Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

CC Sabathia's real name is Carsten Charles Sabathia... Who said it - Joe Biden or Michael Scott?... Have to wonder if the Nobel committee chose to give the Nobel Prize to the EU in an effort not to pay the prize money (who would collect?)... Very cool betting story. The moral as always - be sure to quit when you are ahead!... Talk about making chicken salad out of you know what. It should be remembered that Dan Duquette only got the Orioles GM job because other candidates thought the position was too radioactive. Now Duquette has re-established himself as a top GM in the game. Good for him!... Cool - a diamond bigger than the Earth?... Hate to think that this may be it for Scott Rolen. Sad to see him go out on such a sour note... SNL should do skit about ESPN peon that is sent to tell Bobby Knight that the network no longer wants to use him on TV... For proper elocution a person must have consistent vowel movements... I'm a Red Sox fan but part of me wants to see the Yankees win this series just so I can hear all the people arguing that Alex Rodriguez should be left off the 25-man roster against the Tigers. That would be delicious...

Ryan Zimmerman's New Contract

Ryan Zimmerman has signed a new extension with the Washington Nationals so he will be under contract for $126 million up to 2019 or with the option $150 million up to 2020. Jon Heyman thinks the Nationals paid too much for a 1-time All-Star. Tom Verducci recently compared Zimmerman to Chase Headley - a comparison that was not meant to be flattering.

I wonder why the Nationals had to do a contract now (Zimmerman was under contract till after the 2013 season) but I'm not so sure if they over paid. If they get the next Eric Chavez with an injury prone career then Verducci and Heyman get to crow. But what if Ryan Zimmerman plays like Scott Rolen in his age 26-35 seasons where Rolen averaged 126 games and 19 HR. Would that be acceptable for the "face" of the franchise who would be making an average of $16.7 million for those 9 seasons? For the last 6-seasons Zimmerman has averaged a 137.5 games and a little over 21 HR per season so it would seem a Rolen comparison would be reasonable. Did the Phillies make a mistake in not wrapping up Scott Rolen when he was the same age as Zimmerman? During that span Rolen made 6 All-Star games and won 5 Gold Gloves.

The thing I keep thinking of is the fact that Jacoby Ellsbury was taken in the same draft and same round as Ryan Zimmermanand is basically the same age (Ellsbury is slightly older). If the Red Sox were to wrap him up for the next 9 seasons at an average of $16.7 million then I would think the Red Sox made a good deal. I wonder if Jon Heyman would argue then that the Red Sox were over-paying for a 1-time All-Star?

Baseball Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous baseball thoughts and observations.

Call me an optimist because I really think JD Drew will have a good season this year for the Red Sox. I'm predicting he'll hit at least .300 with at least 20 HR and 140 games played. Like I said - call me an optimist... Scott Rolen will be probably be out for at least Opening Day with a torn fingernail and a broken bone in his finger. Many people will automatically think "oh here we go again" regarding the oft-injured Rolen but I think this may actually be a fluke and that Rolen may put together a decent season this year. Hey - I already said I'm an optimist... In 2001 due mostly to injuries to John Valentin and Nomar Garciaparra - a rookie basically came out of nowhere to be the Opening Day starting 3rd baseman for the Red Sox. That rookie was Shea Hillenbrand. It looks like history may be repating itself because due mostly to injuries to Andy LaRoche and Nomar Garciaparra another rookie may be a surprise Opening Day starter at 3rd base. This time though its the Dodgers and the surprise rookie starter may be Blake DeWitt... Speaking of Shea Hillenbrand - it looks like his career is over. Not even the injury depleted Dodgers are ringing him on the phone. I just hope Hillenbrand realizes how luck a guy with his limited talent was to make $20 million playing baseball not to mention somehow making it to not one but two All-Star games... Speaking of rookies getting to start on Opening Day - Rockies will be going with rookie Jason Nix to start at 2nd. I'm taking a flyer on Nix in one of my fantasy baseball teams. He's got some pop in his bat and Rockies rookie middle infielders have been pretty good bets for the past few seasons...

