Potencial

Much has been made about the rise of some tiny little program in Piscataway N.J. that you may or may not have heard of. Now, we’re not all penciling in the Knights in the MNC game like RutgersAl and TSopranoRU do on Rivals.com. We do commonly believe something that outsiders tend to take issue with. Not only was the “Shea Error” of 1996-2000 a historical anomaly, but there’s a fair case to make that the perennial mediocrity from inventing football in 1869 to the early 90s can be mostly attributed to a bizarre series of soul-crushing accidents. Read the rest of this entry »

There are three young, cheap catalysts to NY’s success this year. Melky Cabrera, Robinson Cano, and Chien-Ming Wang. I think because of the Ruben Rivera types people were unfair to Yankee prospects for a while. We’re still seeing it to an extent. No one really respects say, a Brett Gardner or Ian Kennedy. Read the rest of this entry »

Remember this Gammons blurb from last week?

“Basically, the deals will have to be done by Tuesday,” says one agent, “because the commissioner’s office is going to stall on the paperwork and insist a physical will have been taken before Wednesday midnight. There are going to be some very big players that go unsigned. Is it legal to rig the system? We shall see.”

It was obviously nonsense. A few points to consider:

1. Wieters and Moose signed right before the deadline for huge overslot deals. Perhaps Boras was bluffing too and blinked, but MLB is the one that ends up with egg on its face. Selig and co would have faced a pitchfork revolt on all fronts if the Orioles and Royals weren’t able to bring in their top talents, and rightly so. Read the rest of this entry »

Some thoughts based on the news out of camp: 

QB: Manning will improve somewhat-to-decently over last years numbers. Will up completion percentage and lower INTs. Lorenzen looks much better this year.

RB: Should be ok, even though not at Barber’s level. Jacobs looks very good. Droughns is just a backup. Bradshaw is the sleeper and will be the next Dave Meggett in a few years. Read the rest of this entry »

 Note: most of this entry is based on an error, thanks Wikipedia!

With the non-waiver trade deadline passed, this is as good a time as any to bring this topic up, especially with an interesting piece about the Pirates on THT today. The author mentioned keeping a list of potential Rule V targets, but declined to post it until after the season. First, a primer on eligibility.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_V_Draft

Exemptions to Selection Eligibility Players signed at age 19 or older are exempt from the Rule 5 draft for four years after being drafted (in the amateur draft) or signed by their current organization; players drafted or signed at age 18 or younger are exempt for five years. For example, players drafted in 2004 (or later) at age 19 (or older) will be exempt from the 2007 Rule 5 draft, as will players drafted in 2003 (or later) at age 18 (or younger).The exemption periods were extended by one year in October 2006 as part of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. The change took effect immediately, exempting many players from the 2006 Rule 5 draft even though they had been signed in some cases more than four years before the new agreement came into effect. Prior to the rule change, players were exempt for three or four years after the year they were signed (regardless of the year they were drafted), rather than four or five years. Read the rest of this entry »

Interesting article published today: http://www.nj.com/sports/ledger/inde…490.xml&coll=1

Quote:

Read the rest of this entry »

How exactly should an organization be valued when almost all of its top prospects are pitchers, and righties at that?

In Scranton, Ohlendorf and Clippard profile as back of the rotation guys at this point, or Ohlendorf as a good setup man even as Gammons has been hammering home. Brett Gardner was on a hot streak before getting injured.  Humberto Sanchez and J.B. Cox are out for the season. Read the rest of this entry »

Only four schools meet the academic criteria for expansion: ND, Pitt, Syracuse, and Rutgers. Any other additions would mean compromising standards. Syracuse would likely become the FB doormat, but they would upgrade the conference’s basketball lineup.

Forget Delaney and his worthless women’s volleyball network. Read the rest of this entry »

What if Juan Gonzalez doesn’t turn down an 8-year, $140 million contract from the Tigers in 2000?

Believe it or not, he actually thought he could get more given the era. Instead, he struggled with injuries for one year and then signed a 1-year deal with the Indians, before flirting with the Mets and stealing more money from the Rangers. Read the rest of this entry »

I would just like to point out that Will Demps has FIVE facebook groups devoted to him being “hot”. Read the rest of this entry »