Official MLB 2006 Thread

[burgundy]

If the Mets make the playoffs, Willie's going to make a shockingly bad decision and get run out of town Grady Little style.

I would bet money on this.

boy..AJ Burnett is on the DL again?? Whats new with him. I can't believe the Jays gave him a 5 year deal when he's had a history of injuries. When healthy he's a good pitcher but it seems like he's hurt all the time.

P.S. Until just now I had absolutely no idea this guy used to be a Mets farmhand.

[SpoDaddy]

If the Marlin's can't even "afford" (Loria doesn't want to spend the money) to keep Dontrelle Willis when they have a $14 million payroll, 3 years after a World Series title, then the team should be bought back by MLB and either resold or dissolved. That's a disgrace.

Please take back Willie Randolph, Spo.

I'd take him back as a base coach or a bench coach. When Torre retires I want to see Joe Girardi succeed him. Willie will be a great manager someday, he just needs a guy like Don Zimmer as a bench coach to get him comfortable playing with his options. Torre's ability to manage huge egos seems to have rubbed off on him, which is a good thing for a New York manager.

Until just now I had absolutely no idea this guy used to be a Mets farmhand.

I think he was traded away with Terrence Long for Piazza.

[burgundy]

The Marlins have won two titles in nine years. That's a hell of a lot better than every team except the you-know-whos. Furthermore...they won their second title with the proceeds from their first fire sale. And they have a lot of young talent that should be blooming right as Dontrelle is entering free agency. They should be able to extract a ton of value for Willis...and given their outlook, it's probably the right move.

I guess Willie is a good player manager. He just needs some serious help/education when it comes to strategy.

I think he was traded away with Terrence Long for Piazza.

Nah, apparently he was part of the nearly-simultaneous Leiter deal.

Preston Wilson was the big Met prospect we shipped for Piazza.

[SpoDaddy]

The Marlin's development plan wins a championship every 5 or so years, but it doesn't keep fans around to care. They all know that the team is going to suck until they magically win a title in half a decade, then immediately afterwards all the players they've grown to love will be shipped off in a fire sale. Fans want to root for their favorite players, not Jeffrey Loria's bank account.

[Yoshi]

I hate Jeffrey Loria. He should buy the Phillies to make the hate easier though.

[burgundy]

The Marlin's development plan wins a championship every 5 or so years, but it doesn't keep fans around to care. They all know that the team is going to suck until they magically win a title in half a decade, then immediately afterwards all the players they've grown to love will be shipped off in a fire sale. Fans want to root for their favorite players, not Jeffrey Loria's bank account.

Got to blame part of this on the South Florida "fans." Plenty of teams have had much shittier histories and more devoted fanbases.

I'm not saying you don't have a point, but...maybe the team that's an annual tease but never wins it all is a bigger draw then the team that goes all-out to win one every few years and is DOA the rest? Kinda explains how beloved the Red Sox and Cubs have been. And it probably says something about the reasons we care about baseball.

[raystorm]

Zambrano could have been skipped because of the day off on Thursday but the Mets decided to feed him to the wolves (Braves) and I think they did this on purpose. If he doesn't muscle up and do well against the big NL East rival he is out the door. I think this start in Atlanta will be the last if he stinks it up again.


I hate Victor Zambrano.

[burgundy]

This way Glavine gets two starts against the Braves in two series.

If Zambrano pitching vs. the Braves is what it takes to get him gone, fine. I think we should be more scared of him throwing a gem.

[Yoshi]

Off with his head!

[burgundy]

Floyd hit a bomb into McCovey Cove like 60 feet past the kayak guy. He's good now.