2009 MLB season discussion*

[Olo401]

And there you see another example of the extreme amount of power that the player's union holds over all of baseball. It's ridiculous to expect the Giants to pay Lincecum 20+ million a year. He won't get that much, but still, it artificially raises the prices. For anyone who likes blaming the Yankees payroll for being unfair, it's only unfair because the player's union makes it that way.

Oh right it has absolutely nothing to do with Scott Boras or the Steinbrenners driving the prices up at all..

Cmon Ceph.. from one Yankee fan to another, let's be realistic here. The union plays a role, but nowhere near as much as the ownership of the big market teams or the agents.

[Cephius]

Oh right it has absolutely nothing to do with Scott Boras or the Steinbrenners driving the prices up at all..

Cmon Ceph.. from one Yankee fan to another, let's be realistic here. The union plays a role, but nowhere near as much as the ownership of the big market teams or the agents.

You couldn't be more wrong.

You brought up Boras and the Steinbrenners, what do they do that is so wrong, exactly? Boras is an agent, I don't know why people hate him so much, getting the most money for his clients is his job. Why shouldn't he? Should he go to Johnny Damon and tell him that he's cool and all, but he should take less money because it's not fair to the Pirates? It's the system, not the agent.

As for the Steinbrenners, they choose to invest their large profits back into their team. There are other owners who are successful businessmen who are richer than the Steinbrenner family, and they choose not to invest as much money in their team. Which is right and which is wrong? Are any of them breaking any rules? What's worse, investing money back into your team or pocketing profits?

The system is broken, and it's not the Yankees fault. Do the Yankees take advantage of it? Sure. But so can anyone else. They're just the only ones who care to.

The players union is the single reason why there is no salary cap in baseball and why there will never be. They're the same union that stopped Alex Rodriguez from getting traded to the Red Sox because he wasn't going to make enough money.

Give this article a read about the union/owners situation.

[Melena]

Yea, the Union has pretty much said players need to take the highest contract unless it's a minimal amount between the two teams. If Team A offers so and so 20 mil but he doesn't want to play for them, he wants to play for Team B for 10 mil, the union throws a shit fit. It's kinda sad really. But then again, union dues are based on how much you make, so yea.

[Cephius]

American League East spring training preview - MLB - Spring Training - 2009 - SI.com

Their "scout's" take on the Yankees and Sox.

Quote:
Scout's take: "I'm sorry, I just don't see it: This is not a championship team. CC's performance in big games has to be a concern

Quote:
"You have to like the gambles they took with Smoltz, Baldelli, and Penny. And don't forget Saito -- those guys could come up big for them down the stretch.


I should sign up for a scouting job right now.

Just thought I'd bump this particularly juicy nugget that I had saved oh so long ago.

[fren.]

That's hot.

Andruw Jones to the ChiSox for $500k + incentives.

[Militant]

So where do you all think Pujols gets his steroids from?

[Ensam]

Same place Ted Williams did

[pohibaba]

If you're Brian Cashman and you get a phone call from Brian Sabean with a trade proposal that looked like this:

Giants Get:
Joba Chamberlain
Phil Hughes
Zach Mcallister
Austin Jackson


Yankees Get:
Tim Lincecum
Barry Zito
Aarron Rowand

would you do it? This came up in a conversation with a Giants friend of mine and I said I would jump on it, no questions asked, but I doubted whether the Yankees would or not.

[Akiyama]

If you're Brian Cashman and you get a phone call from Brian Sabean with a trade proposal that looked like this:

Giants Get:
Joba Chamberlain
Phil Hughes
Zach Mcallister
Austin Jackson


Yankees Get:
Tim Lincecum
Barry Zito
Aarron Rowand

would you do it? This came up in a conversation with a Giants friend of mine and I said I would jump on it, no questions asked, but I doubted whether the Yankees would or not.

So in other words, It's Hughes, Chamberlain, and two prospects for Tim Lincecum, half a pitcher, and a washed up outfielder? Yeah, I think I'd take Timmy.

