SB Nation User Blog: Chaim Witz

Pending Free Agents

Chaim Witz — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 09:24:49 -0000

I know this is kind of stupid, but can someone point me in the right direction for a list of potential free agents this off-season. I like to play GM sometimes, and I am not finding the list I am looking for.

Thanks in advance.

PS: And by the way, I will work harder in the future to figure out a way to ask this type of question in 300 words or more in the future.

Colts/Steelers game....

Chaim Witz — Sun, 15 Jan 2006 21:14:05 -0000

Well, its turned into an interesting game here at the end, and I feel bad for the Steeler fans.

I don't understand how they could rule that an incompletion, as it was clearly an interception.

Yes, I heard the explanation by the referee, but that was total BS. The guy rolled, clearly had the ball, got up to run and THEN knocked the ball out of his hands with his knee. Anybody knows that once he had possession and then rolled, it is a "catch/interception".

Well, God must be smiling on the Steelers after that fourth down sack.

Maybe justice will prevail.

EDIT: OMFG! What the hell?????? Maybe I spoke too soon. I can't believe that fumble at the goalline.

Are some of you folks serious???

Chaim Witz — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 04:45:45 -0000

On various threads, I read about the Rangers' need for a right-handed DH for various reasons, and those reasons just boggle my mind.

Some of those reasons are:

We need someone to DH against left-handed pitching.

We need someone to platoon with Dellucci

We need someone to platoon with Blalock.

Are these serious concerns and suggestions? If so, I am missing something in a big way.

We obviously face more RHP's throughout the season, and I'm more concerned about a legitimate DH for either side.

Like it or not (and I certainly don't), Nevin is our right-handed DH going into the season. If he can do anything this season, I will be happy, but they aren't eating that $9 million contract without at least seeing if he can revert back to some semblance of his former self. They can cut him for all I care, and if they can get a decent professional hitter, I'm all for it. However, I think our focus should be on a "quality" left-handed bat, but that's just me.

As far as a platoon hitter for Dellucci, I think that takes into account a major assumption which I am not willing to count on yet.

I believe the most likely scenario for the Rangers' outfield is a 4-man rotation in the OF, with Mench, Wilkerson, GMJ (possibly Nix..bleh), and Dellucci. If that is the case, there isn't a real need for another spare DH.

If the Rangers go with what I think is there best lineup, then it would be Mench LF, GMJ CF, and Wilkerson RF, with the undesirable teaming of Dellucci and Nevin as the DH platoon.

As far as finding a spare to platoon with Blalock, I think that it won't be necessary. I believe that he will cure that which ills him against lefties. IMO, the Rangers need to leave him in there against lefties, to determine his future value and whether to keep him or not.

Anyway, I guess I just am missing the boat, but I can't believe how many times I see posts regarding this.

I think I have a little man love.....

Chaim Witz — Thu, 05 Jan 2006 08:27:28 -0000

I don't really care about college football, UT, or watching much except to predict the next draft. Tonight, I had the opportunity to watch, so I did. I was pulling for Texas and felt that LenDale White would be the difference in the game.

However, I believe that the performance by Vince Young is one of the most incredible performances by an individual player in a team sport, that I have ever seen. This is one of those that I will always remember, and I'm happy that I saw it live.

Although there are great players on both sides and it is a team effort, this game just seemed to be one man (and his will to win) against a team worth of stars (Leinart, Bush, L. White, Jarret) and beat them....all of them combined. This was just totally unbelievable and whether Texas won or lost, Vince Young just gave me a great memory of perhaps the best performance I've ever seen.

I can think of several times I have thought I've seen incredible performances by an individual in a team sport, yet most of the time, I wasn't as surprised, or was the player up against bigger odds. Michael Jordan's will to win was unlike anything I has ever seen, but tonight, Young surpassed my feelings about him. I don't even like Jordan.

