They’re goin’ to Disney Land: Winter meetings
By Punch N. Judy
BaseballBigMouth.com baseball news
As MLB’s top execs stock up on sunscreen, scouting reports and their club’s financial projections for 07,’ BBM thought it would be prudent to rate the early signings made by some of the game’s movers and shakers as the winter meetings get set to convene in of all places, Disney World. How apropos given that some of these clubs have behaved nothing short of Goofy.
American League
Boston Red Sox - Now we all know that Theo Epstein is only a few short years removed from his time as president of the Brookline, Mass chapter of the Mickey Mouse Club, but $51 million just for the rights to negotiate with a guy who’s never thrown a pitch in the Bigs? Yikes! Yes Daisuke Matsuzaka may in fact be the real deal but the Red Sox disingenuous statements concerning their payroll is becoming tiresome. Letting Johnny Damon escape to New York under the guise of financial restraint didn’t seem that bogus at the time, but when you consider their pitch for de facto replacement J.D Drew starts at around $14 million . . . you have wonder if young Theo is making his decisions with his old Mickey ears on . . . Baltimore Orioles – OK, let me get this straight: $40 million for three middle relievers named Chad Bradford, Danny Baez and former Tiger Jamie Walker. What do these immortals all have in common? All three have never made more than $2.5 million in a season . . . Detroit Tigers - The universal opinion entering the off-season was that the Bengal’s needed a middle of the lineup thumper. Done deal. Having not sacrificed a body off the 40 man roster, much less a member of their league best pitching staff, I’d say so far so good. For now, I must say the Sean Casey signing looks pretty good as well . . . Toronto Blue Jays – J.P “We’re so Poor” Riciardi has once again shown that Blue Jay owner Ted Rogers is committed to fielding a winner. Frank Thomas sandwiched between Troy Glaus and Vernon Wells must already be making for sleepless nights in the bedrooms of AL East pitchers. Bringing in Royce Clayton for a mere $1.5 million is another dandy. If the Jays can somehow retain lefty Ted Lilly and perhaps add an inning eating fifth starter, they will stand as my pre-season favorite to win the East . . . Cleveland Indians – Many insiders are wondering how in the world Eric Wedge saved his job in lieu of the mess the Indians turned out to be following a promising 05.’ Well I’ve got news for all you Friends of the Feather: You weren’t that good to begin with. With Travis Hafner doing a mean impersonation of Yaz in 67,’ the Tribe played lights out for exactly one month. The other five were barely of .500 quality. Without the play of the aforementioned Hafner, (a true beast of a man) and of perhaps the American League’s best player in Grady Sizemore, this team would would have lagged around the middle of the pack rather than a handful of games behind Chicago. The train wreck that was 06′ may be closer to the truth than anyone in Cleveland would like to admit. Bottom line: Mark Shapiro needs to show he is more than just a player development specialist . . . Look for Oakland, Seattle, Boston and of course the White Sox to make a splash next week in Florida. The Tigers who still have that surplus in the pitching department could also prove to be a player. On deck: the National League.