SB Nation - Login for mobile commenting

Lookout Landing

Okay Here's Your Stupid Annoying Cliff Lee Speculation Thread

Update: Exciting new twist!

#Mariners have turned in a different direction and #Yankees do not believe they are in it now (more to come)

To repeat the #Yankees aren't getting Cliff Lee, #Mariners concerned about David Adams ankle plus apparently another team has jumped in hard

Rumors!

-----

I missed this, but I hate this.

All indications, right now, are that Lee's going to New York in exchange for Jesus Montero, probably David Adams, and a third guy. I don't know when anything is going to be completed, but if Z's sitting on that kind of offer from the Yankees, it would only make sense for him to get in contact with the other interested parties to give them one last shot at upping their proposals. By the sounds of things, New York wants to get something done before tonight's game, and I think I speak for everyone here when I say oh god yes

Jason Churchill is running frequent updates over at Prospect Insider. Say what you will about Churchill's rumor track record, but he nailed the first Cliff Lee deal from the start, and he's not a guy you should just ignore on principle. He's not making stuff up.

When I went to bed yesterday, I was planning to wake up and write a post about tonight being Lee's final start in Seattle. I guess that probably won't be happening, which sucks. On the other hand, the end of one era could signal the start of another, as Michael Pineda is supposed to throw for Tacoma today and the M's would need a replacement. It's something to look forward to. As long as there's always something to look forward to, I think we'll be all right.

0 recs  |  927 comments

Comments

Can someone link me or fill me in on what we get with Montero and Adams?
The very short of it

Montero: elite prospect, 20 year old catcher in AAA, big questions about whether he stays at the position but his bat has as much potential as anyone’s

Adams: developing young 2B in AA, questions about defense could shift him to 3B, draws walks, having best year of career in highest level yet

Great thanks!

Sounds pretty good to me. Especially if Montero could stay at Catcher.

I'm sad that this may mean that they're giving up on Moore.
It doesn't.

It means they were offered one of the best prospects in baseball and took it.

Montero isn't likely to be a catcher
Cliff Lee's first start for the Yankees could be the All-Star Game
Can't we just have a Pineda-Lee matchup?
Zach McCalister.
YES PLEASE!
Would rather have J.R. Murphy
Would rather have J.R. Ewing.
At least we have the J.R. Ewing of Seattle.
Twitter going crazy!
Is this a better return than the alleged offer from the Twins?
Fuck yes.
That's what I thought,

but the sting of trading him to the Yankees is terrible. You know they will re-sign him, too.

But then again, Montero.

Well, they were going to sign him, anyway.
Now they just avoid having to give up picks

Pretty smart move

Well, it's hugely unlikely that the picks will be worth anything close to what they're giving up.

They’re still paying a hefty price to get him a few months early.

Churchill
UPDATE @10:46 AM PT Friday : A source has told PI that the third piece is likely Zach McAllister. Ken Rosenthal is reporting it as well. Wow.
Oh my go-

No way…!

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
This is a hell of a thing to wake up to.
The addition of McCallister would make this, for me, the most dominate package for a rental since Bartolo Colon, unless I'm forgetting something.

Not as good as Colon, but the best since.

Yeah, definitely better than Sabathia.

Miles above Tex being traded to the Angels, but probably below Tex to the Braves, which was more than a rental.

Yeah but that trade holy shit.

The Braves made the Rangers what they are today.

And yet the Braves still have young guys powering their team this year.

The Braves are boringly great.

Jason Heyward does not bore me.
Nor does Tommy Hanson.
And Greg Maddux wasn't boring in his prime, and I used to love Fred McGriff.

I guess I just hate TBS.

But they know Funny.
Yeah, I can't count it since it was for a year and a half of Tex.
This is a nice haul....

even if McAllister’s numbers don’t really wow me. Seems like a definitely MLB starter, but a mid rotation guy.

Can’t complain though. We look to be getting our legit mashing prospect.

You should look past the numbers, or look at better numbers than ERA for instance.

Because his FIP has been stellar throughout his career. He’s not a strikeout guy, but he’s typically been a great groundballer.

I'm not looking at ERA....

I’m looking at K rates, BB rates, and his GB/FB.

His GB/FB has gotten progressively worse at each level. He looks to be more of a fly ball guy as of now.

He's 3-4 years younger than the competition at AAA. This is really his first "bad" season. I'm ready to call him an excellent "third" prospect in any deal.

"

Not Disagreeing....

He’s a great 3rd piece. I just don’t see much in his peripherals that indicates that he’ll be more than a 3 or 4. There is nothing wrong with that as a 3rd piece in this deal.

Definitely.

And the best part is that #4 and 5 starters can do pretty well around here. He gives us so much better depth at SP.

I still believe he's no better than a #5

But the Yankees system is pretty weak after Montero so McAllister is a huge score.

Soooooooo

Do I go tonight?

Well is a gorgeous day, it'll be warm out, and is an otherwise fine time to go to a baseball game

but if you’re hoping to see Pineda I’d wait until something is announced before buying a ticket from StubHub or a scalper because you might end up seeing Garrett Olson pitch.

Well, he's white and left-handed...

Not as sexy though.

It is an awesome day

but my only reason would be to see Crifford’s last game as an M. Or to be fondled by Ichi.

Sorry Texas, no World Series for you.
Sorry all AL contenders!
After today I may never have to hear 'Criff Ree' ever again
AFTER today.

Criff Ree.

(sorry, I never have used this before, never wanted to)

I don't get this meme at all.

He could not possibly be less Asian.

Melenious popped off with that the first time

It sort of spun out of control from there, big surprise eh?

For my money it is only amusing when she does it.
I only tried to start the Phifer thing, but didn't take hold.
This is a bad thing
I had a friend start calling him Criff Ree years ago

I didn’t get it then, and I don’t get it now.

Just sounds funny, in my head

Though I wouldn’t deign to actually speak it. Having no Cliff and therefore no reason to write it is what I regret.

Z should only be allowed to trade.
Involving good players?
Only players not named Brandon?
You might be on to something.

Maybe it’s any name involving Bra-? Brandon/Brandon/Bradley?

Branyan?
So, no Bras for Z.
Woops. Thanks for catching that one.
Does this somehow increase Zeke's chances of stardom?
Does anyone else think this makes little sense besides me?
Nope. I sort of feel the same way.
Roster construction has been kinda iffy.
I want to believe a big part of the problem is that Z has given his coaches too much control.
Unless he fixes that it's irrelevant though
Agreed, but at least this seems like something that more experience can fix.

I guess it just seems a little less damning than the other option, Zduriencik has no idea how to build a roster.

I don't think this is an experience problem.

He’s been around baseball rosters. Building them is a direct manifestation of his philosophy and we’re sort of seeing it.

To be fair though, the roster he built going into ST was drastically different than the one that started the season.

I think there’s a case to be made that he deferred to Wakamatsu/whoever.

Right, I don't know who exactly is responsible other than that someone is and it's Zs job to monitor that someone.
That's where I think additional experience can help.

The GM thing is still fairly new to him. Perhaps as he moves on he’ll have a better grasp concerning how much leeway he gives his coaches to construct the roster.

You've got to think that the manager has a lot of input into the opening day roster.

It’s hard to fault a GM in giving his manager some autonomy into lineups and that sort of thing. You’d just hope that they’d step in when things get really stupid.

I seem to recall reading a report here where Z was unhappy with many of the choices Wak made this year; that report made me happy.

It's funny because I made the exact same comment to someone about two hours ago.
Didn't see it.
Yeah, I'm not sure what the criticism is.

Bad drafting? Bad FA signings?

He doesn't do the drafting and like Robert said, his roster construction has left something to be desired
I think my favorite part of this whole thing is how Cliff Lee has been better than Roy Halladay and how we are getting back 10X more than what we gave to Philly for Lee.

Hilarious.

so true

our traded prospects flamed out in hilarious and predictable fashion

Montero>Aumont

McAllister>Ramirez
Adams maybe worse than Gilles?

Adams is a 2B so we don't care

Ackley!

I'm guessing....

Ackley is packing for Tacoma.

At this point, I'd rather go watch a Rainiers game than a Mariners game.
Not quite.

Montero>>>>>>>>>>>>Aumont.

That’s the best part.

Is McAllister better than Ramirez?
RAMIREZ WILL TOP OUT AS A BULLPEN ARM WITH INTRIGUING VELOCITY AND NO COMMAND
Soooo... yes.
ONE OF THE REASONS I LOVED THE LEE TRADE IS BECAUSE IT FINALLY ALLOWED ME TO SAY THAT RAMIREZ ISN'T GOOD
I believe you much more with all caps

For some reason both these comments work well

IT ALLOWS ME TO GET AROUND THE USUAL NEED FOR EXAGGERATED DECLARATIONS
What if Jack Z is tricking us and is actually gonna get Smoak/Holland/Salty from the Rangers
That would be better but this package is still fucking fantastic.
It's amazingly better than the Ramos-centric package being floated for the last week.
Which was still a fine package
It was most certainly worthy of discussion.

