The St. Louis Cardinals have signed former Mets RF Carlos Beltran to a 2-year, $26,000,000 deal.
Jason Marquis signed a 1-year, $3,000,000 deal with the Twins.
The A's have traded LHP Gio Gonzalez to the Nationals.
Showing posts with label 2011. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2011. Show all posts
Friday, December 23, 2011
Monday, December 19, 2011
Hot Stove
The Arizona Diamondbacks have signed OF Jason Kubel (.273 12 homers 58 RBIs) to a 2-year, $15,000,000 deal.
RHP Frank Francisco (1-4, 3.55 ERA with 17 saves) has signed a 2-year deal with the Mets, (meaning they finally did something to improve their bullpen!)
In a surprising move, the Washington Nationals, seemingly in rebuilding mode, have signed OF Mike Cameron to a minor league deal. He hit .203 with 9 homers and 27 RBIs in 2011 with the Red Sox and Marlins (mostly Marlins though). This move benefits the Nationals, but with the team seemingly in a rebuilding mode, he may not be on the team for the entire season.
The Brewers have been awarded posting rights to Japanese OF Norichika Aoki.
The San Francisco Giants have signed backup C Eli Whiteside (.197 4 homers and 17 RBIs in 2011) to a 1-year, $600,000 deal.
RHP Frank Francisco (1-4, 3.55 ERA with 17 saves) has signed a 2-year deal with the Mets, (meaning they finally did something to improve their bullpen!)
In a surprising move, the Washington Nationals, seemingly in rebuilding mode, have signed OF Mike Cameron to a minor league deal. He hit .203 with 9 homers and 27 RBIs in 2011 with the Red Sox and Marlins (mostly Marlins though). This move benefits the Nationals, but with the team seemingly in a rebuilding mode, he may not be on the team for the entire season.
The Brewers have been awarded posting rights to Japanese OF Norichika Aoki.
The San Francisco Giants have signed backup C Eli Whiteside (.197 4 homers and 17 RBIs in 2011) to a 1-year, $600,000 deal.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Get Rollin' Along!
The Philadelphia Phillies have signed SS Jimmy Rollins to a 3-year, $33,000,000 contract.
Rollins (.268, 16 homers and 63 RBIs) added a small spark to a blatantly awful Phillies offense last season. Although the then-32-year-old did miss 34 games on the DL in 2011, he provided a very solid presence in the decrepit Philadelphia offense.
With this signing, the Shortstop market has been virtually wiped out, with Reyes, Rollins, and Scutaro all signed.
I like this move, it benefits the Phillies, giving them a quality shortstop at low risk, lower cost, and keeps the Phans happy.
Rollins (.268, 16 homers and 63 RBIs) added a small spark to a blatantly awful Phillies offense last season. Although the then-32-year-old did miss 34 games on the DL in 2011, he provided a very solid presence in the decrepit Philadelphia offense.
With this signing, the Shortstop market has been virtually wiped out, with Reyes, Rollins, and Scutaro all signed.
I like this move, it benefits the Phillies, giving them a quality shortstop at low risk, lower cost, and keeps the Phans happy.
Why the Giants are Finished (And What They Can Do)
For quite some time, I was very optimistic, refusing to believe that the New York Giants were as bad as they seemed.
Today I revoke that defense.
They are not making the playoffs in 2011, (not that many people expected them to, although I did).
There are a number of personnel that are in danger of being let go or fired:
Kevin Gilbride
Perry Fewell
Brandon Jacobs
David Baas
to name a few.
The Giants need to sweep the remainder of the season (which they won't) in order to make the playoffs.
HOWEVER...
Throughout this season, there have been some constants:
*Eli Manning
*Special Teams
*Tom Coughlin
Coughlin has believed in this team since day 1. The team was ravaged early, fought back, but couldn't win enough.
The defense was SOFT, the offense was solid, and the coaching was great, but at the end of the day, the team was never built to win the division. It wasn't the offseason moves, it wasn't the players, it was in fact the injuries.
In 2012, the Giants will definitely have a new look, but the eternal question still remains,
Will they ever be good again?
Today I revoke that defense.
They are not making the playoffs in 2011, (not that many people expected them to, although I did).
There are a number of personnel that are in danger of being let go or fired:
Kevin Gilbride
Perry Fewell
Brandon Jacobs
David Baas
to name a few.
The Giants need to sweep the remainder of the season (which they won't) in order to make the playoffs.
HOWEVER...
Throughout this season, there have been some constants:
*Eli Manning
*Special Teams
*Tom Coughlin
Coughlin has believed in this team since day 1. The team was ravaged early, fought back, but couldn't win enough.
The defense was SOFT, the offense was solid, and the coaching was great, but at the end of the day, the team was never built to win the division. It wasn't the offseason moves, it wasn't the players, it was in fact the injuries.
In 2012, the Giants will definitely have a new look, but the eternal question still remains,
Will they ever be good again?
Saturday, December 17, 2011
ATTENTION!!!!!
The 2011-2012 New York Knicks' season will begin on Christmas Day (12/25). Anyone interested write game reviews should contact me at:
rkordziel@yahoo.com
Please make the subject 'Knicks' or 'Basketball' to prevent the e-mail from being deleted, as quite often these are sent to my spam folder.
Requirements
*All game reviews must be received by the date after the game or before the next game.
*Profanity-laced articles are not encouraged BUT not prohibited.
*Any images used that are taken from the Internet must be attributed unless in public domain.
Games start on Dec. 25! It's time to get back...
