Open Thread: Help Wanted (Reminder)
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I’m re-posting this in case anyone missed it on Friday. We’re looking bring one or two weekend writers aboard, and all of the information on how to apply, what exactly we’re looking for, etc. can be found here. Read that post in its entirety before applying, please. A few people have asked and yes, you can write your posts whenever you want and schedule them to be published at the time slots we’re looking to fill.
Do not send in a second application if you’ve already applied. We already have 60 or so of these things clogging up our inboxes, and we don’t need duplicates. If you do send in a second email, we just won’t give you the position. Harsh, but fair. Because of Thanksgiving, don’t expect to hear back from us until next week at the earliest. With any luck we’ll have this whole process wrapped up by the end of next week.
We’ll accept applications until tomorrow night’s Open Thread is posted at 7 p.m. Eastern time. Thanks in advance, and good luck.
And with that, here’s tonight’s open thread. MNF has the Broncos at the Chargers, plus the Rangers and Devil are playing as well (not each other). You guys know the drill, so have at it.
165 Comments»
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Let’s see if the Rangers don’t lose. They seem to each time I watch them.
Well stop watching every game!
I’m 1-0 so far when i go to games at MSG. I hope to keep it that way.
so you dont want them to play any more games at MSG? I would hope to improve to 2-0 at least!
I’m 2-0 when watching the Yankees on the road.
1 in Shea. 1 in Oakland Coliseum
Pat Neshek and Jared Burton for bullpen help if they do get nontender?
I heart Jared Burton.
his arm would seriously be awesome
So the Hakeem Nicks injury is legit serious and scary—and I’m a Jets fan.
“Compartment Syndrome” might be the worst ratio of “serious, scary ailment” to “benign and fairly mundane name” of all the potential human maladies.
It doesn’t sound bad, but it can be very bad. People lose limbs to that shit.
Jason Taylor had it a few years ago with Washington and only missed 2 games but was limited the rest of the season.
And he had the scary acute kind, too, according to the NJ.com article I read.
Two notes:
1) I’m not a doctor.
2) Do NOT google image for fasciotomy while eating.
Yeah, seriously. If you’re at all queasy or grossed out by blood/injuries/abnormalities, don’t Google Image Search either compartment syndrome or fasciotomy (one of its treatments).
Not pretty.
That could pretty much be said for anything one types on Google Image search. As long as the safe search remains on, there is no need to worry (in most cases).
FACT: Everytime I Google Image Search “Salma Hayek’s boobs”, I’m never grossed out or made queasy.
What about GISing “Salma Hayek’s boobs fasciotomy”?
http://images.google.com/image.....8;gs_rfai=
Nothing.
was google image search around back when salma hayek was hot?
And of course, you’ve possessed me to do so.
Do NOT google image for fasciotomy while eating.
Pfft. Wuss.
Whoops.
Wasn’t that bad though, I’ve seen worse.
So a friend and I were discussing the Yankees at lunch. We got onto the topic of Robbie. He said he would trade Cano for Ryan Braun. Discussion questions of the night:
1) Would you trade Cano for Braun?
2) Who would you trade Cano to and for what?
I would trade Cano to KC for nothing short of Moustakas/Montgomery plus another high end guy.
1. Absolutely not. Think about the number of outfielders that play up to Braun’s caliber, and then think about the number of 2B that play up to Cano’s. Easy one.
2. This isn’t as easy. Probably Felix Hernandez, Tim Lincecum, or any premier, young ace.
Based on the present construction of the Yankees, no one.
No way I would trade him for prospects.
Seconded. Ryan Braun? Are you people serious?
Not my idea. My friend is nuts. He honestly thinks that Melky is better than Granderson in every way possible.
What does Bruan offer that would make the Yankees trade for him, especially for Cano
The Yankees have all above average players playing the OF.
Cano is a 2B producing the same offense as Braun whos an OFer. Not a very good one at that.
I would trade him for a young established pitcher ala David Price. NOT a prospect whos still in the minors.
Maybe Tulo if I could move Jeter to 2B.
Oh, that, too.
I’ve got a feeling Jeter at 2B wouldn’t be much better than Jeter at SS.
Just my hunch. (I still think he’d make a solidly above average defensive leftfielder, though.)
I just have two concerns about that type of move. Is Tulo still a .900 OPS+ outside of Coors for half his games and you never know what is going to happen when you start switching positions. You would think Jeter could move over to 2B but still a risk.
Tulo has a .359 wOBA outside of Coors for his career (.834 OPS).
