Not much going on for the Hot Stove as the year ends, and that could be good news for Yankees fans.
The less they hear about Masahiro Tanaka, the better. It could be that the Bronx Bombers have the inside track because Tanaka is represented by Casey Close, once a hot prospect in the Yanks' organization who didn't make it past Triple-A as a player. But he has been a major player as an agent, pretty much ever since he took on Derek Jeter as a client 20 years ago. That relationship has brought hundreds of millions to Jeter and tens of millions to Close.
Elsewhere, the Marlins made a minor move by signing 1B/3B Casey McGehee. That means Miami probably won't go after a similar player, free-agent 1B Yuniesky Betancourt. Until pitchers stop throwing breaking balls, Betancourt will not be a viable fantasy option.
The Rangers might try RHP Miles Mikolas as an option to become their closer after trading 1B Chris McGuiness to the Pirates for the former Padre. If RHP Joakim Soria had showed more last season, there wouldn't be any question. But as it is, RHPs Neftali Feliz or Alexi Ogando also could be candidates. McGuiness didn't impress in his limited major league time this year, but he became available (designated for assignment) after Texas acquired 1B Prince Fielder and OF Shin-soo Choo.
A more valuable pitching option is RHP Joaquin Benoit, officially signed by the Padres for 2 years and $15.5 million to be a setup man for their closer, RHP Huston Street. (And possibly the closer himself if Street is ineffective or hurt again.) The 36-year-old Benoit showed promise with the Rangers, but has become much more valuable playing home games in pitchers' parks, first in Detroit for three seasons and now in San Diego.
* * *
Football. I finished seventh in my ESPN scoring-plus-yardage league with a 150-108 victory in the consolation consolation matchup. Just 60 points for Week 17. I didn't start Danny Amendola (OK) or Shane Vereen (not such a good idea), but players in my lineup such as Frank Gore, Andre Brown and Delanie Walker didn't do much.
My scoring-only league team finished 10-7 and in third place with a 48-20 loss. Not sure yet how our playoffs will work. In the past the 12-team league has been divided into three groups for the playoffs, which begin with the divisional round. I would be in the top level, playing in a four-team single-elimination tournament against the second-place team. Our league's Super Bowl runs two weeks, the conference championships and big game 47. The second-place team was 11-6. We would draft to fill positions where we don't have players on playoff teams. But this season the league has been set up through ESPN.com, so there could be changes. I'll keep you posted.
* * *
Hockey. My goalies have started winning games. Vancouver's Eddie Lack posted a shutout on the day after I signed him. So I'm actually above average in wins with 6 points in a 10-team league. My plus-minus continues to drop (down to 5 points at plus-13), but with ATOI and power play points up, I have at least 8 points in every other skating category. I'm still third, but with 65 points and 5 1/2 behind the second-place team.
I won't be at the Stars' games tonight or Friday. We're spending a family holiday in Pittsburgh. I'll be back to watching live hockey at the American Airlines Center Saturday (plus the Mavericks Sunday).
* * *
Basketball. Another winning week (6-2) shot me up from seventh overall to fourth, and third in my division, at 38-33-1.
Started this week off with a 5-3 lead, and I'll have 9 of 10 lineup spots filled tonight. As I write this, my opponent has just four players going tonight, with only one other available from his bench. My team has gone into a bit of a scoring slump, and trails by 19 points. I'm also behind in field goal percentage, where my opponent shot better than .500 Tuesday, and in assists (17-13). Ricky Rubio could go a long way toward erasing that deficit by himself, but the Wolves aren't playing tonight so George Hill will be my point guard. Similarly, Chris Bosh won't be playing, so Anderson Varejao will be my starting center, probably with considerably fewer points than Bosh could provide.
This week's opponent beat me 8-0 retroactively after we drafted during the season's third week.
I entered this week 2 1/2 games out of second place (overall and in my division), and 9 games behind the leader.
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Saturday, December 28, 2013
No big deals -- Ibanez and Veras
There's not much new that's concrete in baseball right now.
The Angels finalized a 1-year contract with former ancient Mariner Raul Ibanez, who could DH and play a little bit of outfield.
The Cubs agreed to a 1-year contract with RHP Jose Veras, who would be their 2014 closer. Now there's not a lot to close on the North Side, and Veras seems likely to blow a number of the opportunities he gets. Expect him to join RHP Carlos Marmol and the ranks of other failed closers for the Cubs.
I'm working on some projects to produce some quantitative fantasy baseball information. I hope you can see at least one piece before the year ends.
* * *
Basketball. Carmelo Anthony didn't play Friday night, and isn't going to play Saturday. I still can fill all 10 spots in my lineup.
I had set up my lineup for Thursday, and neglected to change it for Friday. Thus, I left on my bench Victor Oladipo and his 16 points and 11 assists.
Through Thursday, I had been tied in blocked shots as part of a 5-2-1 lead. I figured Serge Ibaka would help me in that area, and sure enough, he blocked three Friday and helped me take the lead in that category. However, my lead is down to 5-3, partly because Anthony didn't play. But my 16-point deficit coincides exactly with Oladipo's 16 points that didn't count for me. We'll see what happens Saturday.
* * *
Hockey. I was buried under an Avalanche tonight. Colorado lost 7-2 to the Blackhawks. Jan Hejda and Erik Johnson were both -4, and Nathan MacKinnon was -3. That was 11 of my minus-15 for the night. That dropped me down to sixth in plus/minus at plus-19. Somehow, the Avalanche's and my, Paul Stastny broke even. Now I have four individuals on my team with season plus/minuses of 19 or more, but I haven't had those players in my lineup at the right time. Mikko Koivu also has been killing me; he was -3 tonight. In addition, Jean-Sebastien Giguere gave up seven goals in two periods. That's a 10.50 goals against average. And the only thing I can say about his save percentage is that at least it isn't less than 0.
My plan is to divest myself of some Colorado players, and Koivu if I can. I'm a little light in forwards. Despite the debacle with Hejda and Johnson, my defense is pretty good. I'm even using a defenseman as a utility player. But I had Dallas' Brenden Dillon on my bench. He was plus-2 Friday, and he took a minor penalty. Another problem with my lineup was that my lineup totaled 0 penalty minutes. How is that even possible? I probably need a fighter.
Somehow I escaped the night losing a mere two points in the standings.
It's too late to make coherent moves tonight. I got home from the Predators-Stars game at about 1.
The Angels finalized a 1-year contract with former ancient Mariner Raul Ibanez, who could DH and play a little bit of outfield.
The Cubs agreed to a 1-year contract with RHP Jose Veras, who would be their 2014 closer. Now there's not a lot to close on the North Side, and Veras seems likely to blow a number of the opportunities he gets. Expect him to join RHP Carlos Marmol and the ranks of other failed closers for the Cubs.
I'm working on some projects to produce some quantitative fantasy baseball information. I hope you can see at least one piece before the year ends.
* * *
Basketball. Carmelo Anthony didn't play Friday night, and isn't going to play Saturday. I still can fill all 10 spots in my lineup.
I had set up my lineup for Thursday, and neglected to change it for Friday. Thus, I left on my bench Victor Oladipo and his 16 points and 11 assists.
Through Thursday, I had been tied in blocked shots as part of a 5-2-1 lead. I figured Serge Ibaka would help me in that area, and sure enough, he blocked three Friday and helped me take the lead in that category. However, my lead is down to 5-3, partly because Anthony didn't play. But my 16-point deficit coincides exactly with Oladipo's 16 points that didn't count for me. We'll see what happens Saturday.
* * *
Hockey. I was buried under an Avalanche tonight. Colorado lost 7-2 to the Blackhawks. Jan Hejda and Erik Johnson were both -4, and Nathan MacKinnon was -3. That was 11 of my minus-15 for the night. That dropped me down to sixth in plus/minus at plus-19. Somehow, the Avalanche's and my, Paul Stastny broke even. Now I have four individuals on my team with season plus/minuses of 19 or more, but I haven't had those players in my lineup at the right time. Mikko Koivu also has been killing me; he was -3 tonight. In addition, Jean-Sebastien Giguere gave up seven goals in two periods. That's a 10.50 goals against average. And the only thing I can say about his save percentage is that at least it isn't less than 0.
My plan is to divest myself of some Colorado players, and Koivu if I can. I'm a little light in forwards. Despite the debacle with Hejda and Johnson, my defense is pretty good. I'm even using a defenseman as a utility player. But I had Dallas' Brenden Dillon on my bench. He was plus-2 Friday, and he took a minor penalty. Another problem with my lineup was that my lineup totaled 0 penalty minutes. How is that even possible? I probably need a fighter.
Somehow I escaped the night losing a mere two points in the standings.
It's too late to make coherent moves tonight. I got home from the Predators-Stars game at about 1.
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Rakuten reportedly is posting Tanaka; let the bidding begin
Finished wrapping the last present. Waiting for everyone else to get up to open presents. Funny how much later you could sleep in when the youngest person in the house is 15 as opposed to, say, 7.
Christmas is probably just another Wednesday in Japan, but it's a big day for Japanese ballplayers here in North America.
The big news is a report that the Rakuten Golden Eagles have agreed to post RHP Masahiro Tanaka. He'll draw the new, discounted maximum posting fee from a number of major league teams.
You'll see the list of the usual big-spending teams, primarily the Yankees and Dodgers, along with the Diamondbacks and most of the American League West -- Angels, Mariners, Rangers -- as the leading candidates to sign Tanaka. He's listed as 25 years old, and I think I short-changed him on his 2013 ERA in an earlier post. It was 1.27, not 1.37.
Also, in an earlier post I indicated that the AL West as a group seems to be downplaying mobility in their outfield defense. That could make it even more desirable for them to sign one of the best pitching prospects from the Eastern Hemisphere before their opponents do. Actually, I'd expect a number of teams to put up the relatively cheap posting fee -- less than 40% of what the Rangers paid for the right to negotiate exclusively with Yu Darvish. What would it hurt for an aspiring team of limited means such as the Pirates or Royals -- or the D-backs, for that matter -- to make a splash by coming hard in the open competition for Tanaka's services. They wouldn't have to pay the fee or the contract amount with Tanaka until he signs.
And when the other available pitching is headed by RHPs Matt Garza, Ubaldo Jimenez, Ervin Santana and Bronson Arroyo, Tanaka will come at a higher premium than Darvish's 6 years and $60 million.
Tanaka isn't the only Japanese player in the spotlight. Over there on the edge of the stage is infielder Munenori Kawasaki, who re-signed with the Blue Jays. Kawasaki made a name for himself with his oddball, flaky antics captured on social-media video than with his .229 batting average. Seems like a good guy to have around a clubhouse, though.
Merry Christmas/happy holidays. Like Munenori-san, I know how to cover my bases.
Christmas is probably just another Wednesday in Japan, but it's a big day for Japanese ballplayers here in North America.
The big news is a report that the Rakuten Golden Eagles have agreed to post RHP Masahiro Tanaka. He'll draw the new, discounted maximum posting fee from a number of major league teams.
You'll see the list of the usual big-spending teams, primarily the Yankees and Dodgers, along with the Diamondbacks and most of the American League West -- Angels, Mariners, Rangers -- as the leading candidates to sign Tanaka. He's listed as 25 years old, and I think I short-changed him on his 2013 ERA in an earlier post. It was 1.27, not 1.37.
Also, in an earlier post I indicated that the AL West as a group seems to be downplaying mobility in their outfield defense. That could make it even more desirable for them to sign one of the best pitching prospects from the Eastern Hemisphere before their opponents do. Actually, I'd expect a number of teams to put up the relatively cheap posting fee -- less than 40% of what the Rangers paid for the right to negotiate exclusively with Yu Darvish. What would it hurt for an aspiring team of limited means such as the Pirates or Royals -- or the D-backs, for that matter -- to make a splash by coming hard in the open competition for Tanaka's services. They wouldn't have to pay the fee or the contract amount with Tanaka until he signs.
And when the other available pitching is headed by RHPs Matt Garza, Ubaldo Jimenez, Ervin Santana and Bronson Arroyo, Tanaka will come at a higher premium than Darvish's 6 years and $60 million.
Tanaka isn't the only Japanese player in the spotlight. Over there on the edge of the stage is infielder Munenori Kawasaki, who re-signed with the Blue Jays. Kawasaki made a name for himself with his oddball, flaky antics captured on social-media video than with his .229 batting average. Seems like a good guy to have around a clubhouse, though.
Merry Christmas/happy holidays. Like Munenori-san, I know how to cover my bases.
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Don't believe hype about Dodgers' bullpen
Trying to shore up their bullpen to facilitate a postseason berth, the Dodgers reportedly have reached agreements to sign RHPs Chris Perez and Jamey Wright and LHP J.P. Howell.
Does that improve LA's relief pitching. There's a better than even chance.
Do the moves guarantee a playoff berth. Hardly.
Perez was shaky during the latter part of 2013 for the Indians, as they tried out alternatives as their closer.
Howell is a good role-playing lefty, but overpriced at a reported $5 million-plus.
Wright will be 40 years old. I remember from his Rangers days as a good dude. He was very excited about finally reaching the postseason last fall in his 18th season. One of the reasons why he hadn't been was that he has spent most of his lengthy career on the fringes, pitching -- even starting -- for losing teams and frequently toiling in losing situations for winning teams. His days may be numbered, but he did pitch well for the 2012 Dodgers before moving on to the Rays. But he's hardly a sure thing.
For that matter, is hard-throwing RHP Kenley Jansen a sure thing as a closer? No, but that's probably why LA signed a former Giants closer, RHP Brian Wilson.
The Twins' contracts with RHP Mike Pelfrey and C Kurt Suzuki are now official.
Speed-demon sensation Billy Hamilton is likely to take over from free-agent OF Shin-soo Choo as the Reds' center fielder and leadoff batter.
* * *
Other sports. This is like the winter version of baseball's All-Star break. There won't be any NFL games until Sunday. The NHL is off until Friday. The NBA will have some games Wednesday, probably just so TV will have some sports to broadcast on Christmas.
Important key. For the NFL's last week, you have to take into account which teams -- and star players -- have something to play for. If not, they might not even play at all, and therefore would be useless to your fantasy team. Eighteen teams do have a a playoff berth or seeding on the line: Denver, New England, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Miami, Baltimore, San Diego and Pittsburgh in the AFC, and Seattle, Carolina, San Francisco, Arizona, New Orleans, Dallas, Philadelphia, Chicago and Green Bay in the NFC. Notice that the Chiefs aren't on the list, because win or lose they would be the AFC's No. 5 seed. That's why I'm leaning toward starting inferior RB Ray Rice instead of KC RB Jamaal Charles, the league's best for fantasy purposes this year.
I'm tied 4-4 through the first day of this week's fantasy basketball competition. With a short week, it will be important to stay on top of who's playing well, and especially who's playing at all on a particular day.
In part because Flyers G Steve Mason had his best game since he has been on my roster, I'm within seven points of second place in my fantasy hockey league. I can pick and choose whom I'd want to start on Friday when the league is back in full swing. I have set my lineup already, but I'll reexamine it before Friday's games to see if there are injuries or other issues to consider.
No NFL games to consider until Sunday, but I will be at Valley Ranch on Christmas afternoon to do a Kyle Orton story -- just in case QB Tony Romo doesn't play for the Cowboys Sunday night. At this point, I think Jason Garrett's public statements are the only indication that Romo might do as much as put on his uniform.
Does that improve LA's relief pitching. There's a better than even chance.
Do the moves guarantee a playoff berth. Hardly.
Perez was shaky during the latter part of 2013 for the Indians, as they tried out alternatives as their closer.
Howell is a good role-playing lefty, but overpriced at a reported $5 million-plus.
Wright will be 40 years old. I remember from his Rangers days as a good dude. He was very excited about finally reaching the postseason last fall in his 18th season. One of the reasons why he hadn't been was that he has spent most of his lengthy career on the fringes, pitching -- even starting -- for losing teams and frequently toiling in losing situations for winning teams. His days may be numbered, but he did pitch well for the 2012 Dodgers before moving on to the Rays. But he's hardly a sure thing.
For that matter, is hard-throwing RHP Kenley Jansen a sure thing as a closer? No, but that's probably why LA signed a former Giants closer, RHP Brian Wilson.
The Twins' contracts with RHP Mike Pelfrey and C Kurt Suzuki are now official.
Speed-demon sensation Billy Hamilton is likely to take over from free-agent OF Shin-soo Choo as the Reds' center fielder and leadoff batter.
* * *
Other sports. This is like the winter version of baseball's All-Star break. There won't be any NFL games until Sunday. The NHL is off until Friday. The NBA will have some games Wednesday, probably just so TV will have some sports to broadcast on Christmas.
Important key. For the NFL's last week, you have to take into account which teams -- and star players -- have something to play for. If not, they might not even play at all, and therefore would be useless to your fantasy team. Eighteen teams do have a a playoff berth or seeding on the line: Denver, New England, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Miami, Baltimore, San Diego and Pittsburgh in the AFC, and Seattle, Carolina, San Francisco, Arizona, New Orleans, Dallas, Philadelphia, Chicago and Green Bay in the NFC. Notice that the Chiefs aren't on the list, because win or lose they would be the AFC's No. 5 seed. That's why I'm leaning toward starting inferior RB Ray Rice instead of KC RB Jamaal Charles, the league's best for fantasy purposes this year.
