2015 MLB spring training thread

[LongTimeListener]

It's an exhibition game. Nobody cares.

Last night the A's played the Giants in SF. The A's used a DH and the Giants let their pitcher hit.

 

[BDC99]

The Yankees played the Nationals today at Nationals Park. Both teams used a DH. Anyone know why they'd be using a DH in an NL stadium?

I don't really care either, but in spring training the DH is optional and determined by the home team.

 

[LongTimeListener]

PC, this is from when Hamilton signed:

However, Moreno said there's no special protection for the Angels in Hamilton's contract if he relapses other than what is standard in any MLB contract.

Josh Hamilton, Los Angeles Angels finalize $125 million, 5-year deal

I don't know if that answers the question specifically about whether the Angels had reason to believe he should be a repeat offender. But it clearly shows the Angels were hunting for a big name and a big headline and didn't pay much attention to the whole issue in the first place.

 

[PCLoadLetter]

PC, this is from when Hamilton signed:

However, Moreno said there's no special protection for the Angels in Hamilton's contract if he relapses other than what is standard in any MLB contract.

Josh Hamilton, Los Angeles Angels finalize $125 million, 5-year deal

I don't know if that answers the question specifically about whether the Angels had reason to believe he should be a repeat offender. But it clearly shows the Angels were hunting for a big name and a big headline and didn't pay much attention to the whole issue in the first place.

I read that as meaning they don't have any outs in the contract in the case of a relapse. I don't think it's addressing where he stands in the program.

 

[Steak Snabler]

I don't really care either, but in spring training the DH is optional and determined by the home team.

To get another guy in the lineup.

Alternate theory: To give Nats fans an opportunity to boo A-Rod.

 

[Dyno]

To get another guy in the lineup.

Alternate theory: To give Nats fans an opportunity to boo A-Rod.

He struck out three times, so he deserved it.

 

[outofplace]

Padres acquire Craig Kimbrel, Melvin Upton from Braves : Fantasy News

The Padres keep adding and the Braves keep dismantling their team. Atlanta trades Craig Kimbrel to San Diego along with Melvin Upton for Cameron Maybin, Carlos Quentin, Matt Wisler and Jordan Paroubeck. I don't know enough about Wisler or Paroubeck to judge their value, but if they hadn't waved the white flag already for 2015, this certainly seems to do it.

 

[Steak Snabler]

Totally fine with it, especially if they turn around and flip Quentin to an AL team like the Blue Jays or Indians (where he can DH) for a B- or C-grade prospect.

Kimbrel's a luxury on a bad team, and his arm was a ticking time bomb. More importantly, the Braves have rid themselves of Upton.

Maybin is a very good defensive CF on a team that really needs one. He's probably their 4th-best hitter right now, which says how bad their lineup is.

Quentin will be gone pretty soon. He's better than Jonny Gomes, but with the money he makes, he's not worth it to the Braves if he's going to blow a knee by Memorial Day.

Wisler is the Padres' No. 1 prospect (No. 34 overall according to Baseball America) and reached Triple-A last year. He'll probably be the Braves' No. 3 starter by June.

Paroubeck was a 2nd-round pick two years ago and is only 2 years out of high school, so he's 3-4 years away. Too early to tell.

 

[Armchair_QB]

If the Angels thought Josh Hamilton was going to stay clean for the life of that ridiculous contract, it's their own ****ing fault for being that stupid.

More importantly, if they thought the years of drug use that ravaged his body wouldn't cause him to break down at a younger age than a clean player would, it's also their own ****ing fault.

 

[outofplace]

Totally fine with it, especially if they turn around and flip Quentin to an AL team like the Blue Jays or Indians (where he can DH) for a B- or C-grade prospect.

Kimbrel's a luxury on a bad team, and his arm was a ticking time bomb. More importantly, the Braves have rid themselves of Upton.

Maybin is a very good defensive CF on a team that really needs one. He's probably their 4th-best hitter right now, which says how bad their lineup is.

