Baseball Season starting!!!!

[KSig RC]

Originally posted by newbie:

About Anaheim...wow...that would certainly be a cause of controversy, I think. I would hate to see NY/LA/some other big-money team get all those great free agents! Yet another dynasty created ...How well do the Angels draw BTW?

I don't think the Angels draw too badly - I mean, they're considered 'mid-market' but I thik more likely it's just that Disney wants to dump sports teams (not too hot for the bottom line).

[KSig RC]

Originally posted by newbie:

About Anaheim...wow...that would certainly be a cause of controversy, I think. I would hate to see NY/LA/some other big-money team get all those great free agents! Yet another dynasty created ...How well do the Angels draw BTW?

I don't think the Angels draw too badly - I mean, they're considered 'mid-market' but I thik more likely it's just that Disney wants to dump sports teams (not too hot for the bottom line).

[Thrillhouse]

Anaheim draws pretty good. However they do play in a 34,000 seat stadium so anything looks good in that stadium.

[newbie]

34,000?!!! WOW. I thought Pac Bell was small with 41,000 + ! The 'Stick used to hold a lot, either 63,000 or 65,000 - something like that, but then again, they were a football stadium. The Giants also only drew like 11,000 on a Thursday night at the 'Stick .

[KSig RC]

uh, yeah - well, Fenway only holds 30k - maybe 32, with standing-room-only . . . smallest park in baseball, by a good bit. Anyway -

I just ran a full season through Triple Play 2002 for the playstation, on simulation mode . . . the results:

AL Division champs - NYY, Whitesox, Anaheim
NL - Marlins, Astros, Rockies
Wildcards - Red Sox, Diamondbacks

MVPs - Jeff Bagwell, Manny Ramirez (finished .20 points in BA from the triple crown)
Cy Young - Clemens, Smoltz

World Series - Astros over Yankees in six, MVP was Billy Spiers

So yeah - that's how the video game says it'll go down . . . hahaha, interesting i guess. Of course, it also named Sidney Ponson the starter for the AL in the all-star game . . . ; )

[newbie]

Originally posted by KSig RC:
uh, yeah - well, Fenway only holds 30k - maybe 32, with standing-room-only . . . smallest park in baseball, by a good bit. Anyway -

I just ran a full season through Triple Play 2002 for the playstation, on simulation mode . . . the results:

AL Division champs - NYY, Whitesox, Anaheim
NL - Marlins, Astros, Rockies
Wildcards - Red Sox, Diamondbacks

MVPs - Jeff Bagwell, Manny Ramirez (finished .20 points in BA from the triple crown)
Cy Young - Clemens, Smoltz

World Series - Astros over Yankees in six, MVP was Billy Spiers

So yeah - that's how the video game says it'll go down . . . hahaha, interesting i guess. Of course, it also named Sidney Ponson the starter for the AL in the all-star game . . . ; )

my bad Rob... I had no idea that Fenway was so tiny... I thought pac bell was the tiniest! Haha, that video game is pretty wacked-up there , did it say how the Giants would finish up? hahaha...Sidney Ponson...never heard of him...who does he play for and what is his position?

Oh well...at least the Yanks didn't win again in that vid game of your's...i don't hate them, but I think it's time for another team to win! Like the Giants!

[Thrillhouse]

Hi newbie Municipal stadium in cleveland held 73,000 before the indians moved into the new stadium. That place would only get 10,000 a game, lol. A lot of stadiums seem to be getting smaller when they are built. Now, having a stadium over 50,000 is very rare. Detroit went from having a 55,000 stadium to a 40,000 stadium. I guess with all of the luxury boxes and stuff, seat numbers don't matter.

BTW, I hope Bonds back is okay, he hit 2 hrs than left the game

[newbie]

Originally posted by Ex greek:
Hi newbie Municipal stadium in cleveland held 73,000 before the indians moved into the new stadium. That place would only get 10,000 a game, lol. A lot of stadiums seem to be getting smaller when they are built. Now, having a stadium over 50,000 is very rare. Detroit went from having a 55,000 stadium to a 40,000 stadium. I guess with all of the luxury boxes and stuff, seat numbers don't matter.

