And if it A-Rod, it is his lawyer......I wanna know who, if it aint Papi, who else is "God-like" BRADYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY?!?!?!!? http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/68456/a-rods-lawyer-i-didnt-dis-big-papi
Heard about the interview/story the other day. Kind of a non-issue at this point but I'm sure it was about Ortiz and you have to wonder how happy Ortiz is with Arod about that comment considering they are friends and Ortiz actually backed Arod in the Dempster HBP over the summer. You know that a tell all Arod book is coming though if he gets black balled ala Canseco.
I don't think they like each other dating back to when Arod made those comments about how he didn't think Jeter was worth his first big Yankee contract because he wasn't a power hitter and Jeter stopped being his friend. I think Jeter made things more difficult on Arod in his first few seasons in NY. Perfect example is how Jeter never defended Arod publicly when the fans really got on him in 2005-2006ish. I think there was and possibly still is a lot of jealousy between the two.
I think part of what will make that book so good it that Arods view is so entirely whacked right out. I mean ultimately Jeter did nothing wrong, the guy came up in a time when the Yankees did it the right away, Gene Michael built the club, made sound trades and here is Jeter the fresh faced kid who had the knack for the memorable play and instant success..... Along comes A-Rod who kind of the opposite of everything Jeter came up knowing the Yankees to be about talking junk about him, then was his teammate...I hear Jeter, however in ARods mind he is right hahahah....dude it could be very epic...
I do think Jeter should have defended him in the public, even if he hated Arod. The fans were so vicious towards Arod that I do think if Jeter came out and said "Arod is a Yankee and the fans should support him just like the players and coaching staff do" it would have made things easier on him. A statement like that wouldn't be contraversial at all and would probably have given him an even better rep. As bad as everyone wants Arod out to be, don't forget that to join the Red Sox, he was willing to reduce his salary and when he came to the Yankees he decided to move to another position (eventhough he was the better defender at that position) in his prime to make it happen to be on a winning ball club. Also I have heard that Arod is pretty good with helping the younger players. I don't think Arod is as bad of a teammate as the media makes him out to be.
No I agree, he isn't/wasn't a bad teammate and as a professional he NEVER took days off, ever.....he didn't whine, pull himself out of the game, always stayed in shape.....A-Rod minus the PEDs and ego was pretty much the perfect player as any manager could hope to have honestly. Part of me still really REALLY likes the guy, I am just so disappointed at how all of this has turned out for the Yankees too. As for Jeter I could see that (what you said about saying something), but Jeter is honest straight up dude, if you cross him he is done with you, I mean he is about as real as a guy there is and I appreciate that about him.
I get that about Jeter but I still think he should have spoken up to defend the guy as it would have helped him and the team. Sometimes you have to shallow pride for the greater good.
Fink-a-lator, When are you starting the 2014 thread? Also WILL THIS BE THE YEAR NAPPY FINALLY DOES A TB ONE?
First day of ST, like always. We really should just have an AL East thread. As unfortunately outside of you, me, Nappy, GM and cameos from FFG, Prez and YankLifer no one else really is around anymore.
I had a bad season in a Sox title year.. I wish it was like the old days when I could watch every pitch and post daily. I look forward to this year though.
I think I created one like 3 years ago and talked to myself. Haha. So I'll just continue to bombard the Sox and Yankees threads.
Kinda figured they were going to get somebody to handcuff Bradley....not a bad signing, little money, even if he hits all his incentives..... And with the Sox luck he will destroy baseball this year and they will qualify him and get the 1st rounder....think I am joking? Just watch...
It's not a bad signing. Low risk and probably low upside. I doubt he'll do anything this year and wouldn't be shocked if he didn't even make the team and it's a shame because the kid was super talented until injuries wrecked his career. People forget just how good he was before he got hurt.
I dont he was one of the best 5-tool players around.....if healthy I think he will contribute alot there...no pressure on him....he didnt lose his talent...
Injuries take a troll on your body though. He's had like 9 surgeries on different parts of his body since 2009.
MLB did their 100 prospect countdown last night and it featured 9 Red Sox prospects, which was obviously the most for any 1 team. http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/prospects/watch/y2014/#list=prospects Bogaerts at 2, Owens at 30, JBJ at 33, Webster at 46, Cecchini at 57, Swihart at 61, Betts at 62, Barnes at 86, and Trey Ball at 96. Keith Law's 100 prospects come out next week I believe, so it should be interesting to see his list compared to MLB's, BA's and BP's. Either way the Sox system shows a ton of promise.
Very interesting comments from Lester about staying in Boston: http://fullcount.weei.com/sports/bo...s-a-dustin-pedroia-deal-to-stay-with-red-sox/ You'd have to think they get something worked out and announced by April. I'd be very surprised if they don't work out an extention. Wonder how many times his agent called him yesterday yelling at him to shut his mouth.
