The 2010 Royals

February 2010
With the baseball season right around the corner, anything is possible. Spring means a new beginning and renewed optimism for beleaguered and tortured franchises. Hell, even the Royals think they can win a World Series right now!

But the odds are that the Royals will not win the World Series. Why? Because their talent is vastly inferior to other teams in the AL Central and in the American League in general. Let's face it, if your going to get involved in sports betting and put all your money down on the Royals winning the World Series, then you might want to get your head examined. This team has BOTH Kyle Farnsworth and Jose Guillen!

There are those who believe that hey, if the Royals get a few lucky bounces and some things go their way, then maybe they can be baseball's version of the New Orleans Saints. The Saints shocked the football world by winning the Super Bowl behind Drew Brees even though most experts counted them out at the beginning of the season. And on a side note, my buddy Joe loves football betting and made a killing on the Saints this season. Who Dat!

As much as I want to believe that the 2010 Royals can do the impossible, there are simply too many harsh realities for this team to face. On paper, they stink. And even with the best case scenario for the 2010 Royals, the outlook is rather bleak.

2010 Preview

February 2010
While all the recent talk around MLB centers on Mark McGwire and steroids, it’s easy to forget that Spring Training is creeping up.

Cactus League play begins on March 3 and Grapefruit League starts a day before that.

This is a good time to look at the future baseball odds to win World Series that sportsbook currently have posted.

New York Yankees

When we last left MLB, the New York Yankees were hoisting their 27th World Series title.

The “Evil Empire” will enter the 2010 season as defending champions and as a matter of fact, the Yanks are odds-on favorites to repeat at +300.

The Bronx Bombers’ roster will look a little different going into the season as 2009 World Series MVP Hideki Matsui migrated west to the Los Angeles Angels and his place in the lineup, as it stands, will be taken by Nick Johnson, according to an mlb.com report.

The Pinstripes re-signed southpaw Andy Pettitte to a one-year deal and dealt outfielder Melky Cabrera and pitchers Michael Dunn and Arodys Vizcaino along with some cash to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for righty Javier Vazquez and lefty Boone Logan, who was subsequently signed for one year.

In Vazquez’s last 16 starts last season, the Braves went 12-4.

Philadelphia Phillies

On first glance, the fact that the Phillies traded away pitcher Cliff Lee to Seattle doesn’t make sense, as Lee went 13-4 (including the playoffs) after joining the Phillies from Cleveland in late-July.

In the postseason Lee went 4-0 with an ERA of 1.56 and he was on the mound for both of
Philadelphia’s World Series victories.

But when you factor in that Philadelphia added Roy Halladay to its rotation, there is logic behind the Lee deal.

Doc Halladay started 32 games for the Toronto Blue Jays last year and had a record of 17-10 with an ERA of 2.79 and will be a welcome addition to the Phillies’ pitching staff.

Philly is listed at +600 to win this year’s World Series and if it does, it would be its second title in three years.

New York Mets

The New York Mets fell well short of expectations last season, finishing with a record of 70-92 so there was a need to bolster the roster with the 2010 season approaching.

While the Yankees are the ones that usually make the big splashes in free agency, the Mets one-upped their cross-town rivals this offseason, in terms of big-name signings, when they inked former Boston Red Sox leftfielder Jason Bay to a four-year deal.

The Mets are hoping that Bay will be a big piece of the puzzle in their pursuit of the NL East title and hopefully, a World Series.

The Metropolitans are listed at +1900 to win it all in 2010.

Seattle Mariners

Despite not making the playoffs last year, the Seattle Mariners still had a relatively successful season, going 85-77.

If its offseason is any indication of how its regular season will be, Seattle should make the playoffs or better.

As mentioned, the club traded for Philly’s playoff ace Cliff Lee and it did a number of other things to improve.

The Mariners plucked 3B Chone Figgins away from the division rival Los Angeles Angels; re-signed Ken Griffey Jr. to a one-year deal and extended young ace Felix Hernandez’s deal by five years.

The only move that can be considered something of a head-scratcher is the trade for volatile Chicago Cubs outfielder Milton Bradley.

Seattle is listed at +1600 to win the World Series in MLB futures betting.

Spring Training will be starting up again soon and shortly after that, the start of another MLB season.

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Bisbee Part Four: Bedtime

February 2010
The bar at the Copper Queen Hotel had that old western feel to it. We were entertained by a couple, singing and playing a keyboard and guitar. Mike was the only one who didn’t drink so he decided to walk around the hotel on his own. He stopped off at the front desk to read what other guests had written in a book about their experiences. The books sat on the front desk and had some interesting stuff about our rooms (401 & 404). After that he walked around each floor. When he got to the fourth floor near our room, which is also near the area where Albert’s ghost usually hangs around, he saw something. The story is told that if Albert is trying to manifest, you will see a dark shadow and smell cigar smoke. Sure enough, Mike saw a dark shadow dart across the hallway in that area and smelt cigar smoke afterwards. He came back to the bar and told us of his experience. I was very intrigued and went with him back up to the fourth floor. We walked around the area a couple of times and took pictures. I never saw anything or smelt cigar smoke. After we finished walking around all the floors, we went back to the bar.

It was time to walk around Bisbee a night time. Some areas were pitch black with stairs leading up to who knows where. The ground was wet and the air was crispy and cold. We must have walked around for about an hour before heading back to the hotel. I took many pictures, especially around the area where my son got the weird ghost photo. I tried moving my thumb back and forth to see if I could get the same effect, but it looked more like a thumb and not a ghost. I still have more experiments to try.

