OrangeWhoopass.com Forums

General Discussion => Talk Zone => Topic started by: Nate Colbert on November 20, 2018, 09:29:47 am

Title: AL West News 2019
Post by: Nate Colbert on November 20, 2018, 09:29:47 am
Beltre retired.
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: Astros Fan in Big D on November 20, 2018, 10:24:12 am
I really enjoyed watching him play.

Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: Col. Sphinx Drummond on November 20, 2018, 11:19:36 am
I really enjoyed watching him play.
So did I. One of the very few Rangers that I liked. He was a combination between Schmidt and Boggs.
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: Bench on November 20, 2018, 11:23:28 am
He'll be in the HOF.
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: Mr. Happy on November 20, 2018, 12:00:00 pm
So did I. One of the very few Rangers that I liked. He was a combination between Schmidt and Boggs.

+1 A class act and a helluva ballplayer whose skills really didn't diminish that much with age.
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: JimR on November 20, 2018, 12:25:16 pm
I really enjoyed watching him play.

I loved the fun he had.
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: juliogotay on November 20, 2018, 02:50:08 pm
I just heard on MLB Network that there are fewer 3B in HOF than any other position. That surprised me.
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: Col. Sphinx Drummond on December 03, 2018, 06:24:44 pm
Mariners continue the dismantling. Cano and Diaz to the Mets and Segura to the Phillies.
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: Reuben on December 03, 2018, 06:28:41 pm
Mariners continue the dismantling. Cano and Diaz to the Mets and Segura to the Phillies.
BUT! now they have Jay Bruce and Carlos Santana.
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: Astros Fan in Big D on December 03, 2018, 07:46:26 pm
So FTR and the Sea hags are in rebuild mode,  presumably leaving Houston,  Oakland,  and LAA to compete for the division.

Interesting to see how those other 2 contenders try to round out their rosters.

Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: Nate Colbert on December 04, 2018, 09:48:25 am
Larry Stone @StoneLarry 16h ago
From when Jerry Dipoto took over as #Mariners GM on Sept. 28, 2015, there are now two players left on the 40-man roster, Felix Hernandez and Kyle Seager.
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: Nate Colbert on December 21, 2018, 10:27:06 am
Jurickson Profar goes to the A's (which presumably ends their attempt to re-sign Jed Lowrie). Rangers net 3 minor leaguers (4 incoming, 1 outgoing) plus some int'l slot money. Rays also involved in transaction.
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: juliogotay on December 21, 2018, 12:11:33 pm
Jurickson Profar goes to the A's (which presumably ends their attempt to re-sign Jed Lowrie). Rangers net 3 minor leaguers (4 incoming, 1 outgoing) plus some int'l slot money. Rays also involved in transaction.

I was hoping Lowrie might have bounced back to Houston to fill the Marwin role. That ship has apparently sailed though.
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: Lefty on December 21, 2018, 01:16:42 pm
I was hoping Lowrie might have bounced back to Houston to fill the Marwin role. That ship has apparently sailed though.
Yeah, he just doesn't have a place on this team.  I've always liked him.
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: Noe on December 21, 2018, 01:35:30 pm
Yeah, he just doesn't have a place on this team.  I've always liked him.

This is crazy talk from a crazy man (me): But why wouldn't Lowrie be a better option than Tyler White at DH/1st base/occasional 2nd base? Is it just money? Lowrie being a switch hitter is very intriguing to me. Very.
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: chuck on December 21, 2018, 02:16:02 pm
This is crazy talk from a crazy man (me): But why wouldn't Lowrie be a better option than Tyler White at DH/1st base/occasional 2nd base? Is it just money? Lowrie being a switch hitter is very intriguing to me. Very.

Plus, he's one of those rare switch hitters you don't even have to buy a second helmet. Think of the savings.
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: Bench on December 21, 2018, 02:41:44 pm
Plus, he's one of those rare switch hitters you don't even have to buy a second helmet. Think of the savings.

Anything to stay under the luxury tax.
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: juliogotay on December 21, 2018, 04:00:16 pm
Plus, he's one of those rare switch hitters you don't even have to buy a second helmet. Think of the savings.

"Plus, he's one of those rare switch hitters you don't even have to buy a second helmet."

He always looked a little like a Little Leaguer to me with that helmet. BTW, he still makes his permanent residence in Houston I believe.
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: Noe on December 21, 2018, 05:41:04 pm
Plus, he's one of those rare switch hitters you don't even have to buy a second helmet. Think of the savings.

