Monday Morning Manager...Candlemas

1. I’m excited. It’s overdue. They’ve been punished enough for something they got caught up in as naïve young men. It’ll be great to add to more promising arms to the system.
2. I like Baldelli. He’s athletic and he can play centerfield, but his health issues are a turn off. Garko can provide much needed pop against left-handed pitching. I’ve been touting the merits of signing him for a while now.
3. No. His numbers are skewed from pitching at Safeco field. He’s a very mundane pitcher in most ballparks.
4. Trading Millwood. It was decried as a huge mistake by many when it happened because we only got Chris Ray in return, but it set up everything that happened afterwards by freeing up payroll.
5. Seattle got a great pitcher in Cliff Lee for not a lot in return prospect-wise.

1. Better late than never. It would be a great story if one of them turns out to be a serviceable player in the big leagues.

2. Either one would be fine. Rocco probably makes more sense. I know there is some concern here if Davis were to struggle early on in the season. I have high expectations for Davis and I'm fine with seeing Murphy and Greene take their turns as backup first baseman. If something were to happen then the Rangers could dip into their farm system. First base is the position the Rangers have a lot of depth in the minor league system.

3. Not a bad name to bring up. The Rangers should at least look into him. I'd prefer to see the Rangers let the young guys compete. We already have 10 guys competing for 5 spots and Nolan Ryan said on Saturday that he expects the first 4 to be Harden, Feldman, Lewis and Hunter. That would leave 1 spot with at least 6 guys competing for it.

4. Signing Vlad Guerrero. I also like the move of signing Harden and Oliver. JD has done a great job of filling out an already solid roster with some key guys. He did it on a small budget. I have high hopes that at the end of 2010 people are going to label the signing of Vlad as being the best signing of the offseason.

5. Hard to argue against the move for Cliff Lee, but I'll go with the Marlins locking up Josh Johnson. There have been some very curious moves this winter.

http://joebrandonroberts.mlblogs.com/archives/2010/02/if-you-build-it-they-will-come.html

Ah but you must really be a "younker" TR to have forgotten St Blaise Day (Which may be on Wednesday) and the blessing of throats.
1. They paid quite a price for breaking the law. I wish them luck but am worried about who get dropped from the 40 man roster to make a place for them.
2. I really don't need either of them. Just frankly if that's all the better we're going to do we should have negotiated Hank down to an affordable price.
3. I don't need him...I wanted Sheets but his price was ridiculous. I'll roll with the starters we have now...and continue to ask...why don't we use a 6 man rotation to save our starters arms. We actually have 6 starterss plus for a change.
4. The addition of St Vlad should make our line up just that much more dangerous. I think my second choice is a sleeper...Colby Lewis...we'll see in a couple of weeks how that works out.
5. I'm temporarily out here in Washington for a couple of months and the papers are full of the Mariners high hopes. In my opinion they are going to be much better than the 81-81 and 3rd place that they were picked for last week...but I think we can beat them!

1. Sure, whatever, I don't really care.

2.Baldelli YES. 200 AB's from that kind of a talent at a minimum contract is a great deal. Especially considering the next best option internally for that final roster spot. Gentry? Boggs? Arias?

3. Naw

4. Easy, Millwood for Ray & Harden

5. SEA Cliff Lee

1.-- It’s about time, I hope the consequences of their attempted shortcut to get into the US serves as a cautionary tale to Dominican players and over-eager front offices.

2. -- Ryan Garko – I’m less worried about his injury issues than I am about Baldelli’s.

3. -- No

4. -- Signing Khalil Greene, he’s a good back-up not only for Elvis at SS, but for Michael at 3B and Ian at 2B – (I’m wary of a “sophomore slump” for Elvis and let’s remember that Ian has spent time on the DL during each of his ML seasons so far) –while his offensive contributions would be different than the guys he's backing up - he will still be a contibutor and if any of those players are out for a long period of time the having Khalil playing will not be huge drop-off. Greene’s experience on contending teams could also be a benefit. I like Rich Harden alot – but his health issues really, really worry me, giving up a player like Milwood who did eat up the innings and replacing him with somewhat fragile Harden is a very risky move I’m not quite comfortable with – but I hope that Rich and JD prove me wrong.

5. -- Cliff Lee and Chone Figgins to Seattle. The Mariners are the team in the AL West that scare me the most.

1. I think I vaguely remember this story. I hope that they get there chance to add to the best farm system in MLB.

2. I have commented on subject in an earlier posting. But I like both guys. Rocco Baldelli would give us a guy who can play all of the outfield positions and another right handed bat on the bench that can play against lefties. He didn't have a good year at the plate last year but he is a scrappy player that will help your team any way he can to win you have to like a guy like this on your team. Ryan Garko is a right handed hitting first baseman which was a need going into the off-season. He can really hit the ball and could be dangerous once again at the end of this lineup against lefties. But I don't think you can go wrong either way. I would give a slight edge to Baldelli because if Justin Smoak hits well in spring training he should be the right handed hitting first baseman on this team since he is a switch hitter. And I think at this point it is more of need to have Rocco Baldelli over Garko. Baldelli is just lot more versital and might even be able to play first base if given the chance to.

