Originally posted by vansmack:i dont know what that means, google implies its something to do with How I Met Your mother?, which would explain why I dont know what that means
Slap bet?
MLB Playoffs
Originally posted by pdx pollard:Indeed. Best episode of How I met Your Mother to date.
i dont know what that means, google implies its something to do with How I Met Your mother?, which would explain why I dont know what that means
Originally posted by pdx pollard:Cards in pursuit of Kennedy
speaking of prayer, little davey eckstein, your favorite jesus lovin shortstop, will be on Leno tonight, may be the only time I ever watch Leno
Nov 28 - The Cardinals are the front-runners in the three-team race for free-agent second baseman Adam Kennedy that includes the Padres and Blue Jays, the Toronto Star reports.
Kennedy reportedly has a three-year offer on the table from St. Louis worth about $5 million per season.
The Pirates signed two players to minor-league contracts, right-handed starter Ronald Belisario and outfielder Jonel Pacheco. Belisario, 24, was on the Florida Marlins' 40-man roster two years ago but has not pitched since then because of injury. He had a 22-23 record in the minors. Pacheco, 24, batted .264 with 10 home runs in Class A last season.
buccos fever – catch it!!!
buccos fever – catch it!!!
Originally posted by vansmack:I know, I am a hopin' and a wishin' it doesn't happen
Cards in pursuit of Kennedy
Nov 28 - The Cardinals are the front-runners in the three-team race for free-agent second baseman Adam Kennedy that includes the Padres and Blue Jays, the Toronto Star reports.
Kennedy reportedly has a three-year offer on the table from St. Louis worth about $5 million per season.
Apparently they offered Wolf a 3 year deal for more money, but he wanted to go back to so cal, also probably realizes that if he has a good year he will get even more money next year
nooooooooo
Adam Kennedy in as 2B; can't verify money… (reportedly 3-15).
Kip Wells in the back end of the rotation…
Gary Bennett re-signed as backup catcher…
Eli Marrero signed to a minor-league deal.
All are in St. Louis, taking physicals as this is typed.
Kennedy returns to Cardinals with three-year dealBy Jerry Crasnick
ESPN.com
Free agent second baseman Adam Kennedy has reached agreement on a three-year, $10 million deal with the St. Louis Cardinals. The team is expected to announce the contract Tuesday afternoon.
Kennedy was St. Louis' first-round pick and the 20th choice overall in the June 1997 draft. The Cardinals traded him to the Angels with pitcher Kent Bottenfield in 2000 in a deal for outfielder Jim Edmonds.
Agent Paul Cohen said Kennedy turned down more money from two other clubs that had an interest. The Toronto Blue Jays are believed to be one of those teams.
"Adam's going to the World Series champs, to one of the two or three best baseball cities in America, to a place where he's been and he knows well,'' Cohen said. "On a 1-10 happiness scale, he's like a 12 right now.''
Kennedy is a .280 hitter over eight big-league seasons with the Cardinals and Angels.
Jerry Crasnick covers Major League Baseball for ESPN Insider.
ESPN.com
Free agent second baseman Adam Kennedy has reached agreement on a three-year, $10 million deal with the St. Louis Cardinals. The team is expected to announce the contract Tuesday afternoon.
Kennedy was St. Louis' first-round pick and the 20th choice overall in the June 1997 draft. The Cardinals traded him to the Angels with pitcher Kent Bottenfield in 2000 in a deal for outfielder Jim Edmonds.
Agent Paul Cohen said Kennedy turned down more money from two other clubs that had an interest. The Toronto Blue Jays are believed to be one of those teams.
"Adam's going to the World Series champs, to one of the two or three best baseball cities in America, to a place where he's been and he knows well,'' Cohen said. "On a 1-10 happiness scale, he's like a 12 right now.''
Kennedy is a .280 hitter over eight big-league seasons with the Cardinals and Angels.
Jerry Crasnick covers Major League Baseball for ESPN Insider.
good lord, looks like the o's are going to an all bullpen pitching staff-
Orioles work to add Bradford, Williamson to bullpen
By Buster Olney
ESPN The Magazine
The Baltimore Orioles, aggressively making over their bullpen this offseason, are expected to sign right-hander Scott Williamson – the fourth veteran the team has targeted for its middle relief this offseason.
Williamson will receive a one-year deal worth $900,000, plus incentives.
The Orioles have already signed left-hander Jamie Walker and right-hander Danys Baez, and have an agreement in place with right-hander Chad Bradford.
The Baltimore Sun, citing a source, reported that Bradford, who pitched for the Mets last season, was close to accepting a three-year contract from the Orioles.
And now sources say the Orioles will sign Williamson, 30, who has pitched in 328 games in his career, with 55 saves and a 3.32 ERA.
Baltimore entered the offseason eager to rework a bullpen that was 19-25 with a 5.25 ERA and 35 saves in 56 opportunities this year.