I'm tied 4-4 through the first day of this week's fantasy basketball competition. With a short week, it will be important to stay on top of who's playing well, and especially who's playing at all on a particular day.
In part because Flyers G Steve Mason had his best game since he has been on my roster, I'm within seven points of second place in my fantasy hockey league. I can pick and choose whom I'd want to start on Friday when the league is back in full swing. I have set my lineup already, but I'll reexamine it before Friday's games to see if there are injuries or other issues to consider.
No NFL games to consider until Sunday, but I will be at Valley Ranch on Christmas afternoon to do a Kyle Orton story -- just in case QB Tony Romo doesn't play for the Cowboys Sunday night. At this point, I think Jason Garrett's public statements are the only indication that Romo might do as much as put on his uniform.
Monday, December 23, 2013
Balfour still in demand
Now that the Shin-soo Choo thoughts are off my chest, I'll catch up some on other baseball Hot Stove activity and update my running-in-place, if not futile, efforts in other fantasy sports.
RHP Grant Balfour's deal with the Orioles fell through because of something Baltimore didn't like about his physical exam, but other teams looking for a closer supposedly still are interested in him.
OF Carlos Beltran and the Yankees made his 3-year, $45-million contract official. No problems with his physical, but he did fade at the end of last season.That's not a good sign for a 36-year-old.
My recent posts have had a number of references to age. It's a huge factor in assessing player performance. I hope to write more about the topic, and hope to resurrect something I've done in the past, an age chart that will help you tell at a glance which players should be in optimum stages of their career, and which could be in danger zones.
RHP Brad Ziegler re-signed with the Diamondbacks with a contract that guarantees 2 years and $10.5 million.
The Twins signed C Kurt Suzuki for a year at $2.75 million. That makes it easier for them to use C Joe Mauer at first base and DH.
The Athletics avoided arbitration with 1B Daric Barton by signing him to a 1-year contract.
LHP Mark Mulder, whom you've probably seen wearing a business suit on ESPN, is attempting a comeback. He hasn't pitched in the majors since 2008. Comebacks after such a long absence rarely, if ever, work out.
Aside from Balfour, the most significant current story is Japanese RHP Masahiro Tanaka. According to Baseball America, his team, the Rakuten Golden Eagles, is expected to decide by Christmas Day whether to post him and enable him to sign with a North American team. Tanaka was 24-0 (not a typo) with a 1.37 ERA in 27 starts this year. If he is posted, that will mean a lot of baseball writers sitting by the tree tweeting from their cell phones.
The Golden Eagles, by the way, also signed 1B/3B Kevin Youkilis to a 1-year contract.
Former Giants OF/1B Brett Pill has signed a 1-year contract to play in Korea next season.
* * *
Football.
In case you haven't been keeping up with your playoff scenarios ... An NFC team with at least 10 wins will not make the playoffs. It's possible that an 11-win team won't get in. At least every division winner will have a winning record. Every AFC division champ will have at least 10 wins, but it's conceivable that an 8-8 team would get the second wild card.
Important key: These are the teams with something to play for, either a playoff berth or better postseason seeding: Eagles, Cowboys, Bears, Packers, Panthers, Saints, Seahawks, 49ers, Cardinals, Dolphins, Ravens, Chargers and I think Jets. This information is important to know for your fantasy lineup so that you can be aware of which players might be in action and not resting for the playoffs. The biggest problem is that you might not know for late games which teams have been eliminated or assured of playoff position.
Speaking of playoffs, it's official now that I'll be in the top division of the postseason playoffs for the AMFL, my scoring-only fantasy league. I'm still in third place, and possibly could move up to second by winning this week. A loss also could put me in fourth, but I have a two-game lead over the teams tied for fifth.
I'm ahead in the first week of my two-week consolation consolation playoff for seventh place in my scoring-plus-yardage ESPN league. I have a 65-47 lead with Frank Gore and the Niners' defense playing tonight. My opponent has K Phil Dawson going. In addition to being for seventh place in a 10-team league, this playoff is unsatisfying because my opponent's lineup includes two players who aren't even playing.
Another Important key: You can improve your position just by staying active longer than others who give up on your team. You also owe it to the other team owners to continue making an effort.
* * *
Hockey.Third place with 63 points, 8 1/2 out of second, 12 ahead of the fourth-place team. I have a full lineup going tonight. Even my bench players' teams are playing tonight. It appears that the NHL is taking Christmas Eve off. Henrik Zetterberg and Alexander Steen are injured. Dustin Penner, Brenden Dillon and Jean-Sebastien Giguere are my healthy scratches. The skaters are sitting primarily to keep my ATOI up. It's a very close competition for points in that category. My only defenseman with a negative plus/minus is Keith Yandle, but he also is averaging more than 23 minutes a game and had 13 power play points. Thomas Vanek is minus-2 but he's moving up. Somehow, I can't get my team plus/minus out of its rut. My goalies' season averages all are better than average, but they have been sliding lately. I'm hoping I can figure out an answer to this problem. Trade a defenseman for a goalie?
* * *
Basketball. Wrapped up a 5-3 victory last night. I was hoping for a good shooting night that could pick me up another win in field goal percentage, but that wasn't happening. I'm starting the new week with seven of my 10 lineup spots filled. I'm not going with Joe Johnson, who missed Friday's game because of a personal issue. If I have time -- there is Christmas shopping to do, you know -- I'll check before the Nets' game to see whether he's playing and if the personal matter has been resolved.
The good news is that I'm over .500 (32-31-1) after coming out of the draft, three weeks into the season, already 13 games under .500. I even moved up out of last place to fourth in the my division, but remained seventh overall in the 10-team league because a team from the other division passed me.
This week's opponent is the team directly ahead of me in my division. By winning 6-2, I could move into third place.
RHP Grant Balfour's deal with the Orioles fell through because of something Baltimore didn't like about his physical exam, but other teams looking for a closer supposedly still are interested in him.
OF Carlos Beltran and the Yankees made his 3-year, $45-million contract official. No problems with his physical, but he did fade at the end of last season.That's not a good sign for a 36-year-old.
My recent posts have had a number of references to age. It's a huge factor in assessing player performance. I hope to write more about the topic, and hope to resurrect something I've done in the past, an age chart that will help you tell at a glance which players should be in optimum stages of their career, and which could be in danger zones.
RHP Brad Ziegler re-signed with the Diamondbacks with a contract that guarantees 2 years and $10.5 million.
The Twins signed C Kurt Suzuki for a year at $2.75 million. That makes it easier for them to use C Joe Mauer at first base and DH.
The Athletics avoided arbitration with 1B Daric Barton by signing him to a 1-year contract.
LHP Mark Mulder, whom you've probably seen wearing a business suit on ESPN, is attempting a comeback. He hasn't pitched in the majors since 2008. Comebacks after such a long absence rarely, if ever, work out.
Aside from Balfour, the most significant current story is Japanese RHP Masahiro Tanaka. According to Baseball America, his team, the Rakuten Golden Eagles, is expected to decide by Christmas Day whether to post him and enable him to sign with a North American team. Tanaka was 24-0 (not a typo) with a 1.37 ERA in 27 starts this year. If he is posted, that will mean a lot of baseball writers sitting by the tree tweeting from their cell phones.
The Golden Eagles, by the way, also signed 1B/3B Kevin Youkilis to a 1-year contract.
Former Giants OF/1B Brett Pill has signed a 1-year contract to play in Korea next season.
* * *
Football.
In case you haven't been keeping up with your playoff scenarios ... An NFC team with at least 10 wins will not make the playoffs. It's possible that an 11-win team won't get in. At least every division winner will have a winning record. Every AFC division champ will have at least 10 wins, but it's conceivable that an 8-8 team would get the second wild card.
Important key: These are the teams with something to play for, either a playoff berth or better postseason seeding: Eagles, Cowboys, Bears, Packers, Panthers, Saints, Seahawks, 49ers, Cardinals, Dolphins, Ravens, Chargers and I think Jets. This information is important to know for your fantasy lineup so that you can be aware of which players might be in action and not resting for the playoffs. The biggest problem is that you might not know for late games which teams have been eliminated or assured of playoff position.
Speaking of playoffs, it's official now that I'll be in the top division of the postseason playoffs for the AMFL, my scoring-only fantasy league. I'm still in third place, and possibly could move up to second by winning this week. A loss also could put me in fourth, but I have a two-game lead over the teams tied for fifth.
I'm ahead in the first week of my two-week consolation consolation playoff for seventh place in my scoring-plus-yardage ESPN league. I have a 65-47 lead with Frank Gore and the Niners' defense playing tonight. My opponent has K Phil Dawson going. In addition to being for seventh place in a 10-team league, this playoff is unsatisfying because my opponent's lineup includes two players who aren't even playing.
Another Important key: You can improve your position just by staying active longer than others who give up on your team. You also owe it to the other team owners to continue making an effort.
* * *
Hockey.Third place with 63 points, 8 1/2 out of second, 12 ahead of the fourth-place team. I have a full lineup going tonight. Even my bench players' teams are playing tonight. It appears that the NHL is taking Christmas Eve off. Henrik Zetterberg and Alexander Steen are injured. Dustin Penner, Brenden Dillon and Jean-Sebastien Giguere are my healthy scratches. The skaters are sitting primarily to keep my ATOI up. It's a very close competition for points in that category. My only defenseman with a negative plus/minus is Keith Yandle, but he also is averaging more than 23 minutes a game and had 13 power play points. Thomas Vanek is minus-2 but he's moving up. Somehow, I can't get my team plus/minus out of its rut. My goalies' season averages all are better than average, but they have been sliding lately. I'm hoping I can figure out an answer to this problem. Trade a defenseman for a goalie?
* * *
Basketball. Wrapped up a 5-3 victory last night. I was hoping for a good shooting night that could pick me up another win in field goal percentage, but that wasn't happening. I'm starting the new week with seven of my 10 lineup spots filled. I'm not going with Joe Johnson, who missed Friday's game because of a personal issue. If I have time -- there is Christmas shopping to do, you know -- I'll check before the Nets' game to see whether he's playing and if the personal matter has been resolved.
The good news is that I'm over .500 (32-31-1) after coming out of the draft, three weeks into the season, already 13 games under .500. I even moved up out of last place to fourth in the my division, but remained seventh overall in the 10-team league because a team from the other division passed me.
This week's opponent is the team directly ahead of me in my division. By winning 6-2, I could move into third place.
Sunday, December 22, 2013
Choo-Choo train good for a short trip
The baseball world is abuzz with information about the Rangers' signing of OF Shin-soo Choo.
One report even said that his signing puts Texas on top of the American League.
And if he can play close to the way he did this year in the National League, Choo could be enough to make the Rangers favorites. Definitely a playoff team, if their pitching holds up.
I don't look at the benefit of this signing so much as having Choo replace A) David Murphy, B) Nelson Cruz, C) Craig Gentry, D) Jeff Baker, E) Engel Beltre, F) All of the above in the outfield as having him replace Ian Kinsler at the top of the lineup.
Now Kinsler wasn't the worst leadoff man in the majors. His 2013 on-base percentage was .344 -- not All-Star territory, but above a replacement player.
Don't take this as thinking I don't like what Kinsler can bring to a team -- I've already endorsed Texas' acquiring 1B Prince Fielder in trade for Kinsler -- but it seems reasonable that in Fielder and Choo, the Rangers are better off than if they'd kept Kinsler and Cruz.
Choo's on-base percentage for Cincinnati this year was .423. That's 80 percentage points above Kinsler's, or over 600 plate appearances an additional 48 times on base. About once every three games. And it's not unreasonable to think that those times on base could translate to 10 or even 20 more runs. In fact, in 98 more plate appearances than Kinsler, Choo scored 22 more runs. We can give Kinsler a bit of a pass because of all the games he had the ineffective Murphy batting after him, while Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips were coming up for the Reds.
Beyond the on-base percentage -- and isn't there a beyond with just about every baseball statistic? -- Choo has it all over Kinsler.
Sure, Choo struck out more often: 133 times to 59. In part, that was because Kinsler didn't wait around for three strikes. He drew 51 walks -- a good, near 1:1 ratio -- but Choo took a whopping 112 free passes.
Of course, those walks showed up in the on-base percentage. But even deeper, we can go to a stat listed as GO/AO, ground outs/air outs. It might be because I saw Kinsler play so often, but I can't imagine a player who would pop up more often.
His GO/AO was 0.72. Is that good or bad? you might ask. Of 140 players who qualified for major league batting titles last season, Kinsler was 135th. Choo was 23rd at 1.50, so he was putting the ball on the ground for outs more than twice as often as Kinsler.
Another way to look at it. Kinsler (and Choo) made 400-some outs in 2013. That's roughly 267 outs in the air, which can be at-bats as empty as strikeouts, compared to 133 or so for Choo. But what about sacrifice flies? Fly balls can be valuable. Possibly, but Kinsler had seven sacrifice flies, compared to two by Choo. That still leaves something like 129 more unproductive outs by Kinsler.
Now you're saying, "But ground balls can be unproductive too." True. They also can move runners from first to second, from second to third and even third to home more easily. There is no sacrifice ground out stat to give batters credit for driving in a run, so we don't really know who does that more often. A ground ball is also more likely to result in an error than a ball in the air.
The trump card for ground ball haters in the double play. Certainly, those GO/AO leaders wipe out teammates in doubly damaging double plays more often. True, among the top 10 in GO/AO were three players with 20 or more GIDP: David Freese, Billy Butler and Michael Young. Choo, on the other hand, grounded into just two DPs, and Kinsler seven.
It should be clear then that Choo himself reached base more frequently and most likely did a better job moving his teammates around the bases as well.
So why is this even an issue? Choo will be the greatest thing that ever happened to the Rangers. Where is the downside?
One possible downside is moving back to the American League. This year was Choo's only season in the NL. He had a good lineup with the Reds. Even the improved 2014 lineup in Texas isn't likely to be as good. And check out his K/W (strikeout/walk) ratio in '12, his last as an American League. He struck out 150 times, and walked 73. The 150 Ks aren't even his career high. So it's reasonable to expect some regression in AL parks with AL pitchers.
The improvement in his batting eye is an example of what are described as old-man skills. Another is an increase in the frequency of extra-base hits, and indeed in the last two seasons, Choo has had a little over 10% more doubles than in his first two years in the majors. A third is a logical decline in base stealing.
But, hey! Choo has had just five full seasons in the majors, so he can improve. He's what? 27? 28? Try 31. The records show that he's just 31 days younger than Kinsler. But my policy is to add a year to the age of every player with a birth certificate from a foreign country. It's just as likely that Choo is 11 months older.
Thus, it's no surprise that he is exhibiting old-man skills. His 20 stolen bases this year were within 10% of his best full season, but his 11 times caught stealing were four more than in any other season. That's why I'm not expecting 20 this year. By the way, Kinsler's base-stealing rate declined from 30-for-34 in 2011, to 21-for-30 last season and 15-for-26 this year.
Another of my rules of thumb is that I consider the age-31 season as a plateau, before a player's decline really kicks in but not necessary a drop from the level he established during ages 27-30.
That's the real rub in signing Choo for seven years and $130 million.
In 2014, he can be very close to the player he was this year. A 5% decline, or maybe even 10%, would be better than what Texas got from Kinsler in 2013.
Similarly, 2015 might not be much worse.
But with five more years with an average of $18 million-$19 million, how can he bring the return on investment a major league team would like? Seems unlikely.
Another limiting factor is the eyeball test. Choo has never been a Slim Jim, but he looked pudgier this year than before. Will his conditioning improve now that he'll be set for life?
That conditioning could be an issue within a few years. Fielder is two years younger, but his days as a full-time DH seem closer than Choo's. And if Choo becomes too immobile to play in the outfield, how would he DH? The Rangers would have to pay a bunch of money to help pay his contract as a DH somewhere else if he is traded.
Perhaps all Texas' management wants is a better path to winning its first World Series. Choo could help deliver that. But by the time his contract ends and he's 38 (or 39), that championship would be a distant memory. It won't help that Adrian Beltre, Geovany Soto, probably Fielder and possibly Yu Darvish would also be long gone by then. Which again is why the Rangers are making these moves NOW.
Good short-term move, but far too long a contract for an aging player.
That's what I said about the Mariners and the Robinson Cano signing, except that I can't envision how Seattle was only one player away from winning in '14.
* * *
Expending these words and the time to research the information led to a couple of side issues.
1. Another benefit too the Choo signing is that it increases the likelihood that the Rangers could trade Engel Beltre while he still has some value and before he's overexposed. I think his defense is overrated, he won't hit lefties and he still has a lot of growing up to do before he could be considered a reliable player and teammate. A team needing speed and outfield defense, distracted by some empty batting averages on Beltre's resume, could cough up a helpful reliever or even a potential bottom-of-the-rotation starter in return.