3. I like Jarrod Washburn. That would be a great addition to the rotation. He would either be the 2nd or 3rd best pitcher on the team depending if Scott Feldman can pick up where he left off. I believe you can never have too much pitching. What a top 3 if that were to happen. Harden, Feldman and Washburn. I think that would stack up pretty well anytime we played the Angels, Mariners or A'S starters. I would take signing Washburn over signing Baldelli or Grako. If that is an option for the Rangers that is.

4. I like the Rich Harden signing the best. If he is healthy we have an ace that can lead this staff to a pennant. I know I said if healthy but that is how I view Harden if he can get out there and start 30 games for us our chances of winning our really good with him on the mound. If the Rangers were to sign Erik Bedard or Jarrod Washburn that would up there too.

5. I like what the Red Sox have done. Beltre at third base and Marco Scutaro at Shortstop improve their defense. John Lackey added to that rotation is scary and Mike Cameron in center field and moving Jacoby Ellsbury to left also improves there defense. I think the Sox will be back and better than ever this season with the moves they have made. The Yankees adding Curtis Granderson is a good move for them. You have got to still worry about the end of the Yankess rotation though. But I would Boston did the best job of getting things they needed to have. I did hate they didn't get Jason Bay back but the have done well trying to replace his bat with Beltre and Mike Cameron. With Beltre being a pull hitter the monster is going to be a nice target for him.

SEATTLE -- The Mariners' thrill-a-minute offseason continued with another move Monday, one that figures to help the team's offense while creating a fun game of musical chairs for its manager.

In welcoming free-agent first baseman Ryan Garko, who agreed to a one-year deal for a reported $550,000 and incentives that could raise it to $1,075,000, the Mariners add a right-handed bat that plays well against lefty pitching.

We should have been in on this for those numbers. Seriously guys the M's are building for a pretty good season.

1. How do you feel about Omar Beltre and Alexi Ogando getting a chance to come to the United States? Winning correctly should be a higher goal than importing trouble. I vote no, even though I want our pitching improved. This isn't the answer or the way to do it. This sounds like an ACORN program to me.

2. Rocco Baldelli anybody? Ryan Garko?

No.

3. Do you think Jarrod Washburn would be an upgrade to the Rangers rotation? Why not? It's like chicken soup--it can't "hoit."

4. What was the best move made by Jon Daniels this winter and why? the foresight in trading a workhorse & nice-guy commodity of Kevin Millwood to free-up Vladimir Guerrero and Rich Harden money.

5. What move by another team this winter impressed you the most?

Oakland signing Ben Sheets. I know they guaranteed alot of money to a gimpy-armed guy, BUT, we could have been as hair-brained, and had him in OUR rotation.

1) It's a good thing. Depending on what the mistake is, you shouldn't have to pay for it their whole lives. Give them a second chance. Lucky for them they are still young enough to have a career. That is if they aren't lying about their age.......
2) Garko, hands down we need right handed power.
3) No. Go get Lowry and make a move at All Star Break.
4) Millwood trade hands down which got us Harden, Ray and Snyder. It appears that the Rangers have discovered that it truly is all about the pitching.
5) Yankees stealing Curtis Granderson from the Tigers. Lee comes in second.

1. Glad they get a chance, I just hope the lost development time doesn't make it a moot point.

2. Garko would have been my choice..

3. Washburn is no upgrade over this group.

4. JD's best move IMO was signing Harden, but I hope the Colby Lewis signing (Millwood production at 1/4th the cost)proves to be a close second.

5. Granderson was indeed stolen...
-briant

1. Is a good thing and about time.

2. Baldelli...because of his versatility and good insurance at CF.

3. I'd rather sign Bedard or Lowry. Would take a lot less money with a incentive deal and they have way more upside. If we need more pitching make a move around the All-Star game.

4. The Warrior Guerrero.

5. Impressed by the As offering that much guaranteed money for Sheets.

1. How do you feel about Omar Beltre and Alexi Ogando getting a chance to come to the United States?
Sounds like they made up for their crimes, give them a shot. If we ban them for life, then what good is any justice philosophy claiming a goal of rehabilitation?

2. Rocco Baldelli anybody? Ryan Garko?
Baldelli. Versatility.

3. Do you think Jarrod Washburn would be an upgrade to the Rangers rotation?
He was less than impressive during his stint with Detroit, but he m ight be worth a shot if the price is right. After all, every move we've made this off-season has come with risk, so why not?

4. What was the best move made by Jon Daniels this winter and why?
I liked Millwood, but trading him to free up salary was a good move given the financial constraints faced by JD.

5. What move by another team this winter impressed you the most?
Seattle nabbing Cliff Lee. They made some dang impressive moves this off season and look hella good on paper for 2010. I'm stunned that Philly let him go...they had the dough to keep him and pick up Halladay...what an impressive rotation THAT would have been (and a nightmare for the rest of the NL!)