Just not overwhelming like the Montero package appeared to be.

There is noway this trade gets done as its being rumored right now.
Does anybody know if Felix has a no trade clause?
Limited no-trade clause, I've heard.
Maybe we throw in League.

Yankees fans have been bitching about their pen.

But that would make me :(
I was thinking Aardsma?
Olney on Brock and Salk!
And here I thought we were through with Jesus puns.

I hate this trade.

Those aren't puns. They're bad jokes.
Well I still hate it.
Rightfully so
Correct.

A pun would be, “Jesus can be found in almost any city but the one in San Diego truly stands up to its reputation.”

Still not funny though. Sorry, I suck at puns.

Jesus, Colome on your temple at Olympia seems to have broken. You might want to have some Greeks examine the other columns.

(Assuming the Spanish pronunciation of Jesus >_>)

For that to stop,

You’ll either need to banish that name for the Latin American lexicon, or get them to stop liking/playing baseball.

Or realize that it isn't funny.
Or realize that it isn't funny.
Or realize that it isn't funny.
Has Cliff Lee ever been traded in a deal that wasn't horribly lopsided?
I think the Indians to Phillies one was pretty fair value.
Yeah, that one surprised me

Carrasco has been slipping in terms of prospecthood last I checked

No?
Not including this deal

June 27, 2002: Traded by the Montreal Expos with Brandon Phillips, Grady Sizemore and Lee Stevens to the Cleveland Indians for Bartolo Colon and Tim Drew.

July 29, 2009: Traded by the Cleveland Indians with Ben Francisco to the Philadelphia Phillies for Jason Knapp (minors), Carlos Carrasco, Jason Donald and Lou Marson.

December 16, 2009: Traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to the Seattle Mariners for J.C. Ramirez (minors), Phillippe Aumont (minors) and Tyson Gillies (minors).

Doesn't that just show how great he is?
FanGraphs on McAllister:

“”http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/new-york-yankees-top-10-prospects/" >At worst, he should settle in as a No. 3 starter in the Majors if he can stay healthy."
Sounds good for the third player in the deal.
On Montero: “The sky is the limit for Montero and his bat would play anywhere on the field.”

Calling a prospect a big-league #3 "at worst" is retarded
CRIFF REE NUMBER ONE PITCHER
I can't see him being much better than a #3.
This is what I've read. He doesn't miss enough bats to be a Top of Rotation-type guy
It's a guarantee!!
At best would still be a reach for McAllister.
Harry Pavlidis had him in a short list of pitchers likely to find big league success

I’ve been following McAllister since he was drafted. I can honeslty say he’s more like a #4 or 5 at best. Being a 3 at worst was contingent on developing a changeup or refining his slider to make either a true K pitch. As it stands that development hasn’t really come and he’s starting to look like a back of the rotation guy. 5.4 k/9 in AAA isn’t indicative of a #3 starter or better.

Subject line, please...

And welcome to LL! Even though you will probably only be here for a day or two.

Ahh, ok.

Some other SB nation blogs don’t use subject lines at all, my bad. And, thanks for the welcome. I’m kinda bummed about the trade, but both teams got what they wanted. I think the Yanks might have overpaid a little bit, especially if the 3rd prospect is McAllister and we don’t get a little something extra back from you guys. But, oh well. your farm get’s a little stacked, yanks look primed to repeat. Win-Win.

The haul that we are getting here is one that I think a lot of rosterbaters even would have scoffed at

I read McAllister and have been smiling since. What’s the story with David Adams? They say it’s a sprained ankle, but he appears to have been out since late May?

Those are lingering pains.
I beleive he broke his ankle, actually.

 He’s a guy I hate to lose, but with Cano looking like a fixture for a while it’s easy to let him go. He’s a very interesting player.. He was actually a hot DES prospect out of UVA back in 2007. Didn’t sign but followed it up with a subpar junior year. Yanks must have seen something they liked and snatched him up in the 3rd round of 08. He’s got good contact skills, average power, but a very good approach. Plays an average 2b, but is considered a “grinder”, “always gets the uniform dirty” (aka that’s how he broke his ankle, trying to break up a double play). He definitely could be a mlb caliber 2b. good BA; Good Obp and maybe 10-15 HR.

I've heard that his ceiling is a Dustin Pedroia-type player
Yeah but he's replacing someone who's ceiling is a Miguel Tejada-type player.
I've heard his ceiling is a poor-man's Dustin Ackley.
I cringe at that comparison

because while Pedroia might be short and balding, he’s really freakin good at baseball. Adams is not as skilled as Pedroia, but he plays with the same style.

Same whiteness too.
That's a rather low ceiling.
but then again there is true value in the cheap back of the rotation starter.

the more of those guys you have access to the more likely you get one that can stick.

Fister and Vargas!
Was just thinking this.

Sounds like another Fister / Vargas pitcher, which is fine by me.

The term 'spaghetti' gets a negative connotation,

but in this case I think it’s fairly close. Throw enough talented, underachieving arms in the mix and you’ll pluck a gem or two. McAllister fits that mold perfectly.

cheap is good

better to produce those guys in house at the min than to have to spend 3 to 5M on a BORP

The guy is 22 and in AAA.

He has plenty of time to develop.

Develop a stiffy for your mom!
I stared... I thought.. I stared more.

And then laughed my ass off.

Thanks for the input

you do not expect progress from a 22 year old? Also, can you give us a rundown on his stuff/velocity?

Sure,

Progress is always to be expected, and it’s either right around the corner from him, or not gonna happen at all. His floor is a solid #4 or #5 because he has great command of a 90-91 mph f sinking FB (2.2 career bb/9) and two average breaking balls, a slider he can command and a decent changeup. Unfortunately, neither hare blessed with plus movement and his smooth (and repeatable) delivery doesn’t deceive at all. Right there that’s the description of a 4 or 5. Average velocity (can crank it up to 94 with the straight 4 seam, but rarely does), with command of the fb and offspeed stuff is good, but if one of those pitches were to magically become plus,(by changing the grip, or learning a new variation of the pitch) that adds K’s to the arsenal instead of just groundballs. It could happen immediately or it might never happen at all.

So, Carlos Silva?
Without the un funny fat jokes!

WIN!

Or the $48 million.
I can't imagine a bat playing very good defense

It seems like it would be smarter to have a player play defense

The best part about this.

We essentially traded Aumont, Gillies, and Ramirez for Montero, Adams, and McAllister, and in the process saw one of the most amazing displays of pitching in Seattle for quite sometime.

Good work, Jack.

How about most amazing display of pitching in Seattle EVER?
RJ did some damned impressive stuff during his tenure.

But Cliff Lee’s Mariner statistics will forever reflect exactly what it felt like to watch him pitch.

Randy Johnson had a 2.08 FIP over 214 innings in 1995.
With every other AL team's WS chances about to go out the window

I expect Jack is using this opportunity to try to pry loose just a little bit more from his other suitors. Tampa strikes me as the team with the most to lose with Lee going to NY, along with the talent throughout their organization to at least match the rumored NY offer. The Red Sox are in the same position, but I haven’t heard them mentioned much in trade rumors for Lee.

The Red Sox are fucked six ways to the weekend
This was one of the first things that popped into my head after hearing all the news this morning.

This deal all but ensures a Yankees WS repeat victory. As long as we get our return and it helps us build a future winning team, my logical side is more than okay with this. But my inner-Yankee hater is fuming right now. He needs a snickers and a time-out.

Our minors are kind of stacked now huh....

Makes looking towards 2011 and 2012 a lot easier.

We still don't have a lot of depth

But 3 of the top 11 prospects in baseball…after years of never having anyone sniff the top 10 (outside of Jones, I guess)…

It’s a new feeling, and it feels good.

Going into last season was bad.

Going into next season will be good.

Its a great jump after two years at least.

If we have 4 in the top 100 plus the recently graduated Adam Moore and Michael Saunders plus our recent draft class plus McAllister and Adams and Robles/Halman/Tenbrink/Liddi...

The depth is improving greatly and rapidly. Jack has changed our farm around like he promised he would.

Well this is a really shitty time to not have my BA prospect handbook on me.
I'll send you mine!
So....

Is Montero’s bat one that qualifies for the “Harper Exception” where he should just be moved from C for the sake of added production and playing time?

On this team?