In fact, I'm reflecting on some of the greatest individual performances I have witnessed, and all seem to fail in comparison. Some of the greatest I can think of:

Jordan just seeming to will his team to a win, and he did it so many times.
When I was at Nolan Ryan's 7th no-hitter.
Larry Bird in one greatest efforts I had ever seen in a playoff basketball game. The one when there was almost no time left and in the final seconds Bird steals the inbound pass and in one motion throws up a shot and it goes in. (I didn't like Bird either)
Reggie Miller scoring like 5,000 points in the last 20 seconds of a game. (I didn't like Reggie Miller either)
Emmitt on that Monday night game vs. the Giants, when he had the injured shoulder and just carried Giant defenders on his back as he kept running.
Kirby Puckett just coming up huge everytime the Twins were in the World Series...especially the one against the Braves.
In 1995, Juan Gonzalez vs. the NY Yankees in the playoffs. Even though they lost in 4 games, Juan hit 5 home runs in the series and accounted for almost all the Ranger runs. He WAS the Ranger offense.

you get the picture.....there are so many that we have all witnessed.

This time, Vince Young beat those other guys on pure will and skill. This wasn't just any game, or one game in a series. This was for the National Championship against what was being touted for a month as the greatest team of all time.

I didn't believe......I have learned my lesson.

Listening to them all in interviews (Leinart, Bush, etc), they are relatively gracious, but cannot really figure out how they lost. They believe they are the best and all they have figured out is that Vince Young beat them.

To put it in perspective, if I would have told you yesterday that USC would score 38 points with:

Leinart throwing for 356 yds and a TD

L. White rushing for 124 yds and 3 TD

Bush rushing for 82 yds and a TD

Jarrett with over 100 yds and a TD

USC with a 12 point lead with 5 minutes left in the game

What do you think Texas' chances would have been?

Me too. I just underestimated Vince Young.

I sure wish his heart and will could be implanted into the Ranger dugout. Maybe he can DH??????

Anybody feel we are missing a bat?

Chaim Witz — Tue, 03 Jan 2006 15:40:45 -0000

First off, I want to say that I am content with the pitching moves Daniels has made. Until Millwood was signed, I was far from content. Because of that single signing, I feel we have a chance to get another pitcher via FA, whether its next year or even Clemens. The bullpen is fine, if it plays out like I feel it will. Additionally, I have a gut feeling that there will be another move for pitching before spring training. (not B. Anderson either)

That being said, I am a little reluctant to anoint the Rangers offense as a slam dunk to repeat its production over the past couple years. I know I am in the minority opinion of the value of Soriano's impact on the offensive prowess of the Rangers, but he always has the ability to impact the game with one swing of the bat.

My concern now is protection for Tex. Teams will not pitch to him if they don't have to. I believe Blalock will rebound, but the problem is the DH. IF Nevin is really working hard, then that could be a pleasant surprise, but I withhold judgement on that. I understand the "DH by committee" approach, and I do not want to sign Thomas or Piazza, but I like the idea of a consistent bat in the lineup.....a professional HITTER.

Delucci, DeRosa, or any of the other bench players don't excite me at all as a DH, except in spot duty. Does anybody have any ideas for a possible hitter that I can't think of, that the Rangers could possibly add for protection for Tex or Blalock?

I doubt the Rangers would ever sign him again with his baggage, but the only name that I keep hearing in my pea brain is Raffy. I would only like that if Tex is hitting cleanup AND that we can get him on the relatively cheap deal. I don't think anybody is knocking down his door right now to sign him.

So, the Winter Meetings end with....

Chaim Witz — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 16:17:39 -0000

The Rangers trading Soriano for "something", but not what we were hoping for. No pitching to plug into the rotation. No true answer in CF.

Hopefully, the Rangers offered enough to Morris to get him in here. The money saved from moving Soriano hopefully make it possible. Nevertheless, Morris is not "really" a number one starter, so that is a shame.

Right now, we still have a line up of decent offense, average defense and no starting pitching.

Additionally, it seems that JD irritated most of the other GM's in the league. Honestly, that doesn't bother me too much. Perhaps he was irritating by over-valuing our players, and they couldn't fleece us in a trade. On the other hand, hopefully he didn't turn everybody off to the point that they just don't want to deal with him. I guess we shall see.