Eggszactly! Win-win and.. ahum... win!
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: Nate Colbert on December 21, 2018, 06:27:02 pm
Dipoto continues his frenetic shuffling of deck chairs on the SS Mariners, his latest swap involving the acquisition of ex-Astro OF Domingo Santana from the Brewers.
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: Lefty on December 21, 2018, 10:12:10 pm
This is crazy talk from a crazy man (me): But why wouldn't Lowrie be a better option than Tyler White at DH/1st base/occasional 2nd base? Is it just money? Lowrie being a switch hitter is very intriguing to me. Very.

I love it when a plan comes together.

Why Cruz when you can Lowriede?
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: Nate Colbert on January 09, 2019, 05:10:01 pm
With today's Shelby Miller signing...

Evan Grant  @Evan_P_Grant 9m ago
Miller signing gives Rangers a  rotation of
 
Mike Minor (Shoulder surgery '15)
Lance Lynn (Tommy John '15)
Drew Smyly (TJ '17)
Shelby Miller (TJ '17)
Edinson Volquez (TJ '17)
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: Astros Fan in Big D on January 09, 2019, 08:12:34 pm
With today's Shelby Miller signing...

Evan Grant  @Evan_P_Grant 9m ago
Miller signing gives Rangers a  rotation of
 
Mike Minor (Shoulder surgery '15)
Lance Lynn (Tommy John '15)
Drew Smyly (TJ '17)
Shelby Miller (TJ '17)
Edinson Volquez (TJ '17)

They've got Minute Maid North set to open next (2020) season. 

Hard to imagine they'll be anything but bad for awhile.

Oh well.
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: WVastro on January 09, 2019, 10:33:22 pm
With today's Shelby Miller signing...

Evan Grant  @Evan_P_Grant 9m ago
Miller signing gives Rangers a  rotation of
 
Mike Minor (Shoulder surgery '15)
Lance Lynn (Tommy John '15)
Drew Smyly (TJ '17)
Shelby Miller (TJ '17)
Edinson Volquez (TJ '17)

I’ll give it to them. There’s actually some potential in that rotation. But I played the lottery once because I heard that I could win a billion dollars. I had potential then as well.

I’m still posting here so you all know how that turned out.
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: Col. Sphinx Drummond on January 10, 2019, 07:45:39 am
With today's Shelby Miller signing...

Evan Grant  @Evan_P_Grant 9m ago
Miller signing gives Rangers a  rotation of
 
Mike Minor (Shoulder surgery '15)
Lance Lynn (Tommy John '15)
Drew Smyly (TJ '17)
Shelby Miller (TJ '17)
Edinson Volquez (TJ '17)
Man, that is some kind of a rotation.
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: juliogotay on January 10, 2019, 09:03:43 am
Man, that is some kind of a rotation.

But if they can mostly stay healthy looks better than what they have thrown out the last couple of years.
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: Col. Sphinx Drummond on January 16, 2019, 08:03:21 am
A new low. Ranger Hall of Fame member John Wetteland was arrested on a child sex abuse charge.
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: Texifornia on January 16, 2019, 03:15:59 pm
https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/former-mlb-all-star-john-wetteland-arrested-on-child-sex-abuse-charge/ (https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/former-mlb-all-star-john-wetteland-arrested-on-child-sex-abuse-charge/)
A new low. Ranger Hall of Fame member John Wetteland was arrested on a child sex abuse charge.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph I hope it's not true....
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: Reuben on January 17, 2019, 09:43:53 pm
I keep wondering if the Angels might be a "mystery team" that eventually ends up with Harper or Machado. Their payroll is already fairly high, but Moreno has made unexpected splashes before. They've got Trout signed for only two years at this point, they have some good players in Upton, Simmons, Ohtani... they could fit either Machado (moving Zach Cozart to 2B) or Harper (pushing Kole Calhoun out). Seems like this is their time to go for it.

Then again, they don't seem to have done much at all this winter other than pick up a few so-so players like Matt Harvey, Cahill, and Bour, so I'm not really sure what the hell they're doing.
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: MusicMan on January 17, 2019, 10:01:42 pm
Buster Olney reiterated on today’s podcast that he believes the Astros could be the mystery team for Harper.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: moriartp on January 18, 2019, 07:20:26 am
Buster Olney reiterated on today’s podcast that he believes the Astros could be the mystery team for Harper.

