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Boomer
03-04-2009, 11:19 PM
The NL East really is impossible to call this year. I have no clue...I'd say the teams are pretty evenly matched.
RatedGSuperstar
03-05-2009, 12:22 PM
ESPN reporting that Alex Rodriguez needs hip surgery and will be out for 10 weeks: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3954457

:lol:
Evil Vito
03-05-2009, 01:06 PM
<font color=goldenrod>I'd wager money that the Yanks get off to a great start and then when A-Rod returns they start to suck</font> :o
Dragon
03-05-2009, 01:35 PM
If thats true that sucks. Not sure why they didn't deal with this in the offseason. Girardi was saying he dealt with this last season too.

Not sure what the Yanks will do about 3rd base while he's gone. The thought of Cody Ransom there everyday scares me. I know Tex used to be a 3rd baseman but that was a long time ago and I'm not even sure if he's played it in the majors at all.
Dragon
03-05-2009, 01:36 PM
Also, if they didn't end up getting Tex they would be absolutely screwed right now.
RatedGSuperstar
03-05-2009, 01:51 PM
Rumblings that the Yankees may be interested in Milwaukee third baseman/utility man/waste of salary Bill Hall to fill the void until May/June. Wilson Betemit wasn't anything special, but I wonder if the Yankees are starting to regret that Swisher trade a bit.
Dragon
03-05-2009, 01:53 PM
Yeah, I remember the Yankees were interested in Hall earlier in the offseason too.
Triple Naitch
03-05-2009, 01:53 PM
There is nobody whorth picking up as a free agent, either. I bet they are kicking themselves for not claiming Andy Marte last week.
SammyG
03-05-2009, 02:16 PM
lol Manny's press conference.

"I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack"
Loose Cannon
03-07-2009, 05:59 PM
in more important news, Vlad Guerrero says he is actully 34 years old and not 33. Thank you for clarifying that Vlad Guerrero.
ClockShot
03-08-2009, 05:45 PM
A-Rod picks surgery. He'll be out 6-9 weeks.

Red Sox retain John Lester for another 5 years for $30 mil. With a team option for 2014.

Brewers release Eric Gagne.
The Gold Standard
03-09-2009, 10:54 PM
I do not think A-Rod's injury will hurt the Yankees that much, if anything it will help them because there will be no more distractions for them. Also it is good for him to just get away for a while.
Dragon
03-09-2009, 11:10 PM
I've heard some people say that it might be good for the Yankees but I don't really buy that. No matter how much of a distraction he is he always puts up big numbers. I don't think it will bury the Yankees or anything (as long as he gets back in the 6-9 weeks), but his absence will make things harder.

One of the biggest things it does is put more pressure on the pitching and a ton of pressure on Tex to carry the lineup. Tex is apparently a really slow starter every year too so we'll see how that goes.
The Gold Standard
03-09-2009, 11:13 PM
I have been a Yankees fan for a long time and when they were winning all of the championships they didnt have that distraction.

I love A-Rod and I do think the team is better with him and I think everyone should lay off him in the Postseason, but ever since 04, it has been a disappointment as a Yankee fan.
Dragon
03-09-2009, 11:25 PM
Past couple years have been disappointments because of terrible pitching mostly though. They obviously addressed that in the offseason so the pitching will keep us in games a lot more than last year. Makes losing A-Rod a little easier to handle.

As for 3B while A-Rod is out, I hope they try Nady over there. I've heard people say he played 3B in college or in his earlier years so it wouldn't be completely new to him. It would just be hard to watch Ransom playing everyday at third when one of Swisher or Nady is on the bench.
Triple Naitch
03-09-2009, 11:30 PM
Nady's body is not fit to play 3B anymore. Jim Thome used to be a shortstop.
The Gold Standard
03-09-2009, 11:30 PM
Idk, I have a strange feeling that Ransom will play well. If he realizes what he is there for. Play good defense and get bunts down when needed. It is not that long and he could surprise people. He did well when they brought him up last year.
Evil Vito
03-10-2009, 10:57 AM
<font color=goldenrod>Mets release Duaner Sanchez. Pretty surprising, but I highly doubt he would have been able to get back to his first half of 2006 form. It's a shame that cab accident derailed his career.</font>
Evil Vito
03-10-2009, 11:08 AM
<font color=goldenrod>Hopefully this move is an "Ohman" of things to come :shifty:

Francisco Rodriguez
JJ Putz
Pedro Feliciano
Will Ohman
Sean Green
Brian Stokes/Bobby Parnell/Darren O'Day
Tim Redding (or someone else) as a long man

I really feel good about that pen if they can get Ohman.</font>
Loose Cannon
03-10-2009, 11:19 AM
Past couple years have been disappointments because of terrible pitching mostly though. They obviously addressed that in the offseason so the pitching will keep us in games a lot more than last year. Makes losing A-Rod a little easier to handle.

As for 3B while A-Rod is out, I hope they try Nady over there. I've heard people say he played 3B in college or in his earlier years so it wouldn't be completely new to him. It would just be hard to watch Ransom playing everyday at third when one of Swisher or Nady is on the bench.

who do you bat in the 3 hole now?

I've heard ramblings of Cano, but he was pretty bad last year for what he's capable of. I don't know if throwing him into the 3 spot is the best idea.
Triple Naitch
03-10-2009, 12:52 PM
lol I just found out out the other day that this girl I went to high school with hooked up with Craig Hansen (Former Red Sox RP, now with the Pirates) a couple weeks ago. He flashed his World Series ring and she was all on his dick.
Dragon
03-10-2009, 01:42 PM
who do you bat in the 3 hole now?

I've heard ramblings of Cano, but he was pretty bad last year for what he's capable of. I don't know if throwing him into the 3 spot is the best idea.

