Transmogrified Tiger

If Tejada is a superstar, then Prior is. Their numbers compared to the league are similar, and if anything favor Prior. OPS+ for Tejada Career: 112 Last 3 years: 125 ERA+ for Prior Career: 132 Last 3 years: 134 And Bedard, of the 103 ERA+ and career 1.50 WHIP, is average at best as a Major Leaguer to date.

Tejada is well below average in fielding percentage and Zone Rating, and slightly below average in Rate, Rate2, and FRAA. That second report is also dated by a minimum of 2+ years, possibly as many as 4+.

Tejada is not one of the best defensive SS in baseball. There's a pretty good argument that he's pretty average defensively.

I say we do it based on our own standards, it'll be much more fun that way.

Are there any career closers that you'd consider HOFers? I haven't researched it, but they'd have to be really dominant. There are very few planned relievers(especially HOF eligible ones), so the vast majority failed at starting. I think it's unfair to those who were able to be good enough to start but didn't put up HOF starting careers, when it's possible or even likely they could have done a similar job as a reliever.

Nay. 1042 Career IP. 5 full seasons of 136 ERA+ pitching doesn't do it for me.

Neither. If you trade Prior, the best player you get back has to be before or entering his prime.* *There are exceptions of course, but they are very rare and very very infeasible.

I used this site. Thanks. I don't know if that signing bonus is entirely paid up front. It wouldn't be stunning if it was, but typically players don't go up-down-up in salary over a 3 year deal, or up-down before the option.

Where did you get the breakdown for Eyre's contract? I don't doubt you necessarily, but I haven't been able to find anything except from the sourceless Transaction Guy, who is normally pretty good and a Cubs fan to boot.

Prior can't go anywhere for 3 years unless we send him somewhere. And the only thing stating that Prior is unhappy was JeffH's source, who he himself said to take with a grain of salt.

Yay Cavs. Yay LeBron.

im much more amenable to trade guys like pie for tejada now that prior's name has been thrown around Begin Rant: Now that you bring that up I'm thinking that Hendry does have a plan this offseason. When he signed Eyre I thought it was a bad idea. When he traded Pinto, Nolasco, and Mitre for Pierre I thought to myself "dang, the Eyre signing doesn't look so bad now." Then he goes out and proclaims he's excited that Jacque Jones is going to be our starting RF for the next three years. At this point I'm saying to myself "Gee, I'm actually kind of glad we have Pierre now and that Eyre signing looks like a bargain." Just a few days later Hendry "leaks" news that he's using Prior as trade bait to try and get Tejada. By now a kick in the craw and a can of Natty Light sound pretty good. If we only end up losing Pie, Hill, Williams, and Guzman for Tejada we'll think it's the biggest steal since D.B. Cooper's heist. It's pure genius. Just keep making progressively worse and worse deals and your previous transactions look better and better. Eventually Cubs fans will be dancing in the street because we have Neifi Perez locked up for a few million a year. End Rant. Good point. I just mentioned in another thread that the Hedry Propaganda machine may also be adding the Prior doesn't want to be here thought in case Mark is traded. But this isn't some public report, it's JeffH's "source".

As silly as this seems to us, it's possible that the Orioles value Zito higher than Prior. Imagine the silliness of valuing a Cy Young winner over a guy who's never pitched a full season. The audacity! The unmitigated gall!

last time i checked, dee was still the reigning B10 poy. C'mon, you're smart enough to know awards like that don't mean anything, especially when they are playing the year after. Would Brown win that award right now for the year to date? Would he be in the top 5? the big 10 season hasn't even started yet. So is Brown going to up his play because it's the B10 season? I'm not going to claim a clear memory of last season, but Brown was much better last year before the B10 season. The losses they sustained are real, and it's a very real possibility that because of the lack of Williams and Head around him he won't be able to produce at the same level. Obviously, like I said before, that doesn't doom the Illini at all, but it's worth pointing out that they may struggle with the best players in the conference.

Raise your hand if you agree with Mark Prior.

last time i checked, dee was still the reigning B10 poy. C'mon, you're smart enough to know awards like that don't mean anything, especially when they are playing the year after. Would Brown win that award right now for the year to date? Would he be in the top 5?

Hairston's only averaging 15 a game.

