SB Nation User Blog: jameslcrockett

Yahoo! Epically Fails Zduriencik's name

jameslcrockett — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 02:58:56 -0000

Yahoo! Epically Fails Zduriencik's name

Beltre featured as well, although not praised as highly as Z... and not acknowledged for being an asset even though he never came close to the 48 homers he hit in his last year with LA.

"They won't miss Beltre in the Pacific Northwest..."

Gordon Edes can suck it!

I don't know why i'm bothering with this really, since any of the lowest level of baseball scribe would have added Zduriencik to their spellchecker a long damn time ago.

More Ichiro love from Jeff Passan

jameslcrockett — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 03:24:52 -0000

More Ichiro love from Jeff Passan

Wagner to Red Sox

jameslcrockett — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 21:49:02 -0000

Wagner to Red Sox

Yeah... exactly like it should have went down. Although, I've yet to see whether the Mets picked up any of the ~$3.5 million remaining on Wagner's contract.

They got some value in return for Wagner, OF prospect Chris Carter (who Boston had no use for) and another player to be named later. They're probably worth giving up the two draft picks the Mets would have got after offering Wagner arbitration this winter and saving some cash.

The Red Sox make out great in this deal. Wagner almost vetoed the deal, as the Mets weren't going to let the Red Sox just claim him, and Wagner didn't want to go to any team that would pick up his option or offer him salary arbitration, unless he would end up as the closer. Obviously, that wouldn't happen with Jonathan Papelbon in Boston, but Wagner decided to go to Boston anyway. He'll get his option declined, but they most definitely will offer him arbitration, since some team will decide Wagner is worth the draft picks to come in and close on an incentive-laden deal.

This is a move the Cubs should have made. They have a gaping hole at the back of their bullpen, and acquiring Wagner would have helped. The option and arbitration wouldn't have been an issue since the Cubs could give him guarantees of the closer job, if he performs the rest of the way. The move also would have countered the Cardinals acquiring John Smoltz. The Cubs should have at least put in on a claim for him. I've yet to hear the reasoning why they didn't.

To me, not making a move or two over the last week signifies the team has given up on making the playoffs this year.

Interesting comment on Ackley from yahoo

jameslcrockett — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 05:30:44 -0000

I'm not sure I agree that they've got a deal already worked out with Ackley. Not sure if Z would go along with having him signed but not announcing it as some kind of favor to Bud Selig giving up a chance at some good press while they've slipped out of the playoff race... or getting him to a minor-league team as quick as possible. Not only that... but announcing the deal and how much over slot Ackley got from the Mariners could therefore make it harder and more expensive for other teams to sign their draft picks which would be a benefit to the Mariners.

I think if there was a deal done, everyone involved would want it out there and would have a hard time keeping it hushed.

Signing deadline waiting game in full effect by Yahoo! Sports Tim Brown

I heart Demp

jameslcrockett — Tue, 26 May 2009 21:50:45 -0000

I heart Demp

Oh, man... there were times during the offseason I was thinking it would be a horrible decision to give him the kind of money the Cubs ended up giving him to stay with the team four more years. I was so very, very wrong. He's pitched just fine for the team, last night's game aside... but he's a special guy and I don't want to cheer for a Cubs team without guys like him on the roster.

Mariners fans... Do... Not... Go... To... Yahoo

jameslcrockett — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 21:01:33 -0000

Mariners fans... Do... Not... Go... To... Yahoo

You might just find yourself clicking on this article... and then breaking things.

(or SportingNews either, i guess... and besides you get all the best Mariners coverage yahoo would have to offer right here on LL anyway)

Griffey----> Seattle? No, wait. Atlanta? No, wait....

jameslcrockett — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 20:45:36 -0000

Ugh... As a Cubs fan living in Seattle, I just want this all over with. Yes, I grew up in Seattle watching Griffey in his first 11 years as THE BEST baseball player I've ever seen in my lifetime.

I hated seeing the Mariners trade him to the Cincinnati Reds for pennies on the dollar, really... but I didn't realize just how much I would hate it until I saw him play at Wrigley Field. And boy, can he surely hit the ball at the Friendly Confines... and out of it too, onto both Sheffield and Waveland. Yeah, he killed the Cubs at GAB too, but everyone can hit there.

Yes, he's a flawed baseball player at this point in his career - can't do much with the glove and lefties murder him, but he still can bring it against right-handed pitchers. Last I checked, that's pretty much all the Cubs have (yes, I know... Ted Lilly says hi to you, too).