Hey Tom, take a contract with you to the Rose Bowl and after Texas wins, get Roger drunk and have him sign it during all the celebration going on.

I still would like to see another pitcher come in here that is not named Tomko, Eaton, etc. I also have no desire to bring in someone like Benson, if its only to allow the Mets to free up more money to sign more players. I'll take him, but Milledge is the target there.

In lieu of not getting any pitching, we may just have to rely on crappy FA's like Tomko (hoping for a Morris or Millwood signing.) At the same time, if we could pull in Hudson and Bradley or Milledge, then I will just wait until next off-season for any significant pitching moves.

Man! I used to love the Winter Meetings.

Chaim has a dream.....sort of a plan

Chaim Witz — Wed, 07 Dec 2005 09:58:57 -0000

OK, I want to preface this with the fact that I know it is early and perhaps Daniels can pull a rabbit (heck, even a hamster would be nice) out of his hat, during this off-season maneuvers.

With that out of the way, please understand that I do not hold out much hope for many developments that will help the team in 2006. Most of the primary free agents I had considered for having a "real" impact on this team are gone, haven't been contacted, or have no reason to want to come to Texas. I have decided on a plan that could possibly work, BUT the Rangers will be overpaying if this would even be possible.

Here it goes:

Plan predicated on an $85-$100 million payroll going into the 2007 season.

There are only 5 free agents for 2006 that I felt I would go after, or at least consider: Burnett and Giles are gone (I would have made both deals they received). I believe Morris is tired of sitting around waiting for the Rangers. I haven't heard even a peep about Millwood and the Rangers. Rogers would be my last resort choice, but he's a good pitcher who can keep a low ERA at The Ballpark. Other than those players, nothing else is that appealing to me. So with that in mind, we go forward and focus on some trades and sign some crap to get us through the next season.

There are two pitchers that I would like to go after, and hopefully overwhelm (overpay) their teams with an offer of young players. Those two pitchers are Dontrelle Willis and Roy Oswalt. The chances of getting them are remote, but there is always hope.

I would offer a package of something like Adrian Gonzalez, Laird, Danks or Volquez, Nix, Kinsler, another pitching prospect and they could change it up if they want. This would provide a bunch of young players for them to keep, trade, develop, or help keep payroll down.

By overpaying, it is the only way I can see dislodging one of these two. Once I get one, I sign them to a nice extension.

Next, I would trade Mench for Orlando Hudson to cover 2nd and the imminent departure of Soriano for Broxton and Milton Bradley would necessitate this.

Soriano just paid for either Willis or Oswalt. Mench and Hudson's salaries pretty much wash out, when coupled with the $$ value of the Soriano deal. Bradley is the new dollar value to be taken into consideration. Either way, payroll has not jumped up much, if at all.

Sign Matt Morris on a 2 year deal with an option for a third. If he says no, then offer Rogers arbitration and if he says yes, that's fine. If not, then we just sign some of those junky FA pitchers we were looking to sign anyway.

To fill out the rest of the rotation and/or positional players, sign 1 or 2 year deals with some of the lower tier FA's, but NOT over-paying.

After drudging through the season, plan on SPENDING THE FOLLOWING YEAR IN FREE AGENCY. After next season, the likes of Zito, Buehrle, Mussina, Pettite, etc. become available FA pitchers. Additionally, some of the young guys may have developed, but that is yet to be seen.

Basically, this is what the team would look like going into the season.

1B: Tex
2B: Hudson
SS: Young
3B: Blalock
RF: Delucci/GMJ/Young player or serviceable FA
CF: Bradley
LF: Delucci/GMJ/Young player or serviceable FA
C: Barajas

SP: Willis or Oswalt (I believe Oswalt less likely)
SP: Rogers or Morris
SP: Young
SP: Loe
SP: One of those Latin dudes or cheap FA

Well, I'm getting tired, but you get the gist. After next season, the Rangers can go after another premium SP if they want, or maybe somebody will be ready to pitch from the farm.

As far as the perceived holes in the weak OF, let's not forget we have the baseball god DeRosa. Buck can play him ANYWHERE.

