2014/2015 Off-Season Thread

Morrison J · 09-02-2015 2:27pm

I'm a huge Tyson Ross fan. Their rotation looks really good now. Contenders for me definitely.

Like Kemp's chances of a bounce-back year too. Was getting it back together a bit in the back end of last year.

smackbunnybaby · 17-02-2015 4:18pm

Saw this... they won loads between them and were great, but are they retiring numbers good/territory?
What is I guess....?

The Yankees announced on Monday that they will retire the uniform numbers of Bernie Williams (51), Jorge Posada (20) and Andy Pettitte (46) in pregame ceremonies at Yankee Stadium this season. In addition, Willie Randolph, a member of the Yankees' 1977 and 1978 world championship teams, will be honored with a plaque in Monument Park.

jack presley · 17-02-2015 5:28pm

smackbunnybaby wrote: »

Saw this... they won loads between them and were great, but are they retiring numbers good/territory?
What is I guess....?

The Yankees announced on Monday that they will retire the uniform numbers of Bernie Williams (51), Jorge Posada (20) and Andy Pettitte (46) in pregame ceremonies at Yankee Stadium this season. In addition, Willie Randolph, a member of the Yankees' 1977 and 1978 world championship teams, will be honored with a plaque in Monument Park.

I think it should be reserved for the greats. As you said, they were good players but Petite admitted using HGH and he's getting his retired.

They're not going to contend this year so this is one way to keep the team in the headlines. Although I'm sure a certain third baseman will do all he can to help keep the media interested. Maybe this is to counter his bad publicity?

MoyVilla9 · 17-02-2015 5:59pm

smackbunnybaby wrote: »

Saw this... they won loads between them and were great, but are they retiring numbers good/territory?
What is I guess....?

The Yankees announced on Monday that they will retire the uniform numbers of Bernie Williams (51), Jorge Posada (20) and Andy Pettitte (46) in pregame ceremonies at Yankee Stadium this season. In addition, Willie Randolph, a member of the Yankees' 1977 and 1978 world championship teams, will be honored with a plaque in Monument Park.

No, they should be reserved for All-Time greats like Ruth and Gehrig. Jeter, Mariano? Yes. Posada? I'm really not sure. If you're not an automatic HOF'er I'm not in favor of it.

smackbunnybaby · 17-02-2015 6:19pm

I'm thinking the same as you guys.
Great players, but not retiring number territory.

I'm looking forward to seeing how the crowd up the road do this season, considering their rotation. Think its very flat.

1. Clay Buchholz
2. Justin Masterson
3. Rick Porcello
4. Wade Miley
5. Joe Kelly

http://fullcount.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/2015/02/16/a-look-at-how-red-sox-starting-rotation-took-shape-and-why-it-doesnt-include-max-scherzer-james-shields/

jack presley · 17-02-2015 8:29pm

First ESPN Baseball Today podcast of the season today which was good to hear. Got me in the mood for some baseball.

MoyVilla9 · 17-02-2015 8:58pm

jack presley wrote: »

First ESPN Baseball Today podcast of the season today which was good to hear. Got me in the mood for some baseball.

Does it still sound like it was done through a payphone?

jack presley · 17-02-2015 9:03pm

MoyVilla9 wrote: »

Does it still sound like it was done through a payphone?

They seem to have got the right equipment now and it sounds like pretty good. I'd imagine when they have guests calling in, there might be some issues but today's sounded grand.

jack presley · 20-02-2015 1:45pm

Rules to speed up the game coming. No clock which is probably a good thing. I'd also give a strike to any batter who opens and closes his gloves after a pitch.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/12351883/major-league-baseball-announce-pace-play-rules

MoyVilla9 · 20-02-2015 2:20pm

jack presley wrote: »

Rules to speed up the game coming. No clock which is probably a good thing. I'd also give a strike to any batter who opens and closes his gloves after a pitch.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/12351883/major-league-baseball-announce-pace-play-rules

Step in the right direction. Good to see that batters cannot go for a stroll between each pitch anymore.

MoyVilla9 · 23-02-2015 1:45am

Big news today.
B.J. Upton is no more. Refer to him as Melvin from now on.

jack presley · 23-02-2015 9:06am

MoyVilla9 wrote: »

Big news today.
B.J. Upton is no more. Refer to him as Melvin from now on.

He's hoping it will have the same results as it did for Mike Stanton.

Uncle_moe · 23-02-2015 4:15pm

Red Sox sign Moncada for $31.5m so it'll cost them $63m total with the penalty on top.
http://m.mlb.com/news/article/110016130/red-sox-agree-to-terms-with-yoan-moncada

jack presley · 23-02-2015 4:18pm

Uncle_moe wrote: »

Red Sox sign Moncada for $31.5m so it'll cost them $63m total with the penalty on top.
http://m.mlb.com/news/article/110016130/red-sox-agree-to-terms-with-yoan-moncada

Is he ready to play in the majors now or how far away is he?

Uncle_moe · 23-02-2015 5:55pm

From listening to Dylan Hernandez on the Baseball Tonight podcast it sounds like he's definitely not major league ready. Apparently he's at least a year away. Farhan Zaidi pretty much said the same thing when the Dodgers were still in the running.

