Greg Fiume - Getty Images
11 months ago: BALTIMORE, MD - JUNE 12: Luke Scott #30 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates after hitting a home run in the eighth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 12, 2011 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
There are a number of excellent stories that I want to pass along today, so let's jump right into it, shall we?
0 recs | 96 comments
Dan Johnson a Quad A player? Nah, only a low BABIP
held this budding all star from reaching his lofty goals
sternfan1 - January 12, 2012
This.
Whelk - January 12, 2012 via mobile
His career BABIP is .249 in like 1200+ PA
benderbrodriguez - January 12, 2012
(which is a significant improvement over .125)
Whelk - January 12, 2012
Yes but let's not regress him to league average in predictions. 250 is abnormally low
benderbrodriguez - January 12, 2012
Grant Brisbee
Just made my morning:
Time to get my old Carlos Castenada books out and begin practicing on stealing the oppositions energy.
After that, I’ll ask the question:
Will there be a market for Prince Fielder in LA with the Dodgers now that the Fox/LA lawsuit has been settled?
I know Buster Olney touched on it and suggested that signing Fielder may increase the bids for the team. If so, by how much? If significant boost, why wouldn’t McCourt sign him, after all in the long run he doesn’t have to pay the salary?
Could Boras’ patience pay off and Fielder get the 8 year 200 million dollar deal that he is looking for?
Would the contract have an opt out after 4 years?
Finally, the Rays angle, would James Loney be an attractive trade target for the Rays?
MrNegative1 - January 12, 2012
Isn't the Dodgers' rotation full?
If they do a deal for Prince, then by all means yes but if there were a sliver of chance they were going to do that, I believe they would have conducted business much differently this off-season.
Jason Collette - January 12, 2012
the lawsuit held things up
was a nasty little spat
MrNegative1 - January 12, 2012
no, but jerry sands would.
rglass44 - January 12, 2012
Loney got nearly $5MM last year
so you’re talking about ~$7MM in salary plus giving up whatever it costs to acquire him in trade, for a 1B with a .409 SLG over the last four seasons.
That seems absolutely awful to me.
AndrewTorrez - January 12, 2012
agreed. he's like a worse billy butler.
rglass44 - January 12, 2012
if Billy Butler forgot how to hit
AndrewTorrez - January 12, 2012
and learned how to field.
rglass44 - January 12, 2012
we need to put this hyperbole to rest
In two seasons as a full-time 1B, Butler put up a -3.0 UZR/150 in 2009 and a -1.7 in 2010. That’s not good, obviously, but it’s considerably better than, say, Prince Fielder (career avg at 1B: -6.4 UZR/150).
Paul Konerko’s UZR/150 over the last 3 years? -4.9.
Carlos Pena’s? -2.9.
So let’s stop pretending that playing Butler at 1B would be like playing Frank Thomas standing in a pool of quick-set concrete, particularly as the same group of people pine for Konerko, Pena, or Fielder.
AndrewTorrez - January 12, 2012
relax. i was joking. i do not want loney.
rglass44 - January 12, 2012
I'm relaxed :)
and I know we do this dog-and-pony show on Butler, and it’s fun. I just wanted to get some actual facts in there so that others reading understand his actual defensive shortcomings.
AndrewTorrez - January 12, 2012
i do still wonder about UZR and 1B, but you take what you can get.
rglass44 - January 12, 2012
His baserunning on the other hand...
benderbrodriguez - January 12, 2012
Yup.
And his spits…..
mr. maniac - January 12, 2012
And his contract....
mr. maniac - January 12, 2012
I agree with you on all fronts
I didn’t opine on James Loney. I don’t like him at all.
MrNegative1 - January 12, 2012
can't remember who here is really high on Loney
but I know someone keeps pimping for him in much the same way I keep pimping for Butler
AndrewTorrez - January 12, 2012
I think Collette is a fan ofthe ""new and improved" Loney
FreeZorilla - January 12, 2012
Plays defense, doesn't hit for much power to speak of
Didn’t we just have one of those?
joeybw - January 12, 2012
Yes, if he was non-tendered
Much like I would not have wanted Luke had the O’s tendered him. Now that Loney is tendered, I only have fantasy baseball interest.
I’m still very much on the Wilson Betemit wagon though
Jason Collette - January 12, 2012
Here's a question Rays fans?
Who was the riskier sign, Damon or Scott?
sternfan1 - January 12, 2012
riskier signing is Scott
In terms of health its hard to argue against Damon when he has that string of 140+ games played.
In terms of production, even with age, the more certain production will come from Damon.
