[QUOTE=MF41590;289954][url=http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/mlb/story/_/id/7330066/sources-albert-pujols-takes-10-year-deal-los-angeles-angels]Albert Pujols takes 10-year deal from Los Angeles Angels[/url]
Was not expecting that one...[/QUOTE]
yes and now St. Louis shall be known as West Cleveland
[QUOTE=bgstl77;289989]yes and now St. Louis shall be known as West Cleveland[/QUOTE]
I don't think they will be as bitter as Cleveland. Albert brought two championships to St. Louis, and didn't A. burn the Cards on a television special, B. disrespect the city his entire time there, and most importantly, C. didn't leave to go win his first ring in a different city. He left for a pay day, simple as that.
Obviously Cardinals fans will be disappointed, but I think they will appreciate his time there and not hold much against him. It would of been totally different if he left to play for LESS money with a bunch of superstars like Lebron, but that is not the case at all. If St. Louis would have offered 10 years and 254 million, we would probably be hearing today about how Pujols will finish his career as a Cardinal. The team dropped the ball on this one.
I don't see how they dropped the ball. St. Louis cannot match the market spending potential of LA or other huge cities, and it was a smart move for them to let him walk at that price (if his agent even informed Mozeliak/DeWitt of the offer to allow a counter-offer, which I doubt). In the end he goes to an AL team which is a good call for the reason B already stated, although I'm not looking forward to him showing up in Fenway more often for sure...
On another note I read an interesting article about Pedroia today and his special relationship with Tito. I'm afraid the ol' boy will be lost this year without his partner-in-crime around.
[url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/store-gives-away-jerseys-while-metro-east-man-hawks-anti/article_77618ffa-21de-11e1-957b-0019bb30f31a.html]Store gives away jerseys while Metro East man hawks anti-Pujols shirts[/url]
[QUOTE] Russo said he made a spur-of-the-moment decision to give away the merchandise. Russo explained, "It's not about the money, just like Albert said. Except he lied, and we didn't."[/QUOTE]
[url=http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/7338271/ryan-braun-milwaukee-brewers-tests-positive-performance-enhancing-drug]Ryan Braun of Milwaukee Brewers tests positive for performance-enhancing drug - ESPN[/url]
Probably the last person I expected to test positive for performance enhancers.
With Pujols leaving the NL Central, and Braun facing a 50 game ban, the Cubs might actually have a shot at leading the division for the first half of the season!
[QUOTE=MF41590;290249]
Probably the last person I expected to test positive for performance enhancers. [/QUOTE]
This is really bad for baseball. The NL MVP! ****.
Now quick, show up at Jose Bautista's door and give him an unscheduled test. Might as well get all the big fish while the MLB is in damage control mode...
[url=http://vevmo.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=12425][img]http://vevmo.com/imagehosting/14ee4b1065493a.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/story/_/id/7345064/source-ex-chicago-cubs-3b-aramis-ramirez-heads-milwaukee-brewers]Source -- Ex-Chicago Cubs 3B Aramis Ramirez heads to Milwaukee Brewers - ESPN Chicago[/url]
Replacing Prince Fielder and 50 games of Ryan Braun with Aramis Ramirez? Well, good luck with that Brew Crew. I'll gladly take a high draft pick for A-ram.
Farewell Jed... your highs were high and your lows were low, you were too often injured for us to see your full potential, but you'll be missed nonetheless.
[QUOTE=Aereas;290548]Farewell Jed... your highs were high and your lows were low, you were too often injured for us to see your full potential, but you'll be missed nonetheless.[/QUOTE]
As much as I loved Jed (when he was actually not on the DL) I think in the end the deal was for the best.
[QUOTE=MF41590;290556]So is Melancon going to be the new closer for the Sox?[/QUOTE]
I'm thinking setup guy. They are still looking for a closer and if they don't find one it will be Bard.
[QUOTE=Bacchus;290563]I'm thinking setup guy. They are still looking for a closer and if they don't find one it will be Bard.[/QUOTE]
I believe Bard is joining the rotation next season.
