Wednesday, January 19, 2011

SweetSpot Roundup 1/19

Capitol Avenue Club (Braves): Arbitration Forecast: Jair Jurrjens
Peter with an educational overview of the arbitration process generally, and then a look at some precedent in predicting how it might come out for Jurrjens.

The View from the Bleachers (Cubs): Video Book Review: No Angel
Dave, "thecubbiedude," provides a video review of a book about Hell's Angels. If putting our faces in front of a camera and talking to it becomes an SSN staple, I'm going to have to retire. Good job by Dave, though.

Redleg Nation: Joey Votto agrees to three-year contract
"I’m underwhelmed. Basically, the Reds have bought out all of Votto’s arbitration seasons. Meh." Seconded...

Dodger Thoughts: Dodgers invite Gabe Kapler to Spring Training, exchange salary arbitration figures with Kuo and Loney
Kind of an underwhelming news day for Dodger fans, I suppose, but I like Kapler and hope he plays forever, .578 OPS and all.

Disciples of Uecker (Brewers): Milwaukee Brewers Notes From The Dugout Club Winter Baseball Banquet
Jack got to go to a dinner with Craig Counsell and Gord Ash, and came back with some nice insights.

Mets Today: 28 DUPACR: The Hammer
That would be Days Until Pitchers And Catchers Report. They're counting down by celebrating a Mets player who wore the uniform number corresponding to the number of days remaining. Cool idea! Today it's John "The Hammer" Milner.

Crashburn Alley (Phillies): Kyle Kendrick's Arbitration Case
Bill imagines a discussion between Kendrick, his agent and Ruben Amaro. Very funny.

Ducksnorts (Padres): What's a Few Million Dollars Among Friends?
The Padres had the fifth-highest operating income in MLB in 2009. He's not exactly sure what the implications of that are (and neither am I), but it's awfully surprising. Also, he links to the Bill James piece I wrote, and that's awesome. His linking to it, I mean.

Bay City Ball (Giants): Top Prospect List, #10-6
Part two of the top prospect list, Surkamp to Parker.

Fungoes (Cardinals): Hall of Fame: Who's Next After Blyleven and Alomar?
Great, thorough, saber-friendly breakdown of deserving HOFers on the outside looking in (not limited to the current ballot either, refreshingly). I'm behind every one of them except Rick Reuschel...I know what the WAR says, but I just can't get my head around that one.

Nationals Baseball: He's Number 1! He's Number 1?
Looking at the (then-rumored, now mostly official) Gorzelanny trade.

Baseballin' On a Budget (A's): Balfour, Fuentes, and Everybody Talking A's
"I’m worried about using all the relievers that will be on the 25-man at any given time, because there are a lot of talented guys who will need work.  But…maybe the A’s are planning to keep the starters’ work loads down this year....Having seven guys in the bullpen that can be trusted in a lot of situations will not only shorten games, but it could maximize everyone’s talents."

Ghostrunner on First (Blue Jays): Fetch Me a Polish-to-Spanish Translator!
"If you factor in more park effects than simply HR/FB normalization...you see what I mean. Marc Rzepczynski has all the tools to be a league-average starter— and a history of using them. Considering a few similar starters, he starts to look even better."

Pro Ball NW (Mariners): A's Stockpiling Relievers or Trade Chips?
Jon is impressed that, even if the A's falter in 2011, they've got plenty of guys to use to acquire talent at the deadline.

Baseball Time in Arlington (Rangers): Ranger Revenue and Payroll Projections
"Assuming the 2011 revenue projection presented at the top of this article is reasonably accurate, there appears to be some room for taking on salary either through free agency, trades, or extensions for pre-arbitration players."

The Ray Area: Winter Rankings
"Friedman’s prudence might be rewarded this summer (when the Rays should have enough flexibility to add a piece at the deadline if they are in the hunt) or next winter when they supplement their newly tested parts to make another run in 2012.  That said, when the Rays hoist the World Series trophy in 2012 or 2013 we might look back at this winter and remember that those teams were built on patience and prudence."

Royals Authority: Is Gil Meche's Retirement a Moral Issue?
"Making that choice isn’t a right or wrong thing, it’s just what Gil Meche wanted to do. I think assessing value judgments on people based on whether or not they chose to accept the money owed to them on a contract seems to be a slippery slope."

Fire Brand of the American League (Red Sox): 2011 Projections, Dice-K
"The bottom line is that Dice-K needs to change something, because what he continues to do year-after-year is wearing Red Sox Nation thin. Without any drastic effort to change his approach, I can’t project much more than another 4-plus FIP season."

The Daily Fungo (Tigers): Tuesday Tananas
The Brad Penny signing, Armando Galarraga DFA, Jeremy Bonderman joblessness, and Hank Greenberg sale to the Pirates.

Nick's Twins Blog:  Jim Thome and the (Modest) Price of Insurance
"Should worse come to worst with Morneau, it's comforting to know that the team now at least has someone on the roster capable of making up for even a fraction of that missing power production."

Sox Machine (White Sox): Soriano deal proves why White Sox, Boras don't mix
"Soriano’s contract concedes nothing. It’s the kind of contract that only the Yankees and Red Sox could absorb, so they’re better off having him. Nevertheless, the next time you start to consider the White Sox pursuing a marquee Boras client, remember this deal. This is why it never happens."

It's About the Money, Stupid (Yankees): Kevin Millwood?  I'll Take That
"He’s nowhere near the 5 win player he was in 2006 anymore, but for the likely cost and a one year deal, he strikes me as having enough upside to be worth a flier in a rotation that needs some upgrades on the back end in the short term."

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