MLB Random Thoughts

[Guest]

The Yankees have signed free agent reliever Andrew Bailey, to a minor-league deal, reports ESPN.com's Buster Olney. Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors originally reported that the two sides were close to an agreement.

Bailey, age 29, pitched to a 3.77 ERA (110 ERA+) and 3.25 K/BB ratio in 28 2/3 innings for the Red Sox last season. For his career, Bailey owns an impressive ERA+ of 160 across parts of five big-league seasons, and he's struck out 227 batters in 218 innings. On the downside, Bailey has been on the DL five times in and lost more than 300 games to injury. Last July, he underwent shoulder surgery.

Obviously, Bailey has plenty of upside, but staying healthy has thus far proved impossible for him. Since logging 83 1/3 innings as a rookie for the Athletics in 2009, Bailey has averaged just 33 2/3 innings per season.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-...-close-to-deal

[Guest]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7_MK2ZwFUg

Koji Uehara plugging some Japanese beer

[MVPete]

Mets have interest in Mariners SS Nick Franklin. They apparently offered Drew a 1 year 9.5 million dollar deal as well.

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/81609/mets-acknowledge-potential-seattle-match?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

[Pitty]

Is that a sepia tone spring training pic?

[Guest]

Frank is referring to Frank Robinson, who made a visit to Spring Training

[MVPete]

Rays now join in on the trade talks for Franklin.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/writer/jon-heyman/24456895/rays-join-mets-in-trade-talks-with-seattle-involving-infielder-franklin

[Guest]

Strange that they wouldn't try Franklin in the outfield like they did with Ackley. At this point, I would hold onto him to see what this season brings.

[Guest]

Meanwhile, in Johan Santana news.....he's throwing under 80

Two-time Cy Young award winner Johan Santana worked out for seven teams Tuesday -- including the Yankees and Twins -- as he aims to return to the hill around June. Given the long timetable, it's definitely worth mention that Santana likely isn't close to 100 percent just yet.

Still, a report in the New York Post says that Santana's fastball was sitting 77-78 miles per hour while topping out at 81. Back in his peak, Santana would sit in the low-to-mid 90s and even back in 2012 he could hit 90 and sit in the high-80s. So he's definitely not where he once was.

The 34-year-old Santana is attempting to come back from surgery last April to repair a torn capsule in his left (throwing) shoulder. This was his second such procedure.

Santana was the best pitcher in baseball from 2004-06 and was still very effective through 2010. After missing all of 2011, he came back in 2012 to go 6-9 with a 4.85 ERA (79 ERA+). He threw the first no-hitter in Mets history June 1, but had an 8.27 ERA in 10 starts after that.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-...antana-workout

[Warner2BruceTD]

Frank is referring to Frank Robinson, who made a visit to Spring Training

Shit like this always amazes me.

I remember in the 80's, Ryan Sandberg didn't know who Ernie Banks was. Keep in mind Banks only retired like 10 years before Sandberg debuted.

[NAHSTE]

Games today.



Also...

[Youk]

Those Braves hats

[MVPete]

[Guest]

There were seven reported teams who showed up to the Johan throwing session- Phillies, Blue Jays, Pirates, Rangers, Twins, Orioles and Yankees.

[MVPete]

[Guest]

Even after the walls were brought in last season, Petco Park in San Diego is still one of the stingiest home run ballparks in all of baseball. The park factors at FanGraphs say the building suppressed homers by roughly 11 percent before the walls came in, the highest percentage in baseball.

The creative folks in the team's marketing department came up with a neat promotion built around the park's unfriendly dimensions. Simply put: hit a home run and you get a pair of season tickets.


Here are the particulars:

• Register for one of five time slots for Saturday, March 15. That is the day you'll get your chance to hit a homer.
• You get to take one swing against a maximum of two pitches from a pitching machine. If don't swing at either pitch, your turn is over.
• Participants must be at least 16 years of age. Professional or Division I collegiate experience is not allowed, so this is for novices only.

Simple, right? Show up, take a swing, and possibly win two season tickets. You've got two weeks and a little more than a day to prepare, so hit those batting cages. And the weight room. It is Petco, after all.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-...-at-petco-park