User Comments, Suggestions, or Complaints | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Advertising
|
Demarini, Easton and TPX Baseball Bats
|
AllianceTickets.com has cheap MLB Tickets. Get all your Colorado Rockies Tickets, Seattle Mariners Tickets, San Francisco Giants Tickets and all your favorite baseball tickets here. We also carry cheap Denver Broncos Tickets, Seattle Seahawks Tickets and Denver Nuggets Tickets. |
For wholesale prices on baseball gifts and equipment, check these stores out! |
Page rendered in 0.5537 seconds
54 querie(s) executed
Reader Comments and Retorts
Go to end of page
Statements posted here are those of our readers and do not represent the BaseballThinkFactory. Names are provided by the poster and are not verified. We ask that posters follow our submission policy. Please report any inappropriate comments.
Especially because that fat piece of #### played the Mark Grace role throughout 2008, anonymously bad-mouthing Ichiro to the media. If things aren't going well in Chicago, Silva will surely start placing blame via anonymous quotes, which can't be something other players enjoy.
BJ Ryan got cut last year for something near $20m. That's got to be up there.
I'm not sure, but I think Russ Ortiz still holds the record.
There were also comments you'd expect a player who might have to share a clubhouse with Bradley to make.
Look, I'd be willing to listen to an argument that the whole situation was the Cubs' doing, that Bradley was blameless, a victim of vindictive media, mouthbreathing fans, and clueless management. I'd be willing to believe that the Cubs shot themselves in the foot and torpedoed Bradley's trade value.
But whoever was at fault, there was no way that Bradley could come back to the Cubs in 2010. Other teams knew that, which is why the Cubs didn't get anything of value for him. All things considered, the Cubs did good to save some money.
Now, all they need to do is not compound the problem by giving Carlos Silva an important role on the team.
He's like that cute girl with a trail of horrible relationships that you see walking along one day with her proud new boyfriend, and you think "Yeah, buddy, you're smiling now, but you don't even know what's about to hit you."
Been that kind of month.
They did; $9 million.
EDIT: And Fred Garvin and Walks. It's like old times.
Yes.
No, but it was still a better idea than trading for Carlos Bloody Silva.
I actually don't know, is this true of Rangers fans?
Or was that season not a full dose.
For the Mariners, if they are kicking in 6 million, essentially get Bradley on a 3 million/2 year deal since Silva was a complete sunk cost.
No, it was a full dose, but for whatever reason, things worked out for Bradley in Texas. Maybe Ron Washington won his trust, maybe the low expectations combined with the Josh Hamilton breakthrough season kept the spotlight off him, but he was generally pretty cromulent in his time there. Of course, it's easy to tolerate a guy who hits the way Bradley hit in 2008...
From that perspective, it's probably about what Bradley is worth at this point. If the $9 million figure is accurate, I'd call the trade about even.
Unless, of course, the Cubs don't think that Silva is a complete sunk cost and give him significant playing time, but that decision, if it happens, should probably be considered separately.
But you and I both know that the Cubs were not going to simply release Bradley. We can talk sbout sunk costs all we want, but Hendry wasn't going to do it.
The real question is what to do now. Silva was hurt most of last year -- is there a way to make use of him (as a 5th starter, in the bullpen, or whatever)? Better still, is there a way that he can be flipped for low to mid level prospects (eating some salary) in a way that they couldn't do with Bradley?
They'd have to eat all the salary, and even then they'd probably only get organizational filler. After all, we're talking about a guy who was horrific in 2008, and then worse in 2009 up until he got hurt. No one is trading anything of value for him until he demonstrates that he still knows how to pitch.
You really think Bradley is worth only $3 million per year? (I'm getting that number by subtracting the difference between the 2 contracts from the reported $9 million the Mariners gave the Cubs, then dividing by 2 years.) Maybe if you give him demerits for being a jerk, but it seems clear that his on-field value projects to be well above $3 million. I can definitely understand arguments for not wanting him around but I think I'd much rather have him at $15 million per year over Silva for $12 million per year. This way the Mariners have some chance of getting something in return for all that wasted money. Obviously you'd rather have neither one but the Mariners had to choose.
Bradley is such a risky, volatile asset (not only from a personality standpoint, but from a health standpoint) that I wouldn't devote more than that to him.
