Ow 

Posted 9:09 AM by Sean
I hadn't even heard of this, but apparently a fan took it into his head to bop a San Benito County Sherriff's Deputy in the head with a Thunderstick at the October 6 playoff game, whereupon said Deputy slammed said fan to the ground, fracturing two vertebrae and his skull.

Nice, all around. The article doesn't say whether the Deputy was in uniform, acting as security, or just attending the game. Nor does it mention whether the bopping was intentional or accidental. Anybody know?

And then there's Pedro 

Posted 9:10 AM by Sean
Now pitching for the Cheyenne Billies:

The Yankees have not made an offer to Martínez, who is seeking a four-year, $60 million contract that the Red Sox are unlikely to give him. The Red Sox initially offered Martínez a two-year, $25.5 million deal, and they recently improved the offer to make an option year easier for Martínez to secure.

But there are no indications that Boston would pay Martínez $15 million a season, and Martínez could be hoping that interest from the Yankees would sway the Red Sox to do so.

"I want respect, affection and the best treatment possible," Martínez said, without specifying a contract figure. "I am not asking for anything that Pedro Martínez doesn't deserve. People don't understand that when it's about a free agent, that means that you can go to the best bidder."

Martínez said he would be honored to be a teammate of the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez, the Anaheim Angels' Vladimir Guerrero or the San Francisco Giants' Barry Bonds. And he insisted he would not be afraid to leave the Red Sox after seven seasons.

"I would play baseball even in a goat's den," he said. "Anywhere. That doesn't worry me."

Maybe he can sign with Atla-a-a-a-a-anta or Sea-a-a-a-a-attle.

Angels to get the last crack at Pavano? 

Posted 8:45 AM by Sean
Carl Pavano is making the free agent tour of potential suitors, a practice that's not new but much more in the public eye, what with teh intarweb and all:

[T]he agent for Carl Pavano said Monday that the free-agent pitcher plans to visit New York from Dec. 3-5 to speak with Yankees officials. The 28-year-old right-hander, who met with Red Sox officials in Boston last week, also is planning trips to visit the Detroit Tigers (Dec. 2-3), Baltimore Orioles (Dec. 6-7), the Seattle Mariners (Dec. 7-8) and Anaheim Angels (Dec. 9-10), agent Scott Shapiro said.

The Angels aren't mentioned much when it comes to Pavano speculation, so his inclusion on that list is a sign that either Stoneman is working something on the QT or - and this is probably more appealing - it's becoming de rigeur for marquee free agents to see what the Angels will offer. Although referring to Pavano as "marquee" says more about the current crop of free agent pitchers than it does about Pavano.

The Red Sox, Yankees, and Orioles are all, obviously, willing to spend a few bucks on free agents. The Tigers have been aggressive lately, and the Mariners have done a pretty good job of clearing payroll while taking it in the shorts this past season. In other words, bidding could get pretty outrageous.

Curious Pavano side note: his ESPN page shows him as playing for "WAS" for his first few seasons. Are we to expunge even the memory of a franchise in Montreal?

Guillen gone 

Posted 2:53 PM by Sean
No Piazza for us! Jose Guillen has been traded to the Washington Whomevers for Juan Rivera and "a prospect."

Rivera is a reasonably promising 26-year-old outfielder who's never played full-time in the majors, coming closest in 2004 with 391 ABs. His splits last year:

vRHP: 235 AB, .328/.390/.468
vLHP: 156 AB, .276/.323/.462

Ehhhhhh...okay. I'm not sure what the Angels are going to do with Rivera; he could be a fourth outfielder, a DH, a pinch-hitter, or trade bait. The Angels already have a fourth outfielder in DaVanon, though of course some combination of Rivera and DaVanon could play the outfield while GA DH'es. I'm a little bit skeptical of the Angels' intentions to play Rivera full-time, though, since they're already committed to putting McPherson at third, and having both of them learning on the job like that may be a little much. Still, Rivera's not eligible for arbitration yet, and should make less than half a million dollars in 2005, so the club has the luxury of seeing how he does in spring training, and can carry him on the bench or trade him elsewhere if they so desire.

