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.
Showing posts with label Carlos Beltran. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Carlos Beltran. Show all posts
Monday, December 23, 2013
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.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Outfielders in the news
The early days of spring training are a time when every team feels like a contender – well, maybe not the Pirates and Royals.
Also, every injured player is optimistic that he’ll be able to play by Opening Day or, for anyone with an injury less serious than Tommy John surgery or an amputated limb, that he’ll be ready by the All-Star break.
That includes OFs Carlos Beltran, Alfonso Soriano and Torii Hunter, all of whom can be difference-makers for their team. That’s true, except that even Beltran at his best at bat and in center field might not be able to make a difference in the Mets.
Beltran isn’t expected back until early May. He’s five weeks removed from surgery to remove fragments of bone and cartilage from his right knee.
Soriano spent the winter in the Dominican Republic rehabbing from arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. The Cubs’ left fielder said he isn’t yet running at full speed but added that he should be 100 per cent by Opening Day. Naturally.
Hunter could be the biggest difference-maker. He’s coming back from arthroscopic surgery to repair a sports hernia that curtailed his best season – a .299 average, 22 homers and 90 RBI. He’ll also bring nine Gold Gloves to center field for the Angels.
Another outfielder, Johnny Damon, wasn’t hurt but was in limbo until he and the Tigers officially agreed today on a one-year, $8-million contract to be their left fielder or DH.
Injury updates:
Phillies RHP Brad Lidge, coming back from elbow and knee surgeries, threw 20 pitches off a mound. He said he doesn’t feel he can be ready for Opening Day. Philadelphia fans hope that at least before the All-Star break he will no longer be giving up damaging homers. LHP J.C. Romero, who also had elbow surgery, is scheduled to throw off a mound Saturday.
In Scottsdale, Ariz., where it rained for the third consecutive day, new 3B Mark DeRosa arrived a day early for his first batting practice, in a cage, following off-season surgery on his left wrist. 2B Freddy Sanchez, returning from left shoulder and left knee injuries, hasn’t yet hit but he has played catch and done some agility drills and running.
Cardinals SS Brendan Ryan, a big surprise last season, is just two weeks removed from arthroscopic surgery to repair an inflamed tendon in his right wrist. Of course, he said he expected to be rady for Opening Day. Helping his quest could be the fact that St. Louis’ first game isn’t until the season’s second day, April 5 at Cincinnati.
The saddest story is that of Khalil Greene. He was trying to return to the majors this year with the Rangers, but they have announced that he won’t join them at spring training or play for the team this season. Apparently, the anxiety problems that plagued him last season have returned.
For openers:
White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen got on the early bandwagon of naming an Opening Day starter. LHP Mark Buehrle would start his Sox-record eighth opener – breaking a tie with Billy Pierce, an all-but-forgotten ace lefty from the ‘50s and ‘60s. Guillen chose Buehrle over RHP Jake Peavy, who would start the second game.
In another pitching announcement, Orioles manager Dave Trembley said LHP Mike Gonzalez would be Baltimore’s closer.
Gossip:
Getting even as far tonight as “Chelsea Lately,” a show with little sports IQ, is the rumor that Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez hooked up with Cameron Diaz in Miami while they were there for the Super Bowl. There also have been Madonna sightings in A-Rod’s vicinity recently.
Also, every injured player is optimistic that he’ll be able to play by Opening Day or, for anyone with an injury less serious than Tommy John surgery or an amputated limb, that he’ll be ready by the All-Star break.
That includes OFs Carlos Beltran, Alfonso Soriano and Torii Hunter, all of whom can be difference-makers for their team. That’s true, except that even Beltran at his best at bat and in center field might not be able to make a difference in the Mets.
Beltran isn’t expected back until early May. He’s five weeks removed from surgery to remove fragments of bone and cartilage from his right knee.
Soriano spent the winter in the Dominican Republic rehabbing from arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. The Cubs’ left fielder said he isn’t yet running at full speed but added that he should be 100 per cent by Opening Day. Naturally.
Hunter could be the biggest difference-maker. He’s coming back from arthroscopic surgery to repair a sports hernia that curtailed his best season – a .299 average, 22 homers and 90 RBI. He’ll also bring nine Gold Gloves to center field for the Angels.
Another outfielder, Johnny Damon, wasn’t hurt but was in limbo until he and the Tigers officially agreed today on a one-year, $8-million contract to be their left fielder or DH.
Injury updates:
Phillies RHP Brad Lidge, coming back from elbow and knee surgeries, threw 20 pitches off a mound. He said he doesn’t feel he can be ready for Opening Day. Philadelphia fans hope that at least before the All-Star break he will no longer be giving up damaging homers. LHP J.C. Romero, who also had elbow surgery, is scheduled to throw off a mound Saturday.
In Scottsdale, Ariz., where it rained for the third consecutive day, new 3B Mark DeRosa arrived a day early for his first batting practice, in a cage, following off-season surgery on his left wrist. 2B Freddy Sanchez, returning from left shoulder and left knee injuries, hasn’t yet hit but he has played catch and done some agility drills and running.
Cardinals SS Brendan Ryan, a big surprise last season, is just two weeks removed from arthroscopic surgery to repair an inflamed tendon in his right wrist. Of course, he said he expected to be rady for Opening Day. Helping his quest could be the fact that St. Louis’ first game isn’t until the season’s second day, April 5 at Cincinnati.
The saddest story is that of Khalil Greene. He was trying to return to the majors this year with the Rangers, but they have announced that he won’t join them at spring training or play for the team this season. Apparently, the anxiety problems that plagued him last season have returned.
For openers:
White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen got on the early bandwagon of naming an Opening Day starter. LHP Mark Buehrle would start his Sox-record eighth opener – breaking a tie with Billy Pierce, an all-but-forgotten ace lefty from the ‘50s and ‘60s. Guillen chose Buehrle over RHP Jake Peavy, who would start the second game.
In another pitching announcement, Orioles manager Dave Trembley said LHP Mike Gonzalez would be Baltimore’s closer.
Gossip:
Getting even as far tonight as “Chelsea Lately,” a show with little sports IQ, is the rumor that Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez hooked up with Cameron Diaz in Miami while they were there for the Super Bowl. There also have been Madonna sightings in A-Rod’s vicinity recently.
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