SB Nation User Blog: JBImaknee

Bill Simmons on Manny

JBImaknee — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 22:57:07 -0000

I don't know if this has been mentioned elsewhere, but I just read through what has to be the longest Bill Simmons article ever on Manny Ramirez. I'm not a huge Simmons fan - used to be, but his shtick has gotten a bit old (we get it - you like the Celtics). But this is a good analysis of what I think is one of the more unique stories in baseball and comes free with some great anecdotes about Manny,

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=manny

I'm a Manny Ramirez fan, though I have long hated the Red Sox. I fully believe that if Manny Ramirez had cared at all throughout his career we'd very likely be arguing whether he was the best hitter of all time. In those moments that you could see in his eyes that he actually cared, he was quite simply dominant at the plate. ARod and Pujols will have better career numbers, but Manny will always be greater than them in my mind. You've all seen those moments where you just knew he'd crush the next pitch. And he's not a bad fielder - as Simmons points out, his arm would often be underestimated and he played that wall amazingly. But he'd loaf after easy popups and let them drop and float balls past cutoff guys.

The shame is why he would stop trying. Why isn't he being argued about in good ways instead of bad? I firmly believe that he was so good that he didn't appreciate it - he's that guy who gets no rush from succeeding because he's fully confident that he can do whatever he wants. Fear of failure is one of the greatest motivator in sports, and he lacked it entirely. Tiger Woods intensity derives from his obsessive perfectionism about golf - he's so terrified of failure that he must win. I see that same look in ARod's eyes. But Manny has no such fear. He just goes up there and does his thing. But every once in a while, he wants it. And he gets it.

Anyway, I'm chearing for him in LA this October - mostly because I like seeing Boston fans suffer and I know that watching Manny is like what watching someone like DiMaggio must have been like. He may not be the best player in baseball - but he's someone who no one else will ever imitate.

Evidence of overrating Yankees prospects

JBImaknee — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 19:46:38 -0000

So who here remembers Andrew Brackman?

You know, the 6'11'' pitcher from NC State who pitched a total of 30 games over 3 years, with ERAs of 2.09, 6.35, and 3.81? The guy who signed for a major league contract with the Yankees, despite everyone knowing he was heading into major elbow surgery? Yeah... that guy.

Well, BA has a droolfest article on him, suggesting that he could even contend for the Yanks' rotation next year EVEN THOUGH HE HASN'T PITCHED IN ALMOST TWO YEARS! He's never thrown a pitch in the minors,..

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/winter-baseball/hawaii-winter-baseball/2008/266929.html

For those of you who want to sign KRod

JBImaknee — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:46:16 -0000

I saw this up on the header above a few minutes ago. Beyondtheboxscore looks closely at KRod's season, and his progressive decline in the past 4 or 5 years

http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2008/9/4/607253/the-worst-season-of-franci

Rodriguez has still been very good this year; but, save total aside, he has also been very lucky. His ability to throw strikes and his fastball velocity are both down. His slider is less tight than it used to be – it’s no longer getting the two-plane break that it was getting before, and it’s being thrown at a slower velocity. These are all very troublesome signs, and they’re coupled with a lower strikeout rate (and a still-high walk rate).

Now, KRod is still a great pitcher, and he'll probably help some team win in 2009 and 2010, but there is a lot of risk associated with giving him a long-term deal. I've seen several people advocating signing him this offseason, which I think is a great mistake. Between the obvious injury concern with his freak motion and this slow trending away from total dominance, I can't see him as a guy I want under contract for $15 million in 2012. Besides, the Rangers shouldn't worry about a closer until they get starting pitching capable of giving their bullpen a lead more often than not.

Bakersfield is definitely going away

JBImaknee — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:30:31 -0000

Not too many details in the BA blurb or the accompanying article. But it looks as if the Rangers will no longer be playing in Bakersfield past next year. I know this was mentioned a few months ago, but it is looking more and more official

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/business/?p=117

They don't mention the Rangers plans in either story - most likely they'll take one of the High-A spots being added in the Carolina League (though I guess taking another club's spot in the Cal League is always an option as well). Richmond - obviously the best free market right now - looks like it'll be a AA club, leaving Fayetteville the only known possibility.

Anyone with more info on the minor leagues have more news about this?

Problem with Alvarez and Hosmer contracts

JBImaknee — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:21:40 -0000

Problem with Alvarez and Hosmer contracts

This just an unsourced post on mlbtraderumors, but apparently Boras clients Alvarez and Hosmer are complaining about their contracts already.

Glad that we avoided these problems with our guys.

Dan Haren extended

JBImaknee — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 23:56:21 -0000

Dan Haren extended

Haren was already signed for a while when Arizona traded for him - now he is under team control through at least 2013, when he'll be 33 I think.

Smart move to lock up the guy who they traded half their farm for. If the Rangers were to acquire a Cain or Greinke type, I'd expect for them to do something similar (as the cost would be comparable).

Trade predictions

JBImaknee — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 20:16:41 -0000

Okay, this lack of activity is getting to me, lets play a game. So lets see who can predict what JD decides to do. A little contest to see who here knows the Rangers the best.

1 point for guessing a player who will be traded
1 bonus point for saying what team he goes to
1 bonus point for each player correctly identified in the return
minus 1/2 point for each player you say will be traded who isn't

For example, if you predict the following:

Laird to New York for Ian Kennedy (which happens)

Guardardo to Boston for Bowden (Eddie goes to Boston, but not for Bowden)

Vazquez to LA for LaRoche (which does not happen)

you would get 4.5 points: 3 points for getting the Laird trade exactly right, 2 for saying Eddie to Boston and -1/2 for saying Vazquez was leaving.

we'll see if this gimmick works...

Depressing article about Mike Lamb

JBImaknee — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:41:48 -0000

Depressing article about Mike Lamb

Apparently Mike Lamb doesn't like his job...

OT: Stubhub question

JBImaknee — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 15:28:06 -0000

Quick question for yall:

I'm looking to buy tickets to the Angels / Rangers series in late August, and I found some great deals for seats at Stubhub: even after their ridiculous shipping fees they're much cheaper than buying new tickets off the Angels website/Ticketmaster.

I've never bought of Stubhub before, and a little search of epinions and other such sites showed a TON of complaints by unhappy people who got screwed. I'm wondering if their difficulties are a common thing, or is this a selection bias where only people with bad experiences talk about it online?

Have any of you had bad exeperiences? Or is it safe to use?

BA taps Feliz as Rangers new #1

JBImaknee — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:51:06 -0000

BA taps Feliz as Rangers new #1

Not unexpected, but Jim Callis mentions that 18 teams have new #1s in their system right now, and Netfali and his 100+ mph fastball are now sitting at the top of the Rangers heap.