Nov
20
Open Thread: Mo on the mound
ByThe good news is that Mariano Rivera has thrown off a mound recently. The bad news is that it was only for the commercial you see above. Once the two sides hammer out a contract and Spring Training starts in like, three months, Mo will be back on a mound in real live games. Hooray for that. It’s been too long.
Here is your open thread for the evening. Both the Knicks and Nets are playing, but talk about whatever you like here. Have at it.
65 Comments»
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HIROK !!!!!!
A very nice first major move of the off-season. More to come! (I hope)
All that action today with them adding guys to the 40-man sure was exciting…
If not for the news from a few minutes ago it would’ve been just another day so far this offseason.
I stand corrected, I guess maybe they did add people, but no one wanted to post it anywhere…
So, what’s up with the pay cut… Was Cashman talking $10M or like $2M? For real, give Mo his money and let’s move on.
Mo is a different situation than Kuroda. However, I’m really disappointed they leaked that info. There was no need. Negotiate with him, not with the media.
Yeah, I understand going to the media for Jeter’s negotiations, but they handled it terribly…as for Mo no reason for “anonymous” sources to go public with that.
Yeah, I understand what they were trying to do with Jeter, but I didn’t like it then either. I think most of us agree, this is a different situation.
Absolutely. Mo, even coming off knee surgery, is probably going to be better then 98% of closers in baseball, so pay him his money and get on with it.
Completely agreed no need to nickle and dime the greatest closer in baseball history that is about to end his career.
Mo will get his due. I’m sure of that.
Am I the only one who isn’t really concerned with age when it comes to Kuroda? I mean I’m slightly nervous about the innings he threw last year in comparison to the rest of his career. The thing is though, even at 37 last year he was better then most other pitchers in baseball last year, and pitchers like him (that use location and movement as much as velocity) generally don’t fall of the cliff when they decline, it’s more of a slow regression then a sudden drop off, so even if he takes a small step back next year he’s still going to be at least above average.
Yea and I think the fact he had a new career high in innings would just strengthen his arm to go longer this year, he might be a little rocky at first but he should be fine
It’s perfectly reasonable to expect some decline. But even some decline would still leave the team with an extremely solid mid-rotation starter.
Given the composition of the team and the $189 plan, guys like Kuroda are the optimal solution, IMO.
Good riddance to Robert Andino. Very glad to have that pest out of the AL East. Ciriaco next!
When is the Yankees final rule 5 draft list come out I hope they protected nik turley!
https://twitter.com/BloggingBombers/status/271016972593033216
Apparently they did, along with Banuelos, Marshall, Flores, Jose Ramirez and Francisco Rondon.
I’m surprised there were so many protected.
Great news!
Mlbtraderumors reporting the yanks are interested in Stephen Drew. He’d be an intriguing option as an infield super-sub, though I have to think he’d prefer to sign somewhere like Boston where he’d have a better starting chance given the offensive offense of Iglesias.
They also say Brent Lillibridge was outrighted by Cleveland, though he can refuse the assignment. He sucks, but you have to wonder if he’d get a look by the Yanks given that he has basically played every position in his career.
Heh, iPad autocorrected mlbtr to mlbtraderumors. You know you’ve made it when you’re an autocorrect solution.
+1
Hiroki Kuroda is back and if Andy returns we’ll have one of the best staffs in baseball. Certainly enough to compete with the Jays and Rays.
CC
Andy
Kuroda
Hughes
Phelps/Nova
Hiroki made the right decision. He can pitch one more then go be with his family.
Hey guys pretty random question here. Those of you that have tablets do you recommend them? I don’t have one (have an ipod touch though) and have never really seen why they would be all that useful. What do you use them for? With black friday coming up i figure there will be tons of deals on and if i wanted one now would be the best time to buy. Not really interested in the ipad but the nexus and kindle fire are my more likely choices.
iPads are the gold standard, but the Kindle Fire is really great bang for the buck. Everyone in my immediate family has one.
How’s the reader on the kindle fire? I can’t read for long periods on laptop screens. Would I have the same issue on the kindle fire?
and by reader i mean screen haha
We have an iPad and love it. Use it to pass the time with apps sometimes, but mostly use it for Internet/email purposes. Much easier than holding a whole laptop, though typing is much slower. If youre a desktop person instead of laptop, then its easier to bring it with you rather than going to your computer, if for example its away from your tv or something. Our baby also loves holding it and even playing with some of the bubbles apps and other things on it, if you’re in a similar situation.
Yup. My son likes the Bubbles apps as well. He’s surprisingly adept at the IPad, and it kept him calm throughout both our flights last week.
If you need app advice, the Peekaboo series is a favorite around here, as are the Byron Barton ebooks and Duck Duck Moose apps.
