Baseball Hot Stove

[BoyLovesBuzz]

Gary Sheffield has had 2 very good years for the Yanks--I'm pretty sure he got a few MVP votes the first year with the Yanks, when he played hurt.

Ok. Sheffield was a bad example. I just saw his stats, the last two years were down, and below his career average. Besides, he only spent a year in Atl, so hardly an influence. The point I was trying to make is that the entire Braves coaching staff (not just Mazzone) seem to get more production from players. Position and Pitching, so maybe Leo's departure won't be as trumatic as many predict. That's all.

 

[Missy1961]

Ok. Sheffield was a bad example. I just saw his stats, the last two years were down, and below his career average. Besides, he only spent a year in Atl, so hardly an influence. The point I was trying to make is that the entire Braves coaching staff (not just Mazzone) seem to get more production from players. Position and Pitching, so maybe Leo's departure won't be as trumatic as many predict. That's all.

I do agree with you. I think the perfect example of how great the staff is was last year. The Braves had how many rookies playing for them? And they finished first.

 

[Missy1961]

Lots going on today.
1. Grady Little is now the manager of the Dodgers
2. Juan Pierre is going to the Cubs, not the Yanks
3. Reds trade Casey to the Pirates
4. Mets are interested in Zito

 

[Missy1961]

And I just heard another rumor on ESPN radio: Mets trading Kris Benson to the KC Royals. Boy, what will Anna say?

 

[Bob Slydell]

And I just heard another rumor on ESPN radio: Mets trading Kris Benson to the KC Royals. Boy, what will Anna say?

Anna's gonna love Kansas City!!

 

[BoyLovesBuzz]

I like Grady Little. I think he got hosed in Boston. Trying to remove hindsight, I still don't think that was bad decision in game 7.

 

[sodaseller]

My DRays moved the maddening Dewon Brazelton for a 3B prospect.

 

[Mickey76]

I don't think Juan Pierre is going to the Cubs. I heard Milton Bradley may be heading there, so hopefully the Yanks still have a chance at Pierre.

Alphonso Soriano may be heading to the Dodgers.

As for Kris Benson, who cares where he goes? He's another mediocre pitcher that gets more attention than he deserves, and it's mostly because of his wife.

 

[Missy1961]

I don't think Juan Pierre is going to the Cubs. I heard Milton Bradley may be heading there, so hopefully the Yanks still have a chance at Pierre.

ESPN.com says that the Cubs got him, all that needs to be done is physicals.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2250647

Cubs acquire Pierre for three pitchers
ESPN.com news services

DALLAS -- The fire sale continues.



The Florida Marlins have tentatively agreed on a four-player deal that would send Juan Pierre to the Chicago Cubs, for three young pitchers -- Sergio Mitre and prospects Renyel Pinto and Ricky Nolasco, ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reported early Wednesday.

The deal is pending physical examinations.

So far this offseason, the Marlins have traded Carlos Delgado, Josh Beckett, Mike Lowell, Luis Castillo, Paul Lo Duca and Guillermo Mota. Pitcher A.J. Burnett, who signed with the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday, left via free agency.

The 28-year-old Pierre hit .276 and stole 57 bases this past season and is eligible for arbitration. He earned $3.7 million last season.

Pierre is expected to lead off and play center field in Chicago.

 

[Mickey76]

Missy1961: I just saw that on ESPN. That really stinks for the Yanks. They'll end up with Bradley, or worse, Jonny Damon.

I think about all of the Yankee greats who've patrolled center field-DiMaggio, Mantle, Murcer, Rivers, Williams- and I can't get even close to excited about hearing Bob Shepard, "The Voice of Yankee Stadium" saying opening day, "In Centerfield, batting ninth, Bubba Crosby."

How about that three way trade of Renteria, Lugo, and Marte? If I were a Boston fan, I don't know how excited I'd be. Lugo isn't exactly an upgrade, in my opinion.

Does anyone think that Roger Clemens is going to retire? I don't think he will. His son will probably be a Spring Training invitee and I think Roger would like to be there as a player, possibly even throwing in a split-squad game, with his son as his catcher.

 

[Missy1961]

Mickey, I'm with you. I thought Pierre would be a nice addition. Too bad. Damon is going to be overpriced. Bubba's nice, but he's not an every day player.

