Friday, November 16, 2007
Chock Full 'o News...
I’ve been pretty busy lately, slaving away at my Season in Review series. I wanted to make some comments about all of the big, big news out there in the baseball world.
-Barry Bonds is federally indicted. I’ll admit off the top that I have a bias against Bonds. He’s a jerk. He’s an angry, ego-centric, embittered a-hole. His contempt for the fans is something I think is disgraceful. However, I would agree with one of my colleagues at work: character is not a prerequisite for the Hall of Fame.
That said, Bonds legacy is in tatters, regardless of how his trial turns out. Bonds has expressed bitterness over his historic 756 home run ball being displayed with an asterisk. Now Bonds has to contend with the fact that his pursuit of the home run record led him to jail. It would be a fitting dénouement to his story.
Oh, and Bonds is in trouble, because the Feds rarely proceed to trial unless they feel it is a sure thing. If they moved to indict Bonds, they must have some pretty good information.
Make no mistake about it: Bonds career is over. Nobody is going to touch him for 2008 with this criminal indictment hanging over his head. He’s done. Who wants to sign a 43-year old baseball player with a pending criminal indictment? No team will want to deal with that kind of agony. That’s it. Goodbye.
-Alex Rodriguez is going to ink a 10-year, $275 million deal with the Yankees. I’m pretty surprised given that the Yankees High Command basically said, “hit the road, jack” when A-Rod opted out of his contract. The Yankees have their big bat in the lineup and the biggest free agent is off the market just days before Thanksgiving.
One column that I read argued that A-Rod is now baseball’s golden boy because the game needs for A-Rod to break Bond’s current record of 762 home runs and do it soon. If A-Rod really does play the next ten years, he could do it. He’s 244 from tying right now. I’m sure baseball would love to see A-Rod break it: a star about whom doping accusations have never been made, plays in New York City and is charismatic and interesting. Baseball, say hello to your new golden boy.
-The Phillies managed to re-sign J.C. Romero to a 3-year deal. He’ll be the set-up man for new closer Brad Lidge now that Geoff Geary went to Houston as part of the deal that brought Lidge here. I’m not a fan of Romero’s: his DIPS ERA was 4.11 in 2007, a full 2.87 runs higher than his ERA. He allows a LOT of walks (25 in 36 innings with the Phillies), too many in my opinion, to be a successful pitcher. I’m worried that he’ll get shelled this season.
-I wonder which of the big free agent centerfielders will be the first to sign: Torii Hunter, Andruw Jones or Rowand? My money is on Hunter inking the first deal to set the market. Jones will go second and Rowand will benefit from the fact that teams desperate for a bat will give him big, big money. Kinda like Carlos Lee from last season.
-We’ll have to see another big deal in the first week of December. With the Twins trying to move Johan Santana to the highest bidder in all likelihood, there have to be some mega-deals out there. With the dearth of pitching on the market, trades are going to be the only way that teams build up their rotations. Mark my words: the Phillies will contact the White Sox about a deal for Jon Garland and soon.
-The Phillies won’t pursue Mike Lowell. They’ll focus on pitching and try to snare a third baseman as an add-on to any trade.
-The Phillies might go out and re-sign Randy Wolf if the price the White Sox mention for Garland is too high. Wolf had a so-so year for the Dodgers (9-6, 4.73 ERA), but I actually think he pitched rather well, surrendering just ten home runs in 102 & 2/3 innings (0.87 HR/9) and getting a lot of strikeouts (8.24 K/9). I think he’d be a solid pickup if the Phillies can’t get Garland.
-Barry Bonds is federally indicted. I’ll admit off the top that I have a bias against Bonds. He’s a jerk. He’s an angry, ego-centric, embittered a-hole. His contempt for the fans is something I think is disgraceful. However, I would agree with one of my colleagues at work: character is not a prerequisite for the Hall of Fame.
