2011 MLB Offseason Discussion - Rangers choking edition

[Valisk]

The Rays do a lot of things right but the new mascot isn't one of them.

http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/ar..._photo/9953797

http://mt.nesn.com/.a/6a0115709f071f...bee8970c-400wi

[Conrad]

Keyboard Cat's cousin from the hood

[Viq]

WHAT?! Raymond was the best mascot in the majors. Why the hell did they trade him for that bootleg Poochie in cat form?

[Timwakefield]

http://fullcount.weei.com/sports/bos...ce-retirement/

FORT MYERS — Tim Wakefield, the longest tenured pitcher in Red Sox history, will not return to the team in 2012, the Red Sox announced. Instead, he will retire. The knuckleballer, who had been offered a minor league contract with an opportunity to compete for a job through an invitation to big league spring training, will have a press conference to announce his decision at 5 p.m. tonight.

Wakefield, 45, signed with the Sox in spring training in 1995 after being released by the Pittsburgh Pirates that spring. He worked with knuckleballers Phil Niekro and Joe Niekro — then in the Sox’ spring training home of Fort Myers as coaches for the Colorado Silver Bullets, a women’s baseball team — to resurrect his career. Wakefield ended up joining the Sox rotation in April of that year, and commenced a spectacular run that saw him go 16-8 with a 2.95 ERA.

That initial success turned out to be merely the first chapter in a pairing of pitcher and team that lasted 17 seasons, most of them campaigns in which Wakefield was an above-average pitcher who offered stability to the Sox rotation (as well as the bullpen for a period of time in the late-1990s and early-2000s).

Wakefield made no secret of his enthusiasm about being part of the Red Sox, to the point where he signed an unprecedented contract extension in 2005 that would pay him $4 million in 2006 and give the Sox a perpetually renewing option at that same price. The Sox exercised it three times before renegotiating a two-year, $5 million deal with Wakefield for the 2010 and 2011 seasons.

Though Wakefield enjoyed a career highlight in 2009 when he was named an All-Star — at 42, he became the oldest first-time All-Star in big league history — back problems rendered him unable to pitch for much of the second half. When he returned to the Sox in 2010, it was in a far less certain role, and Wakefield spent the last two years as a sort of sixth starter who provided the team insurance (needed in both seasons, as it turned out) for injuries to its five primary starters.

In the last two years, Wakefield made 65 appearances and 42 starts, going 11-18 with a 5.22 ERA. He did reach a career milestone in 2011 with his 200th major league victory, though that win proved to be the knuckleballer’s only one in the season’s final two months. Wakefield also had to endure a stretch of eight winless starts between his 199th and 200th victory.

Still, when the milestone arrived at Fenway Park on Sept. 13, a night in which Wakefield gave up five runs in six innings, it provided for an emotional scene as the knuckleballer received a sustained ovation from his home crowd as well as a champagne dousing from his teammates.

Wakefield concludes his Red Sox career with a 186-168 record, six wins shy of the franchise record for victories that is held by Cy Young and Roger Clemens. He had been spoken on multiple occasions this offseason of his hope that the Red Sox would bring him back for one more opportunity to set the franchise record for victories — and to contribute to a team with postseason ambitions — but ultimately, with no offer of a guaranteed role, he opted to end a run with the Red Sox that was nothing short of remarkable, particularly given its obscure and uncertain origins.

Wakefield finishes his Red Sox career ranked first in innings (3,006), third in wins (186), first in losses (168) second in games pitched (590), second in strikeouts (2,046) and first in starts (430). Yet his Red Sox legacy was not merely in his statistics and on-field contributions, as Wakefield was recognized for his exceptional public service and charitable activities in 2010, when he was named the winner of the Roberto Clemente Award.

NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! THIS IS MY NIGHTMARE!!!!

(Will probably get unlimited /tells ingame tonight haha)

[Lucki]

Just tell them you wanted to concentrate on End Game content, and that your MLB obligations were getting in the way

[Timwakefield]

I'm trending worldwide on Twitter.

