MLB 2008 Season

[Zodiac]

Originally Posted by Grumath

If the Astros can start playing like they did this week more often, they will be a scary good team. Their pitching still blows, but good lord do they have some hitters this year... 30 runs in 3 games? Hell yeah!

At the very least it makes the games entertaining to watch. Last few years if they were down by 3 you could basically turn the game off.

[Duppin]

3 years, $24 million to Kenji Johjima today, with Jeff Clement waiting in AAA.

The Mariners continue to make utterly incomprehensible moves!

[Akileese]

Originally Posted by Duppin

3 years, $24 million to Kenji Johjima today, with Jeff Clement waiting in AAA.

The Mariners continue to make utterly incomprehensible moves!

I don't think Johjima is bad though. Do I think he's good for 3 years? No. He's off to a poor start, but I don't think he suddenly hit the wall.

I think the important thing to realize about catchers is that they're typically veteran players. Not often do you see a young catcher come in and make a huge impact. Most catchers are probably within the age of like, 28-35. Clemen is only 24 and worse than anything else, you don't want to thrust a young catcher into the fray. It usually has pretty bad results.

Also, the Mets are exploding against the Braves right now. 2 singles, a double, and a triple in 4 straight at bats.

[Duppin]

I like Kenji too, but there is no reason to be inherently biased in favor of an older player, even at the catcher position. Young catchers can do just fine at the MLB level.

Clement isn't ready this year, but he will be next year, and there just wasn't any good reason to extend Kenji at this point. The right move would've been to let them fight it out in spring training next year.

Instead, that 8 million a year means that he WILL be the starting catcher for the next three years (the way the Mariners operate) and Clement will either rot on the bench/in AAA, be moved to 1B/DH where his bat becomes significantly less valuable, or be included in part of another terrible trade like Soriano for Ramirez.

[Akileese]

Oh dude I won't argue with you on the bias towards older catchers. I'm just saying for the majority of the year, that's how it goes. It's definitely starting to change. Teams (mid market teams at that) cutting players simply because their woefully unproductive. Matt Morris got cut and it cut them 10MM plus whatever they've payed him for the first month of the season. It's obvious the league is going younger, but on top of the fact that there is a lack of quality young catchers in the minors (and the Rangers have 3 of them including Salty, who may be end up at 1B), a lot of guys when they hit the majors don't pan out well.

Obviously there are exceptions to the rule but I'm really intrigued to see where the league is headed in regards to veterans.

Also this: ESPN - After 0-6 start, Giants move $126M ace Zito to bullpen - MLB

Worst signing in the history of pro sports? I think so.

[Incognitogamer]

Originally Posted by Blumpster

Arizona is doing well this year.

Understatement of the season (so far), Diamondbacks are destroying people left and right. Webb is dominating pitching, and since we've gotten better at hitting pitches this year... it's only solidified the obvious.

I predict dbacks in the World Series this year, with a very good chance of going all the way.

[Akileese]

Originally Posted by Incognitogamer

Understatement of the season (so far), Diamondbacks are destroying people left and right. Webb is dominating pitching, and since we've gotten better at hitting pitches this year... it's only solidified the obvious.

I predict dbacks in the World Series this year, with a very good chance of going all the way.

It's April. Let's see how the young kids hold up during a full season. If they're smart, they'll trade Conor Jackson for a solid bullpen arm.

[tjac]

Originally Posted by Akileese

Also this: ESPN - After 0-6 start, Giants move $126M ace Zito to bullpen - MLB

Worst signing in the history of pro sports? I think so.

If he's the worst signing, Ryan Howard might be the worst arbitration.

[Incognitogamer]

Originally Posted by Akileese

It's April. Let's see how the young kids hold up during a full season. If they're smart, they'll trade Conor Jackson for a solid bullpen arm.

Solid bullpen arm? They just brought in Max Scherzer... who threw a perfect game through 4 and 1/3 innings with seven strikeouts as a relief pitcher in his MLB debut, and currently holds a 0 era.

And lets not forget Qualls, Cruz, Pena and Lyon. Our bullpen is arguably the best in the league, definitely the best in NL west.

Hell the closest team to us in NL west is 5.5 games behind and our win percentage is the best in the majors. I know it's early in the season, but I don't see any team stopping us anytime soon.

Edit: And most these kids were here last season, and they won the division, I'm pretty sure they've proven they can hold up just fine during a full season.

[Akileese]

Fair enough. But they played a full season plus additional games in the playoffs. You made some pretty good points, but I don't think you could ever have too many bullpen arms.

I feel pretty good about Boston right now. Our March/April travel schedule was nothing short of a disaster and we're still gonna be over .500.

However, if I'm a Yankee fan, I'm horrified. Hughes hit the DL for the 2nd time in as many years (this to me is very alarming. Last time he hit the DL with the hamstring injury he was out for a long time). Ian Kennedy isn't getting it done and aside from Wang, they don't have a single reliable starter (Pettite has been erratic). Add in Posada's mystery shoulder and A-Rod's quad injury, and there's definitely cause for concern as they lost again tonight and got swept by the Tigers (down 4 in the 9th, I'm pretty sure they're done).

[kcxiv]

My Dodgers seem to be rolling now. I was worried for a bit, but there is just to much young talent on that team for them to not be hitting, but they have seriously stepped it up. We also have a pretty darn good pitching staff. 6 Straight, but the D-Backs have a hell of a squad.

[Duppin]

Jeff Kent sucks. *runs away*

I'm glad to see the Mariners are willing to cut bait on underperforming vets in April for once, rather than July as is their norm.

[kcxiv]

Originally Posted by Duppin

Jeff Kent sucks. *runs away*

I'm glad to see the Mariners are willing to cut bait on underperforming vets in April for once, rather than July as is their norm.

For being 40, he's still pretty damn solid at the plate. His D sucks, but the guy can still swing a bat.

[bigdaw]

Dbacks could just use some left handers in their bullpen, then we'll be complete.

[Akileese]

Julio Franco retires at age 49. His final MLB at bat was a pinch hit single in 9/07. I was really hoping he would make it to 50 because no fielding player would ever make that (charlie huff may have come close but I'm not positive).