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Breaking News Scooter Signs With Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox have reportedly signed shortshop Marco Scutaro to a two year deal with an option according to the Boston Globe.  The deal is pending a physical but the linked story says Scutaro's heel has apparently.......wait for it!...... healed!  Get it?



Marco Scutaro tracks down a pop up against Tampa Bay during an August 24th contest at Rogers Centre.

The 34 year-old Venezuelan enjoyed a career year at the plate in 2009 for the Jays as he batted .282/.379/.409 with 35 doubles, one triple, 12 homers and 60 runs batted in.  He also stole 14 bases in 19 attempts and finished seventh in the American League in both walks (90) and sacrifice hits (7).  Scutaro spent two years in Toronto after coming over from Oakland in an off-season deal for pitchers Kristian Bell and Graham Godfrey.  With Toronto offering Scutaro arbitration, the Red Sox have to surrender a draft pick and a sandwich pick to the Jays in the 2010 draft.

As it turns out, Sctuaro's final game in a Toronto uniform at the Rogers Centre wasn't seen by a whole lot of people.  That was on September 9th when a record low of over 11,000 fans turned out to watch Minnesota beat Roy Halladay 4-1.  Scutaro went 1-for-2 that night with two walks and a stolen base.  It'll be that type of production the Jays will be hard pressed to replace out of the leadoff spot.  He gave the Jays their best production out of the number one slot in the batting order since the halcyon days of Shannon Stewart.  If you want to relive some awesome Marco Scutaro highlights, click here.

 

In other MLB happenings......

Posted by #2JBrumfield on Friday, December 04 2009 @ 02:02 AM EST.
Scooter Signs With Red Sox | 56 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
Denoit - Friday, December 04 2009 @ 07:25 AM EST (#209023) #
It  was a pleasure watching this guy play, he will definatly be missed in the lineup. But on the other side those two draft picks are going to be valuable to this team going forward. 
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85bluejay - Friday, December 04 2009 @ 07:42 AM EST (#209024) #

Some bad News - Mlb Rumors has noted that Seattle has become prime contenders for Chone Figgins and Jason Bay - If Bay signs, then Boston may go after Matt

Holliday (Scutaro becomes a 2nd rd. pick) or they may use their assets to trade for a bat and bow out of the Halladay sweepstakes (also means less pressure on

Yankees to bid). With Figgins, means that Brandon Wood would likely stay with Angels, I was hoping he could become our solution at 3rd base for the long term.

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Jim - Friday, December 04 2009 @ 07:59 AM EST (#209025) #
The Mariners aren't going to sign Jason Bay.  He doesn't fit with anything they have done and makes no sense at all in Seattle. 

The internet has been great for baseball fans in general, but the way people run with the most ridiculous rumors makes the offseason tough to follow at times.

Anyone care to guess what Scutaro is getting?   I'd guess somewhere between 16 and 18 million for the 2 years.

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youngid - Friday, December 04 2009 @ 08:30 AM EST (#209026) #
I'd bet it's less than that, maybe 2/12 with an 8 mil option.
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Forkball - Friday, December 04 2009 @ 08:44 AM EST (#209027) #
I'm think it's going to be a 2 year, $13 million deal.  My guess is that Scutaro wanted to sign before having to make an arbitration decision.

Here's the Type A free agents: http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/11/elias-numbers-for-type-as.html.  You would think the only other player the Sox might sign is Holliday, although I suppose Lackey could be in the mix as well.  I'd guess there's a 75% chance the Jays end up with the Sox first round pick.

We'll find out on Monday, but I think Barajas is going to accept it - that almost assures him of $2 million and I don't think any other team is offering that.  I suppose the Jays might have given him enough hints that they didn't want him around, but I think an arbitration award is going to be better than what another team offers, although I suppose the Royals could be in the mix.