Was just listening to an interview with Girardi yesterday and he said Tex is gonna stay in the 3 hole. He said Posada or Matsui are the options for cleanup.

I dunno, I probably would try Cano in the 3rd spot. He'll get pitches to hit considering pitchers won't want to pitch to Tex. But based on what Girardi's saying it'll probably be something like - Damon, Jeter, Tex, Matsui, Posada, Nady/Swisher, Cano, Ransom, Gardner.

It is a little worrisome when the 4 and 5 hitters in the lineup are both coming back fro injuries and both getting up there in age.
RatedGSuperstar
03-10-2009, 03:22 PM
Francesa today tried convincing everyone that the Yankees should bat Cano clean-up.

It'd probably only be for 30 games, but that's pretty dumb, IMO. He's much better off in the bottom half of the lineup with less pressure on him to do well. I'd probably just put Matsui there and maybe bat the Nady/Swisher platoon 5th. Between that outfield duo and Posada probably only playing 2 out of every 3 games (or I've heard every other game), it'll probably be a revolving door in that 5th spot until A-Rod returns and bumps everyone down a spot.

They'll be fine, though, as long as A.J. Burnett can go without an injury in that same timeframe and Joba gets everything figured out. I haven't even really looked at their schedule during the time A-Rod will miss, but I'd think they'll still be in 2nd by the time he gets back.
Dragon
03-10-2009, 04:11 PM
I don't think Cano batting higher in the order is that terrible of an idea.

I think it would be good for the team to have the first four spots in the order locked up. Meaning they don't have guys switching in and out every other day. Posada and Matsui will be in and out of the lineup throughout the year. Damon-Jeter-Cano-Tex are the guys that will be playing every day.
ClockShot
03-11-2009, 09:30 PM
Nationals sign Kip Wells to a minor league deal.
Evil Vito
03-16-2009, 02:38 PM
<font color=goldenrod>Pudge to the Astros, 1 year, $1.5 million plus $1.5 million in incentives.</font>
The Gold Standard
03-16-2009, 11:47 PM
Pudge will be a good fit for the Astros. This is a stretch, but does this remind anyone of Pudge signing with the Marlins on 03?
SammyG
03-17-2009, 12:07 AM
lol I hope Manny ain't bein' manny right now, and deciding to play whenever he wants to
ClockShot
03-23-2009, 01:34 PM
Curt Schilling calls it a career.
RatedGSuperstar
03-23-2009, 06:55 PM
Pudge will be a good fit for the Astros. This is a stretch, but does this remind anyone of Pudge signing with the Marlins on 03?

It's a stretch. Pudge doesn't have much left anymore, although I guess he is a better option than J.R. Towles at this point.

He's not going to lead them in a surge to a playoff spot and World Series title, if that's what you're getting at. The 2003 Marlins had a ridiculous amount of great pitching, Pudge only slightly past his prime, Derrek Lee coming into his own, a young Miggy Cabrera, and Mike Lowell. Houston has no pitching outside of Oswalt, Pudge waaay past his prime, Lance Berkman, Hunter Pence, and not much else.
MVP
03-23-2009, 08:38 PM
Don't forget El Caballo
Loose Cannon
03-23-2009, 08:41 PM
lol I hope Manny ain't bein' manny right now, and deciding to play whenever he wants to

lol, how great is he
SammyG
03-23-2009, 09:25 PM
He like played cricket the other day
The Gold Standard
03-24-2009, 12:31 AM
It's a stretch. Pudge doesn't have much left anymore, although I guess he is a better option than J.R. Towles at this point.

He's not going to lead them in a surge to a playoff spot and World Series title, if that's what you're getting at. The 2003 Marlins had a ridiculous amount of great pitching, Pudge only slightly past his prime, Derrek Lee coming into his own, a young Miggy Cabrera, and Mike Lowell. Houston has no pitching outside of Oswalt, Pudge waaay past his prime, Lance Berkman, Hunter Pence, and not much else.


It was just a thought I had. I do not expect them to do anything, but it reminded me of that situation.
RatedGSuperstar
03-25-2009, 08:33 AM
TWO WEEKS!

Now if only I can kidnap Ken Macha and talk him out of starting Jeff Suppan on Opening Day in San Francisco.
MVP
03-25-2009, 10:41 AM
Why isn't Gallardo starting over Suppan? Especially since they will be facing Lincecum.
RatedGSuperstar
03-25-2009, 11:39 AM
I'm convinced Macha is senile, since he said he may consider batting Jason Kendall leadoff at some point.

But the reasoning he provided is that he didn't want to saddle a young pitcher like Gallardo with so much pressure by starting on Opening Day. He basically said that it's going to be tough beating Lincecum on Opening Day, anyway, so he elected to start Gallardo in game two of the series (I'm guessing against Matt Cain) instead of wasting a good start in a 1-0 loss or something, and he doesn't want Gallardo to be constantly matched up against other teams' aces (which basically becomes moot once off days start popping up and everyone gets on a different schedule anyway).

I guess the good news is that San Fran's offense looks pretty anemic, so I don't think Suppan will do horrible. It's just the principle of the idea of Suppan being the "#1" to start the year that kind of rubs me the wrong way. I'm fine with delaying Gallardo's first start to the second game, but if you're going to do that, I would've preferred to see Dave Bush start Opening Day. Apparently Braden Looper is starting the home opener against the Cubs in the next series, though, meaning Bush is basically pushed down to #5 to start the year.
MVP
03-25-2009, 10:10 PM
That's a good boost of confidence for the team,

"Hey we're gonna lose the opening game no matter what because I don't think our ace can win the game for us and none of you will hit against Tim Lincecum".