Baseball

[smc]

Originally Posted by transjen

the first four were the latest expanson teams and were unneeded to start with and the two FL have poor attendance and i just can't stand the Braves and Texas already has the Rangers so drop the Astros

Jerseygirl Jen

Well, that's certainly a mixed bag of reasons. I agree on the expansion teams and the Florida teams, although the Rays are starting to build a fan base.

If a state can only have one team (as you seem to argue for Texas), does that mean California has to lose four of its five teams: Anaheim, Los Angeles, Oakland, San Diego, and San Francisco?

I can't stand the Yankees and a certain other team that I should probably leave unnamed. Does that mean they can be dropped from MLB?

[transjen]

Originally Posted by smc

Well, that's certainly a mixed bag of reasons. I agree on the expansion teams and the Florida teams, although the Rays are starting to build a fan base.

If a state can only have one team (as you seem to argue for Texas), does that mean California has to lose four of its five teams: Anaheim, Los Angeles, Oakland, San Diego, and San Francisco?

I can't stand the Yankees and a certain other team that I should probably leave unnamed. Does that mean they can be dropped from MLB?

You asked which teams i'd like to see go and that's my top teams to dump i dout that MLB will do what one lone fan thinks
As for Tampa buliding a fan base they have fans as long as they are on top and pretty much only draw big when the Yankees and Red Sox come to play FL is a football ,nascar and WWE state
Jerseygirl Jen

[smc]

Originally Posted by transjen

You asked which teams i'd like to see go and that's my top teams to dump i dout that MLB will do what one lone fan thinks
As for Tampa buliding a fan base they have fans as long as they are on top and pretty much only draw big when the Yankees and Red Sox come to play FL is a football ,nascar and WWE state
Jerseygirl Jen

Oh, Jen, I was only teasing!

Of course, MLB is not looking to contract. It's only a matter of time before there's a team in Mexico, if the drug wars ever end. I wouldn't be surprised to see a team in Puerto Rico in my lifetime.

[transjen]

Originally Posted by smc

Oh, Jen, I was only teasing!

Of course, MLB is not looking to contract. It's only a matter of time before there's a team in Mexico, if the drug wars ever end. I wouldn't be surprised to see a team in Puerto Rico in my lifetime.

That would make a lot of sense as Baseball is hugh there and look at all the great players from there so i can see it happing as far as Mexico i believe they have there own league so they may not allow a MLB team to enter the market
Jerseygirl Jen

[shadows]

Originally Posted by smc

although the Rays are starting to build a fan base.

Are you sure about that? As far as I can tell, the attendance was horrible for the Rays this year, and this was a team that was fighting for 1st place in the AL East pretty much the entire season!

[smc]

Originally Posted by shadows

Are you sure about that? As far as I can tell, the attendance was horrible for the Rays this year, and this was a team that was fighting for 1st place in the AL East pretty much the entire season!

Yes, as measured by growth in non-corporate-held season tickets. But don't get me wrong: it's pitiful the overall lack of support such a good team receives.

[shadows]

Smc, I am honestly surprised that you didn't make any mention about the Red Sox signing Carl Crawford!

[smc]

Originally Posted by shadows

Smc, I am honestly surprised that you didn't make any mention about the Red Sox signing Carl Crawford!

I've been waiting to provide a fuller assessment of what the reconfigurations of teams look like after Lee, Pavano, et al. are signed -- rather than just rubbing the Gonzalez and Crawford signings in.

[shadows]

Wow! If this is true, the Phillies are going to be a great rotation next season! And I would much prefer him going to the Phillies than the damned Yankees.

From tsn.ca:

(since it is just a Report, it isn't a full article yet. I'll post more as it comes.)

REPORT: CLIFF LEE REACHES PRELIMINARY DEAL WITH PHILLIES

NEW YORK -- A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that Cliff Lee has reached a preliminary agreement on a contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.

According to the New York Post, the deal is worth more than $100 million over five years.

The deal is subject to the 32-year-old left-hander passing a physical, the person said late Monday night on condition of anonymity because the agreement was not final.

The New York Yankees and Texas Rangers received telephone calls Monday night telling them they were out of the running, two separate people familiar with those team's negotiations said, also on condition of anonymity.

Earlier this week, MLB.com reported that Lee has passed on signing with the Washington Nationals, who, along with the Rangers and Yankees, were considered the only serious suitors in the Lee sweepstakes.

He was a combined 12-9 with a 3.18 earned-run average for Seattle and Texas last season. Lee was 7-0 with a 1.26 ERA in eight career post-season starts before twice losing to San Francisco in the World Series.
------

AP Sports Writer Rob Maaddi contributed to this report.

[dauls]

Originally Posted by shadows

Wow! If this is true, the Phillies are going to be a great rotation next season! And I would much prefer him going to the Phillies than the damned Yankees.

From tsn.ca:

(since it is just a Report, it isn't a full article yet. I'll post more as it comes.)

REPORT: CLIFF LEE REACHES PRELIMINARY DEAL WITH PHILLIES...

Big surprise to see him back in Philadelphia. What a great rotation for 2011.

@mlb.com:
A five-year contract with a vesting option for a sixth year - the deal in the $120 million range.

That's gonna stretch the Phillies budget.
I wonder what it will mean for pitchers like Blanton, Kendrick, etc., and also the non-pitching staff? Who will leave Philly?

[shadows]

Originally Posted by dauls

Big surprise to see him back in Philadelphia. What a great rotation for 2011.

@mlb.com:
A five-year contract with a vesting option for a sixth year - the deal in the $120 million range.

That's gonna stretch the Phillies budget.
I wonder what it will mean for pitchers like Blanton, Kendrick, etc., and also the non-pitching staff? Who will leave Philly?

Werth has already left(I wonder if he is wondering "Why did I do that?" now?). Their main issue last year wasn't pitching, it was their offense(which disappeared in the playoffs). Cliff Lee helps their already imposing pitching staff, but their offense is still the same(except for the departure of the aforementioned Werth). Will the Cliff Lee signing ultimately help them win the World Series? Only time will tell I guess.

[transjen]

With Lee back in Phillie Blanton's days are numbered not because he isn't a decent pitcher but because he's now expandable and i can see him packaged out for some power in thier offense
Holiday, Oswalt, Lee and Holmes all four of these guys tend to go at least 7 or 8 innings witch means a lot less worries of the bullpen blowing games next year