Another 100 Loss Season
R.Scott
I have not seen any improvement over the winter, just another group of
Has Beens picked up.
and a very unproven manager.
Bret Ripley
> Thats my prediction before Pitchers and Catchers report.
I predict the Ms will lose zero games before pitchers and catchers report.
> I have not seen any improvement over the winter, just another group of
> Has Beens picked up.
Mike Sweeney, signed to a minor league deal, qualifies as a "group"?
> and a very unproven manager.
I think MLB should bar the Rays from displaying their AL pennant until they
go out and hire a proven manager. Just who the hell do they think they are,
anyway?
Bret
R.Scott
> On Mon, 9 Feb 2009 10:00:11 -0800 (PST), R.Scott wrote:
> > Thats my prediction before Pitchers and Catchers report.
>
> I predict the Ms will lose zero games before pitchers and catchers report.
Your Being Obtuse you know very well what I meant.
> > I have not seen any improvement over the winter, just another group of
> > Has Beens picked up.
>
> Mike Sweeney, signed to a minor league deal, qualifies as a "group"?
> \\
January 29, 2009 Signed first baseman Mike Sweeney to a minor league
contract.
January 20, 2009 Agreed to terms with pitchers Erik Bedard and Aaron
Heilman on one-year contracts.
December 11, 2008 Acquired pitcher Jose Lugo from the Kansas City
Royals for cash considerations.
December 11, 2008 Acquired pitchers Aaron Heilman, Jason Vargas and
Maikel Cleto, outfielders Endy Chavez and Ezequiel Carrera and
infielder-outfielder Mike Carp from the New York Mets and outfielder
Franklin Gutierrez from the Cleveland Indians in a three-team trade.
November 19, 2008 Named Don Wakamatsu manager.
October 22, 2008 Named Jack Zduriencik executive vice president and
general manager of baseball operations.
September 2, 2008 Recalled catcher Rob Johnson and pitchers Mark Lowe,
Brandon Morrow and Jared Wells from Tacoma of the Pacific Coast League
(AAA); purchased the contract of infielder Matt Tuiasosopo from
Tacoma; transferred infielder Willie Bloomquist to the 60-day disabled
list.
September 2, 2008 Purchased the contracts of pitcher Justin Thomas and
infielder Luis Valbuena from Tacoma of the Pacific Coast League (AAA);
activated pitcher Carlos Silva from the 15-day disabled list;
transferred infielder-outfielder Mike Morse to the 60-day disabled
list.
August 16, 2008 Placed pitcher Carlos Silva on the 15-day disabled
list; recalled pitcher Ryan Feierabend from Tacoma of the Pacific
Coast League (AAA).
> > and a very unproven manager.
>
> I think MLB should bar the Rays from displaying their AL pennant until they
> go out and hire a proven manager. Just who the hell do they think they are,
> anyway?
>
> Bret
Maddon Managed at the Major League level in the Angels Organization
and was successful he was on the Angels Staff prior to that. He was
Not an Unknown minor league manager.
1999 Anaheim Angels 29 19 10 655 -- --
1996 California Angels 22 8 14 .364 -- --
Bret Ripley
> On Feb 9, 4:39 pm, Bret Ripley <rip...@gotsky.com> wrote:
>> On Mon, 9 Feb 2009 10:00:11 -0800 (PST), R.Scott wrote:
>>> Thats my prediction before Pitchers and Catchers report.
>>
>> I predict the Ms will lose zero games before pitchers and catchers report.
>
> Your Being Obtuse you know very well what I meant.
Yes, I knew what you meant. If you knew what I meant I guess we'd be even.
>>> I have not seen any improvement over the winter, just another group of
>>> Has Beens picked up.
>>
>> Mike Sweeney, signed to a minor league deal, qualifies as a "group"?
>> \\
> January 29, 2009 Signed first baseman Mike Sweeney to a minor league
> contract.
You missed one: Aaron Heilman to the Cubs for Ronny Cedeno and Garrett
Olson.
> January 20, 2009 Agreed to terms with pitchers Erik Bedard and Aaron
> Heilman on one-year contracts.
And another: David Aardsma acquired in trade with the Red Sox
> December 11, 2008 Acquired pitcher Jose Lugo from the Kansas City
> Royals for cash considerations.
> December 11, 2008 Acquired pitchers Aaron Heilman, Jason Vargas and
> Maikel Cleto, outfielders Endy Chavez and Ezequiel Carrera and
> infielder-outfielder Mike Carp from the New York Mets and outfielder
> Franklin Gutierrez from the Cleveland Indians in a three-team trade.