Tulo’s career split:
Home: 1174 PA, .312/.383/.544
Away: 1194 PA, .269/.342/.448
My enthusiasm wanes.
The only thing that significantly drops is his IsoP. Granted, that’s a big deal but it’s still good away from home (.179), especially for a shortstop. His IsoD is also .073 away, whereas it’s .071 at home.
I’d say the only thing that significantly drops is “everything”.
But the rates stay the same, or at a still solid level. That makes me less worried about Tulo away from home than if his IsoD and IsoP plummeted to unacceptable levels. We should also remember that many of his away games are played in pitchers’ parks.
Tulo last two years on the road narrows the gap.
.267/.352/.507
.291/.358/.504
For this particular team I’d take Cano, but if starting a team I’d lean towards Tulo.
Remember the Rockies are in the NL West and he plays a lot of away games in those pitcher-friendly parks.
On the road, Tulo has hit .269/.342/.448. That’s not demigod production, but it’s still better than the steaming pile of poop that is an AL SS.
Tulo Home: .312/.383/.544
Away: .269/.342/.448
http://www.baseball-reference......8;t=b#site
Looking at some stadiums considered pitcher friendly he seems to have really low numbers. Haven’t looked too hard but the only good numbers in hard hitting ballparks are in AT&T park.
Just looked at Cano’s ballpark numbers and he’s a .359 hitter in Fenway in 220 ABs. I love Cano.
Woah, would you rather have Cano or Tulo? I think I’m going with Cano because he’s a lefty in Yankee Stadium and I think he’s better at hitting for average and less SO prone.
I wouldn’t rather have Tulo than Cano. My initial reaction is that there isn’t a player in MLB I would trade Cano for.
I am just backtracking on that slightly and saying I would consider Tulo.
Yea but I agree with you that its definitely something to think about. Why can’t we just have Tulo and Cano?
Patience mbonzo. 2014. The Dream Team of Tulo and Cano. ‘TuCano’ DP Combo.
No one, except a bonafide ace like Johnson or Hernandez.
I would rather just sign Lee.
I am more concerned about the offense over the next several years than the pitching.
From an organizational standpoint they are also much deeper in pitching in the minors.
I don’t the Yankees could afford to lose a offensive stud like Cano in his prime.
I would rather just sign Lee.
Oh of course. I’m not presenting this as an alternative, just a hypothetical.
Yeah I know. I bet you are not alone willing to trade Cano for a young stud pitcher. Bryan above agrees with you for example.
I think there is definitely an argument to be made there, just not something I would do.
1. Cano as a 2B is worth more than Braun as an OF. Braun is one of the best hitting outfielders in the game, but they are a lot easier to come by than second baseman. You could argue between the two of them on who has more potential, but Cano looks like he’s a slightly better hitter right now and is a better fielder.
How about Cano for Longoria? I think I’d do it for his contract alone. Cano’s making more money now and will be making huge money soon, Longo’s locked in for cheap money for quite a while.
I don’t know if I would do that. I think there are less quality second baseman available than third baseman. If he was traded, I think it would have to be for another 2B, SS, C, or a SP.
How do you construct the team if you did that though?
I’d assume Arod would be your next 2B. I can’t imagine them moving him back to SS and then Jeter to 2B.
That’s the tough question. In a vacuum I’d do it in a heartbeat. As is, can Longo play 2B for a year or so? If you think he can you can move him there, then once A-Rod is full time DH Longo could go back to 3rd. Hold on to Adams as your potential future 2B.
Otherwise there would have to be subsequent trade(s) to make it work.
TSJC, you believing in Danny Woodhead yet?
I believe in Tom Brady. Does that satisfy you?
I’m confident in saying that all of the Patriots “skill position” players would look far, far worse if they didn’t have a quarterback who constantly gave them the ball at the precise spot on the field to enable them to beat defenders.
Woodhead, Green-Ellis, Branch, Welker, Tate, Gronkowski, Hernandez, etc. etc… like David Givens, David Patten, Troy Brown, Antowain Smith, Corey Dillon, etc.
It’s all Brady. He’s a top-10-all-time QB. Legitimately makes others around him markedly better.
Enjoy it.
who constantly gave them the ball at the precise spot on the field to enable them to beat defenders.
I had this discussion at work today about Brady. Matt Cassel had a very solid year for the Pats a few years ago, but the huge difference would be that while Cassel would complete the same pass as Brady, Brady would put it exactly where it needed to be, which led to extra yards. That’s one of the big differences between good and great QB’s. They could throw and complete the exact same passes over the course of a game, but the great QB gets an extra 50 yards for being so precise.
