Astros could use a top young prospect at catcher. I like Chirinos behind the plate but he's a liability at the plate. Our top prospect in the minors is a kid who is 5'10' 175lbs who can't finish a season, he payed at USC (Garrett Stubbs), he reportedly gets worn down at the end of seasons, just can't handle everyday duties.
If they could get Harper to agree to 7, I'd pull the trigger. He's a lot better than folks realize. Pollock is a hell of a grab though and you got to keep the prospects. Even better, the Dodger killers of the past are donning the blue.
RIP Frank Robinson. Man I do remember Frank, both at Cincy and Baltimore...he was one of the true all time greats.
He played the game like he was mad at the world with a style all his own. His socks were "high whites." He did "the matador" when pitches were thrown at his head. He sneered at pitchers who hit him explaining, "They can't win by giving away free bases." He refused to sign autographs and waded through crowds of kids who idolized him. In his only year with the Dodgers, the players elected him captain and he held "Kangaroo Courts" to levy fines on those who made mistakes. He was all ferocious all the time. I don't have to see Ty Cobb...I saw Frank Robinson.
I idolized him as a kid. In 1964 my Dad took me to Crosley Field and I wore my Delco Little League uniform with #20 on the back. I wore it every year and I even tried to pattern my batting stance after his unique closed, stiff legged stance. We got their early and I was armed with the scorecard and a pencil and my Dad positioned us along a 4 foot high chain link fence under the grandstand where the players walked by to get to the field from the clubhouse. Along comes Robinson walking with Vada Pinson and as he approached I blurted out Mr. Robinson can I have your autograph. He acted like he didn't here me so I quickly repeated it. His exact response was "Get lost". That was a hell of a thing to say to a 10 year old. My Dad went nuts, yelling after him and I was crushed. But I never wore that number again in any sport. That bubble was burst forever. Great ballplayer. Not so great a person.
Well Kyler Murray has officially stiffed the Oakland A's and is giving back the money and going all in on being a NFL QB. He was great in his 1 year as a college QB, but he is very small and slight and I have to wonder if 1) his game will translate to the NFL and 2) even if it does can he take the pounding.
Kyler Murray is making a mistake. Jeff Samardzija is 34 and he's still making millions with Frisco. The NFL doesn't give contracts that long to kick returners.
Trevor Bauer, the Indians pitcher who cast some shadows on the Astros pitchers last year over their spin rates, just won his arbitration with the Indians and will be paid 13M a year, but apparently in his opinion (might be 100% right) the Indians cast some aspersions on his character during the arbitration and he didn't like it and said that he'll be back in arbitration next year and then the following year when he's eligible for free agency..he's out of there. Of course that's a long time, things can change.
Trevor Bauer is an interesting guy...very smart and certainly a free thinker. He's not really upset with the Indians about the arbitration. I don't think that there is as much resentment as you imply. Cleveland Indians’ Trevor Bauer takes second swing at having his character assassinated You are right...he will definitely be gone after 2020 but that will not be because of any issues with the Indians as much as he will be priced too high for them. He has now stated that after he is eligible for free agency he will negotiate one year deals. That's a real risk/reward thing for him. Some teams will be turned off by it and some won't. He has the possibility of making more money on large one year deals, or the possibility of injury etc. shortening his career. Most players are looking for security. He is a very confident young man and speaks his mind for sure.
RIP Don Newcombe. 1955 was my first year that I can remember being a Dodger fan, that team had all my hero's on it and they played in a Magical place called Brooklyn. As a kid I dreamed of getting to see Brooklyn, Ebbets Field and my Heros. Newcombe, Podres, Hodges, Pee Wee, Furrillo, Jackie, Sandy, Carl Erskine, Gilliam, Clem, and most of all the Duke. 55 and 56 were great seasons for Don Newcombe. RIP.
RIP Don Newcombe. Remember him well. I loved the Dodgers during my childhood, primarily because I hated the Yankees. The Dodgers, Cubs, and Cardinals were responsible my growing up a NL fan. Newcombe was a big part of those great 50s Dodgers teams.
I know the Dodgers are loaded and all, but what are you going to do when Harper signs with the Giants?
Baseball is going to implement some new rules to try and prevent sign stealing. Apparently in baseball if you aren't cheating you aren't trying! Among the new rules, according to the SI.com report, would be: A ban on in-house outfield cameras from foul pole to foul pole. Live broadcasts limited to each team's designated replay official, who in turn will be monitored by a security expert. Having all other TV monitors, such as those in the clubhouse and bullpens, on an eight-second delay. Penalties for violation of the rules would include the forfeiting of draft picks and/or international spending money, according to the report.
8 second delay isn't going to prevent anything. If anything, it will give you a bit more time to study what's going on since you don't have the pressure of finding it in real time. Then, there's the pitchers. What do you do about them? Every off day pitcher that isn't playing poker in the bullpen does nothing but sit there and try to steal signs.
Dodgers apparently have made an offer to Harper for a "short" term deal. No indication what "short" means, is it 5 years when Harper wants 10? It would seem that Manny's 10 year deal will make it very hard for Harper to take fewer years unless the per/year amount is significantly higher. He's a young player for sure but if he signs a short deal now hoping that he'll be worth even more in the future he's taking a big risk that he won't due to age/injuries/decline in ability.