I know its a little far-fetched, but I'm tired of just sitting around watching nothing happen. I see more potential through FA the following year, if we can make a move on a premium pitcher via trade right now, and lock him up.

Like I said, I'm really tired......LOL

ESPN reporting that Pierre has been traded......

Chaim Witz — Wed, 07 Dec 2005 08:06:48 -0000

...to the Chicago Cubs.

No names yet, but they just reported that Pierre was traded to the Cubs for "3 young pitchers".

Like I said, nothing more reported, but apparently a deal has been reached. I guess we'll see.

Here is my take on this:

I like Pierre and would have liked to have him with the Rangers

I would not have included Diamond in the deal...at all. The other two, I'm not sure about.

I would have played the fire sale angle and sent Nix packing with something, but that's about it. After all, we would be taking the salary off the Marlins' hands.

Anyway, now we can all stop bashing Pierre, and watch him ignite the Cubs offense. Say what you will about the guy, but those that don't see his "gamer" attitude, are missing something and PAYING WAY TOO MUCH ATTENTION TO STATS.

I wouldn't have given up much, but he's got some game. While the Cubs have a spark in their lineup, we are looking at another season with Delucci leading off.

Yeah, Pierre can't help this team.....

Anybody hear about a David Wells deal?

Chaim Witz — Mon, 05 Dec 2005 15:22:45 -0000

Either it was a dream, or I need to start drinking again, but for some reason, a deal involving David Wells coming to Texas has popped into my little pea-brain.

I don't know where it came from, or why it is there, but it is.

I'm not saying its good, bad or somewhere in between. I retired from being a mind reader quite a while ago.

Perhaps if the Rangers are in a deal for Manny, part of it is to include Wells, so Boston can dump him. I still believe that if Manny gets traded to Texas, he will never hit the field in a Rangers uniform, and will be moved to an over-paying team.

Like I said, I don't know where this comes from.

Chaim's thoughts on a few of these supposed deals.....

Chaim Witz — Sat, 03 Dec 2005 21:18:15 -0000

Manny Ramirez for Soriano package

This one intrigues me, but no matter what goes down, I don't believe we will see Manny in a Ranger uniform.

The Rangers may have noticed that the Mets and BoSox aren't matching up as well for a Ramirez deal (don't know if its accurate or not) OR the Sox are saying "if you are going to whine your way out of here, you aren't going where you want to go." That being said, the Rangers may have a shot.

If the above is the case, the perhaps the chase for Manny by the Rangers is just to send him away in an effort to fleece another team. It could be that they covet Milledge and other Mets players enough to send Minaya what he wants (Manny package). If this is the case, the Rangers would be able to get some nice young players and save payroll.

If the Rangers would get Manny, I wouldn't mind him, but if the best player in baseball isn't worth 25 million/year, then Manny isn't worth 20 million/year. He's a great hitter, but this isn't where he wants to be. What's the difference between a 25 million dollar whiner and a 20 million dollar whiner, that both want to be traded? ANSWER: $5 million, MVP awards and still no starting pitching.

Pierre vs. Bradley vs. Nix/GMJ

I'll be honest and say that I like all of these except Nix.

Pierre- I like the little speed demon. I respect stats as an overall measure over a significant period of time, not as a snapshot. I gauge Pierre's down season the same way I gauge Blalock's season. I think they are both better than what last season indicates.

I don't care what anybody says, if the Rangers are having to use Delucci as leadoff hitter, Pierre may not be a "pure leadoff hitter", but don't tell me he couldn't help. I think the guy plays like he wants to win every game, and I can dig that. He would add a dimension to the Rangers that hasn't been around for a while. I would NOT give up much for him, but if they would take Nix and friggin DeRosa, I would make a deal for Pierre.

Bradley- Here is Mr. Attitude at its best (worst). I'll be honest that I haven't seen him play much, but all reports say this guy is a player. I don't want a TO on the Rangers, but I wouldn't mind a little Keyshawn on the Rangers. If the guys a player and hit and field, I wouldn't mind getting a good player that may come on the cheap. What do you think the Dodgers interest in Soriano is comprised of? I believe a dump of Bradley is in the cards...on the cheap, so it could be a decent package.