Back to Woodhead, he’s a hell of a lot better than I thought. He definitely needs to be used properly and have the right people around him, but he’s taken advantage of his situation.
All of that.
If J.J. Hardy ends up being non-tendered, where does wind up?
Probably somewhere like St. Louis, Seattle, San Francisco, Angels, etc.
So I’m bored, running low on reading material at the moment and not in the mood to read anything currently on my bookshelf/Kindle. Any good book recommendations?
I’ve recommended this a couple of times on here:
Hunter S. Thompson’s Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F....._las_vegas
Yeah, Fear and Loathing is awesome. Sadly, I’ve already read it
Fear and Loathing on The Campaign Trail by Thompson was also quite interesting.
How do you like your Kindle? I’m thinking about getting one. I don’t read as much as I’d like to anymore – hoping that would give me some incentive to get back into it.
I heart my Kindle. I have the DX (the big one, latest generation). Mind you it’s not cheap, but it’s pretty much like reading on paper. I have terrible eyesight and my eyes get tired really easily but I haven’t had any issues with the Kindle at all, whereas when I tried reading on an iPad good times were not had. Easily one of the best purchasing decisions I’ve made.
Oh, and it’s fabulous for travel. The battery lasts forever if you turn off the WiFi.
I too have less than stellar vision. Partly because I stare at a computer all day. At the end of the day, I’ll get some “floaters” in my line of sight when staring at bright backgrounds (like computer monitors). Hopefully the Kindle can limit that.
I’m thinking about getting the basic model – wifi only. Should work for me, and I can put the extra money towards reading material. Although I do like the idea of getting many of the classics for free. That’s very enticing.
One of the few things holding me back is that I don’t like being locked in to paying retail for every book. I get a lot of my books used (some new) from half.com for quite cheap. Although the price of kindle books is cheaper than regular paperback retail prices.
Hopefully I’ve dropped enough hints and my wife picks me up one for Christmas.
Thanks for the input – I’ve really seen so few negative comments about it.
Supposedly Kindle is also rolling out a lending feature, too, which excites me.
Oh, it hasn’t started yet? I asked for one for my birthday and this is one of the reasons I decided I wanted it.
It may have started already – I haven’t checked.
I’ve found I don’t blink at the typical $9.99 Kindle price.
And, there are many, many great books for less than that, and TONS of wonderful books that are free. You can get all the information about great free book sites (besides Amazon, which also has a huge number of free books) on the Amazon Kindle forums as well as information on software to help you manage all these books
I’m finding I’m reading more and paying less. The ability to preview a chapter for free is a HUGE benefit and a great way to make a decision about a book I think I might be interested in. And, I’m a big underliner so I love being able to highlight sections and these are stored as a text file. No typing!
(I’m also trying to limit the amount of paper books I acquire and most of those are technical/studio books that I buy in that format because they are filled with the sort of full color illustrations that don’t translate well to the Kindle.)
Whoops, forgot to add that I have about the worst eyesight you can have, and the ability to increase the text size on the Kindle is wonderful. It’s the easiest, most stress-free readIng experience I can imagine. Plus, if it’s enabled for the particular book, you can have your Kindle read to you!
I can read really really fast but I can read even faster on my Kindle.
Saturday Night and Sunday Morning by Alan Sillitoe.
Confederacy of Dunces
Master & Margarita
Read both. Confederacy of Dunces is fantastic and M&M is on my “re-read every 2 years list.”
Ahh KLaw has his KLaw 101 that’s worth looking at.
Awesome, thanks! *runs off to check out KLaw’s list*
Had to read “A Pickpockets Tale,” it was pretty good and I usually hate reading.
So the Flames are named after Sherman’s burning of Atlanta? Why on earth would a southern team have wanted to honor that?
#didijusthearthatright
… that doesn’t make sense. That would be like the New England Patriots being named “The New England Loyalists”.
Not a hockey fan, but weren’t they the Calgary Flames once upon a time?
They were founded in Atlanta in 1972 before moving to Calgary in 1980, per Wiki. Also from Wiki:
“Cousins named the team the “Flames” after the fire resulting from the March to the Sea in the American Civil War by General William Tecumseh Sherman, in which Atlanta was nearly destroyed. They played home games in the Omni Coliseum in downtown Atlanta.”
Two questions.
1) What would be the effect of switching Cano and Tex in the 3 and 5 spot?
2) Does WAR take into account the number of pitches a batter sees? I am asking this in relation to the effectiveness of Gardner.
As far as I know,
Minimal.
