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Tuesday, December 5
The Managers Speak
by
Joe Hamrahi
on Tue 05 Dec 2006 11:35 PM EST
Select quotes from the winter meetings... Willie Randolph - New York Mets Q. What's your sales pitch if you have one thing to say to Zito? WILLIE RANDOLPH: What am I going to say to him? That's his choice. I'm not here to sell Zito on the Mets or anything like that. I would love to have him on staff, but when you get down to business and free agency, I always have respect for my players to do what's best for you and your family. I'm not going to call him up and say, hey,man, you've got to come play for us and this or that. He has an idea of what he wants to do in his mind, but I would love to have him, and I would say you know what, I think this team is going in the right direction, and if you want to be a part of it, we'd love to have you. Q. What are his strengths as a pitcher? What jumps out at you about what's goodabout him? WILLIE RANDOLPH: Well, it's the fact that he's been able to take the ball almost every start he's had in the big leagues. That's huge. That's huge when you can be counted on to answer the bell, give innings, log innings, keep your team in the ballgame. He's one of those -- I won't say he's a horse like a typical horse because he's not an overpowering guy, but he takes the ball and he competes, and he's got enough in his arsenal to win a share of the ballgame. I've always liked the way he goes about his business. He's the big fish out there and everyone is knocking themselves over trying to get to him, and hopefully he'll look at New York as a place he wants to spend the next four or five years. Bob Geren - Oakland A's Q Have you have allowed yourself the luxury yet of thinking about somebody like a Mike Piazza to DH for you? BOB GEREN: I have, because his name's floated around so much. But -- Q What would that do for you guys, for the lineup, to have somebody like that? BOB GEREN: Well, any -- any, you know, presence in the middle of the lineup like that would help, but I don't know where that's at right now. Bruce Bochy - San Francisco Giants Q. What would you like to see get done most with the Giants in terms of the biggest hole in the club right now? If you could be the general manager, what would your first move be? BRUCE BOCHY: I think it's fair to say we're still looking at left field. We haven't gotten somebody signed there yet. Like I said, a starter, I think Brian is looking for another reliever to help out there. From that point you're going to fill out the bench. Ozzie Guillen - Chicago White Sox Q When people say Bonds to Minnesota, you said they are drinking, what do you think about what they say about A-Rod to theWhite Sox? OZZIE GUILLEN: Well, it's possible. It's possible. I just say about Barry, I don't think Barry fits good with the piranhas. Barry is a shark, Barry is not a piranha, that is why I don't see Barry there. With Alex, you know when people say we gonna get Alex, I think it is a rumor because the trade being, you know, New York will need pitchers and I think Alex is one of the big guys to trade for a pitcher. But right now, I think Alex wants to stay with, you know, with the New York Yankees and I don't see Alex in a White Sox uniform at least this year. That's my opinion, maybe when I leave here, Kenny says, you know, we just traded for Alex, but I think we have a pretty good third baseman, a real good one and this kid got a great future. And I think this kid's going to come up, be a great ball player and we have a pretty good shortstop. And right now, I don't see Alex with, you know, first of all, you can't wear number 13. You got to come with another number. Number 3 is taken, number 13 is be taken. Got to go 33 or 3. And 13 by me, wear another number. I don't see Alex right now. That is all rumors. Tony La Russa - St. Louis Cardinals Q. If all things were equal, would you prefer to bring back guys you are familiar with, guys like Weaver or a Suppan or go outside the organization? Does it make a difference to you? TONY LA RUSSA: Well, when you say "all things being equal," to me one reason that we've -- it's not the only reason, but one reason that we have remained competitive is we put the value that we can -- that fits our ballclub on a pitcher or a player, and if that doesn't get him -- you end up stretching, you end up causing more problems. You do the same thing with -- there's a value for Suppan, for Jason, for Jeff, for Mark. Hopefully something works out with one or two of those guys. If it doesn't, it doesn't make sense to stretch. Phil Garner - Houston Astros Q: How do you feel about the young guys? I mean, can you talk about some of your young guys? PHIL GARNER: Well, I like, as you know,and this is in no particular order, I think I wouldn't want to slight anybody right now, given the full complement of spring training before we make this decision, so this is not in any particular order, I like Hirsh, we got much more comfortable with him and I thought he looked better each time he pitched. You know, won 19 ballgames for us in the last two years. And I like the left-hander in the lineup -- you know in the rotation, so, I like Wandy Rodriguez. And Fernando Nieve has shown some bulldog attitude, and of all the guys that when you go to the mound, you try to take the ball from, he is like the one guy that looks like he wants to beat you up. He does not want to come out of the ballgame, I like that, so I like his attitude. I like Matt Albers, I think he is raw but the advantage I see from him is he misses low with everything. I mean, people talk about pitching down and they really don't do it. My viewpoint and where I stand in the dugout in Houston, I can tell when balls are above the knees or below the knees that is just about eye level for him. And with all the guys in the whole league and then Matt Albers' short amount of time, he threw the ball down more than anybody in the league. When he missed, he was below the strike zone, not up. So, I'm encouraged by that, you know, but he is still raw. He's got a lot to learn.
