MLB: 2013-2014 Off-season - Pre-season

rockonollie · 23-01-2014 4:14pm

jack presley wrote: »

Gone to Boston now apparently. I know it's a low cost deal so it's low risk but do you think he still had anything left?

Yep....Reds pulled out on Tuesday for an un-named reason.

I do have good hope for him returning though.......the fact that he hasn't played since 2011 is because unlike plenty of other players, he followed doctors advice and took the time to fully recover before attempting a comeback

krustydoyle · 24-01-2014 1:21am

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/10339774/matt-garza-pitch-milwaukee-brewers

Interesting move for Garza
He'll pitch well there.

MilanPan!c · 24-01-2014 1:52am

Yet another Red Sox star looking to sign an extension, for a discount, to stay with the team.

Compare that to what's happening a few hours south of Boston and you wonder just how clever the half a billion dollar spend will look in 9 months.

Go Sox.

Jon Lester: "I want to be here until they have to rip this jersey off my back"

http://bleacherreport.com/tb/dcgqX

jack presley · 24-01-2014 7:18pm

I thought this article was pretty cool

http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/66735520/30-mlb-stadiums-in-30-days?partnerId=ed-7862154-645808323

Only $11k..!!

Anyone any plans for trips over to the States to see any games this season? I won't be making one anyway although I am in Orlando one of the times the Mets play in Miami but I don't think I'll be able to convince the family to give up a day in Disney or wherever to go see a baseball match and I don't think they'd be happy with me heading of on my own for the day.

Ollie, are you getting a pack for the Reds again?

8-10 · 24-01-2014 7:40pm

jack presley wrote: »

I thought this article was pretty cool

http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/66735520/30-mlb-stadiums-in-30-days?partnerId=ed-7862154-645808323

Only $11k..!!

Anyone any plans for trips over to the States to see any games this season? I won't be making one anyway although I am in Orlando one of the times the Mets play in Miami but I don't think I'll be able to convince the family to give up a day in Disney or wherever to go see a baseball match and I don't think they'd be happy with me heading of on my own for the day.

Ollie, are you getting a pack for the Reds again?

Got 8 in last season, going to definitely try and get a few more in this year. Might even move over towards the end of 2014.

MilanPan!c · 24-01-2014 11:18pm

Some great stuff here:

"BOSTON -- Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino chuckled when asked what he thought of the Yankees spending nearly $500 million on new players this winter.

"It's like 'Back To The Future,' is my sense," he said. "I've seen this movie before.

'Anything that can be done that increases the intensity of the rivalry, as this certainly does, I think is positive -- as long as it doesn't go so far as to give them the advantage."

Lucchino said he and fellow Sox owners John W. Henry and Tom Werner are just as committed to winning as the Yankees, but not when it means "crazy expenditures that might be commonplace in New York."'

http://bleacherreport.com/tb/dcgLF

MilanPan!c · 25-01-2014 12:32am

Some great stuff here:

"BOSTON -- Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino chuckled when asked what he thought of the Yankees spending nearly $500 million on new players this winter.

"It's like 'Back To The Future,' is my sense," he said. "I've seen this movie before.

'Anything that can be done that increases the intensity of the rivalry, as this certainly does, I think is positive -- as long as it doesn't go so far as to give them the advantage."

Lucchino said he and fellow Sox owners John W. Henry and Tom Werner are just as committed to winning as the Yankees, but not when it means "crazy expenditures that might be commonplace in New York."'

http://bleacherreport.com/tb/dcgLF

jack presley · 25-01-2014 9:54am

MilanPan!c wrote: »

Some great stuff here:

"BOSTON -- Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino chuckled when asked what he thought of the Yankees spending nearly $500 million on new players this winter.

"It's like 'Back To The Future,' is my sense," he said. "I've seen this movie before.

'Anything that can be done that increases the intensity of the rivalry, as this certainly does, I think is positive -- as long as it doesn't go so far as to give them the advantage."

Lucchino said he and fellow Sox owners John W. Henry and Tom Werner are just as committed to winning as the Yankees, but not when it means "crazy expenditures that might be commonplace in New York."'

http://bleacherreport.com/tb/dcgLF

Aaaagggghhh.....I hate the Bleacher Report. Worst sports site out there.

jack presley · 25-01-2014 10:20am

The Mets trying to keep up with the Yankees by also signing a Japanese pitcher. Unfortunately while the Yankees can afford to spend $150m on Tanaka, the Mets can only get Dice-K on a minor league deal and he'll earn $1.5m if he makes the team.

