MLB 2008 Season

[Akileese]

Originally Posted by Ham n Cheese

If JD Drew can pull in $16m a year, anything is possible

So many people have said and I'll say it. You look at how gifted of a player he is and how perfect his swing is and you just get sucked in by him. Do I hate the guy now that he's not blocking jacoby Ellsbury anymore? Not really, although if he's batting .229 and blocking Brandon Moss from making starts to prove himself I'll get angry.

I didn't know his parents were backing him and that's kind of shocking. Usually it's the parents and family who are the voice of reason as oppose to agents and advisers whispering satanic thoughts in the players ear. The Phillies are not really in bad shape though. Burrell makes 14MM this year and that's almost certainly coming off the payroll (which alone would drop it down to about 85M). Add in the 7MM they're still paying for Jim Thome and that's down to 77M. You have all your solid young pitching locked up through arbitration or automatic renewals and you have Utley and Rollins locked through 2011 and 2013 respectively. What's wrong with trying to trade Howard and picking up some solid young pitching in return and then making a run at a guy like C.C Sabathia? Maybe you won't sign him, but the money will be there. Add in trading Howard who may or may not be a type of clubhouse poison, but it would probably be better for both sides to just move on and trade him, and you've suddenly got a rotation that competes with the Mets and a solid lineup.

That's just what I would do if I were in their situation. I doubt it will happen because they don't like spending huge sums of money, but with a new GM heading in next year, it's very possible he makes a huge move to make a splash. Thoughts? Alternative ideas?

Cot's Baseball Contracts: Philadelphia Phillies

This is their contract situation for 08. The only thing I wish Cot's would add is what Hoopshype has for NBA teams. I would love to be able to see salary for 09, 10, 11, and so on and so forth, but I can't gripe an awesome site.

[Thorpe]

Originally Posted by tjac

I don't know that anything is wrong with him. There's too much hype behind Howard, and he's cashing in on it while he can. He's rumored to have parents guiding his business decisions, maybe that's a bad thing about him.

See: Eric Lindros.

[Dennadyne]

ESPN - Braves' Hampton scratched for first start since '05 with chest injury - MLB

At what point do you give up on Mike Hampton?

[tjac]

Originally Posted by Thorpe

See: Eric Lindros.

Yep. McNabb's parents are said to be pretty invasive, too.

[Akileese]

Originally Posted by Dennadyne

ESPN - Braves' Hampton scratched for first start since '05 with chest injury - MLB

At what point do you give up on Mike Hampton?

Well, everyone else seemed to give up a while ago, but I think it's time for Mike to just hang it up. He's not getting any younger and as long as these injuries keep occurring, he's not going to start.

EDIT: I'm taking this froM FJM because it's fucking hilarious and FJM is amazing. Non FJM comment in bold

Scouts: They're Just Like Us!
Except they're paid to give professional opinions about baseball. Opinions like these:

One scout says not to worry about Jimmy Rollins' atrocious spring (.188 with zero homers).

So I shouldn't panic and trade the reigning National League MVP because of meaningless spring training statistics. Good advice, scout! You are hereby promoted to Head Scout of Scouting. Hey, high-concept movie pitch: Life Scout. Tom Berenger stars as a crusty old baseball scout whose instincts are so good, an underachieving twenty-something hires him to "scout" his "life"! The scout scouts out women ("That one's got crazy boobs but also crazy eyes, steer clear!") and job opportunities ("Beer and video game tester -- score!), and over the course of the movie, Mark the underachiever teaches Jim the scout a few things about life, too.

But enough about my billion-dollar movie ideas. What else does this scout have to say about the guy voted the Best Player in His Baseball League in 2007?

"He's a solid underrated player. I don't see any change.''

You're right. He didn't win the AL MVP or the Cy Young or the Rolaids thing or the thing you win for coming back from cancer. He didn't win the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award or the Caldecott Medal for best illustrations in a children's book. Underrated.

Your move, scouts

[Troy] Tulowitzki appears determined to win the Gold Glove after losing out to Jimmy Rollins last year.

Oh, that's right -- Rollins won the Gold Glove, too. That poor, solid, unappreciated, underrated orphan child. Jimmy Rollins needs a hug and a higher rating.

"He has a swagger about him -- like Jeter,'' one AL scout said, paying about as high a compliment as you can pay.