...in the New York Groove!
rkordziel@yahoo.com
Please make the subject 'Knicks' or 'Basketball' to prevent the e-mail from being deleted, as quite often these are sent to my spam folder.
Requirements
*All game reviews must be received by the date after the game or before the next game.
*Profanity-laced articles are not encouraged BUT not prohibited.
*Any images used that are taken from the Internet must be attributed unless in public domain.
Games start on Dec. 25! It's time to get back...
...in the New York Groove!
Thursday, December 8, 2011
King Albert
Albert Pujols has signed a 10-year, $254,000,000 deal with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Pujols won two chamionships in St. Louis in 2006 and 2011.
With the three of the "Core Four" free agents off of the market now, the last remaining is Prince Fielder.
I honestly did not see this happening at any time at all. Ever. Pujols has ruined his reputation as a "one-team player". The move to the American League, however, may benefit both the Cardinals and the Angels in the long run, with a move to DH on the part of Pujols.
Pujols after hitting his third home run in the 2011 World Series Game 3.
With the three of the "Core Four" free agents off of the market now, the last remaining is Prince Fielder.
I honestly did not see this happening at any time at all. Ever. Pujols has ruined his reputation as a "one-team player". The move to the American League, however, may benefit both the Cardinals and the Angels in the long run, with a move to DH on the part of Pujols.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Not On The Mark
As I sat watching the Jets and Bills play, I came to the realization that I needed to write an article about Sanchez, so here it goes...
Jets QB Mark Sanchez certainly has had his struggles this season, there's no question about that, and many fans have been calling for him to "shape up or ship out." It seems the Jets (5-5) are in need of a bit of a shake up at quarterback.
Yet no one is doing anything.
The Jets will face the Redskins (3-7) and Chiefs (4-6) in the following weeks. With Sanchez's play and the season-long offensive struggles, sitting Sanchez against a sub-.500 team is a good idea that can benefit both sides. With 41-year-old Mark Brunell as the primary backup followed by youngster Greg McElroy, they have many people who can hold the fort while Sanchez is out.
Yet Brunell seems the logical choice.
Brunell plays against the Bills in 2010. He won, end of story.
Now I know what you are probably thinking, why start an old quarterback when you have a plethora of youngsters to choose from. My reasoning is as follows: it lights a fire under a young player like Sanchez.
What young starter in their right mind would willingly step aside to be replaced by an older player who hasn't been a starter since 2006?
And that is the entire idea, if Sanchez can regain his form from 2010, the Jets can easily make the playoffs with the way the Bills have fallen apart and with the Dolphins playing like I have become so used to in the past decade.
Jets QB Mark Sanchez certainly has had his struggles this season, there's no question about that, and many fans have been calling for him to "shape up or ship out." It seems the Jets (5-5) are in need of a bit of a shake up at quarterback.
Yet no one is doing anything.
The Jets will face the Redskins (3-7) and Chiefs (4-6) in the following weeks. With Sanchez's play and the season-long offensive struggles, sitting Sanchez against a sub-.500 team is a good idea that can benefit both sides. With 41-year-old Mark Brunell as the primary backup followed by youngster Greg McElroy, they have many people who can hold the fort while Sanchez is out.
Yet Brunell seems the logical choice.
Now I know what you are probably thinking, why start an old quarterback when you have a plethora of youngsters to choose from. My reasoning is as follows: it lights a fire under a young player like Sanchez.
What young starter in their right mind would willingly step aside to be replaced by an older player who hasn't been a starter since 2006?
And that is the entire idea, if Sanchez can regain his form from 2010, the Jets can easily make the playoffs with the way the Bills have fallen apart and with the Dolphins playing like I have become so used to in the past decade.
Friday, November 4, 2011
All Hail, the New York Giants!
The Giants are in first place in the NFC East.
That is correct.
With the Eagles failing to be the "Dream Team" that everyone, (that is, except myself), thought they would be, the Redskins hitting a skid, and the Cowboys being themselves, the Giants are on top of the division.
With Eli Manning putting together a pro-bowl calliber season, the special teams being tremendously improved, and the defense, while not spectacular, getting it done, this team can be playoff bound. We'll just have to wait and see if they can build a lead and avoid a late-season collapse like in 2010.
While they may ALMOST lose games against bad teams, bounce throws off of receivers, and call some odd plays, the Giants are still winning.
And having a coach like Coughlin helps quite a bit.
Image courtesy of http://digitalgroup.info/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/tom-coughlin.jpg
Therefore, I feel it is high time we apologize for ruling the Giants out of it before it started, accept that Eli Manning is a better quarterback this year, and give credit to Tom Coughlin, where it is well overdue.
That is correct.
With the Eagles failing to be the "Dream Team" that everyone, (that is, except myself), thought they would be, the Redskins hitting a skid, and the Cowboys being themselves, the Giants are on top of the division.
With Eli Manning putting together a pro-bowl calliber season, the special teams being tremendously improved, and the defense, while not spectacular, getting it done, this team can be playoff bound. We'll just have to wait and see if they can build a lead and avoid a late-season collapse like in 2010.
While they may ALMOST lose games against bad teams, bounce throws off of receivers, and call some odd plays, the Giants are still winning.
And having a coach like Coughlin helps quite a bit.
Image courtesy of http://digitalgroup.info/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/tom-coughlin.jpg
Therefore, I feel it is high time we apologize for ruling the Giants out of it before it started, accept that Eli Manning is a better quarterback this year, and give credit to Tom Coughlin, where it is well overdue.
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