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Jim - Friday, December 04 2009 @ 09:10 AM EST (#209028) #
Scutaro didn't need to worry about arbitration.  He could have gotten a one year deal above his arbitration range without much issue. 
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Mike Green - Friday, December 04 2009 @ 09:56 AM EST (#209029) #
The comments in the Boston Globe article, linked to above, are funny. Is pessimism more contagious than H1N1? Perhaps it is.

My guess is 2 years/$14 million; the interesting thing will be the terms of the mutual option.

Bauxites, myself included, probably have quite a few nice things to say about Scutaro, as he leaves Toronto. (/hint)



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Malcolm Little - Friday, December 04 2009 @ 10:02 AM EST (#209030) #

In fantasy sports, I will occassionally trade or drop a player just to mess with other people. Meaning, say I have a flash in the pan type guy I expect to crater....I'll drop him to see if I shake loose a better player or trade him to the leader (i.e., any Golden State Warrior short of Biedrins or Ellis in fantasy hoops or [trade only] Haren every ASB).

I call these players scuds with a wink to Wayne and Garth.

The Blue Jays just dropped a scud onto the Sox. :) Two picks, come on home.

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Gerry - Friday, December 04 2009 @ 10:20 AM EST (#209031) #

From Buster Olney:

Terms on Marco Scutaro -- $5 m. '10, $5 m. '11, $1 m. signing bonus. Mutual option '12 -- $6 m. p. option, $3 m. team option, $1.5 m buyout.

Deal worth 2 years, $12.5 m at least; or three years, $14 million if Scutaro picks up '12 option; or 3 years, $17 mil. if RS pick up option.

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Mike Green - Friday, December 04 2009 @ 10:27 AM EST (#209032) #
The Red Sox did well.  They are not likely to get Scutaro v. 2009, but Scutaro v. 2008 is easily worth that amount.
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lexomatic - Friday, December 04 2009 @ 10:33 AM EST (#209033) #
I think the Phillies screwed the pooch not getting Beltre, though from what I read they liked Polanco's positional flexibility... having him as the primary backup for mr. runner-up to awesome.i think Beltre could've been massive there though - great defense and a good shot at his best offensive year (other than the GREAT one).

Back to this specific post.. I fully expect the Sox to grab 1 more type A, but hopefully not 2.

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Jim - Friday, December 04 2009 @ 10:41 AM EST (#209034) #
Very fair deal for the Red Sox. 
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Malcolm Little - Friday, December 04 2009 @ 10:57 AM EST (#209035) #
Hey, Lexomatic, I thought the same thing. Polanco makes a lot more sense if they view him as a temporary fill-in at 3B (1 or 2 years tops) until something better comes along, and Beltre's asking for $10 million a season. Polanco's offensive profile is always put forward as likely the best for a pinch hitter, and he could cover a decent amount of positions defensively from the bench. The money seems high for this ultimate aim, but there's value in that sort of player.
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christaylor - Friday, December 04 2009 @ 11:19 AM EST (#209037) #
This looks good -- I doubt the Sox even touch one more type A. Their from office is smart enough to not be in on Holliday, especially at the his price. Ditto for Lackey who I'd bet will be the worst signing of this off-seasons. Boston fans are demanding Bay back, let's hope they get him.

The biggest move I see the Sox making is emptying the farm of Adrian Gonzalez and doing a salary dump on Lowell. Part of me sees them offering up the best deal for Halladay, but I recoil at the thought, I'd rather see him go to the Yankees. I want the Sox to go back to losing decade after decade, I can accept the Yankees winning every year. The Sox were only amusing when they were the Cubs of the AL.
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Mike Green - Friday, December 04 2009 @ 11:34 AM EST (#209039) #
The Sox losing decade after decade, like the Cubs?  You've got the wrong Sox.  They may not have won the World Series until 2004, but they had good clubs for years each decade since 1966. They were an average club from 52-66, but basically if you look at the team record since Ted Williams arrived, it is pretty damn good.  The Cubs have been way under .500 since WWII.   
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Mylegacy - Friday, December 04 2009 @ 11:51 AM EST (#209040) #
Good on Scoots. He deserves it.

Roy is NOT going to Boston - you can bet on it.

