MLB Baseball : Offseason 2012

[Lancer]

diablo - who did you play for? Did you get to the majors? Have some old pics of your playing days?

[Diablo25]

diablo - who did you play for? Did you get to the majors? Have some old pics of your playing days?

I was drafted by the Brewers in the 9th round. Mike was drafted in the 8th round. We were teammates in rookie ball...both catchers...and spent several spring trainings and instructional leagues together. I got injured that year which set me back and Mike shot through the system. We were always friends. I eventually topped out in AAA. Last time I talked to Mike was in Philadelphia a short time after Darryl Kile passed away. He brought me down on the field at the Vet and we had a great time catching up. Kile's death really shook him up. They were close. Mike was/is tough as nails. Fierce competitor. He will make a great manager. Former catchers usually do. I'm really excited he is being considered for the Cards gig.

[MizzouRah]

diablo - who did you play for? Did you get to the majors? Have some old pics of your playing days?

I was drafted by the Brewers in the 9th round. Mike was drafted in the 8th round. We were teammates in rookie ball...both catchers...and spent several spring trainings and instructional leagues together. I got injured that year which set me back and Mike shot through the system. We were always friends. I eventually topped out in AAA. Last time I talked to Mike was in Philadelphia a short time after Darryl Kile passed away. He brought me down on the field at the Vet and we had a great time catching up. Kile's death really shook him up. They were close. Mike was/is tough as nails. Fierce competitor. He will make a great manager. Former catchers usually do. I'm really excited he is being considered for the Cards gig.

Wow Diablo.. that is awesome. I always liked Matheny and think he would be a great manager, he's just a people person.

I still remember where I was the day they announced Kile's death, sitting in a Walmart parking lot in Illinios waiting on my wife.

[Diablo25]

Thome 1 year deal with the Phils. I am pumped!!! He was the first legit player to sign with the Phil's back in 2003 setting off the chain of events that led to the world title in 08 and the team they have today.

[tjung0831]

Yep, the list was announced tonight. Sandberg, Francona, former cardinal players Jose Oquendo(3rd base coach), Joe McEwing, Mike Matheny and somebody named Chris Maloney. Apparently it's going to be one of these guys.

Holy crap, my former teammate Mike Matheny up for a managerial job. Now I feel old! He's a tremendous guy. I am rooting for him.

You might be interested in this article...

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball ... 544bb.html

[Diablo25]

Yep, the list was announced tonight. Sandberg, Francona, former cardinal players Jose Oquendo(3rd base coach), Joe McEwing, Mike Matheny and somebody named Chris Maloney. Apparently it's going to be one of these guys.

Holy crap, my former teammate Mike Matheny up for a managerial job. Now I feel old! He's a tremendous guy. I am rooting for him.

You might be interested in this article...

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball ... 544bb.html

Thanks for the link.

[sportdan30]

Thome 1 year deal with the Phils. I am pumped!!! He was the first legit player to sign with the Phil's back in 2003 setting off the chain of events that led to the world title in 08 and the team they have today.

What position does Thome play? He's certainly not a regular player anymore.

[Diablo25]

Thome 1 year deal with the Phils. I am pumped!!! He was the first legit player to sign with the Phil's back in 2003 setting off the chain of events that led to the world title in 08 and the team they have today.

What position does Thome play? He's certainly not a regular player anymore.

He will platoon with John Mayberry Jr. at 1B until Howard is healthy.

[Diablo25]

Was going thru some old pics and ran across this one of Mike and me. This is in Helena, MT during our first year in pro ball. That is Henry Blanco in the dugout. He was a HELL of a defensive 3B with the Dodgers prior to becoming a catcher. Ah, the good old days.

[Pete]

Cool pic.

Blanco may have been a good defensive 3B but not cool pissing in the dugout.

[Diablo25]

Cool pic.

Blanco may have been a good defensive 3B but not cool pissing in the dugout.

[Lancer]

great pic, what decade was that taken? It looks like it's the 70s.

[Diablo25]

great pic, what decade was that taken? It looks like it's the 70s.

70's!!?? 90's my man. I'm old but not that old.

[MizzouRah]

That is awesome Diablo!!! Love the pic!

[F308GTB]

Terrible news about Wilson Ramos. Hopefully he gets back safe from this kidnapping. Makes me want to stay away from Venezuela.

[sportdan30]

Terrible news about Wilson Ramos. Hopefully he gets back safe from this kidnapping. Makes me want to stay away from Venezuela.

