***Official 2011-12 MLB HOTSTOVE OFF-SEASON THREAD***

Great post!

 

See those numbers? Now we are approaching padres country!

Let our offseason begin!

 

The UniVax IS a bit slow...

See=Championship!

Hmm, Castro was considered in Casey Kelly's league as a pitching prospect:

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2011...castro-vs-casey-kelly-of-the-san-diego-padres

Quentin has good pop at least, we definetely needed a bat.

 

Yeah Quentin is not a very good OFer. Apparently the Red Sox had initial conversations with Chicago about him but it never got very far because of their doubts he'd play a good RF at Fenway.

Also FWIW regarding Simon Castro, last year Baseball America ranked him in SD's Top 10 at #3, this year Castro wasn't even ranked in the top 10. Either Castro really fell off the prospect map or a lot has to due with all the talent Hoyer and Mcleod brought into the farm system their short time with the organization.

 

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This is one of the few moves I don't think will end up working out for TB. But hey a RP for 1 year at a low cost, might as well try right?

 

wow...good for Joe....

 

Low risk high reward. But I agree, I don't see Rodney doing well at all. Good stuff, but zero command. Command is huge out of the pen obviously. I don't see him getting much work for us.

 

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Eww.

 

Ehh I bet you said the samething about Perrelta last year no?

 

Or Farnsworth right? That's why you don't give big money to RPers, you never know which no name or former useless pitcher will have a productive year.

 

I agree but whats the actually percentage of washed-up guys coming into a new 9th inning role, and doing as well as they did....? I bet not very good....

 

Well the problem with that is how many teams would give those types of guys the closer's job in the first place? I mean give TB credit, they have made it to the playoffs 3 out of 4 years with more than 4 different "closers". Guys like Percvial, Wheeler, Soriano, Farnsworth, and JP Howell all collected saves during those years and really only Soriano was looked at as a good RP at the start and end of the year. Their GM and first office realize that the closers label is overrated and won't spend money on a guy for that role and even in their pen. They have a history of taking random guys and crossing their fingers and hoping for the best (and somehow it almost always seems to work out for them). I mean who thought Farnsworth would have been good last year?

I mean if you look at the established closers in the MLB none of them were ever looked at as future closers. On the flip side I could name countless guys that when they were drafted/signed were viewed as closers of the future that never amounted to anything. Pitching is hard, especially relief pitching. I just makes zero sense to spend money on guys that will throw maybe 70 innings for you a year. You better off taking TB's approach and signing guys cheap and if they don't work out, ship them out and hope your farm system has young kids that can step in and fill roles as October comes closer. Or make trades for young cheap arms with years of contract control left like the Red Sox are doing right now.

 

I wonder if this article will start up a debate:

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7422765/the-myth-small-market-window

 

The Marlins have done it pretty successfully with Armando Benitez, Joe Borowski, Todd Jones, Kevin Gregg, and Leo Nunez.

History has shown that unless you have an elite level RP, the most efficient way of setting up your bullpen, is to let average arms collect saves and then sell high on them the following year.

 

It helps having effective starting pitchers as well, going deep often, and not putting those average relief pitchers in situations they shouldn't be in.

 

Here is my take on moneyball....simple and quick...and I didnt read that....

The sabermetrics aspect of it has redefined the game, and will continue to do so....for both large and small market teams....

Thing with Beane is that IMO I dont think he is a good GM at all....he adheres to this "window" which often just turns into him peddling guys off, while also spending next to nothing on a veteran free agent (like a Coco or Matsui etc) who are in their down years....I believe if he got this window thing out of his head, he would be better, or he just isnt as good as a talent guy as he is lead to believe...

Since becoming a GM in 98, in 13 season has gone to the playoffs less than half of those, with no WS appearances or AL pennants (obviously).....the team hasnt been above .500 since 06...

My point is that something is going on, because other small market teams are competing and even spending money as well....look at the Ray, Twins, Marlins, etc....

 

Interesting Red Sox article.....from Twitter...

http://www.bostonmagazine.com/articles/red_sox_confidential_the_teams_former_pr_man_tells_all/

 

No, because Peralta was getting less then a million.

Plus he had success in the past, including a pretty good 2009. So taking a chance under a million that he will repeat was a good signing to me.

 

This is a good deal for the Braves since they get about ten runs every time Zambrano is on the mound. I wonder which player(s) he'll throw at this season.

 

I like the deal. We're not paying anything for a potential upgrade.

 

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Oh hey the Mets still play baseball right? The owner didn't cancel their season to save some money yet?

 

I like the potential of the Adam Miller signing. Was once a big prospect but injuries (most recently to his finger) really derailed his career. Apparently still gets the ball up to 94-96 MPH. Most likely he'll get hurt again and never come close to pitching in a MLB game but every team should sign a handful of these types of players each year just in case.

 

Yeah slow day bro, just putting it out there....

also this should be interesting...on 98.5 in RI....

 

Has no bearing whatsoever, but D-Wise made the best catch I have ever seen in my life, given the circumstance....

 

hahahah I totally forgot about that bro hahahahah

 

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