I am
looking at porn ontyping on my iPad right now. You don’t realize how useful and necessary these things are until you have one. If for no other reason, int the Internet world we live in, it’s a quicker easier gateway to the net than your laptop and bigger than your iPod (for the aforementioned porn…).I constantly use mines for Netflix, RAB (naturally), HBOGO, and my kids use it for homework, MneCraft, and Angry Birds… Plus the usual apple stuff like music and photos and stuff.
My brother in law works in Best Buy management, so naturally he’s had every toy imaginable. He’s had Android tabs, but he likes the iPad more, FWIW… Just a little more pricey than the rest is all.
Highly HIGHLY reccomend an iPad, if you’ve got the disposable income to part with…
That last part is the most important, though. I have a MacBook Pro laptop and a smart phone. I can’t imagine needing a third device. Sure, if I had money and hand literally nothing else to spend it on, sure. My parents have an ipad, but between the two of them, they make like $300,000 a year.
I make $25,000 a year currently. Even if I get that secret job I’m in the process off, I’ll still only be at $52,000. Maybe if/when I have kids, I’ll feel differently. But right now, I really don’t see the point of tablets. I spend 40 minutes commuting on the Metro ever day, both ways, and between my phone and books I have, I’m good. And my laptop is more than enough once I get home.
BTW, what were your career plans with your PoliSci degree?
Well I can’t actually tell you. But I am in very, very deep with an application with that. Like an initial application, a telephone interview, an online aptitude test, two personality tests, a secondary application, an information session, an in-person interview, and I am scheduled for a 3 day assessment that consists of a psych evaluation, a second personality exam, and a second in-person interview. That kind of deep. So you are free to draw your own conjectures, but that’s my career plan, and this is for my dream job.
My fall back is several private industry defense jobs (such as BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin) or think tanks (such as the Eurasia Group).
Sounds like you’re applying to be a spy.
He’ll tell you he’s a doctor, though……afterwards.
Glad you seem to be on your way and best of luck.
Working as a defense contractor is an interesting life, but can be both rewarding and provide a good income. However, you do work at the whim of the government and whichever party is in office and how they feel about our nations defense. I’ve had good luck with both Democratic and Republican leadership in office, but there are times where you do get nervous about what the government is doing or going to do. I speak from experience. I work for General Dynamics.
Appreciate it. Hopefully I will be a bit removed from politics, if I get what I want. Let’s just say….I would be a bit more narrowly focused. Like part of a 5-6 man team, and that would be my life. What happens after me would be out of my control.
Also had you ever considered working for the state department at an embassy overseas? I lived overseas for much of my life (dad worked for an oil company) and it seems like there are quite a few political analysts and such that work at embassies. Plus, living overseas is an incredible experience! It’s something i definitely want to do in my working career.
If I had life to do over again, I’d like for any opportunity to live/work overseas for a period of time. It gives you a perspective you can’t get being isolated in this country of ours, as great as it may be.
My wife reminds me at least once a week that, if I were to back and get my PhD, we could both be on academic schedules and live abroad for a summer.
I completely agree with you. If I had known better, even when I was in college, I would have done a semester abroad.
Yeah it really does. After having lived the majority of my life abroad I actually can’t imagine settling down in one city for many years. The longest place I’ve ever lived anywhere so far is here in Canada while going to university (4th year now) and average is 3 years. To me living in one place all your life seems much stranger than moving regularly. Funny how it all works out.
Where in Canada? I did my undergrad at University of Vermont, and we used to jet up to Montreal all the time.
Nova Scotia. It’s nice here, a little cold for my liking though.
Never been, but I’ve heard good things.
I have considered it. I studied abroad in Amman, Jordan, so naturally, that experience is attractive to such institutions, especially since I speak a bit of Arabic. To be honest, I put it off for a long time because I had a serious girlfriend here in the states. We broke up a few months ago, so I am now reconsidering that. I almost enrolled in a Navy Intel Officer position, but turned it down because I didn’t want to go active duty with my girl at home. Now that I’m single, I might do that. We shall see.
You and my sister-in-law’s boyfriend, who has a Masters in Islamic Studies, would get along so well, or at least have great FB conversations.
I was a Middle Eastern Studies minor as well. I love that stuff. It’s my academic wheelhouse. Nothing I enjoy talking about more. Literally every academic paper I’ve written in the last several years has been about MidEast politics.
I visited Amman a few years ago. Lovely city. I loved all of Jordan actually. Definitely want to go back. If the middle east weren’t such a mess these days I would actually love to go to tons of places there.
Jordan is severely underrated tourist destination, IMO. I LOVED it there. Never encountered friendlier people anywhere else in the world, and that includes America. I love the country, love the people, and love the sites.
Yeah. It’s really amazing how friendly people are all over the world. I think a lot of people are concerned with what’s been going on in the mid east the last 10+ years so they tend to avoid spots there. But the places i’ve been there have all been incredible, and totally safe.
And for all the hate Palestinians get for the Israeli thing, they are great people too. I know many, many Palestinians, and they are great people. The media is quite deceiving.
Yup totally agreed. Sometimes you may just have to say you’re Canadian
.
