MLB

[BigRedLedbetter]

I kinda like the Mariners for the west. Hate saying that but.....

[Norah]

Cruz is a huge pick up for them, and if Kyle Seager can take it further next year they'll have the players to seriously contend for the west.

[E.H. Ruddock]

Cruz is a huge pick up for them, and if Kyle Seager can take it further next year they'll have the players to seriously contend for the west.

But instead they'll just flounder and then resign ichiro to play out his final half season as a mariner.

[BigRedLedbetter]

Agreed. Keep Nelly away from a glove and it's a great fit even in that ballpark. I don't have any stats on HR distance but Nelly doesn't hit many cheapies.

Sounds like the M's are not done either. Cespedes would be a good fit there too. Maybe for Roenis Elias or Paxton?

[philpritchard]

I was just reading something that suggested the ballpark difference likely takes 60 points off his OPS before you even factor in aging decline, etc. He also gets fewer games in offense-heavy road cities like Toronto, Boston and New York and more road games in Anaheim and Oakland. It should be interesting to see how it works out; he's already a player who makes his living purely off his power (decent OBP, no speed, no defense, probably a DH).

Career OPS by stadium:
Seattle - .749
Anaheim - .654
Oakland - .571

Each one of those is a sample of over 200 plate appearances, so it's not just a handful of poor games.

He looks like an immediate upgrade for them, but that contract could look pretty bad pretty fast.

[Norah]

He's also a giant pussy who doesn't know how to position himself even when the world series is on the line.

[philpritchard]

He's also a giant pussy who doesn't know how to position himself even when the world series is on the line.

It should be easy to figure out how to position himself when he's the DH.

[philpritchard]

For the record, I fully expect the Mariners to offset the improvement made in the Cruz signing by trading Michael Saunders.

[BigRedLedbetter]

He's also a giant pussy who doesn't know how to position himself even when the world series is on the line.

It should be easy to figure out how to position himself when he's the DH.

Both good points.

[Coach]

I get why the Sox likely have to part with Cespedes, but it just doesn't feel right.

Also, Wade Boggs at Fenway...there was NOTHING like watching that guy hit. The eye-hand coordination, the discipline, use of the wall, etc. The occasional homer over right field.

I am 34 so I did not see Boggs in his prime much but I remember some. Pretty sure the only down year in Boston he was going through a divorce. Such a stud and very underrated hitter all time. So many great hitters from my youth Gwynn, Boggs, Brett, Puckett, Mattingly, etc. Good memories.

Boggs was born in Omaha and did a signing there when I was a kid. I missed it and wish I had gone.

Boggs also drank 64 Miller Lites on a Cross-country Flight. Which is legendary.

Yeah, the Boggs love life was pretty crazy. During spring training around that time he also somehow had his arm ran over by a car and came out unscathed and landed on the cover of SI:

[numbers]

There was just something about Boggs I didn't like. I can't argue that he wasn't a great player, but he just rubbed me the wrong way. Part of this is probably due to the fact that when I started watching baseball, it was Boggs' last couple years with the Red Sox when he wasn't all that good anymore.

[Chris_H_2]

Boggs and Mattingly were basically the same player to me when they played in the mid-80's.

[MattA75]

Boggs was a great player but a completely unlikable asshole...I mean he's the poster boy for the 25 guys/25 cabs attitude that permeated the Red Sox Clubhouse during the 80s and 90s

[Norah]

There was just something about Boggs I didn't like. I can't argue that he wasn't a great player, but he just rubbed me the wrong way. Part of this is probably due to the fact that when I started watching baseball, it was Boggs' last couple years with the Red Sox when he wasn't all that good anymore.

How dare you.

[philpritchard]

So apparently Miller is closing in on a deal for about 4/$40 million.

Um... I know the Jays need bullpen help right now, but... please not the Jays, please not the Jays, please not the Jays...

[numbers]

So apparently Miller is closing in on a deal for about 4/$40 million.

Um... I know the Jays need bullpen help right now, but... please not the Jays, please not the Jays, please not the Jays...

Yeah that's a HUGE risk for a relief pitcher that has never closed, and that's coming from someone that loves Miller and wants his team to sign him badly.

[@SkitchP]

For the record, I fully expect the Mariners to offset the improvement made in the Cruz signing by trading Michael Saunders.

....and you couldn't be happier!

[philpritchard]

For the record, I fully expect the Mariners to offset the improvement made in the Cruz signing by trading Michael Saunders.

....and you couldn't be happier!

Absolutely! I love this trade for the Jays!

[Chris_H_2]

For the record, I fully expect the Mariners to offset the improvement made in the Cruz signing by trading Michael Saunders.

....and you couldn't be happier!

Absolutely! I love this trade for the Jays!

Alex is a god damned genius!

[philpritchard]

That post is making chud look like a genius right now.