Writings on baseball by Matt Barnard and Dan Stein.

 
Dan and I spoke a bit on baseball matters last night. Here's what we said:

the Daniel Stein (1:34:47 AM): the big rumor today is around soriano and schilling, and it may include sexson as well
MEBarnard (1:35:12 AM): I had nightmares about it during my nap today
MEBarnard (1:36:00 AM): first of all, I really don't like schilling. secondly, he's real old and we don't need more of that. and we'd have to give up our best young player in nick johnson to get him and give him a new deal for a ton of money.
the Daniel Stein (1:36:29 AM): what if its just sory and we keep johnson?
MEBarnard (1:37:53 AM): it's a bit better. but I still don't see it being worth our while. schilling's a year away from free agency and would likely require an extension (2 years or more) at $10+ million a year to come here, and soriano is still arbitration-eligible. soriano's 25 or 26 and schilling is 36.
MEBarnard (1:38:20 AM): if we're trading soriano for pitching, let's get someone like javier vazquez, not schilling.
the Daniel Stein (1:40:12 AM): gammons said either johnson or sory would be gone this offseason, but andy will be back
MEBarnard (1:41:03 AM): I really hope pettitte's back. and that soriano's gone...for carlos beltran, or someone of that approximate age.
the Daniel Stein (1:42:23 AM): edmonds?
MEBarnard (1:42:49 AM): would be a nice deal from both perspectives...beltran's coming up on free agency and the yanks could resign him at big money and fill the void in center, shifting bernie to left and matsui to right...and soriano and berroa would give the royals an inexpensive and good combination up the middle for a few years.
MEBarnard (1:43:04 AM): edmonds is also older. and makes a lot of money.
MEBarnard (1:43:56 AM): ($9 million in 2004, $10 million in 2005, $12 million in 2006 and an option in 2007 with a $3 million buyout)
the Daniel Stein (1:44:12 AM): who plays second if sory for beltran?
MEBarnard (1:44:38 AM): I don't know...luis castillo? todd walker? we'll find someone.
MEBarnard (1:45:47 AM): I'm not crazy about either of them, but the combination of either and beltran would improve the lineup. adding castillo and beltran would really help the defense.
the Daniel Stein (1:46:14 AM): can't boone play second a little too?
MEBarnard (1:46:19 AM): yeah, he can.
MEBarnard (1:46:46 AM): I just think center has to be addressed...whether that's by getting a beltran or signing, say, mike cameron, it was a big and obvious problem last year.
the Daniel Stein (1:47:09 AM): apparently mets will make a big push for him
the Daniel Stein (1:47:16 AM): he's their #2 priority behind shiggy
MEBarnard (1:47:26 AM): I would love to see him in new york on either team...he's a pleasure to watch.
MEBarnard (1:48:05 AM): and I would avoid hasegawa, I think. naturally, it depends how much he's looking for...but do you realize how old he is?
the Daniel Stein (1:48:58 AM): 36?
MEBarnard (1:49:14 AM): he'll be 36 during next season. that's old.
the Daniel Stein (1:50:18 AM): and the bullpen is a final piece, not a basis
MEBarnard (1:50:56 AM): absolutely. the mets have much more important issues to address.
MEBarnard (1:52:40 AM): like virtually everything else. they don't need a first baseman or shortstop. other than that, what's set?
MEBarnard (1:53:35 AM): I suppose catcher. I'm very comfortable at least going into the season with jason phillips and vance wilson there with mike piazza stepping in if necessary.
the Daniel Stein (1:54:42 AM): we're probably going to have to wait a while for signings though
MEBarnard (1:55:09 AM): that's what I hear too. pretty disappointing.
MEBarnard (1:55:47 AM): I just really hope schilling doesn't become a yankee.
the Daniel Stein (1:56:01 AM): even if it didn't cost sory or johnson?
MEBarnard (1:56:19 AM): well, it depends who. I'd certainly trade some guys for him.
the Daniel Stein (1:56:30 AM): and clemens money is free now
MEBarnard (1:57:17 AM): I just think we should be real careful about continuing to commit lots of money to ancient starters.
MEBarnard (1:57:44 AM): we're going to have to overpay for pettitte to keep him. but at least he's (relatively) young.
the Daniel Stein (1:59:15 AM): schilling or millwood?
MEBarnard (1:59:34 AM): millwood's free and schilling's not. so I'd take millwood at this point.
the Daniel Stein (2:00:00 AM): just money
MEBarnard (2:00:28 AM): yeah. to get schilling, we're talking about a lot of money (more than you'd spend on millwood, per year) and one of our best players.
MEBarnard (2:00:48 AM): and he's a lot older.
the Daniel Stein (2:00:52 AM): especially when the problem really wasn't pitching
MEBarnard (2:02:38 AM): yeah. it wasn't at all. and while the staff obviously needs to be retooled (losing wells and clemens, at least), we're returning mussina, contreras and lieber. and possibly pettitte. and I haven't given up on weaver. so that's really not a bad staff.
the Daniel Stein (2:04:13 AM): i'm much happier with contreras going 2/3 innings
the Daniel Stein (2:04:14 AM): his stuff only works the first time through the order
MEBarnard (2:05:39 AM): I can buy that. I do think he's going to get a chance to start though. why don't you hear jorge depaula's name mentioned at all? I realize this is the yankees, and young starters are rarely given a chance, but he certainly made a good impression last year (admittedly in limited work) and he's not that young (25).
the Daniel Stein (2:07:33 AM): is he the 'stud' of the system?
the Daniel Stein (2:07:45 AM): pitching wise
the Daniel Stein (2:07:45 AM): now
MEBarnard (2:07:53 AM): I think he's the top "ready" pitching prospect, yeah.
MEBarnard (2:10:07 AM): you remember his one start last year? he was phenomenal.
the Daniel Stein (2:10:23 AM): wasn't it almost a no hitter?
MEBarnard (2:10:27 AM): yeah.
MEBarnard (2:10:47 AM): obviously we can't base anything on one start. but he's got a good track record too.
MEBarnard (2:11:06 AM): 6.1 innings of one-hit ball against the orioles.
posted by VZW Watcher at 7:16 PM -