Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Varitek's Timetable, the Sulton of Sodium, and the Texas Tea-Party

In a report from Tony Massarotti from the Boston Globe, free agent catcher Jason Varitek has two options of contracts from the RedSox for the 2009 season/2010 Season. Varitek can take a one year $5 million contract to stay with the RedSox. Or Varitek can sign a contract for $5 million in 2009 with a team option for $5 million in 2010/ player option for $3 million in 2010 (Varitek's safe guard if the Sox don't decide to pick up his second year). This deal is significantly less than the money that Varitek would've made if he accepted arbitration (at least $11-$12 million for 2009). The catch is that Varitek has until January 31st (Saturday) to accept this deal.

As a Boston Fan I hope he resigns something. But I don't think Boston should stop there, they need to go out and get the catcher of the future. George Kottaras is not the future. He did a nice job in Triple-A last year in a platoon. I think he would be a nice young option for a back up catcher but Boston needs to go out and get the catcher of the future.

According to the Star-Telegram out of Dallas though, the Rangers are willing to deal Jarrod Saltalamacchia (The Sultan of Sodium as according to Andy Behrens of Yahoo! Fantasy Sports) straight up for Clay Buchholz. But I don't believe that's the deal to make.

If I were Theo, I would go out and get Taylor Teagarden. I would take Clay Buchholz and package him with another young low level pitcher (Like a Kris Johnson in Portland) and get this deal done! Teagarden is only a career minor league .267 hitter, but he has plus power (.509 slugging%) and has a good eye to get on base (.390 on base%). Teagarden also had a .991 fielding percentage in four minor league seasons. He's only 24 and he is only going to get better.

If Boston can secure Teagarden and get Varitek you would have solved a future need for catching, as well as having a veteran teacher presence in Varitek.

Monday, January 26, 2009

The Rangers Decide be Winners!

Alright Rangers!

No they did not win in 2008. I don't believe they will be winners in 2009 either (I have seen stranger things however).

The Rangers decided win the worst batting helmet award! The rangers released some new uniforms which feature this fantastic new two-tone batting helmet. I think Josh Hamilton found Jesus last year, so that he could guide Josh to wear the worst batting helmet ever.

This was reported by ESPN.com and the article can be found here.

Friday, January 23, 2009

JOE MORGAN FIRED!

No, no just kidding.

As reported on WEEI AM850 Boston, ESPN was to make a large announcement about a change to the Sunday Night Baseball broadcast. Rumors had it that Joe Morgan was going to get fired, since no one at ESPN in Bristol, CT (possibly the country?) likes him as a co-worker (or a human being).

However ESPN reports that Peter Gammons will no longer travel with the crew, to do the on field analysis. To take his place, they are going to add Steve Phillips to the broadcast. However Steve will be in the booth with Joe morgan and Jon miller.

My intial reaction was WTF? But taking some time to think about it, I believe this has to be Gammon's decision. I don't believe that Gammons does not provide enough to the broadcast, I think this is a good way to beef up the Baseball Tonight cast.

I like Steve Phillips, because he knows a good amount about the game and how it is played, but he was not the best GM. This was the man who traded away Scott Kazmir for Victor Zambrano...ouch. How he could be in the studio analyzing players and their talent, but not realize what he had in Kazmir, make you wonder a little bit. But Phillips will do great announcing games, I mean anyone is better than Morgan.

Well I Guess it Can't hurt to Try Again

Since it's still early in 2009, I figured it couldn't hurt to try and be serious about Posting here again.
So here's post 1 of hopefully many in 2009 and beyond.

This year I want to try to stay on top of major sports transactions and stories. Being from MA we are fans of Boston sports teams (unless you're from Canada and then well you like hockey and saying "eh" after every statement), but we want to make sure we can unbiasedly (trying anyways) cover these stories.


I hope Caf and Canada read this and jump on board this year so we can generate some serious hits here!