MWV

My understanding, based upon the article below, is that Soriano was instructed by team physicians to avoid running at full speed on his surgically repaired knee prior to spring training. It appears as though Soriano was asked "How does your knee feel", to which he responded that while he is in no pain, he has yet to have an opportunity to run full speed in it. English isn't his first language; this seems to be mostly a communication issue. If he's limping around a week from now, I'll be concerned. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100222&content_id=8112976&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

http://www.boysofspring.com/journal/4368283621_ec4e1879e1_o%5B1%5D.jpg "We have to get him in a little better shape here," Piniella said of the right-hander. http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100217&content_id=8087898&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

http://blogs.suntimes.com/cubs/2010/02/cubs_lilly_throws.html This doesn't really sound like a big deal (yet). He apparently threw his usual rehab session today and ran on it yesterday.

41 m/s. Hot.

David Patton is translucent.

While I have no idea what the finished product will look like (age, posture, etc.), I did notice that the statue is being designed by the same men who made the Yount and Aaron statues, so we can safely assume that Selig will have a huge package.

I am not stating whether or not he was good last year. His walk ratedropped a significant amount moving from AAA to the majors and his home run rate dropped more than a significant amount making that same jump. Typically, pitchers do not see gains in their ratios while going from a lower level to a higher level. It's very likely that we see significant regression in both rates, and minimal improvement on his K rate. His FIP will skyrocket in a hurry if that happens. Maybe saying he sucks is a little harsh, but I wouldn't expect an ERA south of 4.50. I'd much rather have Sean Marshall in the rotation over both Gorzy and Wells. I'd try out Guzman there first too, but I can see why some people wouldn't want to risk the higher stress to cause him to get injured again. Ok, I see your point. However, the difference in BB/9 (3.0 in past 3 years at AAA to 2.5 in 2009) amounts to 9 fewer walks over the course of 694 batters faced. The dip in HR/9 (~1.0 to 0.8) amounts to 4 fewer HRs over the innings pitched in 2009. Neither of these changes in rate look like red flags to me. The fact that he was ~50 Ks short of his AAA K/9 is a little alarming, but he otherwise appears to have made the transition to MLB more or less at his AAA rates. While impressive, it's not unheard of, and I don't see why it augurs poorly for him.

While I agree with much of your analysis, I find it difficult to ignore your assertion that a 147 ERA+ and 3.88 FIP over 165.1 rookie innings "sucks". Wells may regress, but I see little reason to expect him to be less than a decent, middle of the rotation pitcher.

General statement: I hate St. louis. Even the actual Saint. Thanks a lot, Pope Boniface VIII.

Beauty!

hawks finally spending some time in the sharks' zone

In case there was ever any doubt: http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/news/story?id=4861968 The Hawk goes to the Hall as an Expo.

In case anyone was wondering, the answer is yes. Rudy Jaramillo will make a superstar out of Xavier Nady.

Then Miguel Batista?

While he is by no means a defensive asset at the position, Tracy's played 340 games at 3rd base (5 seasons). He might serve as Aramis insurance as well.

A 1 yr deal? I wonder what kind of prospects the A's will recieve for him at the deadline...

As the MLB official rule book (section 1.11) makes no explicit statement regarding the design and manufacture of BP caps (e.g. "during batting practice, all participants are to don caps composed of a cheap, water-proof mesh festooned with goofy piping"), I am left to interpret the annual production and sale of these caps as a display of contempt for the fans of baseball.

Apparently, Grabow has been lobbying Capps to join the Cubs: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091222&content_id=7842634&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb "Grabow signed a two-year contract on Nov. 20 with the Cubs and gave Capps a little inside information." I assume that information was something to the effect of "Hey Matt, check out this absurd contract these guys gave me on Nov. 20! Seriously man, you've gotta get in on this!"

I can unsderstand a small budget team "blowing up" their roster to save money and constructing a younger, cheaper team, and I can understand a big budget team taking on payroll and constructing a (often older) team of proven, talent. What Jim Hendry has accomplished over these past two offseasons seems, however, to be a confluence of the worst aspects of these approaches. He's let talented players walk (w/o draft pick compensation) to avoid hefty arbitration settlements, overpaid for "veteran" role players and traded away other talented players for in return for (or in order to replace them with) less talented high priced players. His approach to constructing a baseball team is bafflingly inconsistent.

There is nothing to wait for. He just traded a decent player for the worst player in the league. You just don't do that, even if it saves you a few dollars. I don't think we're in disagreement, I'm simply trying to examine this trade contextually; Hendry has little to no leverage in dealing Bradley (which is largely his own fault). That the result of a Bradley trade would be negative for the Cubs has long been a given. Silva straight up, however, would be outright catastrophic.

I'm going to wait to see the particulars (money/possible inclusion of prospects) before assigning this trade a position on the "Awful trade"<------>"Disastrous trade" continuum of transactions.

Apparently, the Cards are now talking 5 years: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4745530 Its a little disconcerting that no team outside St. Louis seems to be mounting a credible pursuit of Holliday.

Over the past 3 years Byrd has been more productive than I had assumed: .289/.351/.472/.823 (113 OPS+) In fact, when given 400+ ABs, his lowest output as a hitter was .303/.366/.418/.784 at age 25. I (like most people on this board, I believe) was hoping for Cameron, although outside of HRs, Byrd has outperformed Cameron when given full-time ABs (Cameron over the last 3 years: .245/.334/.452/.786 (108+)). Obviously, this assessment neglects Cameron's defensive ability, which is substantial. Provided Byrd isn't offered an absurd contract, what would people here prefer: Byrd for 3 years ~$18-20 million, or Cameron at the 2 years $15.5 million that Boston gave him?

So maybe the A's are the mystery team? Not many GMs are saying postive things about Bradley so this is a start. i don't know who'd they give in return. chavez? ellis? they're the only ones making over 5 million. Is Eric Chavez even playing baseball anymore? I know he played a handful of games last year before having back surgery. Is he ever expected to come back (Sorry, off topic)?

Pending future Hendry moves, I'm with you. I fear, however, that this might get much worse before it gets better...