2. My analysis of the Cano and Choo signings points out that Seattle and Texas don't seem overly concerned about outfield defense down the road, but willing to entrust it to players with declining mobility.
Perhaps it's a coincidence, but I noticed that the last seven players on the 2013 GO/AO list were from AL West teams: Houston's Chris Carter, Kinsler, Seattle's Justin Smoak and Kurt Seager, and Oakland's Yoenis Cespedes, Jed Lowrie and Brandon Moss. Perhaps the NL West didn't get the memo saying that baseball was moving away from sluggers toward pitching and defense. Or perhaps the Angels took the memos out of the other teams' mailboxes. Or, given the fact that the Athletics -- a well managed team attuned to sabremetrics and making very few mistakes these days -- put three of those seven players in important offensive roles, once again they may know more than we (I) do.
I also like Seager. You probably still can hear reverberations from his line drives at Rangers Ballpark.
One report even said that his signing puts Texas on top of the American League.
And if he can play close to the way he did this year in the National League, Choo could be enough to make the Rangers favorites. Definitely a playoff team, if their pitching holds up.
I don't look at the benefit of this signing so much as having Choo replace A) David Murphy, B) Nelson Cruz, C) Craig Gentry, D) Jeff Baker, E) Engel Beltre, F) All of the above in the outfield as having him replace Ian Kinsler at the top of the lineup.
Now Kinsler wasn't the worst leadoff man in the majors. His 2013 on-base percentage was .344 -- not All-Star territory, but above a replacement player.
Don't take this as thinking I don't like what Kinsler can bring to a team -- I've already endorsed Texas' acquiring 1B Prince Fielder in trade for Kinsler -- but it seems reasonable that in Fielder and Choo, the Rangers are better off than if they'd kept Kinsler and Cruz.
Choo's on-base percentage for Cincinnati this year was .423. That's 80 percentage points above Kinsler's, or over 600 plate appearances an additional 48 times on base. About once every three games. And it's not unreasonable to think that those times on base could translate to 10 or even 20 more runs. In fact, in 98 more plate appearances than Kinsler, Choo scored 22 more runs. We can give Kinsler a bit of a pass because of all the games he had the ineffective Murphy batting after him, while Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips were coming up for the Reds.
Beyond the on-base percentage -- and isn't there a beyond with just about every baseball statistic? -- Choo has it all over Kinsler.
Sure, Choo struck out more often: 133 times to 59. In part, that was because Kinsler didn't wait around for three strikes. He drew 51 walks -- a good, near 1:1 ratio -- but Choo took a whopping 112 free passes.
Of course, those walks showed up in the on-base percentage. But even deeper, we can go to a stat listed as GO/AO, ground outs/air outs. It might be because I saw Kinsler play so often, but I can't imagine a player who would pop up more often.
His GO/AO was 0.72. Is that good or bad? you might ask. Of 140 players who qualified for major league batting titles last season, Kinsler was 135th. Choo was 23rd at 1.50, so he was putting the ball on the ground for outs more than twice as often as Kinsler.
Another way to look at it. Kinsler (and Choo) made 400-some outs in 2013. That's roughly 267 outs in the air, which can be at-bats as empty as strikeouts, compared to 133 or so for Choo. But what about sacrifice flies? Fly balls can be valuable. Possibly, but Kinsler had seven sacrifice flies, compared to two by Choo. That still leaves something like 129 more unproductive outs by Kinsler.
Now you're saying, "But ground balls can be unproductive too." True. They also can move runners from first to second, from second to third and even third to home more easily. There is no sacrifice ground out stat to give batters credit for driving in a run, so we don't really know who does that more often. A ground ball is also more likely to result in an error than a ball in the air.
The trump card for ground ball haters in the double play. Certainly, those GO/AO leaders wipe out teammates in doubly damaging double plays more often. True, among the top 10 in GO/AO were three players with 20 or more GIDP: David Freese, Billy Butler and Michael Young. Choo, on the other hand, grounded into just two DPs, and Kinsler seven.
It should be clear then that Choo himself reached base more frequently and most likely did a better job moving his teammates around the bases as well.
So why is this even an issue? Choo will be the greatest thing that ever happened to the Rangers. Where is the downside?
One possible downside is moving back to the American League. This year was Choo's only season in the NL. He had a good lineup with the Reds. Even the improved 2014 lineup in Texas isn't likely to be as good. And check out his K/W (strikeout/walk) ratio in '12, his last as an American League. He struck out 150 times, and walked 73. The 150 Ks aren't even his career high. So it's reasonable to expect some regression in AL parks with AL pitchers.
The improvement in his batting eye is an example of what are described as old-man skills. Another is an increase in the frequency of extra-base hits, and indeed in the last two seasons, Choo has had a little over 10% more doubles than in his first two years in the majors. A third is a logical decline in base stealing.
But, hey! Choo has had just five full seasons in the majors, so he can improve. He's what? 27? 28? Try 31. The records show that he's just 31 days younger than Kinsler. But my policy is to add a year to the age of every player with a birth certificate from a foreign country. It's just as likely that Choo is 11 months older.
Thus, it's no surprise that he is exhibiting old-man skills. His 20 stolen bases this year were within 10% of his best full season, but his 11 times caught stealing were four more than in any other season. That's why I'm not expecting 20 this year. By the way, Kinsler's base-stealing rate declined from 30-for-34 in 2011, to 21-for-30 last season and 15-for-26 this year.
Another of my rules of thumb is that I consider the age-31 season as a plateau, before a player's decline really kicks in but not necessary a drop from the level he established during ages 27-30.
That's the real rub in signing Choo for seven years and $130 million.
In 2014, he can be very close to the player he was this year. A 5% decline, or maybe even 10%, would be better than what Texas got from Kinsler in 2013.
Similarly, 2015 might not be much worse.
But with five more years with an average of $18 million-$19 million, how can he bring the return on investment a major league team would like? Seems unlikely.
Another limiting factor is the eyeball test. Choo has never been a Slim Jim, but he looked pudgier this year than before. Will his conditioning improve now that he'll be set for life?
That conditioning could be an issue within a few years. Fielder is two years younger, but his days as a full-time DH seem closer than Choo's. And if Choo becomes too immobile to play in the outfield, how would he DH? The Rangers would have to pay a bunch of money to help pay his contract as a DH somewhere else if he is traded.
Perhaps all Texas' management wants is a better path to winning its first World Series. Choo could help deliver that. But by the time his contract ends and he's 38 (or 39), that championship would be a distant memory. It won't help that Adrian Beltre, Geovany Soto, probably Fielder and possibly Yu Darvish would also be long gone by then. Which again is why the Rangers are making these moves NOW.
Good short-term move, but far too long a contract for an aging player.
That's what I said about the Mariners and the Robinson Cano signing, except that I can't envision how Seattle was only one player away from winning in '14.
* * *
Expending these words and the time to research the information led to a couple of side issues.
1. Another benefit too the Choo signing is that it increases the likelihood that the Rangers could trade Engel Beltre while he still has some value and before he's overexposed. I think his defense is overrated, he won't hit lefties and he still has a lot of growing up to do before he could be considered a reliable player and teammate. A team needing speed and outfield defense, distracted by some empty batting averages on Beltre's resume, could cough up a helpful reliever or even a potential bottom-of-the-rotation starter in return.
2. My analysis of the Cano and Choo signings points out that Seattle and Texas don't seem overly concerned about outfield defense down the road, but willing to entrust it to players with declining mobility.
Perhaps it's a coincidence, but I noticed that the last seven players on the 2013 GO/AO list were from AL West teams: Houston's Chris Carter, Kinsler, Seattle's Justin Smoak and Kurt Seager, and Oakland's Yoenis Cespedes, Jed Lowrie and Brandon Moss. Perhaps the NL West didn't get the memo saying that baseball was moving away from sluggers toward pitching and defense. Or perhaps the Angels took the memos out of the other teams' mailboxes. Or, given the fact that the Athletics -- a well managed team attuned to sabremetrics and making very few mistakes these days -- put three of those seven players in important offensive roles, once again they may know more than we (I) do.
I also like Seager. You probably still can hear reverberations from his line drives at Rangers Ballpark.
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Deals could benefit Rockies
There have a bunch of seemingly minor deals over the last couple of days, but some of them could have impacts in both fantasy and real baseball.
-- The Rockies gave up just LHP Josh Outman and middle infielder Jonathan Herrera to get OF Drew Stubbs from the Indians and LHP Franklin Morales and inconsequential minor league RHP Chris Martin from the Red Sox. It wasn't too long ago that Stubbs was a viable center fielder, with plenty of homers and a few homers. Someone in Colorado must like Morales, entering his second stint with the Rockies. Outman has shown some promise in years past, but hasn't extended his encouraging numbers over a full season.
-- In another trade, the Braves required versatile C/OF/1B Ryan Doumit for at least bench strength from the Twins for minor league LHP Sean Gilmartin.
-- The Astros, finally showing some creativity and ability to identify sleepers by trading SS Ryan Jackson, recently acquired on waivers from the Cardinals, to the Padres for 1B/OF Jesus Guzman. He is expected to compete for Houston's first base job but even more likely could be at least a right-handed-hitting DH. Guzman has a bat; Jackson has a glove. In the Texas League, Guzman was a far more impressive performer than Jackson. The downside is that Guzman arrived late in the majors and won't have a very long shelf life. But the Astros didn't have Jackson long enough to miss him and essentially acquired a needed bat for nothing.
-- Another good move, countering some of the Mariners' earlier off-season deals, was resigning OF Franklin Gutierrez. He was injured this season, but if he's physically able he could recapture center field, play some right, be a fourth outfielder/DH or at the very least be a defensive replacement for the lumbering players who could end up in Seattle's outfield. Gutierrez is hardly an automatic out at the plate. The loser in the off-season wheeling and dealing seems to be Dustin Ackley. For his sake, he may be able to escape the Mariners and become a viable 2B/OF somewhere else with a fresh start. He's young enough that he should have some value that could bring back a useful player in a trade.
-- The Padres also reportedly signed RHP Joaquin Benoit for $14 million over the next two seasons, pending a physical.
-- The Diamondbacks reportedly have agreed to resign 1B/3B Eric Chavez for a year.
-- The Royals traded OF David Lough to the Orioles for DH/3B Danny Valencia. This is a lefty batter (Lough) for righty trade. Valencia has more power; Lough is far superior defensively.
-- The Orioles' reported signing of RHP Grant Balfour for 2 years and $14 million makes it a de facto trade of closers after the Athletics acquired RHP Jim Johnson from Baltimore. The O's could be gambling that 2B Jemile Weeks, obtained in the Johnson trade, can be a useful major leaguer. I have my doubts but if he succeeds that could be a bonus.
-- In other news, Rays SS Tim Beckham, a former No. 1 draft pick, underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL in a knee. That means he wouldn't be back until somewhere between June and August. I predict that you'll soon hear he'll be ready at the All-Star break, a magical time when so many players seem to heal. And as the break keeps growing, that becomes even more possible.
* * *
Hockey. I seem to be stuck on 63 1/2 points and in third place. I'll pick up a point or so in one category and drop one in another area. The main thing is that I have to avoid continued wrong decisions on goalies. I'm down to six points total in the three goalie categories. Even an average showing in those areas would add 10 1/2 points and put me in second place on most days. Plus/minus also remains a problem. I seem to be taking one step forward and two back.
* * *
Basketball. Through Wednesday, I had a slim 4-3-1 lead this week. Maintaining that would get me up to .500 at last, but I might have to do better to avoid dropping into eighth overall in the 10-team league. There's plenty of room and not a very long way to go to reach the top. Because so many teams are close, it becomes more important to make the right choices and especially to make lineup changes on time.
-- The Rockies gave up just LHP Josh Outman and middle infielder Jonathan Herrera to get OF Drew Stubbs from the Indians and LHP Franklin Morales and inconsequential minor league RHP Chris Martin from the Red Sox. It wasn't too long ago that Stubbs was a viable center fielder, with plenty of homers and a few homers. Someone in Colorado must like Morales, entering his second stint with the Rockies. Outman has shown some promise in years past, but hasn't extended his encouraging numbers over a full season.
-- In another trade, the Braves required versatile C/OF/1B Ryan Doumit for at least bench strength from the Twins for minor league LHP Sean Gilmartin.
-- The Astros, finally showing some creativity and ability to identify sleepers by trading SS Ryan Jackson, recently acquired on waivers from the Cardinals, to the Padres for 1B/OF Jesus Guzman. He is expected to compete for Houston's first base job but even more likely could be at least a right-handed-hitting DH. Guzman has a bat; Jackson has a glove. In the Texas League, Guzman was a far more impressive performer than Jackson. The downside is that Guzman arrived late in the majors and won't have a very long shelf life. But the Astros didn't have Jackson long enough to miss him and essentially acquired a needed bat for nothing.
-- Another good move, countering some of the Mariners' earlier off-season deals, was resigning OF Franklin Gutierrez. He was injured this season, but if he's physically able he could recapture center field, play some right, be a fourth outfielder/DH or at the very least be a defensive replacement for the lumbering players who could end up in Seattle's outfield. Gutierrez is hardly an automatic out at the plate. The loser in the off-season wheeling and dealing seems to be Dustin Ackley. For his sake, he may be able to escape the Mariners and become a viable 2B/OF somewhere else with a fresh start. He's young enough that he should have some value that could bring back a useful player in a trade.
-- The Padres also reportedly signed RHP Joaquin Benoit for $14 million over the next two seasons, pending a physical.
-- The Diamondbacks reportedly have agreed to resign 1B/3B Eric Chavez for a year.
-- The Royals traded OF David Lough to the Orioles for DH/3B Danny Valencia. This is a lefty batter (Lough) for righty trade. Valencia has more power; Lough is far superior defensively.
-- The Orioles' reported signing of RHP Grant Balfour for 2 years and $14 million makes it a de facto trade of closers after the Athletics acquired RHP Jim Johnson from Baltimore. The O's could be gambling that 2B Jemile Weeks, obtained in the Johnson trade, can be a useful major leaguer. I have my doubts but if he succeeds that could be a bonus.
-- In other news, Rays SS Tim Beckham, a former No. 1 draft pick, underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL in a knee. That means he wouldn't be back until somewhere between June and August. I predict that you'll soon hear he'll be ready at the All-Star break, a magical time when so many players seem to heal. And as the break keeps growing, that becomes even more possible.
* * *
Hockey. I seem to be stuck on 63 1/2 points and in third place. I'll pick up a point or so in one category and drop one in another area. The main thing is that I have to avoid continued wrong decisions on goalies. I'm down to six points total in the three goalie categories. Even an average showing in those areas would add 10 1/2 points and put me in second place on most days. Plus/minus also remains a problem. I seem to be taking one step forward and two back.
* * *
Basketball. Through Wednesday, I had a slim 4-3-1 lead this week. Maintaining that would get me up to .500 at last, but I might have to do better to avoid dropping into eighth overall in the 10-team league. There's plenty of room and not a very long way to go to reach the top. Because so many teams are close, it becomes more important to make the right choices and especially to make lineup changes on time.
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Pitchers who could help: Reed, Marcum
Monday's biggest move was the trade of White Sox RHP Addison Reed to the Diamondbacks for 3B Matt Davidson.
It gives Arizona a closer, after the Snakes made do with a combination of ineffective closers such as RHPs Brad Ziegler and J.J. Putz this season. Third base was a black hole on the south side of Chicago, so Davidson has a chance to star. The move also could signal the re-signing of free-agent 3B/1B Eric Chavez in Arizona. There isn't a whole lot left in his tank, but he's probably a good guy to have around.
Reed had 40 saves in 2013, despite fading down the stretch. He could be more inspired with the D-backs in the playoff hunt.
Taking a page from the NFL, the majors have made moves to assimilate portions of their competition, for dollars as well as players. In this case, it's with Nippon Professional Baseball to hold the posting price to a maximum of $20 million. Consider that the posting cost for RHP Yu Darvish was nearly three times that amount, and that this kind of big-money deal tends only to increase in price over time, and you can see that the North American teams can save money at the Japanese teams' expense.
It would seem that the new agreement would make teams in Japan less willing to post players, but the Rakuten Golden Eagles are letting RHP Masahiro Tanaka move into the market. Clearly, he's the biggest short-term winner. Some of the millions that major league teams formerly would have had to put toward the posting fee now will go into Tanaka's (and his agent's) pockets. Let the bidding begin!
The Braves added to their rotation for at least part of the season by agreeing to a 1-year contract with incentives for RHP Gavin Floyd. He underwent Tommy John surgery in May, and there's concern that it might take him more than a year to recover because his operation involved a tendon as well as the ligament usually repaired.
If you're interested in tracking the Astros' bullpen, it added RHP Matt Albers on a 1-year contract.
