Nick P on Byrnes and LaRoche
Poor Nick - his space in the sports section of the paper is getting squeezed for some reason. ;-) But he's got a couple of good pieces on his blog, first about Adam LaRoche, I didn't realize he had the same agent as Kelly Johnson - Mike Milchin, we love you! This was a nice bit: LaRoche "said he had offers that would have paid him more than what he’s going to get from Arizona but said they came early in the off-season...and came from teams that did not excite him as much as Arizona." Suck it, Giants! :-)
He also talks about the release of Eric Byrnes, and Josh Byrnes addresses why we didn't wait until spring training. "Someone else would have had to be exposed to waivers to get LaRoche on the roster," Josh Byrnes said. "I just think when you start to add up the position players, now that Conor Jackson will probably play more outfield and effect Gerardo Parra. Then guys like Ryan Roberts, Cole Gillespie, Rusty Ryal, competing for depth in the outfield... It seemed pretty unlikely that Byrnes would emerge through that. Realistically, when a guy is getting MVP votes in 2007 and fighting for a job at the end of the roster three years later, I don’t think that happens too often in our game when a player reinvents himself in the same uniform and it really works out for all parties."
about 2 years ago
Jim McLennan
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Byrnesie flat out wanted to be a Diamondback. That’s why he signed an extension instead of testing the free-agent market.
Suuuuure. Because there were so many teams lined up begging to pay you more than $10M per.
"Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too. " ~Greg, age 8
If only
he could do the Triple Lindy….. sigh……
"I've been around long enough to know how ignorant I am. I don't assume the universe obeys my preconceptions. Huh! But I know a frelling fact when it hits me in the face!"
by unnamedDBacksfan on Jan 15, 2010 11:04 PM EST up reply actions
Wasn't that considered a bargain
At the time of signing? The idea of it in general was exorbitant, but someone would have given him that and maybe more if not us.
"I've had Bailey's out of a shoe, though."
by Dan Strittmatter on Jan 15, 2010 11:39 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Not by us.
Here’s the thread where we discuss the signing on the date of he penned the deal. While many of the casual fans loved the deal, very few hard core fans liked it.
Here’s my quote:
chemistry, personality, blah, blah, blah
Every person who has defended this signing has pointed to Byrnes’ personality, charisma, etc. C’mon. I believe Carlos Quentin, given a full year in LF in 2008 would produce numbers that are only slightly below what Byrnes would produce. Given the fact that you’re doling out league minimum for Byrnes, are you telling me that we’re paying $10M a year for Byrnes’ smile? Ugh.
Don’t misinterpret me. I’m not saying Q would outhit Byrnes in ‘08, just that he would be close. He’d have a higher OBP, better defense, fewer SB and less power. All in all, Byrnes is better. But not $10M better. And the point here is that money spent on Byrnes is money NOT spent elsewhere. It has become completely clear this year that Owings, Nippert et al will NOT be ready to be significant SP contributors next year (barring a miracle). So, spending some major money on a front-end starter would be money well spent. $100M for 5 years of Zambrano (including his whiny attitude)? Sign me up.
I’m no genius, and believe me, I’m wrong more often than I’m right, but even I could see the problems with this one.
"Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too. " ~Greg, age 8
Here are the comments on May 8, 2009. Note that foulpole and srdman (the main advocates for Byrnes) were the typical outliers in the group… and they’re the two (mainly) who defend the Byrnes contract.
"Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too. " ~Greg, age 8
By the way… where did shoewizard ever go? Is he just at DBBP now? Smart cat, that guy.
"Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too. " ~Greg, age 8
He
was never much a regular around here. I can’t remember the last time I saw him around here, and the same goes for TAP.
An early departure? What are the chances of that? If this was a movie, there wouldn't be an early departure.
shoewiz
has been M.I.A. over at DDBP for quite some time. I’ve trolled both sites for quite some time and I used to love his insight… Guess he got tired of always being right.
Circumstances preclude
Shoe from being able to post much these days. He still reads both sites, I imagine – met both him and TAP at the last AFL get-together in Scottsdale. TAP is the de facto admin of DBBP, and so that’s where he lurks.
"Win, or die" -- Marquise de Merteuil
by Jim McLennan on Jan 16, 2010 10:25 AM EST up reply actions
I blame
the mess for Jim’s inability to properly give us guidance for the fiasco:
Worst case[scenario]? Eugh. Let’s not go there: for today, let’s accentuate the positive, and revel in being two games clear atop the National League West. Plenty of time for recriminations between now and October 2010, as and when appropriate.
He did, however give himself an out for future.
An early departure? What are the chances of that? If this was a movie, there wouldn't be an early departure.
Exposing Oneself
“Someone else would have had to be exposed to waivers to get LaRoche on the roster,”
If that’s true, I suppose I support the booting of Byrnes, but I was slightly looking forward to what this year would bring him, “healthy” and in his contract year.
Alas. Farewell Byrnes, we hardly wanted to know ye.
by Counsellmember on Jan 16, 2010 11:06 AM EST reply actions
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