No.
1) I like the idea of moving Cano to the number 3 hole. He’s a better contact hitter than Teix and you’re going to want a good contact hitter with some power and relatively high OBP there. Cano fits it perfectly but his GDP might be a bit of a problem. He had 4 more than Teix last year when batting in the 5 hole. I think they should give him a chance in 2011 because Teix strikesout a little too much to be batting there when we have Cano.
2)Don’t think so. http://triplesalley.wordpress......layer-war/
1) A few things to consider with this. It, presumably, gets Cano a few dozen more ABs over the course of the season, which isn’t a bad idea for a guy in his prime like Cano. Next, what is the effect on A-rod? Do pitchers start throwing A-rod junk, allowing him to get on base to pitch to Tex? Something to think about. My opinion, the benefits and risks even out so that there’s probably little gain, if any.
2) As said, nope.
According to this , the fifth spot might be more valuable than the 3rd spot, and the 3rd spot is not as important as many people would think.
And, with that it might be best to put Robbie 2nd.
Kemba. Walker. Matty?
He’s basketball-gasmic.
Kemba is playing some of the best UConn basketball I’ve seen in years. Ben Gordon is probably the last one to take over 2 straight games like that.
If the Yankees offer Jeter arbitration and he declines, the Yankees do not get a draft pick if they sign him to a multi-year deal, right?
You do not get a pick if you sign your own free agents. But say if Jeter signed with the Padres, then you do.
Thanks, needed to double check that.
Beautiful play by Boyle and Fedotenko.
You know, the Lee for Smoak trade doesn’t look so bad (long-term) when you consider that the Rangers will likely get a 1st round pick in a epic draft year.
Idk they trade Smoak, an 11th overall pick, along with 3 other guys who could actually be really good. Lueke and Lawson did really well in the minors this year. Even if the draft is “epic”, who knows what will be available with the Ranger’s 31st pick.
Plus a sandwich round pick. The draft picks were always considered part of the deal from Texas’ standpoint.
Besides, sometimes you need to trade your best prospect to make your nearly irrelevant franchise a WS contender. The Rangers needed to make that deal much more than the Yanks. Not only did it make them significantly better, but it gave the franchise the best 3 months they’ve ever had.
That said, they’d be out of their minds to re-sign Lee at the prices being discussed. They need to lock down Hamilton, Cruz and Kinsler, and either sell high on CJ Wilson or consider locking him up. Wouldn’t hurt them to spend some money on a closer and move Neftali to the rotation – doubt it will happen though.
Hypothetical situation: You’re Cashman. Yankees miss out on Lee. Yankees would then pursue one of Crawford or Werth. If the Braves asked for Gardner in return for Jair Jurrjens, would you do it?
Btw, I’ve been lurking on a Braves blog and they came up with the trade suggestion.
I might try to aim a little higher first.
Yup, I like the idea of Chris Carpenter. He wouldn’t cost the Yankees Gardner and the 1 year contract would leave the Yankees more wiggle room in 2012 or 2013 (theres an option on Carpenter) with the influx of pitching prospects.
I know we brought him up in as the mystery pitcher, but is he really available? We have no idea. And I still think it would cost more than just Gardner to get him. That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t ask, but I think the cost is higher than we think.
Haven’t heard about him being on the block, plus he’ll have 10/5 rights.
I have also been lurking at a Cardinals blog and they brought up the idea of trading Carpenter to the Yankees. I know they aren’t the Cardinals GM but they wanted Hughes in return for Carp. In this case, I’d say HELLLLL NOOOOO.
But in reality, I think the Cards would ask for too much in return for Carp. I’d look for someone else to buy low on instead.
They’re crazy if they are thinking about Hughes. The whole point of getting Carpenter is to straighten out the starting pitchers… how would trading away one of them help? If they do trade him, he’ll be on the market to primarily lower their payroll. That said, it will take some prospects to pry him away, but nothing in the realm of Hughes.
If the Braves asked for Gardner in return for Jair Jurrjens, would you do it?
Hell no. Jurrjens is so overrated, it’s not even funny.
Really? I know he’s not a sub-3 era pitcher but I thought he was a young decent groundball pitcher. Never seen him pitch though..
he’s better than hughes..
Hah!
WHAT.
I’d be willing to bet you know very little about Jair and are just whining about Hughes.
First Name Only Male Handle Rule!
Dontrelle Willis has agreed to a deal with the Reds. Is he an idiot? Does he not realize that when he’s up to 120 pitches in the 3rd inning Dusty Baker still won’t take him out?
