In The News 11/20
Not a ton of baseball news came down this week but let's take a look at some award recaps, free agent and trade rumors, and general player news.
When will Jake Peavy be traded? And to who? It seems that the list of teams that Peavy would prefer to go to: the Cardinals, Braves, Cubs, or Astros will come down to just the Braves after the Cards and Astros didn't show much interest and the price appears too high for the Cubs. However, the Yanks and Angels might get involved if the Braves are unwilling to part with what the Padres are looking for. In the end most of the people in the know seem to think that he will end up in Atlanta which will be a great building block for the Braves to return to respectability. What will that do to Peavy's fantasy value? I don't think it will do too much. It will help in that he goes to a better team although the Braves are hardly murderer's row. The Braves' stadium is not the cavern that Petco Park is, but it isn't the Phillies stadium either. All in all a move to Atlanta keeps Peavy at about the same value. If he were to go to the American League to New York or Anaheim that would really boost his value for him to pitch for a team that can actually score runs. For so long if he gave up two runs you knew he was getting a no decision or a loss from San Diego. His ERA will most definitely go up with a move to the AL but it should be more than balanced out by his win total.
Today marked the official end of Mike Mussina's career. The Yankee pitcher called it quits and went out on top, deciding not to come back after his first 20 win season. As far as fantasy baseball is concerned this isn't groundbreaking news. You can't argue with the success that Mussina had in 2008, but I think you would be hard pressed to find fantasy players (outside of NYC or perhaps Baltimore) that thought that he had a chance in hell of duplicating that next year. For his career Mussina had a 270-153 with a 3.68 ERA. He is the oldest pitcher to have a 20 win season, and he will fade off into the sunset and live his life the way he wants now. Is he a Hall of Famer? He fell 30 wins shy of the benchmark of 300, but every other pitcher that is more than 100 games over .500 is either in the Hall of Fame or will be. Personally I don't think he will make it, but if he does you won't find me ranting and raving about it either.
The National League MVP was announced a couple of days ago and it went to the right guy. Albert Pujols collected his second such prize in his career with a very impressive campaign. Pujols hit a ridiculous .357 with 37 homers and 116 RBI. I know that Ryan Howard had far more homers and runs batted in, but that is far from the only stats that should decide this award. For one thing, Pujols is a Gold Glove first baseman. Second, he struck out only 54 times while walking 104 times. He scored 100 runs and even stole seven bases. Add all that together with the fact that Pujols was playing with an elbow injury that threatened to end his season before it even started and that is an MVP. It hurt Howard that he hit more than 100 points less than Pujols, and struck out nearly 150 more times. He had a batting average in April of .168, in May it was .238, June was .234 and August .213. It was really two good months that got Howard his gaudy numbers.
As a hero to all of us short white guys, Dustin Pedroia was the AL MVP. I still have a hard time believing it even as I type it. It isn't that I don't think he deserves it, but take a look at the guy. He is 5'8" probably 175 pounds. It just shows what some talent and a ton of heart can get you. Not to mention Carlos Quentin broke his wrist, A-Rod had an off year, and Teixeira didn't come over until halfway through the year. This sounds like I don't think he should have gotten it. Pedroia was amazing. He is the first 2B to win the award in nearly 50 years. He hit .326 with 17 homers, 83 RBI, 20 steals, and scored 118 runs. Not only did he lead the AL in hits, but it seemed like he should have led in BIG hits. Everytime the Sox needed it, Pedroia delivered. Hell, the little guy was even batting clean up for a while. Congrats to Pedroia, you are a role model to us all.
Heard today that the Boston Red Sox are ready to make an offer to free agent Mark Teixeira that will make him the highest paid player in the history of the franchise. To give you an idea of what that might be, Manny Ramirez was making $20 million per year when he was on Boston. If the Sox offer that kind of money I would be very surprised to see someone swoop in and beat that offer.
Coco Crisp was traded from the Red Sox to the Kansas City Royals for middle reliever Ramon Ramirez. Ramirez will be a late reliver for the Sox, he will have no fantasy value. It will effect the value of two players. First, Crisp should get an everyday job in Kansas City and should go back to being a viable fantasy player. Crisp did well in 2008 with seven homers, 41 RBI, and 20 steals in 118 games. However, he might have been in 118 games, but he started a significantly lower number of games than that. With an everyday gig in KC, Crisp might be worth being a 4th or 5th outfielder. The second player effected is Jacoby Ellsbury. There will be no worries for the Sox speedy centerfielder of anyone taking his playing time. Ellsbury struggled mightily down the stretch and there was some worry of a platoon in 2009. This will end all of that speculation.
Ryan Dempster signed a four year, $52 million contract to stay with the Cubs. I think this is crazy. 13 million for Dempster? I know he had a great year last year, but before that he was a closer with a near 5.00 ERA and before that was a run of the mill starter. Does anyone else think that Dempster will repeat his 17 win season? Apparently the Cubs do.
Does anyone else think it is suspicious that C.C. Sabathia hasn't taken that crazy offer from the Yankees yet? The Yanks offered Sabathia $140 for six years, but he still remains unsigned. This is leading me to believe that Sabathia doesn't want to play for New York and is waiting for another team to come in with an offer that is close to keep him in the National League. I am reading now that they Giants might get involved. Can they possibly sign another free agent pitcher with the money they are paying Zito?
As always, your comments and questions are welcome at fightingchancefantasy@gmail.com. I guarantee a response within 18 hours. Visit me at www.fightingchancefantasy.com.