Glaus / Rolen Trade

Scott Rolen has been traded from the Cardinals to the Blue Jays in exchange for Troy Glaus. Most reaction around the Interwebs seem to be that the Cardinals got the best of this deal.

I can see the point. Glaus will be hitting the weaker NL pitching and he's been the better power hitter the past few years. Plus he's 2-years younger than Rolen and seemingly less injury prone. Something just doesn't seem right.

I like and trust JP Riccardi and have to think that there's more to this deal than meets the eye. Glaus was named as a steroids guy and maybe his weight has dropped to 150 pounds (just kidding)? Maybe Glaus was demanding a trade behind the scenes? Something just doesn't seem right.

Jon Heyman - Clueless Baseball Writer

It's official - Jon Heyman really doesn't have a clue about baseball. In his latest SI column, Heyman talks about seven trades that need to happen before the trade deadline. Let's take a look at them jut to prove the point that Heyman doesn't have a clue.

1. Scott Rolen to the Dodgers. Heyman seems to be suggesting a Andy LaRoche for Rolen deal. If that deal was done - Ned Colleti would be fired on the spot. Consider this:

- Rolen has 3-years and $36 million left on his contract and has an injury history. Colleti is still paying Bill Mueller's contract. Mueller is the last "name" 3rd baseman Colleti signed with an injury history.

- Heyman says that Rolen would be acquired for his power but as bad as Wilson Betemit has been for the Dodgers he has double the number of HR (4 to 2) in almost half the AB (78 to 129). Since hitting 34 HR in 500 AB in 2004 - a HR every 14.7 AB - Rolen has hit just 29 HR at an average of 1 HR every 29 AB.

- Andy LaRoche is the top rated prospect in the Dodger farm system according to Baseball America. LaRoche has been the starting 3rd baseman for the past couple of weeks and so far this season his OPS has been 204 points higher than what Rolen has posted this year. Rolen would be a down-grade at this point at the plate.

An Andy LaRoche trade for Scott Rolen would manage to make the Victor Zambrano for Scott Kazmir trade from a couple of years ago look good in comparison.

2. Garrett Atkins and Todd Helton to the Angels. Helton has a no-trade contract and has said he will not waive it during the season. Atkins has been struggling this season and is not a clear upgrade over either Shea Hillenbrand or Chone Figgens. As Daniel Kaffee would say, "Thank you for playing, 'Should we or should we not follow the advice of the galactically stupid.'"

3. Chad Cordero to the Indians. Sure this trade makes sense but even Heyman points out that, "Nationals GM Jim Bowden likely will ask for the moon, anyway, so Cleveland may have to look elsewhere." That elsewhere may turn out to be Atlanta where Rafael Soriano has made Bob Wickman expendable.

4. Ken Griffey Jr. to the White Sox. Why would Griffey approve this trade? The White Sox aren't winning anything this year. Why would Griffey want to leave the comfort of his home town to play for Ozzie Guillen? Makes no sense.

5. Troy Glaus to the Tigers. Why would the Tigers take on Glaus' contract (he gets $12.5 million next year)? Offense is not a problem for the Tigers and why would the Tigers mess with the team chemistry by sitting either the popular Inge or Casey at the corners or the combustible Gary Sheffield at DH? Again - it makes no sense.

6. Al Reyes to the Brewers. So a 36-year old guy with 6 career saves going into this season is among the seven trades Jon Heyman thinks should be made? Jon - maybe you should have made this a list of six trades that need to happen.

7. Jon Rauch to the Red Sox. Maybe Heyman has never heard of the Larry Andersen for Jeff Bagwell trade. The Red Sox have a bad history about dealing prospects for middle relievers.

None of these trades make any sense. I get the feeling that if Jon Heyman was a zoologist that he's recommend the elephant trading his trunk for a duck-bill. Hey that trade makes as much sense as Scott Rolen for Andy LaRoche.