Kolek planning to go pro
I read it the other way, this is them signaling they’re out on Harper and giving them flexibility moving forward for another trade or signing someone like Pollock. Harper would still punish them well into the tax, a short term Pollock deal or trading for Kluber wouldn’t.Machado also told all 3 teams today he won’t sign until after the new year. My Sox guy had heard that earlier this week, I had mentioned on here the week of Jan 7th would be likely, and appears to be the case.
Also, I bet if Matt Kemp were advising any guys in free agency, all he would say is "no trade clause"
Word. He’s gonna weigh 350 lbs by the start of the season.
That's a lot of Skyline Chili
Skyline Chili more likely would lead to weight loss.
But hey, if the Chicago Cubs won't support him, maybe he can get a fresh start with the Schaumburg Cubs
I've said I want him gone, but your other statement about terrible people was over the top and unwarranted.
Look Cub fans. You too Brewer fans. St. Louis is FOR REAL.The signing of Goldschmidt is a turning point in St. Louis. If Ozuma is healthy and Carpenter continues on his MVP path, this team could pass the Cubs and the Brewers. They have more pitching depth. Their hitting will be on par with either team. Their only weakness will be their defense. If that improves, they're a 95-102 win team next year.I think Dexter Fowler is washed up (thanks a heap Chicago Cubs) but if he somehow hits .260 or better next year, God help the rest of the division.That red bird closing fast in the Cubbie bear's rear window is a real threat. And he's pretty angry about the past three years.
My son and I were talking about baseball this morning and Joe Mauer's name came up. I was laughing about all the "what a great player" pub he was getting now that he is retiring. I said he had a strong start to his career but after his MVP year of '09 got him the mega-contract, he became "little more than Mark Grace."Then I looked up Mauer's stats ... and I owe Grace a huge apology.Over his last 9 seasons -- and he had a 15-year career, so that's 60% of it -- Mauer averaged 8 HR and 58 RBI, and he had a .788 OPS. It was much worse than I had thought.Not that it's his fault -- or even the Twins' fault, because they had little choice to pay him -- but one could make a pretty good argument that he was the most overpaid player in all of baseball during that stretch. Paid a run-producer's salary, but incapable of driving in runs for a team that sucked (in part because they paid so much to a mediocre ballplayer). He even stopped playing catcher, and his production was especially pathetic for a first baseman.And yet this guy will get HoF votes. Probably won't get in ... until the old-timers committee says 20 years from now, "Well, Harold Baines is in, so we might as well put Mauer in, too."Funny.
On the other hand, his 55.1 career WAR is better than the average career WAR of HOF catchers (53.5) and his 7-year peak WAR of 39.0 is better than that of HOF catchers' average (34.5).Based on his position, he should be in the Hall of Fame.
Harper to the Cubs? One MLB exec is saying that is how he would bet on it at the moment.
My son and I were talking about baseball this morning and Joe Mauer's name came up. I was laughing about all the "what a great player" pub he was getting now that he is retiring. I said he had a strong start to his career but after his MVP year of '09 got him the mega-contract, he became "little more than Mark Grace."Then I looked up Mauer's stats ... and I owe Grace a huge apology.Over his last 9 seasons -- and he had a 15-year career, so that's 60% of it -- Mauer averaged 8 HR and 58 RBI, and he had a .788 OPS. It was much worse than I had thought.
To our credit, our team took the money and did something else with it -- something that proved better and brought more championships.
Why do you think we Cardinal fans don't cry every morning about Albert Pujols' signing with California?To his credit, he took the money offered him. California proved there was an idiot born every minute. To our credit, our team took the money and did something else with it -- something that proved better and brought more championships.The sad thing was that Pujols, had he stayed, would have been the next Stan Musial. In LA, he's a nobody!
I’m not aware of you winning any championships since he left, however.
My gosh, I am beginningThe money the DeWitt family did not spend on Pujols probably was part of the pool that was used to acquire and hopefully sign to a long-term contract Paul Goldschmidt.
California? Is it the 80s? Pujols has been far from the Angels only problem. Their main problem has been pitching. And while the money allocated to Pujols does hinder them in adding to the rotation, a never ending string of injuries to Garret Richards and Heaney has played a big role. As has decisions to pay CJ Wilson TOR money, and Jered Weaver falling off the face of the Earth. Additionally, in my opinion one of the biggest misses for the Angels was the complete disaster of a contract for Josh Hamilton. I think that hamstrung them much more than the Pujols deal. It also seems like that deal has made Moreno a little gun shy.
My gosh, I am beginning to think like a Cub fan! I'm giving credit for divisional titles! C'mon Angels fans -- you badly overpaid for a superstar whose best days were behind him. $240 million? I realize Mr. Moreno has money to burn but that was ridiculous even by standards of the idle rich.The money the DeWitt family did not spend on Pujols probably was part of the pool that was used to acquire and hopefully sign to a long-term contract Paul Goldschmidt. The Cardinals have been slimming down compensation wise since Pujols left, sort of, and the fans have become a bit restless. With Goldschmidt, we'll be well-prepared to bring home that championship I fretted about earlier.I'll agree that the Cardinals really didn't replace Pujols until they signed Goldschmidt.
I'm not saying it's the same situation, but Pujols did have a productive year at age 32 when he arrived in Anaheim before some injuries and a drop in production. Goldschmidt is 31, so a year younger than Pujols was when he made his move. Unless he's on the Barry Bonds workout regimen, the odds are his production will start to tail off in the next couple years. He's a great player who likely brings a big bat for a bit, but a long-term extension could put the Cards in a very similar situation to the one the Angels were in with Pujols.