January 22, 2010
As an Arizona Diamondbacks fan, my time is typically focused on news items that impact one team. That viewpoint sometimes leads to a myopic view of Major League Baseball. Obviously this sport is bigger than a single team after all the Diamondbacks need an opponent to play at Chase Field.
In my own little universe, my scope of interest extends beyond the confines of Chase Field and even beyond the Diamondbacks schedule. As hard as it is to believe, I even think about things beyond baseball. Ok, I made that last part up.
Continue reading ‘Chicago Cubs Choose Spring Training Site’ »
January 21, 2010
Early this week free agent pitcher Ben Sheets held an open workout for teams interested in his health following missing a year with arm troubles. When healthy, Sheets is one of the most dominating pitchers in the game. The problem has been that pesky word “healthy”.
In his career Sheets has struggled to remain in the line-up and starting games. It was not always the case. From 2001-2004 Sheets logged inning totals of 151.1, 216.2, 220.2, and 237.0 respectively. In that time it appeared as though he would be counted among the game’s best pitchers and would live up to the hype that accompanied him in the draft.
Continue reading ‘Sheets in the Wind and Double-D Sightings’ »
January 20, 2010
The Arizona Diamondbacks entered the arbitration season with six players eligible. One by one General Manager Josh Byrnes has whittled down that total. As has been his preference since joining the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2005, Byrnes likes to have players signed to contracts without an arbitration hearing.
Dealing with arbitration is a little like playing with fire. There are times you think you can contain it and use it to your advantage. As soon as you think you’ve mastered it, it comes up and gives you a third degree burn.
Continue reading ‘Baseball Arbitration 101, That Goofy Game for Dopey Lawyers’ »
January 19, 2010
Word coming out of Seattle today reports the Mariners are nearing a contract extension with starting pitcher Felix Hernandez. Details of the deal are still evolving but the parameters seem to be a five-year deal worth approximately $80 million.
This contract will lock up the staff ace through his arbitration years but will still allow him to become a free agent when he is 28 years old. It allows the Mariners a level of cost certainty and makes sure they have their front line starter into his prime.
Continue reading ‘Does the King Felix Contract Affect Arizona’s Webb?’ »
January 18, 2010
The 2010 Arbitration hearings marks the first for what will be an expensive series of years for the Arizona Diamondbacks. The team has been relatively young and as such most of the talent on the major league roster had not accumulated enough service time to be included in the process.
Continue reading ‘Diamondbacks Ink Two to New Contracts’ »
January 17, 2010
When my credit card number was stolen during the holiday shopping season it was more of an annoyance than anything. I had to cancel the card and it took me countless hours of filling out paperwork, talking to investigators, and putting my life back in order.
Continue reading ‘Now It’s Personal!’ »
January 16, 2010
Oh what a difference a year makes. After the 2008 season catcher Chris Snyder was entrenched as the Arizona Diamondbacks starting catcher. As he neared the time for arbitration, the team decided to lock up their young catcher to a long-term contract.
Snyder would sign a three-year contract worth approximately $14 million. Snyder was lauded for his defensive prowess behind the plate and the contract looked to provide him with some security while giving the team financial stability.
Continue reading ‘Miggy Makes More’ »
January 15, 2010
When the Arizona Diamondbacks announced they had signed Adam LaRoche the question became, how would the roster shake out? Arizona had already maxed out their 40-man roster which meant there would need to be some shuffling to make room for their new first baseman.
Looking over the roster, the moves began falling like a set of stacked dominos. The first to fall was Adam LaRoche who was added. This meant Conor Jackson who was expected to get the majority of playing time at first would move back to Left Field where he was much more comfortable.
Continue reading ‘How the Dominos Fall’ »
January 14, 2010
It seemed like just last week that it was reported the Arizona Diamondbacks were at their stated payroll limit and would most likely not be making any other roster moves save it be perhaps to add a few non-roster invitees to Spring Training.
The news this morning came as somewhat of a surprise when word leaked that the Arizona Diamondbacks had signed free agent Adam LaRoche to a one year contract. Details of the deal are still sketchy but at this point it has been suggested the deal would be worth somewhere between $4-$5 million. There have been unofficial comments that the deal may include an option for 2011.
Continue reading ‘Diamondbacks Sign LaRoche to Man First’ »