Buster Olney is a senior writer at ESPN The Magazine. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Orioles work to add Bradford, Williamson to bullpen
By Buster Olney
ESPN The Magazine
The Baltimore Orioles, aggressively making over their bullpen this offseason, are expected to sign right-hander Scott Williamson – the fourth veteran the team has targeted for its middle relief this offseason.
Williamson will receive a one-year deal worth $900,000, plus incentives.
The Orioles have already signed left-hander Jamie Walker and right-hander Danys Baez, and have an agreement in place with right-hander Chad Bradford.
The Baltimore Sun, citing a source, reported that Bradford, who pitched for the Mets last season, was close to accepting a three-year contract from the Orioles.
And now sources say the Orioles will sign Williamson, 30, who has pitched in 328 games in his career, with 55 saves and a 3.32 ERA.
Baltimore entered the offseason eager to rework a bullpen that was 19-25 with a 5.25 ERA and 35 saves in 56 opportunities this year.
Buster Olney is a senior writer at ESPN The Magazine. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Originally posted by Venerable Bede:Darin Erstad and JC Romero remain unsigned. I'm guessing they're in negotiations with St. Louis as I type….
Kennedy returns to Cardinals with three-year
I am fine with the Cardinals not joining the spending spree (their payroll is pretty high anyway) but at some point it would be nice to sign at least one quality free agent rather than the bargain bin selections
they could have signed Gruzielanek to a cheap deal last year and would be better than Kennedy at 2b and be paying less probably
although working with the bargain bin seems to be working for them better than spending big bucks is working for other teams
(actually Kennedy is making less than he did last year, and Wells is just a 1 year deal, not too bad all things considered)
they could have signed Gruzielanek to a cheap deal last year and would be better than Kennedy at 2b and be paying less probably
although working with the bargain bin seems to be working for them better than spending big bucks is working for other teams
(actually Kennedy is making less than he did last year, and Wells is just a 1 year deal, not too bad all things considered)
i love it when the Yankees are scared!! :)
trying to match the Sox.....
Yanks win Igawa rights with $26M bidESPN.com news services
NEW YORK – The New York Yankees got a chance to sign a Japanese pitcher on their second try this offseason, winning the rights Tuesday to Kei Igawa after losing out to the Boston Red Sox two weeks ago for Daisuke Matsuzaka.
Igawa
New York's offer of $26,000,194 – the last three digits matching his strikeout total this year – was the highest bid among major league teams for Igawa, and it was accepted Tuesday by his Japanese team, the Hanshin Tigers.
"The Yankees are a team with a lot of tradition," Igawa said at a news conference in Osaka. "They get a lot of media attention, like the Tigers do. I was surprised to hear the team bid that much for me, and I feel like today I've taken another step toward realizing my dream."
The Yankees' winning bid was first reported by ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney.
A 27-year-old left-hander, Igawa could compete for a spot at the back of New York's rotation next season behind Chien-Ming Wang, Mike Mussina and Randy Johnson. Carl Pavano, coming off 1½ seasons of injuries, also would be in the rotation if healthy, and the Yankees have expressed possible interest in signing free agents Ted Lilly or Gil Meche.
New York has until midnight at the end of Dec. 28 to work out a contract with Igawa's agent, Arn Tellem – who also represents Yankees left fielder Hideki Matsui.
"Throughout the years, I have enjoyed an excellent working relationship with the Yankees and look forward to completing successful negotiations on behalf of Igawa," Tellem said in a statement. "It will be an honor for me to help put him in pinstripes for the 2007 season."
"We have been following Kei Igawa's very successful and accomplished career in Japan, and we are excited about the opportunity to begin the negotiating process with him," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said in a statement.
The Yankees pay Hanshin only if they reach an agreement with Igawa.
"I am very pleased to have the rights to sign him for the Yankees," owner George Steinbrenner said in a statement issued by spokesman Howard Rubenstein.
Igawa went 14-9 last season with a 2.97 ERA. He tied for the Central League lead in strikeouts – he won strikeout titles in 2002 and 2004.
Igawa faced a touring team of MLB stars this past month, which included Mets stars Jose Reyes and David Wright. Igawa, who faced the MLB stars after a month layoff, gave up a home run to Wright and walked six batters in Japan's 7-2 loss.
Reyes was impressed with Igawa.
"He has good stuff," Reyes told Newsday. "He throws hard and has a good changeup."
Wright, however, gave Igawa mixed reviews.
"I just don't know," Wright told Newsday. "I'd have to see him when he's in midseason form. You send a guy up there after a month layoff and you can't get a handle on a guy. But as far as a lefty goes, he has a sneaky fastball. I thought he threw, for a lefty, an average to above-average fastball, an above-average changeup, and his slider was a little flat. But with a month off, who knows? Could be any number of reasons."
Igawa, the Central League's 2003 MVP, has an 86-60 record with a 3.15 ERA. He would have to play in Japan for three more seasons before he could become a free agent.
