2011/2012 MLB Off-season Thread

[evman150]

Chipper was my hero too. I was nine when he was a rookie, and I grew up with those 90s Braves teams.

Chipper plays the game the right way. And in an era stained permanently by cheaters, he is a shining light of how things were meant to be.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by nickerjones

Well it's a sad day for me boys... My hero, Chipper Jones, has announced that he will hang up the spikes after this season.... http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/77...ire-end-season

I was a young guy when Chipper was drafted. For as long as I can remember I tried to emulate the way he played. While you Calgarians were pretending to be Al Macinnis , Theo Fluery, or Lanny Macdonald at the local outdoor rink playing shinny.. I was out on a diamond wearing #10 pretending to be Chipper. Chipper is all class and is a first ballot hall of famer for sure. Here is hoping the Braves can find a way to send this ballplayer out on top this year.

Originally Posted by evman150

Chipper was my hero too. I was nine when he was a rookie, and I grew up with those 90s Braves teams.

Chipper plays the game the right way. And in an era stained permanently by cheaters, he is a shining light of how things were meant to be.

I'm wondering how many illegitimate children you guys have between you? Chipper's not an angel you know guys.

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

Yep I agree, my hope is that Darvish can step up and be that guy (or Holland, I don't think he's that far off of being an elite pitcher).

That said they did have Cliff "I never lose in the playoffs" Lee, and that didn't get them very far in the World Series two years ago.

I don't think anyone anticipated CJ Wilson to struggle as he did in the playoffs last year. If Darvish picks up a win where Wilson didn't, there's the difference.

Again, I have to look on the positive side. I'm excited, but my stomach still goes into knots when I think about what happened last season

I think Holland makes a big jump like you say, Yu has the potential but I don't think we will know anything until his 2nd and 3rd run through teams because the 1st time they just won't be used to his style at all

Feliz could also be the next Wilson/Ogando, he has more talent than both, if he can control it this year he could be the ace but the innings cap may push him back to the pen in september/october

none of the AL teams are really stacked at pitching though, most have an ace (sabathia, weaver, lester, Verlander) but question marks after that

[Drake]

As part of its effort to develop the game in Latin America, Major League Baseball announced the launching of a new league on Thursday designed to provide a neutral ground for big league organizations to evaluate the top unsigned amateur players in the Dominican Republic.

"Major League Baseball is excited to begin its new prospect league in the Dominican Republic," Kim Ng, senior vice president of baseball operations for Major League Baseball, said. "We believe that this new league will provide amateur players with an opportunity to showcase their talent, and we hope that by including educational and community-outreach components in their participation, we will also prepare these players for opportunities that go beyond the playing field."

The league, which began Thursday with games for eligible players at the Tampa Bay complex, will play games at various Major League Baseball club academies every week, alternating weekly between current eligible players and unsigned players.

"What the DPL started doing marked the beginning of what is happening now," Perez said. "We've created a full schedule, and we want prospects in more systematic programs. We believe this is part of what we were missing. We'll have players anywhere from 16 to 19 [years old], and they'll be in a sound system where they develop with Major League instruction."

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...s_mlb&c_id=mlb

[nickerjones]

Originally Posted by fleury

I'm wondering how many illegitimate children you guys have between you? Chipper's not an angel you know guys.

Classy response: He was my hero for his play on the field...


UnClassy response : He was playing when I was teenager.... He was my hero because how many teenagers don't wanna bang it out with a Hooters chick??

But really cmon man.... I am a fan of his baseball career. I am sure you have done a few questionable things in your lifetime as well...

[socalwingfan]

Scary injury in New York - Joba Chamberlain fractures his ankle while playing with his son on a trampoline, the bone breaks through the skin and he lost a "life threatening" amount of blood. I saw Brian Cashman's interview this AM, and he was visibly shaken talking about it.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/ba...icle-1.1049622

[bluejays]

Wow, sounds like a freak injury. Too bad really, as the Yanks could have used him as a set up man. Hopefully he heals and his careers isn't over because of a mistake.

[Sylvanfan]

Reds closer Ryan Madson needs Tommy John surgery and will miss the season. Phillies really must be pleased that deal fell apart now.

[CofR]

Wow, huge blow to the Reds.

[Kiran403]

The Reds are really going to need Arnoldis Chapman to stand up and pitch some big innings to make up.

