Arena The Major League Baseball Thread

ESPN is reporting that the Cubbies have fired their manager.

 

http://grantland.com/features/2014-mlb-playoffs-kansas-city-royals-remarkable-run/

coulda been written by rachel

 

The Cubbies will introduce Madden as their new manager on Monday.

 

So the Rockies extended a qualifying offer to Michael Cuddyer for some reason, thereby ruining blatantly-obvious-move-the-Mets-need-to-make number one. He'd be stupid to reject it, so congratulations Rockies! You're giving a $5 million raise to a 36 year old outfielder who played 49 games last year. I'm mostly annoyed because a Duda/Cuddyer platoon (if Collins could bring himself to stick to it), would have been pretty awesome.

Blatantly-obvious-move-the-Mets-need-to-make number two is based on several supposedlies. Supposedly Alex Gordon is available and supposedly it would take a package of Daniel Murphy and Rafael Montero to get it done. And supposedly the Mets aren't interested in a rental for Montero. Really? If that's really all it takes to get Alex Gordon, that trade should happen immediately. Left field was a black hole for the Mets last year, this would be a huge upgrade and they don't need him long-term because their outfield is going to be full in 2016.

Amazing.

 

I haven't read anything about Gordon being available, but I know Butler won't be back, and Shields most likely won't be back either.
I think the Royals would have to be on crack to trade Gordon. He's one of the best left fielders in the game, solid with the glove, and huge with RISP with the bat.
I think it's the season for rumors flying all around, but most of it is just noise.

 

If he is available it'd be because he's going to be 31 and in the last year of his contract. And that's not the sort of player a team like the Royals should sign to a long-term deal. But if they're intent on signing him, trading him to the Mets would be ideal, because they absolutely wouldn't sign him long-term, so he'd be available again after next season.

Amazing.

 

Doubt the Royals let him get anywhere near availability. He's been terrific for them for several years now.

 

If the Royals let Alex Gordon go, I will be just as mad, if not more mad, than I was when they let the likes of Raúl Ibañez (fortunately he got the opportunity to comeback), Carlos Beltrán, Johnny Damon, Alberto Callaspo, and Mike Avilés go.

 

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2014/11/03/giants-world-series-heroics-captured-in-bizarre-taiwanese-animationg-game-seven-panda-madison-bumgarner-baseball/]uh[/url], so some Taiwanese animators made a cartoon out of WS Game 7...

wtf

 

Well my boy Dustin wins his 4th Gold Glove! I'm glad for him, especially considering he played most of this season with a hurt wrist.

 

http://dodgersdigest.com/2014/11/04/rejoice-dodgers-to-hire-farhan-zaidi-as-gm/]Farhan[/url] Zaidi to be the new Bums GM



To quote that article: "I AM EXCITE I AM EXCITE I AM EXCITE."

 

Shows what I know, they signed Cuddyer anyway. Apparently they're cool giving up draft picks now. Hopefully that means they're going for it this year. Rumors they're talking to the Rockies about Tulo, too.

And in less than an hour, Jacob deGrom should win the Rookie of the Year. All in all, not a bad day.

Amazing.

 

I should probably be more excited than I am for Kluber having won the Cy Young award.

 

I've got that same muted excitement over Kershaw's Cy Young, even with the history (youngest ever to win 3) behind it.

 

Wow, King Felix got robbed! Nothing against Kluber, because he had a great season as well, but what Felix was doing was almost super human! 16 straight starts in particular in which he went 7 or more innings and only gave up 2 runs or less! That does not happen! Not only that but he was second to only Kershaw in the whole league in ERA for starting pitchers.
That said, good for Kluber and the Indians for getting recognized.

 

I don't think he got robbed. I certainly didn't expect Kluber to win, simply because of name recognition. But their seasons were remarkably similar and neither had a significant edge in any of the numbers.

Amazing.

 

Cy Young and MVP: Kershaw!

 

Certainly a banner day for those philosophically unopposed to a pitcher winning the MVP.

 

Trout got the MVP on the AL side as well.

 

13 years, $325 million for Stanton. From the Marlins. This feels like it's almost guaranteed to end in disaster for someone. If not everyone.

Amazing.

 

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/11878919/major-league-baseball-all-stars-no-hit-four-japanese-pitchers]MLB[/url] All-Stars no-hit in game #3 of the Japan Series


Semi-interesting at least?

 

WHAT?!?

 

Of course now that means that Heyward is going to seriously start raking in St. Louis. That's how these things usually end up.
Word is that Justin Upton could be available as well. If so, I would love for the Sox to get him because we sure could use a corner outfielder that can drive in runs, and not sure if we're keeping Cespedes.