Here's a transaction that could have far-reaching implications. The Indians signed RHP Shaun Marcum to a minor league contract. He suffered through ineffectiveness and injuries this year. Marcum has been a good pitcher, but only for short stretches between injuries. It's easy to forget that Cleveland was a playoff team in 2013, but the Tribe could benefit from another experienced arm in the rotation for at least part of '14.
* * *
Football. My team in the scoring-only AMFL did not break my personal record in my 27th year in the league. I received nothing from RB Ray Rice and just 3 points for QB Matthew Stafford's 4th-quarter TD pass. So I finished with a 66-20 victory, 4 points short of my all-time high. I'm now alone in third place, but two games out of first. Because I lost both games against the leader, I don't think I can finish first. A bigger concern is the three teams just a game behind me. If two of them overtake me, I'd drop into the second-division consolation playoffs with no chance to be the league champion.
My team's collapse in the scoring-plus-yardage league concluded with RB Reggie Bush's first-half touchdown. I lost 196-183 in the consolation playoffs, and will have some sort of consolation consolation matchup over the next few weeks against a team that defeated me during the season. But, in the parlance of today's everybody-is-a-winner culture, even if I lose this playoff, I still would be the consolation consolation loser champion.
* * *
Hockey. Three Avalanche players helped me hold steady while the second-place team above me lost 2 points. Still a big hill to climb. One of my biggest advantages Monday was that none of my goalies played, so I managed to pick up a point in GAA over a team whose goalies also suck. And for tonight, I picked up another Avalanche player, Peter Stastny, who has scored four goals in his last two games against the Stars. I'll get to see him in action tonight. I'm hoping Colorado G Jean-Sebastien Giguere starts and plays well.
* * *
Basketball. I should stop looking at my games in progress early in the evening. On Monday, with a pretty full roster, I had a 6-2 lead when I checked after dinner. Checked this morning and it was 5-2-1, with a tie in points. But wait! I'm now losing 5-2-1. The only player in action Monday who was on my bench was the Nets' Joe Johnson. He merely scored 37 points, and would have helped my problem area: 3-pointers. Johnson had 10! I believe his being on the bench was a case of guilt by association from existing within a few miles of the suckiness that was Knicks G J.R. Smith. I did get Smith off my roster, and I'll get JJ back in the lineup the next time Brooklyn plays.
It gives Arizona a closer, after the Snakes made do with a combination of ineffective closers such as RHPs Brad Ziegler and J.J. Putz this season. Third base was a black hole on the south side of Chicago, so Davidson has a chance to star. The move also could signal the re-signing of free-agent 3B/1B Eric Chavez in Arizona. There isn't a whole lot left in his tank, but he's probably a good guy to have around.
Reed had 40 saves in 2013, despite fading down the stretch. He could be more inspired with the D-backs in the playoff hunt.
Taking a page from the NFL, the majors have made moves to assimilate portions of their competition, for dollars as well as players. In this case, it's with Nippon Professional Baseball to hold the posting price to a maximum of $20 million. Consider that the posting cost for RHP Yu Darvish was nearly three times that amount, and that this kind of big-money deal tends only to increase in price over time, and you can see that the North American teams can save money at the Japanese teams' expense.
It would seem that the new agreement would make teams in Japan less willing to post players, but the Rakuten Golden Eagles are letting RHP Masahiro Tanaka move into the market. Clearly, he's the biggest short-term winner. Some of the millions that major league teams formerly would have had to put toward the posting fee now will go into Tanaka's (and his agent's) pockets. Let the bidding begin!
The Braves added to their rotation for at least part of the season by agreeing to a 1-year contract with incentives for RHP Gavin Floyd. He underwent Tommy John surgery in May, and there's concern that it might take him more than a year to recover because his operation involved a tendon as well as the ligament usually repaired.
If you're interested in tracking the Astros' bullpen, it added RHP Matt Albers on a 1-year contract.
Here's a transaction that could have far-reaching implications. The Indians signed RHP Shaun Marcum to a minor league contract. He suffered through ineffectiveness and injuries this year. Marcum has been a good pitcher, but only for short stretches between injuries. It's easy to forget that Cleveland was a playoff team in 2013, but the Tribe could benefit from another experienced arm in the rotation for at least part of '14.
* * *
Football. My team in the scoring-only AMFL did not break my personal record in my 27th year in the league. I received nothing from RB Ray Rice and just 3 points for QB Matthew Stafford's 4th-quarter TD pass. So I finished with a 66-20 victory, 4 points short of my all-time high. I'm now alone in third place, but two games out of first. Because I lost both games against the leader, I don't think I can finish first. A bigger concern is the three teams just a game behind me. If two of them overtake me, I'd drop into the second-division consolation playoffs with no chance to be the league champion.
My team's collapse in the scoring-plus-yardage league concluded with RB Reggie Bush's first-half touchdown. I lost 196-183 in the consolation playoffs, and will have some sort of consolation consolation matchup over the next few weeks against a team that defeated me during the season. But, in the parlance of today's everybody-is-a-winner culture, even if I lose this playoff, I still would be the consolation consolation loser champion.
* * *
Hockey. Three Avalanche players helped me hold steady while the second-place team above me lost 2 points. Still a big hill to climb. One of my biggest advantages Monday was that none of my goalies played, so I managed to pick up a point in GAA over a team whose goalies also suck. And for tonight, I picked up another Avalanche player, Peter Stastny, who has scored four goals in his last two games against the Stars. I'll get to see him in action tonight. I'm hoping Colorado G Jean-Sebastien Giguere starts and plays well.
* * *
Basketball. I should stop looking at my games in progress early in the evening. On Monday, with a pretty full roster, I had a 6-2 lead when I checked after dinner. Checked this morning and it was 5-2-1, with a tie in points. But wait! I'm now losing 5-2-1. The only player in action Monday who was on my bench was the Nets' Joe Johnson. He merely scored 37 points, and would have helped my problem area: 3-pointers. Johnson had 10! I believe his being on the bench was a case of guilt by association from existing within a few miles of the suckiness that was Knicks G J.R. Smith. I did get Smith off my roster, and I'll get JJ back in the lineup the next time Brooklyn plays.
Monday, December 16, 2013
Ellis looks like better pickup than Axford
Two baseball deals were set over the weekend, another was finalized and two others were reported.
The Dodgers confirmed that 3B Jose Uribe would return on a 2-year, $15-million deal and the Twins re-upped RHP Mike Pelfrey for 2014 and '15.
The Mets completed their 2-year contract with free-agent RHP Bartolo Colon.
The reported free-agent signings were by the Indians for RHP John Axford -- who could become their closer, at least until he loses the job -- and the Cardinals with 2B Mark Ellis. He could take some pressure off left-handed-hitting 2B Kolten Wong.
* * *
Football. The problem with having more than one fantasy team is that a guy who gives you a win in one league could beat you in another. That appears likely to be the case in my two football leagues.
Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles' 5 touchdowns gave me 30 points in my scoring-only league. That helped me to a 63-20 lead with RB Ray Rice and the Lions' quarterbacks still to play. My opponent's starting lineup has all played already. In a league that has been going since 1987, I haven't scored more than 70. And that was when we got double points for 50-plus-yard scoring plays and I had Jerry Rice on my roster. I'll still be two games out of first place with two to play.
In my scoring-plus-yardage, I'm on the verge of blowing a 25-point lead after the first week of a two-game consolation semifinal playoff. Playing against me, Charles scored 51 points. That helped my opponent pulled within 183-181 with my roster exhausted and Lions RB Reggie Bush still available for him Monday night.
* * *
Hockey. With only one player from my roster actually playing, I dropped a point in ATOI. Valtteri Flippula gave me an assist and plus-1. Fortunately, I didn't make a change to put Flyers G Steve Mason in my lineup. He again gave up four goals, and lost in overtime. But I might have been able to use my two Ducks skaters, Corey Perry and Dustin Penner, each plus-1. I apparently didn't make lineup changes after Saturday night's Bucks-Mavericks game. Got up this morning at 5 to go to Bonham for two church services, took a nap when I returned and didn't wake up until the Packers were scoring to pull within 29-24 of the Cowboys.
Made another move to get more minutes as well as some penalty minutes and shots and a positive plus/minus on my backline. Welcome, Stars D Brenden Dillon to replace the Bruins' Torey Krug.
* * *
Basketball. Late Sunday afternoon, after Gerald Greene made a 3-pointer, I was leading 8-0 as this week's head-to-head matchup neared its end. However, I knew my lead of 1 3-pointer wasn't safe with Stephen Curry still playing for my opponent.
So I wasn't surprised when Curry made 4 treys and no one on my roster had another. However, it was a surprise that my opponents' hustling team made 13 steals and 32 of 35 free throws (while my guys were missing 5 of 17). That left me with a 5-3 win for the week (22-10 over the last 4 weeks after a 5-18-1 start).
I moved up to seventh place, 2 1/2 games out of fifth. I'm also 4 1/2 games behind the third-place team, my opponent for the next week, and 7 1/2 out of first.
The Dodgers confirmed that 3B Jose Uribe would return on a 2-year, $15-million deal and the Twins re-upped RHP Mike Pelfrey for 2014 and '15.
The Mets completed their 2-year contract with free-agent RHP Bartolo Colon.
The reported free-agent signings were by the Indians for RHP John Axford -- who could become their closer, at least until he loses the job -- and the Cardinals with 2B Mark Ellis. He could take some pressure off left-handed-hitting 2B Kolten Wong.
* * *
Football. The problem with having more than one fantasy team is that a guy who gives you a win in one league could beat you in another. That appears likely to be the case in my two football leagues.
Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles' 5 touchdowns gave me 30 points in my scoring-only league. That helped me to a 63-20 lead with RB Ray Rice and the Lions' quarterbacks still to play. My opponent's starting lineup has all played already. In a league that has been going since 1987, I haven't scored more than 70. And that was when we got double points for 50-plus-yard scoring plays and I had Jerry Rice on my roster. I'll still be two games out of first place with two to play.
In my scoring-plus-yardage, I'm on the verge of blowing a 25-point lead after the first week of a two-game consolation semifinal playoff. Playing against me, Charles scored 51 points. That helped my opponent pulled within 183-181 with my roster exhausted and Lions RB Reggie Bush still available for him Monday night.
* * *
Hockey. With only one player from my roster actually playing, I dropped a point in ATOI. Valtteri Flippula gave me an assist and plus-1. Fortunately, I didn't make a change to put Flyers G Steve Mason in my lineup. He again gave up four goals, and lost in overtime. But I might have been able to use my two Ducks skaters, Corey Perry and Dustin Penner, each plus-1. I apparently didn't make lineup changes after Saturday night's Bucks-Mavericks game. Got up this morning at 5 to go to Bonham for two church services, took a nap when I returned and didn't wake up until the Packers were scoring to pull within 29-24 of the Cowboys.
Made another move to get more minutes as well as some penalty minutes and shots and a positive plus/minus on my backline. Welcome, Stars D Brenden Dillon to replace the Bruins' Torey Krug.
* * *
Basketball. Late Sunday afternoon, after Gerald Greene made a 3-pointer, I was leading 8-0 as this week's head-to-head matchup neared its end. However, I knew my lead of 1 3-pointer wasn't safe with Stephen Curry still playing for my opponent.
So I wasn't surprised when Curry made 4 treys and no one on my roster had another. However, it was a surprise that my opponents' hustling team made 13 steals and 32 of 35 free throws (while my guys were missing 5 of 17). That left me with a 5-3 win for the week (22-10 over the last 4 weeks after a 5-18-1 start).
I moved up to seventh place, 2 1/2 games out of fifth. I'm also 4 1/2 games behind the third-place team, my opponent for the next week, and 7 1/2 out of first.
Saturday, December 14, 2013
Cleaning up, but not cleanup batters
Part of the cleaning up is sweeping up the crumbs from the winter meetings.
The latest contract agreement and near agreement are hardly crumby, though.
The Rays ponied up some cash to keep 1B James Loney on a reported 3-year contract. The Royals are close to a 4-year deal for more than $30 million with 2B Omar Infante, according to his agent.
These aren't big deals for big hitters such as Giancarlo Stanton or Nelson Cruz, but they are important to teams who want to be in the playoff picture for 2014 and not standing outside the frame like Broadway Danny Rose.
* * *
Hockey. With only one player -- Matt Niskanen, who helped with minutes and a plus-1 rating -- active Friday, I still managed to gain 1 1/2 points on the second-place team. By not playing, my goalies picked up a point in goals against average. I'll have a full complement of skaters and possibly a goalie or two going tonight. I don't want my players scoring on my goalie, the way my remaining Senators did last week.
* * *
Basketball. Picking up Gerald Green did get me two 3-pointers, and the rest of my lineup came up with enough to take the lead by four in that category. And that put me ahead for the week 8-0. If that holds, and the other contests in my league go as they have been, I would pass only one team but would move into a tie with two or three other teams as close as three games to first place. I should have a good lineup going tonight to help me hold at least most of my lead. Five players are active, including Chris Bosh and the recently hot Carmelo Anthony.
The latest contract agreement and near agreement are hardly crumby, though.
The Rays ponied up some cash to keep 1B James Loney on a reported 3-year contract. The Royals are close to a 4-year deal for more than $30 million with 2B Omar Infante, according to his agent.
These aren't big deals for big hitters such as Giancarlo Stanton or Nelson Cruz, but they are important to teams who want to be in the playoff picture for 2014 and not standing outside the frame like Broadway Danny Rose.
* * *
Hockey. With only one player -- Matt Niskanen, who helped with minutes and a plus-1 rating -- active Friday, I still managed to gain 1 1/2 points on the second-place team. By not playing, my goalies picked up a point in goals against average. I'll have a full complement of skaters and possibly a goalie or two going tonight. I don't want my players scoring on my goalie, the way my remaining Senators did last week.
* * *
Basketball. Picking up Gerald Green did get me two 3-pointers, and the rest of my lineup came up with enough to take the lead by four in that category. And that put me ahead for the week 8-0. If that holds, and the other contests in my league go as they have been, I would pass only one team but would move into a tie with two or three other teams as close as three games to first place. I should have a good lineup going tonight to help me hold at least most of my lead. Five players are active, including Chris Bosh and the recently hot Carmelo Anthony.
Friday, December 13, 2013
A modest proposal to improve interns' plight
The best analogy I can think of for the hundreds of bright and bright-eyed young people who inhabit baseball's winter meetings is fraternity/sorority rush week.
Both groups of hopefuls arrive almost overwhelmed with the scope, particularly of the meetings. The hotels where the meetings now are all out-sized. The first night in the lobby, the aspirants -- who mostly are actual baseball and sports fans -- will have sightings of baseball managers, an occasional star and maybe an ESPN or MLB Network talking head or two. This year, baseball's future supporting cast also had glimpses of Jameis Winston and other college football stars visiting for their own much greater awards presentations.
As the week goes on, some of the gloss goes off for some of the job applicants. They've made some contacts, perhaps even rubbed elbows with some baseball people, but for most the job prospects are slim.
Disappointment naturally sets in. Most of the job applicants -- some of whom may have been sweating out getting into the fraternity/sorority of their choice a few years earlier -- begin to doubt that they'll get what they want.
Baseball management knows this. Which is why a lot of what these young people are competing for turns out to be an unpaid internship.
I'm not sure why internships have become free. What's the benefit of having a job -- working -- without getting paid? Sure, there's some value in getting a foot in the door. But baseball organizations can't afford a few thousand to pay these summer (sometimes year-long) employers?
Here's my proposal. For now, it goes out to agents and the top prospects in this year's June draft. This is directed primarily at whoever is the No. 1 pick and his agent.
The top pick will pick up a few million dollars out of the box. How about setting aside, let's say, $50,000 to begin endowing stipends for minor league interns?
The first guy to do this, or even the first agent to do it on his own, could go down in history in much the same way Tommy John has.
In years ahead, teams could point with pride to their top interns and say (for example), "He's our Carlos Rodon Intern" or "He's our intern from the Scott Boras Endowment."
As the top picks begin their pro careers in the minors, much of their contact will be with the interns, who in the months leading up to the draft may have been college students just like themselves (minus the Big Man on Campus cachet).
So let's say, for the sake of argument, that Rodon is the first pick and sets up an endowment. His first grant of $5,000 (leaving $45,000 in the endowment) could go to an intern at Lancaster or Quad-Cities or wherever he begins his career.
When the first pick is introduced in his new summer home, he'd also introduce the intern. The agent should have the savvy to get some national coverage of the concept. Great PR for the draft pick, the minor league team and possibly even the agent himself.
The first time around, the intern chosen would be at the discretion of the local team or major league organization. But as the (Rodon) Endowment grew, and a larger number of interns were added over time, the player or his agent come become as involved as he/they want.
Who knows? If enough players started subsidizing interns, the baseball organizations themselves might even want to pitch in.
The interns would become more professional and a greater asset. And they'd have more than a pledge pin to show for it.
Both groups of hopefuls arrive almost overwhelmed with the scope, particularly of the meetings. The hotels where the meetings now are all out-sized. The first night in the lobby, the aspirants -- who mostly are actual baseball and sports fans -- will have sightings of baseball managers, an occasional star and maybe an ESPN or MLB Network talking head or two. This year, baseball's future supporting cast also had glimpses of Jameis Winston and other college football stars visiting for their own much greater awards presentations.
