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Wednesday a.m. things

Well, the closest thing to Ranger news this morning appears to be that Cincy has signed former Ranger Jerry Hairston Jr. to a 1 year, $2 million deal, with incentives that can make it worth up to $4 million.

Tim Cowlishaw explains his HOF ballot

Home Run Derby is angry at Corky Simpson for leaving Rickey Henderson off his ballot, despite voting for, among others, Tim Raines (whose case is the same as Henderson's, only not quite as good), Jim Rice, and Matt Williams.

Simpson offers no explanation for ignoring Henderson, and I assume it is just one of those "nobody deserves to be elected unanimously" things.  He does say he's not voting for Mark McGwire because of PEDs, even though, as the HRD blog points out, Matt Williams was named in the Mitchell Report as a PED buyer.

 

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So did Evan

lsoe his HOF ballet?
Has he been canned?!

"But with Tom Hicks squeezing his checkbook tighter than Tony Romo's grip on Jessica Simpson"- Jim Reeves on why Cruz will be the clean-up hitter in '09

by red3biggs on Jan 7, 2009 9:40 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

Which will be the first major city

to lose a daily newspaper? Going to Sunday only and online the rest of the days….

by RangersOCD on Jan 7, 2009 9:44 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Hasn't Detroit said

they are printing on Sundays, Thursdays and Fridays only now?

http://freep.com/article/20081217/FREEPRESS/312170002/1281/freepress

Get off my lawn.

by DJCahill on Jan 7, 2009 10:04 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

didn't know that

but it sure makes sense

by jasonhh on Jan 7, 2009 10:11 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Related?

EGM (Electronic Gaming Monthly) just announced that their print magazine is done.

by FuturePants on Jan 7, 2009 11:33 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Yep...

me too, haven’t read it for 5 or 6 years now though.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Jan 7, 2009 4:41 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

No idea.

I don’t recall reading any of Grant’s work lately. I don’t know if he is on vacation, or no longer with DMN, or I just have missed his colums.

Get off my lawn.

by DJCahill on Jan 7, 2009 4:03 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

He's been conspicous in his absence.

If he really is being forced off the Rangers beat, that is a horrible move on the DMN’s part. I might actually cancel my subscription because of that.

by Athos on Jan 7, 2009 4:05 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

But

he’ll bring sabermetrics to the Cowboys coverage!

"A ~.650 OPS from a COF should get you deported, not traded for."

- The Huntressatron

by Chase Irwin on Jan 7, 2009 4:06 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Has he actually

written anything about the Cowboys? I haven’t seen any of his articles.

Get off my lawn.

by DJCahill on Jan 7, 2009 4:08 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Dude is M.I.A.

"A ~.650 OPS from a COF should get you deported, not traded for."

- The Huntressatron

by Chase Irwin on Jan 7, 2009 4:13 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I'll guess...

..Detroit.
The whole town/area is getting killed.

by jasonhh on Jan 7, 2009 9:54 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

The Musers talked about it this morning

but today’s NBA coverage in the DMN looks like it did in 1975. An absolute joke for what was once one of the top 3 sports sections in the country.

Did you know that Detroit once gave the key of their city to Saddam Hussein? Students in Detroit have not had new school books in 19 years plus they have to take their own toilet paper to school. Teachers routinely take hammers with themselves for protection.

Oh yeah, the Lions just went 0-16.

Funny article talking about the above -

http://weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/015/945aynyk.asp

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on Jan 7, 2009 10:21 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Well, at the time...

…Saddam was the enemy of our enemy (Iran), and thus was our friend…

by Adam J. Morris on Jan 7, 2009 10:23 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Relatives from Detroit, Adam?

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on Jan 7, 2009 10:25 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Didn't know if you had a provincial reason to

defend giving Hussein a key to the city.

I’ve already had the chickenhawk little brother threaten to crap on my toothbrush so I was also wondering if I needed to brace myself for a threat from a rogue distant Morris cousin who calls Detroit home.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on Jan 7, 2009 10:42 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

No

I’m not really defending it. Just saying that, in the early-80s, when that went down, Saddam was supposedly on our side. It is a mitigating circumstance.

by Adam J. Morris on Jan 7, 2009 11:28 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

lol

Chickenhawk?

"I know you're a bit dense but no, it doesn't. Obviously lying isn't a problem for me."

by benmor78 on Jan 7, 2009 12:02 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Ever see the little chickenhawk

character who made random appearances with Foghorn Leghorn?

benmor78 = chickenhawk

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on Jan 7, 2009 12:06 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Heh

To quote Foghorn Leghorn: "Don’t bother me, boy ….. "

"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang (1844-1912)

by Ed Coffin on Jan 7, 2009 12:10 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Exactly how I felt after reading

the wildly entertaining “bukkake blog.”

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on Jan 7, 2009 12:14 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Can't you go someplace else?

Go back to Newberg’s.

"I know you're a bit dense but no, it doesn't. Obviously lying isn't a problem for me."

by benmor78 on Jan 7, 2009 12:31 PM CST up reply actions   1 recs

you have to

pay Ed off for that. lol

"But with Tom Hicks squeezing his checkbook tighter than Tony Romo's grip on Jessica Simpson"- Jim Reeves on why Cruz will be the clean-up hitter in '09

by red3biggs on Jan 7, 2009 12:52 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

dude

you are the chickenhawk dumbass. you!

Mandatory reading before suggesting a trade

by ab03 on Jan 7, 2009 12:49 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Very well thought out and

sophisticated take there, abo3.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on Jan 7, 2009 12:51 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

You're like Sharky.

Only not funny. And possibly not a pedophile (I could be wrong about that).

"I know you're a bit dense but no, it doesn't. Obviously lying isn't a problem for me."

by benmor78 on Jan 7, 2009 12:55 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

thought out

well, you want war. you’ve never been to war. you question real soldiers.

chickenhawk

Mandatory reading before suggesting a trade

by ab03 on Jan 7, 2009 12:56 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Heh Josey...

I noticed in another thread that you had no problem admitting when you were wrong.

Care to retract the statements you made about TT being able to destroy my Utes?

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Jan 7, 2009 2:19 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Congrats to the Utes, slc

I still think if Utah was in the Big 12 South and had to endure the schedule those schools go thru, you’d finish 5th.

Playing thru the regular season and playing in a bowl are two different mindsets. Give the Utes credit for playing well but I also believe Bama was flat.

Tech was terrible in the Cotton Bowl. Either that offense or GHarrell can’t take that much time off and come back effectively. This was the 4th bowl in a row where the Tech offense sputtered from the get-go.

I don’t want that to sound like an excuse because Ole Miss deserves credit for whipping our ass.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on Jan 7, 2009 2:54 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Hah

You’re telling me Saban didn’t have those kids ready to play?