[Bregor]

Raymond was the best mascot in the majors.

http://www.fangraphs.com/not/wp-cont...6/Phanatic.gif

[Conrad]

http://www.fangraphs.com/not/wp-cont...6/Phanatic.gif

http://duckduckgrayduck.files.wordpr...scot-mimic.gif

[Valisk]

I'm trending worldwide on Twitter.

The Vagina

lol

[Cail]

burnett back to the NL

The Pirates and New York Yankees have agreed to a trade that would send right-hander A.J. Burnett to Pittsburgh and are awaiting approval from the commissioner's office Friday, sources said.

The Pirates will send right-handed reliever Diego Moreno and outfielder Exicardo Cayones to New York in return, sources said. Moreno, a 25-year-old from Venezuela, has split the past two seasons between the Class A and Double-A minor league teams. Cayones, who is 20, spent 2011 in Class A.

The approval of the commissioner's office is needed because of the money involved. The Pirates will pay $13 million of the $31.1 million remaining on Burnett's contract, sources said (Burnett is on a year-round contract and already has been paid $1.9 million in 2012).

As a Yankee the past three seasons, Burnett is 34-35 with a 4.79 ERA. He is 121-111 with a 4.10 ERA in 13 seasons with the Yankees, Blue Jays and Marlins.

As soon as the Burnett deal is done, the Yankees will begin the aggressive pursuit of a veteran designated hitter, sources said.

Sources said there is a good deal of sentiment within the Yankees organization to go after Raul Ibanez -- who wants to play for the team -- to be their designated hitter against right-handers, partly because they believe he can give them some days of outfield play.

Although Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui are also available, they are generally regarded as unplayable defensively, sources said.

[Francisco]

burnett back to the NL

-4 Win Expectancy for Tampa and Boston.

Regarding Tim Wakefield, it's a bit weird for me... he's been pitching for the Red Sox more than half my lifetime (17 years, I'm 30)... once Varitek retires (probably in the next week or so), my childhood is officially over. Gonna have to quit video games and buy a fucking station wagon or some shit.

Edit: I randomly want to add something.

After the 1995 season, the Red Sox signed a 33 year old starting pitcher coming off a terrible year with the Orioles. I hated the signing. "This guy is old, and he sucks. He's just some washed up bum. Why would we even sign him?"

That pitcher's name was Jamie Moyer.

He got a contract to pitch with the Rockies this year after missing all of 2011 following Tommy John surgery. He'll be 50 in November. I hope he never fucking stops.

[Cail]

so its getting closer to the start of the season (yes its still a bit away) but are there any bG leagues gonna happen? if so, i am definitely interested

[Brill Weave]

Way to focus on winning Buccos. Seriously, they could leave town tomorrow and I wouldn't even bat an eyelash. I'd help them pack.

[Moss]

I like the trade for Burnett. He still has great stuff and he will be pitching in a much easier division.

[Melena]

so its getting closer to the start of the season (yes its still a bit away) but are there any bG leagues gonna happen? if so, i am definitely interested

We did a BG ESPN Baseball league last year that was fun, despite the fact I completely tanked due to injuries and some wonky settings we didn't catch till the season started.

[Brill Weave]

I like the trade for Burnett. He still has great stuff and he will be pitching in a much easier division.

Dood, let's be honest. Burnett is going to crash and burn here in Pittsburgh. It's inevitable.

[Moss]

Dood, let's be honest. Burnett is going to crash and burn here in Pittsburgh. It's inevitable.

Not gonna blame any Pirates fan for being pessimistic but I think you should give him a chance. He already crashed and burned last year, it's not like they traded McCutchen for him and expect him to win the Cy Young

[Brill Weave]

Not gonna blame any Pirates fan for being pessimistic but I think you should give him a chance. He already crashed and burned last year, it's not like they traded McCutchen for him and expect him to win the Cy Young

Which is a fair point. But until the Pirates actually decide to sink some money into the team they will forever be the Yankees farm team.

[Trichocyst]

If Burnett has a decent season plus he could be trade bait for a contender, but an expensive one.

[Brill Weave]

If Burnett has a decent season plus he could be trade bait for a contender, but an expensive one.

Trust me, at the end of the year if he's still here Burnett *might* crack double digit wins and will end up with an ERA over 5.00. You guys don't seem to understand what the Pirates do to reasonably talented players lol.