As the week goes on, some of the gloss goes off for some of the job applicants. They've made some contacts, perhaps even rubbed elbows with some baseball people, but for most the job prospects are slim.
Disappointment naturally sets in. Most of the job applicants -- some of whom may have been sweating out getting into the fraternity/sorority of their choice a few years earlier -- begin to doubt that they'll get what they want.
Baseball management knows this. Which is why a lot of what these young people are competing for turns out to be an unpaid internship.
I'm not sure why internships have become free. What's the benefit of having a job -- working -- without getting paid? Sure, there's some value in getting a foot in the door. But baseball organizations can't afford a few thousand to pay these summer (sometimes year-long) employers?
Here's my proposal. For now, it goes out to agents and the top prospects in this year's June draft. This is directed primarily at whoever is the No. 1 pick and his agent.
The top pick will pick up a few million dollars out of the box. How about setting aside, let's say, $50,000 to begin endowing stipends for minor league interns?
The first guy to do this, or even the first agent to do it on his own, could go down in history in much the same way Tommy John has.
In years ahead, teams could point with pride to their top interns and say (for example), "He's our Carlos Rodon Intern" or "He's our intern from the Scott Boras Endowment."
As the top picks begin their pro careers in the minors, much of their contact will be with the interns, who in the months leading up to the draft may have been college students just like themselves (minus the Big Man on Campus cachet).
So let's say, for the sake of argument, that Rodon is the first pick and sets up an endowment. His first grant of $5,000 (leaving $45,000 in the endowment) could go to an intern at Lancaster or Quad-Cities or wherever he begins his career.
When the first pick is introduced in his new summer home, he'd also introduce the intern. The agent should have the savvy to get some national coverage of the concept. Great PR for the draft pick, the minor league team and possibly even the agent himself.
The first time around, the intern chosen would be at the discretion of the local team or major league organization. But as the (Rodon) Endowment grew, and a larger number of interns were added over time, the player or his agent come become as involved as he/they want.
Who knows? If enough players started subsidizing interns, the baseball organizations themselves might even want to pitch in.
The interns would become more professional and a greater asset. And they'd have more than a pledge pin to show for it.
Meetings could also be a pre-climax
This year's winter meetings were indeed an anti-climax after a flurry of player moves during the week that preceded them. The meeting might also be a pre-climax to the few free-agent signings (headlined by Shin-soo Choo and Grant Balfour) and possible trades (David Price?) still to come.
The meetings came and went quickly -- I guess unless you went there and spent a lot of time hanging around the hotel lobby.
The moves, mostly minor, over the last couple of days:
-- Red Sox. Finalized their 2-year, $32-million resigning of 1B Mike Napoli. To make room on the 40-man roster, Boston designated OF Alex Castellanos for assignment.
-- Giants. Probably overpaid $5 million for 1 year of OF/1B Mike Morse, who's likely to become their left fielder.
-- Phillies. Signed RHP Roberto Hernandez aka Fausto Carmona and drafted RHP Kevin Munson from the Diamondbacks.
-- Tigers. Signed free-agent RHP Joba Chamberlain to a 1-year, $2.5-million contract. I know Detroit's bullpen has been terrible, but what has Chamberlain to show he's any better and justify a $2.5M price tag.
-- Marlins. Traded OF Justin Ruggiano to the Cubs for OF Brian Bogusevic. I actually like this move for Miami. I saw Bogusevic make the conversion from pitching, and believe he has more upside than Ruggiano, who may have just had the best season he ever will have. The Marlins also trolled the low-cost waters by taking shots at four players in the Rule 5 minor league draft.
-- Astros. Traded the first pick in the major league Rule 5 draft, LHP Patrick Schuster, to the Padres to complete the deal that sent RHP Anthony Bass to Houston Wednesday. Not really a big deal on either side. Schuster, who pitched four consecutive no-hitters in high school in 2009, had a 1.83 ERA as a reliever for the Diamondbacks' affiliate in the high Class A California League last season. But he doesn't throw hard, and that's still a long way from the majors.
-- Angels. Acquired LHP Brian Moran, a nephew of ex-major leaguer B.J. Surhoff, whom the Blue Jays had drafted from the Mariners organization, for $244,000 of international-player bonus money. Moran has Triple-A experience. That and left-handedness could earn him at least a few sips of coffee in the majors.
-- Blue Jays. They also were pretty busy in Thursday's minor league draft. One of the players they took was LHP Richard "Big Dick" Bleier from the Rangers organization.
-- Dodgers. Acquired another major league draft pick, RHP Seth Rosin, by sending cash to the Mets. Rosin was throwing low-90s fastballs in Double-A this year.
-- White Sox. Drafted and kept C Adrian Nieto from the Nationals organization. He batted .285 with 11 homers and threw out 33 per cent of base stealers in the high A Carolina League. It might be difficult for Chicago to keep Nieto on its roster for 2014, and also to send him to the minors without someone else claiming him.
-- Rockies. Drafted RHP Tommy Kahnle from the Yankees. He threw in the mid-90s, but without much control, in Double-A. Colorado needs pitching, so it wouldn't be a stretch to think Kahnle could be in its bullpen in '14.
-- Brewers. Drafted LHP Wei-Chung Wang from the Pirates. The Taiwanese pitcher was in the Rookie Class Gulf Coast League this year after coming back from Tommy John surgery.
-- Diamondbacks. In addition to losing a couple of players in the major league Rule 5 draft, Arizona claimed RHP Marcos Mateo, a former major leaguer, from the Cubs organization.
-- Orioles. Drafted 3B Michael Almanzar, the son of former major league pitcher Carlos Almanzar, from the Red Sox. Michael hit 16 homers in Double-A this year, but needs to refine his swing, selectiveness and defense. Baltimore also obtained C David Freitas from the Athletics organization as the final return for RHP Jim Johnson.
-- Braves. Avoided arbitration by resigning RHP Jordan Walden for 1 year and $1.49 million.
-- Pirates. Resigned SS Clint Barmes for 2014 for what ESPN reported as $2 million. Pittsburgh has not confirmed a reported agreement with free-agent RHP Edinson Volquez for a year and $5 million. That's despite his 5.71 ERA last season. Perhaps the Pirates think he could benefit, as their 2013 starters did, from their advanced metrics that led to successful placement of fielders. If nothing else, Volquez is cheaper than resigning RHP A.J. Burnett. Perhaps the Bucs could use some of the difference toward a contract with free-agent 1B James Loney, which could run to $30 million for 3 years. Or they could trade for a less-expensive 1B such as Seattle's Justin Smoak.
* * *
Overall, Thursday was a good night for my fantasy teams.
Football. In my scoring-plus-yardage league playoffs, I picked up a sub-standard 17 points from Peyton Manning, plus 14 for Keenan Allen and 3 for Danny Woodhead to take a 141-87 lead into the weekend. I'll have six more players in action; my opponent will have seven. In my scoring-only league, Allen's two TDs gave me a 12-6 lead over my opponent, whose points came from Manning's TD passes. Better yet, I still have six players to go; he has just four.
Hockey. A rare good night in plus/minus helped me gain 3 points. The second-place team lost 2 points, so I cut the gap to 7 1/2 points.
Basketball. I'm still leading 7-1, trailing only in 3-pointers. To that end, I picked up the Suns' Gerald Green to replace the next-to-worthless J.R. Smith.
The meetings came and went quickly -- I guess unless you went there and spent a lot of time hanging around the hotel lobby.
The moves, mostly minor, over the last couple of days:
-- Red Sox. Finalized their 2-year, $32-million resigning of 1B Mike Napoli. To make room on the 40-man roster, Boston designated OF Alex Castellanos for assignment.
-- Giants. Probably overpaid $5 million for 1 year of OF/1B Mike Morse, who's likely to become their left fielder.
-- Phillies. Signed RHP Roberto Hernandez aka Fausto Carmona and drafted RHP Kevin Munson from the Diamondbacks.
-- Tigers. Signed free-agent RHP Joba Chamberlain to a 1-year, $2.5-million contract. I know Detroit's bullpen has been terrible, but what has Chamberlain to show he's any better and justify a $2.5M price tag.
-- Marlins. Traded OF Justin Ruggiano to the Cubs for OF Brian Bogusevic. I actually like this move for Miami. I saw Bogusevic make the conversion from pitching, and believe he has more upside than Ruggiano, who may have just had the best season he ever will have. The Marlins also trolled the low-cost waters by taking shots at four players in the Rule 5 minor league draft.
-- Astros. Traded the first pick in the major league Rule 5 draft, LHP Patrick Schuster, to the Padres to complete the deal that sent RHP Anthony Bass to Houston Wednesday. Not really a big deal on either side. Schuster, who pitched four consecutive no-hitters in high school in 2009, had a 1.83 ERA as a reliever for the Diamondbacks' affiliate in the high Class A California League last season. But he doesn't throw hard, and that's still a long way from the majors.
-- Angels. Acquired LHP Brian Moran, a nephew of ex-major leaguer B.J. Surhoff, whom the Blue Jays had drafted from the Mariners organization, for $244,000 of international-player bonus money. Moran has Triple-A experience. That and left-handedness could earn him at least a few sips of coffee in the majors.
-- Blue Jays. They also were pretty busy in Thursday's minor league draft. One of the players they took was LHP Richard "Big Dick" Bleier from the Rangers organization.
-- Dodgers. Acquired another major league draft pick, RHP Seth Rosin, by sending cash to the Mets. Rosin was throwing low-90s fastballs in Double-A this year.
-- White Sox. Drafted and kept C Adrian Nieto from the Nationals organization. He batted .285 with 11 homers and threw out 33 per cent of base stealers in the high A Carolina League. It might be difficult for Chicago to keep Nieto on its roster for 2014, and also to send him to the minors without someone else claiming him.
-- Rockies. Drafted RHP Tommy Kahnle from the Yankees. He threw in the mid-90s, but without much control, in Double-A. Colorado needs pitching, so it wouldn't be a stretch to think Kahnle could be in its bullpen in '14.
-- Brewers. Drafted LHP Wei-Chung Wang from the Pirates. The Taiwanese pitcher was in the Rookie Class Gulf Coast League this year after coming back from Tommy John surgery.
-- Diamondbacks. In addition to losing a couple of players in the major league Rule 5 draft, Arizona claimed RHP Marcos Mateo, a former major leaguer, from the Cubs organization.
-- Orioles. Drafted 3B Michael Almanzar, the son of former major league pitcher Carlos Almanzar, from the Red Sox. Michael hit 16 homers in Double-A this year, but needs to refine his swing, selectiveness and defense. Baltimore also obtained C David Freitas from the Athletics organization as the final return for RHP Jim Johnson.
-- Braves. Avoided arbitration by resigning RHP Jordan Walden for 1 year and $1.49 million.
-- Pirates. Resigned SS Clint Barmes for 2014 for what ESPN reported as $2 million. Pittsburgh has not confirmed a reported agreement with free-agent RHP Edinson Volquez for a year and $5 million. That's despite his 5.71 ERA last season. Perhaps the Pirates think he could benefit, as their 2013 starters did, from their advanced metrics that led to successful placement of fielders. If nothing else, Volquez is cheaper than resigning RHP A.J. Burnett. Perhaps the Bucs could use some of the difference toward a contract with free-agent 1B James Loney, which could run to $30 million for 3 years. Or they could trade for a less-expensive 1B such as Seattle's Justin Smoak.
* * *
Overall, Thursday was a good night for my fantasy teams.
Football. In my scoring-plus-yardage league playoffs, I picked up a sub-standard 17 points from Peyton Manning, plus 14 for Keenan Allen and 3 for Danny Woodhead to take a 141-87 lead into the weekend. I'll have six more players in action; my opponent will have seven. In my scoring-only league, Allen's two TDs gave me a 12-6 lead over my opponent, whose points came from Manning's TD passes. Better yet, I still have six players to go; he has just four.
Hockey. A rare good night in plus/minus helped me gain 3 points. The second-place team lost 2 points, so I cut the gap to 7 1/2 points.
Basketball. I'm still leading 7-1, trailing only in 3-pointers. To that end, I picked up the Suns' Gerald Green to replace the next-to-worthless J.R. Smith.
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Who are the real best prospects from the AFL?
The Arizona Fall League managers and coaches voted on a Top Prospects Team.
There's nothing wrong with that, but the concept and execution were off.
The team has two players at every position.
Here's what's wrong.
1. If you have to have players at every position, why two? Why not make a tough decision -- or at most positions, an easy decision -- and name THE one best player at each position.
2. Speaking of positions, why a DH? The two players chosen as DHs will be at least 27 next season. Those are prospects?
3. Also, why relief pitchers? It's very rare that a pitcher earmarked as a reliever in the minors becomes more than a middle reliever, if he ever makes it to the majors. The two chosen as this year's Top Prospects have just a few games above high Class A between them. It's a long way from where they are to being a real major league bullpen prospect (which most likely would be a high-minors starter lacking a pitch or stamina anyway).
4. Instead of putting players at positions, why not a Top 10, or Top 12, or whatever would be a meaningful number? That way the managers and coaches wouldn't have had a tough decision whether to include 3Bs Kris Bryant or Jake Lamb. They both clearly were among the AFL's best prospects. They wouldn't have to be included on the same list as the fifth and sixth outfielders the league's instructors had to scrounge up to fill out the team.
I saw a number of these Top Prospects in the Texas League this season, and none of them really stood out. At least, not the way former prospects such as Hunter Pence, Eric Hosmer, Jhoulys Chacin, Mat Latos, Derek Holland and Chris Davis did.
Following is a look at the players selected. I'm including information about how far they have advanced, some basic statistics and ages where relevant.
Catchers. I saw a little bit of Austin Hedges (Padres organization) for Double-A San Antonio after his promotion from high A. His combined average was .260 with 4 homers and 38 RBI so his defense must be pretty good, but I don't remember noticing anything special. Jorge Alfaro (Rangers) played between Rookie ball and high A, batting .265 with 18 homers, 61 RBI and 18 stolen bases. Most of his homers were at low A Hickory, which had hellacious HR numbers before 3B Joey Gallo and others were injured. I can't help but wonder whether Alfaro is one of the Texas prospects who has been overvalued because so many others before them have been successful. I haven't seen him, but I probably will this season and I'll let you know.
First basemen. C.J. Cron (Angels) played all season at Double-A Arkansas, finishing at .274 with 14 homers and 83 RBI. Not bad, but again nothing special there. He's the son of former major leaguer Chris Cron, currently the manager at Double-A Erie in the Tigers organization. Travis Shaw (Red Sox) is 22 (ages as of April 1, 2014) and also played in Double-A at Portland. He was a bit overmatched in the pitcher-friendly Eastern League (.221-16-50), but showed some patience and a batting eye (78 walks, 117 strikeouts). He'll need either to succeed in Triple-A or improve at the Double-A level to remain a true prospect.
Second basemen. Tommy LaStella (Braves) moved up from high A to Double-A Mississippi, where he set a hitting-streak record for the relatively new franchise. A high-contact hitter, he batted .356 with 5 homers and 45 RBI and walked more often than he struck out. Cory Spangenberg (Padres) played at the same two levels, reaching San Antonio. He batted .292 with 6 homers, 51 RBI and 36 stolen bases, but he hasn't shown enough power to be able to get away with his 112 strikeouts.
Third basemen. Kris Bryant (Cubs) played from Rookie Class to high A after being this year's No. 1 draft pick. He totaled .336 with 9 homers and 32 RBI in 128 at-bats. Jake Lamb (Diamondbacks) had similar success at the same levels with more playing time. He batted .302 with 15 homers and 52 RBI.
Shortstops. Playing between high A and Triple-A, Addison Russell (Athletics) batted .269 with 17 homers, 60 RBI and 21 stolen bases. Cristhian Adames (Rockies) batted .267, but with just 3 homers, 36 RBI and 13 steals.
Outfielders. Let's start at the top with 20-year-old Byron Buxton (Twins). In low A and high A, he batted .334 with 12 homers, 77 RBI and 55 stolen bases and is on the fast track to the majors. Stephen Piscotty (Cardinals) batted .295 with 15 homers and 59 RBI between high A and Double-A Springfield in the Texas League. Also in high A and Double-A, Tyler Naquin (Indians) batted .269 with 9 homers and 42 RBI. Mitch Haniger (Brewers) batted .264 with 11 homers and 68 RBI in low A and high A. Brian Goodwin (Nationals) batted .252 with 10 homers, 40 RBI and 19 stolen bases. Somehow, 25-year-old Jared Mitchell (White Sox) was invited to the AFL after a season in Double-A and Triple-A when he batted .167 with 5 homers, 23 RBI and 123 strikeouts in 300 at-bats. Despite some success in Arizona, I don't see how he could be a prospect.