MilanPan!c · 25-01-2014 10:50am

jack presley wrote: »

Aaaagggghhh.....I hate the Bleacher Report. Worst sports site out there.

I can only assume you didn't click the link??

jack presley · 25-01-2014 10:58am

MilanPan!c wrote: »

I can only assume you didn't click the link??

No, not until just there. At least it wasn't one of their own stories.

MilanPan!c · 25-01-2014 11:23am

jack presley wrote: »

No, not until just there. At least it wasn't one of their own stories.

I just use the mobile app, which is excellent aggregator. Sharing the links always results in a BR link...

The good of their mobile app is inversely proportional to the bad of their website... they're different beasts.

circular flexing · 05-02-2014 9:34pm

Wonder where will Kendrys Morales end up. Seems like he should have taken the Mariners qualifying offer.

jack presley · 07-02-2014 11:57pm

Looks like the A-Rod circus is reaching the end of its run as he withdraws his suits against MLB and the MLBPA. I thought we'd get some more juice out of that one yet.

Coeus · 08-02-2014 2:11am

jack presley wrote: »

Looks like the A-Rod circus is reaching the end of its run as he withdraws his suits against MLB and the MLBPA. I thought we'd get some more juice out of that one yet.

Wow, I thought he would fight it to the bitter end considering he ignored the ban last season. Wonder will he show up at spring training, the ban doesn't stop him from doing that...

jack presley · 08-02-2014 11:48am

His lawyers are obviously disappointed with not getting their day in court (or $10m in fees) so one's decided to have his own lawsuit

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/rod-lawyer-sues-daily-news-kerik-defamation?utm_campaign=AP_Main&utm_source=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Twitter

MilanPan!c · 08-02-2014 3:00pm

Coeus wrote: »

Wow, I thought he would fight it to the bitter end considering he ignored the ban last season. Wonder will he show up at spring training, the ban doesn't stop him from doing that...

"Rodriguez also no longer plans to report, as threatened, to Yankees spring training."

m.espn.go.com/mlb/story?storyId=10420920

rockonollie · 10-02-2014 7:34pm

jack presley wrote: »

Looks like the A-Rod circus is reaching the end of its run as he withdraws his suits against MLB and the MLBPA. I thought we'd get some more juice out of that one yet.

I'm sure his will to fight and sue everything he could was overpowered by the realization that a civil lawsuit would mean that all the evidence the MLB have against him would be made public.

jack presley · 11-02-2014 7:02pm

A nice low key entrance for Tanaka into New York I see.....

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/68800/tanaka-195k-plane-ride-a-toy-dog

8-10 · 11-02-2014 7:54pm

Watanabe's delivery in slow motion. Hoping to see this guy in some Spring Training games. His signing went really under the radar!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZJzNTxgIx0

jack presley · 11-02-2014 8:01pm

8-10 wrote: »

Watanabe's delivery in slow motion. Hoping to see this guy in some Spring Training games. His signing went really under the radar!

I'd never heard of him to be honest but I do love a submarine pitcher. i remember Chad Bradford having one season with the Mets and while he wasn't always effective, it is a beautiful pitch to watch, especially when they nearly reach the ground just before releasing the ball.

circular flexing · 11-02-2014 8:10pm

jack presley wrote: »

i remember Chad Bradford having one season with the Mets and while he wasn't always effective,

I always really enjoy the chapter about him in Moneyball.

8-10 · 11-02-2014 8:12pm

jack presley wrote: »

I'd never heard of him to be honest but I do love a submarine pitcher. i remember Chad Bradford having one season with the Mets and while he wasn't always effective, it is a beautiful pitch to watch, especially when they nearly reach the ground just before releasing the ball.

Darren O'Day at the Rangers a few years ago is the most recent submarine pitcher I remember watching regularly, he was very effective a couple of seasons ago.

MilanPan!c · 11-02-2014 8:37pm

jack presley wrote: »

A nice low key entrance for Tanaka into New York I see.....

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/68800/tanaka-195k-plane-ride-a-toy-dog

Typical Yankees nonsense. What's next? Dating Madonna?

jack presley · 11-02-2014 10:03pm

MilanPan!c wrote: »

Typical Yankees nonsense. What's next? Dating Madonna?