[url=http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2011/12/bobby_valentine_1.html]Bobby Valentine: Bard to be prepped as starter in spring - Extra Bases - Red Sox blog[/url]
Think they might make a move on Brad Lidge? He is probably the best free agent closer available.
[QUOTE=MF41590;290651]I believe Bard is joining the rotation next season.[/QUOTE]
He is joining the rotation if they don't find a closer. He wants to start as that is where the money is, but in the end the Sox reserve the right to make him the closer and Bobby V has said he will be prepared for either role.
The Sox are still working on Andrew Bailey as well as keeping Ryan Madson in the picture.
I don't think Melancon is ready to close/save 40 games in the AL East so I think the best move for the Sox is the bite the bullet and pay the the money to Madson so they can get their fifth starter in Bard or offer a trade package to Oakland for Bailey. If they use Bard as a closer, they still need another arm in the rotation.
Right now it would be Lester, Becket, Buchholz, Aceves, Fill in the blank. Aceves was good for the Sox, but who knows how he will perform as a locked in rotation guy. Not to mention pitchers always get hurt so you need more arms in reserve and the Sox farm system has been depleted in recent years.
It used to be, "In Theo I trust" but now I have no idea who to trust so I will just let it happen and hope for the best.
I was disappointed that the Sox did not bid on Yu Darvish, but being burned with Dice-K - I can understand the hesitation.
I love a good New England sense of humor...
[url=http://vevmo.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=12433][img]http://vevmo.com/imagehosting/14ee9629405011.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://vevmo.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=12435][img]http://vevmo.com/imagehosting/14ee9637756479.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/7397557/andrew-bailey-traded-oakland-athletics-boston-red-sox]Andrew Bailey traded from Oakland Athletics to Boston Red Sox - ESPN Boston[/url]
Nice upgrade from Papelbon for the sox.
[QUOTE=MF41590;291933]
Nice upgrade from Papelbon for the sox.[/QUOTE]
This was huge. None of the big prospects and a good young closer.
Edit: I think Reddick is a good prospect, just not an AL East, Red Sox/Yankees type OF.
Sadly....doing what they always do. Develop talent for a few years and then trade it away to "build for the future". Guess I need to throw away my Bailey shirt.....hope he does well in Boston.
This made me laugh...
[url=http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2011/12/evil_empire_has.html]Evil Empire has fans in actual evil empire[/url]
[QUOTE=TheFeedMachi;291936]I have no idea what the A's are doing this off season.[/QUOTE]
In the end, I guess they are confident they will get a new stadium in San Jose and are building a team for 2014.
There has to be some logic to them getting rid of good young players for younger unproven players, at least you would think!
[url=http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/7460297/new-york-yankees-deal-jesus-montero-seattle-mariners-michael-pineda-source-says]New York Yankees deal Jesus Montero for Seattle Mariners' Michael Pineda, source says - ESPN New York[/url]
Surprising to see the Yankees move Montero for Pineda. I personally would never move my top prospect for a guy who went 9-10 with a 3.74 ERA in his one season in the majors.
[QUOTE=MF41590;293221]
Surprising to see the Yankees move Montero for Pineda. I personally would never move my top prospect for a guy who went 9-10 with a 3.74 ERA in his one season in the majors.[/QUOTE]
It doesn't look like a good move on paper from my perspective. This kid is supposedly the next Joe Mauer, probably better with a bat.
On second thought, I love this trade! :wink:
I personally loved the trade for the Yankees. Wins and losses don't matter, he played with a horrible team. 3.74 ERA was great, this move along with Kuroda made the yankees better.
Also, Prince Fielder was at a Dallas hotel last night meeting with Rangers staff. What a team that would be with him and Darvish added to this already stacked team.
[QUOTE=Bacchus;293226]Darvish is a wild card. He has never faced the intensity of an AL lineup. He could end up being a 1 or a washout. Only time will tell.[/QUOTE]
The Rangers scouting department has done a great job over the past few years. I would bet on him probably being more of a success than a failure. Don't pay too much attention to his regular season numbers though because Texas has the worst ballpark for pitchers in baseball.
Pages