Designated hitters. Cuban Henry Urrutia (Orioles) made it to the majors after beginning his season in Double-A. He batted .347 with 9 homers and 50 RBI in the minors, and .276 with 2 RBI in 24 games for Baltimore. Japhet Amador (Astros) played most of the season in the Triple-A Mexican League before Houston purchased his contract and sent him to Triple-A Oklahoma City. He totaled .361 with 36 homers and 123 RBI, including 2 RBI in 10 Pacific Coast League games. Both are 27, and not major prospects, though they could be DHing in the majors in 2014.
Starting pitchers. Alex Meyer (Twins) was 4-3 with a 2.59 ERA, .227 opponents' average and better than 3 strikeouts for every walk between Rookie ball and Double-A. Aaron Sanchez (Blue Jays) was 4-5 with a 3.34 ERA and .202 opponents' average but less than a 2:1 K/W ratio.
Relief pitchers. In high A and Double-A, Nick Wittgren (Marlins) was 2-1 with an 0.77 ERA, 26 saves, a .198 opponents' average and a K/W ratio better than 6:1. Derek Law (Giants) was 5-3 with a 2.33 ERA, 14 saves, a .206 opponent's average and a K/W ratio above 9:1 between Rookie and high A ball. These two are worth following, but it's difficult to project them into major league stars.
From this group, I'll endorse an elite group of prospects, and a second-tier level of possible future stars.
The elite: Bryan Buxton, Kris Bryant, Alex Meyer and Tommy LaStella.
Second level: Jake Lamb, Stephen Piscotty, Jorge Alfaro, C.J. Cron.
There's nothing wrong with that, but the concept and execution were off.
The team has two players at every position.
Here's what's wrong.
1. If you have to have players at every position, why two? Why not make a tough decision -- or at most positions, an easy decision -- and name THE one best player at each position.
2. Speaking of positions, why a DH? The two players chosen as DHs will be at least 27 next season. Those are prospects?
3. Also, why relief pitchers? It's very rare that a pitcher earmarked as a reliever in the minors becomes more than a middle reliever, if he ever makes it to the majors. The two chosen as this year's Top Prospects have just a few games above high Class A between them. It's a long way from where they are to being a real major league bullpen prospect (which most likely would be a high-minors starter lacking a pitch or stamina anyway).
4. Instead of putting players at positions, why not a Top 10, or Top 12, or whatever would be a meaningful number? That way the managers and coaches wouldn't have had a tough decision whether to include 3Bs Kris Bryant or Jake Lamb. They both clearly were among the AFL's best prospects. They wouldn't have to be included on the same list as the fifth and sixth outfielders the league's instructors had to scrounge up to fill out the team.
I saw a number of these Top Prospects in the Texas League this season, and none of them really stood out. At least, not the way former prospects such as Hunter Pence, Eric Hosmer, Jhoulys Chacin, Mat Latos, Derek Holland and Chris Davis did.
Following is a look at the players selected. I'm including information about how far they have advanced, some basic statistics and ages where relevant.
Catchers. I saw a little bit of Austin Hedges (Padres organization) for Double-A San Antonio after his promotion from high A. His combined average was .260 with 4 homers and 38 RBI so his defense must be pretty good, but I don't remember noticing anything special. Jorge Alfaro (Rangers) played between Rookie ball and high A, batting .265 with 18 homers, 61 RBI and 18 stolen bases. Most of his homers were at low A Hickory, which had hellacious HR numbers before 3B Joey Gallo and others were injured. I can't help but wonder whether Alfaro is one of the Texas prospects who has been overvalued because so many others before them have been successful. I haven't seen him, but I probably will this season and I'll let you know.
First basemen. C.J. Cron (Angels) played all season at Double-A Arkansas, finishing at .274 with 14 homers and 83 RBI. Not bad, but again nothing special there. He's the son of former major leaguer Chris Cron, currently the manager at Double-A Erie in the Tigers organization. Travis Shaw (Red Sox) is 22 (ages as of April 1, 2014) and also played in Double-A at Portland. He was a bit overmatched in the pitcher-friendly Eastern League (.221-16-50), but showed some patience and a batting eye (78 walks, 117 strikeouts). He'll need either to succeed in Triple-A or improve at the Double-A level to remain a true prospect.
Second basemen. Tommy LaStella (Braves) moved up from high A to Double-A Mississippi, where he set a hitting-streak record for the relatively new franchise. A high-contact hitter, he batted .356 with 5 homers and 45 RBI and walked more often than he struck out. Cory Spangenberg (Padres) played at the same two levels, reaching San Antonio. He batted .292 with 6 homers, 51 RBI and 36 stolen bases, but he hasn't shown enough power to be able to get away with his 112 strikeouts.
Third basemen. Kris Bryant (Cubs) played from Rookie Class to high A after being this year's No. 1 draft pick. He totaled .336 with 9 homers and 32 RBI in 128 at-bats. Jake Lamb (Diamondbacks) had similar success at the same levels with more playing time. He batted .302 with 15 homers and 52 RBI.
Shortstops. Playing between high A and Triple-A, Addison Russell (Athletics) batted .269 with 17 homers, 60 RBI and 21 stolen bases. Cristhian Adames (Rockies) batted .267, but with just 3 homers, 36 RBI and 13 steals.
Outfielders. Let's start at the top with 20-year-old Byron Buxton (Twins). In low A and high A, he batted .334 with 12 homers, 77 RBI and 55 stolen bases and is on the fast track to the majors. Stephen Piscotty (Cardinals) batted .295 with 15 homers and 59 RBI between high A and Double-A Springfield in the Texas League. Also in high A and Double-A, Tyler Naquin (Indians) batted .269 with 9 homers and 42 RBI. Mitch Haniger (Brewers) batted .264 with 11 homers and 68 RBI in low A and high A. Brian Goodwin (Nationals) batted .252 with 10 homers, 40 RBI and 19 stolen bases. Somehow, 25-year-old Jared Mitchell (White Sox) was invited to the AFL after a season in Double-A and Triple-A when he batted .167 with 5 homers, 23 RBI and 123 strikeouts in 300 at-bats. Despite some success in Arizona, I don't see how he could be a prospect.
Designated hitters. Cuban Henry Urrutia (Orioles) made it to the majors after beginning his season in Double-A. He batted .347 with 9 homers and 50 RBI in the minors, and .276 with 2 RBI in 24 games for Baltimore. Japhet Amador (Astros) played most of the season in the Triple-A Mexican League before Houston purchased his contract and sent him to Triple-A Oklahoma City. He totaled .361 with 36 homers and 123 RBI, including 2 RBI in 10 Pacific Coast League games. Both are 27, and not major prospects, though they could be DHing in the majors in 2014.
Starting pitchers. Alex Meyer (Twins) was 4-3 with a 2.59 ERA, .227 opponents' average and better than 3 strikeouts for every walk between Rookie ball and Double-A. Aaron Sanchez (Blue Jays) was 4-5 with a 3.34 ERA and .202 opponents' average but less than a 2:1 K/W ratio.
Relief pitchers. In high A and Double-A, Nick Wittgren (Marlins) was 2-1 with an 0.77 ERA, 26 saves, a .198 opponents' average and a K/W ratio better than 6:1. Derek Law (Giants) was 5-3 with a 2.33 ERA, 14 saves, a .206 opponent's average and a K/W ratio above 9:1 between Rookie and high A ball. These two are worth following, but it's difficult to project them into major league stars.
From this group, I'll endorse an elite group of prospects, and a second-tier level of possible future stars.
The elite: Bryan Buxton, Kris Bryant, Alex Meyer and Tommy LaStella.
Second level: Jake Lamb, Stephen Piscotty, Jorge Alfaro, C.J. Cron.
Mariners' moves questionable
The Mariners, apparently tired of acquiring 31-year-olds with little or no possibility of improvement, traded RHP Carter Capps to the Marlins for 26-year-old 1B/OF Logan Morrison. There is room for improvement, even though his best season was at age 23. Would he be an improvement over incumbent 1B Justin Smoak, who finally seemed to have a clue in September about hitting major league pitching? Would either Morrison or 31-year-old free agent OF/1B Corey Hart be capable of playing outfield defense with three bad knees between them, carting around 480 pounds of ballplayer? Hart, a two-time All-Star, missed all of this season because of microfracture surgery on both knees. Perhaps the answer to the questions above is that Miami was willing to take a reliever with a 5.49 ERA for Morrison. (And don't tell me anything about ERA+ or win shares for Capps; he wasn't a good pitcher by any measure in 2013.)
Hey, at least Hart and Morrison cost a fraction of what 31-year-old 2B Robinson Cano will.
The only other moves in the last couple of days:
-- The Tigers gave one-trick-pony OF Rajai Davis $10 million for 2 years to platoon in LF with OF Andy Dirks.
-- The Pirates gave RHP Charlie Morton a new 3-year, $21-million contract through 2016, with a team option for '17. Morton was probably the greatest beneficiary of Pittsburgh's new emphasis on shifting its defense for almost every batter.
-- The Rangers made official a 1-year contract with free-agent C J.P. Arencibia.
-- The busy-with-the-little-stuff Marlins confirmed their 2-year contract with free-agent 1B/OF Garrett Jones.
-- Almost forgot. The Mets agreed on a 2-year, $20-million contract with RHP Bartolo Colon, pending a physical. What? Are they afraid he might not be in shape?
RHP Roy Halladay returned to his roots, signing a 1-day contract with the Blue Jays before announcing his retirement. I've seen a lot of support for Halladay as a Hall of Famer, but I'm not so sure. Doc had some great years, but interspersed with those were a succession of injuries and some bad seasons. It wasn't just a Greg Maddux 6-15 or whatever it was rookie season with a bad team followed by lights-out season after lights-out season. What Halladay, a great pitcher, lacked was reliability.
I'll be sending my thoughts about the AFL Top Prospects later.
* * *
Football. I took a 25-point lead in the first of two rounds in my scoring-plus-yardage ESPN league consolation semifinal. I've made some preliminary minor moves for this week, with more possible Thursday. In the scoring-only Andy Memorial Football League I got 1 point out of QB Matthew Stafford (for a 2-point conversion pass). In the same snowy game, my opponent received 10 from Eagles QB Nick Foles. That was enough for me to lose by 1 point, 33-25. That knocked me two games behind the co-leaders with three games left. I'm in a tie for third place, but would lose a tiebreaker. There are something like five teams one game behind us. So I'm figuring that I'll need to win all three weeks (possibly two) to get into the top-division playoffs during the NFL postseason.
* * *
Hockey. I'm mismanaging my goalies again. Here's my current story. On Saturday afternoon, I got to watch in person as Flyers goalie Steve Mason allowed 3 goals in 1:02 against the Stars. My thinking at the time was that Mason has been playing somewhat over his head. Even though he had made a number of outstanding stops (25 saves in two periods), that barrage seemed to be the type of thing that could damage his confidence. Confident goalies are like confident closers; if they're not confident, you can't count on them. I gave Mason another chance Monday, but he gave up four goals again -- to Ottawa!
At the same time, I was figuring it was no longer prudent to keep riding Toronto G James Reimer. To replace him, I picked up tried-and-true free agent Martin Brodeur. So I started Brodeur Tuesday, and he gave up five goals! He's no longer on my team. I've now added Jonas Gustavsson from the Red Wings. Hope he doesn't give up six goals in his first start for me.
Bottom line: I lost 3 more points, mostly in the goalie categories. I'm still in third place, but now much closer to fourth place than second.
* * *
Basketball. After Monday, I was 0-7-1, with a tie in steals. I realized that I had only one player -- Victor Oladipo, who didn't play very well -- active that night. My opponent had three players -- including Stephen Curry, who went for 40-some points.
On Tuesday, I had eight or nine players in action; he again had three. So now I'm ahead 6-1-1. We're still tied in steals, and I'm behind by only one assist. The other head-to-head competiti0ons are pretty close, so if the results stay the same, I'd move up only to seventh place. But I'd be over .500 and within five games of the lead.
Hey, at least Hart and Morrison cost a fraction of what 31-year-old 2B Robinson Cano will.
The only other moves in the last couple of days:
-- The Tigers gave one-trick-pony OF Rajai Davis $10 million for 2 years to platoon in LF with OF Andy Dirks.
-- The Pirates gave RHP Charlie Morton a new 3-year, $21-million contract through 2016, with a team option for '17. Morton was probably the greatest beneficiary of Pittsburgh's new emphasis on shifting its defense for almost every batter.
-- The Rangers made official a 1-year contract with free-agent C J.P. Arencibia.
-- The busy-with-the-little-stuff Marlins confirmed their 2-year contract with free-agent 1B/OF Garrett Jones.
-- Almost forgot. The Mets agreed on a 2-year, $20-million contract with RHP Bartolo Colon, pending a physical. What? Are they afraid he might not be in shape?
RHP Roy Halladay returned to his roots, signing a 1-day contract with the Blue Jays before announcing his retirement. I've seen a lot of support for Halladay as a Hall of Famer, but I'm not so sure. Doc had some great years, but interspersed with those were a succession of injuries and some bad seasons. It wasn't just a Greg Maddux 6-15 or whatever it was rookie season with a bad team followed by lights-out season after lights-out season. What Halladay, a great pitcher, lacked was reliability.
I'll be sending my thoughts about the AFL Top Prospects later.
* * *
Football. I took a 25-point lead in the first of two rounds in my scoring-plus-yardage ESPN league consolation semifinal. I've made some preliminary minor moves for this week, with more possible Thursday. In the scoring-only Andy Memorial Football League I got 1 point out of QB Matthew Stafford (for a 2-point conversion pass). In the same snowy game, my opponent received 10 from Eagles QB Nick Foles. That was enough for me to lose by 1 point, 33-25. That knocked me two games behind the co-leaders with three games left. I'm in a tie for third place, but would lose a tiebreaker. There are something like five teams one game behind us. So I'm figuring that I'll need to win all three weeks (possibly two) to get into the top-division playoffs during the NFL postseason.
* * *
Hockey. I'm mismanaging my goalies again. Here's my current story. On Saturday afternoon, I got to watch in person as Flyers goalie Steve Mason allowed 3 goals in 1:02 against the Stars. My thinking at the time was that Mason has been playing somewhat over his head. Even though he had made a number of outstanding stops (25 saves in two periods), that barrage seemed to be the type of thing that could damage his confidence. Confident goalies are like confident closers; if they're not confident, you can't count on them. I gave Mason another chance Monday, but he gave up four goals again -- to Ottawa!
At the same time, I was figuring it was no longer prudent to keep riding Toronto G James Reimer. To replace him, I picked up tried-and-true free agent Martin Brodeur. So I started Brodeur Tuesday, and he gave up five goals! He's no longer on my team. I've now added Jonas Gustavsson from the Red Wings. Hope he doesn't give up six goals in his first start for me.
Bottom line: I lost 3 more points, mostly in the goalie categories. I'm still in third place, but now much closer to fourth place than second.
* * *
Basketball. After Monday, I was 0-7-1, with a tie in steals. I realized that I had only one player -- Victor Oladipo, who didn't play very well -- active that night. My opponent had three players -- including Stephen Curry, who went for 40-some points.
On Tuesday, I had eight or nine players in action; he again had three. So now I'm ahead 6-1-1. We're still tied in steals, and I'm behind by only one assist. The other head-to-head competiti0ons are pretty close, so if the results stay the same, I'd move up only to seventh place. But I'd be over .500 and within five games of the lead.
Hot stove lukewarm at winter meetings
My apologies for being absent from the blog for 3 days. I've been a bit worn out by trying to keep warm and scraping ice. I'm not as used to either of those things for a while.
I've also been held back today by losing my original draft.
Anyway, it's warm in Florida, where the hot stove has been simmering.
Not sizzling or boiling, though.
Can you rally get fired up about LHP Brett Anderson to Colorado, with LHP Drew Pomeranz and RHP Chris Jensen in return to Oakland?
Or how about a three-team -- what will probably be called a "blockbuster" in some circles in this nation of devalued language -- trade of OF/1B Mark Trumbo from the Angels to the Diamondbacks, with OF Adam Eaton going from Arizona to the White Sox and LHPs Hector Santiago and Tyler Skaggs from Chicago to Anaheim. Oh, and the D-backs will get a player to be named or cash from each of the other teams.
Gets you excited, no? No.
Skaggs, returning to the organization that originally drafted him, was just 6-10 with a 4.59 ERA at Triple-A Reno and 2-3, 5.12 for Arizona last year. Jensen, already 23, was 5-8 with a 4.55 ERA in the high A California League. You might see that Jensen's ERA was the 10th-best in a hitters' league, but remember that the best pitchers move up before they have enough innings to qualify for the ERA title.
Speaking of devalued, I was disppointed to see that the Top Prospects Team selected by Arizona Fall League managers and coaches included two players at each position. Doesn't anybody have the balls to decide on one best player anymore? I also saw this morning a high school football all-district team with 20-some "first team" players each on offense and defense. Geez! Give them all participation trophies while you're at it.
I'll post later with more on the Top Prospects Team, other fantasy sports and possibly the winter meetings.
I've also been held back today by losing my original draft.