When will Jake Peavy be traded? And to who? It seems that the list of teams that Peavy would prefer to go to: the Cardinals, Braves, Cubs, or Astros will come down to just the Braves after the Cards and Astros didn't show much interest and the price appears too high for the Cubs. However, the Yanks and Angels might get involved if the Braves are unwilling to part with what the Padres are looking for. In the end most of the people in the know seem to think that he will end up in Atlanta which will be a great building block for the Braves to return to respectability. What will that do to Peavy's fantasy value? I don't think it will do too much. It will help in that he goes to a better team although the Braves are hardly murderer's row. The Braves' stadium is not the cavern that Petco Park is, but it isn't the Phillies stadium either. All in all a move to Atlanta keeps Peavy at about the same value. If he were to go to the American League to New York or Anaheim that would really boost his value for him to pitch for a team that can actually score runs. For so long if he gave up two runs you knew he was getting a no decision or a loss from San Diego. His ERA will most definitely go up with a move to the AL but it should be more than balanced out by his win total.
Today marked the official end of Mike Mussina's career. The Yankee pitcher called it quits and went out on top, deciding not to come back after his first 20 win season. As far as fantasy baseball is concerned this isn't groundbreaking news. You can't argue with the success that Mussina had in 2008, but I think you would be hard pressed to find fantasy players (outside of NYC or perhaps Baltimore) that thought that he had a chance in hell of duplicating that next year. For his career Mussina had a 270-153 with a 3.68 ERA. He is the oldest pitcher to have a 20 win season, and he will fade off into the sunset and live his life the way he wants now. Is he a Hall of Famer? He fell 30 wins shy of the benchmark of 300, but every other pitcher that is more than 100 games over .500 is either in the Hall of Fame or will be. Personally I don't think he will make it, but if he does you won't find me ranting and raving about it either.
The National League MVP was announced a couple of days ago and it went to the right guy. Albert Pujols collected his second such prize in his career with a very impressive campaign. Pujols hit a ridiculous .357 with 37 homers and 116 RBI. I know that Ryan Howard had far more homers and runs batted in, but that is far from the only stats that should decide this award. For one thing, Pujols is a Gold Glove first baseman. Second, he struck out only 54 times while walking 104 times. He scored 100 runs and even stole seven bases. Add all that together with the fact that Pujols was playing with an elbow injury that threatened to end his season before it even started and that is an MVP. It hurt Howard that he hit more than 100 points less than Pujols, and struck out nearly 150 more times. He had a batting average in April of .168, in May it was .238, June was .234 and August .213. It was really two good months that got Howard his gaudy numbers.
As a hero to all of us short white guys, Dustin Pedroia was the AL MVP. I still have a hard time believing it even as I type it. It isn't that I don't think he deserves it, but take a look at the guy. He is 5'8" probably 175 pounds. It just shows what some talent and a ton of heart can get you. Not to mention Carlos Quentin broke his wrist, A-Rod had an off year, and Teixeira didn't come over until halfway through the year. This sounds like I don't think he should have gotten it. Pedroia was amazing. He is the first 2B to win the award in nearly 50 years. He hit .326 with 17 homers, 83 RBI, 20 steals, and scored 118 runs. Not only did he lead the AL in hits, but it seemed like he should have led in BIG hits. Everytime the Sox needed it, Pedroia delivered. Hell, the little guy was even batting clean up for a while. Congrats to Pedroia, you are a role model to us all.
Heard today that the Boston Red Sox are ready to make an offer to free agent Mark Teixeira that will make him the highest paid player in the history of the franchise. To give you an idea of what that might be, Manny Ramirez was making $20 million per year when he was on Boston. If the Sox offer that kind of money I would be very surprised to see someone swoop in and beat that offer.
Coco Crisp was traded from the Red Sox to the Kansas City Royals for middle reliever Ramon Ramirez. Ramirez will be a late reliver for the Sox, he will have no fantasy value. It will effect the value of two players. First, Crisp should get an everyday job in Kansas City and should go back to being a viable fantasy player. Crisp did well in 2008 with seven homers, 41 RBI, and 20 steals in 118 games. However, he might have been in 118 games, but he started a significantly lower number of games than that. With an everyday gig in KC, Crisp might be worth being a 4th or 5th outfielder. The second player effected is Jacoby Ellsbury. There will be no worries for the Sox speedy centerfielder of anyone taking his playing time. Ellsbury struggled mightily down the stretch and there was some worry of a platoon in 2009. This will end all of that speculation.
Ryan Dempster signed a four year, $52 million contract to stay with the Cubs. I think this is crazy. 13 million for Dempster? I know he had a great year last year, but before that he was a closer with a near 5.00 ERA and before that was a run of the mill starter. Does anyone else think that Dempster will repeat his 17 win season? Apparently the Cubs do.
Does anyone else think it is suspicious that C.C. Sabathia hasn't taken that crazy offer from the Yankees yet? The Yanks offered Sabathia $140 for six years, but he still remains unsigned. This is leading me to believe that Sabathia doesn't want to play for New York and is waiting for another team to come in with an offer that is close to keep him in the National League. I am reading now that they Giants might get involved. Can they possibly sign another free agent pitcher with the money they are paying Zito?
As always, your comments and questions are welcome at fightingchancefantasy@gmail.com. I guarantee a response within 18 hours. Visit me at www.fightingchancefantasy.com.
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