19 PM PDT up reply actions
seemed fair to me
Renteria is a solid player (even if his babip was about 60 points above career average this year), but he's 32 and is on the downside of his career. Jurrjens and Hernandez are very good prospects, so it seems like a fair trade to me even if Renteria is closer to the .720 OPS guy he was before he went to Atlanta.
So when Hernandez becomes a superstar
Comerica will become known as Gorkys' Park.
by green star oakland on Oct 29, 2007 2:27 PM PDT up reply actions
Why not...
He already has a Welsh band named after him...Gorky's Zygotic Mynci.
by franks a lot on Oct 29, 2007 2:36 PM PDT up reply actions
On his quest for greatness and notriety
A band has already been named after him...Gorky's Zygotic Mynci.
by franks a lot on Oct 29, 2007 2:38 PM PDT up reply actions
Pardon the almost-too-familiar double post
(Personal) technical difficults with AN
by franks a lot on Oct 29, 2007 2:40 PM PDT up reply actions
Sorry for the nearly-the-same deja vu posts
Having some technical difficulties with the AN site.
i wanted to make this comment
Me, too.
But I knew, even before scrolling down to gso's comment, that there was no way the setup would have survived untouched for sixteen hours.
check that... *17* hours.
I prematurely falled back.
Hey Cal fans
You call that a lateral play? Now THIS is a lateral play. All of them legit laterals, no less. No Stanford band, though.
by FreeSeatUpgrade on Oct 29, 2007 1:44 PM PDT reply actions
Love the play-by-play call
Wow, yes, that was awesome!
This is the thing I hate the most about Journalis
this is from Urban's mailbag.
am a fan of coach Rene Lachemann. He was part of the great Oakland teams of the late 1980s, along with the current group. Why did the A's let him go?
-- Ted L., SacramentoThe company line is that manager Bob Geren wanted to bring in his "own guys," and Lachemann was a holdover from Ken Macha's staff. So was Brad Fischer, another one of the coaches who was let go.
What's interesting to me is that bench coach Bob Schaefer, who also got the boot, was brought in by Geren. So why did he have to go, too? Geren doesn't bite on that one, and that's his right -- as is hand-picking his staff. But at least one person fairly familiar with the recent culture of the staff thinks the three men whose contracts were not renewed were the three coaches most likely to speak up when they thought something needed to be done differently. I'm not saying that's true, but the thought is out there.
If you are going to take the pu**Y way out, at least do it with your own opinion. It is his staff, he can build it any way he wants.
To Englishmajor:
Thanks! They're awesome. As soon as they fit, there will be pictures.
Football players find a new cure for dandruff..
49ers Joe Nedney discovers scratching head with middle finger alleviates flakes!
The secret's been out for a while.
That's why Zito got hit so hard this season.
Chavez sucks
Hugo i mean, i had to be in a queue for a half an hour to buy one measly bag of milk for my grandparents, ONE, communism sucks.
but is he clutch?
And I've heard
that Communist plays a mean hot corner.
by Leopold Bloom on Oct 29, 2007 9:20 PM PDT up reply actions
Breaking News!!!!!!!!!!!
Torre reportedly to be named Dodgers manager, Girardi to Yankees, as heard on SportsCenter. Gee I wonder if they would've stayed up this late to report if a team such as the A's had named a manager. I'll let you answer that.
and more BREAKING NEWS!!
A little bitter?
That was a great ending. And the Broncos have already benefited from more than their fair share of last-second drama this year.
Ha
And the Broncos have already benefited from more than their fair share of last-second drama this year.
A little bitter?
lemme guess, Buffalo?
Hey, the Broncos flat out deserved that win after getting the field goal unit on in that short amount of time.
I'm not bitter, I'm just bummed. But I did think the Favre love fest was a touch over the top last night.
YOU LEAVE MY BRETT FAVRE OUT OF THIS.
[head spins]
I AM EFFING BITTER RIGHT NOW. TWO WHORES IN MY OFFICE HAVE TICKETS TO SUNDAY'S GAME AND THEY AREN'T SHARING! WHHHHHAAAA!!
I'm about ready to smash some shit.
I think I need to have my meds upped.
I'm trying to convince myself
LIFE ISN'T FAIR! MOMMY!
f%#!ing "Pushing Daisies"
I've had that f%#!ing "Birdhouse in Your Soul" song in my head nonstop for almost a week now.
Not to put too fine a point on it
Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet
I'm your only friend
I'm not your only friend but I'm a little glowing friend but really I'm not actually your friend but I am...
when she finds out how it all works
she is so going to push the dead girl into the pie man.
Oh!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73TtW...
And my fave:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15bvy...
Can't look while at work,
but if one of those is the "Hopelessly Devoted" scene... that was hilarious... :-D
No. :(
- They Might Be Giants - Istanbul (Not Constantinople)
- Daft Punk - Around the World
Goddammit.
Are you people trying to kill me with earworms or something?
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
Baseball Nation Recent Stories
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- Josh Hamilton on public relapse: ‘It was just wrong. That’s all it comes down to.’
- Photo: The Marlins’ ridiculous-looking home run sculpture is almost complete
- Yankees GM Brian Cashman lures alleged stalker into police dragnet
- Report: Josh Hamilton had a relapse with alcohol
- Happy Birthday Boy! Wes Ferrell, the best-hitting pitcher of all-time, would be 104
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