Actually funny story. We were in Egypt in 2001 or 2002 (can’t quite remember) and being half Canadian when people asked us where we were from we would say Canada (figured it was the safer choice). Then they would all say “Oh, Canada Dry”
I’m in a pretty similar situation to you. If i were overflowing with cash i’d get one cause why not. But I just don’t see the point of them (other than surfing the web and such, which would be nice on a tablet i’m sure). I just want to know if it’s really worth dishing out the cash for one.
They’re a little pricey for me and I actually haven’t had good experiences with several apple products. Plus I like the more customizable android OS. Can’t decide if I need one to be honest. They just seem like $300+ toys. Tablets don’t seem to be super common among college students (of which I am). Probably due to income constraints. I do like my tech gadgets though.
The fake MS Office app, which is probably the priciest app I’ve ever paid for at $20, is absolutely awesome, I must say. I may wind up asking for a wireless keyboard for Christmas.
I’m a huge IPad and IPhone fan, even though I don’t consider myself to be an Apple fanboy in the least. You just can’t beat the depth of what’s available, as well as ease of use.
So, what external speakers should I get when I buy a new iPad for Christmas? My wife (who’s severely technologically challenged) wants one, and I figure I’ll get some use out of it too.
No clue, actually. I’d assume to stay away from Logitech and the such. I use M-Audios for my PC 5.1 setup and like them. Perhaps they’ve got something?
No idea specifically about ipad external speakers but I have a pair of logitech 2.1 speakers for my PC and love them. Great sound quality and volume at a really good price.
Logitech makes solid PC speakers, but they don’t make good full-range speakers that I know of. For music, you’re definitely going to want something that captures the full range of sound.
Yeah I guess it depends what you want. I’m very pleased with my Logitech Z623′s. They are a little overpowered in the bass with slightly lower mids and highs but it’s not bad. And you can adjust the sub anyway to balance it more. They’ll fill up a good sized room well too. My roommate has a pair big sony system that we use for larger parties.
But I’m not sure you’ll find a much better mid-tier sound system for under $100. And they’re THX certified, if that means much.
Anyone else just super-giddy with the new Soundgarden album? I didn’t realize how much I really missed listening to Kim Thayil on guitar.
I wonder if Kuroda getting a $5M raise (1.5X his 2012 salary and a 50% raise) means the Yanks got Mo to accept $10M.
“Mo we really need Kuroda back. We want to give him a $5M raise, think that’s what it will take to get him. Would you be willing to take $5M less so we can get him back? You’re still making $25M an average of $12.5M a year across 2012-13.”
“Sure.”
That’s that. I don’t think $10M is a disrespectful offer, especially considering Mo got injured doing something he should’ve never done and should be forbidden to do from hereonin (shagging flyballs in pre-game.)
The way I see it, he’d be paid a year and $25M ($15M he barely worked for in 2012 + $10M in 2013) cuz he barely did anything for the 2012 Yankees. Who’s to say he’ll do much in 2013? He could get hurt again and/or suck.
I just don’t see how the Yanks owe him anything. They’ve always paid him top dollar. He’s the one who once threatened to sign with the Red Sox. I don’t remember the Yanks saying “Oh, we’ll get so-and-so closer if you don’t re-sign.” Mo isn’t the end all be all of closers. There will be a Yankee closer one day who will have as many as five to ten seasons in a row like years Mo has had. Maybe not in our lifetime, but there will be at least one new guy kicking ass. Did any of us look at Don Mattingly in 1987 and think that just nine years later we’d have a shortstop who would amass over 3300 hits? I doubt it, but yet it happened, Jeter came into our lives. I think a new closer will come around and kick ass. Maybe not like Mo but you gonna bitch about a 45 saves in 48 opportunities, 1.87 ERA from a new guy? No.
My dream 2013 team:
1. Gardner CF
2. Jeter SS
3. Cano 2B
4. Tex 1B
5. ARod 3B/DH
6. Carlos Pena DH (also backup first basemen, sign for 1 yr $6 million
7. Victorino RF (days off against tough righties, 1 yr, $10 million)
8. Granderson LF
9. Olivo C (Sign Olivo cheap and split time between Romine and Olivo)
C-Romine
OF-Dickerson
2B/3B-Two options:
Matt Downs or Placido Polanco could be easy to get and have shown potential in past.
SS-find defense only SS to play SS when Jeter has a day off. Mike McCoy of Blue Jays comes to mind as extra-cheap option.
Okay I have to put this somewhere, but Mitch Williams just said that Mark Buerlhe should be the ace of The Blue Jays, AND that the Blue Jays have the best Line Up AND best Rotation in the AL. How is he paid money to say this shit.
Okay I have to put this somewhere, but Mitch Williams just said that Mark Buerlhe should be the ace of The Blue Jays, AND that the Blue Jays have the best Line Up AND best Rotation in the AL. How is he paid money to say this shit.
Honestly does him saying stuff like that surprise you?