What made me laugh was last season the press went to town on Matt Harvey because he went to a Rangers game "before he had proven he could pitch in New York". What are they going to make of this?

krustydoyle · 12-02-2014 11:23pm

So No 2 Derek Jeter is set to retire at the end of the 2014 season.
What a leader on the field, he will be missed around the yankee organisation.

MilanPan!c · 12-02-2014 11:41pm

krustydoyle wrote: »

So No 2 Derek Jeter is set to retire at the end of the 2014 season.
What a leader on the field, he will be missed around the yankee organisation.

He'll be missed around baseball. He's a great athlete and competitor.

And we all know I hate the ****ing Yankees.

krustydoyle · 13-02-2014 1:16am

MilanPan!c wrote: »

He'll be missed around baseball. He's a great athlete and competitor.

And we all know I hate the ****ing Yankees.

I'll forgive you this once milan

MilanPan!c · 13-02-2014 2:07am

krustydoyle wrote: »

I'll forgive you this once milan

Ha! Thanks Krusty!

MoyVilla9 · 14-02-2014 10:40am

Jeter, Mariano and Pettitte will be all gone within a year. Sad times for a Yankee fan.

MilanPan!c · 14-02-2014 10:52am

In the winter of 2003 two cities went after the same man. On one side, New York. On the other, Boston. In the middle, the hired gun: Alex Rodriguez.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:10410371

Welllllll worth a watch!

The Reservoir Dubs Anchorman · 14-02-2014 2:43pm

MilanPan!c wrote: »

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:10410371

Welllllll worth a watch!

It was interesting alright.

Really looking forward to the season ahead. Nationals have done really well in the offseason and in my completely biased opinion have the best starting rotation and a really potent offence.

The future is bright for my Nats I feel!!!

Like what the Mets are trying to do, Texas have made nice moves and the Yankees have really went gung ho to give Jeter a ring to retire with. It all points to an awesome season.

MilanPan!c · 14-02-2014 3:56pm

The Reservoir Dubs Anchorman wrote: »

It was interesting alright.

Really looking forward to the season ahead. Nationals have done really well in the offseason and in my completely biased opinion have the best starting rotation and a really potent offence.

The future is bright for my Nats I feel!!!

Like what the Mets are trying to do, Texas have made nice moves and the Yankees have really went gung ho to give Jeter a ring to retire with. It all points to an awesome season.

It'll be nice to have a competitive Yankees again.

The AL East is gonna be a two horse race again, which means another Yankees/Sox playoff.

Cool beans.

jack presley · 14-02-2014 4:00pm

MilanPan!c: It'll be nice to have a competitive Yankees again.

Fans of the other 29 teams: No it won't...!!!

MilanPan!c · 14-02-2014 4:02pm

Last year's totals versus Baseball Prospectus' projections for 2014:

2013 Final Record

Boston: 97-65
New York: 85-77
Toronto: 74-88

2014 Projected Standings from Baseball Prospectus

Boston: 89-73
New York: 82-80
Toronto: 80-82

The Reservoir Dubs Anchorman · 14-02-2014 4:12pm

MilanPan!c wrote: »

It'll be nice to have a competitive Yankees again.

The AL East is gonna be a two horse race again, which means another Yankees/Sox playoff.

Cool beans.

I dont think the AL East is just going to be a two horse race .. all four of the five will fancy their chances of improving, Boston will surely look to maintain interesting addition with Grady Sizemore, hope it works out for him.

Could be a very interesting division!

8-10 · 14-02-2014 4:26pm

The Reservoir Dubs Anchorman wrote: »

I dont think the AL East is just going to be a two horse race .. all four of the five will fancy their chances of improving, Boston will surely look to maintain interesting addition with Grady Sizemore, hope it works out for him.

I don't think he'll end up being an everyday. Will split a lot of time with Bradley Jr. Low-risk addition though and he'll definitely help.

The Reservoir Dubs Anchorman · 14-02-2014 4:31pm

8-10 wrote: »

I don't think he'll end up being an everyday. Will split a lot of time with Bradley Jr. Low-risk addition though and he'll definitely help.

If he's healthy I think he will be an everyday but cover all three outfiled spots. Big if though, Bradley will get time no doubt.

Like you said low risk, big reward scenario.