I’ll keep saying it until Harper signs somewhere else: the Astros leaked that trade story to Rosenthal for a reason.
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: subnuclear on January 18, 2019, 08:29:58 am
Just have a hard time believing the Astros would pay more than the Dodgers or White Sox or Cardinals would.
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: BUWebguy on January 18, 2019, 09:16:36 am
I’ll keep saying it until Harper signs somewhere else: the Astros leaked that trade story to Rosenthal for a reason.

I figured it was one of the recently departed front office folks who leaked it; the revelation seemed to follow shortly after the exodus.
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: juliogotay on January 18, 2019, 09:16:47 am
Buster Olney reiterated on today’s podcast that he believes the Astros could be the mystery team for Harper.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Amazing that we are a month or so from Spring Training and so many guys are still unaffiliated.
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: BUWebguy on January 18, 2019, 09:17:10 am
Just have a hard time believing the Astros would pay more than the Dodgers or White Sox or Cardinals would.

My guess is the Astros are hoping his price/contract length will come down, in which case they're waiting with an offer -- much like the Realmuto talks.
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: Reuben on January 18, 2019, 09:17:36 am
I’ll keep saying it until Harper signs somewhere else: the Astros leaked that trade story to Rosenthal for a reason.
What exactly would be the reason?
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: TeeJoe on January 18, 2019, 09:39:09 am
Amazing that we are a month or so from Spring Training and so many guys are still unaffiliated.

I'm amazed by this too.  Though, it makes me think that with each passing day there is a greater chance of Keuchel coming back for a 1 year contract.
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: MusicMan on January 18, 2019, 10:03:44 am
I'm amazed by this too.  Though, it makes me think that with each passing day there is a greater chance of Keuchel coming back for a 1 year contract.

I fully agree with this.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: juliogotay on January 18, 2019, 10:04:25 am
I'm amazed by this too.  Though, it makes me think that with each passing day there is a greater chance of Keuchel coming back for a 1 year contract.

I can't imagine that. He has very good offers. He could screw the pooch on a 1-year deal, or get hurt,  and not come close to his current offers.
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: TerryPuhl21 on January 18, 2019, 10:05:02 am
I’ve thought all along that we could be in on Harper but that it would only be a short 3 or 4 year deal with a very high AAV. Of course it would mean Crane would have to sign off on going over the luxury tax but I could see him doing that. Our window to win another title is 2-4 more years for sure. No guarantees after that. If I could get Harper for 3 at 120 I’d do it. Then I’d try to move Tucker for some starting pitching depth that had some years left before free agency. This lineup would rake......

Springer
Altuve
Harper
Bregman
Correa
Brantley
Gurriel




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: moriartp on January 18, 2019, 10:08:53 am
I’ve thought all along that we could be in on Harper but that it would only be a short 3 or 4 year deal with a very high AAV.


Or even one year at a very high value.
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: moriartp on January 18, 2019, 10:11:40 am
What exactly would be the reason?

I think it was to demonstrate that they’re serious about wanting him in Houston. I don’t expect him to sign here, but I think the Astros do want him.
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: subnuclear on January 18, 2019, 10:12:03 am
Amazing that we are a month or so from Spring Training and so many guys are still unaffiliated.

I'm not amazed that teams are planning on lower cable money in the future and want to reign in big contracts.
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: TeeJoe on January 18, 2019, 10:20:52 am
I can't imagine that. He has very good offers. He could screw the pooch on a 1-year deal, or get hurt,  and not come close to his current offers.

Yea, I'm sure Keuchel is weighing that as well.  With many of those teams having signed other options I'm not sure how many offers are still available.
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: TeeJoe on January 18, 2019, 10:25:16 am
I'm not amazed that teams are planning on lower cable money in the future and want to reign in big contracts.

As has been written elsewhere, teams are seeing greater value in young, cheap, multi-years under club control talent.  The era of the long term big money deal has changed.

I guess where I'm amazed is that it seems all the teams have switched to this direction so quickly.
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: moriartp on January 18, 2019, 10:40:31 am
I'm not amazed that teams are planning on lower cable money in the future and want to reign in big contracts.

This isn’t really a threat in the timespan of any contract signed in 2019. Revenue growth is still far outpacing payroll growth.

Not offering big contracts to chunky 32-year-old sluggers is smart. Not offering them to 26-year-old phenoms is dumb.
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: Noe on January 18, 2019, 11:52:59 am
This isn’t really a threat in the timespan of any contract signed in 2019. Revenue growth is still far outpacing payroll growth.