Well, I'll never trust Chone again.
Why would we assume that to be true?
I have a feeling this summer's Cubs team will remind me a lot of this winter's Bulls team.
I just want everyone to know, this is a not a sock puppet me nor have paid or otherwise coerced anyone into saying pretty much what I started saying last March.
We have to be due for some sort of crazy hell freezing over luck at some point, right?
I mean, Marquis was serviceable, but we dump him and he becomes a deserving all-star.
Maybe this will be karmically good?
He had no problem eating Vizcaino... I guess it was a lot less money, but still.
Why doesn't Hendry just ship Starlin Castro, Josh Vitters, Murphy's Bleachers, and the Harry Caray statue to San Francisco for Aaron Rowand already?
I mean, I'm tired of this nickel and dime feeling of wanting to cut myself.... just go full-blown self-immolation and get it over with.
Given Silva's size, he would also have no problem eating Vizcaino. Just give him some BBQ (not BBW) sauce and a fork.
EDITED for a lack of typing skills.
Big, Beautiful Woman sauce? Do explain.
FWIW, I find that to be a brilliant typo.
Thank you for pointing that out before the edit option went away.
So I just wandered over to MSNBC, and found these two headlines back-to-back:
Mesa loosens restrictions on owning livestock
and
Mesa upgrading Cubs' spring field.
I don't know what it all means together, but I find it funny.
Yeah, at least $15MM less.
So you save a few bucks? I mean, how much is that 2 million worth now that you've just traded a productive outfield bat (when healthy, which is a risk for sure) for a guy that has a decent chance of seriously hurting the club should he play in 2010?
Why don't you just cut the guy? Or better yet KEEP HIM and READ HIM THE RIOT ACT. If he refuses to play the club can file a grievance and get his salary back right? Is there much risk in saying, "Milton, I messed up. In fact, I am here to apologize to you for how we handled last year. I realize that you were frustrated and that we compounded the problems, blah blah blah
...we want you on this team in 2010 because we brought you here to help us win games and we know you can do help us do that.
________
Just suck it up and admit you were wrong, even if you don't believe it. That's what a managers sometimes have to do for the good of the club, put the ego aside and let the guy think you're sorry, even if you don't believe it.
I just don't get this. Hendry should have just sucked up his ego (and his gut) spilled his guts to Milton, begged him to come back or whatever, and moved on to other business. Running off Milton and getting Silva (just to save 2 million) seems like about the dumbest thing Hendry could have done.
If the Cubs saved enough payroll to sign a useful player, I'm OK with this move under the circumstances. The Cubs mishandled Bradley and acted childish thus painting themselves into a corner.
Part of what really bothers me about this though is that I don't think a team can be successful when a GM has to cater to a manager's wishes (or probably vice versa). You can't keep making moves that hurt the talent level of your team because the manager doesn't like or won't play the players you've got.
Anyway, it's just an awful offseason for the Cubs. And lord only knows what they're going to spend this Seattle money on but I'm expecting to be underwhelmed.
What are you talking about? Hendry saw a chance to get the drawing card who holds the modern record
for fewest BB's per 9, and simply leapt at it!
No, they really shouldn't have. Milton Bradley coming to New York would have to be one of the worst ideas in the history of baseball. Say whatever you want about his value on the field, and whether he can contribute in the right circumstances. NYC is NOT the place. He needs to be in the DH league (where he is more likely to stay healthy), and he needs to be out of the spotlight. The Mets would be the absolute worst destination in the known universe for Milton Bradley.
That's bad general managing. Some managers might have enough positives that you'll cater to their whims but Piniella (who I think is overall an above-average manager) is not one of them.
And now the Cubs are looking at a starting OF of Soriano, Byrd/Fuld, Fukudome? Really? On a $130 M payroll? Outside of several Mets teams (across several GMs) has there been a bigger waste of resources in recent memory than the 2010 (and 2011) Cubs?
Oh, I know that, but it doesn't make it any less maddening. I mean, if you've backed yourself into a corner like Hendry had, might as do the least disadvantageous thing. I guess it bugs me not only because they're losing whatever Bradley brings to the table in 2010, but because it's become almost entirely about face-saving.
So then I take it that you are not in fact aware of the name of the gentleman who currently manages the Cubs.
