2010-2011 MLB Hot Stove

[aeroparrot]

Let's get it started....

Victor Martinez goes to the Tigers and the Red Sox make a 5 year $100 million offer to Carl Crawford (as reported by WCVB up here).

[gunthermoose]

Crawford is always hurt... why waste the money for an outfielder who has a history of injury
Outfielders area dime a dozen

[aeroparrot]

Crawford is always hurt... why waste the money for an outfielder who has a history of injury
Outfielders area dime a dozen

I mean, given that, he is a great player but it is too much.

[Bfan53again]

Crawford is always hurt... why waste the money for an outfielder who has a history of injury
Outfielders area dime a dozen

I mean, given that, he is a great player but it is too much.

Seems to me that most contracts being offered today are a "bit too much........"

I don't blame the players, its the player's union (by demanding free agency) and the wealthy team owners (for opening their checkbooks) that let this thing get way out of hand. I've said for years that MLB needs a salary cap system similar to other pro sports.

I admire the small market teams that have been competitive, but, in the end, the money talks......

[tigzoe]

It seems that the Sox love to buy players that spend more time injured than on the playing field. Sorry to see VMat go, I did like his bat even though he couldn't throw out someone stealing a base to save his life.

[Dr.Corona]

Crawford is always hurt... why waste the money for an outfielder who has a history of injury
Outfielders area dime a dozen

In '08 dude missed 53 games, other than that in his career he's on the field an average of about 152 games a year. It's not Cal Ripken but that's a lot of games he's impacting.

[oph]

2011 Hall Of Fame Ballot

Roberto Alomar,
Carlos Baerga,
Jeff Bagwell,
Harold Baines,
Bert Blyleven,
Bret Boone,
Kevin Brown,
John Franco,
Juan Gonzalez,
Marquis Grissom,
Lenny Harris,
Bobby Higginson,
Charles Johnson,
Barry Larkin,
Al Leiter,
Edgar Martinez,
Tino Martinez,
Don Mattingly,
Fred McGriff,
Mark McGwire,
Raul Mondesi,
Jack Morris,
Dale Murphy,
John Olerud,
Rafael Palmeiro,
Dave Parker,
Tim Raines,
Kirk Rueter,
Benito Santiago,
Lee Smith,
B.J. Surhoff,
Alan Trammell,
Larry Walker

[TommyBahama]

Let's get it started....

Victor Martinez goes to the Tigers and the Red Sox make a 5 year $100 million offer to Carl Crawford (as reported by WCVB up here).

Crawford doesn't like cold weather....i'm guessing he ends up with the Angels.............but the Sox do need to make a splash into free agency soon....i think it was a mstake letting Martinez go....he could of been a DH here next year if he wanted to or play 1st or even catch for a couple years....Red Sox should of gave him another 12 mil over the 4 years.....unless he didn't like playing in Boston....and all indications were , he did like Boston

[tigzoe]

And I will say it...get rid of Papi! Lowell was a better clutch hitter than he is.

[popcornjack]

And I will say it...get rid of Papi! Lowell was a better clutch hitter than he is.

i used to like you...

[JollyMon66]

Potential "YES" votes in my opinion....

2011 Hall Of Fame Ballot

Roberto Alomar,
Carlos Baerga,
Jeff Bagwell,
Harold Baines,
Bert Blyleven,
Bret Boone,
Kevin Brown,
John Franco,
Juan Gonzalez,
Marquis Grissom,
Lenny Harris,
Bobby Higginson,
Charles Johnson,
Barry Larkin,
Al Leiter,
Edgar Martinez,
Tino Martinez,
Don Mattingly,
Fred McGriff,
Mark McGwire, NEVER EVER NEVER
Raul Mondesi,
Jack Morris,
Dale Murphy,
John Olerud,
Rafael Palmeiro,
Dave Parker,
Tim Raines,
Kirk Rueter,
Benito Santiago,
Lee Smith,
B.J. Surhoff,
Alan Trammell,
Larry Walker

[LIPH]

The guys I think should probably get in:
Roberto Alomar should have gotten in last year. When he got traded to the Mets in 2002 he forgot how to play but before then he was one of the best, if not the best, second basemen in baseball.

Jeff Bagwell should be a no brainer. His numbers are superior to Mattingly in every offensive category (some by substantial margins) except lifetime batting average. Even then Mattingly only beats him by 10 points, .307 to .297.

I think Barry Larkin has a shot, lifetime batting average is 20 points higher than Cal Ripkin.

Edgar Martinez might be the first DH to make it into the Hall.

Don Mattingly had 4 great seasons, but in my opinion other than that was just a real good, not great, player. I think Bagwell is more deserving of getting into the Hall but I guess you could make a case for Mattingly too.

Fred McGriff has a shot - almost 2500 hits, 493 HRs and 1550 RBIs.

Dave Parker was one of the best players in baseball until he got fat and out of shape. I'd probably vote for him.

Tim Raines - almost 1600 runs scored, 2600 hits, 800 stolen bases. I'd vote for him.

The guys I don't think should get in, but I can see how you can make a case for them:
Bert Blyeven won a lot of games but his average season was only 14-12. In 22 years in the major leagues he won 20 games once, never won a Cy Young Award and only made 3 All Star teams.

Jack Morris is another guy like Blyleven. Not as many wins, but he does have 3 20 win seasons to Blyleven's 1. No Cy Young awards and only 5 All Star teams in 18 years.

