11/21/24
November 19, 2003
Well Peter, the Proof Will Be in the (Hasty) Pudding:
Peter Gammons, enemy of fact-checkers everywhere, addressed an initimate little gathering at Harvard last night. A-Rod to Boston was one of the main topics, but if ten percent of what he said has any truth to it, this will be an even more interesting off-season than you think. Highlights inside
- San Diego has the most to lose from steroid testing
- Cashman is certainly in his last year.
- Beane will be in LA in a few weeks or less
- Pettite wants to leave NY, but Houston won't pony up
- DC will get a team, and for some reason, MLB really wants to put a team in... San Antonio.
- Royals and Twins ownership "hate baseball"
- Colon to NYY looking like a done deal
- Drew Henson will be bought out this winter
posted by yerfatma at 11:35 AM on November 19, 2003
That's a good link and a good read, thanks yerfatma. Interesting the Sox want to interview Bob Melvin. Why? What's he done? He did a lousy job of handling the Mariner's staff last year. Melvin is no upgrade.
posted by vito90 at 11:53 AM on November 19, 2003
i cant get to the board. yay WorkFilter. thanks for posting highlights, for this reason. bostondirtdogs.com is also covering the gammons event if anyone else can't get to SOSH. i'll go read there.
posted by jerseygirl at 11:55 AM on November 19, 2003
Interesting the Sox want to interview Bob Melvin. Why? I was wondering the same thing. All I can figure is he's stat-friendly. Figure the first guy to interview and whip out a PDA is the next Sox manager.
posted by yerfatma at 12:18 PM on November 19, 2003
why does texas need another baseball team?
posted by jerseygirl at 12:25 PM on November 19, 2003
Royals and Twins ownership "hate baseball" I can't get to the board either so I don't know if he expands on this, but... That's just not true. Carl Pohlad loves baseball more than anything, he just doesn't like where baseball is heading. And most fans in MN agree. We've shown you can win without spending a ton of money, teams just have to create a farm system that develops players. ...The stadium issue here is another story.
posted by emoeby at 12:39 PM on November 19, 2003
in one of his latest columns he said Pettitte wanted to stay in NY, so I'm sort of skeptical about everything he says...
posted by Bernreuther at 12:49 PM on November 19, 2003
Carl Pohlad loves baseball more than anything Wow. And what's Santa bringing you this year? How many stories do I have to see about Polhad trying to unload his team on anyone or have it annexed so he can line his pockets with a few more dollars before I can start to believe? The comment ("hate[s] baseball") is a message board poster's spin on what Gammons said, so it's probably a little strong. Also, your statement that a team can win without spending money has always been true; any team can win in a given year. It's long-term performance that costs money. The Twins are going to lose Guadardo and LaTroy Hawkins at a minimum this year. It's unlikely a farm system can maintain a competitive team at all times in the face of the drain richer teams place on it. Of course, this assumes perfect or near perfect markets and a draft-based system is far from one. Billy Beane and Oakland had themselves something of an arbitrage up until Moneyball. As their way of thinking gains strength and things become more automated, I would expect team performance levels to strongly correlate with wealth over time. Like they always do.
posted by yerfatma at 12:53 PM on November 19, 2003
This Melvin thing is real opportunity, if it's true. Maybe the Mariners can negotiate a deal similar to the "Lou Piniella for Randy Winn" swap and unload Bo-Mel while they're at it.
Not happening, but wishful thinking.
Plus, if this really is Cashman's last year in NY, someone's going to get a heluva general manager.
posted by jeffmshaw at 01:02 PM on November 19, 2003
Well hopefully Santa is bringing me Shannon Stewart and Eddie Guardado, both of which should happen. Hawkins will be the only player we will "lose". Jacque Jones will be sent elsewhere to resign SS, Reed and his contract are gone, AJ was traded to SF because AA catcher Mauer is ready. I agree that in the late 90s, when the team sucked he would have done anything to sell the team, or even contract it. But in the last few years, he's become a happy old man. Part of that is because of the winning seasons, and part because his grandkids love the team. He doesn't enjoy losing $10 mil a year, but that won't change unless we get a new stadium. The Twins must be the only team in the league that doesn't get that extra revenue (parking, luxury boxes, etc.). So until that happens, Carl will just smile as he takes the yearly check from George.
posted by emoeby at 01:47 PM on November 19, 2003
Jays sign Hentgen and trade for Lilly! Look out, uh, third place in the AL East.... Dammit. The wheel is turning, but the Hamster's dead.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 01:52 PM on November 19, 2003
He doesn't enjoy losing $10 mil a year You think Lindner would make that, say, $10.1M/year and be a patron of the blogging arts? I'm looking for sponsorship and would be glad to put a Twins ad where the Google text ads are now.
posted by billsaysthis at 05:35 PM on November 19, 2003
San Diego has the most to lose from steroid testing I can't tell if he's being serious or just kicking us when we're down. We already got rid of Caminiti--what's the problem now?
posted by LionIndex at 07:17 PM on November 19, 2003
Upon further reflection: Nevin and Klesko? Nady? Shit.
posted by LionIndex at 07:19 PM on November 19, 2003
I figure he's talking about the proximity to the Mexican border.
posted by usfbull at 10:27 PM on November 19, 2003