It was almost midnight when we all decided to head back to our rooms to try and get some sleep. After everything that happened in the room earlier, that wasn’t going to be easy. Mike and I shared the bed closest to the door. He decided to just sleep on the top of the covers with a blanket, while I tucked myself under the sheets. Tricia was across from Mike on the other bed and Kelly was next to the wall. Not one of us could get a solid hour of sleep. We tossed and turned, except for Tricia who couldn’t sleep at all. Sometime in the middle of the night, Mike sudden sat up and then Tricia followed. He said that someone pulled his foot real hard and almost took his sock off. Right after that, Tricia had her foot pulled rather forcefully. When I sat up and saw her, she had a terrified look on her face. I heard Kelly asking what happen because she felt someone touch her face. Later that night Kelly felt someone touch her back. As for me, I felt my back and leg touched and kept hearing whispering just like I did the last time I stayed in that room.

What an eventful evening for all of us at the Copper Queen Hotel. I can’t wait to return to see what other spooky adventure waits us. There is never a dull moment in Bisbee and the Copper Queen Hotel.

Don’t forget to check out:
Part One: Arrival and walk Around Town
Part Two: Evergreen Cemetery
Part Three: In the Darkness

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Josh Beckett and the Red Sox Probably Won't Negotiate During the Season

February 2010
So says Beckett:
Speaking on CSNNE’s “SportsNet Central” Thursday night, Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett said he would most likely not negotiate a new contract with the Red Sox during the 2010 season, saying “Probably not,” when asked if he would participate in any in-season talks.

Beckett had said during a press conference Sunday at the Red Sox’ minor league training facility that he and the Red Sox had “talked about talking” regarding a new deal. The pitcher’s current contract runs out at the end of the 2010 season.

During the appearance, Beckett also said regarding his contract status, “It’s really not in my control. I don’t really have an answer right now, I don’t really want to think about it. I think for me, my focus is really just being on coming into camp, getting ready for the long season and preparing myself the best I can.”

So this gives the Red Sox roughly a month to get a new deal done with Beckett or risk having Beckett hit the free agent market this winter. Does anyone actually think this deal has a chance to get done before April rolls around? I'm doubtful. If Beckett signs now, he surely will land a lucrative contract, but if he delivers a stellar 2010 season, then he could land a really lucrative contract. Unless Beckett has a strong desire to stay in Boston, I'd gamble on his abilities and play the year out and plan on becoming a free agent after the season.

More Good News for Brandon Webb

February 2010
Just a few weeks after throwing off a mound for the first time, Brandon Webb threw 45 pitches yesterday in a bullpen session:
It was only a bullpen session, but the 45 pitches Brandon Webb threw on Thursday morning had the D-backs feeling good.

"I feel like every time I'm getting somewhere," Webb said. "So eventually I'm going to get to where I need to be. Today was by far the best day. It's just going to be a process."

The 45 pitches were the most he has thrown off the mound in any of his six bullpen sessions since he began throwing again last month.

For the first time since shoulder surgery in August, Webb threw changeups from the mound. The session also marked the first time Webb worked from the stretch.

While his shoulder has been good for Webb during his bullpen sessions, he has struggled to get his mechanics and release point where he wants them. In that regard, Thursday's session was a big step forward.

This is big news for Webb who missed almost all of the 2009 season because of arm problems. Webb will be a free agent after the season and it will be interesting to see what kind of contract he can command on the open market. This is undoubtedly a positive step but the real test will come when the season starts to see if Webb is still the front line starting pitcher he was previously.

Rays and Carl Crawford Scrap Contract Talks Until the End of the Season

February 2010
No surprise here given the economics of the situation:
“We had an opportunity to exchange ideas with the club about a contract extension for Carl and it was clear to all of us that an immediate agreement was not going to materialize,’’ agent Brian Peters told the St. Petersburg Times this afternoon. “Thus, we all agreed to table discussions until the end of the year. We’d like to minimize distractions for Carl and the club and keep the focus on baseball, so we don’t plan to comment upon Carl’s contract status again until after the season.”
All signs continue to point towards 2010 being Crawford's final season in Tampa, which means (barring something unforeseen) he's bound for a huge long term contract this winter.

Adam Dunn is Focusing on Defense

February 2010
The Nationals slugging first baseball has been known as one of the biggest defensive liabilities in baseball throughout this career (mostly as a left fielder), but it appears that Dunn is making a strong effort to make himself a quality first baseman. Take it away, Mark Zuckerman:
Adam Dunn has been doing extensive defensive work at first base the last week with Tim Foli and Pat Listach. Listening to Dunn talk about it today, it's clear he's committed to making serious strides at a position he had only minimal experience at prior to last summer. "This is definitely a fresh start for me," he said. "I'm really having to learn a new position for me. I know I've played it before, but I never learned it. Now, as far as my footwork and things like that, it's learning a new position. That's exciting, and it's been fun so far."
If Dunn can prove himself to be an adequate first baseman this season, then he will make himself much more valuable on the free agent market. Dunn, who is scheduled to be a free agent after the season, will be much less of a liability for interested teams. Right now, the limitations of Adam Dunn (defense, speed, batting average) would make it difficult for teams to commit to Dunn long term despite his immense gifts (power, ability to get on base).

On a side note, there have been murmurs that the Nationals want to extend Dunn, which might be the best option for Adam Dunn given how many quality first baseman are set to hit the market this winter (Lee, Konerko, Pena, Overbay). It's difficult to predict what kind of money will be thrown Dunn's way nine months from now or even before, but Dunn might not be able to do better than a 2 or 3 year deal.