Rafael Palmeiro has great numbers, but even without the steroids I don't think I'd vote for him. In 20 years in the major leagues he never won an MVP and only made 4 All Star teams. He lead the league in runs scored once, hits once and doubles once. That was it in 20 years. Of the first basemen on the ballot, Bagwell, and to a lesser extent Mattingly, is much more deserving of getting into the Hall.

I'm on the fence about Alan Trammell but probably could be persuaded that he belongs in the Hall.

Larry Walker had 4 great years with Colorado but in my opinion was just a slightly above average player the rest of his career.

Most of the rest of these guys probably won't get the 5% of the vote you need to stay on the ballot and will be gone next year.

[JollyMon66]

The guys I think should probably get in:
Roberto Alomar should have gotten in last year. When he got traded to the Mets in 2002 he forgot how to play but before then he was one of the best, if not the best, second basemen in baseball.

Jeff Bagwell should be a no brainer. His numbers are superior to Mattingly in every offensive category (some by substantial margins) except lifetime batting average. Even then Mattingly only beats him by 10 points, .307 to .297.

I think Barry Larkin has a shot, lifetime batting average is 20 points higher than Cal Ripkin.

Edgar Martinez might be the first DH to make it into the Hall.

Don Mattingly had 4 great seasons, but in my opinion other than that was just a real good, not great, player. I think Bagwell is more deserving of getting into the Hall but I guess you could make a case for Mattingly too.

Fred McGriff has a shot - almost 2500 hits, 493 HRs and 1550 RBIs.

Dave Parker was one of the best players in baseball until he got fat and out of shape. I'd probably vote for him.

Tm Raines - almost 1600 runs scored, 2600 hits, 800 stolen bases. I'd vote for him.

The guys I don't think should get in, but I can see how you can make a case for them:
Bert Blyeven won a lot of games but his average season was only 14-12. In 22 years in the major leagues he won 20 games once, never won a Cy Young Award and only made 3 All Star teams.

Jack Morris is another guy like Blyleven. Not as many wins, but he does have 3 20 win seasons to Blyleven's 1. No Cy Young awards and only 5 All Star teams in 18 years.

Rafael Palmeiro has great numbers, but even without the steroids I don't think I'd vote for him. In 20 years in the major leagues he never won an MVP and only made 4 All Star teams. He lead the league in runs scored once, hits once and doubles once. That was it in 20 years. Of the first basemen on the ballot, Bagwell, and to a lesser extent Mattingly, is much more deserving of getting into the Hall.

I'm on the fence about Alan Trammell but probably could be persuaded that he belongs in the Hall.

Larry Walker had 4 great years with Colorado but in my opinion was just a slightly above average player the rest of his career.

Most of the rest of these guys probably won't get the 5% of the vote you need to stay on the ballot and will be gone next year.

I'd agree with most of this - thanks for the stat research Larry - I didn't have the ambition to do that work last night. Some of these guys will likely fall victim to having played at very competitive positions and will be compared to others who are in Hall or who played that position. To me - great numbers are great numbers and if you (by the numbers) deserve to be in...you should be in.

[oph]

Hershiser, Valentine to call Sunday night games

NEW YORK (AP)—Orel Hershiser, Bobby Valentine and Dan Shulman will form the new announcing team for “Sunday Night Baseball,” ESPN announced Wednesday.

The network said last month that Jon Miller and Joe Morgan would not return for a 22nd season.

Hershiser, the 1988 NL Cy Young Award winner, joined the booth as a third announcer last season.

Valentine, the former Mets and Rangers manager, became a studio analyst for ESPN last year. He managed the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan’s Pacific League from 2004-09. He said he had opportunities to return to managing this offseason but preferred to stay at ESPN.

Hershiser played for Valentine with the Mets in 1999.

Shulman has served as a regular play-by-play voice for baseball games on ESPN since 2002. He also calls college basketball with Dick Vitale.

Article

[Tequila Revenge]

Hershiser, Valentine to call Sunday night games

NEW YORK (AP)—Orel Hershiser, Bobby Valentine and Dan Shulman will form the new announcing team for “Sunday Night Baseball,” ESPN announced Wednesday.

The network said last month that Jon Miller and Joe Morgan would not return for a 22nd season.

Hershiser, the 1988 NL Cy Young Award winner, joined the booth as a third announcer last season.

Valentine, the former Mets and Rangers manager, became a studio analyst for ESPN last year. He managed the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan’s Pacific League from 2004-09. He said he had opportunities to return to managing this offseason but preferred to stay at ESPN.

Hershiser played for Valentine with the Mets in 1999.

Shulman has served as a regular play-by-play voice for baseball games on ESPN since 2002. He also calls college basketball with Dick Vitale.

Article

Jon Miller's talents can now stay with the SF Giants with out interuption

[Tequila Revenge]

Giants sign infielder Tejada to one-year contract
http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/news ... sp&c_id=sf


36 isn't "that" old, right?

[Bfan53again]

Adam Dunn signs with the White Sox: 4 years for $56MM..........

[C-Dawg]

Red Sox signed Varitek to a one year, $3M deal to back up and mentor Salty

[TommyBahama]

Red Sox signed Varitek to a one year, $3M deal to back up and mentor Salty

A Boros Client doing what he wanted to do....i thought he was trying for 2....i still think they will sign another catcher....not sure if they want to go with Salty yet..has some throwing issues(back to the pitcher) similar to Macky Sasser when he was with the Mets(thats for you Larry)

[TommyBahama]

Looks as if Adrian Gonzalaz has been traded to the Red Sox for 3 minor leaguers....big name being there #1 prospect Casey Kelly....i guess it's pending a contract extension....but i'm sure that will be a minor issue!!....