July 27, 200521 yr Ok, this is going to be a rant, and it is going to be a long one. Keeping Willingham is good in theory, but theorys are not always proven right. That would set our line up as, if we trade Lowell: P-Beckett, Olsen, Vargas, Willis, Moehler/Johnson(hopefully Burnett). C-Lo Duca 1B-Delgado 2B-Castillo 3B-Cabrera SS-Gonzalez LF-Willingham CF-Pierre RF-Hermida Sure, Willingham can hit in AAA, but so can anyone, the International League is a hitters paradise. The park in Albaquerque has the 2nd highest elevation of any pro ballpark behind Coors Field. Joe Dillon looks like a masher there. If we trade Lowell, we will have about a $30 million base payroll, add in the relatively cheap contracts for: Hermida, Olsen, Vargas, Resop, and Messenger...about $1.5 million combined, and thats good considering 3 of the 5 are starters and 2 are going to be important memebers of the bullpen. After all that, re-signing Gonzalez is a priority, which should be possible even if we retain Lowell and Burnett. I dont want to resign Moehler, I love the guy but he is already showing signs of slowing down, or Valdez because he is garbage. The most important thing we can do this year is win the World Series, or at the very least push the NLCS to a game 7. That would show this team is for real and push a stadium deal through the Florida legislature, which would gurantee future revenue streams and the ability to keep this team together. The most important aspect of that would be the $$ flexability to offer Willis, Cabrera, Beckett, Olsen, Vargas, and Hermida long term contracts to ensure this team will be together a while. And the fact that a WS would almost ensure a stadium bill, could give Loria the grapefruits to open the pocketbook to resign AJ, because he would know that the money generated by a new stadium would even out a deal to AJ over a short period of time. And the fact that this team, since it is built young and from within, gurantees more and more winning seasons and more and more trips to the playoffs, and likely more and more World Series, would give Loria even more incentive to retain AJ's services. Now on to Willingham. He has a bat, will give you 18-25 HR and 75-90 RBI if he played everyday, but he is a defensive liability, so we would need a good outfielder, an Eric Byrnes type, to compliment him. Actually, I was thinking we offer Eric Reed and possibly Logan Kensing for Byrnes. This all stems from a thin free agent pool after the season. I would personally retain the services of Easley, and have a bench of Willingham, Treanor, Aguila, and Andido and try to sign John Mabry. The perfect compliment of infield(Willingham, Easley, Andido, Treanor, Mabry if needed) and outfield(Willingham, Easley, Mabry, and Aguila). As for the bullpen: Mota, Resop, Messenger, Spooneybarger, TRY to sing BJ Ryan to close, and then also try to sign Matt Mantei. That is a strong bullpen, and if Spooney is not ready, sign Rudy Seanez. (That would be a cheap bullpen+cheap bench+cheap rotation+semi-cheap position players). This theory is: Beckett, Willis, Olsen, Varags, Resop, Messenger, Mota, Spooneybarger, Ryan, and Seanez are all cheap, Mantei potentially too. Hermida, Pierre, Willingham, Byrnes, Easley, Andido, Treanor, Aguila, and Mabry are all cheap as well. And the salary of Delgado, Lo Duca, and Castillo is set, so you can work around all of that. In the end, a run at Burnett is not out of the question by any means. And if we win in the playoffs, financial flexability for years to come ensures our guys will stay beacause we can afford for them to stay. In closing, our lineup next year should look like: CF-Pierre 2B-Castillo 3B-Cabrera 1B-Delgado RF-Hermida C-Lo Duca LF-Willingham/Byrnes SS-Gonzalez Bench: Easley Willingham/Byrnes Aguila Treanor Andido Possibly Mabry Rotation: Beckett Burnett Willis Olsen Vargas Bullpen: Spooney/Seanez Resop Messenger Mantei Mota Ryan Powerful lineup. Powerful pitching. And to anyone who says we dont have the financial parameters to resign Burnett, if we win the World Series or drive deep into the playoffs, its all more than likely we can.
July 27, 200521 yr Getting to the playoffs is not going to fill a 45M dollar gap. It might have brought the stadium issue from the dead in 2003 but it is not going to fill the funding gap. Getting to the playoffs is not going to change the politics in Tallahassee. For us to get the money from Tallahassee the leadership is gonna have to change. BTW: That bullpen is gonna have an ERA in the 5.00s.