Anyway, it's warm in Florida, where the hot stove has been simmering.
Not sizzling or boiling, though.
Can you rally get fired up about LHP Brett Anderson to Colorado, with LHP Drew Pomeranz and RHP Chris Jensen in return to Oakland?
Or how about a three-team -- what will probably be called a "blockbuster" in some circles in this nation of devalued language -- trade of OF/1B Mark Trumbo from the Angels to the Diamondbacks, with OF Adam Eaton going from Arizona to the White Sox and LHPs Hector Santiago and Tyler Skaggs from Chicago to Anaheim. Oh, and the D-backs will get a player to be named or cash from each of the other teams.
Gets you excited, no? No.
Skaggs, returning to the organization that originally drafted him, was just 6-10 with a 4.59 ERA at Triple-A Reno and 2-3, 5.12 for Arizona last year. Jensen, already 23, was 5-8 with a 4.55 ERA in the high A California League. You might see that Jensen's ERA was the 10th-best in a hitters' league, but remember that the best pitchers move up before they have enough innings to qualify for the ERA title.
Speaking of devalued, I was disppointed to see that the Top Prospects Team selected by Arizona Fall League managers and coaches included two players at each position. Doesn't anybody have the balls to decide on one best player anymore? I also saw this morning a high school football all-district team with 20-some "first team" players each on offense and defense. Geez! Give them all participation trophies while you're at it.
I'll post later with more on the Top Prospects Team, other fantasy sports and possibly the winter meetings.
Saturday, December 7, 2013
Napoli getting higher salary than Beltran or Granderson
Lots going on, but this will be short-form because I don't have much time. Have to chip the ice off the car and hope I can make it to see the Stars and Flyers (featuring goalie Steve Mason) on the ice.
The biggest new news is the reported 3-year, $45-million contract between the Yankees and OF Carlos Beltran. Looks as if another aging outfielder, Ichiro Suzuki, could be looking for a new employer.
For an even bigger average annual salary, 1B Mike Napoli reportedly will be back with the Red Sox for 2 years and $32 million.
OF Curtis Granderson's new 4-year contract with the Mets is being reported at $60 million, also 15 per year.
In a minor Yankees move, they signed IF/OF/DH Kelly Johnson to a 1-year contract.
RHP Scott Feldman appears to be the Astros' ace by default, with a 3-year, $30-million contract. It will be nice to see him in Arlington more frequently, and not just because the Rangers might light him up.
Speaking of the Rangers, they reportedly are close to signing C J.P. Arencibia. Some home runs, but is Texas any better off with him than they could have been by re-signing much older C A.J. Pierzynski?
Another question: Will the Rangers re-sign OF Nelson Cruz, go for free-agent OF Shin-soo Choo or plan on unproven OF Michael Choice in left field this season. I'd expect anything short of Cruz or Choo (or possibly just Choo) to be considered in the Metroplex as another wasted off-season.
The position-player free-agent list beyond Choo and Cruz is very thin, and the list of available pitchers isn't a lot better: RHPs A.J. Burnett, Ervin Santana, Ubaldo Jimenez, Bronson Arroyo and the tarnished star of Matt Garza.
Another report has OF Nate McLouth moving a bit south to play for the Nationals for 2 years at $10.75 million.
The Marlins continue to make near-the-back-page news. Their new acquisition reportedly is 1B/OF Garrett Jones for 2 years. They're losing RHP Ryan Webb to the Orioles for 2 years and $4.5 million. I know! I had to look to see what more than $2 million a year can buy for your bullpen. Well, Webb was 2-6 with a 2.91 ERA with 3 blown saves this year. That extended his save-less streak in the majors to five seasons, during which he was mostly hidden from view by the Padres and Marlins. He did have 3 saves in a minor league career that included a 5.06 ERA.
* * *
Hockey/basketball. Not a lot to report. My hockey team picked up half a point in ATOI, but fell six games behind the second-place team. My replacement for Jason Spezza is Tampa Bay's Valtteri Filppula. He's in today's lineup as the utility player. It's still 5-3 in my basketball-league series with 2 days remaining this week. I have the best chance to pick up a game in 3-point FGs or possibly FG percentage.
The biggest new news is the reported 3-year, $45-million contract between the Yankees and OF Carlos Beltran. Looks as if another aging outfielder, Ichiro Suzuki, could be looking for a new employer.
For an even bigger average annual salary, 1B Mike Napoli reportedly will be back with the Red Sox for 2 years and $32 million.
OF Curtis Granderson's new 4-year contract with the Mets is being reported at $60 million, also 15 per year.
In a minor Yankees move, they signed IF/OF/DH Kelly Johnson to a 1-year contract.
RHP Scott Feldman appears to be the Astros' ace by default, with a 3-year, $30-million contract. It will be nice to see him in Arlington more frequently, and not just because the Rangers might light him up.
Speaking of the Rangers, they reportedly are close to signing C J.P. Arencibia. Some home runs, but is Texas any better off with him than they could have been by re-signing much older C A.J. Pierzynski?
Another question: Will the Rangers re-sign OF Nelson Cruz, go for free-agent OF Shin-soo Choo or plan on unproven OF Michael Choice in left field this season. I'd expect anything short of Cruz or Choo (or possibly just Choo) to be considered in the Metroplex as another wasted off-season.
The position-player free-agent list beyond Choo and Cruz is very thin, and the list of available pitchers isn't a lot better: RHPs A.J. Burnett, Ervin Santana, Ubaldo Jimenez, Bronson Arroyo and the tarnished star of Matt Garza.
Another report has OF Nate McLouth moving a bit south to play for the Nationals for 2 years at $10.75 million.
The Marlins continue to make near-the-back-page news. Their new acquisition reportedly is 1B/OF Garrett Jones for 2 years. They're losing RHP Ryan Webb to the Orioles for 2 years and $4.5 million. I know! I had to look to see what more than $2 million a year can buy for your bullpen. Well, Webb was 2-6 with a 2.91 ERA with 3 blown saves this year. That extended his save-less streak in the majors to five seasons, during which he was mostly hidden from view by the Padres and Marlins. He did have 3 saves in a minor league career that included a 5.06 ERA.
* * *
Hockey/basketball. Not a lot to report. My hockey team picked up half a point in ATOI, but fell six games behind the second-place team. My replacement for Jason Spezza is Tampa Bay's Valtteri Filppula. He's in today's lineup as the utility player. It's still 5-3 in my basketball-league series with 2 days remaining this week. I have the best chance to pick up a game in 3-point FGs or possibly FG percentage.
Friday, December 6, 2013
The last of the 10-year contracts?
Three thoughts about the reported agreement between the Mariners and free-agent 2B Robinson Cano.
1. It's a great deal for Cano and his agent, even though it would be for $65 million less than the original asking price. I guess it's like buying a mansion. What's $6 million a year when you're getting $24 mill? I hope the deal will also bring good things to young people, in Seattle or the Dominican Republic from Cano's affordable largesse.
2. It signifies that the Mariners now could become a large-market team -- competing with the Yankees, Red Sox and possibly Dodgers-Angels-Rangers (with big TV money anticipated) -- for top-dollar free agents. The other direction Seattle could take is toward the financial problems that beset Tom Hicks in Texas after the ill-fated A-Rod signing didn't work. I think there's plenty of Japanese money available, so I don't think that would happen to the Mariners.
3. I wonder when we'll see the end of 9-10-year contracts. My guess is after A-Rod's contract plays out. (By the way, shouldn't we be hearing something about his hearing pretty soon? Not sure why that should be taking 9 months when most player hearings are over within 9 days.) The easiest prediction from the Cano signing is that there's no way it -- like similar deals for Albert Pujols, the aforementioned A-Rod and probably Prince Fielder, and going all the way back to Wayne Garland nearly 40 years ago -- will come close to paying off in results equal to even half of its value.
Let's look at the particulars. Cano is already 31. He wouldn't get any better in any circumstances. He can't equal in Seattle the offensive statistics from playing home game at Yankee Stadium with its favorable left-handed-hitting setup. He'll have 9 years of not worrying about playing for a contract and financial security. Actually, 10. If he's still playing in 2023, it would be on a going-into-retirement cruise.
Can Cano help the Mariners in the short run? No question. He's filling what has become an abyss since Dustin Ackley didn't work out at second base. Cano could probably reach 20 homers for a few years. But when his range at second base inevitably declines, he'd become a below-average left fielder or first baseman or DH. At that point, the best hope would be to have some other needy team take him off the Mariners' hands, saving Seattle a fraction of the money it would owe Cano.
Lots of activity in New York. The Yankees apparently also are losing OF Curtis Granderson's left-handed bat. The New York Post reported that he agreed to a 4-year contract with the Mets, no doubt for far less than he could have received even 2 years ago. Granderson is 32, coming off an injury-plagued 2013 and struggles against left-handers.
Also, the Yankees retained RHP Hiroki Kuroda for 2014. The busy Post reported the contract is for $16 million, with a $250,000 incentive for innings pitched. Kuroda has been mostly reliable in his two seasons in the Bronx. He has exceeded 200 innings in each of the last three years. But ... he has two winning records in six seasons in the U.S., will be 39 next season and didn't win a game after Aug. 12. (I know that too well; he was on one of my fantasy teams.) He's an exception to the rule that the ancient Yankees are getting somewhat younger.
Another situation I've commented on without a follow-up is 1B/DH Paul Konerko's re-signing. I applaud his or his agent's foresight in structuring his 1-year contract so he's paid $1.5 million in 2014, with $1 million deferred until 2015. That will make his transition out of the game much smoother. It's not likely that Konerko would suffer through another poor season in '15 -- barring an unlikely late-in-life resurgence such as Ted Williams and Stan Musial had in 1959 after bad years in '58. It's no coincidence that White Sox play-by-play man Ken Harrelson's contract expires after 2015, and he already has curtailed his travel schedule. In 2012, Sox color man Steve Stone made a reported $600,000 (with a lot of broadcast experience). There would seem to be room for Konerko in the broadcast booth, or even making a few hundred grand as a coach.
Marlins fans! Don't make World Series plans yet, but Miami did sign SS Rafael Furcal to a 1-year contract. He's expected to move to second base, with former 2B Donovan Solano or a player to be acquired at third. Apparently, the 36-year-old Furcal no longer is strong enough to unseat Adeiny Hechavarria at shortstop, especially after undergoing Tommy John surgery last March and missing all of last season. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel indicated that Furcal's contract is for $3.5 million, plus incentives. We'll find out during spring training whether he'll be ready by opening day. But really, does this look like a contending infield? Wait! I'm forgetting 1B Logan Morrison, who hasn't batted even .250 in any of the last three seasons.
* * *
Football. Both of my teams were off to a good start Thursday night, with Texans TE Garrett Graham scoring a touchdown and gaining 72 receiving yards. So I took early leads of 13-0 in my scoring-plus-yardage league (first week of a two-week consolation playoff semifinal) and 6-0 in Week 14 of my scoring-only league. In that one, I'm still projected for a tie against one of the two teams tied for first place a game ahead of me.
* * *
Hockey. Important key: The downside of having a lot of players, especially forwards, in your lineup, is that they can drag you down, especially by your plus/minus and ATOI.
I filled my starting lineup with 15 skaters and 2 goalies -- and lost 3 1/2 points. Where I was within 2 points of second place, I dropped to 5 back overnight. Here's what happened. The two goalies' team played but they didn't. I read a note saying that Jean-Sebastien Giguere would start for Colorado Friday, but forgot that it was Thursday. The 15 skaters totaled 0 goals and 2 assists, and were minus-6. In addition, defensemen Jan Hejda and Victor Hedman both left early because of injuries, hurting my ATOI even more. They join Henrik Zetterberg on my injured list. Also, I have to get the minus-9 Jason Spezza from the loser Senators off my roster. Clarke MacArthur can stay for the time being.
* * *
Basketball. Important key. If you have a guy on your roster who isn't playing tonight, but is tomorrow, be sure to put him into an open spot in your starting lineup instead of a player who is inactive for the next 2 days -- even if he's a franchise player.
I didn't follow one of my other important keys Wednesday. I didn't set my lineup until nearly 7 p.m. EDT. By that time, the Cavaliers' game already had started, so I couldn't get Anderson Varejao into my lineup. I could have put him in the lineup Tuesday (see Important key under hockey), guarding against the possibility of getting around to setting the lineup too late. I could have used his 18 points, 13 rebounds and assorted assists, blocks and steals. I made up somewhat for that lost production Thursday, regaining a 5-3 lead for the week.
For now, I'm off to find a hockey forward to replace Jason Spezza.
1. It's a great deal for Cano and his agent, even though it would be for $65 million less than the original asking price. I guess it's like buying a mansion. What's $6 million a year when you're getting $24 mill? I hope the deal will also bring good things to young people, in Seattle or the Dominican Republic from Cano's affordable largesse.
2. It signifies that the Mariners now could become a large-market team -- competing with the Yankees, Red Sox and possibly Dodgers-Angels-Rangers (with big TV money anticipated) -- for top-dollar free agents. The other direction Seattle could take is toward the financial problems that beset Tom Hicks in Texas after the ill-fated A-Rod signing didn't work. I think there's plenty of Japanese money available, so I don't think that would happen to the Mariners.
3. I wonder when we'll see the end of 9-10-year contracts. My guess is after A-Rod's contract plays out. (By the way, shouldn't we be hearing something about his hearing pretty soon? Not sure why that should be taking 9 months when most player hearings are over within 9 days.) The easiest prediction from the Cano signing is that there's no way it -- like similar deals for Albert Pujols, the aforementioned A-Rod and probably Prince Fielder, and going all the way back to Wayne Garland nearly 40 years ago -- will come close to paying off in results equal to even half of its value.
Let's look at the particulars. Cano is already 31. He wouldn't get any better in any circumstances. He can't equal in Seattle the offensive statistics from playing home game at Yankee Stadium with its favorable left-handed-hitting setup. He'll have 9 years of not worrying about playing for a contract and financial security. Actually, 10. If he's still playing in 2023, it would be on a going-into-retirement cruise.
Can Cano help the Mariners in the short run? No question. He's filling what has become an abyss since Dustin Ackley didn't work out at second base. Cano could probably reach 20 homers for a few years. But when his range at second base inevitably declines, he'd become a below-average left fielder or first baseman or DH. At that point, the best hope would be to have some other needy team take him off the Mariners' hands, saving Seattle a fraction of the money it would owe Cano.
Lots of activity in New York. The Yankees apparently also are losing OF Curtis Granderson's left-handed bat. The New York Post reported that he agreed to a 4-year contract with the Mets, no doubt for far less than he could have received even 2 years ago. Granderson is 32, coming off an injury-plagued 2013 and struggles against left-handers.
Also, the Yankees retained RHP Hiroki Kuroda for 2014. The busy Post reported the contract is for $16 million, with a $250,000 incentive for innings pitched. Kuroda has been mostly reliable in his two seasons in the Bronx. He has exceeded 200 innings in each of the last three years. But ... he has two winning records in six seasons in the U.S., will be 39 next season and didn't win a game after Aug. 12. (I know that too well; he was on one of my fantasy teams.) He's an exception to the rule that the ancient Yankees are getting somewhat younger.
Another situation I've commented on without a follow-up is 1B/DH Paul Konerko's re-signing. I applaud his or his agent's foresight in structuring his 1-year contract so he's paid $1.5 million in 2014, with $1 million deferred until 2015. That will make his transition out of the game much smoother. It's not likely that Konerko would suffer through another poor season in '15 -- barring an unlikely late-in-life resurgence such as Ted Williams and Stan Musial had in 1959 after bad years in '58. It's no coincidence that White Sox play-by-play man Ken Harrelson's contract expires after 2015, and he already has curtailed his travel schedule. In 2012, Sox color man Steve Stone made a reported $600,000 (with a lot of broadcast experience). There would seem to be room for Konerko in the broadcast booth, or even making a few hundred grand as a coach.
Marlins fans! Don't make World Series plans yet, but Miami did sign SS Rafael Furcal to a 1-year contract. He's expected to move to second base, with former 2B Donovan Solano or a player to be acquired at third. Apparently, the 36-year-old Furcal no longer is strong enough to unseat Adeiny Hechavarria at shortstop, especially after undergoing Tommy John surgery last March and missing all of last season. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel indicated that Furcal's contract is for $3.5 million, plus incentives. We'll find out during spring training whether he'll be ready by opening day. But really, does this look like a contending infield? Wait! I'm forgetting 1B Logan Morrison, who hasn't batted even .250 in any of the last three seasons.
* * *
Football. Both of my teams were off to a good start Thursday night, with Texans TE Garrett Graham scoring a touchdown and gaining 72 receiving yards. So I took early leads of 13-0 in my scoring-plus-yardage league (first week of a two-week consolation playoff semifinal) and 6-0 in Week 14 of my scoring-only league. In that one, I'm still projected for a tie against one of the two teams tied for first place a game ahead of me.
* * *
Hockey. Important key: The downside of having a lot of players, especially forwards, in your lineup, is that they can drag you down, especially by your plus/minus and ATOI.