I’d say “absolutely.” We can’t wait around for him to learn to catch, especially given the doubts scouts are expressing that he’ll ever learn the position.

no his footwork, poor ball transfer and game calling skills do

but the bat plays regardless… As long as that keeps up its fine

Anyone feel like Heyman got caught in a time warp and is an hour behind everyone else?
A number of his tweets (I hate that word) have been a bit behind the curve, yeah.
Buster Olney said that people have told him Montero compares to Edgar - with more power.

This haul is absolutely making me giddy.

Nobody compares to Edgar

Not even “Jesus.”

You just jumped right to the bottom, didn't you???
I'm not proud

Has the “Jesus” thing been dead-memed yet? Seems like only a matter of time.

"You said it, man"

You don't mess with the Jesus.
Most Lebowski references will get a rec from me.
I request a ban on Jesus jokes.

Unless the M’s sign the true"Son of God" and he pitches like Robert.

Unwillingly with murderous intentions the second he gets off the mound?
I wasn't sure if I should post the pic,

but seeing as it was Lebowski and one of the few truly funny instances of a Jesus joke, I decided to go for it.

I approve of any Lebowski reference.
Edgar with more power would be mind bogglingly amazing.

Seems doubtful.

So....Albert Pujols then?
I highly doubt Montero will learn to walk like Edgar.
That would require some pretty crippled knees.
And lack of hamstrings.
Just to fuel the speculation even more,,,

Rosenthal…

The Tigers have pushed Rick Porcello back one day in the Triple-A Toledo rotation — and not because he’s hurt, sources say.

Link

Child please.
Interesting, but seems irrelevant to the M's.
We are getting Porcello!! WOW!
If you flipped Montero for Porcello

I’ll flip.

I would be furious on account of Porcello isn't good
I would kill myself with coffee mug.
I'll flip...

Jack Z the bird.

For the audio equivilent of this thread

per 710

We’re talking to @shannondrayer next. @keithlaw at 11:45. @stonelarry at 12:30. Huge day talking about Cliff Lee!

What, no #6org joke?
I already made one on BBTF.
NATIONALS?
EVERYONE CARES ABOUT THE NATIOLS
Two things are wrong with that sentence.
We're going to talk about the Nationals now? Yay!
Heyman says we may or may not talk about the Nationals.
Heyman is behind everyone

we’ve already not talked about them for an hour

Man I wish we had Strasburg >:(
Forget results based analysis: If this trade goes down as rumored is better than the Garcia deal?
We should throw in Mike Carp so this trade can also be linked back to the Langston deal.
Freddy Garcia?

Montero dumps on Jeremy Reed.

Jeremy Reed was an excellent prospect at the time and Freddy Garcia was nowhere near as good as Lee
Reed wasn't quite elite status, though.

But I like Olivo (at the time) more than either secondary piece in this trade. And Garcia was much worse.

Reed was one of the best prospects in baseball when he was traded.
Morse wasn't inconsequential at the time either
Is it possible that the Yankees are working for a negotiation window?
Not really

Yankees don’t deal with contract issues mid-season.
They’re pretty stringent on that.

Sweet, thanks for the info.
It has been reported already that there will not be one
Can they make this effective tomorrow?

I want to see him fuck up the Yankees one more time.

I'm with Graham

Give me a Felix vs. Lee matchup tomorrow.

I would probably cry.

Against our offense that would be an easy no hitter.

You don't mean to suggest we'd get a walk, do you?
I like to think of Ichiro as no-hitter prevention insurance.
The Yankees have apparently put a deadline on this offer at the beginning of the game

No way is he going to face them tonight.

They said they don’t want him to get hurt.

AKA they don't want to get destroyed.
No.

Fuck that. No. I do not want to see that. Losing him is hard enough, I don’t want to see him in another uniform dominating our hitters.

Of course not. Why would NY do that?
Tacoma's website is no longer listing Pineda as their starter tonight.
I'm ready to skip lunch to go get tickets...just give me the good word Mariners!
I'm just about to buy a pair of tickets myself.
I had to sell my 16 game plan tickets

Working. Stupid work.

This could be the single greatest day in the history of the universe.
New Felix!
Please don't be retarded please don't be retarded please don't be retarded.
Heat.

Heat heat heat heat heat heat heat heat heat heat heat heat heat heat heat heat heat heat heat.

Calling in sick to work!
This seems premature. I don't like it.
This might be bad guys

I’m hoping he is getting called up. He wouldn’t be involved in this deal right?

IF HE IS THEN I AM PREEMPTIVELY TYPING AS THOUGH I AM ENRAGED
Whatever. Trading Pineda would mean we get the world in return.
THEORETICALLY YES

BUT WE NEED QUALITY PITCHING INTERNALLY AND ANY TRADE OF LEE IS GOING TO EXACERBATE THAT. LOSING PINEDA WOULD PUSH BACK OUR REBUILDING A BIT.

AGREED EMPHATICALLY
It's absolutely phenomenal to read a rational, well-thought-out comment in all-caps.

Today is truly a special day.

I'LL BE HERE DOING THIS FOR MUCH OF THE DAY AND RUINING DELICATE SENSIBILITIES ALONG THE WAY

IF I FEEL LIKE IT LATER I WILL USE BIG WORDS IN ADDITION TO QUALITY GRAMMAR AND BLOW MULTIPLE MINDS

I'm going to rec every such comment I see, because it's absolutely fantastic.
Is there any chance someone will step in and try to beat this offer?

Could Texas or the Twins beat this offer?

Texas maybe could.
What if Z is pushing this as a form of brinksmanship?

Making it look like this is nearly done so that other teams step up their offers?

At this point it's impossible to tell.

I’m surprised we are hearing as much about this as we are.

I'm not

Notice where it’s coming from (not Z). New York media are the ones all over it.

Yep, if it was anyone other than the Yankees we would be in the dark.
Me too.

That’s kind of what makes me suspicious of all this.

Keith Law says the Reds have potentially a better group of prospects than the Yankees'.

And says that their farm system is better. So them maybe.

But they don't have a Montero.
Words taken out of mouth.
I tried to put that thought in to words, but couldn't for some reason

This is exactly it. You can’t touch Montero – especially on a needs basis.

The Rangers could pretty much destroy any offer by anybody.

But they won’t.

Smoak would have to be in there.
And Holland.

In other words, not gonna happen.

Smoak defnitely should be.

But they could still do a Davis/Scheppers/Perez deal and I might could take that over the deal we are getting.

That deal would be very "epic"
And as a side-benefit

It keeps these players off of Texas’ roster. Of course Texas then gets compensation picks when Lee walks…but those would likely be worse and further from the majors than what the M’s get.

No way.

Davis sucks.

Scheppers and Perez though. Davis was the throw-in.
Scheppers doesn't excite me all that much either.
Just waiting on a shoulder explosion.
Fine, since this is make-believe land, I'll give you Feliz instead of Scheppers and Andrus instead of Davis.

But you have to give me Lopez. On this, I will not budge.

Just because it will get me excited in a way that I can not mention here:

RF Ichiro
3B Figgins
1B Branyan
DH Montero
LF Saunders
CF Gutierrez
C Moore
SS J Wilson
2B Ackley (batting 9th to act as a 2nd leadoff hitter because of his on-base abilities)

Pick your poison for SP: Felix or Pineda

Somehow I told myself "Oops, better make Branyan the DH so he doesn't hurt himself" and I deleted it and still wrote 1B.
Banishing Bradley to the land of wind and ghosts...

It’s a shame.

Seeing actually good hitters in the middle of that lineup has me all giddy.
It just seems so...un-Mariners
Bakers blog says there is a rumor of a 3 pm presser "if all goes well"

That’s encouraging.

HAPPEN FASTER
I kind of want this to draw out.

The rest of Baseball has to have some kind of reaction to this. Maybe we can get more loot!

3 PM EST?!?! PLEASE?!?!?!?!?
aw
@RainiersLand: Michael Pineda will make the start for Tacoma tonight! If you haven’t seen him pitch, you’re missing out. Pineda and Friday Night Fireworks!
Oh boy, Garrett Olson!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
I am still somewhat skeptical

However, starting the clock on Pineda would not be smart, either.

They also hedged
@RainiersLand: @millerdna @RedSeahawk As far as we know, Pineda is with us tonight!
There we go..

Like I said, somewhat skeptical still.

Something tells me RainiersLand isn't exactly up to date on everything
I always picture TheRealMariners to be a 5 year old kid with a giant lolly.
A former boxer

who had a lot of TKO wins and has been taking courses on the power of positive thinking

TKO losses

I meant losses

I met her!
And?
She is exactly what I expected her to be
So basically the Ichiro girl from yesterday.
But a little older!
I hope they're trapped in Heyman's time vortex.
Really?

nuts. It would be nice to see him in the bigs, even though it’s much too soon for him and he’d probably get torched.

