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Random Thoughts……… Spring Training Edition


By Jay Sorgen ~ March 11th, 2009. Filed under: Digest Contributors.

- Is it me, or does Pedro Martinez at the 2009 bargain price of a John Smoltz, Brad Penny or Bartolo Colon make a lot of sense as the Mets’ fifth starter?

- The way JOBA Chamberlain is pitching right now, he’d probably walk WILT Chamberlain, even with his expanded strike zone.

- With all due respect to the organizers of the World Baseball Classic…………could you please get out of the way already?

- And how can they call it a “Classic”?  Isn’t this only the 2nd one they’ve had?

- My gut tells me Phillip Hughes may wind up playing a significant role during this season.

- Comeback player of the year……………. Erik Bedard of Seattle.

- Greg Maddux has to be some team’s pitching coach very, very soon.

- Looks like A-Rod will be back sooner rather than later.  Can Yankee fans stop pushing the panic button now?  Berroa and Ransom can man third base for 20-25 games without Armageddon taking place.

- Could someone please tell Curt Schilling to put on a clean sock and shut up?  He has gone from the famously opinionated to the supremely annoying.  Unless he comes back and wins 15 games this year.  Please but a (“bloody”) sock in it, will ya?

- I know this is a bit off topic……………… but isn’t the stink associated with Terrell Owens getting a bit more pungent?  He signed with Philly for 7 years and got $49 million, then Dallas for 3 years and $25 million, now Buffalo for 1 year and $6.5 million.  His next signing will be with a local Flag Football league franchise in Ottumwa Iowa.

- Trevor Hoffman will look awfully weird in a Milwaukee Brewers uniform.  I’m actually rooting for the guy.

- As always, I believe that Mariano Rivera is the most important piece of the Yankee puzzle this year.

- Unbelievable……………. The Tampa Bay Rays are thinking of keeping David Price in the minors at the beginning of the season in order to push his free agent eligibility back a year.  This is why Tampa will always be Tampa, and the Red Sox and Yankees will always compete for the top prize consistently from year to year.

- Anyone catch Al Leiter on the MLB Network?  Mr. Blister?  That’s good stuff.

Jay Sorgen
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9 Responses to Random Thoughts……… Spring Training Edition

  1. Steve
    March 12th, 2009 at 1:32 pm

    You might want to keep your random thoughts to yourself since they are idiotic. Price is being sent down to refine him, not payroll. “This is why Tampa will always be Tampa, and the Red Sox and Yankees will always”…….lose more games than the Rays even though the Rays have less than half of their payroll.

  2. Ryan
    March 12th, 2009 at 3:22 pm

    What an idiot. You don’t know anything about the Rays, let alone baseball in general. What a hack.

  3. Josh
    March 12th, 2009 at 3:35 pm

    Price’s free agency clock started when he was called up last year… Know your info

  4. Bob R.
    March 12th, 2009 at 5:36 pm

    If you are going to comment on other teams, you should at least do some minimal checking of the facts first. Keeping Price in the minors to start the year has nothing to do with payroll or his free agency; it has to do with two important considerations. One is the need to monitor his innings carefully, something much harder to do in the major league rotation. And the other is to have him work on his off-speed offerings that are still not fully refined. The Rays are very conservative about promotions, especially of pitchers, because they do not want to yo-yo them back and forth, a lesson the Yankees might consider learning.

    It is this kind of mindless commentary that gives bloggers a bad name.

  5. Dave
    March 12th, 2009 at 6:13 pm

    - Unbelievable……………. The New York Yankees thought Philips and Hughes were big league pitchers in 2008 and did not keep them in the minors long enough to develop. This is why the Yankees will always be the Yankees, and the Rays will always compete for the top prize consistently from year to year.

    (Look, now I’m a genius too!)

  6. keithhernandezfan...
    March 13th, 2009 at 11:44 am

    give the guy a break already…he’s trying

  7. Anonymous
    March 13th, 2009 at 4:22 pm

    And that’s why New Yorkers are New Yorkers,

    ignorance

  8. Jeff
    March 13th, 2009 at 8:22 pm

    David Price is going to play a large role in the growth of the Tampa BAY Rays franchise but to suggest that he’s deserving of the fifth spot in their 2009 rotation is stupid. What’s even dumber is the suggestion that Rays management is playing the same service time games that the former management team played. (See Delmon Young).

    Do the proper research and you’ll find that the new regime started spending money with the long-term signing of Carl Crawford — and that was before they were in complete control of the organization. Recent contracts with Evan Longoria and Carlos Pena should be proof enough that players that produce are going to be paid.

  9. Jay Sorgen
    March 14th, 2009 at 10:21 pm

    Wow. I believe I’ve touched a nerve………………

    Firstly, I appreciate all of you reading our web site (despite the harsh criticisms thrown at me). Keep the comments coming.

    Secondly, sorry fellas……….. but his free agency DOES get pushed back a year if he is held in the minors for the first portion of the season. His 14 innings pitched last year does not “start the clock”. Sorry Josh.

    Thirdly, it is also widely acknowledged that David Price is one of the Rays 5 best starters RIGHT NOW. That’s why they traded Edwin Jackson this off season. C’mon fellas, that’s why HE was on the mound during critical points in the playoffs and world series last year.

    Stupid? If Price needs to show even more maturity, finesse, and poise under pressure than he did during his terrific showings in the postseason, I’m absolutely speechless. And to say that Price cannot outpitch Talbot, Hammel and Niemann right now, is amazing. I stand by my well-researched opinion.

    Once again, thank you all for commenting and keep reading the site!

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