Spring training thread

[maumann]

Joel Zuyama changes teams, but not his luck: Out for the season (again). This time, a torn ulnar collateral ligament.

http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2012/02/former_detroit_tigers_relief_p.html

 

[jr/shotglass]

That blows royally. He's got to be feeling like he'll never throw again this afternoon.

 

[outofplace]

Nats to lock up Zimmerman long term.

http://bit.ly/zfFWSA

Here's the main question in historical context - were the Phillies wrong not to lock up Scott Rolen back when he was 27? If you think the Phillies made a mistake not keeping Rolen - then the contract extension is easily justified. If you think Rolen's 126 games and 19 HR average during those age 27-35 seasons weren't worth top money even though he went to 6 All-Star games and won 5 Gold Gloves - then you fall into the Jon Heyman, Tom Verducci camp thinking the Nationals just overpaid.

Given the trouble Zimmerman has had staying healthy, put me in the camp that thinks they overpaid, too.

 

[outofplace]

From the "completely expected news" dept., Grady Sizemore will not be ready for Opening Day (due to a back injury):

http://eye-on-baseball.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22297882/34978290

Least shocking news EVER. Chris Perez is also on the shelf for 4-6 weeks, strained oblique. I realize I'm the only person on the board who cares about this.....

The fantasy baseball geeks like me care about Perez, whose value just went down because he will be on the shelf while most leagues hold their drafts.

Sizemore? Hell, most fantasy geeks have given up on the guy by now.

 

[Steak Snabler]

You Nats guys ... What's Anthony Rendon's big-league position? (Obviously not 3B, and I don't see him as a 2B unless they just want to punt defense in a Dan Uggla sort of way).

They're really keeping options open with him, Steak. Playing him at three infield positions in camp, and I even think he's getting a little OF work.

I expect him to open here in Harrisburg, and I would think he'll play third every day.

I know there's been some talk of him playing 2B, but given his history of ankle injuries, that sounds like a bad idea.

 

[Layman]

From the "completely expected news" dept., Grady Sizemore will not be ready for Opening Day (due to a back injury):

http://eye-on-baseball.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22297882/34978290

Least shocking news EVER. Chris Perez is also on the shelf for 4-6 weeks, strained oblique. I realize I'm the only person on the board who cares about this.....

The fantasy baseball geeks like me care about Perez, whose value just went down because he will be on the shelf while most leagues hold their drafts.

Sizemore? Hell, most fantasy geeks have given up on the guy by now.

Draft Perez, DL him, pick up Pestano for a couple weeks (hopefully....)

 

[Tommy_Dreamer]

And it has begun. A whole month and a half or so of looking at nothing but Michigan/Canada license plates.

I Looooooooooooooooooooove being near the spring training home of the Tigers.

 

[outofplace]

From the "completely expected news" dept., Grady Sizemore will not be ready for Opening Day (due to a back injury):

http://eye-on-baseball.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22297882/34978290

Least shocking news EVER. Chris Perez is also on the shelf for 4-6 weeks, strained oblique. I realize I'm the only person on the board who cares about this.....

The fantasy baseball geeks like me care about Perez, whose value just went down because he will be on the shelf while most leagues hold their drafts.

Sizemore? Hell, most fantasy geeks have given up on the guy by now.

Draft Perez, DL him, pick up Pestano for a couple weeks (hopefully....)

I'm sure many people will go that route, but oblique injuries can be trouble. As an Indians fan or as a fantasy baseball player, I'd be a bit wary of Perez right now.

 

[Versatile]

Nats to lock up Zimmerman long term.

http://bit.ly/zfFWSA

Here's the main question in historical context - were the Phillies wrong not to lock up Scott Rolen back when he was 27? If you think the Phillies made a mistake not keeping Rolen - then the contract extension is easily justified. If you think Rolen's 126 games and 19 HR average during those age 27-35 seasons weren't worth top money even though he went to 6 All-Star games and won 5 Gold Gloves - then you fall into the Jon Heyman, Tom Verducci camp thinking the Nationals just overpaid.