Not offering big contracts to chunky 32-year-old sluggers is smart. Not offering them to 26-year-old phenoms is dumb.

A contract offer now to a 26 year old budding star with opt out clauses in his favor is very attractive for both team and player. Boras will angle for a larger yearly income (no back-loaded deals) with at minimum an opt-out that favors the players in year four (for instance) is doable for both. Boras knows that, but if there is a team that wants to panic and overpay in terms of years and money, he'll welcome it and still seek a favorable opt-out clause. I'd say if a team offers 35 million a year for six or seven years with an opt-out at year four, that teams wins the Harper sweepstakes.

Harper wins if he gets on with a team that is position to win a ring (like the Astros) and in his 29th or 30th year, he could opt-out and get another big contract from someone else seeking a ring and ready to pay his price.
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: Reuben on January 18, 2019, 02:15:11 pm
I think it was to demonstrate that they’re serious about wanting him in Houston. I don’t expect him to sign here, but I think the Astros do want him.
Demonstrate to who? I'm sure Harper already knew about it. Demonstrate to Astros fans that they tried to do more at the deadline but were foiled by another team's owner, sure, we've seen that PR move employed before.

But I think the only thing that would show fans they're serious about wanting him is if they make a legitimate offer, and leak THAT to the media at some point.
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: NeilT on January 18, 2019, 02:33:03 pm
When does the hot stove season start? I'm ready for the winter meetings and some big signings by the Stros!
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: juliogotay on January 18, 2019, 02:36:56 pm
When does the hot stove season start? I'm ready for the winter meetings and some big signings by the Stros!

we are well into it.
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: Reuben on January 18, 2019, 02:41:09 pm
we are well into it.
Either your sarc-meter has been irreparably damaged, or mine has.
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: NeilT on January 18, 2019, 02:46:44 pm
Either your sarc-meter has been irreparably damaged, or mine has.

Maybe I'm out of practice.
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: moriartp on January 18, 2019, 03:21:25 pm
Demonstrate to who? I'm sure Harper already knew about it. Demonstrate to Astros fans that they tried to do more at the deadline but were foiled by another team's owner, sure, we've seen that PR move employed before.

I'm not sure he would—Rizzo & ownership might well have kept that quiet. And he might not have known the destination even if he knew a trade had been nixed.

It could just be to let the fans know they tried. But the information clearly came from the Astros, who don't leak a drop unless they mean to. So I figure there's purpose behind it when something does get out.
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: juliogotay on January 18, 2019, 03:27:43 pm
Either your sarc-meter has been irreparably damaged, or mine has.

I need a drink. Damn post-holiday self-denial period.

Meanwhile, https://houston.sportsmap.com/jim-crane-says-luhnow-wants-to-make-a-couple-more-moves
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: MusicMan on January 18, 2019, 03:30:53 pm
I need a drink. Damn post-holiday self-denial period.

Are you still... master of your domain?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: juliogotay on January 18, 2019, 03:34:47 pm
Are you still... master of your domain?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

At my advancing age it is not that hard...err difficult.
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: JimR on January 27, 2019, 07:27:58 pm
Demonstrate to who? I'm sure Harper already knew about it. Demonstrate to Astros fans that they tried to do more at the deadline but were foiled by another team's owner, sure, we've seen that PR move employed before.

But I think the only thing that would show fans they're serious about wanting him is if they make a legitimate offer, and leak THAT to the media at some point.

So cynical. So they were lying about Britton and Harper, eh? Cite your sources, please.
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: Reuben on January 27, 2019, 10:54:57 pm
So cynical. So they were lying about Britton and Harper, eh? Cite your sources, please.
I don't think they were lying. I believe the O's and Nats owners nixed those deals. But it was definitely a PR move for Crane/Luhnow to share that info. I'm sure there are plenty of nixed-deals around baseball where one team could make another team look bad or foolish by sharing what happened, but they don't.
Title: Re: AL West News 2019
Post by: VirtualBob on January 28, 2019, 08:52:34 am
I don't think they were lying. I believe the O's and Nats owners nixed those deals. But it was definitely a PR move for Crane/Luhnow to share that info. I'm sure there are plenty of nixed-deals around baseball where one team could make another team look bad or foolish by sharing what happened, but they don't.
Well then! As long as you are sure ...