Don’t use cop-out excuses when it is quite clear what happened.

"A ~.650 OPS from a COF should get you deported, not traded for."

- The Huntressatron

by Chase Irwin on Jan 7, 2009 3:32 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

IMNSHO

Tech didnt do squat after the Texas game. I guess they thought that was the pinnacle and didnt bother playing the rest of the year

by BEW on Jan 7, 2009 3:38 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Tech beat the living

shit out of Oklahoma State the week after they beat Texas.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on Jan 7, 2009 3:44 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, I guess so

but T. Boone Pickens U was pretty blah the last part of the year also. Still, at one point in the year TBU was considered a pretty good team so its a fair point

by BEW on Jan 7, 2009 4:23 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

And Texas Tech sucked it very

hard after the Okie State game.

It was a very good year, the Crabtree catch v. UT will go down as one of the more memorable plays ever in the NCAA but the season did end with a thud.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on Jan 7, 2009 4:33 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Josey (sorry couldn't resist)...

Thanks. I do think that if he Utes were in the Big XII there would be many a year that they would finish 5th in that conference. However this isn’t one of those years.

TT and OK St. are good teams, but I’m pretty sure Utah would of handled them this year. The real question is with OU and Texas. They are great teams, but I still think that the Utes could probably get a split out of playing those two with this years team.

I agree that playing in Bowl games and grinding through a tough conference schedule are two very different things. However I don’t think Bama came out flat or over-looked the Utes. Bama was ready to play. Utah is just a better team this year.

Many a writer is jumping on board with the Utes (Rick Riley is the latest) http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3815656, but I just can’t tell if they really think the Utes are #1 or if they are just using them to show how much they hate the BCS system. I suspect a little of both. Either way, I know many of you UT, OU, USC, TT, et al. fans couldn’t understand how great it is to see your little school from Utah get all this pub, most of you expect your schools to be NC contenders every couple years or so.

What sucks is that there are 5 teams this year (Florida, OU, UT, U of U, USC) who all have valid arguments for #1 and we don’t really get to find out who the best team is because of this shitty system. That is the real injustice here.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Jan 7, 2009 4:57 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

gagree

Utah this year would not have finished 5th in the Big 12. That is laughable.

"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan

by Dirk Diggler on Jan 8, 2009 7:53 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

He certainly was a friend of Ronnie Reagan's

Ronnie provided Saddam with Economic and Intelligence info in the late ’80s. Detroit may have given him the key to the city, but Donald Rumsfeld shook his hand, and helped them tremendously during the Iran-Iraq war.

This was all well after Saddam committed the crimes that he was eventually executed for.

Get off my lawn.

by DJCahill on Jan 7, 2009 10:41 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Didn't think we were supposed to get too political

in here and yes, there was definitely blood on the Reagan Administration’s hands regarding Hussein but the president who got the ball rolling with Hussein was noneother than Jimmy Carter, barnone, one of the worst & weakest presidents we have ever had and the poster child of incompetent & impotent liberalism.

Put it to you this way, if I had to compare the presidency of Jimmy Carter to a city, it would be Detroit.

End of my political discussions in here.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on Jan 7, 2009 10:56 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

You were the one who brought up Hussein

No president was a bigger friend of Saddam Hussein than Ronnie Reagan.

Get off my lawn.

by DJCahill on Jan 7, 2009 11:37 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I said Detroit gave Hussein the key to their city...

 and then cited an article that discussed what a mess Detroit is because somebody above me had referenced that the Detroit area was getting killed.

Am I going to fast?

You’re the person that went down the political road and brought up Reagan.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on Jan 7, 2009 11:41 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Better question

why do you care about Detroit?

Evidently, your family and allegiances lie elsewhere.

"A ~.650 OPS from a COF should get you deported, not traded for."

- The Huntressatron

by Chase Irwin on Jan 7, 2009 12:08 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Crash Davis once told Nuke Laloosh

“Don’t think too much, it hurts the team.”

Don’t read anything into me kicking Detroit in the nuts. I had recently read an article and was doing nothing but being a good citizen by following the thread and making a small contribution.

I think it’s funny that kids in Detroit have to bring their own toilet paper to school, freeze their nuts off for 9 months a year and then watch the Lions go 0-16.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on Jan 7, 2009 12:12 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

But hey

They get to watch Gerald Laird all summer, so they got that going for them.

by BEW on Jan 7, 2009 2:02 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

are you going to fast?

that seems like a weird response. don’t stop eating.

Mandatory reading before suggesting a trade

by ab03 on Jan 7, 2009 12:50 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Funny article???

I found that to be a great, well-written and thought-provoking article. It also extolled the merits of the great, if somewhat self-indulgent, journalist Charlie LeDuff.

But funny?? I didn’t see the humor.

by bking on Jan 7, 2009 1:22 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Hey Bob

nice to see you’re alive.

by jasonhh on Jan 7, 2009 2:42 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Dark humor, BKing.

Detroit is an absolute mess in just about every way.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on Jan 7, 2009 2:55 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Case in Point...

I had a friend who got his hotel room ransacked while in town for an interview.

Easiest job decision he ever had to make.

by bking on Jan 7, 2009 4:31 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I hear what you're saying about the quality of the article.

The way I found it was thru the Baseball Crank (who had a good little commentary to go along with it as well).

Scroll down to December 30.

http://www.baseballcrank.com/

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on Jan 7, 2009 4:42 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Hairston

That’s one Ranger I’ll never miss. Weak all-around.

by 3Bagger on Jan 7, 2009 10:16 AM CST reply actions   1 recs

Worst Ranger utilityman in the last 5 years, would you say?

Did Jon Daniels downsize your old position at Dunking Donuts?

by lonestarJon on Jan 7, 2009 2:08 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Ryan Roberts has something to say.

"A ~.650 OPS from a COF should get you deported, not traded for."

- The Huntressatron

by Chase Irwin on Jan 7, 2009 3:35 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

OK

What about worst utility infielder of the last five years without neck tatoos

by BEW on Jan 7, 2009 3:40 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Roberts played for like 4 minutes

JHJ actually got enough playing time to make me despise him.

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Jan 7, 2009 3:48 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Larry Brown, Jim Mason,

Larvelle “Sugar Bear” Blanks, Pepe Frias, Curtis Wilkerson, Alan Bannister and quite possibly the worst utility infielder in the modern history of major league baseball -

Jeff Kunkel.

The Texas Rangers have a long history of suck when it comes to utility infielders.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on Jan 7, 2009 4:30 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

What teams have had

superstar utility infielders?

"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan

by Dirk Diggler on Jan 8, 2009 7:53 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I don't know of anybody who

has had a string of superstars who were utilty IF’’s but the Angels have recently had a few good ones -

Spiezio, Gil, Figgins, Izturis, Kendrick.