That said, Bonds legacy is in tatters, regardless of how his trial turns out. Bonds has expressed bitterness over his historic 756 home run ball being displayed with an asterisk. Now Bonds has to contend with the fact that his pursuit of the home run record led him to jail. It would be a fitting dénouement to his story.
Oh, and Bonds is in trouble, because the Feds rarely proceed to trial unless they feel it is a sure thing. If they moved to indict Bonds, they must have some pretty good information.
Make no mistake about it: Bonds career is over. Nobody is going to touch him for 2008 with this criminal indictment hanging over his head. He’s done. Who wants to sign a 43-year old baseball player with a pending criminal indictment? No team will want to deal with that kind of agony. That’s it. Goodbye.
-Alex Rodriguez is going to ink a 10-year, $275 million deal with the Yankees. I’m pretty surprised given that the Yankees High Command basically said, “hit the road, jack” when A-Rod opted out of his contract. The Yankees have their big bat in the lineup and the biggest free agent is off the market just days before Thanksgiving.
One column that I read argued that A-Rod is now baseball’s golden boy because the game needs for A-Rod to break Bond’s current record of 762 home runs and do it soon. If A-Rod really does play the next ten years, he could do it. He’s 244 from tying right now. I’m sure baseball would love to see A-Rod break it: a star about whom doping accusations have never been made, plays in New York City and is charismatic and interesting. Baseball, say hello to your new golden boy.
-The Phillies managed to re-sign J.C. Romero to a 3-year deal. He’ll be the set-up man for new closer Brad Lidge now that Geoff Geary went to Houston as part of the deal that brought Lidge here. I’m not a fan of Romero’s: his DIPS ERA was 4.11 in 2007, a full 2.87 runs higher than his ERA. He allows a LOT of walks (25 in 36 innings with the Phillies), too many in my opinion, to be a successful pitcher. I’m worried that he’ll get shelled this season.
-I wonder which of the big free agent centerfielders will be the first to sign: Torii Hunter, Andruw Jones or Rowand? My money is on Hunter inking the first deal to set the market. Jones will go second and Rowand will benefit from the fact that teams desperate for a bat will give him big, big money. Kinda like Carlos Lee from last season.
-We’ll have to see another big deal in the first week of December. With the Twins trying to move Johan Santana to the highest bidder in all likelihood, there have to be some mega-deals out there. With the dearth of pitching on the market, trades are going to be the only way that teams build up their rotations. Mark my words: the Phillies will contact the White Sox about a deal for Jon Garland and soon.
-The Phillies won’t pursue Mike Lowell. They’ll focus on pitching and try to snare a third baseman as an add-on to any trade.
-The Phillies might go out and re-sign Randy Wolf if the price the White Sox mention for Garland is too high. Wolf had a so-so year for the Dodgers (9-6, 4.73 ERA), but I actually think he pitched rather well, surrendering just ten home runs in 102 & 2/3 innings (0.87 HR/9) and getting a lot of strikeouts (8.24 K/9). I think he’d be a solid pickup if the Phillies can’t get Garland.
Labels: 756, Free Agency, Pitching, Romero, Rowand, Wolf
Comments:
So was Ty Cobb.
When every single Hitter and Pitcher and Owner and Front Office employee is indicted then it will not be selected enforcement. Bonds is no different than any of them.
When every single Hitter and Pitcher and Owner and Front Office employee is indicted then it will not be selected enforcement. Bonds is no different than any of them.
character is not a prerequisite for the Hall of Fame
The rules for election to the Hall of Fame are posted here.
Rule 5 states:
"Voting: Voting shall be based upon the player's record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played."
While you may not agree that character is a prerequisite, the Hall of Fame considers it one.
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The rules for election to the Hall of Fame are posted here.
Rule 5 states:
"Voting: Voting shall be based upon the player's record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played."
While you may not agree that character is a prerequisite, the Hall of Fame considers it one.
# posted by 
: Monday, November 19, 2007 5:24:00 PM
: Monday, November 19, 2007 5:24:00 PM
