Friday Happy Hour at the Elysian Fields Bar & Grill

A lot of players award incentives are pretty funny. Ausmus' potential silver slugger award is may favorite. Would have never guessed that Santana gave up the most bombs in the AL. Only 9 of those were with men on vs. 24 solo shots though.

I look at Ausmus' line and honestly wonder why people complain so much about Gerald Laird. He had 9 HR and 47 RBI. And let's not forget all hi his successful bunts-for-hits. He's also a much better defensive catcher than Ausmus. I am hesitant to trade Laird this winter unless it leads to some top notch pitching or a power hitting outfielder (and some decent prospects).

http://diamondgirl.mlblogs.com

Three reasons why the Rangers are a poor draw on the road as compared with other teams - one is their lack of success (no bandwagon fans) and another is geographical. Fans in the northeast and midwest have had to move (along with their jobs), whereas not many Texans move up north, comparitively speaking. Baseball is bigger in the NE as compared to the south, where football is king. The third is the franchise's history (combined with the losing), and 35 years isn't very long in baseball years. I know other have been around for shorter periods, but, with the exception of TB, they have won a little. I guess a fourth could be the 'Cowboys' effect - that fans have thrown their allegiance into that franchise instead.

More and more people are moving here from California and the NE. Been to an Angels game this past season? Their actions at the park are becoming more obnoxious than Yankee fans' (yes, I'm generalizing). And remember when the Brewers or Tigers were in town in the 80s, when the hometeam fans were outnumbered 2 to 1?

Laird does have value despite his avg - that is why I would like to see a Mets OF prospect in return for him. Or if we need to add another player then let's do it. Fernando Martinez is going to be the real deal - 18 yrs old in AA with power and avg. The Mets are no longer in the running for Santana after the Twins got their OFs in the Young trade, so they are going to have to find someone else to trade with.

My newest trade proposal is this: Millwood and Laird to the Mets for Fernando Martinez, Philip Humber (from Nacogdoches through RiceU) to step into Millwood's spot in the rotation, Jon Niese (their top LH SP prospect in high A ball) and 1B Mike Carp (injured and a questionable prospect, but worth a risk). Let's get committed to the rebuilding.

Laird wouldn't look so bad on a more productive team. I would say to hold out for a reasonable deal.

Laird is better defensively than Ausmus, but also had comparable offensive stats. Considering that Laird got paid $400k vs. $4m for Ausmus in 2007, I'd say Laird's real value for trading is how cheaply he can be had.

I think you have to keep playing Laird and re-evaluate the situation at the AS break. He had a down year offensively (judging from his career stats). If he rebounds or even can improve to offset this bad year, his numbers would be around .268 avg, .316 obp and .405 slg.

At his salary, that might make him more attractive to other teams.

I think Millwood is very undervalued at this point too. Maybe at the break, they'll look better at trade bait.

Pitchers love throwing to Brad Ausmus. He knows how to handle a staff. That's the intangible that makes him valuable. Laird does not possess that. But then again I bet Ausmus can't bunt for hits.

Well, my trade is DOA. I see that the Mets have just made a deal with the Nationals for a catcher, with the National getting Milledge. I am disappointed by this, because the "sit on our hands and hope things will get better one day" Plan appears to be alive and well.

I finally found someone to explain the Rangers plan to me. From Jim Reeves' article in today's Ft Worth StarTelegram, and I quote -

"Daniels has a plan. There is a strategy in place. He's going to keep drip, drip, dripping (as in chinese water torture) until somebody gives up and begs the Rangers to take their All-Star for a cracked bat and a case of sunflower seeds".

I have never read a more idiotic statement in the Star-Telegram. I mean really, Jim - stick to a subject where you don't make yourself look quite so foolish.

So it looks like JD/Hicks will take this current team plus some retread 35 yr old FA reliever to start the 2008 season. I guess fans just need to keep reading all the articles about our newly improved farm system. After all, we are still just three years away from being competitive.

Briant, who do you think JD should have paired with Laird to meet the Mets need of a left handed hitting outfielder?

ATTN BRYANT - The Mets just traded Lastings M. to the Nationals for a Schnider (C) and Church (OF)...

