disarcina

Panda would probably do well in Fenway. But I hear that San Diego also is getting into the bidding. Sandoval in pitcher's park -- San Diego? That would cause a downturn in his career. Panda hit ok down the stretch , mid-August/ September and then in the post-season. but before that, he was either on the DL or a no show at the plate.........he's a big fan favorite at AT&T and sells a lot of those Panda hats for the Giants concessions......but if he signed elsewhere for a huge contract -- I think it benefits the SF Giants -- they've gotten the best out of him and don't need to tie up payroll for a few years to pay for past service. Now, Panda may go to Boston and tear it up, get off to a great start and then just rip opposition AL pitching at Fenway -- but that wouldn't mean he'd be doing the same thing at AT&T in 2015 and certainly not at Petco Park in San Diego.

they signed Billy Butler right? 3 years $30 million.......now this? A's becoming more of a Earl Weaver -- three run HR approach team......... directly opposite of what wound up in the World Series this year, small ball, pitching, defense and speed......... Is Billy Beane having a mid/late career crisis -- ever since the Lester for Cespedes deal, Beane hasn't acted Beane-like. BTW -- any word on Cespedes? I keep expecting the other shoe to drop on that Biogenis reports or whatever it was -- may see Cespedes have a 2015 much like A-Rod's 2014.

the transient trophy hat idea is great -- so is the idea to have photos taken with the hat for a donation. sounds like a fitting tribute.

nando714 - well, penny pinching is pretty much where I think the F/O is right now. Haren is a proven MLB starter, pitched well for us in his stint here......... his Washington time didn't start out that well, but got better. last year with the Dogs -- I agree with you -- he had more bad (and I mean bad) starts than good starts. still, back to that penny pinching thing again...........you're pretty much down to a guy like Haren (if Dogs eat some of the contract) vs. LeBlanc. toss a coin -- perhaps a penny..........

how about if we take Yadier and let the Cardinals have Jose.......... you want to talk about an MVP in terms of one player making a difference for a team -- check the St. Louis Cardinals 2014 season record in games where Yadier is in the line up and then the games when he was not (on the DL). Hope Yadier recovers from the injury that forced him out of the playoffs (had he been healthy -- it would have been an all Missouri World Series!) and is ready to go for St. Louis next year.

cut a deal with the Dogs -- the Dogs need to take on at least a quarter of his remaining contract -- perhaps 50%. Look - Haren's coming back to a team where he may be the sixth guy in a five man rotation. If we could get him real cheap -- why not take a flyer on him? He pitched well for us before and last year for the Dogs (particularly second half) had more bad starts than good starts. but may be worth a flyer.........of course we could deal for him and then he retires..........but then no harm, no foul.

Kings taking it to Florida tonight -- feel bad for our old pal from Vancouver, Luongo -- Kings scored four goals in two period off him and Panthers yanked him out of the game before the start of the third period........Montoya finished up in goal. now Florida scores early in the third -- Kings defense in front of the goal breaks down and Florida gets about four whacks at it to put it behind Quick. Now Kings on the power play...........

the guy from the A's who kind of really beat us up was Cespedes.......

I checked -- Brandon Wood has played parts of FIVE seasons in MLB for the Angels (Four) and Pirates (One) so he's real close (and perhaps may have already qualified -- used to be four years, might be three with the new MLPA contract)......parts of Five seasons means up and down season between AA / AAA and MLB so parts of FIVE seasons may mean 2 plus seasons in actual MLB roster time.

Would like to see Brandon Wood do well in that Independent League stint and make it back to the bigs as bench depth guy for someone. I don't think at this point that Brandon Wood has even qualified for an MLB pension.......under the old MLPA contract it took the equivalent of four years of MLB time to qualify for a pension (each day on a big league roster counts)......I don't think Wood is even close to that........he bounced around a bit (Pittsburgh?) but not for four years at the MLB level. the thread mentioned Paul McNulty -- now there's a 4-A player who had some success --not the best player but made the most of it and probably got his 4 years in -- I remember a stretch of game where Halos had guys on the DL and McNulty was in the starting line up........not bad for a guy who could have easily spent his entire career in the minors....... McPherson -- isn't he still bouncing around? He can still get some MLB time......while it's not going to be major MLB news or a move for some team.......qualifying for an MLB pension is a big thing for these guys........

I like Dave Anderson as a player -- good MIF Defensive guy, not much offense -- I think this is a good move by the Halos......... so we've got few guys now that can take over -- DiSar, Anderson........etc.