He's going to the Yanks for THREE reasons - 1) They are a better fit - Jesus Montero, Hughes and if the gods are with us Jackson is the PERFECT set. 2) IF the Sox get close the Yanks will step in at the last second and make sre they get Roy and 3) We can build up the Yanks - they are already the class of the field - BUT it is AGAINST our interest to make TWO super teams in the AL East. Just NOT GONNA HAPPEN. Least wise, not while I've got a veto over all AA's trades.

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Matthew E - Friday, December 04 2009 @ 12:13 PM EST (#209041) #
If I had to guess--and it's just a guess--I'd say that Halladay's not going anywhere this year.
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christaylor - Friday, December 04 2009 @ 12:25 PM EST (#209043) #
I ought to have been clearer -- I didn't mean losing record after losing record during the regular season but always being a bridesmaid rather than the bride for a WS. '04 and '07 put an end to the fun.

It was kind of fun to root for the Sox in '86 - '04 (prime years for my baseball consciousness) but after '04, not so much.

Although, I have to admit, I do secretly root for the Evil Empire - I've got more books on the Yankees on my bookshelf (although the number includes the fun, but light "Yankees Suck"). Again it was easy to like the Yankees during the 80s as they weren't winning year after year and the Jays were...
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John Northey - Friday, December 04 2009 @ 12:29 PM EST (#209044) #
Interesting deal.  The Sox commit $7 mil a year for 2 years (Scutaro injured he takes the option, playing well the deal goes to $5.67 mil a year for 3 years).  Is Scutaro worth that much?

According to FanGraphs Scutaro has been worth $6 million+ just twice in his career, more than $1 million 4 times.  However, those two good years are the last two years - $12 mil in '07 and $20 mil last year.  However, he also is 34 and 35 for the first two years of the deal. 

The Jays did the right thing letting him go as I doubt Scutaro will be worth $10+ in either year - he is past the age where players can drop from productive to nothing.  What is funny is Scutaro will be making about what his lifetime earnings are in each season of this deal.  Nice to see for him.  Smart for the Jays not to do it.
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chris_jays - Friday, December 04 2009 @ 12:42 PM EST (#209045) #
John,

How do you find out what salary value players are worth on fan graphs?

Thanks,

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Forkball - Friday, December 04 2009 @ 12:45 PM EST (#209046) #
Don't bother - fangraphs wildly overstates player value.
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92-93 - Friday, December 04 2009 @ 01:14 PM EST (#209047) #
Check the Value section on any player's card on fangraphs.com. I believe the going rate for 1 Win Above Replacement is 4.3m. Here's Vernon's link - you'll notice his figure is in brackets, which means he actually provided negative value compared to a replacement level player.

http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=1326&position=OF#value
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Noah - Friday, December 04 2009 @ 02:27 PM EST (#209048) #
With the signings/waiver claims of all the infielders the past few weeks looks like Mighty Joe Inglett's time with the Jays has ended.  Rangers claimed him off waivers today.
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Brent S - Friday, December 04 2009 @ 02:31 PM EST (#209049) #
AA said recently that he had his eye on a couple Rule 5 candidates, so Inglett leaving will clear up a roster space.
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westcoast dude - Friday, December 04 2009 @ 02:52 PM EST (#209050) #
Good for Marco Scutaro.  It was a win-win for all concerned.  Two great seasons for the Blue Jays, and then he forced the Red Sox to pony up  to his market value, which was a little too rich for most other teams.  I had a hunch he would be great when he came, and defended him on the board when Cito fingered him for shortstop and the consensus was, well, "Ugh" was one memorable comment, as I recall.  Oddly enough, I have the same feeling Bautista will be a pleasant surprise in 2010 if he accepts arbitration.  The Blue Jays had a winning record in September, and why was that the case?  After September 8th (Marco's last game, for which Doc took the 4-1 loss), something clicked.  It wasn't the rotation, with Cecil and Rzepczynski having been shut down for the season. What was the intangible?  It was, among other things Bautista, quietly making sensational catches in right field and most memorably, crushing the long ball in Yankee Stadium.  I could be wrong, but I got a good feeling lightning is gonna strike twice.
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rpriske - Friday, December 04 2009 @ 02:55 PM EST (#209051) #