Carlos Pena Loves Tampa Bay

February 2010
Is Carlos Pena's love for Tampa Bay enough to keep him around long term? If it was up to Pena, it sounds like he'd stay in Tampa:

It was a true reflection, he said, of how excited he was to be back on the field as the Rays went through their first full-squad workout Wednesday. And also, a symbol of how he plans to carry himself through what could be his last season in what he calls "the best place on Earth to play baseball."

Peña is an educated and erudite man, and in his head, he knows he may be done with the Rays. He's making $10.125 million at the end of his three-season deal and realizes he may not fit in their future, payroll-reduced plans.

---snip---

So he says it's his "desire" to stay, that it's "a no-brainer for me," that even though he is represented by typically hard-nosed agent Scott Boras, the decision ultimately will be his.

"I understand markets. I understand what I could be worth, I'm not blind to that," Peña said. "But I think it would be silly for me to ignore what this team means to me. It would be just absolutely silly. I would be lying to myself and everyone else if I just said I don't care. It's not true. Even though I consider myself an intelligent person, very well-educated about the business of baseball, I think it's going to be a balance."

If Pena is willing to bring his price down to a level where the Rays will be able to keep him, then he would be the antithesis of a Scott Boras client. As much as the Rays love Pena, I know that they cannot (and will not) overpay to keep him simply based on the team's economics alone. Can Pena and the Rays find some middle ground? Potentially. But it depends on two factors:

1. how much the Rays value Pena and consequently what they are willing to offer him

2. how much Pena less money Pena is willing to take to stay in Tampa versus what he could receive on the open market

Either way, this is certainly a situation worth monitoring even with free agency a mere nine months away.

Bisbee Part Three: In the Darkness

February 2010
After returning from the Evergreen Cemetery, the plan was to hit the bar, then walk around Bisbee, and then sit in the rooms, in the dark, to see if we can get any noise from the spirits. We went up to the rooms to see if anything else was disturbed. Because we had strange occurrences happen earlier in the rooms, everyone wanted to sit in both rooms in total darkness first.

We started out in room 404, Billy and Marsi’s room. Mike and I sat on the floor near the bathroom door, the other ladies sat on the bed and Billy sat in the corner by the “closet”. This room was small with a queen bed, night stand, dresser, and a corner closet, which was basically a bar with hangers. The bathroom had a claw foot tub and was also small in size. The room was just fine for the couple. Billy put a quarter on the dresser and Mike turned the water on in the bathroom sink. The little boy ghost, Billy, is known to make his appearance in the bathroom especially if the water is running. Mike started asking questions and wanted Billy’s ghost to shut the water off. He asked this over and over. There was one point where the water sounded as if someone ran their fingers under it. While asking questions, Mike started to feel dizzy and a heavy feeling come over him. At the same time, we all heard some banging in the bathroom and the water sounded like it shut off and then quickly back on. Mike felt someone touch his hair, so he jumped up and shut the bathroom door. While Mike was asking for the boy’s spirit to shut off the water, Billy felt like a small child was sitting in his lap. He also kept hearing “I can’t” over and over in his head. We turned on the light because Kelly, Marsi, and Mike wanted to sit in the bathroom. The quarter that was on the dresser was now on the floor. No one heard it fall or was near the dresser when the lights were out. While they sat in the bathroom, I put the quarter back on the dresser and shut the lights off. Right away they opened the bathroom door complaining of a heaviness they felt in that room. Not long after that Mike called us in because his disposable camera was slowly spinning on the sink. The moment I walked in the bathroom, I felt the heaviness too. We sat there a short while, and then the heavy feeling went away. Nothing more happened so we decided it was time to sit in room 401.

In 401, we opened the bathroom door just slightly and got in our positions. Mike sat on the floor by the bathroom, and I sat on the bed by the door, the 3 ladies laid down on the other bed, while Billy sat on the chair in the corner. After turning the lights out, we noticed a large gap under the door letting the hallway’s lights in. Billy put his coat on the floor under the door to cover the light. Now things get interesting. The very first thing we all heard was a loud moan which sounded like it came from inside the room. Mike caught the moan on his recorder. He started asking questions and then taunting the spirits as “Dr. Phil”. I have to admit that it was a pretty good imitation and almost had me peeing my pants from laughing so hard. It must have worked because he saw a shadow moving in the bathroom and then a shadow hand reach around the bathroom door. As he moved rather quickly between the beds, we noticed that the bathroom door was opened more than it was originally. As we looked at the bathroom door, it appeared to be opening more. This door was a sliding door and not one that swings. At this point, we were all officially getting spooked. Not only did the bathroom door appear to be slowly opening, but we heard the room’s doorknob jiggle a couple of times. It also sounded like it was jiggling from inside the room.

While all the chaos was going on, Billy was sitting quietly in the corner. He told us that he again felt a child near him and a child’s voice saying, “he is mean”. We weren’t sure if he meant the ghost of Albert or Mike because of the taunting. Billy tells us that while we were checking out the bathroom door, he was watching his coat move up and down by the door. Sure enough you can see the light coming through the side of the door and the coat was moving up and then down. It wasn’t the entire coat, just the top half. This was his heavy winter coat and wouldn’t move easily. It was almost like someone was pulling it up and then letting it go. Billy went over to the door to see if there was any sort of breeze that could be moving the coat, but felt nothing. Kelly went by the door with the recorder but couldn’t see what would cause this to happen. This went on for a few minutes and then just stopped.