As to Roger, if the Astros don't offer him arbitration by midnight tonight (and I keep hearing they don't want to), he can't be signed by them until May 1st. I don't think he'll retire, but I wonder if he'll go back to the Yanks or if he'll go to the Texas Rangers.

 

[Bob Slydell]

It doesn't sound like Roger's getting offered arbitration, which is the only way the Astros would be able to keep him. I can't see him going anywhere else at this point. The Rangers can't afford him and anywhere outside of Texas, I can't imagine he'd want to go.

The only options would be either for the Astros to offer arbitration with the hope that Roger turns it down so they can work with him as a free agent, or wait until May 1st and then see if he wants to sign (but that takes him out of Spring Training and probably means he wouldn't pitch until June).

I think he'll just retire.

 

[BoyLovesBuzz]

Missy1961: I just saw that on ESPN. That really stinks for the Yanks. They'll end up with Bradley, or worse, Jonny Damon.

I think about all of the Yankee greats who've patrolled center field-DiMaggio, Mantle, Murcer, Rivers, Williams- and I can't get even close to excited about hearing Bob Shepard, "The Voice of Yankee Stadium" saying opening day, "In Centerfield, batting ninth, Bubba Crosby."

How about that three way trade of Renteria, Lugo, and Marte? If I were a Boston fan, I don't know how excited I'd be. Lugo isn't exactly an upgrade, in my opinion.

Does anyone think that Roger Clemens is going to retire? I don't think he will. His son will probably be a Spring Training invitee and I think Roger would like to be there as a player, possibly even throwing in a split-squad game, with his son as his catcher.

I think Milton Bradley would be a great fit. He is young and has a lot of skills. He just needs a good butt whooping and Joe and the Big Apple may be just the ticket. Sheffield, the last "Dodger Cancer" has done pretty well, I've been told.

 

[Missy1961]

And another minor note: John Olerud has retired. He was never a superstar, but he was one of my favorites. I loved watching him play first base for the Mets in the late 90's.

 

[Bob Slydell]

I think Milton Bradley would be a great fit. He is young and has a lot of skills. He just needs a good butt whooping and Joe and the Big Apple may be just the ticket. Sheffield, the last "Dodger Cancer" has done pretty well, I've been told.

Milton's a headcase that has yet to be whipped into shape anywhere he's gone. I'd love to see him as a Yankee, personally, but then again, ask me about my love for the Yankees.

 

[BoyLovesBuzz]

Milton's a headcase that has yet to be whipped into shape anywhere he's gone. I'd love to see him as a Yankee, personally, but then again, ask me about my love for the Yankees.

No question he is a headcase. The question is, is he a "John Rocker" headcase or a "Latrell Sprewell" headcase?

 

[Bob Slydell]

No question he is a headcase. The question is, is he a "John Rocker" headcase or a "Latrell Sprewell" headcase?

So far, he's been Rocker, minus the ethnic hatred (wait, no, he had that too ). He's rarely produced enough in any given year to be in Sprewell's category. Usually, he starts off good enough, but after he hits any sort of slump, he goes nutjob and spirals downhill from there.

 

[Jimbo]

This morning's Milwaukee paper says that Toronto's showing serious interest in trading for Lyle Overbay. I like Overbay, but I don't love him, and Prince Fielder is going to be the first baseman here for a long time. So I guess he might as well get the job now.

With Fielder and Rickie Weeks the Brewers manning the left side of the infield, we'll be set (hitting-wise) for the forseeable future. They are two of the best hitting prospects in all of baseball. It's pretty exciting around here. Or maybe I'm just comparing them to the Packers.

Now if we can only get the opposing teams to promise not to hit it to them, we'll be in great shape!

 

[BoyLovesBuzz]

Who is going after Millwood? I had totaly forgotten he was a FA ( don't keep up with the AL like I should). I would take him over AJ Burnett any day.

 

[Bob Slydell]

Who is going after Millwood? I had totaly forgotten he was a FA ( don't keep up with the AL like I should). I would take him over AJ Burnett any day.

Latest word out of Cleveland (who, I believe made him an offer to try to retain him) is that Seattle is the frontrunner right now. I think I heard 4 years and something like $44 Mil is the offer?