Another Ex-Jay:

Inglett is now a Ranger: http://trsullivan.mlblogs.com/archives/2009/12/rangers_claim_infielder_joe_in.html

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tstaddon - Friday, December 04 2009 @ 02:59 PM EST (#209052) #
Very good JP trade brought him here. Good preparation helped him excel when given the opportunity to play every day. During Marco's brief time here, he was one of my favourites. Good for him, finding a quality home early.

We'll always have that two-base walk you gave us. Thanks for being one of the good guys. Good luck, Marco.
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brent - Friday, December 04 2009 @ 04:02 PM EST (#209054) #

Tango just said that 2009 muli-year deals were paying 4.5 million per win. He reasons that will grow to 5 million a win by 2012.

Link

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John Northey - Friday, December 04 2009 @ 04:46 PM EST (#209057) #
Sigh.  Lets hope Inglett gets a full year in the majors and builds up service time.  He is a good enough player but kept getting caught in the numbers game here.  Price of playing the same position as Hill I guess.
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greenfrog - Friday, December 04 2009 @ 09:30 PM EST (#209063) #
Scutaro is a great pickup for Boston. I've always liked him, but I really became a believer this year (I think I can safely saw he's now one of my all-time favourite Jays). I'm guessing his offensive numbers will be solid in Fenway too, in 2010 anyway. The risk on this contract is pretty minimal for a big-budget team like Boston. At worst he becomes a very useful utility player.

However, it is annoying that Boston is getting equivalent Type A compensation from Atlanta for Wagner, whom the Sox rented for all of 13.2 innings last year. Meanwhile, the Jays have to give up one of their best players (to Boston, no less) to garner the same result.

In any event, the real question now (aside from the interminable Doc situation) is: what is AA going to do with all his draft picks in 2010? Will Rogers give him the resources to actually make something of it, or are we looking at a slew of safe "budget" picks?
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greenfrog - Saturday, December 05 2009 @ 12:29 AM EST (#209066) #
This was just posted on rotoworld.com:

'During an appearance on Sirius XM Radio, former Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi addressed his efforts to trade Roy Halladay in July.
"We wanted to trade Roy and Roy wanted to be traded, as he does now," said Ricciardi. "I think there's no secret that he would like to be traded. I don't know how committed, at the end, our ownership group was to doing it. I will be honest with you, we did not get an offer that really made us sit there and say 'Wow, this is worth trading Roy Halladay for.'" Though the failed effort to trade Halladay surely ended up costing Ricciardi his job, new general manager Alex Anthopoulos is faced with the decision that will likely shape his future in Toronto.'

All of which makes me think of the title of Raymond Carver's first short story collection: "Will You Please Be Quiet, Please?"
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TamRa - Saturday, December 05 2009 @ 01:18 PM EST (#209069) #
Well JP did get a bit closer to saying flat out what a lot of us suspect, which is that all too often the GM takes the heat for a decision that was taken out of his hands.


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Forkball - Saturday, December 05 2009 @ 02:47 PM EST (#209070) #
JP clearly said that he didn't get an offer he was willing to accept.  It's pretty much a non-story.  Halladay wanted to be traded, the Jays listened to offers and found that they didn't get an offer worth accepting so they didn't trade him.  No kidding.

And it's funny that Rotoworld thinks that's what got him fired. 
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ComebyDeanChance - Saturday, December 05 2009 @ 03:44 PM EST (#209071) #
For posters hoping for a Halladay trade to the Angels, it's apparently not going to happen. According to MLB radio, Halladay has now stated he'll only accept a trade to a team that trains in Florida. The group of competitive teams that train in Florida include the Yankees, the Red Sox and the Phillies wno acquired Cliff Lee and aren't in the mix.
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ayjackson - Saturday, December 05 2009 @ 04:31 PM EST (#209072) #

That's an unsubstantiated report from the Jay-haters at BP.  A few weeks ago, it was reported that Doc would accept a trade to the Yankees, Red Sox and Angels.