The Cubs would have been better off trading Bradley for Pat Burrell, throwing in 9 million bucks, and using Burrell as a DH.
Subtle.
We froth at the mouth so you don't have to.
See 141. It's all (or 90 percent, at least) about face-saving.
I just don't get this. Hendry should have just sucked up his ego (and his gut) spilled his guts to Milton, begged him to come back or whatever, and moved on to other business. Running off Milton and getting Silva (just to save 2 million) seems like about the dumbest thing Hendry could have done.
Yeah, well, that's our Jimbo.
for fewest BB's per 9, and simply leapt at it!
I know. And the intense media spotlight centered on Silva's quest to break his own record will surely mean he stays in the rotation come hell or high water. ;-)
The 2010 Cubs: Bringing fans to the park through gravitational pull!
I have to agree with Sam here.
But I'd have been near ecstatic to get Perez in exchange for Bradley.
I also meant to address the money issue. 3/$30 for Bradley was not a bad contract, even in that market. Yes, 1/$5 for Abreu would have been a lot better and 3/$30 for Bradley is probably a slight overpay. But Bradley has been an excellent hitter, the Cubs had injury protection in the contract, the big question was his defense in RF which UZR put as a little below average (and projects as average for 2010). Fangraphs put Bradley at 1 WAR last year, Dunn at 1.2 WAR. Bradley will hit better than he did in 2009 while Dunn hit better than ever in 2009. Injury risk aside (do you like how I did that :-), Bradley looks like the better bet for 2010.
And on Dempster -- nobody was a bigger doubter of Dempster than I was. But last offseason, the pitchers got their money -- CC, Burnett, Lowe, Perez, etc. There weren't bargains for good starting pitchers. Dempster outpitched Burnett and Lowe and really wasn't that far off Sabathia (weaker league I know). It's true the Cubs were bidding against themselves and I don't know if anyone else would have given Dempster that much money, but he was gonna get a good payday somewhere.
Look, the trade on paper is horrible. But essentially, you are saving $9 million by doing this instead of releasing him. Bradley had to go-he is like the Typhoid Mary of unhappiness. Silvais crap, pure garbage that I am sure Hendry and others are not counting on. The Bradley experiement was one that went horribly wrong, much like my science fair project in 8th grade that mixed ammounia and bleach. Sure, I created chemical weapons, but at what cost?
As much as he annoys and angers me, Jim Hendry may very well still be the best Cub GM in my lifetime. (cue loud crash of ominous thunder followed by a peel of maniacal, disembodied laughter).
OK, fine - Dallas Green may top him, but that just means Hendry's the best GM of meatwad's lifetime.
Some franchise, eh? Folks, some of us actually root for this club.
Hey man, at least you've got 'bama! What do I have? Greg Paulus?
As much as he annoys and angers me, Jim Hendry may very well still be the best Cub GM in my lifetime. (cue loud crash of ominous thunder followed by a peel of maniacal, disembodied laughter).
Yeah, I know it. And yes, I was one of Hendry's biggest defenders for a while there; I was of the view that his in-season trade magic offset his pedestrian offseasons. Now, well, he's lost that magic trading touch, and his offseasons have gone from pedestrian to abysmal the last two years. He gets no quarter from me anymore.
Hey - at least that pair made it to their sport's championship event.
3rd worst. Red Sox, Phillies, then the Mets.
And of course, we'll always have Ramirez/Lofton for a sack of potatoes, three bottles of Elmer's glue, and a Duncan yoyo.
Nope. Mets are worst.
The Red Sox could at least use him at DH, so he makes more sense for them on the field.
The Phillies, at least right now, are a winning, positive situation into which Bradley would be going. That alone would make it more likely things could, at least, get off to a better start, which for Bradley is critical. They also don't have a dysfunctional ownership/management situation.
At least at the moment, the Mets would be the worst landing spot for Bradley.
You got the Silva… you got the gelt…
You got the diamonds.....
And still that would be better than a straight trade for Vernon Wells.
OTOH it's kinda amazing that apparently 28 other GMs thought Bradley wasn't worth 2 years / $6 million.
You call it "amazing", I call it "telling".
To be fair, most teams don't have a contract as bad as Silva's for a player they don't need, and an opening at DH.
All of the above. Actually, it's not "letting" the situation get to a point, it's actively making that happen.