After all we experienced in both rooms, it was time to hit the bar and have a stiff one or two. It appeared that both Mike and Billy had attracted the spirits, because most of the experiences happened to them. I’m just sorry that it didn’t occur to me to grab my video camera to capture the coat moving up and down. I was excited about what was happening and it totally didn’t cross my mind. Next time, video camera in hand, and bring scotch tape and a ruler. If the bathroom’s door moves or any other objects in the room, we will be prepared to prove it.

This isn’t the end, part four is next…
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Adrian Gonzalez: Ominous Quote for the Padres

February 2010
Say goodbye to the hometown discount. Hello, Beantown, Adrian Gonzalez:
On contract talks: “There hasn’t been any talks about anything.”

On his current contract, a four-year deal with a team option for 2011: “At the time you take the security. … The next one is where I look for what I deserve.”
Assuming that Gonzalez stays healthy and productive over the next two seasons, how much do you think he'll command on the open market? Teixeira money?

All I know is that Gonzalez's days with the Padres are surely numbered.

What Does the Future Hold for Lance Berkman?

February 2010
Would Lance Berkman seriously retire after the 2010 season? Sure...so says Lance:

Berkman is entering the final season of a six-year, $85 million contract. The Astros have a club option worth $15 million for 2011. If they don't exercise it, there is a $2 million buyout.

When asked about his take on the contract situation Wednesday, Berkman made a few jaws drop, saying if he fails to deliver this season and the Astros don't pick up his option for 2011, he will be looking for work elsewhere.

“I may have to, whether I like it or not,” said Berkman, a veteran of 11 seasons in the majors. “It may come down to a situation where if things don't go well, they don't pick up my option, then I probably won't be back.

“If they don't pick it up, I'll probably take my ball and go home.”

The question here is not what happens if the Astros don't pick up Berkman's option, but what kind of performance will Berkman have to put together in 2010 for the Astros not to pick up the option? I know the Astros' payroll situation is tight and they would love nothing more than to cut some payroll, but Berkman's popularity with the Astros makes it difficult for them to simply let him go, even if his prime is long gone.

This statement by Berkman could be a smart move in the long run because the Astros now know that he will not accept a discount so if they want to keep their franchise player around, they will have to pick up the option or risk losing him to retirement.

Gerry Hunsicker States the Obvious About Carl Crawford and Carlos Pena

February 2010

To Jim Bowden nonetheless:
Rays SR VP Gerry Hunsicker just told us on XM 175 that it will be very difficult to keep both Carl Crawford & Carlos Pena after this season
As I've stated previously, the writing is one the wall here. Enjoy them while you can, Rays fans.

Bisbee Part Two: Evergreen Cemetery

February 2010
In 1912 the old cemetery, located in Brewery Gulch in Old Bisbee, was closed and replaced by Evergreen Cemetery. By 1914, the bones of the residents buried there were all removed and relocated. Because some of the records were unfinished and many of the tombstones have rotted away, many feel that there are still buried souls are under City Park’s grounds where the old cemetery used to be.

Buried in the Evergreen Cemetery are many of Bisbee’s most prominent residents from its colorful past. Many played important roles in the history of Bisbee and are part of Bisbee’s ghost stories. Perhaps the Copper Queen Hotel’s most famous ghost like Julia Lowell, the prostitute that killed herself after her lover rejected her, can be found there. Maybe little Billy and Albert, the fourth floor's most active spirits, are buried there too.

After having dinner, we decided to go to Evergreen Cemetery. Autumnforest (Sharon) had told me of her experiences there and said it was a must for us to see while in Bisbee. We found a map showing us the location of the cemetery, and piled in one car to find it. The sun was going down by the time we got there. The gate said that they lock up after sunset so we decided to find another way in. We ended up parking near an abandoned building. While Kelly and Marsi tried to get inside the building, Mike stood outside and kept watch. They couldn’t bust down the door (crazy girls), so they just gave up. We found an old gate at the back of the building to gain entrance to the cemetery. The cemetery was much bigger than I expected it to be. As you look out upon the cemetery, there are many headstones that seem to go on forever. The graves that we first came upon were more recent and had 2009 dates on their headstones. We didn’t see any with 2010 burial dates on the any of the headstones we walked by. As we walked on, the dates were getting older and older. Some dated as far back as 1800’s. As the sun went down and the cemetery got dark, we started to get an eerie feeling all around us. At one point, Mike started to feel dizzy and ill while standing by a group of graves. As he moved out of that particular area, he felt better. I thought I was hearing whispering all around me, which gave me chills. Even though we never saw a ghost, we felt the many spirits that were buried there. We definitely want to go there again and do more exploring in the dark. We also want to find Julia, Billy and Albert’s graves.


Next is part three, our experiences while sitting in both rooms in the darkness…
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More on AJ Pierzynski's Future with the White Sox

February 2010
I mentioned yesterday about the possibility of the White Sox signing Pierzynski to a one or two year deal to serve as a mentor/platoon partner for prospect Tyler Flowers. Well today, Pierzynski address that very question:

General manager Ken Williams said on Sunday that the contract status of catcher A.J. Pierzynski is something that will be talked about in the very near future, and he stated that he wasn't sure how comfortable he would be in handing the reins of a veteran pitching staff to Tyler Flowers next season.

Would Pierzynski -- a free agent after 2010 -- be willing to do a short-term deal and help with the transition?

''We'll cross that bridge when we come to it,'' Pierzynski said. ''I haven't really thought about that, but we'll focus on it if it comes up.

''My mind is on 2010, but if they came to me with something that was fair for both sides, I would definitely take a look at it.''

Interesting. I'm sure this a story that will be monitored all year, but it will be fascinating to see how Pierzynski balances his desire to play in Chicago with the various opportunities he should get to start in 2011.