Dr. Baseball Boss Guy: Ralph Scoutman. Good to see you. Come on in, sit down.
Ralph Scoutman: Thank you, boss man. I been rill busy scouting all over. Rill busy.
BBG: So you've been driving an old pickup truck all around America, picking up colorful local stories, getting dust in your wrinkles and putting crow's feet in the corners of your eyes.
RS: Exactly, boss. Just like you done told me to.
BBG: Excellent, Ralph. You are quite a scout. I mean, look at your eyes. So wise and knowing. It's like you can see inside me, right into my soul.
RS: Aw, shucks, boss. Just doin' my job. Seein' folks' souls -- that's just part of scouting.
BBG: Now what have you got on this Tulowitzki kid? I've never seen him before, but I've heard he's playing baseball up in the Rocky Mountains. What will they think of next?
RS: Oh, I seen him all right. Crashed my pickup right into their dugout and took out my bye-noculars. I got the dirt on Tulo.
BBG: Come up real close, whisper it into my ear.
RS: (whispering) He has a swagger.
BBG: Scoutman, you've done it again, you old fox! Call the mayor! Plan the parade route! We are the champions of baseball once again! Scoutman, you'll sit on the biggest float of all in the parade!
RS: Oh no, count me out, boss. I'm no parade-sitter. I'm just an old scout, scouting the best I can until I scout my way into the next world.

(Scoutman puts his hat back on and shuffles out of the office. As he leaves, he gradually fades away.)

BBG: Well, I'll be damned. He was a ghost all along.

[BembianEQ]

Most of the rational world gave up on him after the 2000 world series, i think.


Its a shame, he's still an exciting pitcher when he's healthy.

[Tea on tuesday]

Another season, another year of Mr. Redlegs looking into my soul from behind home plate. Hell of an opener for Cueto though, will have to see if Volquez lives up to the hype (probably not).

[Blumpster]

I am stunned at the Mariners loss today. Felix pitches one of his best games, and what do we have to show for it? 3 runs in the bottom the 9th to lose it. GOOD JOB BULLPEN. GOOD JOB MANAGEMENT! You cost my fantasy team a win

[Akileese]

Originally Posted by Blumpster

I am stunned at the Mariners loss today. Felix pitches one of his best games, and what do we have to show for it? 3 runs in the bottom the 9th to lose it. GOOD JOB BULLPEN. GOOD JOB MANAGEMENT! You cost my fantasy team a win

Mets did the same exact thing. It's April. This shit happens EVERY year. I mean, Boston just got swept by the Blue Jays and yet I'm not even remotely worried.

[Blumpster]

Originally Posted by Akileese

Mets did the same exact thing. It's April. This shit happens EVERY year. I mean, Boston just got swept by the Blue Jays and yet I'm not even remotely worried.

It still hurts. Doubly because I should have had a CG/SHO/W on my fantasy team!!! omgz.

[Thorpe]

I don't take much stock in April. As a Phillies fan, I'm all but used to a fucking horrible April. Hell, at 2-4, the Phillies are off to one of their better April's in recent memory.

At least Utley is off to a good start. You heard it hear first (well, not really, MLB.com had an article about it last week), if he stays health Utley will be the NL MVP.

[Braen]

Originally Posted by findar

i hope the rangers lose every game this year. god this team has failed since my childhood.

Yeah. But after the first 6 games their starting pitching is under 3 ERA... They should be 4-2 instead of 3-3. When your starting pitcher (Milwood) pitches a complete game and only allows 2 runs, you SHOULD win that game.

[Shanter]

Braves are finally playing some ball, but what is wrong with Detroit? 0-6, really?

[Bottle]

So I'm watching the Redsox home opener and they had Neil Diamond sing in the 8th inning. All I could think of is how cool it would be if they said Neil Diamond would be performing and instead Rick Astley shows up and rickrolls Fenway.

[BembianEQ]

What 'cha heard, Cardinal Bird! 6-2!!

Starters over performing, bats (lookin' at you 5) are kinda slow, and the bullpen up until Izzy is questionable. I don't expect Mulder/Pinero/Clement to be any better than the guys we have in there now.... we're probably due to come back down to earth.

BUT I LOVE IT WHILE IT LASTS