Baseball Offseason

[jpehl]

Im sitting here watching reports of the winter meetings in Florida for MLB and my jaw is literally dropping to the ground the last couple of days. There really is not that much talent out there this off season but damn there all getting paid like superstars. Everyone use to complain about the crazy contract that A Rod signed with the Rangers. Compared to half these guys he deserves every penny. Your going to tell me that Mike Piazza is worth 8.5 million for one year. He isnt even playing the field just DH ing. Ted Lily signs a 40 million deal for 4 years. Lily isnt that great. Bonds wants 17-19 million for one year. Are these guys serious? I bet the bat boys are making six figures next year. There are some insane contracts being signed. These teams are jumping the gun on this money spree that has hit MLB. Does anybody else agree with me or care to share there opinion.
jpehl

[Rocky414]

I agree with you. The worst part is, you wanna take your family to a baseball game, by the time your done paying for tickets, parking and food you're out a few hundred bucks!

[woodee12]

Yeah, its fucking "excuse my language" rediculous! Whats going on here? If you are a left handed pitcher that is .500 you make that much cash and teachers forming our youth and future are making $25,000 a year!!! Something is wrong and its not just baseball!!!


And they are worrying about gambling laws where a few decent people get some entertaiment over the over paid assholes!!!

[Boone Moone]

There are about 3 or 4 Major League Baseball pitchers that might be worthy of making 10 million a year as today's salaries go, and that's pushing it...........The rest of them are a bunch of high school pitchers.

There is no such thing as "middle-relief" or "set-up" men, if they could pitch at all, they'd either be starters or closers..........And there are only about 4 or 5 real closers in all of baseball...........As I've said before, the only thing today's "closers" close, is your bank account........You ever notice how today's young pitchers never seem to wanna put the ball over the plate until it's usually too late?........It's because if they do, they'll get rocked, so they try to paint corners and throw 2 or 3 balls in the dirt, and then they're forced to serve up the fat one..........Check it out, they all follow the same pattern, it's ridiculous as Woodee puts it, it's pitiful..............and a rotten shame that these overpaid, disrespectful wanna-be punks are sending the game into oblivion, and salaries into outer space, and they can't even get anybody out.

Ted Lilly, 4 years for $40 million?...........This slouch loses more games than he wins every year which isn't hard to do because he doesn't win very many !!!.........Danny Baez?......He sucked when he was with the Devil Rays -- who notoriously carry one of the worst pitching staffs year in and year out.......he couldn't make their staff, so the desparate Dodgers signed him on for 3 years and he barely lasted one, before they had seen enough......I'm sorry but walking the bases loaded every time your summoned from the bullpen is no way to go through life as a big-league pitcher, my son.........So now Baltimore decides to "give" him $18 million over the next 3 years, but I'll be surprised if he lasts 3 weeks!!!!..............Fuck 'em all.

[dragon1952]

Dodgers sign Schmidt to three-year deal

Good move Dodgers. Sign a pitcher who your main competition (San Diego Padres) absolutely OWN!!! 3 years for $47 million for a pitcher who was 11-9 last year and can't beat my Pads....woo hoo!

[Boone Moone]

Very true Dragon, but I get the feeling that this was an "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" move for the Dodgers.........Jason Schmidt has owned the boys in blue for quite some time now, and one can only figure what Greg Maddux would have commanded to stay in L.A...............This just might have been the lesser of two evils.

What boggles my twisted mind is, how in the hell could they sign Luis Gonzalez for next year in hopes of replacing J.D. Drew?...........I thought that was why they went out and got Juan Pierre.............Don't get me wrong, I love Luis Gonzalez for the fact that he's one of the nicest and most disciplined men in the game today........but his numbers have slipped the last couple of years and I think the game has passed him by -- so to speak..........I mean, he is 39 years-old or so, and subject to new injuries every year.

Oh well, your "Pads" are out there at about 22-1 to win next years World Series, and the Dodgers are 15-1 or so.........So obviously none of these moves have moved the linemakers very much, nor do they figure to move the teams up either............We'll see.

[jpehl]

but his numbers have slipped the last couple of years and I think the game has passed him by -- so to speak..........I mean, he is 39 years-old or so, and subject to new injuries every year.

Well thats a great argument but i truly believe that he was a product of the needle. Look over these stats and tell me what you think.

Luis Gonzalez
Just look at the stats between 1998 and 2004. The * era. Let me know what you think. Im not on a witch hunt. Just think some stats are a little awkward.
Oh and yes he is a great guy.

jpehl

[ROTOG]

Boone,
Stop sugar coating it. Tell us how you really feel. Are we sensing some anger and disillusion because of those stiffs from USC? I saw on another forum where USC stands for:

Under
Scheduling
Cream-Puffs

[jpehl]

[dragon1952]

I think the Pads have just as good a chance as the Dodgers.....as in none! The thought of the Pads making to the Series is pretty far fetched. Towers spends just enough and signs just enough talent to compete in the NL West and that's as far as it goes.
There are some ?'s for us this year though.
How will the players respond to Bud Black?
Will Peavy pitch like he can this year?
How will Maddux do at age 41?
Where's the power going to come from?

[Boone Moone]

We're talkin' baseball here ROTOG.............besides, do you really wanna get me started?

[jpehl]

You know its sad but i have to confess that Im a Ranger fan. I really dont know why but i am. Baseball use to be my first love but I have to many complaints to post about why Football and basketball have moved ahead of baseball. Anyways the rangers have done nothing but lose players this off season to ridicules contracts. We did get a new coach. I am excited to see what he has to offer. One positive note is that the rangers are not spending, which i think is a positive thing. To many teams spending to much this year on average players. Everyone knows that money doesnt buy success in MLB.
jpehl