Is 2010 Jayson Werth's Swan Song with the Phillies?

February 2010
Like Carl Crawford, the chances of Jayson Werth re-signing with his current club beyond the 2010 season seem to be slim to none:

The Phillies are coming off an offseason in which they signed Shane Victorino, Roy Halladay, Joe Blanton, Danys Baez, Placido Polanco, Brian Schneider, Carlos Ruiz and Ross Gload to multiyear deals, pushing their 2011 payroll to $130.85 million.

Werth, who arrived yesterday sporting a bushy beard and shaggy hair, will be a 31-year-old free agent after this season.

The Phillies will be less than $10 million away from the $140 million threshold that they targeted this season, with 15 open roster spots. What happens next is anybody's guess.

"I haven't really thought about it," said Werth, who will earn $7 million in the last year of the 2-year contract he signed before last season. "I know that how much they are spending is an issue, and I think it's always an issue, no matter what the situation is. I definitely think that will play a part of it going forward. But again, that's something that my agent and the team will work out, and hopefully it will work out and I'll be in Philadelphia for a long time and continue to play with these guys."

----snip----

The two sides have not engaged in substantive negotiations. Earlier this offseason, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. admitted that money will play a role in the team's decision-making. The status of top prospect Domonic Brown, a corner outfielder, could also factor in.

"Jayson is under contract through this year," Amaro said. "We've had very, very preliminary discussions about what his future might be like here. There will be some difficult decisions down the road. We'll have to weigh where we want to fit in all the dollars and how we want to fit the puzzle together. We can not operate with nothing but $15 to $20 million players. And if there's any indication, how much the Holliday and Bay signings have a direct impact on where Werth may be at the end of this year, we're going to have to sift through it and figure out what's best for the organization."

The writing is on the wall for Werth in Philadelphia. With so much money committed already to players in 2011, there is virtually no chance that the Phillies will be able to re-sign Werth without doing something creative or having him take a well below market deal. And as the article mentioned, if top prospect Domonic Brown is ready to take over the position in 2011, then the Phillies would have a cheap, high upside player who could replace Werth.

And as I mentioned back in January, if Werth puts up big numbers in 2010, then there is plenty of reasons to expect that he will land a huge contract. Sure, maybe the deal won't be in the Matt Holliday territory, but Werth could position himself as one of the top free agents on the market and demand a multi year commitment with a $13-$16 million dollar annual salary.

Carl Crawford: Bronx Bound in 2011?

February 2010
Did the Yankees the reluctance to give Johnny Damon two years reflect something about their love for free agent to be Carl Crawford? According to Jon Heyman, the answer is yes.
One reason the Yankees were reluctant to go for a two-year deal for Johnny Damon might have had little to do with Damon and been a greater reflection of what they think of Carl Crawford. The Yankees love him. Crawford is almost sure to be too rich for the low-revenue Rays, and the Yankees jump to the head of the class for interested teams. Remember, too, that the Yankees passed on Matt Holliday. It all seems to set up nicely for Crawford.
If this is indeed true, then Yankees GM Brian Cashman deserves praise for his long term vision. Historically when the Yankees are "in love" with a player, they get him. A combination of the money, full court press from Yankee players, and the lure of the pinstripes seems to do the trick almost every time. Just ask CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, Mark Teixeira.

Assuming that the Yankees payroll in 2011 remains around $200 million, then they will have roughly $50 million (less after arbitration) to spend on free agents and re-sign Jeter and Rivera. No matter, if the Yankees are truly in love with Crawford, then they will find a way to make it work economically even if it means increasing their budget.

Bisbee: Part One - Arrival and Walk Around Town

February 2010
I decided to break the trip up into four different parts. There were several things that happened, which would make for one very long post.

There were six of us that went to Bisbee on this trip. Along with myself, there was Mike, his sister Kelly, his other sister Tricia, and a married couple, Marsi and Billy. We started out having breakfast in Phoenix and left for Bisbee around 11:00 am. The road trip down there was scary because of the pouring rain. Every time the truckers went by our car, we were covered with water making it hard for Kelly to see. Things changed when we got near Bisbee, Mother Nature decided to excite us with snow. We were not sure at first that it was snow coming down; after all we are from Phoenix or southern California. Once we did, it was like giddy little children were in the car.

The three hour drive took us four hours to get to the Copper Queen Hotel. After parking and heading to the hotel, it continued to snow. Mike wasn’t prepared for that and had his flip-flops on. After getting our rooms, he quickly changed into his sneekers. Mike, Tricia, Kelly and I stayed in room 401 (again) and Marsi and Billy stayed in room 404. Marsi and Billy have never been to Bisbee so we decided to walk around the town first. Before leaving Mike put his recorder in the bathroom and shut the door, while I put mine on the nightstand near some cookies. Mike arranged the cookies side by side to see if they move while we are gone.

The snow had disappeared and turned into rain by the time we got outside the hotel. After walking a short distance, the rain stopped. Since Kelly had been to Bisbee several times, she became our tour guide, pointing out all the history and places known to be haunted. In Bisbee, there are owners whose stores, restaurants and bars have many stories of ghosts haunting their establishments. Many of the homes there are shared by ghosts as well. We made our way to the Oliver House and knocked on the door to see if we could go inside. No one answered so we left. We went back to the Copper Queen Hotel to regroup before having dinner.

