Tuesday, November 06, 2012

THE START OF THE SILLY SEASON

This is the time of the year when the rumor mill is in full swing, when any little hint or mention of a player is blown completely out of proportion - The Silly Season. We also get some explanations, reasons or excuses for the happenings of the previous season.

***ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE BAND WAGON***
After being bad-mouthed by Bobby Valentine, David Ortiz has some unkind words for his former manager. Bobby had insinuated that Ortiz had quit in August not because of an injury but because the team was out of the playoff hunt. Needless to say, Ortiz was unhappy with that accusation: "I did not respond to the message and I said to myself, this guy must have some mental issues or needs medicine or something? I said, I am dealing with someone crazy and I am not going to drive myself crazy, so it is better if I leave it alone." I think if the door to any future managing job for Valentine was still open, this latest episode has pretty much boarded it shut.

***HOW MUCH WAS MELKY CABRERA WORTH***
An ESPN poll asked voters if Cabrera should get a full World Series share from the Giants. 68% of the almost 5000 voters said no.  Players used to vote on shares for people on the team, including part-time players, trainers, coaches, clubhouse personnel and the like. It made for some interesting meetings. The shares are now controlled by union rules. Cabrera was eligible for enough games to earn a full share, PED use notwithstanding. Ya gotta love those unions.

***THE FREE AGENT MARKET***
It used to be that the interest was in what players went where. These days, of course, there are two elements that come into play: HOW MUCH and HOW LONG. The players (actually, their agents) come up with the same drivel every year. "I want to go where I have a chance to win, where I'm wanted and needed. I want to get that World Series ring."  If only that were true. Catch an agent in a weak moment and you get a different answer, one that is closer to the truth. This is from Buster Olney: "I once asked an agent which club was the favorite to sign a specific client of his and the answer may knock you off your rocker, so brace yourself. "The one that offers the most guaranteed money," he replied."  That kind of honesty can get you kicked out of the agents club.

***CASHMAN, YOU'VE GOT SOME 'SPLAININ' TO DO***
The Yankees have claimed catcher Eli Whiteside off the waiver wire from the San Francisco Giants. His record last season: 11 At-Bats, 1 hit and 1 walk. Too small a sample for you? For his CAREER, 489 ABs, 10 homers, a .215 batting average and a .273 on-base pct. The money is supposedly only $75,000. It could have been more, but Eli said that's all he could afford. 

***THE MARKET FOR LAST YEARS YANKEES***
# The market for catchers is pretty slim, so Russell Martin may be in demand. The Yankees are reportedly interested in keeping him, but they have indicated that they won't overpay - whatever that means.
# Hiroki Kuroda could inspire a bidding war if he was open to any situation, but it's said he is only willing to go to certain teams (NY is one of them) and only wants a one year deal. Cashman will be pushing hard.
# Swisher will get a number of offers and most will be more than the Yanks will offer. If he's smart, he will wait for a while before he accepts an offer. The more removed from his terrible post-season, the less sever  his failures will appear.
# There are some intriguing situations awaiting some of the other Yankee free agents. Pettitte will probably sign only with NY if he decides to play, as will Rivera. There isn't any word yet on Cashman's willingness to sign  Raul Ibanez, Jason Nix or Ichiro Suzuki.  There is interest in all three, but the question is, how do they fit into Hal Steinbrenner's payroll decrease plan.

Joakim Soria, Kansas City's closer is also a free agent. He is recovering from Tommy John surgery and probably won't be able to pitch until May of next year. He wants to be a closer - except with the Yanks. He wants to play with Mariano Rivera, his hero,  and will be a set-up man only for NY. That could be quite interesting.

***BRAD DICKSON'S BOTTOM TEN***
2.) COLORADO (1-8) Fans throwing snowballs from the stands, have a higher passing efficiency rating than the Buffaloes quarterback.
4.) NEW MEXICO STATE ( 1-8) The Aggies lost to an Auburn team Saturday, that had less momentum than Stonehenge.
7.) SOUTHERN MISS (0-9) They lost to UAB (2-7) in the Exercise in Futility Bowl

***THEY SAID IT***
" Winnipeg's new football Stadium reportedly has 150 seats with obstructed views. Having watched the 2012 Bombers, that's not nearly enough."  -- RJ Currie
"Got to love polls – sports version. Stanford, #15 with the AP college football rankings – beat Colorado 48 to ZERO. And was dropped to #16."  -- Janice Hough
" Steve Spurrier says the Kansas City Chiefs could beat several college teams."   -- SportsPickle.com
 "Coaches in Florida were busted for betting on kid-football games: "Players shouldn't be asked to shave points until they can actually shave."  -- Jim Barach, WCHS-TV, Charleston
"Washington, D.C. is hoping to return to some semblance of normalcy after the election. The Redskins, alas, are already there."  -- Janice Hough
"Jets QB Mark Sanchez and actress Eva Longoria have split up. Or as his receivers prefer to call it, getting some separation."  -- Dwight Perry
"How about the Giants' Pablo Sandoval? In the game last night, he had three home runs and a single. And today Alex Rodriguez of the Yankees said, "You can do that?"  -- David Letterman

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