 

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StephenT - Saturday, December 05 2009 @ 08:12 PM EST (#209074) #
I suspect JP just got a pointed little call from Beeston that he would be jeopardizing his 2010 salary if continued to talk about Blue Jays organization internals.
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rtcaino - Saturday, December 05 2009 @ 11:16 PM EST (#209075) #
Well JP did get a bit closer to saying flat out what a lot of us suspect, which is that all too often the GM takes the heat for a decision that was taken out of his hands.

All JP has to say is that the V-Dubb extension was Godfrey's doing.
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rtcaino - Saturday, December 05 2009 @ 11:36 PM EST (#209076) #
And it's funny that Rotoworld thinks that's what got him fired.

Ya exactly.

Probably had more to do with the franchise being in a position that it had to trade Halladay, as opposed to anything that was done within that context.
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ayjackson - Sunday, December 06 2009 @ 08:44 AM EST (#209077) #

All the Team needed to keep Halladay was a $100m budget.  If they had acquired Manny last year and maybe a starting pitcher, there's no reason why the couldn't contend.  Similarly, if they signed Holliday and Harden this year, and kept Doc, there's no reason why they couldn't compete.

Though I do (kinda) understand what they're MO is - building up the system for perennial contention.

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ayjackson - Sunday, December 06 2009 @ 08:44 AM EST (#209078) #

All the Team needed to keep Halladay was a $100m budget.  If they had acquired Manny last year and maybe a starting pitcher, there's no reason why the couldn't contend.  Similarly, if they signed Holliday and Harden this year, and kept Doc, there's no reason why they couldn't compete.

Though I do (kinda) understand what they're MO is - building up the system for perennial contention.

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Mike Green - Sunday, December 06 2009 @ 04:48 PM EST (#209079) #
Competitive teams in the grapefruit league include, in addition to the Yankees, Red Sox and Phils, Rays, Cardinals, Twins, Tigers, and Braves. 
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ComebyDeanChance - Sunday, December 06 2009 @ 05:20 PM EST (#209080) #
I'm doubtful the Phils are willing to take on both Lee and Halladay salary-wise. I heard, as most likely others did as well, that Roy last year vetoed the Twins and Rangers. The Cards may be a possibility, though they train in Jupiter, which is on the wrong coast and well down by Palm Beach. It's a 4 hour drive each way, which misses the point of staying in Fl. According to SI (i.e. not just the supposed "Jay Haters" at BPro - where on earth did that come from), he'd like to stick with a west coast Fl team. That leaves as possibilities, the Yanks, RS, Phils, and the Twins if he'd go. I'm ruling out the Rays on money grounds. They'd be nuts to dish up much for a one year rental, and likely won't shell out for a longterm deal.

The Braves and Tigers are closer to Oldsmar, with the Tigers closer, but they didn't make the playoffs last year and I'm not sure how high Doc is on going to them, or whether the makings of a deal and longterm extension are there.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/jon_heyman/12/02/roy.halladay/index.html

I think the list of teams for Doc is really quite short. There's an article about the Red Sox Winter Meeting goals on mlbtraderumors, and none of them involve Doc. The Yanks are a head above everyone already, so why they would give up a boatload for a non-need isn't clear. And I don't think the Phils are thinking both Doc and Lee.

We may very well see Roy dealt to the Yankees for a relatively modest return.

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Thomas - Sunday, December 06 2009 @ 07:06 PM EST (#209081) #
We may very well see Roy dealt to the Yankees for a relatively modest return.

I hope, and I think, Anthopoulos would just not deal Doc in that case. As distasteful as it would be to just get two picks for Halladay, it'd be even worse to deal him to New York for CJ Henry and Matt Smith.