Incredibly frightening....sounds like it's a frequent occurence over there. Hope he makes it back safely.

[dbdynsty25]

Terrible news about Wilson Ramos. Hopefully he gets back safe from this kidnapping. Makes me want to stay away from Venezuela.

Pretty sure Wilson is a little more well known so you don't have anything to worry about.

[MizzouRah]

Pujols to talk with the Marlins.. I mean.. really?

[vinny-b]

Terrible news about Wilson Ramos. Hopefully he gets back safe from this kidnapping. Makes me want to stay away from Venezuela.

Incredibly frightening....sounds like it's a frequent occurence over there. Hope he makes it back safely.

it is Breaking Bad over there for real. Apparently

crazy

[tmdba37]

Pujols to talk with the Marlins.. I mean.. really?

Word is that they were going to make a big splash to go with their new ball park, but I cannot imagine they can scrounge up that much dough.

The real question is how much will Albert get. . .25M, 30M a year?

[dbdynsty25]

No way the Marlins pay for Pujols. They have two legit first basemen already (Sanchez & Morrison)...I just don't see it.

[Aristo]

Pujols to talk with the Marlins.. I mean.. really?

The Marlins are going to sign a big name free agent to kick-off their new stadium and re-branding of the team as the Miami Marlins.

My gut still tells me that Pujols is 90% going to stay with the Redbirds. But once other teams start talking contracts, anything can happen.

My biggest worry, honestly, is the Texas Rangers. Pujols would be a perfect fit. the Rangers don't seem so strong at first base anymore, and Pujols could easily transition to DH as he ages. The Rangers have a new lucrative cable deal, Nolan ryan has created the stability in the franchise that Pujols will crave, and I don't think he will mind hitting in that park during the stretch run of his career as he zeroes in on a bunch of milestone marks that would solidify him as the greatest hitter of all-time. That is scary.

But I still think St. Louis wil match, or come close enough to matching whatever he finds on the open market, and the attraction of playing his career for one team and the ability to keep his family from moving will drive him sign with the Cards. The more I have thought about it, the more that I think La Russa leaving helps sign Pujols, as long as he feels comfortable with who they sign to replace him. And the key reason La Russa will be replaced so quickly is to facilitate that. If La Russa stays, Pujols knows that the would still have a new manger in another year. This way, he can be more sure of who he will be playing for for a longer portion of his new contract.

So my guess is that Albert signs with:
Cardinals 90%
Rangers 8%
Someone else 2%

[MizzouRah]

I would think the Angels would be a good fit for Pujols too, in fact any AL team due to the DH.

I'm just worried that the Cardinals sign him long term 8 years or greater would be a mistake, I think. We could always put Berkman on 1st, Craig in RF then get a good CF and either sign Furcal or give Greene a legitimate shot. From there, we need another SP and some RP. Since they gave Holliday all that money, signing Pujols to a ton of years and money might do more harm than good.

Don't get me wrong, I love Albert.. but he's wanting the moon. (and maybe righfully so)

[Aristo]

I would think the Angels would be a good fit for Pujols too, in fact any AL team due to the DH.

I'm just worried that the Cardinals sign him long term 8 years or greater would be a mistake, I think. We could always put Berkman on 1st, Craig in RF then get a good CF and either sign Furcal or give Greene a legitimate shot. From there, we need another SP and some RP. Since they gave Holliday all that money, signing Pujols to a ton of years and money might do more harm than good.

Don't get me wrong, I love Albert.. but he's wanting the moon. (and maybe righfully so)

If the Cardinals sign him it's because he is more valuable than his on-the-field production. It's a tough call, because St. Louis draws like mad, anyway. But if the Cardinals bean counters think they can make money on him, I have no problem overpaying him. If they decide not to, I can't blame them for that either, as these kinds of deal tend to blow-up in teams' faces. Basically, I trust the guys with the money to make the right decision, and I can live with either.

I have heard conjecture that Pujols may avoid the AL because he does not want to become a DH. He's bull-headed enough to do that, but I have no idea if that is true or not. But my gut is that Pujols is going to give St. Louis every opportunity to match any offers he receives. I can't blame Pujols for taking the biggest paycheck he can find, as this is truly his last shot at mega dollars.

[vinny-b]

Miami Marlins new uniforms = fly

don't get the hate. They look like hurricane jerseys


that said, i hope they sign a large name free-agent or two. And leave the amateur cuban CF'er for Yankees to sign. Selecting from near the bottom each year, they never have a chance to add young players like this via the Draft