More interestingly, the move frees up about three million in payroll for 2005. More and more, it's looking like the Angels could make serious runs at two top-tier free agents. By my calculations, they're committed to about $78 million for 2005 right now, and need a starter, two relievers, and an outfielder or a DH.

Terrifying trade rumor of the day 

Posted 8:59 AM by Sean
Piazza for Guillen? Eeek.

Guillen, 2004: .294/.352/.497, 27 HR
Guillen, 2005: 29 y.o., $3 million

Piazza, 2004: .266/.362/.444, 20 HR
Piazza, 2005: 36 y.o., $15 million

Does Piazza have a year's worth of DHing in him? Almost certainly. I mean, look at the Angels' production from that spot last year:

ANA DH 2004: .240/.323/.401, 21 HR

But the Mets would have to eat a LOT of salary to make this work. As in, $10 million.

Roster moves 

Posted 8:51 AM by Sean
The next wave of Angels prospects progresses: Jeff Mathis, Alberto Callaspo, Ervin Santana, Joe Saunders, and Steven Shell have all been placed on the 40-man roster.

Motor City Squinting Madman 

Posted 3:25 PM by Sean
Troy Percival's a Tiger, having signed a two-year, $12 million contract.

File this under "necessary but painful." Percy was on the mound for the ALDS clincher versus the Yankees, the ALCS clincher versus the Twins, and the World Series clincher versus the Giants, plus the Western Division clincher versus the A's. It's going to be incredibly strange seeing him in a Detroit uniform.

(edit: I inadvertently swiped Chronicles' title earlier, so I changed mine.)

Em Vee Pee 

Posted 2:11 PM by Sean
Vlad's the MVP, and all is right with the world.

Got a Molina, leave a Molina; need a Molina, take a Molina 

Posted 5:01 PM by Sean
The Angels have exercised their option on Bengie Molina for the 2005 season, and have declined their option on Ramon Ortiz. Neither of these is especially surprising. Molina will make $3 million in 2005, and, though his performance in 2004 was cause for concerned, upgrading to a more reliable backstop through free agency would have cost quite a bit more than the Angels were prepared to pay at that position. As it stands, they've got Jose available to replace Bengie if need be - not exactly a terrific offensive force, but excellent behind the plate.

So far, the Angels are making all the right moves if they're trying to situate themselves so as to pick up a top-tier free agent or two.

As I was saying, before I was interrupted... 

Posted 11:51 AM by Sean
Old news:

Both Troy Percival and Troy Glaus are gone for '05. This should not have come as a shock to anyone who was paying attention to the payroll numbers. Considering the fact that the Angels have McPherson and Rodriguez ready to step into those roles at a fraction of the price, these were more or less no-brainers for the club.

Arte Moreno says he wants to change the team's name to the Los Angeles Angels. Apparently some people think this is a big deal, but I couldn't care less. If they change the unis, I'm out $25 for a new hat. Otherwise, unless you're on the Angels' marketing staff or the Anaheim City Counsel, I fail to see why this should spill any beer at all.

Transaction rumors, and my takes thereupon:

Nomah - too pricey. Renteria is better, and possibly cheaper.
Randy Johnson - oh, hell yes. For one year? You'd better believe it.
Pedro - not if Pavano's available for substantially cheaper, or if Johnson can be had for one year.
Beltran - That'd be nice too.
Piazza - No freakin' way, and I hope like hell that's some kind of joke. It has to be, doesn't it?

So, lessee...figure $9 million for Renteria, $16.5 million for Johnson, and $14 million for Beltran, plus, say, a million for a reliever, minus $3 million for Jose Guillen, that comes to an additional $37.5 million over the payroll they're already committed to (give or take a Molina). So this merry band could be brought together for a mere $115 million or so, or $7 million short of what Arte paid to be Western Division champeens in 2004.