The Dodgers of the past used to have a bunch of them -

Gilliam, Lefebvre, Russell (later became every day player), Lacy, DThomas

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on Jan 8, 2009 8:27 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Spiezio? Ha

The point is utility infielders are utility infielders because they aren’t good enough to be regulars. It’s the same for every team.

"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan

by Dirk Diggler on Jan 8, 2009 8:32 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Chone Figgins

"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract

by tyd3311 on Jan 8, 2009 8:34 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Figgins

To me, there is a difference between a guy like him and a true “utility infielder.” Maybe, I’m over thinking this, but I think of a utility infielder as a backup guy who plays when the starter needs a day off or whatever. Figgins has been in the lineup on a regular basis for years. He’s been basically a starter. Also, he played in the OF more often than the infield when he first came up. Utility infielders to me don’t play the OF.

"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan

by Dirk Diggler on Jan 8, 2009 8:59 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

But the Rangers have had some

prodigiously bad Utility IF’s.

Most of the guys I listed had obps below .300 and really weren’t all that great in the field.

DeRosa was really good when he was with the Rangers.

BTW, Spiezio hit a pretty big 3 run bomb for the Halos in Game 6 of the 2002 World Series.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on Jan 8, 2009 8:46 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, Good point. Spiezio

is a good utility infielder because he hit a homer in the WS.

"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan

by Dirk Diggler on Jan 8, 2009 9:01 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Spiezio routinely hit 12-17 HRs

a year with the Angels,

Don’t remember him defensively good or bad but Scioscia shuffled him all around, not just IF but the OF as well.

Having players that can do that is something the Angels have done quite a bit.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on Jan 8, 2009 9:08 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

He played almost exclusively 1B

after his first couple of years in the majors. Mix in some 3B and some LF and you have basically Catalanotto.

"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan

by Dirk Diggler on Jan 8, 2009 9:19 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Scioscia used Spiezio

at 3B for 97 games in 4 years (including 52 in 2003).

In 2004 he played 66 games at 3B for the Ms.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/s/spiezsc01.shtml

I cannot imagine any team playing Cat at 3B for 66 games in a season.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on Jan 8, 2009 9:53 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Spiezio

doesn’t fit my definition of a utility infielder. I guess he fits yours.

The point is the same — not many teams have truly good players as utility infielders.

"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan

by Dirk Diggler on Jan 8, 2009 10:04 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Spiezio didn't play middle IF

because he wasn’t fast enough but he played all the corners both IF & OF.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on Jan 8, 2009 10:14 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

What's your point?

That doesn’t go against my point that most teams do not have truly good utility infielders.

"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan

by Dirk Diggler on Jan 8, 2009 10:20 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Having Marlon Byrd in the line-up makes me puke.

I suspected it last year because of how outspoken he was but I do believe that Ron Washington’s new fave on the team is Marlon Byrd (replacing Bradley).

A platoon of Murphy & Boggs makes so much more long-term sense if this team is genuinely committed to going with youth.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on Jan 7, 2009 10:59 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I get it.

Byrd and Bradley both have something in common…but what is it? Hmm…

by brettgardner on Jan 7, 2009 11:00 AM CST up reply actions   1 recs

Same thing they have in common with Boggs

but he doesn’t get the same special treatment from Wash. Far from it.

If you look at what Boggs did in August, you see a player who hit only .190. On the surface somebody who is unsophisticated (like say, Ron Washington) might think that Boggs was in over his head and drowning.

In those 80 plate appearances in August, Boggs also took 16 walks and was hit by a pitch. Yes, his average was down that month but his obp (.363) for that month was his best all year.

He started 11 games from August 10-31 and in 5 of those games he had two walks. His OPS that month (.791) was also his best that he’d thrown down all year. Boggs received starts in four games between August 20-27 and hit HR’s in three of those games.

The kid was starting to get it but you had to look a little bit under the surface to see it. Everything I’ve read about Boggs is that he continues to get better at every level.

So what does Ron Washington do come September when the team is hopelessly out of post-season contention?

3 starts in 24 games.

So does anybody ever really wonder why I consider Ron Washington to be far and away the dumbest manager in MLB? Very affordable but very dumb.

Boggs seems like a very smart player and hopefully he is not discouraged and continues to be the same disciplined hitter he was last August.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on Jan 7, 2009 11:24 AM CST up reply actions   2 recs

hmm...

I was gonna go with high OPS … what were you thinking about Josey?

"But with Tom Hicks squeezing his checkbook tighter than Tony Romo's grip on Jessica Simpson"- Jim Reeves on why Cruz will be the clean-up hitter in '09

by red3biggs on Jan 7, 2009 12:55 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Not sure what you're asking me

red3biggs, but I always want to go with as many young players (who aren’t drowning in The Show and have upside) as I can, that is, if we’re truly in a youth movement.

I could understand why the Rangers might want to play Byrd in September if they were anywhere close to contending for post-season but they weren’t.

JD has said it’s supposed to now be all about 2010 so why are we going with older players who will be in steep decline come 2010?

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on Jan 7, 2009 3:55 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Asking? What were you thinking about when you said boggs was the same as Byrd and MB

Why would we play MB and Byrd?
How about an extra draft pick for MB signing w/ the Cubbies. And if Byrd plays good next year, another extra draft pick.

That’s just if we dont find a trade partner by the deadline.

The Rangers have too many good options right now (Byrd, Hamilton, Murphy, Cruz, Boggs) and someone is going to lose ML playing time as a result. Isnt that a MUCH better statement then “WHY THE FUCK IS SOSA STILL PLAYING?!?”

And only one of those iisnt going to be here next year unless they crap out OR are traded for good hauls.

"But with Tom Hicks squeezing his checkbook tighter than Tony Romo's grip on Jessica Simpson"- Jim Reeves on why Cruz will be the clean-up hitter in '09

by red3biggs on Jan 7, 2009 4:25 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

We received a sandwich pick for Bradley, correct?

What are the chances that sandwich pick will be as good as Boggs? 10%?

Same thing with Byrd.

What are the chances that Boggs becomes a quality major league player? My guess is 50% – at least.

He’s smart, disciplined, plays good defense, isn’t slow and has command of the strike zone. He seems to get better at every stop. The time to find out whether Boggs can play is when this team is hopelessly out of contention, especially when he was showing as much improvement as he was last August.

I would much rather get kids with upside more playing time in The Show instead of worrying about pumping up the value of a player that may become a sandwich pick.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on Jan 7, 2009 4:39 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

What are

the chances of Boggs ever being a B type player?
Or being anything more than a 4th OF? (btw, i like the guy)
There’s for OF spots to play for and Boggs isnt the 4th best OF on the 40, and Byrd is not the 3rd worst on this team. League avg OPS, he would be the 3rd best hitter on any team. He was the 6th best on the rangers (including Blalock and Davis who did not make over 400 AB’s in 2008)

"But with Tom Hicks squeezing his checkbook tighter than Tony Romo's grip on Jessica Simpson"- Jim Reeves on why Cruz will be the clean-up hitter in '09

by red3biggs on Jan 7, 2009 4:48 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

red3biggs,

Marlon Byrd turns 32 year old next year. The vast majority of all players in The Show who are that age are in decline.