The reward of Scott in 2012 and possibly a value sign in 2013 with the option outweighs the risk of sub-Damon production in 2012.
Higher Risk/Higher Reward signing.
MrNegative1 - January 12, 2012
Correct answer
Ben Tumbling - January 12, 2012
Scott.
mr. maniac - January 12, 2012
Scott absolutely.
Although I imagine that the FO thinks some combo of Joyce/Guyer and Canzler have the DH spot covered if Scott bombs.
Whelk - January 12, 2012
yup... or miranda or an acquisition.
rglass44 - January 12, 2012
probably scott. damon is a 1-2 win player. scott is a 0-3 win player.
rglass44 - January 12, 2012
Sports page headline in today's Tampa Bay Times
‘Morris Joins Redskins’
Why would we care?
Lower page story
‘Rays Find New DH’
Why the media in this town coddles this shitty football franchise run by those carpetbaggers who haven’t won a playoff game in 9 years and treats the Rays as the red headed stepchild boggles the mind
sternfan1 - January 12, 2012
It baffles me too.
They seem so positive about the Lightning and want to be so positive about the Bucs, but they give the Rays little credit, positiveness, and attention.
mr. maniac - January 12, 2012
More people care about football. Simple.
Erik Hahmann - January 12, 2012
not sure if you can call them "people"...
pudieron89 - January 12, 2012
(This is how you properly use an ellipses, Ryan Gilliss)
pudieron89 - January 12, 2012
Please tell me he warned you for ellipses abuse.
Hatfield - January 12, 2012
he still has mod powerz?
pudieron89 - January 12, 2012
Yes...
and I uses ellipses correctly.
Ryan Gilliss - January 12, 2012
You overuse them and dilute their effectiveness.
They are meant to imply that there is more to say that will be left unsaid. if you use them at the beginning of your header and then go on to elaborate it’s pointless. But i guess you could be using them like this:
maybe you’re just a very sad guy, I can’t say! Guess we’ll never know…
pudieron89 - January 12, 2012
or it can be used to indicate an unfinished thought....
which is what my subject lines are.
Ryan Gilliss - January 12, 2012
You are wrong.
Polls say more people in Tampa Bay care about Rays than Bucs
DeadeyeRR - January 12, 2012
"i believe in public opinion polls"
-DDRR (1969-2012)
pudieron89 - January 12, 2012
Astute observation
Watch what happens on radio today
-I bet Scott gets 1/2 of the attention of Raheem with a new jobJason Collette - January 12, 2012
I imagine today will be the "wahhh Johnny Damon/Rays are so dumb!" show.
Hatfield - January 12, 2012
Yup.
Have to find something to complain about.
mr. maniac - January 12, 2012
"This is why I don't go to games!"
Hatfield - January 12, 2012
It almost makes me want to listen to it
But I’ve not had the need to torture myself yet
Transplanted - January 12, 2012
Kendry avoids arb. at a really low $ figure.
I’d love to acquire him, but with Scott coming back from injury that may be too many gambles for that big bopper spot.
rglass44 - January 12, 2012
$2.975 to be exact.
I wonder what it would take to get him. That would be a pretty formidable lineup.
rglass44 - January 12, 2012
as long as he doesn't hit any walkoffs he should stay healthy
pudieron89 - January 12, 2012
Why?
Acquire him, leave him on extended spring training, and find a cheaper fill-in option
Jason Collette - January 12, 2012
Miranda? I'd be fine with that. Some are more risk averse than I am though.
rglass44 - January 12, 2012
Miranda,
pudieron89 - January 12, 2012
Hey, good morning guys. Sorry I couldn't post a lot yesterday, I saw there was a bunch of news. I guess we signed a birther and some awful player made derisive comments about management?
WHERE IS MATTHAN??
pudieron89 - January 12, 2012
el oh el
rglass44 - January 12, 2012
el oh el
rglass44 - January 12, 2012
He's streaking in the quad in jubilation
Jason Collette - January 12, 2012
So the CSN stats are great.
Leslie Anderson had one very good year (probably with BIP luck), a bunch of others that were less impressive. Yuniesky Betancourt sort of sucked in Cuba, too. Leonys Martin probably actually can take a walk.
Whelk - January 12, 2012
Jon Heyman doesn't like it? Must be a good move
Not like he has a vested self-interest in Damon or anything….
Jason Collette - January 12, 2012
Ryan Theriot has a "powerful bat"
AndrewTorrez - January 12, 2012
That inspired me to look up Theriot's career ISO...which is .072
Only 12 players were worse (out of 431) during that time. I don’t know why I did that.