July 28, 200521 yr It is way to early to think about this, but not too early to disagree with some of your opinions. 1. You're overpaying for Jason Johnson and B.J. Ryan. Johnson is more of a #4 on a playoff team and one of Alfonseca, Mota or Jones can get the closer job done and leave cash available for other pieces of the team. 2. You don't want to start the season in which you plan to contend with three rookies in your starting rotation 3. Willingham has been hitting his whole minor league tenure. His best seasons were in the pitching-dominated Florida State and Southern leagues. He is our best hitting prospect, if not he shares the title with Hermida. 3a. Albuquerque is in the Pacific Coast League, not the International League as you wrote. Colorado Springs has a higher elevation as Albuquerque by over a thousand feet. But what you say is true about the league. 4. Web gems aside, Byrnes is an average outfielder. Just because you dive for everything does not mean you're a good outfielder. According to all the statisitcs, culmative and pbp based, he lacks great range.
July 28, 200521 yr Author My bad about the PCL and IL I guess I had just typed too fast. I wans't saying bringing in Byrnes to start, I was suggesting a platoon of him and Willy. I dont know where that one guy got Jason Johnson(I was talking about Josh Johnson, you know our Brad Penny clone at Carolina :confused ). I could of swore I read that about the park in Albaquerque, but my guess is it would be 3rd or 4th. I dont want 3 rookies in the rotation, Olsen and Vargas will be ready tho IMO, I want Burnett back. Thats why I hope we find a way to have enough financial flexability to keep him and Gonzo(I think winning the WS or making a hard run into the NLCS could git r dun. I might of made some disagreeable points (or been way off with Albaquerque) but I think I made some strong points as well.
July 28, 200521 yr so you dont want to give Willingham a chance because he has mashed in AAA and everyone else has? dude knows how to walk to ya know
July 28, 200521 yr Author so you dont want to give Willingham a chance because he has mashed in AAA and everyone else has? dude knows how to walk to ya know 877025[/snapback] No I am saying play to his stregnths, one of which is not defense. All I said is get a speedy outfielder to complement him against speedy teams and teams that pull the ball alot. I am all for giving him a chance, hoping he can prove me wrong.
July 28, 200521 yr Your right, everyone is entitled to their opinion, it's just some people's opinions are not very intelligent. 875293[/snapback]
July 28, 200521 yr so you dont want to give Willingham a chance because he has mashed in AAA and everyone else has? dude knows how to walk to ya know 877025[/snapback] No I am saying play to his stregnths, one of which is not defense. All I said is get a speedy outfielder to complement him against speedy teams and teams that pull the ball alot. I am all for giving him a chance, hoping he can prove me wrong. 877064[/snapback] what is a speedy team?
July 28, 200521 yr What is your love affair with Eric Byrnes? Seriously. 877130[/snapback] the blonde locks
July 28, 200521 yr You made some good points Hot Rod. Also some dubious ones. All in all it was fine for what it was....a rant. Don't let these snobs get to you.
July 28, 200521 yr You made some good points Hot Rod. Also some dubious ones. All in all it was fine for what it was....a rant. Don't let these snobs get to you. 877205[/snapback] snobs? come on man, no need to go all name calling
July 28, 200521 yr Author What is your love affair with Eric Byrnes? Seriously. 877130[/snapback] ours is a forbidden love lol :drool :kiss JK
July 28, 200521 yr Your right, everyone is entitled to their opinion, it's just some people's opinions are not very intelligent.? 875293[/snapback] 877070[/snapback] :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol As for your first post, Todd, learn to make paragraphs. I started to read your post, but I gave up. It is too much strain on my eyes. :blink:
July 28, 200521 yr Hot Rodd Todd is a closet Mets fan.......He wants to see us fall by the way side.....Willy is a huge part of our future and he's going to be really good despite what you say...Willy is better then Byrnes will ever be and why would we want such crap as Jason Johnson anyways....Resign moehler to a cheaper price and keep him.