Byrd is not going to be here when or if this thing turns around and if Boggs is a player, he will be here for the good times.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on Jan 7, 2009 4:56 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Vernon Wells
Raul Ibanez
Johnny Damon
Derrek Lee
Torii Hunter
Mike Cameron
Ken Griffey Jr
Derek Jeter
Aaron Miles
Aaron Rowand

What do they have in common? 10 players that, using Josey’s argument, should sit if they played for the rangers b/c they:

1) are older than Byrd (thus in decline)
2) have a higher OPS than Boggs(.733), but lower OPS than Byrd (.842)

"But with Tom Hicks squeezing his checkbook tighter than Tony Romo's grip on Jessica Simpson"- Jim Reeves on why Cruz will be the clean-up hitter in '09

by red3biggs on Jan 7, 2009 5:35 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

red3biggs,

Can we agree that we are currently in the prime of Marlon Byrd and that what we’ve seen the last two years is as good as he will ever be?

Byrd is a player who will get you 10 HR/60 something RBI with a .370 ish obp.

Think I’m making that up?

Go here – http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=950&position=OF

Understanding that your team is completely out of post-season contention and isn’t expected to contend until 2010 which is where the Rangers are. Personally, I don’t think this thing sniffs contention until 2012 (and I define “contention” as winning 92+ games) but Jonny Donuts has made it known that 2010 is the target.

Understand also that you have a rookie who by all accounts is a good kid and is just starting to get it…why do you give him only 3 starts in September?

There’s no future in winning big with Marlon Byrd. He’s just a spare vet whose going to be retired by the time this thing contends.

Per your list, that’s a ridiculous comparison. Marlon Byrd could not carry the jock of any one of those players (I’m not going to look up the #s of Aaron Miles) and I wouldn’t sit Vernon Wells or Raul Ibanez to get Boggs in the line-up. I’d sit one of my other OF’s who is not going to be on the team when I’m ready to start winning again.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on Jan 7, 2009 10:54 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

that's funny

Especially the part about Byrd not being able to carry Wells’ or Ibanez’s jock. Ibanez last year had a .293/.358/.479 line. Wells went .300/.343/.496. Byrd last season had a .298/.380/.462 line.

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Jan 7, 2009 11:11 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

If Boggs is good

He will work his way in the line-up like he did last year.

If the Rangers were to play Boggs over Byrd as you suggest, then Byrd is worth no more than some fringe prospect who cant make the 40, and that’s not the case.

We dont know what offers JD has gotten for Byrd this year (and he may wind up being traded) but if we dont like the offers (see: selling low and your points on trading Salty) then the rangers are better off playing Byrd and picking up the supplemental pick when he becomes a FA. And someone WILL sign him.

If we dont trade Byrd, and sit him on the bench (right next to Cat) then the rangers would be better off letting him go so we can grab an extra 40 man spot, b/c those things are going to be hard to decide on after this year.

"But with Tom Hicks squeezing his checkbook tighter than Tony Romo's grip on Jessica Simpson"- Jim Reeves on why Cruz will be the clean-up hitter in '09

by red3biggs on Jan 8, 2009 1:00 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

red3biggs,

There should be a huge difference in philosophy during September when your team has no chance in hell of making the post-season.

I haven’t bitched about the amount of playing time Boggs received up until August 31. His playing time to that point, was understandable. To give him 3 starts in September was ludicrous, if you’re really committed to a long-term youth movement. and 2010 is your target.

Ron Washington acted as though he was managing for his life in September and since they’re bringing him back, he’d probably say that he’d do it (play Byrd as much as he did in September) all over again.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on Jan 8, 2009 1:22 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Byrd

You realize the reason Bradley was a type B instead of a type A free agent was almost exclusively because instead of go on the DL he would simply sit out for a few days at a time. Sitting Byrd last September for a fringe prospect whos ceiling is 4th OFer at best would be killing any chance of getting a draft pick for Byrd next winter. You constantly point to Boggs August as reason he should have played more in September yet you fail to ackowledge Byrds over 1000 OPS in the very same month. If thats your argument that Boggs should have played because of his OPS in August then he should have replaced Hamilton who put up a 790 OPS in August. Maybe the Rangers don’t view Boggs in their long term plans which is why they played Byrd over him? Boggs isn’t that great.

Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.

by bigsteve on Jan 8, 2009 4:00 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Do realize

I’m not talking about last year. Im talking about this year.

Yeah, i can see and agree about playing Boggs and Salty/Tea last year instead of Byrd and Laird. (but not MB)

However, i would not sit Byrd in 2009 just because we have Boggs ‘waiting’

Try to keep up….

"But with Tom Hicks squeezing his checkbook tighter than Tony Romo's grip on Jessica Simpson"- Jim Reeves on why Cruz will be the clean-up hitter in '09

by red3biggs on Jan 8, 2009 6:35 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

x
Byrd is not going to be here when or if this thing turns around

Unless it turns around in 2009.

by Adam J. Morris on Jan 7, 2009 7:29 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Adam,

do you have a “hunch” as well?

Did somebody sprinkle fairy dust over the starting pitchers, the defense and is the perpetually stupid Ron Washington no longer considered an organizational joke (as was reported last fall)?

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on Jan 7, 2009 10:58 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Good Lord

Good God you are a miserable prick…someone needs to say it.

All you do is cry and gripe and wine, it’s pathetic and everyone here knows it.

Find a new team or a new board you little tittie baby

by Horns130 on Jan 8, 2009 5:25 AM CST up reply actions   2 recs

Apparently he's only over here

’Cause Newberg banned him.

Did Jon Daniels downsize your old position at Dunking Donuts?

by lonestarJon on Jan 8, 2009 4:04 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I wonder what preceded that ...
Newberg banned him.

"A ~.650 OPS from a COF should get you deported, not traded for."

- The Huntressatron

by Chase Irwin on Jan 8, 2009 5:20 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I think it happened in OT

But they might have gotten tired of telling him just cause his daddy, Grandpa, uncle, and two older coisons wore white sheet doesnt mean its acceptable

But i could be wrong

"But with Tom Hicks squeezing his checkbook tighter than Tony Romo's grip on Jessica Simpson"- Jim Reeves on why Cruz will be the clean-up hitter in '09

by red3biggs on Jan 8, 2009 6:37 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Are you illiterate?

The 40 Trumps All!!!