If Tampa has the money to sign him long term, I think they'd be an intriguing option and could be in the mix. I'm just not sure they have that cash (see: Kazmir deal) and would be confident enough in an extension to give up the youth necessary to get Halladay (although I assume they'd do the trade contingent on a window to sign him to an extension).

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Gerry - Sunday, December 06 2009 @ 07:25 PM EST (#209082) #

Based on our understanding it appears as though the Yankees and the Red Sox are the main suitors for Doc.  If they both are bidding the price will go up as they try to keep Doc from the other.  If just one of them is interested then the price comes down and perhaps to a level where the Jays don't make the deal.

It is probably in the best interests of the Yankees and Sox to have the media believe they are not interested as that could keep the price down.  There have been stories to that effect in the media this week (Yankees with a low budget; Sox not interested) but ignore them, they could be head-fakes. 

There also could be another interesting side, let's say the Angels are the only team with a decent offer, AA can call Roy and say you can stay in Toronto and finish 20 games out or you can go to the Angels and have an excellent shot to pitch in the playoffs.  What would Roy do?

That's is the same scenario for next July, despite Roy's claims that he won't accept a trade.  Again AA calls him July 29th and says do you want to play out the string or play for the Yankees for the next 2 months?  Again it's Roy's decision.

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CaramonLS - Sunday, December 06 2009 @ 08:24 PM EST (#209083) #
Based on our understanding it appears as though the Yankees and the Red Sox are the main suitors for Doc.  If they both are bidding the price will go up as they try to keep Doc from the other.  If just one of them is interested then the price comes down and perhaps to a level where the Jays don't make the deal.

I think Epstein is playing possum - the Sox have to be interested in a guy like Doc, one of the best pitchers in Baseball and a chance to keep him away from the Yankees.  Either team that gets Halladay makes them the favorite to win the division this year, despite whatever other moves they make IMHO.

Slightly OT - wouldn't Porcello look nice on this team?  7.29 million sure seems like a drop in the bucket compared to what we're paying some stop gaps to play SS for us.


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Mike Green - Sunday, December 06 2009 @ 08:36 PM EST (#209084) #
If Roy's terms are essentially that he only would accept a trade to the Red Sox or Yankees, his agent would have been better off to keep the request private and the club would have been better off to say less.  Those terms would make it unlikely, though possible, that a fair trade could be achieved. 

There is a whiff of lingering resentment arising from JP's handling of the situation in July.  If I am right, this is a sad way for Halladay's tenure in Toronto to end.

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greenfrog - Sunday, December 06 2009 @ 11:35 PM EST (#209085) #
I agree that the Doc situation doesn't look promising. Both the Yankees and Red Sox could use him (who couldn't, really?), but neither team needs him so badly that it makes sense to give up two or more top-shelf prospects. And I think it would be madness for AA to trade him to a rival for next to nothing--it could well mean awarding NY or Boston the next world championship.

To make matters worse, if the Jays keep him, they might not even get a first-round draft pick (as happened last year with AJ, and might happen again this year with Scutaro). Epstein and Cashman are well aware of this, of course.

I think both teams will try to nab him with a stealth offer later in the off-season after establishing a tepid market for the Toronto ace (NY might offer Joba + Jackson, Boston might offer the Jays a few prospects ranked a notch below Buchholz/Kelly/Westmoreland). Who knows? AA might even end up accepting one of them.
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Mylegacy - Monday, December 07 2009 @ 12:24 AM EST (#209086) #
The situation with Roy's trade is causing some of us to become bipolar. One second we're high and optimistic and the next we're sure our wives are cheating on us with the Geico Gecko.

This is why the Scots invented 18 year old, single malt. On the rocks - after three or four - you've beginning to think that Roy would best be traded for Rusty Staub and one of the Alomar brothers.

Personally, I trust(ish) AA to do the freakin' thing and do it right. After all - if he balls it up - we can always castrate the little pri*k!

Now - time for one more drinky poo.
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rtcaino - Monday, December 07 2009 @ 12:54 AM EST (#209087) #
I'd take less of a return to just ensure that he goes to any team but Yanks or Sox.

