2009 MLB season discussion*

[Afrohatch]

So I hear the Phillies are interested in Eric Gagne. Do not fucking want.

No idea what happened to that guy, he was automatic back in LA, then goes to boston and is complete shit. His decline happened right after the Mitchell Report came out, and he was on the list, but I'd hate to speculate that that's why his performance went down....but it would make sense!

[Moss]

Hard not to link his decline with steroids.

[Reality]

I don't think it's homerish to say the White Sox could have the best starting 1-5 in the AL this year with Peavy/Buehrle/Floyd/Danks/Garcia with Hudson waiting in the wings incase someone goes down (Hudson = MiLB Starting Pitcher of the Year in 2009, per milb.com)

Assuming health isn't an issue for our bullpen (namely Linebrink, Putz, Jenks), it could be one of the more dominant staffs in baseball in 2010. That's all us Sox fans have to look forward to at this point, as our lineup - relatively speaking - is still average compared to some other AL teams.

[Ensam]

Hard not to link his decline with steroids.

A lot easier to link his decline to injuries

[Moss]

Injuries caused by steroids? It's all speculation anyway, he had a good run.

[Ensam]

Injuries caused by steroids? It's all speculation anyway, he had a good run.

He tore his hamstrings, an extremely common injury in baseball due to the nature of the game (stand still for very long periods of time, then run as fast as you can). On top of which, he still showed the same exact power the past two years (.160 and .167 ISO). The reasons his lines have been so bad is because of how low his BABIPs have been, which steroids don't really impact.

I'm not saying it's impossible he took them, but linking him to steroids is an extreme reach.

[BadKarma]

There's two guys on that list that are good.

Oh really now?

Explain why they aren't all good.

[Moss]

He tore his hamstrings, an extremely common injury in baseball due to the nature of the game (stand still for very long periods of time, then run as fast as you can). On top of which, he still showed the same exact power the past two years (.160 and .167 ISO). The reasons his lines have been so bad is because of how low his BABIPs have been, which steroids don't really impact.

I'm not saying it's impossible he took them, but linking him to steroids is an extreme reach.

I'm not buying that his struggles are all due to BABIP. Last year he had a .271 BABIP(he has a .279 career BABIP) and a 5.44 ERA in 46.1 IP. How is it a reach to link him to steroids when he was in the Mitchell Report?

[Ensam]

I'M FUCKING RETARDED

I only glanced over the original post and I read the name as "Eric Byrnes" not "Eric Gagne"

My apologies for retardation

[Orph]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/0...year-deal.html
Phillies signed Victorino also, 3/22

[Soa]

Looks like Werth is probably gone next year (as I expected). I wonder if Dominic Brown will be ready by then, or if they'll look for a cheaper option via FA, since Werth will likely get Bay type money in the open market.

[Penthesilea]

they'll definitely offer him something, but he's gonna go where the money's at.

the problem will be where are they gonna find another 30/100 guy?

[Orph]

they'll definitely offer him something, but he's gonna go where the money's at.

the problem will be where are they gonna find another 30/100 guy?

Dom Brown in a couple years

[Bozo]

Ruben won't let half our team just walk away to free agency in 2011/2012. He'd lose his job and almost everyone in Philadelphia would probably hate him. Besides, what happened with Holliday and Bay? Oh that's right, the Mets and Cardinals ended up bidding against themselves.

Wouldn't it be better to keep Werth and bring Brown into the mix once Ibanez's contract is up? How old will Ibanez be when the contract is up, 40?

they'll definitely offer him something, but he's gonna go where the money's at.

Halladay could have gotten a massive contract yet chose the Phillies.

I know we can't keep everyone but still, I think the "everyone is going to get huge FA contracts and leave the Phillies" is being overdone. Just like Blanton said in his press conference, the financial security is great but baseball players play to win.

[*Shinzon*]

This year was different. Alot of teams didn't have money to commit. I think it'll be different next year especially for big market teams.

[Bozo]

This year was different. Alot of teams didn't have money to commit. I think it'll be different next year especially for big market teams.

Even then, how many teams not named the Yankees or Red Sox can afford the massive payroll AND go deep into the postseason?

Oh and yay about signing Victorino. Carlos Ruiz coming soon!

http://www.thefightins.com/wp-conten...on-Presser.jpg

"Easy there Ruben... Joe doesn't seem to like your hand there."

[fren.]

Oh really now?

Explain why they aren't all good.

-Ramirez: 4.46 FIP (2.84 ERA) crappy BB/9, K/9, WHIP.
-Bonser is fucking terrible.
-Bard is decent enough, but Robertson was slightly better.

Yankees have the better pen.

Edit: Just for shits and giggles, Joel Pineiro apparently turned down the Mets for the Angels who offered practically the same deal.

[Cephius]

Angels traded Garry Matthews Jr. to the Mets and paid a lot of his horrible contract. He's pretty bad, I guess they're not sure about Beltran.

[Orph]

Angels traded Garry Matthews Jr. to the Mets and paid a lot of his horrible contract. He's pretty bad, I guess they're not sure about Beltran.

Playing with 2 outfielders might be a better option than putting Matthews Jr. out there

[Reality]

Twins might sign Jim Thome today lol