So last Friday I’m at a bar. I take this guy home. He’s a little fat. Whatever, right? Plus, chubsters are so grateful, they usually try harder. Anyway, right in the middle of things, he’s sweating and grunting like a hairy rhino and I just start to hate myself. Really, really hate myself… So, without even thinking, I just head butt him right in the face. Bam. Clock him right between the eyes. Knock him out cold. So, that’s what I got. What you got going on?

by thedirkatron on Jan 8, 2009 10:52 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

No

just cixelsyd

"But with Tom Hicks squeezing his checkbook tighter than Tony Romo's grip on Jessica Simpson"- Jim Reeves on why Cruz will be the clean-up hitter in '09

by red3biggs on Jan 9, 2009 1:35 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Risk vs. Reward

A supplemental 1st round pick could be a player with a top of the rotation ceiling or at least starting position player. Another great year from Byrd also means that he is probably going to be a Type A FA which would give us a 1st round pick plus that supplemental 1st round draft pick. Boggs ceiling is considered by almost everyone to be as a 4th OF. So would you rather take the chances that you can have a great player or take the chance that you have a decent role player who already has his role filled on this team.

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Jan 7, 2009 10:12 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Byrd

Its amazing how even still people think Byrd sucks after the last couple years here in Texas. He is an almost mirror image of GMJ. A guy who bounced around a bit before coming here and seemingly finds it. performs wonderfully for a couple years and then leaves and gets us a couple draft picks as compensation. Hows that worked for us so far? Didn’t we get Hunter and Main with the GMJ picks? Those guys are going to be part of our long term plans. So in theory Byrd, if he gets us drfat picks in free agency, could be part of our long term plans.

And you point to Boggs’ August as proof that he should have played more in September right? Well first off just so you know a 790 OPS isn’t exactly breaking news. Alot of peoples favorite whipping boy David Murphy had a 786 OPS for the entire season and some on here want him traded or sent to the minors. Very few think he should be an everyday player.

Also its a simple numbers game. Who does Boggs replace? Hamilton? I do believe he is in our long term future. Cruz? The guy we had just called up because he had absolutely tore up AAA all season and we wanted to get one last look at him. I don’t think he has a place in our future but I damn sure wouldn’t have sat him for Boggs last September. Byrd? The guy who was coming off a month where he beat Boggs OPS by over 200 points. he put up an OPS in September almost equal to Boggs’ best month.

Face it, Boggs is a 4th OF. He played 4th OF time last year. He should play 4th OF time this year also. For someone who constantly criticizes the manager for being stupid, wanting to play a 4th OF everyday isn’t exactly showing yourself to be any smarter than the manager you criticize.

Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.

by bigsteve on Jan 7, 2009 1:40 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Hmmmm....

maybe Byrd having a .937 OPS after the AS break might have something to do with him being a favorite. I could see your point if he was sucking mud, but he wasn’t. Only a moron would leave him out of the line-up in favor of Boggs (who’ll probably never be more than a 4th or 5th outfielder).

by Redcaps on Jan 7, 2009 5:15 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Wow.

Apparently the Mavs and Raptors are discussing a deal centered around

Howard

for

Bargnani and Parker

Diop and Wright may also be involved.

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=11144

by brettgardner on Jan 7, 2009 10:46 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

Not sure how Bargani helps us.

"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract

by tyd3311 on Jan 7, 2009 10:48 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

He doesn't really.

But clearing some cap does. And Parker surely is an upgrade over what we’ve been throwing out there.

by brettgardner on Jan 7, 2009 10:50 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah

I’m sure Carlisle covets Parker, Bargani seems like a player D’Antoni and the Knicks would be after.

"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract

by tyd3311 on Jan 7, 2009 11:01 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

The question becomes

Who the fuck plays SF? George?

I don’t see how Parker + George is better than Howard + George.

I really don’t want to see Terry dealt.

by brettgardner on Jan 7, 2009 11:04 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I'm sure they would like Wright to take it.

He had a good game yesterday.

"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract

by tyd3311 on Jan 7, 2009 11:05 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Wright at 3?

I don’t know about that.

One way or another, there’s a hole at 2-3. Terry basically plays starter minutes at 2, so you don’t really need an All-Star there, but you need something more consistent. Parker would be a very nice fit, though.

by brettgardner on Jan 7, 2009 11:09 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Unless Bargani can play 3, or you're planning to flip him

Trade makes no sense.

"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract

by tyd3311 on Jan 7, 2009 11:15 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Honestly

I think he’d be a better backup C than Diop has been.

by brettgardner on Jan 7, 2009 11:16 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I like him as a 6th or 7th man and a backup big man

If Josh Howard was still on the team.

"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract

by tyd3311 on Jan 7, 2009 11:35 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

howard, diop and wright

for a “backup center” and a 34 yo swingman? That is absurd not to mention the fact that Bargani is a soft PF who has shot more threes than anyone on that team.

by Goyogringo on Jan 7, 2009 12:04 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Diop and Wright suck

So please don’t use them to make your point, especially considering Diop’s terrible contract. That’s a plus on the Mav’s side.

I would want a #1 pick in that deal, so is an upgrade at 4/5 and 2, a 1st rounder and cap space worth Josh Howard? There might be better deals out there, but everybody else in the league can see how terribly inefficient Josh Howard is, too.

It’s not as laughable as you seem to think.

by brettgardner on Jan 7, 2009 12:07 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

cap space?

what superstar is going to come to the mavs in a rebuilding mode? Your living in a dreamworld. So who else would be on that 2010 team sans howard, sans dirk and sans kidd and why would anyone want to sign here and spend 5 years toiling to get back into the playoffs?

by Goyogringo on Jan 7, 2009 12:37 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Dirk

is about as accomodating of a star player as you could have, I would imagine.

"A ~.650 OPS from a COF should get you deported, not traded for."

- The Huntressatron

by Chase Irwin on Jan 7, 2009 12:39 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

What dream world

Am I living in?

Where have I ever predicted that any superstar is going to come here?

Stop trying to be so fucking provocative.

by brettgardner on Jan 7, 2009 12:48 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Dirk

He likes playing SF from what I’ve read.
That’d be an awfully big lineup, though.

by jasonhh on Jan 7, 2009 11:08 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Well

He may like it offensively, but there’s no way he can consistently keep 3s in front of him.

Putting Bass at PF would just make 2 defensively weak spots. Best bet is to leave Dirk at 4, let him get his swipes, and let the quicker players close in on the weak side.

by brettgardner on Jan 7, 2009 11:11 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I see what you're saying

but you’d force the “smaller” teams to go big. More than likely getting them away from what they’d like to do. More than likely and more often than not, he would be covering someone similar to what he does now.

by jasonhh on Jan 7, 2009 11:13 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I disagree.