Quentin will be gone pretty soon. He's better than Jonny Gomes, but with the money he makes, he's not worth it to the Braves if he's going to blow a knee by Memorial Day.

Wisler is the Padres' No. 1 prospect (No. 34 overall according to Baseball America) and reached Triple-A last year. He'll probably be the Braves' No. 3 starter by June.

Paroubeck was a 2nd-round pick two years ago and is only 2 years out of high school, so he's 3-4 years away. Too early to tell.

That was the pieces I was missing, Wisler.

I'm surprised one team would trade for Quentin at this point, much less finding another taker, but I do get the appeal of dealing Upton. The first part of your statement about Kimbrel is what I was getting at, that trading a dominant closer like that is an admission of how bad the team is right now.

 

[Steak Snabler]

They had to take Quentin to get the money to match up this year. And even if the Braves have to eat the $9 million Quentin is owed this year plus his $1 million buyout of 2016, it's still better than 3 more years and $46 millions more of Upton.

 

[JackReacher]

Amazing that the Braves won 96 games and took the NL East by 10 games in 2013. Yet on Opening Day 2015, the team is completely dismantled. And it's not like any of their best players were old or anything. Most were very young.

Very weird what they're doing. I'm all for it! It's gonna be awesome when they win the NL East and lose in the NLDS in 2019! Will be totally worth it!

 

[Captain_Kirk]

Amazing that the Braves won 96 games and took the NL East by 10 games in 2013. Yet on Opening Day 2015, the team is completely dismantled. And it's not like any of their best players were old or anything. Most were very young.

Very weird what they're doing. I'm all for it! It's gonna be awesome when they win the NL East and lose in the NLDS in 2019! Will be totally worth it!

All their decision making seems to be squarely aimed at being competitive for the move to the new ball park in 2017. The offset to that is the next two years could be ugly---might be some awfully sparse crowds at the Ted over the next two years, reminiscent of the late 80s at Fulton County Stadium.

I will say it does appear they've overhauled the farm system that they felt was in major dis-repair. We'll see how much of those prospect types actually do pan out down the road.

 

[bigpern23]

I hope the Braves suck for the next 50 years after the way they screwed the taxpayers of Cobb County.

 

[LongTimeListener]

I hope the Braves suck for the next 50 years after the way they screwed the taxpayers of Cobb County.

I think you'll be happy.

 

[JackReacher]

Heyward, the good Upton, Kimbrel. All well under 30 years of age, correct? Who else have they dumped? Oh, yeah. Gattis. He's young, too, right?

So weird.

 

[Steak Snabler]

Heyward and Justin Upton were free agents after this year, and were as good as gone. I don't fault the Braves for trading them at all.

Sure they could have kept Gattis and Kimbrel, but they wouldn't have beaten the Nationals the next 2 years anyway. Atlanta's farm system was God-awful (except for Jose Peraza, who will probably the Braves' second baseman/leadoff hitter by the end of the season) and ownership wasn't going to raise the payroll significantly, so there's a good chance they'd have been as bad in 2016-17-18 as the Phillies are now or the Astros were 5 years ago regardless had they not blown it all up this offseason.

It's a solid plan, though it will lead to at least one, and probably two, really unpleasant years. Rebuild the organization from the bottom, then be ready to challenge the Nationals when the new stadium revenue fountain opens and Jordan Zimmerman, Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, Doug Fister, Ian Desmond, Denard Span and Drew Storen are all gone via free agency.

(Yes, I know the Nationals will probably keep some of those guys and replace the others with good players, but chances are they'll be less formidable in 2017 than they are now).

 

[JackReacher]

"We have a bunch of awesome young stars, but nah, let's trade 'em and start over with a bunch of even younger guys who MIGHT be stars some day."

 

[Steak Snabler]

Those "awesome young stars" went 79-83 and had baseball's 2nd-worst offense in 2014. It was a flawed team, and a flawed organization.

 

[JackReacher]

They also won 96 games the year before.

But hey, I'm cool with it. I hope they trade Freeman and Simmons, too, just to stay completely committed to the bit.