When we got back to room 401 it had an unsettling feeling. Mike noticed that the cookies were now on top of each other when he clearly put them side by side. Kelly noticed that one of the small shampoo bottles from the hotel was lying on the floor outside the bathroom door. Everyone swears that they did not put it there or moved the cookies. While we were puzzled and scared about what we saw, Marsi and Billy came in our room and said that a drawer was opened on their nightstand. Billy clearly remembers closing it. Marsi said that the pen on the dresser moved. She put it next to the pad and found it on the pad. Before leaving for dinner, Mike put his recorder in their room (404) on the bed, and put the pen in the center of the pad with the tip pointing towards the top. He said that doing that was a tip he got from Ghost Hunters. In our room we put the cookies back side by side and next to my recorder. We added other items as well.

After dinner, we went to Circle K and then to the Bisbee cemetery. (Our experience at the cemetery will be my next Bisbee post.) When we got back to the room, nothing had been disturbed in room 401. However in room 404, the pen Mike placed on the pad had moved. It was lying sideways and only the tip was still on the pad. They even tried to debunk the movement by slamming the door shut to see if the pen moved, but it didn’t.

We reviewed our recordings left in the rooms. On my recorder, we caught some banging noises and shuffling like something plastic was being moved. Could that have been the cookies moving? We don’t know but the recorder was near them. Mike’s recorder in the bathroom got more action. He caught some strange banging noises and footsteps that sounded like they came from inside the bathroom. These footsteps sounded like they were made by boots. Later in the recording, he caught a kids voice saying, “You wanna play a game?” followed by footsteps. It also sounded like it came from the bathroom. There were no kids staying on the fourth floor according to the hotel employees, so we can’t explain this one. On his recorder in room 404, there was shuffling sounds, weird banging, and some movement. It could have come from the hallway, but we just don’t know. Our adventure continues…..

I just wanted to add, sorry for not commenting much last week. Along with planning for this trip, I helped my daughter out and watched my granddaughter more times than I usually do. This kept me away from my blog reading time. I plan to get caught up this week hoping that nothing else comes along to stop me…..thanks.

~Julie~
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The Future of AJ Pierzynski

February 2010
AJ Pierzynski has been the heart and soul of the White Sox since 2005, but will 2010 be his final season with the club? Perhaps:

''No matter what happens, I will never wish bad on the White Sox organization. They have been nothing but great to me, from [chairman] Jerry [Reinsdorf] to [general manager] Kenny [Williams] to [manager] Ozzie [Guillen].''

Pierzynski is in the final year of a three-year extension he signed in 2007. He's 33 years old.

Tyler Flowers is Williams' latest golden boy. He's a hit-first, ask-questions-later offensive catcher who was acquired in the trade that sent Javier Vazquez to the Atlanta Braves in 2008.

Flowers just turned 24.

Do the math.

---snip---

What does Pierzynski want?

''I want to stay, and everyone knows that,'' he said. ''There's no doubt about that.''

If Pierzynski entered the free agent market this winter, he probably would have been the most coveted catcher out there given his experience and production. However, Pierzynski is set to be a free agent after the 2010 season, which means he will be a member of one of the deepest free agent catching classes in history right now (Mauer, Victor Martinez, Gerald Laird, Ramon Hernandez). After Mauer and Martinez, I would rate Pierzynski above Laird and Hernandez because of his experience, leadership, left handed bat, and he's still a very useful player at the plate.

However, Pierzynski's experience will also play against him. Pierzynski will be 34 years old at the end of the 2010 season and I'd be shocked to see a team give him a deal that exceeds two guaranteed years. Even if Pierzynski puts together a career season with the Sox in 2010, the risk is simply too high given how catchers decline with age.

With all that said, I would not be surprised to see the White Sox extend a one or two year offer to Pierzynski, who could act as a mentor to Tyler Flowers as he adjusts to the majors. Pierzynski makes it obvious that he wants to stay on the south side, but would he stay if it meant reduced playing time? We'll see.

Carl Crawford "Hoping for the Best"

February 2010
Sounds like Carl is about to price himself out of Tampa:

Carl Crawford said his chances of staying with the Rays "could go either way" and he's "hoping for the best like always.''

"Right now I really don't know,'' he said after his first workout of the spring. "I wish something good would come out of it. At this point we really haven't done too much of that (negotiating) right now and I don't know when we will.''

(Just to clarify, he said "hoping for the best" does mean staying with the Rays. "It does to me, I don't know about other people,'' he joked.)

Crawford did say he would prefer to not negotiate during the season, which puts something on a six-week clock on a potential extension with the Rays. If he gets to the end of the season, he is obviously more likely to explore free agency.

And while he wouldn't get into what he might be looking for or whether he would offer the Rays any kind of "hometown" discount, he made it clear he is looking for market value - which you would assume is in excess of the $10-million he is making this year. "That's what you go there for, to free agency,'' he said. "You go there to be paid like the guys playing against you. Pretty much, it speaks for itself.''

As I mentioned this morning, I don't think there is much of a possibility that Crawford stays beyond this year unless he is willing to take a hometown discount. This piece simply confirms that and makes me wonder what exactly is market value for a guy like Crawford? Would it be the 7 year/$120 million dollar deal the Cardinals gave to Matt Holliday?

Give us your thoughts in the comments section.

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February 2010

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Jose Reyes Wants to Finish his Career With the Mets

February 2010
Good news for Mets fans as long as the injury bug stays away from Jose:

The Mets have an $11 million option on his 2011 contract. He needs to produce. Reyes said he wants to remain a Met his entire career.

Reyes said he thinks if he stays healthy, the marriage will continue for many years.

"I don't want to go anywhere," he said. "I want to finish my career here.

"Right now, I'm not thinking about contract stuff," Reyes said. "I just want to get on the field and try to do my job and put up good numbers and try to help this team win. That's my goal right now."

