Rockin' the Gladiator-esque chinstrap facial hair. My first time with this look. I'll report back with how people comment it, tomorrow.
His ERA was fantastic last year (ace worthy), and very good 2 years ago. His last year in the AL didn't go too hot, but who knows. Maybe he's a changed pitcher. He has become more of a strikeout pitcher these last few years too, and that's always helpful when you play in the AL East. I think, as a 3rd or 4th starter, we're not going to find anyone better.
A low ERA in the NL doesn't impress me in terms of being compared to the AL. I do agree with him being a good 4th starter, though.
I think if the season started tomorrow, he'd be our current 5th starter. However, I'm sure the Yanks are actively looking at getting a better option. One name that comes to mind would be Ben Sheets. He sat out all last year, so he'd be rusty, but when he's healthy, he's got electric stuff. The key word there is WHEN he's healthy. Cuban defect Aroldis Chapman is still out there, and from my understanding, he's a dynamic prospect with a 97mph fastball, so that's intriguing. I don't know if he's MLB ready at this time though. Justin Duchsherer is available as well, and he's another solid arm if he's healthy (and apparently the Yanks were talking to him). The Yanks have a lot of ways they can go with the 5th starter, so while it might be Joba at this point, I don't think it's going to be Joba come opening day. I personally think he's better off in a BP role anyways, and if he can go back to the Joba that dominated out of the 'pen and Phil Hughes played like he did in the regular season out of the 'pen, we could have a dynamic and dominant BP.
Ben Sheets reportedly wants absurd money. I'd stay away from him. I'm praying the Angels' do, too. He can never stay healthy, I don't know why he'd be able to now. I'd like for the Angels' to go after Duchsherer. Chapman's FB topped out at 93 @ his workout the other week. Florida has pitched a $13 million offer and Boston a $15. I expect the Angels' to pitch an offer and send Kendry Morales to talk with him, and I expect the Yanks to make an offer.
It doesn't impress me that much either, but he still had a sub 3.00 ERA and 200+ K's, which isn't what I'd call a bad season. I'm sure that ERA would have been at least a half or 3/4 points higher in the AL, but still, that would have been around a 3.5 or 3.75, which I'll take any day of the week. Hell, if he's the 4th starter, I'll take a 4.0 ERA, if he does anything better, than that's perfectly fine.
He's got a career ERA of 4.19. That could increase in Yankee stadium with the way that ball flies out of there.
Hey, a 4.19 ERA is good for a 4th starter, and that's all I'm looking for out of him. If he can go lower awesome, but around that 4 mark is what I'm hoping for, and I think he's got the stuff to do it, it's just a matter of consistency. And I actually recently read somewhere about Chapman throwing a 97mph fastball at a workout, and I recall and ESPN segment on him earlier in the year where I thought they mentioned him clocking 102.
Ben Sheets should just take a one-year deal for a relatively small amount since he just took a year off of baseball. If he's wanting absurd money, no one's going to sign him, especially not with his medical history.
Yeah, but at his workout he held last week I think it was, he only topped out @ 93. He reportedly has hit 102, and clocked 97 @ the WBC, but in his workout, he didn't.
I believe it was 3 years, 10 million or some shit. I think it was $10 million/per. Either way, a team has to be crazy to give him 3 years. A team would be absolutely insane to give him $10 million. I think he should prove himself and sign a 1 year $5 - $6 million dollar deal.
$10mil is a retarded amount for a dude that hasn't pitched in over a year, especially with a guy that can't stay healthy. Definitely a one-year $5-6mil deal would work, maybe with a club option for another couple years with increasing salary.
i had this terrible dream that we traded bynum to the atlanta hawks for al horford and someone else and we ended up doing really bad and not making the payoffs because then kobe got upset and left the team then lamar, artest and pau all asked for trades, what a nightmare. then when i woke up i was in this daze and rushed to the computer to make sure it was all a dream. thank god it wasnt true.