Yeah, the Rays really haven't drafted well since what 2009ish? Last year 4 of the top 5 prospects from the Rays system came via trades with the Cubs for Garza and Royals for Shields. Maybe it has something to do with them not picking so early in the drafts now that they're good at the MLB level? But it's definitely concerning for a team like the Rays would need to have a consistently good farm system to stay good at the MLB level.
The fact that we hit on 1 first round pick(so far) since 2007(Price) kills us. Our 2011 draft has got to haunt our decision makers in their sleep. 32 first round picks in one year and we hit on 1....
Just amazing, them and the Pats....hometown discounts galore baby!!!! Lester would get 20M on the open market too.... On one hand Lester does have some leverage, if he leaves Boston after this year, it puts them in a pretty big bind....however I understand he is loyal too because the Soz are a good team to play for (team and market wise). Plus the Sox treated him VERY well during his battle with cancer..... My prediction? either 4/80 or 5/90 with club/player options on both...
The Sox would do back flips if they could sign Lester for 4/80 or even 5/90. I'm thinking closer to maybe 5/110 with options.
Years are the important thing, you'd rather pay more money per year with less years. In the open market Lester would probably get 6 or 7 years for 20+ million per.
Good for him, just a matter of time... http://www.providencejournal.com/sp...ll-return-to-red-sox-broadcast-booth-poll.ece
Today Keith Law ranked the top farm systems in the MLB. Tomorrow he'll rank the top 100 prospects, Thursday he'll rank each AL team's top 10 and Friday the NL. Houston is his top ranked team, Red Sox ranked 5th, Yankees 20th and Rays 23rd. In Law's article he mentions that the Astros and Red Sox have the same number of players in his top 100, most of any team. He also says the Sox top 10 rivals Houston for the best top 10 of any team.
How the hell are the Rays 23rd? Am I wrong in thinking that once Price leaves they could be in trouble? I guess it all depends who they get back I am assuming...
Mix of guys like Myers and Archer graduated from prospect status and having poor drafts since recently. Law mentions that since Price and Moore graduated as prospects that almost all of the Rays prospects came from trades. He mentions that when Tim Beckham and Kevin Kiermaier came up in September they were the first players drafted and developed by the Rays since the 2007 draft. Also mentions that picking higher up in the draft since they have been good at the MLB level as well as the new CBA drafting and intentional FA rules really hurt smaller revenue teams like TB. As far as Price goes, it all depends on if they trade Price what the package is and also whether guys like Moore, Cobb and Archer step up and continue to get better or not. I'm not sure (and I guess I will find out by the end of the week) but I think the majority of TB's prospect talent are arms instead of bats, which the team badly needs better offense. So you don't really know for sure. EDIT: For what it's worth TB was ranked #3 last year by Law. So that's a pretty big drop off even when you factor in Myers and Archer graduating.
Their going to be in trouble in the future if they continue to draft this way for sure. But no short term trouble.
Red Sox have 7 in Keith Law's top 100. Bogaerts at 2, Owens at 42, JBJ at 51, Cecchini at 53, Swihart at 56, Betts at 61 & Barnes at 89. And because I know I'll be asked, the Yankees had 3 players in (Sanchez at 68, Austin at 85 and Williams at 87) and TB had 3 (Guerreri at 66, Lee at 79 and Ciuffo at 95). I haven't had a chance to read each summary on the players yet.
A quick cliff note version of Law's Sox prospect break down: Bogaerts - elite player, could be Tulo with little less of an arm Owens - 2nd or 3rd starter JBJ - elite defender, good OBP, doubles power, make Sox fans ask "Jacoby who?" Cecchini - downside is a Bill Mueller type but should have a higher BA and OBP Betts - potential All Sar at 2B or possible even SS, 20 HR power Swihart - plus D catcher, 15 to 20 HR power, strong OBP Barnes - 3rd starter at least but could be more if his secondary pitches get more consistent, gets a ton of swings & misses on his FB when thrown for strikes which is rare
Keith Law's Red Sox top 10 list: Bogaerts Owens JBJ Cecchini Swihart Betts Barnes Allen Webster Anthony Ranaudo Trey Ball Christian Vazquez is #11 on his list and his sleeper prospect is OFer Manuel Margot.
He was on EEI yesterday and was breaking it down. The guy is a treasure trove of information. How come his doesn't go back into being a GM? But yeah he said the Sox are littered with SP depth. Guys that if they dont work out can go into the pen and/or can backfill if the Sox chose to trade for prove pitchers..... He said Boston has the most "depth" but Baltimore has the most "ceiling". That they have 3-4 "top of the rotation" arms in the minors..... In other news, Middlebrooks is banging Jenny Dell and she got reassigned from the sideline reporter to something else w/in NESN.....maybe that the reason he couldnt hit, he was tagged that *** too much.....