Category: Hot Stove

#35 Baseball Zealot Radio- Hot Stove plus Frick Ballot, Veterans Committee HOF Selections

 

Todd and Chuck join me for episode number 35 when we discuss all the baseball that’s been in the news lately.  It’s worth a listen just to hear Chuck do his Ron Santo impression.

Thanks to Todd for the PirateFest link.  He informed me that it still only costs $10/day.  I emailed him back with some smart-a** comment about “you get what you pay for”.

He came back with something about 2 World Series in his lifetime.

Anyway, here are the show notes:

Link to Show #35

Hosts: Tom, Chuck, Todd:

Summary: It’s December but there has been a lot of baseball news lately.  Todd, Chuck and I discuss the Ford Frick ballot, the Veterans Committee selections for the HOF as well as the latest trades and signings in light of the Winter Meetiings.

Links we talked about:

2008 Cubs Convention

2008 PirateFest

2008 SoxFest

Time: 48:35

Date Recorded: 12/9/07

Download via iTunes

Other Baseball Zealot Radio Episodes

Rule V picks

The Boston Globe has the list of Rule V picks. 

Of interest to Cub fans, Randy Wells from the AAA Iowa Cubs was chosen by Toronto.  Wells is a righthanded fireballer.  He was tearing up single-A Daytona (10-2, 2.74 106 K in 98.2 IP) in ’05 being promoted.  Same story in ’06 when he was putting up great numbers in AA Tennessee (4-2, 1.56, 56 K in 63.1) before moving on to AAA. 

Wells’ ERA rose a bit in 2007 (4.52) but he continued his strikeout rate (101 in 95.2) at AAA Iowa.  No doubt he’s got some stuff. 

At least we won’t see him in our division ala Josh Hamilton

Do the Cubs have any shot at Fukudome?

fukudome-782665

Kosuke Fukudome may be the best move the Cubs make this off-season… if they can pull it off. 

First things first.  The pronunciation of his name.  American males are having a field day with this one.  I remember the year when Chien-Ming Wang came up.  At fantasy draft time, most of the guys were having a good ol’ time mispronouncing Wang’s name in all kinds of sophomoric ways.  Now, I work with Chinese people (a few of them actually named Wang) so the humor was lost on me.  I know, I need to lighten up. 

Anyway, near as I can tell Fukudome’s name is pronounced Koh-soo-kay Foo-koh-doh-may.    It’s possible that the "u" in Kosuke is silent like in Daisuke.  If anyone knows please chime in. 

As for Fuk’s chances for playing for the Cubs, it’s still actually up in the air as to whether he’ll even play in the U.S.  As of 12/7, he is still entertaining an offer to play for the Yomiuri Giants.  He is expected to make a decision next Tuesday or Wednesday. 

Of course even then, the battle isn’t over.  The Cubs will have to take on the other MLB teams vying for the rights to Fukudome.  Most prevalent is the San Diego Padres who have expressed a big interest in him. 

The cost for Fukudome?  All told it looks like it would come to around $75 million for 5 years.  The question is "Would he be worth it?"  I heard someone say that Fuk hits "as good as Ichiro with power".  Now, that’s more than likely overly simplistic as well as overly optimistic but it does give you the value of this potential Japanese import. 

With Jacque Jones’ departure from right field, Fukudome left handed bat fits the Cubs like a glove.  Right now, it’s just a waiting game.

Correction:  As I wondered, the correct pronunciation of his first name is Koh-skay.  Thanks Bleed Cubbie Blue!

Dream World?

kennyw

Interesting Quote of the Day:

‘‘All this has done is put the Tigers in a better position to contend with us.”

White Sox GM Kenny Williams reacting to the Tigers’ blockbuster deal that netted them Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis

Ok, putting a good face on it is one thing but ignoring reality… that’s another. Comments like this give the outward impression that management isn’t taking the opposition seriously.

Sox fans?

2007 Rule V Draft

Tim Lahey
I am always intrigued by the Rule V Draft. It is where minor league ballplayers get the opportunity to make it to the big leagues. Major league clubs choose Rule V selectees for $50,000, players chosen must stay on the major league roster for the full season, or offered back to their original club for $25,000. I don’t think these numbers have changed in some time. These prices seem to be throwback prices in today’s multi million dollar industry.

Tim Lahey was the first player taken in this year’s Rule V Draft. He was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays from the Minnesota Twins organization, and sold to the Chicago Cubs. The Twins converted Lahey to relief pitcher after selecting the Princeton catcher in the 20th round. Last year Tim appeared in 50 games in Double A, posting an 8-4 record, with a 3.45 ERA.

Next up the Pittsburgh Pirates selected former Minnesota Twin farm hand Evan Meek from the Tampa Bay Rays. Evan Meek is a righthand specialist reliever who struckout 69 batters over 67 innings at Double A, and then enjoyed success in the AFL.

Randor Bierd in in 6’4″ relief pither out of Santo Domingo of the Dominican Republic. He was with the Detroit Tigers before being chosen by the Baltimore Orioles. Bierd has electric stuff, striking out 245 batters in a little over 239 innings pitched throughout his minor league career. Randor enjoyed success last season as a relief pitcher, being converted from a starter.