I hope to never be lumped in with Jon Heyman and Tom Verducci on the matter of analyzing baseball, and thankfully, I avoid that bullet here. Rolen gave the Cardinals 21.2 WAR in his four full seasons with the team. That said, I think the comparison is only half-apt. Zimmerman isn't nearly as good as Rolen defensively. Rolen has a strong argument as the second-best defensive third baseman ever.

 

[spikechiquet]

And it has begun. A whole month and a half or so of looking at nothing but Michigan/Canada license plates.

I Looooooooooooooooooooove being near the spring training home of the Tigers.

At least the first half of those plates knows how to drive at least!!

 

[imjustagirl]

Nats to lock up Zimmerman long term.

http://bit.ly/zfFWSA

Here's the main question in historical context - were the Phillies wrong not to lock up Scott Rolen back when he was 27? If you think the Phillies made a mistake not keeping Rolen - then the contract extension is easily justified. If you think Rolen's 126 games and 19 HR average during those age 27-35 seasons weren't worth top money even though he went to 6 All-Star games and won 5 Gold Gloves - then you fall into the Jon Heyman, Tom Verducci camp thinking the Nationals just overpaid.

I hope to never be lumped in with Jon Heyman and Tom Verducci on the matter of analyzing baseball, and thankfully, I avoid that bullet here. Rolen gave the Cardinals 21.2 WAR in his four full seasons with the team. That said, I think the comparison is only half-apt. Zimmerman isn't nearly as good as Rolen defensively. Rolen has a strong argument as the second-best defensive third baseman ever.

Behind Brook, right?

 

[Versatile]

Behind Brooke.

 

[Herbert Anchovy]

I think the bigger point is that the Nationals have severely overpaid two good-not-great players in the span of about 15 months.

 

[Della9250]

Werth was a terrible, terrible overpay but I don't see it with Zimmerman.

David Wright got six years, $55 (seven for 71 with option) mil at age 23. (32.6 WAR in 8 seasons)
Adrian Beltre got five years, $80 (six for 96 with option) mil at age 32. (47.6 WAR in 14 seasons)

Zimmerman's getting six for $100 starting at age 29. (19.8 in six seasons)

When Zimmerman was going to come up for free agency, he would be three years young than Beltre and I'm guessing no other big third basemen on the market -- maybe Wright and Youkilis if their options are picked up.

 

[Tommy_Dreamer]

And it has begun. A whole month and a half or so of looking at nothing but Michigan/Canada license plates.

I Looooooooooooooooooooove being near the spring training home of the Tigers.

At least the first half of those plates knows how to drive at least!!

half of them maybe lol.

 

[jr/shotglass]

Sounds like Zumaya may have had enough. Can't say I blame the guy.

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Minnesota Twins reliever Joel Zumaya says he is considering retirement after tearing a ligament in his elbow at spring training.

Zumaya spoke to reporters Monday, one day after he was diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. If he wants to return to baseball, he will need Tommy John surgery.

That would be the hard-throwing reliever's sixth operation since 2006. He says he's not sure if he wants to put his body through another long rehabilitation. But he also is intrigued by the success that many pitchers have had after having such surgery.

Zumaya says he will talk things over with his family and hopes to make a decision in the next day or two.

 

[Steak Snabler]

This doesn't sound like encouraging news for Ryan Howard:

“He has an open wound that isn’t healing the way we want it to,” Scott Sheridan, the team’s head athletic trainer, said Sunday at Phillies camp. “It needs to be evaluated.”

...

Sheridan said the open wound was “a delayed reaction to a suture” that was used in the surgery. He added that the skin in the Achilles area was “notorious for not healing well.”

http://www.csnphilly.com/blog/phillies-talk/post/Phils-trainer-updates-Howards-condition?blockID=658440&feedID=704

 

[jr/shotglass]

They go on to say that the toughest hurdle for Howard to get past is going to be the same thing that put him down -- pivoting out of the batters' box upon hitting the ball. That's not a natural move for the Achilles'.

 

[deskslave]

It's my understanding that Joel Zumaya is hurt. Any news on this?

 

[jr/shotglass]

I'm not going to comment on this, because I have been informed that my sarcasm meter is quite faulty.