They're enormously dependent on their outside shooting, which has been great so far, and partly a function of them playing a pretty weak schedule. Teams like MSU, IU, and Illinois that have big men to contain Dials won't have to collapse as much on him and give them the threes. They're a step down in the conference IMO, with Wisconsin and maybe UM. IU is similar with their hot outside shooting helping to carry them, but they have more depth on the interior, and more talent overall. FWIW, I think MSU is the best team in the B10 this year, but they probably won't win it because their conference schedule is insane compared to some of the other contenders. i think illinois will win it again, bruce doesn't lose many B10 games. I'm anxious to see how U of I does against teams that have some dynamite players. They've played some teams that are pretty good like UNC, Oregon, and to a lesser extent Georgetown and Xavier. But they haven't faced anyone that has a player or players that are the same caliber of the Davises, the Agers, the Killingsworths, the Dialses of the B10. They may be up to the challenge, they're well coached and have talent, but if I had to bet I'd say that they struggle in those games against the best players in the league. Still doesn't mean they won't win the B10 though, because they're going to handle Wisconsin, Minnesota, UM and the like very well, while those are trap games for other top flight B10 schools. you're forgetting that illinois has some pretty talented players as well. Eh? They have some talented players no doubt. But with the way Brown's performed to date, they don't have anyone playing at the level that Davis or Killingsworth or Ager have.

They're enormously dependent on their outside shooting, which has been great so far, and partly a function of them playing a pretty weak schedule. Teams like MSU, IU, and Illinois that have big men to contain Dials won't have to collapse as much on him and give them the threes. They're a step down in the conference IMO, with Wisconsin and maybe UM. IU is similar with their hot outside shooting helping to carry them, but they have more depth on the interior, and more talent overall. FWIW, I think MSU is the best team in the B10 this year, but they probably won't win it because their conference schedule is insane compared to some of the other contenders. i think illinois will win it again, bruce doesn't lose many B10 games. I'm anxious to see how U of I does against teams that have some dynamite players. They've played some teams that are pretty good like UNC, Oregon, and to a lesser extent Georgetown and Xavier. But they haven't faced anyone that has a player or players that are the same caliber of the Davises, the Agers, the Killingsworths, the Dialses of the B10. They may be up to the challenge, they're well coached and have talent, but if I had to bet I'd say that they struggle in those games against the best players in the league. Still doesn't mean they won't win the B10 though, because they're going to handle Wisconsin, Minnesota, UM and the like very well, while those are trap games for other top flight B10 schools.

Huh? i think mckinney said something along those lines last season, after the illini beat them in the braggin' rights game. Ha! I wasn't aware of that. Mckinney sucks. i think every player that's ever played under quiny has underachieved, i can't think of one player who he has coached that's fulfilled their potential, not one. EDIT: okay, so kleiza was good. He got out while there was still time. Please come out of retirement Mr. Majerus.

They're enormously dependent on their outside shooting, which has been great so far, and partly a function of them playing a pretty weak schedule. Teams like MSU, IU, and Illinois that have big men to contain Dials won't have to collapse as much on him and give them the threes. They're a step down in the conference IMO, with Wisconsin and maybe UM. IU is similar with their hot outside shooting helping to carry them, but they have more depth on the interior, and more talent overall. FWIW, I think MSU is the best team in the B10 this year, but they probably won't win it because their conference schedule is insane compared to some of the other contenders.

Prior and Hill for Tejada, Bedard, and Markakis. Bedard, Murton, and Gallagher for Zito. Would you do that? Prior, Hill, Murton, and Gallagher for Tejada, Zito, and Markakis? If I could sign Zito to an extension before making the deal.

Huh? i think mckinney said something along those lines last season, after the illini beat them in the braggin' rights game. At this juncture McKinney is like the 6th best player on the team. I can't wait for Morrison to take his starting spot next year, so that we have a shooting guard who *gasp* makes shots. Michigan State will be ready for U of I. I like their chances, especially since the game is during winter break and the crowd likely won't be as raucous.

I know Bedard was a top prospect, but he now has more MLB IP than minor league, and he'll be 27 on Opening Day. In those MLB innings he's giving up 2 more hits per 9 innings, a full walk more per 9, a big jump in HR, and 3 fewer K's per 9. This would be a mind-numbingly stupid deal.

Welcome to the same plane as powerhouses Sam Houston State and Davidson. I can't wait til next year when we actually have a coach with an offense.