MilanPan!c · 14-02-2014 5:04pm

8-10 wrote: »

I don't think he'll end up being an everyday. Will split a lot of time with Bradley Jr. Low-risk addition though and he'll definitely help.

it'll all gonna depend... I think they'll play him in spots at first then gradually use him more and see what happens... saying that, JBJ is their go to guy...

MilanPan!c · 14-02-2014 5:04pm

The Reservoir Dubs Anchorman wrote: »

I dont think the AL East is just going to be a two horse race .. all four of the five will fancy their chances of improving, Boston will surely look to maintain interesting addition with Grady Sizemore, hope it works out for him.

Could be a very interesting division!

I'll stick by my prediction

8-10 · 14-02-2014 5:53pm

MilanPan!c wrote: »

I'll stick by my prediction

Rays will be there or thereabouts I reckon

jack presley · 14-02-2014 6:23pm

I'd never count out the Rays and Toronto (if they can stay healthy) will be better as well. Baltimore have been alright the past couple of seasons too but I don't know too much about their status this season but if they continue to gradually improve, you might not be able to count them out either.

So I don't think there's any way this will be only a 2 horse race. And who's to say Boston won't have the 'post winner' blues and drop off a bit?

MilanPan!c · 14-02-2014 6:46pm

8-10 wrote: »

Rays will be there or thereabouts I reckon

Yeah. Could be. They seem to always find a way to blow it though.

Would be great if this year was different.

MilanPan!c · 14-02-2014 6:49pm

jack presley wrote: »

I'd never count out the Rays and Toronto (if they can stay healthy) will be better as well. Baltimore have been alright the past couple of seasons too but I don't know too much about their status this season but if they continue to gradually improve, you might not be able to count them out either.

So I don't think there's any way this will be only a 2 horse race. And who's to say Boston won't have the 'post winner' blues and drop off a bit?

I would be hugely surprised if Baltimore or Toronto were meaningfully better this year.

Boston won't be as good as last year, the Yankees will be a bit better, but will hugely miss Rivera and even AFraud, and of course they're pinning their pitching hopes on a guy who's not pitched once in the MLB.

So.

But Tampa will be better than last year.

rockonollie · 14-02-2014 9:37pm

Reds get about 3 hours into spring training before announcing that Mat Latos slipped on a pitching mound and needed surgery on his knee this morning.

MilanPan!c · 14-02-2014 9:46pm

rockonollie wrote: »

Reds get about 3 hours into spring training before announcing that Mat Latos slipped on a pitching mound and needed surgery on his knee this morning.

ah jazes... so unlucky...

MilanPan!c · 14-02-2014 9:50pm

rockonollie wrote: »

Reds get about 3 hours into spring training before announcing that Mat Latos slipped on a pitching mound and needed surgery on his knee this morning.

Just googled this... looks like he's expected back in...

...

...

10 days!

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/24443215/reds-mat-latos-has-knee-surgery-expected-to-return-in-10-days

rockonollie · 14-02-2014 9:59pm

MilanPan!c wrote: »

Just googled this... looks like he's expected back in...

...

...

10 days!

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/24443215/reds-mat-latos-has-knee-surgery-expected-to-return-in-10-days

Here's the background info for you.....the Reds medical staff are terrible at dealing with injuries......they say 10 days.....but it's the same injury and surgery that Joey Votta had in 2012 and they said 1 to 2 weeks then and he rejoined the team almost 3 months later.

There is a history of players "suffering setbacks" in their rehab work, it happens often enough to serve as evidence that the medical staff have players resume activities too fast.

jack presley · 14-02-2014 11:09pm

rockonollie wrote: »

Here's the background info for you.....the Reds medical staff are terrible at dealing with injuries......they say 10 days.....but it's the same injury and surgery that Joey Votta had in 2012 and they said 1 to 2 weeks then and he rejoined the team almost 3 months later.

.

Ha, must be an MLB thing. The Mets always have players that are 'day to day' yet you don't seen them play again for weeks.

MilanPan!c · 14-02-2014 11:11pm

rockonollie wrote: »

Here's the background info for you.....the Reds medical staff are terrible at dealing with injuries......they say 10 days.....but it's the same injury and surgery that Joey Votta had in 2012 and they said 1 to 2 weeks then and he rejoined the team almost 3 months later.

There is a history of players "suffering setbacks" in their rehab work, it happens often enough to serve as evidence that the medical staff have players resume activities too fast.

Kinda why I highlighted it... it seems so nuts...

MLB: 2013-2014 Off-season - Pre-season

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