I dont think the Mets would be willing to make a Millwood/Laird swap now.

1. With Lastings now headed for the Nationals, one of there 3 prime OF prospect are gone.

2. They now have brought in J. Estrada and C. Schnider to be there catchers. And they also re-signed there back-up catcher from last year. they would have to move 1 of the 3 to have room for Laird.

3. Before this National deal was done....I am not sure Millwood and Laird would bring a return of Martinez, Humber, Niese, and Carp. If you were able to get Martinez and Humber, i think you would of been lucky.

4. I am not sure that the Mets (or anyone else) would consider Millwood on the same level as Haren, Johan, Bedard, or any other difference making pitcher. The difference making pitcher in which the Mets are looking for.

ATTN BRYANT - The Mets just traded Lastings M. to the Nationals for a Schnider (C) and Church (OF)...

I dont think the Mets would be willing to make a Millwood/Laird swap now.

1. With Lastings now headed for the Nationals, one of there 3 prime OF prospect are gone.

2. They now have brought in J. Estrada and C. Schnider to be there catchers. And they also re-signed there back-up catcher from last year. They would have to move 1 of the 3 to have room for Laird.

3. Before this National deal was done....I am not sure Millwood and Laird would bring a return of Martinez, Humber, Niese, and Carp. If you were able to get Martinez and Humber, i think you would of been lucky.

4. I am not sure that the Mets (or anyone else) would consider Millwood on the same level as Haren, Johan, Bedard, or any other difference making pitcher. The difference making pitcher in which the Mets are looking for.

I keep reading that the Rangers are going to be ready to make a playoff run in 2-3 years....... What is different than the past 10 years? Is it going to be 2-3 years every off season? I am sick and tired of waiting on the Rangers to make a stand. If we are going to be good 2-3 years from now, shouldnt they show some sort of direction? I dont wont to see or hear about the possiblities that Gagne might return. I want to see Wilson or Benoit getting the experiences of closing games. I want to see Salty, catching 140 games, and Laird in another uniform. And Teagarden as the back-up catcher and starting DH. I dont want to keep running Millwood to the mound every 5 games. Really who thinks he is going to re-sign here, by the time this club is "good"? Who really wants him here now? If it wasnt for the number of innings he pitches, no one would. It upsets me that we have to sit here and call Kevin Millwood our staff ace. He might be a #2 pitcher at best, but probably a #3 on a team with pitching.

My suggestion:

If you cant draft a ace... And you cant trade for a ace...

And if you sign a ace in Free Agency...

What else is there to do???

Try to incorporate 2 of the 3.

The deal that I would suggest: Millwood, Laird, Frank C., N. Cruz, anyone else over 30 years of age (excluding M. Young and M. Byrd) and send the 21 million that A-Rod saved Tom Hicks (to offset a portion of the salaries) to the Dodgers in exchange for Clayton Kershaw and Matt Kemp.

If you have to throw more $$$ into it do it. Buy a player the caliber of Kershaw, which you can control his rights for next couple of year, at a very cheap rate. You would then have that ACE which is needed here so badly. Yes, Kershaw would have the "potential tag" labelled on him, but the "potential tag" is still closer to a ACE than what the Rangers have currently (in the majors or minors). Getting that ACE would be critical in showing fans that this team has direction.....

By the way - I do not consider Hurley a ACE prospect. Albeit I like his chances as a possible #2 guy in our rotation someday.

Why would the Dodgers make that deal?

The Rangers aren't too popular at home either. Did you see how many people weren't out there near the end of the season. That was in April right? Daniels is going to have to keep dealing our veterans in order to make good deals. It is too risky to trade a minor leaguer, especially ones that are former #1 overall picks. We are going to have to deal Laird. But Daniels probably isn't going to trade anyone else like Blalock, Young or Cat. I don't like Cat as the first baseman. He doesn't hit enough HR's or drive in alot of runs. Most teams have a strong first baseman, that hits for power, avg and drives in alot of runs. How about Mayberry? Laird may go to San Diego or Boston, but not for Coco. How about Milton Bradley, he has got game, but has issues. He is a free agent.