You would force every team to go even smaller, and they’d blow by our interior, getting to the basket/fouled.

by brettgardner on Jan 7, 2009 11:15 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

One would think

It just rarely works that way.

by jasonhh on Jan 7, 2009 11:21 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

No

That’s actually pretty common.

by brettgardner on Jan 7, 2009 11:21 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Also

I’ve heard that his post defense is actually pretty solid.

Take that for what it’s worth, though, since I haven’t watched a whole lot of Raptors games.

by brettgardner on Jan 7, 2009 10:54 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I should add

That hoopsworld has a history of bullshit.

by brettgardner on Jan 7, 2009 10:48 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Rotoworld has it too, I posted it in the

This Day in LSB history thread.

"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract

by tyd3311 on Jan 7, 2009 11:02 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Rotoworld doesn't "have things"

they just link to other things.

What Rotoworld has is a link to Hoops World and link to a Toronto paper about the Hoops World rumor being crap.

www.mavsmoneyball.com

by Wes Cox on Jan 7, 2009 11:07 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

What's your opinion on the rumor?

I don’t really see how that improves the team very much…

"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan

by Dirk Diggler on Jan 7, 2009 11:08 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

It would if

you don’t care about this year. It seems everyone is trying to clear cap space for a run at LeBron, Bosh and Co.

by jasonhh on Jan 7, 2009 11:10 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Dallas can opt out of Howard's contract

after next year if they needed to.

www.mavsmoneyball.com

by Wes Cox on Jan 7, 2009 11:13 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Why do that?

That would be a horrible decision.

by brettgardner on Jan 7, 2009 11:14 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I was just pointing out that they don’t have to trade him if all they want to do was free up 2010 cap space.

www.mavsmoneyball.com

by Wes Cox on Jan 7, 2009 11:20 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

But by trading him

You can still get relief and something useful at the same time. I don’t think Dallas is looking to simply cut for cutting’s sake. There certainly aren’t any guarantees in free agency.

by brettgardner on Jan 7, 2009 11:24 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

"Relief" in the NBA

usually means an expiring contract of a not very exciting player. If the goal is 2010 cap space then Howard has huge value to Dallas because he’s an expiring contract, and he’ll actually be good during the next two years. There aren’t a lot of people Dallas could get that fulfill both of those things.

So Dallas already has ‘relief’ and ‘useful’ in Howard. Any trade of Howard made to accomplish those two things would be lateral at best.

www.mavsmoneyball.com

by Wes Cox on Jan 7, 2009 11:35 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Unless

You get a draft pick/young talented player.

There’s no reason to make such a sweeping statement.

by brettgardner on Jan 7, 2009 11:36 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I would prefer a top draft pick

A trade like the Jamison trade would be nice.

"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract

by tyd3311 on Jan 7, 2009 11:42 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I wish we could get our hands on Jeff Green.

"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract

by tyd3311 on Jan 7, 2009 11:43 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

It will be interesting to see what the Blazer's do

With Raef’s expiring contract and players like Batum, Sergio, Bayless, and Outlaw, they have the pieces to add a star to their young core, without losing much right now.. But they would probably be best off hanging onto to most of those pieces for another year, Bayless developing would be key for them.

"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract

by tyd3311 on Jan 7, 2009 2:51 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

And right on cue

Bayless had his most productive game of the season last night..

"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract

by tyd3311 on Jan 8, 2009 9:33 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Wes Cox (or anybody who knows), school me por favor

on the end game with Jason Kidd.

His very healthy $ 21 million (?) contract is up this year so what good does that do the Mavs if all the good free agents aren’t available until after 2010?

Gracias.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on Jan 7, 2009 11:45 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Because

You don’t lose cap space if you don’t use it.

by brettgardner on Jan 7, 2009 11:47 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

So theoretically the Mavs

could offer Kidd a one year $ 21 million deal to come back but they’re more likely to do nothing but wait for 2010 and use that cap space when it becomes available?

I wonder if Kidd will eventually go to the Cavs, Lakers, Celtics or become a back-up for Utah or Denver (two teams that may be poised to make a run this year or next)?

I was at the Mavs game last night sitting down low. I think Kidd and Magic Johnson are the two smartest basketball players I have ever watched. Simply amazing basketball minds.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on Jan 7, 2009 11:54 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

No

The Mavs couldn’t do that. Kidd doesn’t have Early Bird rights, so we don’t have the luxury of signing him to a gigantic contract. Even if we did, though, Early Bird contracts have to be for at least 2 seasons.

There’s a 0% chance Kidd’s here after this season. They’ll take the space he clears and run.

by brettgardner on Jan 7, 2009 12:00 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I wouldn't be suprised if we comes back for the MLE.

"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract

by tyd3311 on Jan 7, 2009 12:02 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Maybe

0% is a little strong, but I’d be surprised.

Surely there will be a better situation somewhere.

One thing’s for sure though—he ain’t getting any 21 mill.

by brettgardner on Jan 7, 2009 12:04 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Kidd has been close

in the past (with Joisey) but has never won a ring.

If it doesn’t happen this year, Cleveland might be the team poised to win it all in 2009-2010.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on Jan 7, 2009 12:08 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

If we go sell mode before the deadline

Cleveland would make the most sense for Kidd. They have Szczerbiak and Snow’s expiring contracts that equal roughly 20 mil. Then Gibson would be my first choice, but would probably have to settle for Hickson and a 1st round pick.

"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract

by tyd3311 on Jan 7, 2009 1:01 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

yeah but they have

his bird rights which allow them to go over the cap to resign him. So if kidd wants money he will stay in Dallas; if he wants a championship he will have to sign for the MLE as all quality clubs in contention are over he cap.

by Goyogringo on Jan 7, 2009 12:26 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Kidd
So if kidd wants money he will stay in Dallas

Unless it’s the MLE it doesn’t make sense for Dallas to re-sign Kidd.

Certainly, certainly not for big money. This is a team built to take a run in FA winter 2010. Full stop.

Even Dirk is talking about restructuring his contract, and you can believe that guy’ll be ready to do everything to win by that late juncture.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Jan 7, 2009 12:34 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

why would any superstar come to dallas

with what would essentially be an expansion roster? No elite pg, no elite swingman, 25 million devoted to Jet and Damp (and poss 7 million for diop), and dirk (it isn’t clear how much money a restructured contract will clear). In addition those 3 players will be pushing 35. Lebron-like stars coming to dallas in 2010 is a pipedream IMO.

by Goyogringo on Jan 7, 2009 12:46 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Damp's contract isn't guaranteed

past this year IIRC.