MoyVilla9 · 23-02-2015 10:45pm

Uncle_moe wrote: »

Red Sox sign Moncada for $31.5m so it'll cost them $63m total with the penalty on top.
http://m.mlb.com/news/article/110016130/red-sox-agree-to-terms-with-yoan-moncada

Ugh. Damn it. This is the one deal I wanted the Yankees to get this winter.

8-10 · 23-02-2015 11:01pm

Uncle_moe wrote: »

Red Sox sign Moncada for $31.5m so it'll cost them $63m total with the penalty on top.
http://m.mlb.com/news/article/110016130/red-sox-agree-to-terms-with-yoan-moncada

I'd much prefer to see the money go for Hamels....but still hard not to be excited about this guy from everything that's written about him.

Only thing I can see is if he is close enough to the majors to gamble with trading Mookie Betts or Xander Boegarts for Hamels, meaning we can keep Blake Swihart but still have a possible elite infield.

Who knows what the guys in charge are thinking, risky to trade Mookie Betts as I think he's going to be an incredible player, but maybe dangle Boegarts over the Phil's Jimmy Rollins-shaped hole (plus a lower prospect or 2) and get Hamels, then slot in Moncada in SS when he's ready.

Or just don't sign an ace pitcher and break my heart

Morrison J · 24-02-2015 1:35am

Don't think Moncada is expected to be MLB ready until 2017 at the very earliest.

He's in there as preparation for having to move on from Ortiz/Napoli I'd say. I'm not sure its an indication that they'll trade away a prospect for pitching.

I'd expect Moncada to play 3rd base in the minors where I've read he's pretty comfortable.

2017 infield is probably. Sandoval at 1st, Pedroia at 2nd, Bogaerts SS and Moncada playing 3rd base with maybe Ramirez playing DH? Presuming Ortiz has retired.

Been a great off-season though. Future looks really promising.

Coeus · 26-02-2015 12:29am

Looks like Josh Hamilton is in trouble...for an offence described as 'worse' than a PED violation!

8-10 · 26-02-2015 12:34am

Coeus wrote: »

Looks like Josh Hamilton is in trouble...for an offence described as 'worse' than a PED violation!

really sad, sounds like he's slipping back into his old ways

jack presley · 26-02-2015 9:37am

8-10 wrote: »

really sad, sounds like he's slipping back into his old ways

Yeah, sad news alright. Hopefully he can get it together.

GoldFour4 · 26-02-2015 6:23pm

jack presley wrote: »

Yeah, sad news alright. Hopefully he can get it together.

Don't really follow MLB much these days but was sad to see this news. I remember watching him a few years ago and the whole league just being so proud of him for the turnaround he'd made. Hopefully he can get himself back on the tracks and take his punishment as motivation to improve himself.

jack presley · 26-02-2015 7:31pm

malistheman wrote: »

Don't really follow MLB much these days but was sad to see this news. I remember watching him a few years ago and the whole league just being so proud of him for the turnaround he'd made. Hopefully he can get himself back on the tracks and take his punishment as motivation to improve himself.

The ESPN lads were asking today does he deserve punishment? If it is alcohol and cocaine and not PEDs, doesn't he need help as opposed to being banned for 100 games or whatever?

EDIT - I know rules are rules and cocaine etc are probably in the CBA so he has to go but the point they were making (and I kind of agree with) is that who benefits from suspending him?

Waitsian · 26-02-2015 9:53pm

jack presley wrote: »

I know rules are rules and cocaine etc are probably in the CBA so he has to go but the point they were making (and I kind of agree with) is that who benefits from suspending him?

I don't know why recreational drugs are lumped in with PEDs, it just makes no sense. He has a problem, like any addict, he needs help, not punishment. But sure isn't that the society we live in?

MoyVilla9 · 26-02-2015 9:55pm

jack presley wrote: »

The ESPN lads were asking today does he deserve punishment? If it is alcohol and cocaine and not PEDs, doesn't he need help as opposed to being banned for 100 games or whatever?

EDIT - I know rules are rules and cocaine etc are probably in the CBA so he has to go but the point they were making (and I kind of agree with) is that who benefits from suspending him?

I guess it's a Josh Gordan type of situation. Where would you fall on that one?

jack presley · 26-02-2015 10:09pm

MoyVilla9 wrote: »

I guess it's a Josh Gordan type of situation. Where would you fall on that one?

I don't know to be honest. There's no easy answer. I'd lean more to the help them, don't punish them side but their union agreed the rules so they're stuck with them I suppose.

smackbunnybaby · 03-03-2015 2:37pm

First Red Sox line up of the year. Should change very little going forward!

Betts CF, Pedroia 2B, Ortiz DH, Ramirez LF, Sandoval 3B, Napoli 1B, Victorino RF, Bogaerts SS, Vazquez C, Buchholz RHP.

Benimar · 03-03-2015 8:14pm

I know it's only Game 1 of Spring Training but still....