28? Considering all the bridges Bradley burned shouldn't it be like 22? The guy is playing for his 8th team after all.
Yup. Bradley's greatest value may have been distracting everyone from the Soriano contract. That everyone babble on over Wells but ignores Alphie is beyond me.
That's a more explicit word for it. So much for the coming revolution of arbitrage desks.
Sam, the Red Sox have a DH already. I hope. The Mets have need of a non-crappy ballplayer to
play 1st, someone besides that nice Irish mediocrity you so uncannily forecasted.
OK, look - from a baseball perspective, of course - we're taking this deal too hard.
Under the circumstances, what are you gonna do. I'd have preferred to toss in the 9 mil myself and roll the dice with Burrell, but it's not my money. Or Luis Castillo in some 3-way.
But it's just that Hendry always seems to acquire that one guy, that one player that you just grind your teeth know you're gonna hate. Miles. Marquis (though, yes - I think we've all admitted, even absent his Rox season, he pitched worth something close to 3/21). Neifi being signed for two years. Gabor hanging around like a vulture of suck. Juan Pierre. I don't expect to get some team with the perfect 25, I'd just like one season where I can look up and down the roster with no grimace points.
I'm resigned to Soriano, but with Miles gone - I was thinking this might be the season. I have my doubts about 2010 - especially if Holliday stays in STL - but I thought that at least this might be a respite... a season without hate.
For what, 3 beautiful weeks? I almost had it. 3 weeks in December. Such is the life of a Cubs fan.
Other way round. Igawa is only owed 2/8. Cubs would have had to throw in $6-7M.
Johnson's a better hitter and Bradley is way too volatile for New York, I think.
Second city, no more, #######!
Zonk, you are revealing way too much personal info there.
Zonk, you are revealing way too much personal info there.
That could never work anyway. Castillo can barely turn two any more.
Well, the extra $3.4m a year might have something to do with it. Only one of those contracts is paying a replacement level player over $21M per season.
Also, I don't think we're sure Soriano's done yet. He's only had one bad year. Maybe he can bounce back from injury and be a decent player again. He won't earn his contract, but might be above average.
Wells' defense has completely collapsed and is now three years into suckitude. I think everyone's pretty sure he's toasty.
It seems high time for the Yanks to recollect lost former prospects !
And then there is the Denny Neagle situation.
It seems high time for the Yanks to recollect lost former prospects !
Cub fan?
-Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune
I would't even do Kei Igawa strait up for that. not unless they throw in like 50 Million bucks
What is the batting practice pitcher, 1.1? The lefty version 1.2? Does the bullpen catcher get 0.6?
Interesting. I was able to track down how he's been doing in the Venezuelan League. As of December 14:
8 innings, 14 hits, 2 K's, 3 walks, 3 HR's allowed, 7.88 ERA, 1-0 record for Caribes de Anzoategui. 3 appearances, 1 game started.
http://blogs.noticias24.com/beisbol/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/estadisticas-lvbp-2009-2010.pdf (page 6 of 13)
I thought Silva WAS "R".
And you're probably one of those people who ridicules the notion of pitching to the score.
One could say the owners are taking on very little risk here but the GM and manager are taking on a ton of risk. Silva wasn't Z's debacle but Bradley will be Z's debacle if things go crazy. He had Bavasi's Silva at 25 million and now he has his own Bradley at 30 million.
Even if it works out Bradley isn't the type of player that is worth 15 million a year though I guess if you want to look at it from a sunnk cost point of view he most certainly can be worth 2.5 million a year. I don't know if the owners are going to look at it like that if Bradley goes Bradley.
Now then in a sunk cost point of view Carlos Silva is free for the Cubs not only that but he is paying them so in a lot of ways anything positive the Cubs get out of him will be a tremendous bonus. That is of course only true if the Cubs are not afraid to cut him if he doesn't look to be good or turns sour. Again though I have no idea if the new owners will look upon the 16 million that got sunk as an "oh well", especially since Hendry was the one that sunk that money.
My understanding is that Silva gave Bradley a run for his money in the "disrupting clubhouse harmony" department...
I doubt anyone can match Bradley for disrupting a clubhouse. He is like OJ Simpson showing up at a Goldman family reunion.
You must be Registered and Logged In to post comments.
<< Back to main