"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan

by Dirk Diggler on Jan 7, 2009 12:48 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Hoopshype and Patricia's Mav site

all show him with a guar. contract. Do you have a link that details this?

by Goyogringo on Jan 7, 2009 1:05 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

It came from a Sefko mailbag

here’s a link (don’t know why it is a Denton newspaper that pasted it).

http://www.dentonrc.com/s/dws/nwsltr/sports/mavs/stories/120408dnspomavsnewsletter.2c2ef11.html

"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan

by Dirk Diggler on Jan 7, 2009 1:09 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

also
The Mavs continue to make out-of-favor veteran swingman Jerry Stackhouse available in trades, as they have since the offseason, but Stackhouse’s virtual expiring contract — worth $7 million this season and partially guaranteed for $2 million next season — would have needed to be packaged with Erick Dampier in exchange for Randolph and Mardy Collins. The Knicks wouldn’t have welcomed that, since Dampier’s contract is partially guaranteed in 2010-11, whereas the contracts of Tim Thomas and Cuttino Mobley, acquired in the Randolph deal, expire sooner.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dime-081122-23

"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan

by Dirk Diggler on Jan 7, 2009 1:14 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Insider has learned the details of Dallas’ seven year, $73.3 million dollar contract with Erick Dampier. His first-year salary is $7.7 million. The last year of his contract, worth more than $13 million, is conditional on Dampier playing in three All-Star games in the first six years of his contract OR playing 2,100 minutes in a minimum of 70 games during the 2009-10 season.

"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract

by tyd3311 on Jan 7, 2009 1:08 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Damp?

Damp is gone after next year.

"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract

by tyd3311 on Jan 7, 2009 12:49 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Damp isn't guaranteed in 2010

Not even Howard’s a guarantee to be here in 2010.

The Mavericks in the Cuban era have been an automatic over-the-cap roster, but they have choice on that now. I’d be really surprised if Cuban isn’t aiming for Chris Bosh, and I could see the player being amenable to 1, coming home and 2, playing with Dirk.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Jan 7, 2009 12:54 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

How do

The Mavs have Kidd’s Bird rights?

by brettgardner on Jan 7, 2009 12:49 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

according to wikipedia

(I know, I know)…

In a nutshell, the Larry Bird exception allows teams to exceed the salary cap to re-sign their own free agents, at an amount up to the maximum salary. To qualify as a Bird free agent, a player must have played three seasons without being waived or changing teams as a free agent. This means a player can obtain “Bird rights” by playing under three one-year contracts, a single contract of at least three years, or any combination thereof. It also means that when a player is traded, his Bird rights are traded with him, and his new team can use the Bird exception to re-sign him. Bird-exception contracts can be up to six years in length.

"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan

by Dirk Diggler on Jan 7, 2009 12:53 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

yep

i’ve spent alot of time playing simulated bball leagues on the interweb and dealt with all these rules. Kidd could very well be resigned to a 1 yr max contract if we wanted him back.

by blalock84 on Jan 7, 2009 7:45 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

It wouldn’t have to be $21 Mil, but because he is one of their FA he can be resigned without ramifications, cap-wise, that is.
His contract isn’t really useful for 2010, but it could (possibly) bring a nice return this and next year (next year if they were to get draft pick compensation).
Without a doubt, what Kidd lacks physically these days, he makes up for with brains.

by jasonhh on Jan 7, 2009 12:06 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Right

They’d also have nothing to show for it…..unless he left the bong in the locker.

by jasonhh on Jan 7, 2009 11:15 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Well they have this
Raptors beat writer Doug Smith is adamant that the rumor of an Andrea Bargnani-for-Josh Howard trade is not a possibility.
“The deal is not going to happen, was never going to happen, will never happen,” Smith writes. Teams routinely discuss hypothetical trades to gauge interest, and it sounds like one such conversation leaked out. We’ll post an update if anything changes.
Source: Toronto Star

"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract

by tyd3311 on Jan 7, 2009 11:17 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah

a link to a quote from a Toronto beat writer saying the Hoops World rumor is crap.

www.mavsmoneyball.com

by Wes Cox on Jan 7, 2009 11:24 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

random jetpunk quiz of the day

name as many SNL cast members as you can from past and present in 5 minutes:

http://www.jetpunk.com/quizzes/name-snl-cast-members.php

Greatest Inventions Ever? 1. TiVO, 2. Boobs, 3. Baseball

by willamos2 on Jan 7, 2009 11:59 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

Tim Raines

Seems like he should make it this year, too. Along with Blyleveyn and Henderson. I really don’t get HOF balloting.

"Was this really necsarry?" - cowpoke/hurler hurley

by trza on Jan 7, 2009 12:08 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Looks like Bradford, Stafford, and Moreno are all entering the draft

3 1st rounders in all likelihood.

"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract

by tyd3311 on Jan 7, 2009 12:52 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Georgia

really missed their chance this year.

by clark on Jan 7, 2009 2:43 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Who does Detroit take?

Bradford or Stafford or ???

Mitch Moreland - Rangers 2009 Minor League Player of the Year

by RangerMad on Jan 7, 2009 5:22 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Micheal Crabtree

Never enough WRs

Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.

by bigsteve on Jan 7, 2009 5:44 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Random things

- I had some fun with Sean Smith’s CHONE projections and David Pinto’s lineup analysis tool this morning (link)

- The Marlon Byrd walkoff grand slam game comes on MLB.com at 2 p.m. (details)

- For those without the MLB Network (such as myself), I have a link to a halfway decent webstream (disclaimer: it’s not up 24/7, but is up right now), though I hesitate to post it here. E-mail me if you’re interested.

by Joey Matschulat on Jan 7, 2009 1:37 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

nice write-up

the Pinto tool is very cool.
Dropped you an email re the stream..

by Goyogringo on Jan 7, 2009 1:45 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Addendum

The Byrd game isn’t on until Thursday.

Damn it.

by Joey Matschulat on Jan 7, 2009 2:00 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

OT: Tuesday Morning Quarterback

I don’t know how many of you read TMQ (he’s the only football columnist), but I actually know his TMQ Person of the Year

by JBImaknee on Jan 7, 2009 1:57 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Well you should tell her

that she also receives the Dirk Diggler award for Best Freaking Idea Ever.

"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan

by Dirk Diggler on Jan 7, 2009 2:39 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

John Patterson calls it quits

It’s a shame that guy could never get healthy. There was a time I thought he might have something.

by Royal Swine on Jan 7, 2009 2:38 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Sifting through the garbage bin.

"A ~.650 OPS from a COF should get you deported, not traded for."

- The Huntressatron

by Chase Irwin on Jan 7, 2009 3:57 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Be nice.