I'm still doing a suspicious face on this.
Add yourself to the list of people Kirsten will confuse ac with.
Aaron's non-union Mexican equivalent
I would have that problem but having heard the name spoken by Japanese people it's difficult to think of anything else.
I confused myself in this topic too

Dammit.

I thought it was your new screen name until you said this
I'd rather not start the clock.

It’ll be a bummer not seeing cliff tonight (I already had tickets) but I’d rather not mortgage the future to relieve that annoyance.

I don't think it makes much difference

We’re not burning a year of service time at this point.

Starting the clock doesn't exactly work like that.
Let's ask Mike Curto!
Is Rohn somewhere safely far away?
Remember when we got Cliff and he was shocked?

And there was a sentiment that he was pissed and maybe being a dbag about coming to Seattle?

Can anyone imagine some more upstanding and professional than Cliff Lee? I want him to be my friend.

Man am I glad I woke up in time before this became official

But just let me say…. holy shit

Local media must kind of resent the fact that the NY and national guys were miles ahead of them on this
The feeling of inferiority goes much deeper than that
Baker's contribution:

there is a rumor of a press conference

Pretty standard fare...

with Jack Z.

Jack Z's great off season

Just gotta throw this out there. Jack received plenty of praise for his off season moves. He brought in Figgy who has been OK on defense, and not OK with the bat, Casey Kotchman who has been fantastic on defense and terrible with the bat, and Milton Bradley who has been not good on defense, terrible with the bat, and not as bad, though still not good in the locker room. Now, Cliff Lee is saying he was open to signing a long term deal before the season started, and the M’s decided they didn’t even want to discuss it. The only other big move he made was signing Felix to a long term contract… So, with the M’s team batting average sitting at .238, I would say Jack went 1 for 5 this off season, for a .200 average. At least the team is hitting better than somebody.

Evaluate moves based on the information available at the time, not after.
He traded for Cliff Lee and he's getting about three times as much value as he gave up for him.

If you don’t consider that a win then I don’t know what to say.

The whole Cliff Lee open to signing a long term deal thing needs to die
Results based analysis is just as dumb when evaluating a GM
Lee Willing to Sign only Matter with $$$ behind it

It has been said repeatedly, but let me add one more. Of course Lee was open to signing before the season, it is all a matter of cost. Hell, anyone would be willing to sign just about anything for the right price so this is just not news. Would he have been willing to lock himself up for a price we could afford? Almost certainly not.

Olney (when asked) said flat out, you can't tie up 40% of your payroll in two pitchers.
Tell that to San Francisco.

Zito and Cain locked up for 2012, with Bellevue’s finest biggest payday coming. Also, Jonathan Sanchez.

Hurray Sabean!

The Giants plan on winning a lot of games -1 to 0, don't they?
He may be 1/5, but it was a home run so his SLG is .800 and OPS is 1.000.

STUD!

Where's that 'stop posting' .gif when you need it?

Also, you forgot the Guti extension.

Your screen name is one letter too far to the left.

/pileon

.

Hey! If any of you are looking for any last-minute gift ideas for me, I have one. I’d like Jesus Montero, the Yankee, right here tonight. I want him brought from his happy holiday slumber over there on Melody Lane with all the other rich people and I want him brought right here, with a big ribbon on his head, and I want to look him straight in the eye and I want to tell him what a great, loving, good, solid, homer-hitting, run-driving, ass-smacking, dirt-sliding, overstuffed, smart, blood-pumping, baby-kissing, genius, large-packing, hope-giving, heartful, slim, wide-eyed, limber, sweet-loving, level-headed sack of rainbows he is! Hallelujah! Holy shit! Where’s the Tylenol?

My question to the Yankees is really? Was this really necessary?

Did you really look at the Sabathia-Burnett-Hughes-Pettite-Vazquez rotation and think “Shit, we’re missing something here. Oh yeah, the best pitcher in baseball!”?

Does it fucking matter? NOPE WE GOT MONTERO
I'm seeing the word "gluttony" scattered throughout Yankee-ville.
I guess this is as much about not facing him in the post season as anything else
Seems like overkill to me too.

 We could have made a run at the WS again with the roster as is. Now we give up our best prospect for 3 months of a guy we could have had for only money. Oh well.

This makes a title as near a guarantee as you can make it, though.
The Red Sox or Rays could have tried to do what the Yankees did though.

Which is, “Now you don’t get him”

"You can never have too much starting pitching."
Caller thinks B&S are like car salesmen, shilling for the Ms and these prospects

He also thinks it feels like Adam Jones all over again where they talked him up , and now look at him.

The one good thing that came out of this call was Salk doing a tv car ad for the prospects

The TV Car Ad schtick was amazing.
That was hysterical...

Those commercials for Good Chevrolet on the radio crack me up.

Only thing he missed was "getting on The I-5"
Here I'm sitting in the other thread like a asshole.
Welcome to the cool thread
Well, it's the cool thread now that Scruffy's here.
I was there for awhile.
That thread is the worst
You were right the first time...

that other thread was designed for assholes.

This really is gonna be a last second call
@CurtoWorld: The word from manager Daren Brown: as of 12:10 pm, Pineda is starting for the Rainiers tonight. Word from me: check back in 3 hours.
Well, 30 minutes.

Unless they have a helicopter.

Or a jet pack.

Traffic!
He could take the Sounder.
Could be a part of the press conference at 3 pm

Announce the trade, announce the call up

And watch us all scramble for tickets.
How long does it take to fly across the Atlantic?
Concord?
Hasn't been running since 2003.

Much like the Mariners!

(Twas the joke)
Not really.
See me after class.
It would probably be bad for Pineda's developmet to start his ML career now, today

but it would also be a huge, huge downer to watch a start by Olson or Pauley or whatever

Time for Ichiro to fulfill his pitching dream!
Apparently Rick Porcello is available, AND he got pushed back today. It makes perfect sense.
He could always go to the bullpen!
Absolutely.

Send a top pitching prospect to the ML bullpen – what could happen?

Lord, that hurts to even joke about.

Start out with the Diamond Jaxx get called up to the Rainiers...

make a couple good starts. Get called up to replace the best pitcher in baseball to play against the Yankees.

Yup.

Sounds like a nightmare.
The exception proves the rule,

but some guys would absolutely thrive with that kind of pressure.

Pineda kind of lost focus once he lost the perfect game last time out.
Who is Ed Price? Saying the same thing on twitter.
Reply fail.

I meant ‘saying the same thing’ that he may start for the M’s.

Fanhouse baseball writer

He’s just parroting the “he’s not on the website” line.

I hate sports radio callers

“I hate this. These 3 players haven’t proven themselves. We should get a number 2 pitcher in return for Cliff Lee”

GOD DAMNIT YOU IDIOTS.

I love Salk just blasting them, though.
Salk is handling this like a champ
HE'S ON A RANT!

GO MIKE GO!

Post bullet points please!
"Fuck all you bitches"

“You don’t know shit about the minors or about being a GM”

That’s the abbreviated hatefest.

They will post a podcast of it in awhile

That is must listen radio right there.

They better put up the 11am podcast pretty soon....

I need my fix.

Holy SHIT this is amazing.

Has he breathed yet?

I like Salk, from what little I've heard.

Still, nowhere near enough to get me to willingly listen to a phone-in show.

It's not saying much, but he's far and away the best sports radio personality in the area.
Larry Stone is on next

They generally have some great guests.

They actually usually don't take that many calls during a normal show
Brock's still there, though.
Good point

The less he talks, the better.

He's the only good host on that station

Then again, that may be one more than KJR has.

710 has Dave Grosby starting next month.

That’s a pretty good pickup for them.

I agree. I love Groz.
Only KJR personality of note.
I actually like Gas too,

he doesn’t know much, but for me he’s fun to listen to.

When I listened a few years ago, Groz would usually know what he was talking about.

Gas is fun, but sometimes he goes off well short of half-cocked.

JOE MAUER IS BIG LIKE MONTERO SO MONTERO WILL BE A GOOD CATCHER
We've been making trades and making trades and with nothing to show for it.

We are in last place.

we should just sit around an be losers

trading is just worrying about the future.

Someone is going to say it...

Please capitalize.

WE HAVE NOTHING TO SHOW FOR THE TRADES JACK ZDURIENCIK HAS MADE
Even hearing this second-hand is bad for the blood pressure.
RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE
DEY DOOK UR JUUBS!!
STABBLE STABBLE

Which is mostly what I want to do when I hear those kinds of calls on local sports radio.

