First off, I would like to apologize for the infrequency of posts this last week. I for one, have been swamped with school work but the end is in sight (though not here yet). We promise to get back to our normal posting frequency.
With that out of the way, there a couple of things from the last few days I wanted to touch on briefly:
- The Mets moved the Citi Field fences in: It’s about time. When your best players are David Wright and Jason Bay and you have no pitching to speak of, how can you be surprised if you lose games in that park?
- Terry Francona may go to the Cubs: No kidding. I called this one the day he left Boston. I’m not saying Theo Epstien promised him anything but I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if he said something along the lines of “Terry, we gotta part ways here. But we both know I’ll be in Chicago in a few weeks and that’s a whole different ball game. Keep your phone handy.”
- CJ Wilson: Teams actually seem to be recognizing that he’s a glorified 3 starter who has benefited immeasurably from a great offense and stellar defense behind him in Texas. I wouldn’t be shocked if each one of those 19 postseason walks cost him $1 million this winter.
- If they commit a little more money than in years past and make some savvy moves, the Pirates could be a big deal next season.
- Prince Fielder keeps gettting ranked higher than Albert Pujols in Free Agent rankings: I get that he’s younger and just entering his “prime,” but Pujols is in another stratosphere. He’s the best player in the game by leaps and bounds and on top of that he’s way more marketable. If I’m a team with a hole at first and an unlimited amount of money, I go after Pujols harder and first.
- CC is still a Yankee: I know they had to pay him, they had no choice. They literally cannot do without him next season and expect to contend for a title. Thing is, I foresee a future where my beloved Yanks are paying A-Rod, Mark Teixeira and CC Sabathia $20+ mil a year to very unproductive mid-40 year old players. It’s already starting with Rodriguez. I know the Yankees have as close to limitless resources as you can find in the game, but devoting nearly $100 mil. to five or six old, unproductive players is the kind of thing that can sink even New York. I’m genuinely concerned.
I gotta run, more later.
-Max Frankel
