Comments on: Quick Primer On Major League Contracts

By: joser

joser — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 22:15:22 +0000

Yes, there certainly are a lot of people around here who seem prepared to pick the furniture today for the house they’re going to buy when they get transferred to a new city in two years.

By: eponymous coward

eponymous coward — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:26:36 +0000

Talk about the ultimate small ball team in 2012 Ackley, Gutierrez and Saunders in the OF and Ichiro at DH

Over 1/3rd of Ichiro’s value as a ballplayer has come from the defense he’s provided. Taking that away’s kind of crazy, especially given that as recently as 2008, his wOBA (.339) wasn’t THAT much higher than the guy we signed to be our 2009 DH (Griffey’s 2008 wOBA: .335), and LOWER than the guy we signed for peanuts to play 1B (Branyan’s career wOBA: .350).

Anyways, planning out the roster for 2012 in 2009 is about as futile as it was when M’s fans were imagining Pineiro, Little Unit, Nageotte and Meche owning the AL West for years to come…

By: joser

joser — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:03:40 +0000

The Dodgers have yet to hit 100 HR this year and they seem to be doing fine. Texas has hit far more home runs than the Angels but look who’s leading the AL West (the Angels are no better than average in the AL in number of HRs). There’s nothing wrong with small ball if you do it right.

By: mw3

mw3 — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 20:58:42 +0000

Ichiro won’t get 200 hits the first year he doesn’t play or the first year he has a major injury. Barring that he should always exceed 200.

By: Soonerman22

Soonerman22 — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:52:17 +0000

Talk about the ultimate small ball team in 2012 Ackley, Gutierrez and Saunders in the OF and Ichiro at DH

(They will never not resign Ichiro as long as he wants to play here even if he is 50. See the sticky Griffey situation as an example)

Ichiro would lack in power at DH, but you now have a guy who will get you 200 hits every year at that position.

What is the over/under on the first year Ichiro doesn’t get 200 hits?

By: The Ancient Mariner

The Ancient Mariner — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:39:49 +0000

kcw2: there’s also the fact that with a major-league deal, you have the option-year clock running; this too gives the M’s incentive to getting him to the majors sooner.

By: Carson

Carson — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:03:43 +0000

Jack actually made the point at the event that they don’t intend to rush guys up. They will bring them when they collectively feel the player is ready – based on his individual situation.

The cost/benefit may have some bearing on that – but if (not likely) he just doesn’t adjust at all to a wood bat, they’re not going to rush him up early based on cost.

We should all trust that this front office will take all things into account, based on each player’s circumstances, and call them up when they are ready and the team needs it. It feels really good knowing that.

By: kcw2

kcw2 — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:21:55 +0000

Nope. That was point number 4, but, I now understand the reasoning.

By: Mike Snow

Mike Snow — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:07:18 +0000

If he is up early, you get the benefit of buying out the additional arbitration year

Haven’t you just answered your question?

By: rifaco

rifaco — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:06:49 +0000

This is fascinating stuff! How do you know about these intricate rules? Is it all in the CBA, or somewhere else?