Boston bid $51.1 million earlier this month to win the right to negotiate with Seibu Lions' Matsuzaka, the MVP of the World Baseball Classic and a possible No. 1 starter.
The Yankees bid between $32 million and $33 million for Matsuzaka. The Red Sox have until midnight at the end of Dec. 14 to agree to a deal with Matsuzaka and his agent, Scott Boras.
"I'm looking forward to having a pitching duel with Matsuzaka," Igawa said. "I know the fans there have very high expectations and I'll do my best to live up to them."
After the bidding on Igawa closed Monday, the Tigers were informed of the amount of the high bid, but not which team made it. The Mets bid between $15 million and $16 million for Igawa, a baseball official said on condition of anonymity because the amounts of losing bids are not disclosed.
Also this month, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays won the rights to Japanese infielder Akinori Iwamura of the Yakult Swallows with a bid of about $4.5 million.
trying to match the Sox.....
Yanks win Igawa rights with $26M bidESPN.com news services
NEW YORK – The New York Yankees got a chance to sign a Japanese pitcher on their second try this offseason, winning the rights Tuesday to Kei Igawa after losing out to the Boston Red Sox two weeks ago for Daisuke Matsuzaka.
Igawa
New York's offer of $26,000,194 – the last three digits matching his strikeout total this year – was the highest bid among major league teams for Igawa, and it was accepted Tuesday by his Japanese team, the Hanshin Tigers.
"The Yankees are a team with a lot of tradition," Igawa said at a news conference in Osaka. "They get a lot of media attention, like the Tigers do. I was surprised to hear the team bid that much for me, and I feel like today I've taken another step toward realizing my dream."
The Yankees' winning bid was first reported by ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney.
A 27-year-old left-hander, Igawa could compete for a spot at the back of New York's rotation next season behind Chien-Ming Wang, Mike Mussina and Randy Johnson. Carl Pavano, coming off 1½ seasons of injuries, also would be in the rotation if healthy, and the Yankees have expressed possible interest in signing free agents Ted Lilly or Gil Meche.
New York has until midnight at the end of Dec. 28 to work out a contract with Igawa's agent, Arn Tellem – who also represents Yankees left fielder Hideki Matsui.
"Throughout the years, I have enjoyed an excellent working relationship with the Yankees and look forward to completing successful negotiations on behalf of Igawa," Tellem said in a statement. "It will be an honor for me to help put him in pinstripes for the 2007 season."
"We have been following Kei Igawa's very successful and accomplished career in Japan, and we are excited about the opportunity to begin the negotiating process with him," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said in a statement.
The Yankees pay Hanshin only if they reach an agreement with Igawa.
"I am very pleased to have the rights to sign him for the Yankees," owner George Steinbrenner said in a statement issued by spokesman Howard Rubenstein.
Igawa went 14-9 last season with a 2.97 ERA. He tied for the Central League lead in strikeouts – he won strikeout titles in 2002 and 2004.
Igawa faced a touring team of MLB stars this past month, which included Mets stars Jose Reyes and David Wright. Igawa, who faced the MLB stars after a month layoff, gave up a home run to Wright and walked six batters in Japan's 7-2 loss.
Reyes was impressed with Igawa.
"He has good stuff," Reyes told Newsday. "He throws hard and has a good changeup."
Wright, however, gave Igawa mixed reviews.
"I just don't know," Wright told Newsday. "I'd have to see him when he's in midseason form. You send a guy up there after a month layoff and you can't get a handle on a guy. But as far as a lefty goes, he has a sneaky fastball. I thought he threw, for a lefty, an average to above-average fastball, an above-average changeup, and his slider was a little flat. But with a month off, who knows? Could be any number of reasons."
Igawa, the Central League's 2003 MVP, has an 86-60 record with a 3.15 ERA. He would have to play in Japan for three more seasons before he could become a free agent.
Boston bid $51.1 million earlier this month to win the right to negotiate with Seibu Lions' Matsuzaka, the MVP of the World Baseball Classic and a possible No. 1 starter.
The Yankees bid between $32 million and $33 million for Matsuzaka. The Red Sox have until midnight at the end of Dec. 14 to agree to a deal with Matsuzaka and his agent, Scott Boras.
"I'm looking forward to having a pitching duel with Matsuzaka," Igawa said. "I know the fans there have very high expectations and I'll do my best to live up to them."
After the bidding on Igawa closed Monday, the Tigers were informed of the amount of the high bid, but not which team made it. The Mets bid between $15 million and $16 million for Igawa, a baseball official said on condition of anonymity because the amounts of losing bids are not disclosed.
Also this month, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays won the rights to Japanese infielder Akinori Iwamura of the Yakult Swallows with a bid of about $4.5 million.
Originally posted by BookerT:And now that getting Suppan back is too expensive, The Pirates show interest in pitcher Ohka.
buccos fever – catch it!!!