Shut it, Greg.
I saw this coming
GRABBLE GRABBLE GRABBLE
I saw this coming
They could always put Vasquez in the deal to make the salaries closer

Wouldn’t want NY to blow their budget.

Bahahahaha Salk was having a field day with that last caller.
That was fantastic
I like Mike Salk but holy crap listening to these callers makes me not want to listen to this every day.
This isn't typical
Good to know.
This usually is a pretty call-light show.

The lines aren’t opened very often.

For obvious reasons

Could be worse. Could be listening to Softy.

Where they talk about LeBron instead of the Cliff Lee trade!?!?

ARGH!!!

I imagine Softy forgot about the Mariners

once his mancrush, Junior, retired.

Fain was in today

I think Mahler had to take the day off to recover from his 30 minute show opener meltdown of yesterday

"We shouldn't have accepted a package that didn't include CC Sabathia."
Trades do not work like this.
I have a friend that thinks they do.
Is your friend BIll Bavasi?
No

But he doesn’t like Prospects and thinks all trades should just involve the other teams best young major league players. I tried to explain “Under team control” and wasn’t getting anywhere.

Yes they do.

You just need to remember to save the game to your memory card after.

Someone actually said that?!

They weren’t, like, trolling or something?

Really, should have had a 4 way trade to return Pujol, A-Rod, and Mauer. Shouldn't have accepted anything less.
I mean seriously, that's not how it works.
Only if we ended up paying about half of their salaries.

Because, Cliff Lee.

It'd be way too big, you dumbasses.
Gotta pay extra for shipping and handling!
And CC weighs a lot.
Poor Salk, I think I'd be throwing desks and chairs everywhere if I was in his spot right now.
I missed that. Really? What the fuck.
"IM A TOP PROSPECT YOU IDIOT!"
@JoelSherman
#Mariners backing off #Yankees offer, Post has learned. Does not look like #Yankees are in it.
what
This better mean Texas or Tampa Bay just did something crazy
Perez/Smoak/Feliz

Texas went all in!

Apparently it does.
Jack has to top Montero. He has to top Montero. Please please please top Montero.
Noooooooooooooo
Then what the fuck are we getting excited about.
If the Mariners are backing off, it very well could mean another team just entered and offered something more spectacular.
Somebody just went insane with an offer, then.

This can only be good.

I'm not ready to call it good until its good. :(
I WANT MONTERO!
SMOAK!?
TORN BETWEEN DESIRE TO FUCK OVER BOTH RANGERS AND YANKEES AND DESIRE FOR AMAZING HITTER

CAPS LOCK UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

USE THE SHIFT KEY YOU PANSY

SERIOUSLY THOUGH, IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT THAT THIS IS SMOAK AND HOLLAND I WOULD BE FUCKING ECSTATIC

YOU HAVE TO FEEL THE TYPING BURN!
SHIFT KEY IT IS

WE MUST SUFFER

AM I CRAZY TO THINK I WANT MONTERO MORE!?
NO BUT SMOAK IS ALSO REALLY AWESOME
No, he's better but if the value of the package as a whole is higher then I don't care
NO BECAUSE I CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHAT I WANT
WHERE ARE JEFF AND MATTHEW TO TELL US WHAT TO WANT! I CANNOT MAKE A DECISION WITHOUT THE LL HIVE MIND!
NO YOU REALLY AREN'T
Smoak and Holland here we come!
The In Z We Trust banner may be going back up today.
It would be if I wasn't going to a concert tonight!
please please please
What?

BUNCH OF COCKTEASES

I WAS SO CLOSE
??

Uhhh… WTF?

Either TB/Tex did something over the top or the Twins went all in…

Hey so we have Mauer now.

Cool.

I suddenly am less excited about Pineda not starting in Tacoma tonight
that is a scary thought...
Where's the TUMS?
Rays!
Or Rangers, that is.
This is like a David Aardsma outing from last season!
This thread is outta control!

AHH!

What the fuck is happening I have things to do today

Can anyone do me a favor and take over my appointments?

ONLY IF YOU TAKE ON MY TRAFFIC COURT DATE!
More from Sherman
To repeat the #Yankees aren’t getting Cliff Lee, #Mariners concerned about David Adams ankle plus apparently another team has jumped in hard
FUCK DAVID ADAMS IN HIS ANKLE
Seriously, how does that even enter the conversation?
Oh, dammit.

I read it as Aardsma. Stupid sleep-deprived eyes.

If we end up with Ramos - I am going to hate people.
I WILL HATE MORE PEOPLE THAN YOU
I will kill more people than you.
YOU ARE RUINING MY PLANS BECAUSE THE MORE PEOPLE YOU KILL THE LESS I CAN HATE
ONLY IF HE KILLS THEM BEFORE YOU HATE THEM
CAN I HATE PEOPLE WHEN THEY'RE DEAD?

IT SEEMS MORE EFFICIENT TO JUST INCREASE MY LEVEL OF HATRED FOR THOSE STILL LIVING

Yes

And they won’t care

THAT SEEMS TO RUN CONTRARY TO MY INTENDED PURPOSE
TRUE

BUT HATING IS STILL HATING

I HATE SOME DEAD PEOPLE, YES
I will vehemently ask Matthew to 404 the site.
I love when that happens.
.
JoelSherman: To repeat the #Yankees aren’t getting Cliff Lee, #Mariners concerned about David Adams ankle plus apparently another team has jumped in hard
LATE!
Damnit, I thought I had you!
Such is the mantra of all WSU fans.
Pff, we've given up all hope at this point.
.3 seconds!
Going to WSU mentally fortified me for being a Mariner's fan.
But worth retweeting!
Did someone else jump in hard?
Kicking tires!
OH GOD THIS IS TOO MUCH
FUCK I NEED TO WORK!

OH WELL YOU BITCHES CAN’T FIRE ME TWICE!

My boss is gone today, the person that assigns jobs is gone today

My other superior just left.

I’m wiiiiiiide open.

THATS WHAT SHE SAID!

NO SHE DIDN’T YOU ASS!

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

what!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not to be a a Debbie-downer

but is there reason to think that Safeco might kill Montero (if he’s traded here?) a la Beltre/Lopez? (Beltre probably has a (Mariners) career split of -.100 home/away on his OPS and Lopez is like ~.40 home/away… Worried about trading for a DH who is projected to OPS .850, but having to lop 100 points off that.

That definitely crossed my mind, as well.
80 POWER AND HIT TOOL
I get that, but it seems Safeco is an 80 on the "Keep line drives pulled by right handers from leaving left field" scale
A REASONABLE CONCERN CONSIDERING ONLY ONE OF HIS HOME RUNS LAST YEAR WENT TO RIGHT FIELD
THAT I DIDNT KNOW. THIS SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD CROSS THE MIND
WHY HAVE WE SET PHASERS TO CAPSLOCK?

… Did I do something wrong?

NO I'M JUST TENSE

YOU’RE NEW BUT I DON’T THINK ANYONE HATES YOU YET

SARCAPITALIZATION!
NOT CAPS LOCK - SHIFT ALL THE WAY BITCHES
It's always there....

but Montero has huge oppo-power which is huge for a RHH in Safeco.

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Cliff Lee starting against the Yankees tonight???
Deal may be off....

someone else may have jumped in.

Right... therefore, Cliff Lee starting against the Yankees tonight???
This would only be funny if Poochie gave away his tickets to tonights game because he thought Lee was traded.
Nice Mark Hamil Joker laugh.
Rec'd for Batman: The Animated Series reference!
Jack is fucking everyone!!!!

and he doesn’t apologize about it.

I'm preparing to freak out like that girl at last night's game
How is there a bigger bank to rob than the Yankees?

Or is Sherman blowing Smoak?

Rangers, Rays both have the prospects
Just FYI
jasoncollette
  
and so I hear Rangers’ GM Jon Daniels canceled his scheduled chat today cuz meetings running late. Hmmmm
SMOAK + HOLLAND SMOAK + HOLLAND AAAHHH
HOLY SHIT, TWO SMOAKS?
AND TWO DUTCHMEN!
DOUBLE DUTCH!
I irrationally find Derek Holland to be absolutely incredible
PLEASE GIVE ME THAT
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHh
GOD, I DON'T WANNA GET MY HOPES UP.
HOPES ARE ALREADY UP. MONTERO RAISED HOPES IRRATIONALLY HIGH
If we get Smoak

I’M SUCKIN’ SOME DICKS.

SMOAKIN' SOME COCK, MORE LIKE
DON'T BE GAY
Don't be a Homophobe.
This is a pick your battles situation holmes, trust me
So do we form a line or something?
Montero > Smoak
No, one already has stellar defense and is a switch-hitter not a righty.
I see the Anti-Smoaking Campaign got to you, too.
I think this is true, all things in a vaccuum

However, Smoak for the Mariners/Safeco (and not the Rangers) could > Montero

The real deal is going to be a long term deal with Lee.