The Chicago White Sox might have lost a good one in Fernando Hernandez. Hernandez was selected by the Oakland A’s. Fernando allowed no runs in 12 appearances in the AFL, after striking out 84 men in just over 85 innings in Double A in 2007.

Something clicked last season for 23 year old former first round pick Matt Whitney who blasted 32 home runs in high A. The Cleveland Indians lost this slugger to the Washinton Nationals. Injuries have delayed his progress to the show, but he can make an impact if he can stay healthy.

Former Cleveland Indians farm hand Brian Barton was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals. The speedy outfielder has posted numbers throughout his minor league career, a .316 average, and a very impressive .416 OBP.

These are some of the players chosen in this year’s Rule V Draft. You’d be wrong if you thought, nobody ever makes it as a Rule V selection. Just last year Josh Hamilton & Joakim Soria were taken, Dan Uggla a couple of year’s back, and once upon a time Johan Santana was chosen by the Minnesota Twins from the Houston Astros.

Cubs Blogger appeals to Fukodome

Al from Bleed Cubbie Blue, posted an open letter to Kosuke Fukdome. He did it in Fuk’s native language, (Japanese) with the help of Google Translate and it didn’t turn out half bad:

Many of my readers, myself included, want to sign the contract for you PUREKABUSUMASU. You just need Cubs – a left-handed hitting right fielder who plays good defense, who is often on base by drawing walks and hitting both well…

You can see the the letter in whole (both the Japanese and English versions) at Bleed Cubbie Blue.

With the loss of Jacque Jones, I hope this helps.

Sox trade Jon Garland for O. Cabrera

DonS, an Angels fan, emailed us the news of the Garland-Cabrera trade with one comment. “Wow!” I guess we know how *he* feels about it. My thoughts about it pretty much in order I thought them: 1)  an unusual trade in this time. A player of value for a player of value.  No salary dump.  … Continue reading “Sox trade Jon Garland for O. Cabrera”

DonS, an Angels fan, emailed us the news of the Garland-Cabrera trade with one comment.

“Wow!”

I guess we know how *he* feels about it.

My thoughts about it pretty much in order I thought them:

1)  an unusual trade in this time. A player of value for a player of value.  No salary dump.  No established superstar for a handful of minor league prospects.  Kinda nice.

2) The White Sox can afford this.  Their well of starting pitching is deep.  Sox fans can feel free to disagree but they have Gio Gonzalez and Gavin Floyd who are itching to prove their worth. 

3)  Orlando Cabrera is 33

Thoughts?

Glavine and Smoltz back together

There wasn’t much doubt that Tom Glavine was going to spend 2008 in Atlanta.  The big question was whether he’d be doing it pitching for the Braves. That question was resolved late yesterday when Tommy G signed a one-year contract with the Atlanta organization for $8 million.  That probably makes him happy.  As a Glavine fan and … Continue reading “Glavine and Smoltz back together”

glavine face

There wasn’t much doubt that Tom Glavine was going to spend 2008 in Atlanta.  The big question was whether he’d be doing it pitching for the Braves.

That question was resolved late yesterday when Tommy G signed a one-year contract with the Atlanta organization for $8 million.  That probably makes him happy.  As a Glavine fan and someone who has had Glavine on his APBA team since 1991, I follow him more than some Met/Braves fans do, I’ll wager.  And when Glavine is happy, I’m happy.

Smoltz, too is glad. 

“I’m extremely happy for the Atlanta Braves, for myself and our chances as an organization,” Smoltz said. “But this goes beyond our friendship. I think it’s the right thing to do in many ways, mainly because it makes our team better.”

Will 2008 year be Glavine’s swan song?  It’s too soon to tell.  I had written off Jamie Moyer five years ago and he’s still going well, maybe strong isn’t the word I’m looking for but he’s more than functional.  I do think that Tom Glavine never felt entirely comfortable in New York and going back to Atlanta can only help him.

 

Cubs trade Jones and yet more rumors

The speculation can come to a stop now.  Jacque Jones is no longer a Cub.  Jones was traded to Detroit for Omar Infante and some cash.  Infante is arb-eligible (he got 1.3 mil last year).  I dunno.  It was fashionable to be down on Jones last year and earlier this year but I’ve secretly liked … Continue reading “Cubs trade Jones and yet more rumors”

The speculation can come to a stop now.  Jacque Jones is no longer a Cub. 

Jones was traded to Detroit for Omar Infante and some cash.  Infante is arb-eligible (he got 1.3 mil last year). 

I dunno.  It was fashionable to be down on Jones last year and earlier this year but I’ve secretly liked the guy.  No one can deny he really came through in the second half of this season. 

 “It gives us another guy who’s tremendously versatile,” Cubs general manager Jim Hendry told reporters on Monday evening.

In other words, a utility man. 

The trade of Jones will make room for Felix Pie and that’s why the trade was made, I’m sure. 

Don’t know what to make of this rumor but The Herald News says that Hendry is trying to package Rich Hill and Carlos Marmol together for the Rays’ outfielder Carl Crawford.  Again, I don’t know what to think.  Hill and Marmol are two of my favorite Cub pitchers and for once, it’s nice not to have to worry about Northside pitching.