Manny Ramirez States that Manny Ramirez Will Not Be With the Dodgers in 2011

February 2010
Dodger fans, enjoy your last season of Mannywood:
Manny Ramirez appeared in the Dodgers' clubhouse for the first time on Monday morning and promptly conceded this would be his final spring training with the club.

"I won't be here next year, so I just want to enjoy myself," Ramirez said. "I don't know [if I'll play next year]. I just know I'm not going to be here. When the season is over, I will see where I'm at."

Makes sense. Even though Manny is still a draw and one of the most popular players in baseball, his value at this point is solely at the plate and he remains a liability in the field. It's in Manny's best interests to get out of the National League and into the American League in 2011 where he can be a full time DH and not have to worry about the pounding his body will take from playing defense.

If Manny does decide to play in 2011, it will be interesting to see what kind of salary he will make. Obviously he will not command the $20 million he is receiving from the Dodgers in 2010, but assuming that Manny puts up solid numbers this season and stays healthy, is it unrealistic to think that Manny will command at least $10 million annually.

Even better question is this: would Manny play for anything less than $10 million annually? I don't think so.

Rays Will Do "Everything They Can" To Keep Crawford and Pena

February 2010

So says owner Stuart Sternberg:
* The team will do everything they can to keep free-agent-to-be Carl Crawford as long as they can, and also Carlos Pena. On Crawford specifically he said: "He's been a face of this organization, he's been a great Ray, he was a great Devil Ray, he's an extraordinary player and teammate, for the community and a face of this team. We're going to do everything we can to make sure he stays here longer.''
That's all well and good to say in public, but realistically, everyone knows that the writing is on the wall. It's extremely doubtful that the Rays will be able to keep both guys. Assuming that both guys perform as expected (30+ HR for Pena, 50+ SB, .300 average for Crawford), then it's very possible that the 2011 salaries for Pena and Crawford combined could be between $20-$30 million dollars (probably closer to $30 million). For the Rays, this presents a problem because their total team payroll will probably be somewhere in the $60 million dollar range next season. Obviously, it's not realistic for the Rays to commit such an enormous amount of their resources to two players.

There's always the chance that Crawford and Pena accept less to stay in Tampa, but that's a scenario that I highly doubt will happen. At best, maybe the Rays will be able to keep one of the two, but given the Rays payroll limitations and arbitration raises to guys like Upton, Garza, and Bartlett; even that possibility is hard to imagine.

Jorge De La Rosa and the 2011 Free Agent Class

February 2010
A pitcher actually WANTS to stay in Colorado? What a concept!
-- Lefty Jorge De La Rosa, who led the Rockies in wins last season with 16, can become a free agent at season's end. De La Rosa said his ambition is to have a strong year to earn the right to stay with Colorado.
De La Rosa will be a free agent at the end of the season and is one of the more interesting cases out there. De La Rosa had the best season of his career with the Rockies in 2009 by posting a 4.38 ERA and winning an impressive 16 games. The left hander will be 29 in April and would seem to be entering the prime of his career.

The pressing question that surrounds De La Rosa entering the 2010 season is this: can he continue to improve and develop into a top flight starting pitcher? De La Rosa has improved drastically during his two years with the Rockies and if he takes another step forward this season, then the class of free agent starting pitchers could become even deeper.

De La Rosa's biggest advantage entering this winter is his age because he will be just 30 years old in 2011. There are a number of top flight starting pitchers out there this winter (Beckett, Lilly, Lee, Vazquez, Webb) and even though De La Rosa does not have the resume of those pitchers, he is younger than all five of those guys. Despite the large number of quality free agent starting pitcher available this winter, I think De La Rosa has a nice opportunity to land a multi year deal this winter.

Even though Colorado might be able to save a few bucks down the line by locking up De La Rosa now, there is far too much risk involved with offering De La Rosa a long term deal right now considering his limited success at the big league level.

Will Adam Dunn Stay with the Nationals Long Term?

February 2010
If Mike Rizzo had his way, it sure sounds like Dunn would be a National for a long time to come:

* Rizzo reiterated Saturday that he would like to sign Adam Dunn to a contract extension, but declined to talk about how the negotiations were going between the two parties. Dunn is a free agent after the 2010 season.

Rizzo went so far as to call Dunn one of his favorite players and predicted that he could be a future Hall of Famer if he continued to put up the power numbers.

"I love the guy," Rizzo said about Dunn. "There's not many 40-home run, 100-RBI guys running around out there. He fits in with this club. He's a very unique leader, I call him. He leads in a very quirky way, but leads nonetheless.

"He's always open to helping the younger players and we look at it this way: several years down the road if he continues at the pace he's at, we're going to be talking about Hall of Famer Adam Dunn."

The Nationals have had a tough time attracting big names to Washington, and let's be honest, Dunn is the only true big name free agent the Nationals brought on board in some time. And how's this for more honesty, the only reason Dunn is with the Nationals now is because no one else wanted him or was willing to give him the money the Nationals were.

But I digress. Dunn might not be the best long term answer for the Nationals because he is slow and his defense stinks, but there is no denying that Dunn makes the Nationals lineup deeper and far more potent. If the Nationals can hold off on giving Dunn more than a three (or four) year commitment at somewhere in the $10-$12 million dollar range, then I actually think that's a deal that could benefit the Nationals greatly down the road.

At the same time, Adam Dunn is in a pretty strange situation. He is set to become a free agent at the end of the season, but what kind of interest will there be in his services? Yes, Dunn is one of the premier power hitters in baseball, but now that teams are beginning to strongly emphasize defense and defensive analysis, how many teams will actually view him as just a DH in waiting? Not too many I'd imagine. Given how poorly DHs did on the free agent market the past two winters, my guess is that if Dunn hits the free agent market after this season, he will be disappointed yet again by the level of offers he will receive (even if he hits his annual 40 HR).