BTW, I hope Bonds back is okay, he hit 2 hrs than left the game

Hey ExGreek ! Wow, I thought that 50,000-capacity-stadiums were the norm! Well, I do really like Pac Bell much better compared to Candlestick (I refuse to call it 3-Com lol). It's just more cozier-feeling, plus it's so awesome how almost anywhere you sit, you can totally see the game!!! It doesn't hurt that Pac Bell has all those cool things, like that fiberglass mitt and the Coca-cola bottle!

Ack...I REALLY hope that Bonds is OK. It was awesome to see him hit those 2 hrs the other day - and it was nice to see him answer the curtain call ! He was walked like 2 or 3 times yesterday...but went 0 for 2 I think. He is quickly becoming my favorite player - you know what, I actually had a dream this morning that I met him and was playing in a baseball game with him! Weird! In my dream, I asked him if I could trade places with him...I was playing 3rd base in my dream, but sucked, lol, so I asked him if he could play 3rd base, and I would play LF instead hahaha ! He said "sure" and signed an autograph for me! LOL...

And I really hope that Bonds breaks Big Mac's record !!!!! You know what's funny tho - Bonds is so famous, but he doesn't have a nickname like all the others (i.e., Big Mac, Slammin' Sammy, etc.). In the SF Chronicle (newspaper), fans were debating between Barry Bombs, Barry Da Bomb Bonds, etc. hahaha. I like the nick Barry Bombs.

[newbie]

I have a question! As you prob know, the A's made a 3-way trade with Colorado and KC to obtain Jermaine Dye. What I don't understand is how 3-way trades work...why not just do a 2-team trade?? I'm confused

PLease explain, KSig RC or ExGreek (or anyone else who wants to) thanks!

[Thrillhouse]

Newbie, the way I can explain it is each of the three teams have a need that maybe a trade with a single team wouldn't have. The a's don't have an extra shortstop but the rockies did. Each team can fill their needs to even out the trade with each other. Another factor in these trades might be money. Dye costs too much for what the royals wanted him to make. If I am correct, I think Dye is a FA after this or next season. The royals might have wanted to dump his salary and fill a need. The rockies have been shoping perez but couldn't get enough in a trade alone with the royals.

Thats how I think it is in the MLB. In the NBA, a third team gets involved for salary cap reasons. Since there is a cap, they need a third team to unload some of their higher priced players on to squeeze under the cap.

Hope this helps

[KSig RC]

Technically (if you look at the MLB releases or whatever), it's actually two 2-team trades - perez to KC and Dye to CO, then Dye to the A's and 3 minor-leaguers (including jose ortiz - untouchable earlier in the year . . . hmm) to the rockies.

Basically - the point is that the deal couldn't happen straight-up, like Ex Greek said (good explaination), and oftentimes you'll need the 3rd (or 4th) team to come in and pick up some slack, b/c each team has something another wants, but they don't match up.

Interesting trade though - that could definitely spark more trades, hopefully including Phil Nevins and Sterling Hitchcock to the Sox . . . or just get some guys off the freaking DL, for real.

newbie - what did you think of the Andres Galarraga trade? I thought that to be a weird move by the Giants . . .

[Thrillhouse]

k-sigrc

Are the sox going to deal crawford or ohka for anyone?

[newbie]

Thanks guys for the explanations!

Don't you think that KC is the "loser" of this trade then? I mean, Perez isn't that great.... oh well, it's true tho, Dye's salary was huge, and he will be a FA after this or next season (forgot). I think that was an excellent trade by the A's. I think they're gonna be a major part in the hunt for the wild card, especially now that Dye's on board!

Rob, about Andres Galarraga, at first, I was like, "What the heck are the Giants doing picking up a 40-yr-old who is slumping?" but then on the other hand, he has really produced for us as a Giant in the last two games. Also, I think Giants management picked the Big Cat up not only for offense (which we were in dire need for when we acquired him), but also b/c it seems that the Giants always like players who are classy guys on the field and off . And Andres is that kinda guy that the Giants org. is known for. Also, he is a Latin player, and the GIants have many, many Latin players, so management said that he would be good to mentor the younger players, esp. the Latin-speaking players. I am hoping that this trade will be one of those "brilliant" moves by Sabean - one move that Giants fans can look back on and think, "What a great move!" (Like the matt williams trade.)