Barnacles - January 12, 2012
Best day everrrrr
Hatfield - January 12, 2012
landlord on the heater?
pudieron89 - January 12, 2012
Apparently everyone who posts there is Landlord.
Hatfield - January 12, 2012
i do hope you've been trying to recruit them to drb or ottotd
pudieron89 - January 12, 2012
You can see my work over there in nearly every thread.
Hatfield - January 12, 2012
I'm going to start ending all of my posts with "...and Upton"
It’s brilliant… and Upton
Imperialism32 - January 12, 2012
lol
rglass44 - January 12, 2012
still no word on the total $ amount?
AndrewTorrez - January 12, 2012
It's amazing how quiet they keep everything
Transplanted - January 12, 2012
Okay everyone, huddle up, Torrez take a knee
We keep discussing ways to improve 1B? Kotchman lacks power, he probably wont hit .300 again, I don’t know that but I can give a good guess. However he was consistent until that last dreadful month of his and he does deserve a gold glove. So, how dissapointed will people be if Casey Kotchman is our 2012 1B?
Also whether it’s Pena, Kotchman or someone in a trade. I think Neimann or Davis get traded for prospects, maybe 1 is a 1B.
joeybw - January 12, 2012
Take a knee? Hell, I'll Tebow if it will bring Votto or Fielder to town!
AndrewTorrez - January 12, 2012
I did Tebow for Fielder when we breifly talked about him on a 1 year deal yesterday
It hasn’t work yet. Believe it or not, Votto is more unlikely than Prince. Where as Fielder is WAYYYYYY out of our price range, we might do it if it was 1 year. Reds are in win now mode, Votto is their best player and they traded his back up already.
joeybw - January 12, 2012
I'd be okay -- not thrilled, but not rioting with torches and pitchforks
with Kotchman returning. My concern is that the Rays would then be fielding a 7-8-9 where you have to pinch-hit for all three guys if a lefty reliever comes in close and late.
AndrewTorrez - January 12, 2012
ugh
pudieron89 - January 12, 2012
Random fun news:
Our draft choice came down to Longoria or Lincecum. Had a deal in place with Lincecum but jumped on Longo when the Rockies let him slip.
Well, Timmy is projected to make 24 million this year in arby, Longoria will make 4.5 million. Yeah, sorry Johnny but we are in fact awesome. Now, go find your next “dream team”
“It’s always been my dream to be an Oriole”
joeybw - January 12, 2012
thank you rockies.
rglass44 - January 12, 2012
god, imagine an infield with Tulo/Longo...epic.
pudieron89 - January 12, 2012
yeah, let's trade for Tulo
AndrewTorrez - January 12, 2012
it happened in college.
rglass44 - January 12, 2012
And they both were great back then also
Both SS’s but Tulo was the starter and that is the story of how Evan became a 3B. A damn good one.
joeybw - January 12, 2012
that's my point
pudieron89 - January 12, 2012
ahhh wasnt sure if you were saying imagine them in COl together which would also be epic.
rglass44 - January 12, 2012
well yeah, my purpose was twofold. since they played together at LB, and both developed even further into superstars, imagine them on the same diamond at the show.
pudieron89 - January 12, 2012
Rays "made the Scott deal official"
I believe they still need to waive someone and please tell us what you paid the guy!
joeybw - January 12, 2012
Seems Rangers, despite some doubt from them recently are moving closer to a deal with Darvish
That takes them out of Fielder range along with the Mariners and at least the rumored “favorite” Nats are out also. He will be a Marlin, I just wish Gaby could play LF so we could have Morrison.
joeybw - January 12, 2012
Doesn't Scott look like Damon in the mlbtraderumors pic?
joeybw - January 12, 2012
5 million in 2012, 6 million option for 2013 with 1 million buy out
for Luke Scott
joeybw - January 12, 2012
so 1/6 or 2/11. I'll take it.
rglass44 - January 12, 2012
pretty good guesses earley yesterday:
whoever said 4 years/ $20 million was way off.
rglass44 - January 12, 2012
Ha. 4/20 seemed too right.
Ben Tumbling - January 12, 2012
My bad.
Hatfield - January 12, 2012
Yea 4/20 does seem high, if you weeel
FreeZorilla - January 12, 2012
I didn't listen to the Podcast to see if it was relevant or anything
but wtf is this picture?
http://www.overthemonster.com/2012/1/12/2701627/the-over-the-monster-podcast-episode-35-the-radioactive-pudding
Suggestion Box: Article pictures that make the Red Sox and even New Englanders in general look like fools. Shouldn’t be too tough.
SandalsNoPants - January 12, 2012
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