Nix- Ugh....move him for something. How long does it take before Ranger prospects become "players to be named later"? Trade him while someone wants him and before he turns into a pumpkin.

GMJ- If nothing pans out for a centerfielder for the Rangers, I have absolutely no problem with GMJ out there. The guy showed me a lot last season when he was an everyday player. You get some pitching, and I can accept him in CF.

Zito, Byrd, Morris, Millwood, Burnett, Rogers

If you can get the trade for Zito, get him and sign him to an extension. There is no such thing as a good pitcher for The Ballpark. Just take the good pitchers and hope for the best. Rogers is the only pitcher that has been able to keep a decent ERA at The Ballpark.

Byrd- Bleh. Well, I don't really care about Byrd. What would be nice is if he is signed as a #3 starter, and winds up as expected and is our #4 or #5 starter. That would mean that other guys have stepped up or we brought in some decent folks.

Morris- Ground Ball pitchers are probably the second best fit for the Rangers at home. (First being a strikeout pitcher....oh, but we don't want to give too many years to one of those). I like Morris, and I think that this year will be better than last year, after coming back from injury. I say get him in here and quit farting around with him.

Millwood- Best free agent pitcher that I hear nothing about in the rumor mill. Why is that? I would like Millwood in a Rangers uniform, and for about 3 years. Give the guy a "home" again, and I feel he will respond.

Burnett- Still my favorite free agent pitcher out there. I want a friggin' strike out, power pitcher in here. There's one way to not have to worry about any pitch being hit out of The Ballpark.....its called strikes and they are pitches that the hitters can't get good wood on. Burnett has that ability and I would sign him long term. I think of someone like Kerry Wood. He has been injured (but I think the Cubs used him improperly early in his career), but he comes back as a power pitcher each time. I WANT A STINKING POWER PITCHER!!!! All others are pitchers that hitters think "I'll just wait for his mistake" or "I can hit him, so hopefully it falls in".

I want a pitcher that opposing hitters are intimidated by. I want the hitters thinking "Well, tonights going to be rough, but at least we're going against Byrd tomorrow night."

Texas needs power pitching. I don't think it is anything more than that.

Rogers- Bring his cameraman beating arse back. He's the only pitcher I've seen that has figured out how to pitch at The Ballpark. We need our other pitchers to figure it out from watching him. He's not a bad pitcher, he hadn't been a problem until last year, and he comes to play. You don't get a reputation as an outstanding fielding pitcher by just hanging around the mound after you throw. AND, he actually wanted to be here.

Laird, Barajas, Adrian Gonzalez, Mench

I would keep Laird over Barajas...period. This kid is going to be good. Screw Buck's doghouse. His pets look a lot like DeRosa. Laird at least has some spunk and WANTS to play. Confident enough to know he deserves to play. He's younger than Barajas and I am impressed with what Barajas has done the past couple seasons, but I'm still not sold on him continuing to play at that level.

SELL HIGH!! His value is higher now than it ever will be. Does anybody believe that Lairds value has topped out? Not me. Why would we be willing to sell Laird cheap and not sell Barajas when his is high? Fundamental problem with the Rangers philosophy.....actually, its the same with some Rangers fans.

Adrian Gonzalez- If he's soooo good, why aren't teams asking for him? I think he's pretty decent and will get better with playing time. I don't understand why people don't think like me....LOL

Mench- I like Mench, even though I always think we should get rid of him. Each time I sour on him, he makes some game saving plays/hits. He'd be the first I'd let go, IF we had any other outfielders. He reminds me of Inky for some reason, and I always loved Inky's heart and passion for the game. Keep him or trade him, but let's not pass up a deal for a better player if its there....just don't give him away. We need some more heart....and talent would be nice also

DeRosa- This guy has little talent and seems to act like he signed a 10 year contract. As long as he is on this team AND gets playing time, we are in serious trouble.

OK, I think I'm done now.