The Official MLB Season Thread (Opening in Japan at 6:00 a.m.)

[SpoDaddy]

The word is Manny's going to the Marlins for unnamed players that will then be flipped to the Pirates for Jason Bay.

[Rich]

The word is Manny's going to the Marlins for unnamed players that will then be flipped to the Pirates for Jason Bay.

Best news of the day!

[stormy]

Hermida is the main guy being talked about on the Marlins. Personally I'd rather keep Hermida than flip him for Bay, but the Sox might be worried about being too lefty heavy then. What if Bay tanks again like he did last year? That is my main concern. Hermida will be a perennial all star some day soon, but with him, Drew, and Crisp we'd possibly have the most brittle outfield in history. People are also mentioning Manny for Kemp, but I think that's based on wishes and prayers, not any actual info.

Bio, if you've been watching Sportscenter or listening to the radio Steve Phillips nailed why the Teixeira trade was a bad deal.
*It's only 2 months
*The Angels already have the division won, so they basically gave up Kotchman for 30 post season ABs
*Teixeira is a 30hr first baseman but Kotchman is about 20hr, so he's not that much better
*The Angels can't (or shouldn't) sign Teixeira after the season because he wants a contract that averages $20+ mil a year. They wouldn't be able to re-up FRod or their other core players. Tex just isn't worth that much either. Boras is his agent.
*Kotchman is only 23, makes only $1.5 mil a year, and is controlled for something like 3 more years.

Although now that I know Steve Phillips agrees with me maybe I should reconsider my opinion...

[Gooch]

I'd agree with you about being concerned that you and Phillips agree.

I tend to trust my man Keith Law, who is a beast when it comes to scouting.

I'm pasting this for those who don't have Insider.

Teixeira's what Angels needed

Tuesday, July 29, 2008 | Feedback | Print Entry

The Angels get exactly what they need in Mark Teixeira -- an impact bat who'll add power, patience and a legitimate threat against the super pitching they'll face in October.


Teixeira is a true switch-hitter with a great approach who works the count, has power from both sides of the plate and has no trouble turning on good fastballs or adjusting to good offspeed stuff. The Angels don't have another hitter in their lineup who comes close to that description, not with Vladimir Guerrero still not 100 percent physically, not with Torii Hunter unwilling to work the count, not with Garret Anderson's bat speed slowing noticeably. Teixeira is also a "plus glove," which is critical for the Angels, who have built a great run-prevention team with strike-throwing pitchers and good defenders all around the diamond.

In exchange, Atlanta gets its first baseman of the immediate future in Casey Kotchman. Kotchman hasn't performed well this season, but it's not consistent with what I've seen from him in the past. This year, he's swinging earlier in the count and trying too hard to push the ball to the opposite field. In the past, he was more of a take-and-rake hitter, working the count well, taking his walks, taking advantage of his good hand-eye coordination to make contact and showing average power. Like Teixeira, he's a great defender at first base.

The second player going to Atlanta, Double-A right-hander Stephen Marek, has a live arm attached to a bad body. Given an $800,000 bonus as a draft-and-follow signing, Marek works with a low-90s fastball, a curveball that flashes plus with good bite, and an average changeup that he doesn't use as often now that he's working as a reliever. His delivery isn't smooth and his command is below average, especially with the breaking ball.

[stormy]

I agree with Law that he's a nice addition. That still doesn't address the fact that it will take big bucks if they want to re-sign him, which he simply isn't worth. He's been over rated since his 40HR year in Texas' little park. Nor does it change the fact that they don't even need him to make the post season, he's only there to help them get past the Red Sox in round 1. It's incredibly short sighted to trade for a handful of at bats. I'm still with Steve.

[Error]

Unless he DOES get them past the Red Sox in round one.

[stormy]

Pitching wins in the post season. They've been outpitched each time. One guy in the lineup has little to do with that. Taken down to 7 games the upgrade from Kotchman to Tex is marginal.

[Error]

Pitching doesn't always win in the post season. And one guy can carry a team for a month, so why not for a series.

[stormy]

What if the one guy who gets crazy hot is Kotchman? It could be any player. Tex could stink up the joint. He's had those spells before.

The only time pitching doesn't win in the post season is if both teams have mediocre pitching. Good pitchers > good hitters.

[Error]

Tell that to the Braves. Sometimes an offense is so good it makes the pitchers shit their pants.