July 28, 200521 yr Author Hot Rodd Todd is a closet Mets fan.......He wants to see us fall by the way side.....Willy is a huge part of our future and he's going to be really good despite what you say...Willy is better then Byrnes will ever be and why would we want such crap as Jason Johnson anyways....Resign moehler to a cheaper price and keep him. 877257[/snapback] LOL I dont know where you are getting this closet Mets fan garbage and I also dont know where you are getting this Jason Johnson nonsense, I was talking about AA prospect Josh Johnson. And Willingham very will could be a part of our tuture for years to come, but I will believe he can hit consistently at the MLB level when he gets a good # of ABs. I said it myself I think he is capable of 18-25 HR and 85-95 RBI if he played everyday, all I said is I wanted a good defensive outfielder to be signed to compliment him. Then again maybe we dont need to do that, because Aguila can possibly be that person if given the chance.
July 28, 200521 yr Hot Rodd Todd is a closet Mets fan.......He wants to see us fall by the way side.....Willy is a huge part of our future and he's going to be really good despite what you say...Willy is better then Byrnes will ever be and why would we want such crap as Jason Johnson anyways....Resign moehler to a cheaper price and keep him. 877257[/snapback] LOL I dont know where you are getting this closet Mets fan garbage and I also dont know where you are getting this Jason Johnson nonsense, I was talking about AA prospect Josh Johnson. And Willingham very will could be a part of our tuture for years to come, but I will believe he can hit consistently at the MLB level when he gets a good # of ABs. I said it myself I think he is capable of 18-25 HR and 85-95 RBI if he played everyday, all I said is I wanted a good defensive outfielder to be signed to compliment him. Then again maybe we dont need to do that, because Aguila can possibly be that person if given the chance. 877275[/snapback] aguila could do decent but not a solid player
July 28, 200521 yr Hot Rodd Todd is a closet Mets fan.......He wants to see us fall by the way side.....Willy is a huge part of our future and he's going to be really good despite what you say...Willy is better then Byrnes will ever be and why would we want such crap as Jason Johnson anyways....Resign moehler to a cheaper price and keep him. 877257[/snapback] LOL I dont know where you are getting this closet Mets fan garbage and I also dont know where you are getting this Jason Johnson nonsense, I was talking about AA prospect Josh Johnson. And Willingham very will could be a part of our tuture for years to come, but I will believe he can hit consistently at the MLB level when he gets a good # of ABs. I said it myself I think he is capable of 18-25 HR and 85-95 RBI if he played everyday, all I said is I wanted a good defensive outfielder to be signed to compliment him. Then again maybe we dont need to do that, because Aguila can possibly be that person if given the chance. 877275[/snapback] aguila could do decent but not a solid player 877314[/snapback] yawn. Why would you say such a thing? I understand it is your opinion but why do you feel such a way. ADD SOEMTHING TO THE THREAD. this goes to all of you. Post something meaningful. Enough of the generic lame ass answers. and... end rant
July 28, 200521 yr Mantei stinks, he has no control and walks tons of people, I would much rather resign AA and Jones And what makes you think Resop, Messenger and Spooneybarger will be solid, Resop and Messenger have both struggled this year at the ML level and Spooneybarger is coming off an injury I don't see how the team you are posting is any better than this year's team (except for maybe Cabrera at third and Hermida in the outfield), and look at where we are right now
July 28, 200521 yr I agree with the idea, making a run at resigning Burnett (at least, I think that's the idea). But how are you so sure this is the means to execute it by? Looking just at the angle of the moves and not their actual effect on the field, who is taking Lowell's contract and why would they do so without Burnett? I don't see many newspapers in Boston, Toronto, or Minnesota steaming with joy at Mikey's .300+ road trip. They still see an 8 mil a year player who history projects to have a massive decline very very soon (Referenced here). Now, with that said, let's assume we trade Mikey to a Mystery Team from Alaska who needs him to be able to appear on a special during the All Star Break on ESPN, and they'll cover his entire salary. Where are the players we possibly might be getting in return for Mikey? And if we're trading Mikey for the sole reason of keeping AJ, why is he listed as "hopefully Burnett" in your opening post? I'm not going to get into your choices as parts, like BJ Ryan to close (yeah, I'm sure Baltimore is down to just let him walk even if it is his year). And why would the Rockies trade Eric Byrnes? He is the kind of player they need. And of course, the numbers. They don't add up to me because there are none. What's Alex making? What's AJ getting? What are we doing with Willis and Cabrera? Is Pierre getting an extension or going to arbitration? At least you put some effort into it, but come back over with numbers and realistic reasons.
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