MLB Baseball : Offseason 2012

[Diablo25]

It'll be interesting to see if Mike brings in anyone I know (former teammates/coaches) to be on his staff. From what I read a number of LaRussa's staff will be staying.

[MizzouRah]

How much would you be willing bet on that? It's been a part of baseball forever. It was only an issue because the Red Sox management was looking to save their own @ss.

http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-10 ... e-insiders

All I'm saying is that it's a none issue, and goes on waaay more than people think. A number "old" sports writers, like John Heyman & Kornheiser, said it goes on everywhere. But ok, it doesn't matter now anyway.

I completely agree with you that managers get too much blame/credit though. Bring on the Matheny era! Go Cards! I hope he rocks it (and keep Dave Duncan!!!!).

I'm just messing with you.. I didn't want Francona. I'm excited for the Matheny era!

[greggsand]

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-trian ... ke-matheny

An interesting read about how managers can have a minimal effect on a team's success or failure.

[tjung0831]

Matheny will be fine. All we need is to find another productive outfielder, move Berkman to 1st, he's got Wainwright coming back, still has Carpenter, and has two hard throwing guys that can close out games in Motte and Lynn, how hard will it be for him to compete with that in the NL central? Cardinals are going to be just fine....oh and that Allen Craig is a player!
I'm actually more excited about the Cardinals with Matheny then I ever was with Larussa.

[MizzouRah]

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-trian ... ke-matheny

An interesting read about how managers can have a minimal effect on a team's success or failure.

Exactly.

[greggsand]

Been getting texts today from friends telling me Albert & STL have worked out a deal.

[10spro]

Been getting texts today from friends telling me Albert & STL have worked out a deal.

I heard early this morning of some ridiculous 9 year term from the Marlins over 225 million.

[MizzouRah]

Been getting texts today from friends telling me Albert & STL have worked out a deal.

http://www.kfvs12.com/story/16056556/st ... -cardinals

Interesting...

[tmdba37]

I was watching MLB Network earlier tonight and on their Hot Stove show, the panel said that this report was a bunch of nonsense, likely made-up and smacked of wishful thinking. . .

. . .if the Marlins really offered Albert $25M a year, you have to wonder what other deals are out there for him and he'd be a fool not to wait and see who comes to the door (and with the largest bag of cash). . .

[MizzouRah]

I trust the source (Cochran) and I bet his does indeed sign with the Cardinals.

He's the same guy that said LaRussa was going to retire months before the season was over.

[dbdynsty25]

Dale Sveum to manage Cubs. HAHAHAHAHA

[lexbur]

Astros to the AL in '13.

I don't know, it makes more sense to me to bring the Brewers back to the AL, put them in the Central, put KC back in the West where they had been for decades.

[vinny-b]

Dale Sveum to manage Cubs. HAHAHAHAHA

I know. Back when he were with the Brewers don't have anything to say of him. But rather, he just never striked me as a manager/future manager.

were pulling for Boston to hire him.

[Aristo]

Astros to the AL in '13.

I don't know, it makes more sense to me to bring the Brewers back to the AL, put them in the Central, put KC back in the West where they had been for decades.

Actually, they should ship both the astros and Brewers to the AL and import KC to the NL Central. Then they can put the Astros in the West and Brewers in the Central. Getting KC in the same division with the Cardinals would really help jumpstart some revenue for KC. KC was idiotic to refuse it before, but I think they understand now that not only do the cardinals sell out the game in KC for them, but it really gets their fans motivated. It's just a really good, healthy rivalry.

How KC fans missed how much more revenue and interest they could generate with a slate of St. Louis and Chicago Cub games at home is beyond me. There is a healthy number of Chicago transplants in KC, and it seems like 90% of them are Cubs fans.

[Lancer]

so they're adding 2 more WC teams as a one game playoff round? What's the point of that.

Does that mean they're going to get rid of the divisions now and just make two 15 team leagues like they were talking about doing?

[Brando70]

Dale Sveum to manage Cubs. HAHAHAHAHA

I was hoping for Maddux but I think it's an appropriate hire. The Cubs roster is a disaster and no manager with significant experience would want to step into this situation (I never though Francona was serious about managing). It's going to take Epstein at least a couple of seasons to clear the deadwood and get this team into something resembling competitive shape. So hiring a younger guy like Sveum makes sense -- hard worker, stats guy, some potential, but also someone who will be easy to bounce in a couple of years if he doesn't get any results.

[AJColossal]

Dale Sveum to manage Cubs. HAHAHAHAHA

I was hoping for Maddux but I think it's an appropriate hire.

Sounded like Maddux's heart wasn't really in it due to family obligations, so Sveum's your guy.

Brando's right. This Cubs team is being revamped from the ground up, so it's not like we're the right manager away from winning it all. This is fine for now.

[dbdynsty25]

Here you go Vinny...the new and "improved" Billy the Marlin. Oh my god...multicolored fin. What the hell are the Marlins doing?

http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/ ... ges_as.php

[vinny-b]

Here you go Vinny...the new and "improved" Billy the Marlin. Oh my god...multicolored fin. What the hell are the Marlins doing?

http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/ ... ges_as.php

lol. I don't know what to say

[lexbur]

Finally, a mascot that the Tribe's "Slider" (an 8 ft. tall fuzzy pink thing) could kick its a**.

[Diablo25]

Here you go Vinny...the new and "improved" Billy the Marlin. Oh my god...multicolored fin. What the hell are the Marlins doing?

http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/ ... ges_as.php

There is no excuse for how weak that is. You can't tell me they couldn't do any better than that. I am, of course, spoiled with the greatest mascot ever in the Phillie Phanatic.

[Aristo]

I am, of course, spoiled with the greatest mascot ever in the Phillie Phanatic.

Sorry, but that title goes to whatever the hell this thing is.

[vinny-b]

they do it every time. Like clockwork...


Former Red Sox manager Terry Francona, in a long-scheduled appearance on The Big Show, said that the Boston Globe story suggesting that his ability to manage had been undermined by the use of prescription pain medications made him feel "terrible." He suggested that he had been happy to take responsibility for the organization's collapse on the way out the door, only to be caught off guard when he was hammered by allegations of personal conduct that Francona said were untrue.

"The people that know me that well knew that what was said in the paper wasn’t true. It was obviously said to hurt me," he added. "If there was one thing I was probably guilty of, it was protecting everyone in that organization. Everybody. I felt that was part of my responsibility, even to the point where in that last press conference, I said I take responsibility for this. I couldn't get to the players. I thought, 'OK, I'm done here. I'll take responsibility and go away.' Little did I know I was going to be going away limping because someone cut my legs out from under me."

[10spro]

I don't see the Marlins pushing for Pujols now that they signed J. Reyes for 6 years.

[greggsand]

I don't see the Marlins pushing for Pujols now that they signed J. Reyes for 6 years.

That whole marlins "offer" to Pujols was a farce. Not one source could verify it.