Also around that time: acquired Reegie Corona (Rule 5 draft)
Also also: signed Russ Branyan and Chris Shelton.
> November 19, 2008 Named Don Wakamatsu manager.
> October 22, 2008 Named Jack Zduriencik executive vice president and
> general manager of baseball operations.
> September 2, 2008 Recalled catcher Rob Johnson and pitchers Mark Lowe,
> Brandon Morrow and Jared Wells from Tacoma of the Pacific Coast League
> (AAA); purchased the contract of infielder Matt Tuiasosopo from
> Tacoma; transferred infielder Willie Bloomquist to the 60-day disabled
> list.
> September 2, 2008 Purchased the contracts of pitcher Justin Thomas and
> infielder Luis Valbuena from Tacoma of the Pacific Coast League (AAA);
> activated pitcher Carlos Silva from the 15-day disabled list;
> transferred infielder-outfielder Mike Morse to the 60-day disabled
> list.
> August 16, 2008 Placed pitcher Carlos Silva on the 15-day disabled
> list; recalled pitcher Ryan Feierabend from Tacoma of the Pacific
> Coast League (AAA).
OK, but you said that those "picked up" were "just another group of Has
Beens."
Here is a list of those "picked up":
Mike Sweeney, 1B/DH, age 35, 10+ years of major league experience with
recent injury problems. Very possible a "Has Been".
Ronny Cedeno, SS, age 26, has appeared in 329 major league games.
Garrett Olson, P, age 25, 165 IP at major league level.
David Aardsma, P, age 27, 135.2 IP at major league level.
Jose Lugo, P, age 24, no major league experience.
Reegie Corona, 2B/SS, age 22, no major league experience
Jason Vargas, P, age 26, 127 IP at major league level.
Maikel Cleto, P, age 19, no major league experience.
Endy Chavez, OF, age 31, several seasons major league experience. Below
average offense offset by solid defense, no reason to expect a sharp
decline in skills.
Russ Branyan, "3B/OF", age 33, several seasons of major league experience.
Should be a decent platoon bat at 1B or DH.
Chris Shelton, 1B, age 28, played in 290 games at major league level.
Ezequiel Carrera, OF, age 21, no major league experience.
Mike Carp, 1B, age 22, no major league experience.
Franklin Gutierrez, OF, age 26, last year was first full season at major
league level. Brilliant defender, below average offense, no reason to
expect a sharp decline in skills.
This is a "group of Has Beens"? You may not be happy with the acquisitions,
but "Has Beens"? I'm afraid I just don't see it.
>>> and a very unproven manager.
>>
>> I think MLB should bar the Rays from displaying their AL pennant until they
>> go out and hire a proven manager. Just who the hell do they think they are,
>> anyway?
>>
>> Bret
>
> Maddon Managed at the Major League level in the Angels Organization
> and was successful
I know it wasn't his fault, but each of his teams finished in last place.
Or it's possible I am misunderstanding what you mean by "proven manager".
Anyway, I think you'll have a difficult time demonstrating that teams with
"proven managers" perform significantly better than teams with "unproven
managers". In fact, studies show that in-game decisions made by Managers
have surprisingly little effect on winning or losing baseball games.
The following link to Chris Jaffe's "Evaluating Managers" (in 3 parts). You
may find it interesting:
http://snipurl.com/bn9qm [web_archive_org]
http://snipurl.com/bn9p2 [web_archive_org]
http://snipurl.com/bn9kh [web_archive_org]
> he was on the Angels Staff prior to that. He was
> Not an Unknown minor league manager.
<snip>
Just how many games is being "known" worth?
Anyway, Wakamatsu isn't "unknown": he was recently a Managerial candidate
for both Oakland and Texas. He is highly respected around the league,
although that's worth roughly the same number of wins as being a "proven
manager".
Look, it's possible the Ms may lose 100 games this year (FWIW, with the
current roster I'd put the number at closer to 85), but it won't be because
they picked up a group of "Has Beens" (they didn't) or because their
manager is "very unproven" (irrelevant).
For the most part, the Ms have added a group of inexpensive, low-risk
players with potential for improvement. With some lucky breaks (and/or one
or two key acquisitions), the major league club may actually have a chance
to be competitive in the AL West. At the very least, we have IMO seen
several positive steps towards rebuilding this organization.
Cheers,
Bret