Red Sox Continue to Show the Money
by
Joe Hamrahi
on Tue 05 Dec 2006 09:51 PM EST
According to ESPN News (via Metsblog.com), the Red Sox and free-agent 2B Julio Lugo have agreed to a four-year, $36 million deal.
Drew Finally Joins the Red Sox
by
Joe Hamrahi
on Tue 05 Dec 2006 09:40 PM EST
 J.D. Drew and the Boston Red Sox culminated weeks of negotiations by reaching a preliminary agreement Tuesday on a $70 million, five-year contract. Drew will receive $14 million annually in the deal, which is subject to a physical.
I will have more to say on this topic, especially if people don't criticize this deal like they criticized the Soriano deal.
Dodgers Sign Saito
by
Joe Hamrahi
on Tue 05 Dec 2006 02:19 PM EST
The Los Angeles Dodgers announced today that they have signed right-handed relief pitcher Takashi Saito to a one-year contract according to Dodger General Manager Ned Colletti.
“Takashi came on to be one of the key players in last year’s success,” said Colletti. “He stepped into a big role in the second half and handled it well. We’re glad he’s back.” Saito, 36, was signed to a minor league contract and invited to Spring Training last February after spending 14 seasons in the Japanese League where he was a four-time All-Star. Upon being recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas on April 5, the right-hander proceeded to go 6-2 with a Dodger franchise rookie-record 24 saves in a team-leading 72 games. His 2.07 ERA ranked second to the Padres’ Cla Meredith (1.07) among all National League hurlers with at least 50.0 innings pitched. The native of Miyagi, Japan struck out 107 batters in just 78.1 innings pitched and led all National League relievers in opponent batting average with a .177 mark (minimum 200 batters faced), while right-handed hitters managed to go just 18-for-140 (.129) against the Japanese hurler. Saito’s 24 saves in 26 opportunities gave him a 92.3 save percentage, which was third in the Major Leagues. He took over as the Dodger closer on May 15 and flourished, allowing just 12 earned runs in 58.1 innings for a 1.85 ERA over his final 53 outings. In the National League Division Series against the New York Mets, Saito picked up right where he left off in the regular season, tossing 2.2 shutout innings without allowing a hit or a walk and fanning four batters. The Dodger relief ace tied for seventh in the National League Rookie of the Year vote after ranking among the NL Rookie leaders in saves (24, 1st), games (72, 2nd) and strikeouts (107, 6th)
Ozuna-White Sox Avoid Arbitration
by
Joe Hamrahi
on Tue 05 Dec 2006 11:05 AM EST
The Chicago White Sox have agreed to terms on a one-year, $800,000 contract with infielder/outfielder Pablo Ozuna, avoiding arbitration.
Ozuna, 32, batted .328 (62-189) with two home runs and 17 RBI in 79 games with the White Sox in 2006. He established career highs in virtually all offensive categories, including games played, average, hits, doubles (12), home runs and RBI. The 5-foot-11, 190-pounder made 44 starts last season, including 37 in left field, four at third base and three at second. He led the White Sox and tied for seventh in the American League with six bunt hits. |
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