I think the success of the KC Royals and the SF Giants (even the St. Louis Cardinals) illustrate how these mega player deals are NOT the way to go. Sure the Dodgers bought their way into the playoffs and have the best pitcher in baseball -- but I'd take the approach of those other teams any day. Sounds if Marlins are already in the position of letting Fernandez go because of lack of payroll flexibility issues........ oh well. at least Stanton will be there for a dozen more years plus -- (expect a DL stint soon -- isn't that usually the next stop for guys with huge contracts?).

geez -- why some of the nasty comments about Torii? He did good things for us and was always a positive force in the clubhouse. as for 'running his mouth' after he left -- Yes, he made some comments but only commented after the Halos signed Hamilton to that terrible expensive five year deal (which was universally dis-liked by Angelswin.com posters on the day the contract was announced !) after Arte and F/O made comments that they couldn't afford Torii and were going in a different direction (we thought pitching) with respect to spending. Hunter just made the remark -- GEEZ, they tell me they don't have the payroll room/ flexibility to sign me and then they sign Hamilton to THAT deal? I agreed with Torii's comments and thought the Angels made a mistake then (and certainly now upon reflection). I thought it was an honest reaction by Torii Hunter based upon what he was told by Arte and the F/O...........and I would have liked to have had the Halos re-sign Torii back then but understood why they did not -- however, like Torii's comments -- I couldn't understand the combination of NOT signing Torii and then giving Hamilton that deal........made and still makes no sense. oh well. I will always root for Torii Hunter whatever uni he's wearing and feel he will be in the HOF.

wow -- first the Cespedes for Lester deal and now this -- very un-Billy Beane like moves. this makes the A's slower and adds more GIDP numbers to the box score. I agree with the prior post above -- Butler clogs up the base paths and doesn't really hit for power any more -- and is a .280 hitter on a good day. his best defensive position is DH........ this is actually good news for the Royals -- don't they get a draft pick out of this -- plus with this done there's no hometown pressure to bring back a fan favorite. having said all this, watch Butler have a 3 homerun game against us or something like that next year.........

Helllickson WAS pretty good at one point -- didn't he win ROY? I think it's a pretty good deal for Arizona........I'd list him as a solid number three rotation guy.

Trout is in decline........three MVP like seasons, one actual MVP award --- two seasons of finishing second in MVP vote (one of which he could have easily been the winner except he was a rookie). yeah, he's in decline....... I don't think anyone is going to match his numbers for the first three seasons in MLB any time soon.

this is obscene -- OK hitters, tee it up -- won't be much to spend on pitching (rotation or pen) down in Miami....... AAA batting practice time.

one of the last reclamation projects at the Sugar Land Skeeters -- if I am remembering this right, was a former LHP signed by the Halos after being among the league leaders in strikeouts for about three seasons -- the guy had something like an 0-3 record with an ERA of 14.50 or something with the Skeeters. Not too much after that (in 2014) he was winning something like 16 games for the Oakland A's and pitched very effectively at times (before kinda of trailing off at the end of the season). Scott Kazmir.

Masterson is a more realistic option for us -- but I think even a guy like Masterson might beyond what the Halos want to spend.

Heyward is a good ballplayer --- Miller a sort of run of the mill rotation guy. Cards may not be able to re-sign Heyward but they may be looking for a replacement when Holliday leaves.

I like Shields but not at the price he will command. the Angels are sort of in a quandary -- if you sign a guy like Shields to a huge deal -- how do you explain that to Jered Weaver and what do you say when he says, 'hey you gave that a guy a huge deal, can we re-negotiate MY contract?" I don't think we'll be in the running for the kind of money Shields is going to command........money plus years -- I'd say he looks for a four year deal, maybe a three plus one with club and player options.

wonder if Mathis was available........

WOW -- a lot of money for a catcher who's best years may be behind him. I like Martin when he came up with LA-- he was a very good catcher defensively. Toronto signing him and using that much of their available payroll dollars for the catching position for a now well traveled veteran? I don't know.

that was great. thanks for posting that.......classic stuff.

OUT. I love Torii -- thought he had some great years with us and really felt we should have tried to re-sign him to a two plus one deal instead of giving Hamilton that big contract. but now? that shipped has sailed. he'll catch on with another team and will inspire that team and its players to play well......that's what Torii does. I will always root for the guy no matter what uniform he's wearing.