Anyhow, we're 2-0 with Galarraga, and we've pounded the opposing teams both times, so, so far, I think the trade has worked out!!!

I'm glad tho, that the Giants management is doing SOMETHING to help us win (a lot of us Giants fans felt like the management only cared about the payroll (the small payroll, might I add), and didn't care to produce a winning team on the field NOW). I really hope that we can get a pitcher tho! Ehh, 4 days till the trading deadline...

ExGreek, Livan Hernandez pitched yet another spectacular game last night!!! He is definitely back !

[This message has been edited by newbie (edited July 27, 2001).]

[KSig RC]

Originally posted by Ex greek:
k-sigrc

Are the sox going to deal crawford or ohka for anyone?

My guess, given Dan Duquette's propensity for ditching young pitching talent? (see: trade to SD last season, et al) Yes - Ohka's gone, he has the higher upside supposedly but threw poorly last time out, and the sox honestly have a ton of guys that fit in the 4,5-spots in the rotation - they need a number 2/3 to go along w/ pedro and nomo (who's broken out, again, this year - great signing in my opinion, but prob. still a number three - classic strikeout pitcher, but only 2 good pitches), plus a 3B or 1B with some pop (PHIL NEVIN).

They should definitely trade one of them; Crawford's probably the better of the two right now, but Ohka could definitely be better long-term. I say - trade Ohka and Dernell Stenson, along w/ a Troy O'Leary-type, and try to fill both positions needed, or at least get one impact player for the stretch run, and then when Nomar and Varitek are healthy hopefully you're right there, and they put you over the top.

Here's the more radical solution (we'll call it the "video-game GM", as it's quite impossible): Trade Carl Everett, move Trot Nixon permanently to CF. Hopefully, this nets an Al Leiter-type in return. Then you can move the prospects for a Nevin (or someone like him), and suddenly the lineup's just as imposing, but with much-improved pitching (move arrojo and crawford to bullpen, and that gets stronger as well) - without pedro, the bullpen's over-worked, and one pitcher could make a lot of difference. With Nomar, Nixon, Manny, Nevins, and Bichette at the 2-6 spots, that hides a lot of the holes in the team - plus, last year's Yankees and Mets both proved you can get a long way w/out a leadoff hitter, which the Red Sox have missed for years.

Ex greek - which teams do you follow?

Also - what moves do you look for this coming week? I'll drop a list of ones that make sense to me later - but i'm at work, so peace out for now.

-Rob

[KSig RC]

Originally posted by Ex greek:
k-sigrc

Are the sox going to deal crawford or ohka for anyone?

My guess, given Dan Duquette's propensity for ditching young pitching talent? (see: trade to SD last season, et al) Yes - Ohka's gone, he has the higher upside supposedly but threw poorly last time out, and the sox honestly have a ton of guys that fit in the 4,5-spots in the rotation - they need a number 2/3 to go along w/ pedro and nomo (who's broken out, again, this year - great signing in my opinion, but prob. still a number three - classic strikeout pitcher, but only 2 good pitches), plus a 3B or 1B with some pop (PHIL NEVIN).

They should definitely trade one of them; Crawford's probably the better of the two right now, but Ohka could definitely be better long-term. I say - trade Ohka and Dernell Stenson, along w/ a Troy O'Leary-type, and try to fill both positions needed, or at least get one impact player for the stretch run, and then when Nomar and Varitek are healthy hopefully you're right there, and they put you over the top.

Here's the more radical solution (we'll call it the "video-game GM", as it's quite impossible): Trade Carl Everett, move Trot Nixon permanently to CF. Hopefully, this nets an Al Leiter-type in return. Then you can move the prospects for a Nevin (or someone like him), and suddenly the lineup's just as imposing, but with much-improved pitching (move arrojo and crawford to bullpen, and that gets stronger as well) - without pedro, the bullpen's over-worked, and one pitcher could make a lot of difference. With Nomar, Nixon, Manny, Nevins, and Bichette at the 2-6 spots, that hides a lot of the holes in the team - plus, last year's Yankees and Mets both proved you can get a long way w/out a leadoff hitter, which the Red Sox have missed for years.

Ex greek - which teams do you follow?

Also - what moves do you look for this coming week? I'll drop a list of ones that make sense to me later - but i'm at work, so peace out for now.

-Rob