Ubaldo - 6 runs on 3 hits, 2 BB, 2 hit batters and 2 WPs. Christ on a bike.

jack presley · 03-03-2015 11:33pm

Benimar wrote: »

I know it's only Game 1 of Spring Training but still....

Ubaldo - 6 runs on 3 hits, 2 BB, 2 hit batters and 2 WPs. Christ on a bike.

Are you sure that wasn't just a box score from last season you were looking at ha ha?

Benimar · 04-03-2015 1:11pm

jack presley wrote: »

Are you sure that wasn't just a box score from last season you were looking at ha ha?

As was posted on Twitter 'its nice to see Ubaldo is in mid-season form already'

rockonollie · 05-03-2015 3:36pm

RE: Josh Hamilton......injuries could well have played a role in the relapse.

In prior interviews regarding his past addiction and recovery, Hamilton was quite open in saying that while he was with the team he had very little temptation. The hard times for him were during the off-season when he did not have the daily routine. He tried hard to keep a workout routine even in the off-season (often spending most of it at the spring training facilities where team staff were working year round)

This past off-season, he was limited because of his shoulder injury and would have spent a lot of time away from team facilities.

My fear would be that a year long suspension could have detrimental effects on his efforts to recover.

jack presley · 07-03-2015 12:43am

With a $500 fine for each time a batter steps outside the box, apparently it'll take Big Papi doing it 32,000 times before he loses money on the season.

MoyVilla9 · 07-03-2015 12:55am

jack presley wrote: »

With a $500 fine for each time a batter steps outside the box, apparently it'll take Big Papi doing it 32,000 times before he loses money on the season.

I have wondered about that. Will players who earn so much money even care about it?
Come playoffs will players be taking these fines with easy in order to step out and think over the next pitch before it comes?

8-10 · 07-03-2015 9:52am

I'd hope those fines go to a charity local to the home stadium where it happens.

Still don't agree with the rule overall but will be interesting to see how much it happens.

jack presley · 07-03-2015 3:33pm

Just had a scan through the TV Guide on the telly and ESPN are showing the Phillies/Yankees game on 20th March (programme starts at 12:30pm so must be on replay from the day before) and BT Sport has an edition of Baseball Tonight at 2am on the 20th as well so hopefully that's the start of plenty of coverage.

jack presley · 07-03-2015 6:27pm

Just read Yu Darvish 'may' face Tommy John surgery as he has a sprained UCL. Terrible news if true. I love watching him pitch when he's on his game.

And wasn't there a load of TJ surgeries coming out of spring training last year too? Let's hope he's a one off.

jack presley · 16-03-2015 3:50pm

jack presley wrote: »

And wasn't there a load of TJ surgeries coming out of spring training last year too? Let's hope he's a one off.

Unfortunately for me and other Mets fans, he's not. Josh Edgin, the only lefty in the Mets bullpen already signed up for TJ and starter Zach Wheeler looks like he's joining him.

Not a good start too the season for the Mets, down 2 pitchers already. Looks like the old saying that you can never have enough pitching is true so smart move not trading away some of their young arms earlier in the off-season.

Coeus · 17-03-2015 12:37am

jack presley wrote: »

Unfortunately for me and other Mets fans, he's not. Josh Edgin, the only lefty in the Mets bullpen already signed up for TJ and starter Zach Wheeler looks like he's joining him.

Not a good start too the season for the Mets, down 2 pitchers already. Looks like the old saying that you can never have enough pitching is true so smart move not trading away some of their young arms earlier in the off-season.

Yes, tough on the Mets to lose 2 arms in a week. What's crazy about the Wheeler injury is that the Mets went from not been concerned to fully torn UCL in just a few days

At least Harvey is starting to look good...

jack presley · 17-03-2015 10:07am

Coeus wrote: »

Yes, tough on the Mets to lose 2 arms in a week. What's crazy about the Wheeler injury is that the Mets went from not been concerned to fully torn UCL in just a few days

At least Harvey is starting to look good...

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/25109448/sneeze-injures-blue-jays-kevin-pillar

I bet no one in baseball feels as silly as this guy though. Another in the line of ridiculous ways to injure yourself.

smackbunnybaby · 17-03-2015 11:07pm

jack presley wrote: »

Just read Yu Darvish 'may' face Tommy John surgery as he has a sprained UCL. Terrible news if true. I love watching him pitch when he's on his game.

And wasn't there a load of TJ surgeries coming out of spring training last year too? Let's hope he's a one off.

Yu had his TJ so he's gone for the year

Really like watching him!

jack presley · 17-03-2015 11:14pm

For the day that's in it.....

http://espn.go.com/blog/spring-training/post/_/id/2870/baseball-slowly-growing-in-ireland

Waitsian · 18-03-2015 1:07am

jack presley wrote:

I bet no one in baseball feels as silly as this guy though. Another in the line of ridiculous ways to injure yourself.

He sneezed didn't he? He shouldn't be out more than a few more days, looking to be the 4th outfielder to start the season. He's a good fastball hitter but can't handle a breaking ball at all.

nuaeabhrac · 20-04-2015 12:15am

Catching the odd game here and there. Anybody know how are the Mets looking this year?

2014/2015 Off-Season Thread

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