Sunday, December 07, 2003
GRRRR
The first time I posted this, I typed in the Blogger window but I hadn't clicked anything in the window, so it wasked for the password and then when I got through, IT DIDN'T PUBLISH THE POST. I was friggin PISSED. So here's the probably more concise version of what I said the first time...
Three articles tonight. One from Bob Finnigan of the Times, one from John McGrath of the News Tribune, and a bonus one from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
First, quotes from the Finnigan article.
...[the Mariners] could announce in the near future they have reached contract agreement with Franklin on a two-year deal expected to pay him about $3 million.
Peter from Mariners Musings would immediately notice Finnigan's use once again of the word "could" in this article, but I think a Franklin signing will probably happen. Franklin showed some tenacity last year amidst his horrible lack of run support. It was brutal just seeing that guy get screwed in so many starts last year, especially because he was arguably the second most-consistent starter in that rotation behind Moyer (Joel 3rd, Meche 4th, Garcia 5th). I distinctly remember a few times last year when Franklin gave up an early solo bomb or gave up a couple early runs and it seemed like the game was over -- and it ended up that way. Franklin gave the Mariners tenacity and consistency last year. Meanwhile, Freddy Garcia could make $7-8M next year. Go figure.
...[the Mariners] apparently are worlds away from resolving a new deal on right fielder Ichiro, as much as $5 million to $7 million a year apart...
Jeremy will definitely echo most of my thoughts here. I can understand if Ichiro wants a share of the profits from all the moolah he brings into the Safe in the form of the Japanese tourists, the souvenir stands, the team store, etc. If he wants that, that's the only thing I consider a reasonable excuse for him wanting any dollar over the $8M mark. If you ask me, he brought less to the Mariners last year than Bret Boone did, and he sucked way more in the second halves the last two years than is anywhere near permissible. I don't think the Mariners should give him any more than $10M. Hell, I don't want him making any more than Boone. If he had 40 steals last year, I'd think otherwise.
...reports from Japan last week that Yomiuri had interest in Sasaki to help its disaster-area bullpen...[have] been extinguished.
All together now: DAAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMIIIIIIIIIIT!!!
How does the club talk seriously about trying to sign free-agent shortstop Miguel Tejada or others?
By robbing Freddy or his friends to pay Miguel, so to speak.
For every Tejada or anyone else that is added to the roster, possibly in a tough-to-trade market, a controlled player will be non-tendered to save the money. In Tejada's case, it might be Garcia or possibly Guillen and Winn, something that adds up to about $8 million.
You know what? I wouldn't think twice about cutting Guillen, Garcia, and Winn loose to pay Tejada.
Here's the McGrath article, basically an epitaph on the Mariner stint of Mike Cameron.
The quote that caught my attention...
The temptation is to consider [the four-homer game] in Chicago as more a curse than a blessing, as it seemed to transform a pull hitter with occasional power into a free swinger mesmerized by the long ball.
I'll say. Cameron just sucked horribly after that four-homer game. It was sad. If memory serves me right, he was doing pretty well that year up to that point. Not long after, Shawn Green of the Dodgers had his four-homer game in Milwaukee. Cameron was doing okay, had his four-homer game, then sucked the rest of the year. Green sucked, had his four-homer game, then RAKED LIKE HELL. The dude was red hot after that. Shawn Green and Mike Cameron -- your polar-opposite west-coast outfielders of 2002.
Now here's your bonus article in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune with some Ed Guardado stuff. The Twins have upped their offer to two years with a club option for a 3rd for $12M total. He has received offers from toher teams for $5M/yr. The White Sox have also joined the Guardado sweepstakes.
We're a little more than 15 hours from what should be a big ruckus for baseball.
Three articles tonight. One from Bob Finnigan of the Times, one from John McGrath of the News Tribune, and a bonus one from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
First, quotes from the Finnigan article.
...[the Mariners] could announce in the near future they have reached contract agreement with Franklin on a two-year deal expected to pay him about $3 million.
Peter from Mariners Musings would immediately notice Finnigan's use once again of the word "could" in this article, but I think a Franklin signing will probably happen. Franklin showed some tenacity last year amidst his horrible lack of run support. It was brutal just seeing that guy get screwed in so many starts last year, especially because he was arguably the second most-consistent starter in that rotation behind Moyer (Joel 3rd, Meche 4th, Garcia 5th). I distinctly remember a few times last year when Franklin gave up an early solo bomb or gave up a couple early runs and it seemed like the game was over -- and it ended up that way. Franklin gave the Mariners tenacity and consistency last year. Meanwhile, Freddy Garcia could make $7-8M next year. Go figure.
...[the Mariners] apparently are worlds away from resolving a new deal on right fielder Ichiro, as much as $5 million to $7 million a year apart...
Jeremy will definitely echo most of my thoughts here. I can understand if Ichiro wants a share of the profits from all the moolah he brings into the Safe in the form of the Japanese tourists, the souvenir stands, the team store, etc. If he wants that, that's the only thing I consider a reasonable excuse for him wanting any dollar over the $8M mark. If you ask me, he brought less to the Mariners last year than Bret Boone did, and he sucked way more in the second halves the last two years than is anywhere near permissible. I don't think the Mariners should give him any more than $10M. Hell, I don't want him making any more than Boone. If he had 40 steals last year, I'd think otherwise.
...reports from Japan last week that Yomiuri had interest in Sasaki to help its disaster-area bullpen...[have] been extinguished.
All together now: DAAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMIIIIIIIIIIT!!!
How does the club talk seriously about trying to sign free-agent shortstop Miguel Tejada or others?
By robbing Freddy or his friends to pay Miguel, so to speak.
For every Tejada or anyone else that is added to the roster, possibly in a tough-to-trade market, a controlled player will be non-tendered to save the money. In Tejada's case, it might be Garcia or possibly Guillen and Winn, something that adds up to about $8 million.
You know what? I wouldn't think twice about cutting Guillen, Garcia, and Winn loose to pay Tejada.
Here's the McGrath article, basically an epitaph on the Mariner stint of Mike Cameron.
The quote that caught my attention...
The temptation is to consider [the four-homer game] in Chicago as more a curse than a blessing, as it seemed to transform a pull hitter with occasional power into a free swinger mesmerized by the long ball.
I'll say. Cameron just sucked horribly after that four-homer game. It was sad. If memory serves me right, he was doing pretty well that year up to that point. Not long after, Shawn Green of the Dodgers had his four-homer game in Milwaukee. Cameron was doing okay, had his four-homer game, then sucked the rest of the year. Green sucked, had his four-homer game, then RAKED LIKE HELL. The dude was red hot after that. Shawn Green and Mike Cameron -- your polar-opposite west-coast outfielders of 2002.
Now here's your bonus article in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune with some Ed Guardado stuff. The Twins have upped their offer to two years with a club option for a 3rd for $12M total. He has received offers from toher teams for $5M/yr. The White Sox have also joined the Guardado sweepstakes.
We're a little more than 15 hours from what should be a big ruckus for baseball.
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