;)

"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008

by Rodney on Jan 7, 2009 5:50 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Gammons

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2009/01/gammonss_take.html

On whether they Sox will sign Varitek, a Boras client:

Gammons: Well, if he calls and says, ’I’ll sign at $2 million,’ they might do it. If someone would just sign Varitek, the Red Sox would say, ‘Thank you, we’ll take the draft choices.’ Now, I’m not sure anybody is going to sign him. One player said to me, ‘Well, the Marlins might sign Varitek for $5 million.’ No, they won’t . . . they Marlins aren’t giving up a first-round draft pick for Jason Varitek. Can’t happen. I don’t know what’s going to happen . . . I still think the Red Sox will trade for a catcher, whether it’s now or the 15th of March, and I don’t know what’s going to happen with Jason.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Jan 7, 2009 6:25 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Gammons also says:

He notes that there was a lot of “testiness” between Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez in Texas and Gammons wonders how Teixeira will handle the high expectations that come with playing in New York.

Hopefully Teix handels the pressure just as well as A Rod has. :)

"But with Tom Hicks squeezing his checkbook tighter than Tony Romo's grip on Jessica Simpson"- Jim Reeves on why Cruz will be the clean-up hitter in '09

by red3biggs on Jan 7, 2009 6:39 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/01/gammons-on-vari.html

"But with Tom Hicks squeezing his checkbook tighter than Tony Romo's grip on Jessica Simpson"- Jim Reeves on why Cruz will be the clean-up hitter in '09

by red3biggs on Jan 7, 2009 6:40 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

What glorious news, if true!

"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008

by Rodney on Jan 7, 2009 6:45 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

True, you have to take the

Bahston Licker angle into effect.

"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008

by Rodney on Jan 7, 2009 7:02 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Hopefully Teix handels the pressure just as well as A Rod has. :)

You mean by doing things like winning an MVP award and being a perennial top 3 overall player in the league?

Yah, let’s hope so…

???

The 40 Trumps All!!!

So last Friday I’m at a bar. I take this guy home. He’s a little fat. Whatever, right? Plus, chubsters are so grateful, they usually try harder. Anyway, right in the middle of things, he’s sweating and grunting like a hairy rhino and I just start to hate myself. Really, really hate myself… So, without even thinking, I just head butt him right in the face. Bam. Clock him right between the eyes. Knock him out cold. So, that’s what I got. What you got going on?

by thedirkatron on Jan 8, 2009 6:29 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

teix and arod

i think the biggest problem is going to be them getting into tickle fights over who gets to sleep over at jeters house on friday nights.

"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg

by rentz on Jan 8, 2009 6:45 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

You don'

The 40 Trumps All!!!

So last Friday I’m at a bar. I take this guy home. He’s a little fat. Whatever, right? Plus, chubsters are so grateful, they usually try harder. Anyway, right in the middle of things, he’s sweating and grunting like a hairy rhino and I just start to hate myself. Really, really hate myself… So, without even thinking, I just head butt him right in the face. Bam. Clock him right between the eyes. Knock him out cold. So, that’s what I got. What you got going on?

by thedirkatron on Jan 8, 2009 6:51 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

You don't want to know how many homeless men I would kill for the honor of spending one night at a slumber party at Jeter's house.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

So last Friday I’m at a bar. I take this guy home. He’s a little fat. Whatever, right? Plus, chubsters are so grateful, they usually try harder. Anyway, right in the middle of things, he’s sweating and grunting like a hairy rhino and I just start to hate myself. Really, really hate myself… So, without even thinking, I just head butt him right in the face. Bam. Clock him right between the eyes. Knock him out cold. So, that’s what I got. What you got going on?

by thedirkatron on Jan 8, 2009 6:52 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Did you mean

Michael Jackson?

"But with Tom Hicks squeezing his checkbook tighter than Tony Romo's grip on Jessica Simpson"- Jim Reeves on why Cruz will be the clean-up hitter in '09

by red3biggs on Jan 8, 2009 12:52 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Post Season

2007 267 .353 .467 .820 #21
2006 071 .133 .071 .205 #57 (only better than Bravo Kenny)
2005 .133 .435 .200 .635 #38

"But with Tom Hicks squeezing his checkbook tighter than Tony Romo's grip on Jessica Simpson"- Jim Reeves on why Cruz will be the clean-up hitter in '09

by red3biggs on Jan 8, 2009 12:55 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

That's meaningless to me

anything can happen in the postseason in such a small sample. Scott Brosius is thought of very highly by a lot of Yankee fans, but his playoff numbers overall are just .245/.278/.418, and, obviously, he hasn’t been anywhere near as valuable as ARod in the regular season.

He’s a media whipping boy, plain and simple.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Jan 8, 2009 1:33 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

No, you don't understand!

He doesn’t handel pressure!

He just doesn’t!!!

The 40 Trumps All!!!

So last Friday I’m at a bar. I take this guy home. He’s a little fat. Whatever, right? Plus, chubsters are so grateful, they usually try harder. Anyway, right in the middle of things, he’s sweating and grunting like a hairy rhino and I just start to hate myself. Really, really hate myself… So, without even thinking, I just head butt him right in the face. Bam. Clock him right between the eyes. Knock him out cold. So, that’s what I got. What you got going on?

by thedirkatron on Jan 8, 2009 5:28 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

He obviously suffers from this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wqfcwgT0Ds

"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg

by rentz on Jan 8, 2009 6:48 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Handel

stared down the King of England, he could handle pressure.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Jan 8, 2009 7:33 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

So you're saying Tex couldn't handel Handel?

The 40 Trumps All!!!

So last Friday I’m at a bar. I take this guy home. He’s a little fat. Whatever, right? Plus, chubsters are so grateful, they usually try harder. Anyway, right in the middle of things, he’s sweating and grunting like a hairy rhino and I just start to hate myself. Really, really hate myself… So, without even thinking, I just head butt him right in the face. Bam. Clock him right between the eyes. Knock him out cold. So, that’s what I got. What you got going on?

by thedirkatron on Jan 8, 2009 10:50 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Tex might have kept up

in operas, but in oratorio Handel eats his lunch.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Jan 9, 2009 12:09 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Your also

not a Yankee fan right?

Is Romo a good QB? Is Wade a good coach?

"But with Tom Hicks squeezing his checkbook tighter than Tony Romo's grip on Jessica Simpson"- Jim Reeves on why Cruz will be the clean-up hitter in '09

by red3biggs on Jan 8, 2009 6:38 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

some quick comments

Smoltz about to sign with Red Sox. Will Atlanta be interested in Sheets? Padilla?

Baldelli leaning towards Red Sox. I was hoping a C and Byrd plus a prospect ot two could fetch Buchholz.

I got a laugh out of this…

Gammons called Mark Teixeira Scott Boras’ “ultimate client” and that Teixeira is “very well-programmed.”

But we already knew that.

And, MLB Hot Stove is awesome!

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

Mitch Moreland - Rangers 2009 Minor League Player of the Year

by RangerMad on Jan 7, 2009 9:48 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

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