[Drake]

A group that includes former Los Angeles Lakers star Magic Johnson and longtime baseball executive Stan Kasten agreed Tuesday night to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers from Frank McCourt for a record $2 billion.

As part of the agreement, the Dodgers said McCourt and "certain affiliates of the purchasers" would acquire the land surrounding Dodger Stadium, including its parking lots, for $150 million. Sources with knowledge of the situation told ESPNLosAngeles.com's Tony Jackson that means the group will purchase half the Dodger Stadium parking lots, which were deemed to have a total value of $300 million, with McCourt keeping the other half. The source said it has yet to be determined how that relationship will work and whether the new ownership group still will be forced to lease the McCourt-owned half of the lots.

The acquiring group, called Guggenheim Baseball Management, has several other investors, among them Mandalay Entertainment chief executive Peter Guber, Guggenheim Partners president Todd Boehly and Bobby Patton, who operates oil and gas properties among his investments. Kasten is the former president of the Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals.

It remains to be seen whether Major League Baseball will challenge the deal in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware, where the case is before Judge Kevin Gross.

Under an agreement reached by MLB and McCourt in November, a private auction was to be held among the finalists and McCourt was to select the winner by Sunday. The sales agreement is to be submitted to the bankruptcy court by April 6, ahead of a hearing seven days later, and the sale completed by April 30, the day McCourt is to make the divorce settlement payment.

The acquiring group would gain the ability to sell the Dodgers' local broadcasting rights starting with games in 2014. The Guggenheim group likely would use money gained from the sale -- or form the team's own network with outside investment -- and use those funds to pay down the acquisition debt.

There was some concern among MLB officials about the financing of the Walter bid because some of the money was coming from insurance companies that are owned by Guggenheim. A person familiar with the baseball owners' teleconference Tuesday said several team owners voiced that during the call. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because MLB did not make any announcements.

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/mlb/s...hnson-group-2b

[Otsy]

2 Billion?????????? How are the Dodgers the most expensive franchise to be sold? Highest to date was teh Dolphins in 2009 for 1.1 billion. Highest in baseball previously was the Cubs in 2009 for 845 million. As much as Dodger fans have to be happy the Mccourt era looks to be done, how much money can still be invested back into the team in the next couple years after spending 2 billion to buy it?

[GirlySports]

Reds and Votto close to extension

The Reds could be close to a contract extension with their premier player, first baseman Joey Votto, according to a report posted Monday by mlbtraderumors.com.

According to the story, the extension could be worth more than $200 million. Votto, 28, still has two years remaining on the three-year, $38 million contract he signed in January 2011. He is due to make $9.5 million this season and $17 million in '13.

[CofR]

Matt Cain, 5 year extension, 112.5 mil.

[troutman]

Cain agreed to a six-year, $127.5 million deal with the Giants

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...#ixzz1qv1ZwaLl

[bluejays]

Cain for $21M/season? Baseball salaries are totally out of wack. $16M-$18M I could see, but that price is inflated. He's no way, IMO, the top 5 pitchers in the league.

[Drake]

Breaking: Joey Votto gets 10-year, $225 milion extension, even eclipsing Prince Fielder, tying him to #Reds through 2013. More in USA TODAY

Votto will get no-trade clause throughout the staggering deal with #Reds, 4th biggest in #MLB history http://usat.ly/HiDPZs

Joey Votto's $225 million contract is easily largest in #MLB history for player who wasn't a free agent. It will kick in for 2014 season.

https://twitter.com/#!/BNightengale

[Back2Back]

Originally Posted by troutman

Cain agreed to a six-year, $127.5 million deal with the Giants

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...#ixzz1qv1ZwaLl

WOW.

MLB just doesn't get it, this guy only has 12 wins, and he's below 0.500 for his career, facepalm.

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by Back2Back

WOW.

MLB just doesn't get it, this guy only has 12 wins, and he's below 0.500 for his career, facepalm.

not saying it's a great deal, he's a top 20 pitcher but not top 5

but looking at the wins of a pitcher and deciding how good or bad of a pitcher he is because of that is the definition of not getting it

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by Back2Back

WOW.

MLB just doesn't get it, this guy only has 12 wins, and he's below 0.500 for his career, facepalm.

He has a ridiculously low WHIP and his ERA is pretty solid. As well he's in the prime of his career. You can't necessarily judge it on his Win stats as that's more telling on his team. WHIP is a really good indication by most counts. Still doesn't excuse the team from the crazy contract.