Any team that he will sign with, that isn't them (or preferably Tampa also), can have him. They can lock him up, and I never have to live to see Doc wearing either of those horrible jerseys. I would rather stick needles in my eyes.

Though I would probably just be bitter and stop following baseball.

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Mike D - Monday, December 07 2009 @ 09:38 AM EST (#209090) #

For those of you still smarting from the Paxton/Eliopoulos/Barrett non-signings, this should reassure you that all hope is not lost.

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Brent S - Monday, December 07 2009 @ 10:00 AM EST (#209091) #

As the one scouting director points out in the Sun article above, $16 mil is a lot of money to spend in one draft. Surely, this is a sign the Jays will become much more aggressive in the international market, and it's about time. While large contracts such as Ynoa and Mateo carry large risks, these are exactly the types of risks that the Jays should be considering.

The one thing that isn't clear is the Jays' current involvement in the Latin countries. Signings sometimes do not come down to dollars and cents, but rather, are due to an aggressive ground game of scouts finding and eventually convincing the player to sign. Before you even get to this stage, however, the budget must be there. It's refreshing to see the Jays make a strong push to acquire legitimate amateur talent.

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TimberLee - Monday, December 07 2009 @ 10:04 AM EST (#209092) #
I read this site to learn things and I did not previously know that baseball played any part in the invention of Scotch whisky.  Thanks for that.  I was already suspicious of the gecko, so that's not news.
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Mike Green - Monday, December 07 2009 @ 11:07 AM EST (#209093) #
Scotch whisky not so much, but "sour mash" clearly came before the grumpy DH. 

As for a $16 million draft plus international signing budget, that would be interesting.  The total budget and the division between major league and developmental segments are both aspects of where the team is going.  What's the BBRRS (Batters' Box Reliability Rating Service, if I recall it right) on an Elliott rumour- dry ice, a house of mirrors or a paper airplane?


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vw_fan17 - Monday, December 07 2009 @ 03:14 PM EST (#209101) #
This is why the Scots invented 18 year old, single malt. On the rocks - after three or four - you've beginning to think that Roy would best be traded for Rusty Staub and one of the Alomar brothers.

Sorry for the OT..

So, can someone explain to me what is the attraction of scotch? Is it the taste, the atmosphere/tradition, the effects, or a combination of all 3? I have several friends who are scotch lovers. I just never got it. Now, I'm pretty sure I COULD get the atmosphere/tradition part, if the stuff was drinkable/enjoyable.

I like beer well enough (and wish I could get some Brick Lager or Waterloo Dark here in Silicon Valley - Moosehead/Fosters/Oranjeboom will have to do). But, I just don't get the hard stuff. Smells like turpentine to me. Can't imagine what it would taste like. No, I've never tried it - just smelling whiskey/brandy once or twice nearly made me lose my lunch. Can't stand rumballs, for example - make me sick to my stomach, when I accidentally take a bite. And I'm not particularly interested reducing my faculties - age is doing just fine there all by itself :-)

btw, I feel the same about wine - the few times I've tried it, it tasted like vinegar.. Not sure why using cheese to drown out several subtly different but equally awful flavours of vinegar is considered a great way to spend an afternoon..


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zeppelinkm - Tuesday, December 08 2009 @ 06:46 AM EST (#209125) #

Thanks for that link Mike D.

Santa, make it be true!

We really could bring in a bounty of talent in next years draft with that kind of budget. I'm now kind of hoping Barajas signs elsewhere so the Jays pick up another pick...

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Mylegacy - Tuesday, December 08 2009 @ 09:59 PM EST (#209175) #
Did I hear someone mention Scotch?

To my - admittedly tainted taste buds - booze tastes like pure sulphuric acid mixed with ice and water. However, when you get a REAL QUALITY - VERY WELL MATURED Scotch it doesn't "burn" - it actually goes down "smoothly."

The taste, the ambience, the ritual - aah - sublime - simple - perfection. Much like my wife, only without the, "Did you take out the garbage!" part.
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