I filled my starting lineup with 15 skaters and 2 goalies -- and lost 3 1/2 points. Where I was within 2 points of second place, I dropped to 5 back overnight. Here's what happened. The two goalies' team played but they didn't. I read a note saying that Jean-Sebastien Giguere would start for Colorado Friday, but forgot that it was Thursday. The 15 skaters totaled 0 goals and 2 assists, and were minus-6. In addition, defensemen Jan Hejda and Victor Hedman both left early because of injuries, hurting my ATOI even more. They join Henrik Zetterberg on my injured list. Also, I have to get the minus-9 Jason Spezza from the loser Senators off my roster. Clarke MacArthur can stay for the time being.
* * *
Basketball. Important key. If you have a guy on your roster who isn't playing tonight, but is tomorrow, be sure to put him into an open spot in your starting lineup instead of a player who is inactive for the next 2 days -- even if he's a franchise player.
I didn't follow one of my other important keys Wednesday. I didn't set my lineup until nearly 7 p.m. EDT. By that time, the Cavaliers' game already had started, so I couldn't get Anderson Varejao into my lineup. I could have put him in the lineup Tuesday (see Important key under hockey), guarding against the possibility of getting around to setting the lineup too late. I could have used his 18 points, 13 rebounds and assorted assists, blocks and steals. I made up somewhat for that lost production Thursday, regaining a 5-3 lead for the week.
For now, I'm off to find a hockey forward to replace Jason Spezza.
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Catchers on the move, mostly to Florida
CF Jacoby Ellsbury is a Yankee, for 7 years and $153 million. Justin Morneau is with the Rockies for 2 years and $13 million. C Jarrod Saltalamacchia is a Marlin for 3 years and $21 mill.
Those signings now are official.
Salty's move was either a reaction to or a done deal before Boston's signing of free-agent C A.J. Pierzynski. That should be a short-term improvement for the Red Sox. Pierzynski is not the player he was half a decade or more ago. Before he came to Texas to play, I'd heard all of the talk about his prickly personality. He may have mellowed, but he seemed like nothing but a positive influence in the Rangers' clubhouse.
The team with a surplus of catchers now is the Rays. They made a three-way trade in which they acquired C Ryan Hanigan from the Reds and RHP Heath Bell from the Diamondbacks. Cincinnati, which had signed C Brayan Pena to join C Devin Mesoraco, could afford to part with Hanigan. The Reds obtained just LHP David Holmberg. Arizona obtained RHP Justin Choate and a player to be named or cash.
Tampa Bay seemed to benefit most. Hanigan had the second-best success rate in the majors throwing out base stealers in 2013, behind Cardinals C Yadier Molina. Hanigan can't hit, but he and 38-year-old C Jose Molina, re-signed for 2 years and $4.5 million, have at least known how to throw out runners. The Rays extended Hanigan's contract for 3 years. The question is where younger C Jose Lobaton, a better hitter, fits in. Could he be trade bait to fill another need, possibly to attract a larger cache of prospects from the Rangers for LHP David Price? Or could he go to the White Sox, whose catchers averaged .196 this season? Can they keep three catchers, and use Lobaton at times as a DH or first baseman? Believe me, the Rays have a plan. We just don't know what it is yet.
The Mariners are making the most news about their as-yet-unrequited desire for free-agent 2B Robinson Cano. They did, however, agree to reacquire free-agent utilityman Willie Bloomquist for 2 years and $5.8 million, according to CBSSports.com. Who is his agent? I want him representing me. Bloomquist is a hustling crowd-pleaser, but also the kind of player who's just good even to help your team lose. Kind of a 21st-century Tom Brookens. Bloomquist doesn't really matter in fantasy baseball, where he would have a negligible impact.
The Phillies joined a list of teams re-signing bench players who would be eligible for arbitration. Infielder Kevin Frandsen signed for $900,000 to return to Philadelphia. He needs just a position, or maybe a little better glove, to challenge for serious playing time. Frandsen is worth watching.
Those signings now are official.
Salty's move was either a reaction to or a done deal before Boston's signing of free-agent C A.J. Pierzynski. That should be a short-term improvement for the Red Sox. Pierzynski is not the player he was half a decade or more ago. Before he came to Texas to play, I'd heard all of the talk about his prickly personality. He may have mellowed, but he seemed like nothing but a positive influence in the Rangers' clubhouse.
The team with a surplus of catchers now is the Rays. They made a three-way trade in which they acquired C Ryan Hanigan from the Reds and RHP Heath Bell from the Diamondbacks. Cincinnati, which had signed C Brayan Pena to join C Devin Mesoraco, could afford to part with Hanigan. The Reds obtained just LHP David Holmberg. Arizona obtained RHP Justin Choate and a player to be named or cash.
Tampa Bay seemed to benefit most. Hanigan had the second-best success rate in the majors throwing out base stealers in 2013, behind Cardinals C Yadier Molina. Hanigan can't hit, but he and 38-year-old C Jose Molina, re-signed for 2 years and $4.5 million, have at least known how to throw out runners. The Rays extended Hanigan's contract for 3 years. The question is where younger C Jose Lobaton, a better hitter, fits in. Could he be trade bait to fill another need, possibly to attract a larger cache of prospects from the Rangers for LHP David Price? Or could he go to the White Sox, whose catchers averaged .196 this season? Can they keep three catchers, and use Lobaton at times as a DH or first baseman? Believe me, the Rays have a plan. We just don't know what it is yet.
The Mariners are making the most news about their as-yet-unrequited desire for free-agent 2B Robinson Cano. They did, however, agree to reacquire free-agent utilityman Willie Bloomquist for 2 years and $5.8 million, according to CBSSports.com. Who is his agent? I want him representing me. Bloomquist is a hustling crowd-pleaser, but also the kind of player who's just good even to help your team lose. Kind of a 21st-century Tom Brookens. Bloomquist doesn't really matter in fantasy baseball, where he would have a negligible impact.
The Phillies joined a list of teams re-signing bench players who would be eligible for arbitration. Infielder Kevin Frandsen signed for $900,000 to return to Philadelphia. He needs just a position, or maybe a little better glove, to challenge for serious playing time. Frandsen is worth watching.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Ellsbury following Damon's footsteps to New York?
Tuesday's flurry of moves continued into the evening, with the biggest
individual move of the day -- CF Jacoby Ellsbury's reported agreement on a
7-year, $153-million contract with the Yankees. If this sounds familiar, it
sort of echoes Johnny Damon's career path, except that Ellsbury is younger than
Damon was when he moved from Boston.
It seems likely that Brett Gardner would move to Yankee Stadium's spacious left field, that OF Vernon Wells would hit the road again and OFs Ichiro Suzuki and Alfonso Soriano would fight it out to see who plays in the field and who joins the DH picture.
Another apparently imminent free-agent signing would have 1B Justin Morneau moving to the Rockies for 2 years and $13 million.
Colorado already was a major player Tuesday, dispatching CF Dexter Fowler to the Astros for CF Brandon Barnes and RHP Jordan Lyles.
The Rockies, on a smaller level than the Athletics but with greater needs, may have helped themselves in several places. Despite Morneau's disappointing stretch run with the Pirates, he still has more tread on his tires than the 2013 1B, Todd Helton. To avoid Morneau's difficulty hitting lefties, Colorado could give C Wilin Rosario more playing time by putting him at first against southpaws. OF Michael Cuddyer, who spent plenty of time at first during his career season, can go back to right field. Barnes would replace the more athletic Fowler in center field, which looks like a win for Houston. Lyles was just 7-9 with a 5.59 ERA for the last-place Astros. He might not be able to do even that well at Coors Field, but that still could be an improvement over some of the cast of characters who started games for the '13 Rockies.
In addition to jettisoning RHP Jim Johnson to Oakland for discredited 2B Jemile Weeks and a player to be named, the Orioles avoided arbitration with OF Nolan Reimold by signing him to a 1-year contract for $1 million. Reimold already will be 30 next season and, really, how much has he done in the majors.
The Tigers continued to be active players in the market. They reportedly are giving RHP Joe Nathan a 2-year contract to fill a sinkhole as their closer. Detroit's rotation won't be quite as good, because they traded RHP Doug Fister, a 14-game winner, to the Nationals for utility infielder Steve Lombardozzi (not the original, a 2B for the Twins when they won the 1987 World Series, but his son) and LHPs Ian Krol and Robbie Ray. Krol reached the majors in 2013 without much distinction (3.95 ERA in Washington's bullpen). As a starter, Ray was a combined 11-5 with a 3.36 ERA in high A and Double-A.
Fister always has ranked high in my Rule of 25 listing of pitchers' true ability (aiming for a .250 opponents' average and 2.5:1 K/W ratio), even when he was losing games for Seattle. The soon-to-be 30-year-old had more than three strikeouts for every walk, and earned 54 per cent of his outs on ground balls. Those stats helped lead to a 14-9 record and 3.67 ERA.
His new home park may not be as pitcher-friendly, but he'll remain a vital cog in a deep rotation in Washington that would include RHPs Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmerman and LHP Gio Gonzalez.
Detroit also made a bargain-basement signing to avoid arbitration with OF/IF Don Kelly. He will receive $1 million for 2014.
The Yankees freed up some loose change to help pay Ellsbury when they traded C Chris Stewart to the Pirates for a PTBN. Pittsburgh and Stewart reportedly agreed on a $1-million contract for him to back up C Russell Martin as he did in New York. The loser in that transaction was C Michael McKenry, who was designated for assignment.
Still a few player moves needing comments. I'll do those after I get home. Maybe Wednesday if I'm tired tonight.
It seems likely that Brett Gardner would move to Yankee Stadium's spacious left field, that OF Vernon Wells would hit the road again and OFs Ichiro Suzuki and Alfonso Soriano would fight it out to see who plays in the field and who joins the DH picture.
Another apparently imminent free-agent signing would have 1B Justin Morneau moving to the Rockies for 2 years and $13 million.
Colorado already was a major player Tuesday, dispatching CF Dexter Fowler to the Astros for CF Brandon Barnes and RHP Jordan Lyles.
The Rockies, on a smaller level than the Athletics but with greater needs, may have helped themselves in several places. Despite Morneau's disappointing stretch run with the Pirates, he still has more tread on his tires than the 2013 1B, Todd Helton. To avoid Morneau's difficulty hitting lefties, Colorado could give C Wilin Rosario more playing time by putting him at first against southpaws. OF Michael Cuddyer, who spent plenty of time at first during his career season, can go back to right field. Barnes would replace the more athletic Fowler in center field, which looks like a win for Houston. Lyles was just 7-9 with a 5.59 ERA for the last-place Astros. He might not be able to do even that well at Coors Field, but that still could be an improvement over some of the cast of characters who started games for the '13 Rockies.
In addition to jettisoning RHP Jim Johnson to Oakland for discredited 2B Jemile Weeks and a player to be named, the Orioles avoided arbitration with OF Nolan Reimold by signing him to a 1-year contract for $1 million. Reimold already will be 30 next season and, really, how much has he done in the majors.
The Tigers continued to be active players in the market. They reportedly are giving RHP Joe Nathan a 2-year contract to fill a sinkhole as their closer. Detroit's rotation won't be quite as good, because they traded RHP Doug Fister, a 14-game winner, to the Nationals for utility infielder Steve Lombardozzi (not the original, a 2B for the Twins when they won the 1987 World Series, but his son) and LHPs Ian Krol and Robbie Ray. Krol reached the majors in 2013 without much distinction (3.95 ERA in Washington's bullpen). As a starter, Ray was a combined 11-5 with a 3.36 ERA in high A and Double-A.
Fister always has ranked high in my Rule of 25 listing of pitchers' true ability (aiming for a .250 opponents' average and 2.5:1 K/W ratio), even when he was losing games for Seattle. The soon-to-be 30-year-old had more than three strikeouts for every walk, and earned 54 per cent of his outs on ground balls. Those stats helped lead to a 14-9 record and 3.67 ERA.
His new home park may not be as pitcher-friendly, but he'll remain a vital cog in a deep rotation in Washington that would include RHPs Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmerman and LHP Gio Gonzalez.
Detroit also made a bargain-basement signing to avoid arbitration with OF/IF Don Kelly. He will receive $1 million for 2014.
The Yankees freed up some loose change to help pay Ellsbury when they traded C Chris Stewart to the Pirates for a PTBN. Pittsburgh and Stewart reportedly agreed on a $1-million contract for him to back up C Russell Martin as he did in New York. The loser in that transaction was C Michael McKenry, who was designated for assignment.
Still a few player moves needing comments. I'll do those after I get home. Maybe Wednesday if I'm tired tonight.
So much for calm before the meetings
I take back what I wrote about teams' being likely to coast into the winter meetings. Now I'm wondering whether there will be any deals left to make.
The Athletics clearly are leaving nothing to chance to alleviate their long dry spell in playoff series, epitomized by Derek Jeter and Jeremy Giambi.
After signing free-agent LHP Scott Kamir to a reported 2-year, $22-million contract, Oakland
-- Traded surplus 2B Jemile Weeks and a player to be named to the Orioles for RHP Jim Johnson, the major league leader in saves each of the last two seasons.
-- As insurance or at least a setup man, acquired RHP Luke Gregerson from the Padres for OF Seth Smith.
-- Dealt young OF Michael Choice and infielder Chris Bostick to the division-rival Rangers for OF Craig Gentry and Quadruple-A RHP Josh Lindblom.
Before I go further, let me interpret what this means for the A's.
Their pitching, top to bottom, could be the best in baseball next season. This is an organization that hasn't made spectacular moves in recent years, but has added incrementally for great improvement. The 2013 season could have been called "Moneyball II"; the coming year could be "Moneyball III."
$11 million a year for Kazmir might seem steep, but he made a major comeback for the Indians this year, and was even better than his 10-9 record down the stretch -- 7-5 with a 3.06 ERA in his last 18 starts. He'll be starting home games in a better pitchers' park.
Can Kazmir, a multi-year All-Star, head a rotation? Possibly, or Oakland might strike paydirt with a young pitcher such as RHPs Sonny Gray, Jarrod Parker, A.J. Griffin and Daniel Straily or LHPs Tommy Milone or Brett Anderson. Parker and Griffin were very tough in the latter stages of 2013, much better than I would have anticipated after seeing them in Double-A. Anderson could be bait in still another trade -- for infield defense? even more bullpen help? left-handed power?
At 30, Kazmir should be more mature than he was in his early 20s. His arrival most likely means that 40-year-old RHP Bartolo Colon, an 18-game winner in '13, is free to sign elsewhere as a free agent.
The dependence on young starting pitcher also could blow up in the Athletics' faces. But I don't think so in this case.
Gentry, who can fly, would bring improved defense in a park with a large outfield. He could play center field, or left field -- with OF Yoenis Cespedes available as a DH.
Probably more to come later tonight, after I'm finished with Bobcats-Mavericks.
The Athletics clearly are leaving nothing to chance to alleviate their long dry spell in playoff series, epitomized by Derek Jeter and Jeremy Giambi.
After signing free-agent LHP Scott Kamir to a reported 2-year, $22-million contract, Oakland
-- Traded surplus 2B Jemile Weeks and a player to be named to the Orioles for RHP Jim Johnson, the major league leader in saves each of the last two seasons.
-- As insurance or at least a setup man, acquired RHP Luke Gregerson from the Padres for OF Seth Smith.
-- Dealt young OF Michael Choice and infielder Chris Bostick to the division-rival Rangers for OF Craig Gentry and Quadruple-A RHP Josh Lindblom.
Before I go further, let me interpret what this means for the A's.
Their pitching, top to bottom, could be the best in baseball next season. This is an organization that hasn't made spectacular moves in recent years, but has added incrementally for great improvement. The 2013 season could have been called "Moneyball II"; the coming year could be "Moneyball III."
$11 million a year for Kazmir might seem steep, but he made a major comeback for the Indians this year, and was even better than his 10-9 record down the stretch -- 7-5 with a 3.06 ERA in his last 18 starts. He'll be starting home games in a better pitchers' park.
Can Kazmir, a multi-year All-Star, head a rotation? Possibly, or Oakland might strike paydirt with a young pitcher such as RHPs Sonny Gray, Jarrod Parker, A.J. Griffin and Daniel Straily or LHPs Tommy Milone or Brett Anderson. Parker and Griffin were very tough in the latter stages of 2013, much better than I would have anticipated after seeing them in Double-A. Anderson could be bait in still another trade -- for infield defense? even more bullpen help? left-handed power?
At 30, Kazmir should be more mature than he was in his early 20s. His arrival most likely means that 40-year-old RHP Bartolo Colon, an 18-game winner in '13, is free to sign elsewhere as a free agent.
The dependence on young starting pitcher also could blow up in the Athletics' faces. But I don't think so in this case.
Gentry, who can fly, would bring improved defense in a park with a large outfield. He could play center field, or left field -- with OF Yoenis Cespedes available as a DH.
Probably more to come later tonight, after I'm finished with Bobcats-Mavericks.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)