He's probably going to choose a team this week, and I really wouldn't mind him going to a team the Cubs don't have to compete against next year. Today's reports have him signing with the Atlanta Braves, after this weekend's reports had him signing with his original club, the Seattle Mariners.

This would not be a smart move for the Braves, who are trying to figure out their young talent in the outfield and have no dh to keep his legs from failing him. I can't blame him for wanting to play there. He has some ties to the Atlanta area through his son, and he could hit a baseball from his home to the Braves' spring training complex (probably not that far from it, actually).

I also heard someone mention the St. Louis Cardinals as still being an option... and I sure as hell would hate that. Talk about a complete nightmare. I would sure hate if he became their Jim Edmonds, because they could actually use a left-handed hitting outfielder to go with Ankiel, Ludwick and Schumaker, maybe Duncan if he's healthy. It would also allow them to move Schumaker to 2b occasionally, since they have a hole left from losing Miles to us and letting Kennedy walk.

I'm not sure Junior's heart is telling him anything right now, I started to question whether he had one long before he bullied his way out of Seattle before the 2000 season. Signing with anyone other than the Mariners would sure drive a stake through it, especially after the emotion of his last return to SafeCo Field where he said he wanted to end his career as a Mariner.

As we Cubs fans know from the Heilman fleecing, the Mariners have hired a shrewd and capable GM out of the Milwaukee system, so for all we know, he's not actually going as hard after this many think. It might take an "Out of Left Field" book to figure that out after several years down the road, but he's probably not offering the money Atlanta is or the security Atlanta is. The Mariners new GM seems like the kind of guy who is offering Junior very little base salary, with a ton of incentives and not guaranteeing he'll get off the bench if he's hobbling or not hitting.

Either way, I personally know a lot of people who are holding their breath and hoping they get up in the morning to hear he's coming "home". He won't get that in Atlanta. They wouldn't care if it's him or Garrett Anderson playing the outfield next year.

I just want him out of the National League. I wouldn't mind not having to root against him.

All-Star Update

jameslcrockett — Mon, 19 May 2008 23:19:41 -0000

No... i don't know what the voting is... but mlb.com put up a story that seemed to say that Brian McCann was the favorite as far as numbers go and Russell Martin would win the popularity contest.

Now... come on Cubs fans... we know different. We have the best catcher in baseball and as good as McCann has been this year, it's not even close.

Therefore... it better be a landslide getting Soto in as the National League's starting catcher. They rest of the National League electorate will catch on soon enough... but let's make sure we're doing our part and leading the charge.

There's absolutely no reason why the Cubs should have fewer than 4 starters on the National League All-Star team... Soto, Fukudome, Lee, Ramirez, Theriot, even Soriano with his recent hot streak all have good chances to represent us at the game as starters.

Our boys have the best record in baseball... we need to give them this reward... and reward ourselves in the process. I won't enjoy seeing Albert Pujols, Pat Burrell or Chipper Jones as all-stars over our guys.

Let's not let it happen and get out and vote! Sorry, Al... but get off BCB right now... go to MLB.COM and fill out your ballots.. and then come back :)

Go Cubbies!!!

The Big Moose Needs An Award For This

jameslcrockett — Mon, 12 May 2008 18:24:25 -0000

I don't know... I'm thinking best cameo performance by an athlete in a webfilm. I'm definitely posting this just in case there's someone who hasn't seen this five times today... It needs to be required watching. Not only is he our Big Moose, he's freaking hilarious... make sure you watch it to the very end. I don't think the Cubs are making nearly enough money off Z.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=NDZPN0mjaAA

All-Star Voting

jameslcrockett — Fri, 02 May 2008 00:13:04 -0000

Make sure we're all getting our votes in for the All-Star game... Chicago Style... Vote Early! Vote Often! Vote Chicago!

I know we don't really think Soriano and Pie deserve to be there... but any vote for Griffey, Beltran, etc... is a vote against Fukudome! They're not voting for our guys, so let's not vote for theirs! Cubbie Pride!!! Make sure we make this happen...

And there is no, no, no ,NO excuse for Geovany Soto, Aramis Ramirez and Derrek Lee not to start for the National League. I will accept nothing less than blow-out wins for our boys! Let's get it done!

(And vote for some Seattle Mariners while you're at it... it will help my business. lol)