It has been a busy couple of weeks in Major League Baseball:
The Red Sox addressed their offensive “needs” by signing Carl Crawford and trading for Adrian Gonzalez. (Actually, the Red Sox scored 818 runs last year. Second only to the Yankees’ 859 runs. Kind of scary...)
The Nationals grossly overpaid for Jayson Werth, who is schedule to make $21 mil at age 38! Name a non-steroid infused 38 year old that is worth $21 million dollars?!?!
Cliff Lee shocked everyone and signed for less money to play for the Philankees. (Disturbing Fact: The salary for the Phillies’ Starting Rotation + Closer = $90 million)*
Best of all, the Yankees got snubbed!!! No Crawford, Werth, or Lee! Their biggest signing was a 36 year old SS with no range. Yankee fans should learn two lessons from this offseason: 1) Don’t give in to the demands of a 36 year old veteran. No one else in the league would have paid Jeter 15 million this year or 17 million at age 39! 2) Don’t spit on, chuck beers, and curse out Cliff Lee’s wife a month before you want to sign him as a Free Agent. Idiots.
As for the Buccos, we were content with using Hello Kitty band-aids to cover gunshot wounds. HOLD ON!
We picked up two average pitchers and two position players who are platoon worthy.
Kevin Correia is a right handed pitch who has been an innings eater with the Padres. His best season was in 2009 when he posted an ERA of 3.91. Prediction: Correia excites me as he was part of one of the best rotations in baseball last year with the Padres. He will be a very solid 4th starter for the Buccos this year and hopefully beyond. STATS: W-L 12-9, ERA:4.21
Scott Olsen is a left handed pitcher with hasn’t been healthy since 2008, when he had an ERA of 4.20. The Pirates gave Olsen a two year contract worth $4.5 million. Prediction: Olsen will have a half decent year in Pittsburgh, but he will either get hurt or replaced by a AAA prospect (Brad Lincoln or Charlie Morton). Sad, I know… STATS: W-L 3-7, ERA: 5.45
Lyle Overbay is a left handed first basement with semi-power that has been a steady bat in Toronto for the past 5 years. He cannot be classified as a power bat because he has never hit more than 22 HRs or 92 RBIs. Those career numbers were produced 5 years ago. He has yet to come close since. Overbay (.243/20/67)is pushing Garrett G.I. Jones(.247/21/86) into right field. Prediction: Overbay’s above average fielding and leadership will be of the most benefit to the young Pirates team. Lyle will run his one year course in Pittsburgh and will bat 5th and end up with this line .251/15/55.
Matt Diaz is a right handed outfielder who spent the last 5 years with the Braves. Two of the years he missed 50% or more of the season. The 3 years he played full seasons he batted .327, .338, .313. Impressive! Prediction: As of now it looks like Diaz will be part of a platoon with Garrett Jones in right field. This will allow him to stay healthy and effective. .309/5/24.
None of the new acquisitions are long term fixes, but they make the team better! Even if it is only a little bit better…
Go Bucs!
*Lee $24mil + Halladay $20 mil + Oswalt $16 + Lidge $11.5 + Hamels $9.5 + Blanton $8.5 = $89.5 million
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