Jack was going to do the deal, but then changed it up just to fuck with us.

I HAVE A PHONE INTERVIEW IN 7 MINUTES AND THIS SHIT DROPS? WHAT THE FUCK?
I NEED TO KNOW NOW!
Aaaaand we have officially entered Bedard territory.

END! END NOW!

The Bedard thing went for over a week.
And it ended so well!
I think it's a thing where as Mariners fans the longer things drag out the more annoyed and scared we are for good reason.

When a deal is close to being done, damn it, get it done!

ahahahahahahaha not even close
Give it two more weeks
Jack Z. sits in a dimly lit cigar-smoke filled office.
I picture him

with a phone duct-taped to every orifice.

Oh boy I hope I'm right about the one he's using to talk to the Angels
Now this just needs to drag out until the trade deadline and we're all set
FUCK OFF FUCK OFF FUCK OFF
Are we going to annhilate this thread for the next 22 days?
Is it bad that I'm constantly refreshing mlbtraderumors
Me too. Kill me.
ALMOST CERTAINLY
MLBtr is bad for your health

Stick to twitter.

My phone isn't giving me network coverage and no twitter at work. I'm sure this place will update me before mlbtr.
Yes, because you're about five minutes behind the Twitter feeds.
Fuck, that means Cliff Lee was probably already traded to the Rangers and I don't know about it
Just refreshed it again

THERE ARE NO NEW UPDATES

CAPS LOCK FURY ENGAGED!
WAY AHEAD OF YOU CHIEF
LL's collective reaction throughout the day:

WOW! That's an appropriate .gif!
Is this a Seattle game?

I see a lot of this kind of excitement during the Hydro races.

Ichiro had just sensually caressed her leg
Ahh! That girl.
I've been waiting to see that!
How do I get a copy of that gif?

Where did you find that?

Right click, save as.
I tried that, but now I can't find the dang thing!

Little fucker is like Waldo!

So it wasn't just me....

that thought Ichiro touched her on purpose?

She is now carryuing his Ichibaby.
Immaculate Conception

resulting in Ichispawn?

Ichiro is too evolved to procreate with such a messy process as sex.
The IchiGod will spring fully-formed from her brow.
SPAWN DOESN'T HAVE THE RIGHT FLAVOR OF DICTION TO IT

WE’RE TALKING A CHILD THAT IS GOING TO BE AT LEAST A DEMIGOD HERE

I agr-, erm..I AGREE ENTIRELY.

I JUST WASN’T SURE HOW FAR TO STRAY FROM THE ORIGINAL ICHIBABY DESIGNATION. TO SKIP PAST THE SIMPLY UNNATURAL DIRECTLY TO THE SUPERNATURAL SEEMED SOMEWHAT UNNATURAL.

HERACLES STRANGLED TWO SNAKES AS AN INFANT. I HARDLY SEE THE POINT.
YOU CAN HARDLY BLAME HIM FOR SUCH A SENSELESS ACT,

SINCE HE WAS STILL A SMALL BABY AT THE TIME.

THE LATER ISSUES THAT LED TO HIS NEED TO REDEEM HIMSELF THROUGH LABOURS THOUGH

THAT WAS ANOTHER MATTER

So, perhaps he would spawn a demigod full-grown, directly from his forehead?
Either immaculate conception or he'd multiply with some sort of asexual reproductive process.

Perhaps spores.

I have talked about making an ichinudes.com website

where I photoshop Ichiro’s head on ridiculous naked pictures.

It was last night's game
.

HTTP://LOOKOUTLANDING.COM/2010/7/8/1560431/34-51-CHART#41646263

YOU ARE A GOOD PERSON FOR POSTING A LINK IN ALL CAPS
WHY WOULD YOU SEND ME TO A PAGE WITHOUT ALL CAPS
This is precicely how I would react if Ichiro touched me.

And I’m a 6’3" 200lb boxer.

Amazing the shit people train dogs to do these days.
I called my mom too!
'He just..... texted me'?

Who texted you? Cliff Lee?

"He just touched my leg"
HE JUST...

HE JUST TOUCHED ME. OH MY GOD.

OH MY GOD, I HAVE TO CALL MY MOM.

THIS REMINDS ME OF JJ PUTZ DAY!
WE'RE GETTING MANNY RAMERIZ!
Hudson and LaRoche!
My balls are bluer than Avatar.
WHY WOULD YOU SAY SUCH A THING

GOD

BECAUSE JACK IS FUCKING TEASING THE SHIT OUT OF ME.

FUCK NOW I’M DOING IT TOO.

HEY GUYS WE'RE GETTING TIM HUDSON

OH WAIT NEVERMIND HIS NAME IS HORACIO RAMIREZ HAHAHAHAHA FUCK YOU

WOW! THAT'S A LOW PRICE!
WOW!

HEY I WAS IN MOVIES AND TELEVISION AND NOW IM IN A COMMERCIAL
WOA

Perfect use of a signature.
If I was purchasing office supplies and that guy yelled at me I think I would poke him the eye.
WE'RE GETTING DAVID PRICE?!?!?
I NEED DEPENDS!
THE LATEST TWEET FROM HEYMAN IS FUCKING STUPID. NO NEW INFORMATION.
I WANT TO KNOW WHO IS DOING THE FUCKING AND WHO IS THE BIG BITCH
THE IMPORTANT THING IS WE ARE THE ONES WITH THE RAGING HARDON
Aw man, we're getting Rich Harden in the deal? He looks like he's toast.
If turning down the Yankees offer results in them backing out, Texas lowering their offer, and us getting stuck with crap I will fly to Seattle and burn whoever is holding the "In Z we trust" sign.
Goodbye Brett
...

:(

Go get us Andrus and you won't burn.
But I am not sure there is any plausible way I could not only kidnap him but also get him to wear a Mariners uniform and have Major League Baseball accept that he is a Mariners player now.

Also, I’m just barely not sexy enough to get Jon Daniels to just trade him.

Before you do that, I demand a refund.
What happens if it is a Lee for Porcello + deal?

Is that a better get than Montero?

DONT EVEN JOKE ABOUT THAT
the reports are saying entered... Would that mean a completely new team, as in Det?
I THINK THAT'S OVER READING
Porcello's start was canceled today

Porcello, Turner, Satterwhite or Oliver

ABSOLUTELY NOT
So concerns about Adams' ankle eh?

Tell you what Yankees, why don’t we swap out Adams for Robinson Cano. As a gesture of goodwill, we’ll toss in Jose Lopez. That sound like a deal? Sure it does. Let’s do that.

Forget Adams

Just take Montero and McAllister and it’s a good deal. WTF, Z?

THAT'S A DEALBREAKER LADIES.
Just said on Brock and Salk that Olney emailed them to say that they wanted to swap out Adams

For someone else. Yankees think something else is in the works

SOUNDS LIKE THAT MYSTERIOUS THIRD TEAM THAT WAS MENTIONED AT THE START
I HOPE THIS IS JUST YOU HAVING A GREAT POKER FACE JACK

THAT OR TEXAS OFFERING THEIR TEAM IN EXCHANGE FOR OUR TEAM

WE'RE GETTING LADY GAGA!
IN Z WE TRUST BANNER GOING BACK UP AT THE NEXT GAME I ATTEND
For those who can't listen to the radio (like me)

Brock and Salk’s 11AM podcast is up

THIS IS NOW A CAPSLOCK ONLY THREAD
I'm all right.
Here we go
Joel Sherman Joelsherman1
  
Hearing #Rangers are working really hard on #Lee now. Tricky because of finances with team sale not complete and MLB-imposed budget
Fuck it.

Pay the rest of Lee’s salary. Just do it.

PAY THE REST OF HARDENS SALARY FOR ALL I FUCKING CARE. JUST GET SMOAK AND HOLLAND.
SMOAK HOLLAND HARDEN!
OH TRUST ME I WILL HARDEN IF WE GET SMOAK AND HOLLAND.
This is why I would be a terrible general manager.
SMOAK SMOAK SMOAK!!!...Please!?
DON'T WORRY RANGERS WE'LL PAY HIS SALARY

JUST THROW MORE PROSPECTS AT US

HOLY FUCKING SHIT SMOAK AND HOLLAND MAY ACTUALLY BE HAPPENING
ALTHOUGH I GUESS THIS COULD BE SMOAK AND MIRRORS
THIS IS GOING TO BE WORSE THAN LAHAIR
I WON'T CARE IF WE HAVE SMOAK!
OH PLEASE OH PLEASE OH PLEASE

SMOAK, HOLLAND, PEREZ!!!

