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It's that deadest time of the baseball year, after the World Series, before the Winter Meetings ... The notable trade this week wasn't Tigers/Rockies but rather Pistons/Nuggets ... Who's the MLB equivalent of Allen Iverson, anyway? ... In G.M. news, your World Champion Phillies (that still looks strange) tabbed, to nobody's surprise, Ruben Amaro Jr., while the Red Sox re-upped Theo Epstein ... Is new pitching coach Mike Maddux the Rangers' most significant pitching acquisition since Fergie Jenkins 35 years ago? ... The Brewers placed a "courtesy" bid on CC Sabathia -- where's he going to end up, anyway? ...

What else is going on?

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Mike Green - Tuesday, November 04 2008 @ 10:56 AM EST (#193786) #
Who's the MLB equivalent of Allen Iverson, anyway?

The answer to that question is elusive.  Let's see- electrifying, egocentric and plays mediocre defence. A bit of Rickey, a bit of Lou Brock. 
maybenextyear - Tuesday, November 04 2008 @ 11:03 AM EST (#193787) #
Based on Mike Green's definition wouldn't the MLB equivelent to Allen Iverson be Manny Ramirez?
Jays2010 - Tuesday, November 04 2008 @ 12:34 PM EST (#193789) #
There seems to be a lot of Javier Vazquez trade talk; I believe his no trade protection covers all teams except the ten on the east coast. Perhaps his stats don't back up his stuff, but I've always been a fan. He is as durable as they come and makes similar money to AJ. In my opinion, AJ may pitch better than Javy over the next two years, but what are his chanced of making 65-70 starts over that time frame? It almost sounds like Vazquez is just a salary dump. Perhaps one of our catching prospects (other than JPA), Scott Campbell and a pitcher could do it. Personally, I'd love to see us take AJ's compensation picks, acquire Vazquez and hope he turns into a Type A after 2010 under the tutelage of Arnie.
Geoff - Tuesday, November 04 2008 @ 12:37 PM EST (#193790) #
Is new pitching coach Mike Maddux the Rangers' most significant pitching acquisition since Fergie Jenkins 35 years ago?

What have you got against Nolan Ryan?

There's even some symmetry here, Nolan joining Texas at age 42, leaving them a few months before his 47th birthday; Mike enlists a few months after his 47th birthday. Next stop for the Rangers: pitching supremacy. Choo choo.
Mike Green - Tuesday, November 04 2008 @ 01:46 PM EST (#193791) #
The Fielding Bible has come out with its 2008 numbers.  Here are the 2006-08 aggregates. Overbay, Hill, Rolen and Rios have very good numbers, unsurprisingly.  Rios' 2008 numbers in limited time in centerfield put him on the leaderboard at that position.
iains - Tuesday, November 04 2008 @ 02:48 PM EST (#193794) #
I only see Rios listed for Right Field.. Not on the list for Center.  Am I missing something?  On another note, it's interesting to see who is rating near the bottom of the barrel.  Michael Young as the second worst shortstop?  Filipe Lopez rated as one of the worst middle infielders (how far he has fallen!) Mags and Jr the worst right fielders!  Kenny Lofton is now the worst CF going... wow.
92-93 - Tuesday, November 04 2008 @ 02:54 PM EST (#193795) #
He was referring to the 2008 CF list, not the 06-08 one.
Mick Doherty - Tuesday, November 04 2008 @ 03:03 PM EST (#193796) #

Next stop for the Rangers: pitching supremacy.

Made me laugh out loud -- they'd bebeyond  thrilled with a 4.25 team ERA.

Can't believe I blanked on Ryan. Good call. At least Fergie took the Rangers to the brink of a pennant in '74 (the Billy Martin effect) while Nolan's time in Arlington never so much as sniffed a title.

Mick Doherty - Tuesday, November 04 2008 @ 03:07 PM EST (#193797) #

Based on Mike Green's definition wouldn't the MLB equivelent to Allen Iverson be Manny Ramirez?

You know, I actually thought of Man-Ram as I wrote that, then decided that AI had the whole (comparatively) little-guy-with-attitude thing going on for him. Manny, again comparatively, is a power forward, not a shoot-first point guard.

Edmonton Marc - Tuesday, November 04 2008 @ 04:57 PM EST (#193805) #
I think someone like Pedroia is a better fit for AI.  Little guy, not expected to be nearly as good as he is simply based on size.  Early in their careers, people always seem a bit surprised when they single-handedly win a game.
KL - Tuesday, November 04 2008 @ 05:18 PM EST (#193807) #
Iverson was expected to be a superstar though. Hmmm.
Seamus - Tuesday, November 04 2008 @ 05:45 PM EST (#193808) #
Not a big shocker, but according to Ken Rosenthal, Burnett has opted  out.
vw_fan17 - Tuesday, November 04 2008 @ 06:01 PM EST (#193810) #

Based on Mike Green's definition wouldn't the MLB equivelent to Allen Iverson be Manny Ramirez?

You know, I actually thought of Man-Ram as I wrote that, then decided that AI had the whole (comparatively) little-guy-with-attitude thing going on for him. Manny, again comparatively, is a power forward, not a shoot-first point guard.


Roberto Alomar?

clark - Tuesday, November 04 2008 @ 08:56 PM EST (#193815) #
I'm kind of thinking Kenny Lofton.
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