superb reference

sonic boom.

i bet ryu has a big built in fan base in florida. particularly in the daytona area.

bird killer!

Jae-Kuk Ryu is the ornothological equivalent of Ben Christiansen.

Good call! Although Anthony Molina lived and Ozzy didn't fare quite so well.

Good move for the Devil Rays. There had been rumors that the Marlins were trying to acquire Baldelli in a deal with Ricky Nolasco as the centerpiece. Instead of overpaying for an average starter, the Rays targeted the team that had traded away Nolasco a year earlier as part of a package for a disappointingly below-average CF. Hendry didn't disappoint, giving up his 8th best prospect per Sickels (B- rating) in exchange for guys who didn't even make the cut for honorable mention in Tampa Bay's system.

It appeared that the Cubs organization was not high on Ryu, as he seemed to be behind lower-graded prospects in the pecking order for openings in the rotation, and he was never mentioned as a top prospect like Guzman. ZiPS had him as a 4.80 pitcher with the Cubs this year, which was better than Marquis and Miller while also exceeding every minor league starting candidate but Mateo. The Cubs probably considered him behind Marshall and Marmol as a fallback option as well, perhaps because his name doesn't contain an M.

I hope Jae-Kuk does well in Tampa, and I think he can have a comparable season to Nolasco's 2006 if given a starting spot. Meanwhile, I expect the Cubs get less production and pay more money for the back end of their rotation, while never getting anything useful from the low-level prospects they acquired.

Uh oh. What happened to my Cubs fan optimism? Hendry better stop making trades and start spending some more money ASAP.

*Is Aaron Guiel still a free agent? It would be a nice subplot for the Devil Rays if they could pick him up as a reserve OF and acquire Ken Ray from the Royals for middle relief. With Ryu, Ken, and Guiel joining forces, they could be tough to beat.

While Nolasco was better than a lot of the Cubs' options for the back of the rotation last season, it's not as if he was good. A lot of things have to go right for Nolasco to be much more than a bottom of the rotation starter. I think that if Pinto can stay healthy, he'll be the reason the Cubs will regret the Pierre deal.

As for this deal, with his fringy stuff, Ryu probably didn't have very much trade value. So it's nice that the Cubs got something back for him. I hope Ryu does well since I've been wishing the Cubs would give him a chance for the past year.

Good idea from the Rays -- their pen needs all the help it can get, and with a little roster flexibility it's a deal with upside. BA puts Ryu as the 13th best of their prospects, FWIW.

I don't, however, think he'll be this season's version of Ricky Nolasco. The two have been teammates at various points in their minor league careers, with Nolasco outpitching Ryu each step of the way.

For the Cubs, I can understand the deal as well, for the reasons Dan cites. I don't see either Reinhart or Lopez on BA's Top 30 prospects for the Rays, though, nor are either profiled in Sickels's book. The Rays do have one of the best systems in MLB, so perhaps these guys are more than just filler for the Cubs.

Also, this isn't a situation where Hendry could have reasonably been expected to get much more of a return than this.


bird killer!

Yeah, I'm sure you've never done anything stupid when you were 20. From everything I've read, it seems that Ryu has matured a bit over the last few years and is quite apologetic and contrite about the incident.

With Ryu, Ken, and Guiel joining forces, they could be tough to beat.

Guile's always had the tools (fatigues, F-16 fighter), but his swing's too long. Every time he goes for the foot sweep he gets beaned in the head (though can sure take out the 2nd baseman on the double play).

"Yeah, I'm sure you've never done anything stupid when you were 20. From everything I've read, it seems that Ryu has matured a bit over the last few years and is quite apologetic and contrite about the incident."

A: Got a name there?

B: Eeeehhhh...well, there's a story in that. Y'see that stage there? Buncha years back, I designed that, built it m'self. But do they call me Bill the Stagebuilder? Naaa... Y'see these doors? It was sixteen years ago I fixed them up, but do they call me Bill the Handyman? Naaaa... Wrote these floor guides, but do they call me Bill the Guide? Naaaa...

C: Hey! Bill Chimpfucker!

While how they've racked up their numbers has been different. Nolasco's and Ryu's minor league careers haven't been all that different in terms of results. Ryu has been a little better at HR & hits allowed while Nolasco has been better in BB rate and a lot better in Ks. Nolasco has better raw tools, so he's got a bit more upside.

Once you take into account league factors and home ballparks, Nolsco's 4.68 Zips for FLA isn't all that much better than Ryu's 5.08 for Tampsa Bay.

"With Ryu, Ken, and Guiel joining forces, they could be tough to beat."

Add in Miguel Vega, and you're set. Too bad Cammy-neti didn't live long enough to see it...

True, and when I was comparing the two, I was looking primarily at K rates and BB rates, and WHIP to a lesser extent.

Well, they did have Cammy Bonifay for a while.

I don't see either Reinhart or Lopez on BA's Top 30 prospects for the Rays, though, nor are either profiled in Sickels's book. The Rays do have one of the best systems in MLB, so perhaps these guys are more than just filler for the Cubs.

Reinhard is pretty irrelevant, he didn't even get mentioned in discussions of the RaysBB list. Despite being 23 he was no better than average at best in Low-A last year. Lopez is a little more interesting, he's considered toolsy and has a solid approach at the plate, but he fell of greatly despite repeating the Appy League and he strikes out in 1/3 of his at-bats. I find him somewhat relevant still (ranked him 28th, though I've lowered my opinion of him upon further consideration since then), but he has a long way to go and a lot of work to do.

T. Hawk could trade in his skateboard for a mitt. Who knows, he might even be able to make the Rays.

You mean laTroy Hawkins? He'd definitely help them out.

I can't find a Blanka anywhere in the minors, but maybe Henry Blanco could change the name on his uniform a little.

Guiel's in Japan,fyi.

does bob saget play baseball?
/tiger!

Tatsumaki sen pu kiyaku.

Unfortunately there is no player by the name M. Bison.

Balrog Baldelli has a nice ring to it. Much cooler than Rocco.

Anyone remember that awful Street Fighter movie that starred Jean-Claude Van Damme?

It was easily as bad as the Mortal Kombat movies.

Anyone remember that awful Street Fighter movie that starred Jean-Claude Van Damme?

Raul Julia's last movie. Sob.

No love for Hawk Harrelson's Caribbean kickboxing partner?