You should have seen how excited Baker was when he found out he’d have someone with the team to pitch if there was sun outside in Cincinnati.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports.....aker_x.htm
Wow. I’d never seen that before.
When you suck like Dontrelle Willis, you jump on any deal you can get.
This.
Dontrelle’s lucky he’s not bagging groceries right about now.
He’s made over 40 mil playing baseball.
OK, bagging very, VERY expensive groceries for a Saudi Prince.
Happy?
He’s he survives 60 pitches these days.
He’s lucky*
Devils winning 5-0. Who spiked their Gatorade?
…and why didn’t they do it, oh a month ago?
You can’t predict… hockey?
Has Kovalchuk scored any goals?
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/.....hburn.html
Wow, I know there’s a good chance this year will produce some ridiculous contracts or starters, given how thin the market is, but signing a guy who didn’t even pitch in 2010 to a guaranteed deal still sounds crazy to me.
Thats how bad the market is for starting pitchers. When Pavano is the backup plan to Lee, you know theres a problem with the market.
Yeah, didn’t the Reds just sign Dontrelle Willis today? Slim pickins out there.
Can Pedro Martinez be far behind?
..or Roger Clemens?
Bill Lee
Sign him up. I’m sure the Mets are looking for someone to replace Oliver Perez.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/.....-year.html
Just give Mo 2 damn years. Let him pitch as long as he wants and keep performing whatever human sacrifices are required to keep him sustained.
ATTN: Steve:
I’m gonna take this for 11 tomorrow. Is that cool?
Wait, where are you taking me? The sacrifice bit was a joke, Matty! A JOKE!
Yeah, go for it. I got nothing but a ‘Happy Thanksgiving’ post planned for this week and I’ll be swamped at work for the next few days.
Cool; yeah, I’ll pump out something Thanksgiving inspired for Thursday.
It’s a negotiation. Start far apart, sit down and talk, meet somewhere in the middle. Everyone likes to act like Jeter and Mo are so different because they’re great players, they’re not. It’ll be the same negotiation style that goes on every year with every player. The fact they may overpay one or both is really irrelevant when you say “just get it done”
If they meet Mo in the middle of 2yr/$36M I’ll be pleased.
Would you do 1/19? May not be in the budget if they offer Lee and Jeter what everyone thinks.. but they may have to.
Either way it’s an overpay. You guys in the overpay Jeter group too?
Obviously I (we?) would prefer not to but I (we?) accept it as an inevitability. Just hoping to keep it within reason.
Sorry to lump you in with others. Yeah, I guess it’s a necessary evil.
I mean, if you’re asking me to pick Mo or Lee/Jeter, I’m taking Lee/Jeter. I feel better with Mo and 2 years than Jeter and 4 years though …
If it’s about winning in 2011, it’s gotta be Lee/Jeter.
How about you offer arb to BOTH Jeter and Rivera and pray they accept?
That would be one nasty arb hearing if it got to that.
Staal nearly killed that man. Poor guy had noodle legs trying to skate back to the bench.
Knowing the market is actually pretty closer heavy and shortstop empty in 2011, and could only resign one of Jeter or Mo, who would it be?
Jeter. Replacing his production at short will be painful to watch. Replacing Mo’s production will be easier. And it is also easier to get lucky with relievers. Not so much with shortstops.
Exactly, I agree so much. I think you have to play hardball with Jeter, but whenever a Jeter negotiation post comes up people say that he doesn’t deserve even the initial offer and to replace him with Nunez.
Thankfully, we don’t have to make that choice between Jeter and Mo. The Yanks have plenty of money to sign both of them and get Lee.
And yea, I don’t get the people that are looking to low ball Jeter and move on to Nunez. I’m just thankful they are not running the organization.
Didn’t we have this discussion already?
1 year / $18 million.
Keep it year to year. Mo’s age-defying execution of his cut fastball can’t go on forever.
You know what, it probably can. Mo can probably be effective enough throwing that cutter at 85-86 until he is 50. I seriously would not bet against that.
But the changeup!
If the speed of his pitches isn’t what’s getting people out (which it isn’t), then maybe it can – at least two more years.
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is fucking ill
hell yes
RT @SensChirp caught a SNET interview with NL MVP Votto. When asked how he’ll celebrate, replied w/ “gonna get hella drunk.”
If you were a FA, and you could block a trade to 5 teams, which 5 would they be?
Red Sox, Royals, Indians, Diamondbacks, and Rangers.
Cle, TB, Mil, Tor, Det
I forgot about the Royals. Throw them in the mix too.