Holland is currently on the DL...
PTBNL! I DONT CARE!
TECHNICALLY YOU CAN TRADE PLAYERS ON THE DL

I DON’T REMEMBER WHERE I READ IT NOR DO I HAVE THE CURRENT FOCUS TO FIND THE ARTICLE THAT SAID IT.

I THINK YOU CAN JUST SAY "I DONT CARE"
JY, WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE SMOAK OR MONTERO FOR THE MARINERS?
REMEMBER TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THAT US HAVING SMOAK MEANS THE RANGERS NOT HAVING SMOAK.

THERE’S VALUE IN THEM LOSING RESOURCES WHILE WE GAIN THEM.

I APPRECIATE SMOAK ON THE MERITS OF SWITCH HITTING, GREAT PRESENT DEFENSE, AND FUCKING THE RANGERS

MCALLISTER IS AN INTERESTING PITCHER AS A SECOND/THIRD PART OF THE DEAL (THE OTHER GUY I’M KIND OF POSITIVELY MEH ON) BUT THE RANGERS HAVE THE CAPACITY TO BLOW MOST OTHER TEAM’S SECOND/THIRD PIECES OUT OF THE WATER AND EACH ADDITION THEREIN RUINS THE RANGERS’ CAPACITY TO COMPETE IN THE FUTURE WHILE INCREASING OURS.

EXACTLY. THE RANGERS WERE THE TEAM THAT COULD HAVE ALWAYS HAD LEE AHEAD OF ANYONE ELSE IF THEY WERE WILLING TO GIVE UP THE GOODS.

I GUESS THEY’RE WILLING NOW.

GOTTA LOVE THE 11TH HOUR CHANGE IN DEALS!

FINGER TO THE YANKEES SMOAK TO THE MARINERS! OH PLEASE OH PLEASE

SENTIMENTALITY MAKES ME WISH HE WAS GOING TO THE TWINS

 AS I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A WS IN THE TWIN CITIES RIGHT ABOUT NOW, BECAUSE MAUER AND MORNEAU ARE BOTH DESERVING PLAYERS. HOWEVER, WITHOUT ADEQUATE RETURNS FROM THEIR FARM SYSTEM IN SUCH A THEORETICAL EXCHANGE (RAMOS IS REDUNDANT WHEN WE SHOULD JUST BE PLAYING MOORE ANYWAY), I CAN’T GET BEHIND SUCH AN IDEA. ERGO, TALENT, AND POSSIBLY IN A WAY THAT HAMSTRINGS A HIGHLY DANGEROUS DIVISION RIVAL AND MAKES ~8 MILLION TYPE-A ENTITLED D-BAGS CRY AND WHINE (AND ON THE HEELS OF BEING SPURNED BY THE GENERATION’S GREATEST BASKETBALL PLAYER)

DAMN READING LONG, ALL-CAPS POSTS IS HARD!!
AAAAAAAAAAaaHHHHHHHHHHHHHAaaaaaahhhHHHHHHHHHH
Adams' ankle CANNOT be the reason we don't get Montero. It just can't.

Another team just jumped in.

SEE ABOVE!! RANGERS JUMPING IN!!!

SMOAK!!!!!!!!

I'M SO HUNGRY AND I CAN'T LEAVE
I AM RIGHT THERE WITH YOU!
I HAVE HAD FOOD NEAR ME FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF AND EATEN QUITE LITTLE OF IT

PART OF IT IS THE HEAT AND PART OF IT IS THAT I AM CONTINUING TO TYPE THIS RIGHT NOW

Guys, I'm scared.

I DON’T KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON ANYMORE

ALL I NEED TO KNOW IS THAT I'M UPPITY ABOUT IT
WELCOME TO THE PARTY!
I wonder

if there will be more posts in this thread than tonight’s gamethread?

WHOOPS FORGOT TO ADD CAPS MY BAD
CHRIS DAVIS SPLITS!
HOPEFULLY HE SPLITS IN HALF
I THOUGHT THIS WAS ALL BUT COMPLETED?!?!

WHAT THE FUCK ARE WE GETTING!!!

BONERS!
NOT QUITE RAGING BONERS YET, BUT CLOSE
It's likely going to be better than Montero/Adams/McAllister....
OH GOD PLEASE
Did Cliff Lee crash twitter again?
What's worse,

Bad Jesus name jokes or bad Smoak name jokes?

SMOAK MONSTER ACTUALLY SOUNDS COOL AND UNOFFENSIVE TO ME.
That's a tough one, but I'd say Jesus because it's overdone.
Gee, ya think?
.

I DID THIS JOKE YESTERDAY.
IF WE GET SMOAK, ENJOY PEOPLE RIPPING YOU OFF FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS.
I SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE CLEVER AND PHOTOSHOPPED IT TO SAY SMOAK!
NOT WORTH IT UNLESS WE GET HIM
I'm going back to bed.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT I DID WITH THE FIRST LEE TRADE
I WAS AT URGENT CARE AND HAD NO CELL PHONE SERVICE
I HAVE NO CELL SERVICE MOST OF THE TIME IN MY APARTMENT REGARDLESS
I took a nap and when I woke up the Yankees deal was off.

I will never sleep again until Lee is actually traded.

If we can give the Yankees the finger AND rape the Rangers farm...

This is so much more fun than LaBron.

GODDAMIT JACK I HAVE A BBQ TO GO TO! I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO BE DRINKING CURVE BALLS AND EATING HOT DOGS NOT HITTING Z OVER AND OVER
Man,

Great beer. Hard to find.

Curveball is made by Pyramid.

Great beer does not compute.

I LOVE Curveball. LOVE IT
I would say that it's their best beer but not great by any means

Mine kinda tasted like rubber last night.

For what it's worth,

I have fond memories of their Thunderhead IPA. Relentless cascade hops.

Thunderhead was my first IPA and it almost ruined all of them for me.
Thunderhead

was an early love, and got me on board with hoppy IPA’s. If I could find it I’d have a few out of nostalgia, but I agree it can be a little off-putting.

I really miss Red Menace from Hales.

Uh oh... beer thread in the middle of a Cliff Lee explosion
I REGRET NOTHING
CURVEBALL WAS ONE OF THE ENTRY LEVEL BEERS WHICH I FOUND I COULD APPRECIATE ON A SIMILAR LEVEL TO FAT TIRE

SNOWCAP TOO. PYRAMID SEASONALS ARE NOT BAD, ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THERE ARE FAR BETTER ONES AND FAR WORSE ONES

Yes

Curveball was the first beer that I loved. It has its purpose in my life but is nowhere close to my favorite.

Agree - Pyramid is a good entry-level microbrew that helps with the transition away from Bud, Coors, and the like.

But once you’re exposed to Deschutes, it’s hard to get back on the Pyramid train.

I DON'T THINK I'VE HAD A PYRAMID IN ABOUT FIVE YEARS

MY MOTHER STILL LOVES THEIR HEFEWEIZEN BUT I HAVE BEEN EXPOSING HER TO OTHER BEERS WITH GOOD RESPONSES TO THINGS LIKE WILCO TANGO FOXTROT AND HOP IN THE DARK. I’LL TAKE ALTERNATIVE SUGGESTIONS THOUGH IF ANY LOCAL BREWERY HAS A GOOD HEFE. IT’S JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE I CAN’T EXPECT HER TO GO OUT AND GET A 22 OF SOMETHING, YOU KNOW?

I'm guessing the Germans aren't a realistic possibility due to general inaccessibility?

Franziskaner, Hacker-Pschorr, etc.?

BASICALLY I'M LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE FOUND AT A QFC ON A REGULAR BASIS
I've been to some QFC's with amazing selections and laughable ones.
THEY ALL SEEM TO HAVE AT LEAST TWO STONE BREWS THESE DAYS AND USUALLY A ROGUE OR TWO
MY LOCAL QFC HAS RUSSIAN RIVER!!!
THE ONE ON 99 IN LYNNWOOD IS AWESOME

HAS OSKAR BLUES BREWERY BREWS, LEFFE, SKULL SPLITTER, LOTS OF NINKASI AND STONE, OLD RASPUTIN, DOGFISH HEAD, ETC. ETC.

Hmm.

Possibly Franziskaner, I’ve seen it at grocery stores from time to time. Would something like Hoegaarden be close enough? I have that at my Fred Meyer.

If you have a bad QFC, though, yeah, you’re probably stuck with Widmer or Pyramid.