Dunn's impending free agency is nearly nine months away, but is it impossible to think that three or four year deal with the Nationals now would be the best contract he'd see all year? I don't think so.

Beckett Silent on Contract Talks with Red Sox

February 2010
In the words of the great LeRoy Brownlow, "there are times when silence has the loudest voice":

Josh Beckett met with the media in Fort Myers. As he enters the option year of a three-year, $30 million deal (that included a $12 million option for the 2010 season), Beckett said that he’s preferred not to publicly discuss the status of contract talks with the Red Sox about staying in Boston beyond the coming season.

“We talked about talking. That stuff is going to work itself out. I’m really not too concerned with it,” said Beckett. “I don’t really have anything to say about spring training stuff today or probably any time during spring training. … I really don’t have anything to say right now, and I don’t think I’ll have anything to say at all during spring training or after that. I really don’t want to have that be the focus on what we’re trying to do.”

Yeah, sorry LeRoy, but I don't think this is one of those times. As much as the Red Sox fans would love to have some sort of conclusion to the Beckett talks, there is simply too many unknowns on both sides for something to realistically get done this spring. Beckett's silence will surely be interpreted a billion different ways by fans and media alike, but in the end, it's really much ado about nothing.

Combat MCAB1 Maple Adult Wood Baseball Bat (-3)

February 2010

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The Haunted History of the Copper Queen Hotel

February 2010
This Saturday, February 20, 2010, Mike and I will be heading back to the Copper Queen Hotel in Bisbee, Arizona. We are going with his two sisters and some friends. They have booked two rooms (don’t know which ones yet) and we are spending one night there. Last time we walked around Bisbee twice, once in the day and then after midnight and took many pictures. We spent an hour or two in the one of the rooms in complete darkness conducting an EVP session. We did experience a couple of coins falling off the dresser by some unseen force. We are not experts in ghost hunting, just love doing it. We also try not to disturb any of the other guests staying at the hotel. For the most part, we just have fun and see if we can get any paranormal evidence. I have researched the history and haunts of the Copper Queen Hotel and even added Ghost Hunters experience when they investigated the place.
Brief History:
Built in 1902, the classy hotel was built by a wealthy Copper Queen Mining Company. The hotel was built for the mining executives and played host to traveling men, governors and dignitaries. It is located in the heart of down town Bisbee and is well maintained to this day.

Haunting:
During the 1920’s – 30’s, when prostitution was tolerated in Arizona, a prostitute named Julia Lowell “serviced” many men in rooms on the third floor. At the age of 30, Julia fell in love with one of her gentleman callers, who happened to be married. He enjoyed her company but didn’t feel the same for her. He also didn’t think she was good enough to marry. Julia was so upset that she killed herself. Hers is the only reported death in the hotel. Julia is known to haunt the third floor, especially room 315, known as Julia’s Room. She’ll only appear to men, sometimes as a bright white smoke. Some of the men have reported hearing a female voice whispering in their ears. Men who have slept in room 315 are awakened in the middle of the night to Julia doing a striptease dance. Afterwards, she’ll just smile and fade away. Other men have reported their sheets and blankets being pulled back, exposing their feet. They report that it feels like someone is rubbing their feet.

An eight or nine year old boy, whose mother worked at the hotel, was wild and loved running up and down the 4th floor hallway. The reports are that his name was Billy. He drowned while swimming in the San Pedro River. The ghost of the boy has been seen on the 4th floor and dining room of the hotel. Guest have reported hearing a child running up and down the 4th floor hallway when no children were staying there at that time. He is known to hide various items belonging to hotel guest, especially those staying on the 4th floor. Some guests have reported hearing a young child crying when they turn on the bath water. They have also reported seeing him wrapped in a bath towel. Some children eating in the dining room have seen him under their tables.

A ghost of an older gentleman, known as Albert, has been seen in the lobby, stairways and rooms located at the southwest corner of the 4th floor. He is described as a tall man, with long hair, beard, nice black suit with a black cape and top hat. Some have caught the scent of cigar smoke after he was seen.

A woman, in a black dress, has been seen walking up and down the grand staircase and also in the dining room. Her name was reported to be Ruth.

Another ghost of a man seems to like the third floor as well. Employees hear their names being called and heavy boot steps walking up and down the hallway floor.

Another employee has seen a ghost of a former employee named Rose sitting in a chair in the lobby. She appears to be watching the main entrance door.

Ghost Hunters Experience and Reveal:
The personal experiences: Jason and Grant with the thermos camera saw a shape in the hallway and a very light figure of a person in “Billy’s room” on the armoire.
*Jason and Grant in “Billy’s room” experience high EMF (electronic magnetic field) readings. Steve and Brian also experienced the same.
*Steve and Brian heard a noise, while in “Billy’s room”. Looking towards the area where the noise was, they noticed that the luggage rack had moved.
*two mini DVD cameras were set up, one in Billy’s room, where Brian slept, and one in Julia’s room, where Grant slept.

The reveal: the figures on the thermos camera were debunked. One ended up being a reflection on the armoire of Grant, and the other, a quick shot of Grant in the hallway.
*nothing showed up on the camera in Billy’s room
*on the mini DVD in Julia’s room, where Grant was sleeping, they caught the blanket being pulled back and off Grant’s foot, exposing his foot. His other foot did not move, but they still couldn't say who or what did that. We all know that it was Julia!
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