[pohibaba]

So in other words, It's Hughes, Chamberlain, and two prospects for Tim Lincecum, half a pitcher, and a washed up outfielder? Yeah, I think I'd take Timmy.

Well, it's also $130m in payroll over the next five not counting what Timmy's going to get paid.

[Cephius]

If you're Brian Cashman and you get a phone call from Brian Sabean with a trade proposal that looked like this:

Giants Get:
Joba Chamberlain
Phil Hughes
Zach Mcallister
Austin Jackson


Yankees Get:
Tim Lincecum
Barry Zito
Aarron Rowand

would you do it? This came up in a conversation with a Giants friend of mine and I said I would jump on it, no questions asked, but I doubted whether the Yankees would or not.

In a New York minute. Zito can still pitch, really. He's come around since being awful. Going from having the Giants run production to the Yankees run production wouldn't hurt, either. But.. it would never happen.

[Bregor]

I might not take that. Joba and Hughes both have potential to be Timmy-light, or top tier relievers. Zito is nothing special, and moving from the NL and a pitcher's park into Yankee Stadium II would not end well. And Jackson is probably better than Rowand right now. Gun to my head, I'd probably still take Timmy and the albatrosses, but it's not as clear cut as you might think.

[CalaisDL]

If you're Brian Cashman and you get a phone call from Brian Sabean with a trade proposal that looked like this:

Giants Get:
Joba Chamberlain
Phil Hughes
Zach Mcallister
Austin Jackson


Yankees Get:
Tim Lincecum
Barry Zito
Aarron Rowand

would you do it? This came up in a conversation with a Giants friend of mine and I said I would jump on it, no questions asked, but I doubted whether the Yankees would or not.

Zero chance that deal would ever happen, but I'm sure the Yankees would do it. Sabean isn't going to trade the face of the franchise. The fan base would crucify him. I wouldn't be completely shocked to see Cain traded. His value is probably at the highest it's ever going to be and he didn't pitch as well as his ERA would indicate. If they could get a top tier bat for him I think it would be completely worth it.

[Ensam]

Yeah I think Rowand and Zito are "useful enough" that it's hard to do that, especially with the struggles both Joba and Hughes had as starters (though they're still certainly great pieces).

If this was an Alfonso Soriano or Vernon Wells situation though, I think that kinda changes things.

Plus this is Sabean we're talking about. Do you really trust him to go out and get something better with the money he just saved?

[Reality]

That's hot.

Andruw Jones to the ChiSox for $500k + incentives.

looks like he'll be mostly off the bench, which if you ask me is a steal
he could put up an .800- .850 OPS playing half his games at the cell and could actually be an impact bat off the bench, plus he's still an above average OF defensively

kotsay, vizquel, jones, that's a pretty strong bench

[Cephius]

According to MLB trade rumors, Selig plans to step down in 2012 after his contract runs out. Pretty big story... I wonder who would take over? Would he lift the ban on Pete Rose?

[pohibaba]

The two names I'm hearing are Bob DuPuy and Rob Manfred with the Orioles' General Manager Andy MacPhail having an outside shot of getting it.

[Soa]

According to MLB trade rumors, Selig plans to step down in 2012 after his contract runs out. Pretty big story... I wonder who would take over? Would he lift the ban on Pete Rose?

Thats the best news I've heard in a while, I just wish he would do it sooner.

As for Rose getting into the Hall, word is that most of the 50 and under baseball crowd want him in, but he's getting cockblocked by the older ones. Supposedly even Bud wanted to lift the ban, but he bowed from pressure from the ones that don't want him in. I think it will take at least 15 more years, or possibly after he dies, but he'll eventually (and deservedly) get in.

[Bozo]

So is there anyone playing MLB 2k9 on Xbox Live? I want to get a hard drive(Sigh, Xbox 360 Arcade) and wireless adapter but if no one plays I can probably find better places for my money.

Edit: By anyone I don't mean just this thread.

[Trichocyst]

I'd rather keep playing MVP 05. If I had a PS3 I'd try the Show.