YOU JUST NAMED HALF OF MY BEER FRIDGE HEFE SHELF!
It's not local,

but Magic Hat’s Circus Boy is one of the most delicious hefes I’ve ever had

I MIGHT CHECK IT OUT AS I CAN GET MAGIC HAT IN NYC
People seem to like Hale's El Jefe-weizen, but Beer Advocate doesn't care for it.
BABY STEPS?
I would think so, but it might not be much better from an accessibility standpoint.
Curveball isn't bad but it's certainly not hard to find
Back east it is.
POOR BASTARD
Yes that is a detail that would change things
When I have my parents buy beer for me I have get curveball since its hard to screwup and they don't see the point in anything more expensive.
FUCK YO COUCH, STEINBRENNER!

If someone has the time to shop Z’s face onto Rick James, I’d be forever grateful.

one more
Joel Sherman Joelsherman1
  
Hearing #Rangers are working really hard on #Lee now. Tricky because of finances with team sale not complete and MLB-imposed budget
oops
FrankiePiliere
  
I can confirm the report by @JoelSherman1 that the Rangers are making a major push for Lee. They appear to be the team jumping in late
Have to trust Zduriencik here - to walk away from Montero must mean he's close w/another team
This is so exciting, I'm fighting the urge to burst into insane amounts of chatspeak
I have no trouble, however, resisting the capslock-fest
MY BODY IS SPASMING OVER THE EXCITEMENT AND CONFUSION OF WHAT IS GOING ON.
Just fucking give me Montero
Good point. We HAD Montero. At this point we don't have anything.
DO YOU EXPECT HIM TO CATCH WITH THAT OR NO?
HOW IS USSMARINER STILL ALIVE?
New server = shared w/Fangraphs
DAMMIT.... YOU WIN
NEW SERVER

THEY’RE LINKED UP WITH FANGRAPHS NOW

New servers, courtesy of Fangraphs!
They moved their server to something that isn't made out of paper.
FANGRAPHS SERVER
SOMETHING ABOUT A SERVER AND FANGRAPHS OR SOME SUCH THING
KENJI HAS BACK SPASMS
I would enjoy watching a baseball team with Justin Smoak
That would be most enjoyable to witness.
Is it fair to say that he would just Smoak the ball?
I'm surprised Churchill hasn't posted an update since 10:46.
KNOWING CHURCHILL, HE'S PROBABLY MADLY WORKING THE PHONES
In a coma.

Rosterbated too much.

Make a new thread before my computer blows up!
FUCK YOU ALL AND YOUR NAME JOKES
get ready for it to get crzy
SI_JonHeyman
  
#rangers 1 of a few teams jumping in with big snag in yankees/lee trade talk
DAMMIT! I was just about to hit post on that
IM PREPARED TO BURN THIS MOTHER DOWN ALREADY.
I understand other teams jumping in, but I can't imagine Adams' ankle could snag a deal that gets us Montero.
Which is why I cannot see Lee starting tonight

He is gonna be dealt. You don’t walk away because of Adams if you don’t have something better in the chamber

This is why it has to be because Zduriencik has a better offer. He wouldn't walk away from Montero due to Adams' ankle
Oh my but this is fun isn't it.

You all have been at this for a while. I just got up. Imagine how I feel. I feel like I’m going into a metaphorical insulin shock with all this rumor mongering.

Dare I say it? I think I’m getting Leeabetes.

This is very uninteresting
End please
Where's the caps lock boss?
Up your nose with a rubber hose.
HE'S JUST BEING POLITE!
BOSS DON'T NEED NO CAPS LOCK, HE'S EXEMPT
I'm more annoyed than excited
I'm over the nutsiness.
So am I.

I just want details when it’s final.

i just want Justin Smoak or Jesus Montero and some other shiny shit to look at.
I don't see ANY way that Smoak isn't involved from Texas.

You don’t walk away from Montero if you don’t have Smoak in it.

.

MST 3000!!

I love that show.

FUCK BETTE MIDLER
Minor tidbit

 BloggingBombers : Same source: “It sounds like the Mariners want to get Lee traded before tonight’s game whether it’s the Yankees or not.”

THEY BETTER TRADE HIM BEFORE I TAKE MY NEXT DUMP.
I've decided I'm just going to take a dump and hope this happens while I'm on the toilet
I hear this was Z's ultimatum to the Yankees.
PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA

PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA PINEDA

We're getting Pineda? Yes!
ONLY SIX MORE HOURS OF THIS SHIT THEN
be careful... it is Bowden
JimBowdenXMFOX
  
Texas Rangers have the budget to get Cliff Lee without needing approval from bankruptcy judge….Smoak and Scheppers could get Lee
Yeah, that's just speculation
Scheppers or Holland? Tough call.
HOLLAND, WITHOUT QUESTION
His injury definitely makes it a tough call.
This was my thinking, but Scheppers isn't a picture of health. I'd go Holland
who has been shut down twice in the last year for a knee and once for a shoulder/back?

Holland isn’t the perfect picture of health either

I think I'm the only person in the world who doesn't really trust y'all's young pitching

I want bats.

I would be less likely to trust the Texas bats

just due to the hitting environment of Bakersfield, plus the Texas league in general for Frisco

Pitching might be underrated in a few spots

Namely I don't trust Scheppers or Holland not to explode
That is true with all SP prospects though

the injury risk is just so damn high in trades like this.

Sure

This means I want bats more than anything else.

His shoulder doesn't look like confetti, either.
actually neither does Scheppers
Scheppers has a messed up arm too.
It's not at all a tough call
Holland, not even close
Smoak and Scheppers? Unlikely, but I'd fucking faint.
I'm not sure how to feel about Scheppers...
Automatically our best reliever
BA has him 25 in their midseason

He is is AAA working on his change and being stretched out to be a SP right now

He has been getting Smoaked since he got put in the rotation
he is throwing his change all the time in AAA as a starter

had a quote up from the last few weeks that he threw more Changes in that start than ever before in his career.

Ah, ok.. That makes sense
I'm fairly confident that Smoak/Scheppers is at least greater than Montero+
Are the Rangers allowed to trade Scheppers yet?

Is it a year from the draft or a year from the signing.

BREAKING NEWS VLADIMIR GUERRERO'S ASS STARTS MID BACK
If I were home right now I'd be drinking furiously.
I HAVE A BOTTLE OF SCOTCH RIGHT NEXT TO ME BUT IT'S TOO DAMN HOT
ICE!
I DON'T WANT MY WHISKY DILUTED.
For absolutely no reason

that sentence looks absurd in all caps.

Rocks man, rocks.
.

BrockandSalk Hell yeah! RT @Buster_ESPN: Rangers are back on Lee. Hard to imagine Tex making this deal happen without Justin Smoak being part of the deal

There's no way in fucking hell that we would call of Montero without Smoak.
Seriously though if the M's turned down Montero, you have to think Smoak is involved.
Agreed.

There’s no way that you can back away from Montero unless Smoak is in the deal.

And it would be a definitive offer from Texas, not a "Well, we'd think about Smoak..."
WE'RE GETTING LEBRON JAMES!
Sign and trade with Miami!
That hits too close to home

I remember when Jeff Smulyan wanted to move the Mariners to Florida

...
d_a_cameron
  
Woo! Smoak Me! RT @ed_price: An official of uninvolved team said that #Rangers now willing to put Justin Smoak in a deal for Cliff Lee.
Wooo! 2 - for - 2 in LATES!
IT'S STILL AWESOME!
YESYESYESYESYESYES
Official of uninvolved team? Weird.
M's called the other suitors and set a new bar to aim for.
HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT
ed_price An official of uninvolved team said that #Rangers now willing to put Justin Smoak in a deal for Cliff Lee. And don’t count out #Reds.
FUCK THE REDS. THEY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING OF INTEREST IF THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO PART WITH BRUCE OR VOTTO.
I'd rather have Smoak than Bruce. And no way is Votto getting dealt
ESPECIALLY NOW THAT HE IS AN ALL-STAR
FUCK THE REDS! IM GOING BACK TO CAPS BECAUSE OF THAT ONE!
FUCK THE FUCKIN' REDS
I DO NOT WANT ALONSO.
WOW! LEE'S VALUE HAS SHOT UP FROM HICKS AND RAMOS BEING A GREAT DEAL TO BEING MINIMUM OFFER.
This is crazy
THIS IS AN EXTREME VERSION OF EXACTLY WHAT I THOUGHT WOULD HAPPEN.

JACK SAYS THIS IS MY OFFER TOP IT DANIELS YOU BITCH! NOW YOU TOP IT CASHMAN YOU BITCH! YOURE ALL MY BITCHES!

LETS ROLL

GET ER DONE Z.

Lee must be sitting at home staring in the mirror and thinking about how fuckign amazing he is.

You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Lookout Landing to post a comment.