I'm sure I'm going to sound like some weird person who likes to spread internet gossip in order to get attention--but I assure you I'm not. I've been told by an insider in the DR that the Giants have signed 16 year old Dominican OF Rafael Rodriguez. He's been compared to Dave Winfield, at least for physicality. His power and speed are 70's on the 20-80 scale, but his ability to make consistent contact is questionable. He signed for $2.55 M, and I'm told the Cardinals were right there.

There's another rumor the Cards suprassed the Giants offer and are giving him $3.3 M, but I can't verify that yet. Anyway, take it fwiw.

Hey, I'm really sorry but I had some things come up and I'm not going to be able to oversee the Tigers draft. Would someone care to take it over for me? I would love to do it normally but I just can't.

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This is the Tigers MOD, so what does that mean? It means we will draft and sign the best player available, now matter their signability!!! Scott Boras, come on down! We will pay your players! The system has lots of needs after last winter's strip down, and I'm not sure a top player falls to us at 21, but I'm crossing my fingers for Eric Hosmer. If anyone would fall, it would be a high school 1B with a $7 M demand. If that doesn't work could also use a reliever who could have a quick impact, IE Josh Fields, Andrew Cashner and Ryan Perry immediately come to mind

First three

21

67

99

Deputy duties are open.

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=344052

$1 M contract + performance bonuses. $25,000 each for 15 starts or 100 innings, and 20 starts or 15 innings. $50,000 for 25 starts or 150 innings.

I say thee myeh. hopefully he doesn't have to make any starts.

Mr. Dramatic Homer himself of today's discussion signed a 4-year deal with an option for a 5th per the P-D. No word on how much. I like Yadier, who doesn't enjoy seeing him pick off a napping player at 1st or gun out Jose Reyes at 2nd? But I do feel for Bryan Anderson, who's likely going to become the superior player. I do think Yadier is probably a better hitter then his career line suggests, and last season we got a taste of it. 4-5 years seems like we're nailing him in for his peak and just maybe the very beginning of his decline, him playing the hardest position on the field and all.

I may have posted this here before, but are you a regular attendee at Mizzou baseball games? Would you like your opinions help influence a big league club on drafting a kid on your favorite team?

I'm an intern working on a knowledge-base project with a MLB club. We're trying to find savvy D1 baseball fans who are interested in sharing their evaluations of players defense with us. We've created a website that makes it extremely easy for you to share your opinions with us. The results of the collaboration are available and free to all that are interested.

If you would be interested in participating or helping in anyway, let me know at eriknmanning@gmail.com and I'll give you more details.

BDD is a favorite site of mine, if you are not up on it it's worth a bookmark. they did a look at rolen and glaus with the help of pitch f/x data and found some interesting stuff.

check it out and discuss.

Hey all,

I am an interm working with a major league baseball team looking for some honest and well-informed input from some knowledgeable D1 baseball fans. We are looking to get the "wisdom of the crowds" as it pertains to a players fielding. It will help us save some extra legwork for our scouts as well as get some fan participation that could lead to some key day two draft day decisions for player who may have otherwise not got a look. If you are Tom Tango's scouting reports by the fans, you will already have a good idea regarding what this is all about.

If you are attend Mizzou or other D1 games frequently enough to get an informed view of the players, and something like this would interest you, please contact me at eriknmanning@gmail.com

Scott Wuertz of the Belleview News-Dem is saying the Cards have an offer out to Matt Clement. And he also sounds a little bit like the fans who moan and whine about everything thing they think Mozeliak isn't doing to the point of ad nauseum, but that's besides the point. Personally, I'm not excited about him but I wouldn't call him the new Kip Wells, either. What say ye?

Update [2007-12-5 9:32:33 by lboros]: comments frozen.

there is obviously a very strong rift about the culture of diaries on this site. it got ugly yesterday, and i was unavailable to step in and restore order. we're gonna take a poll and resolve this once and for all. here's the link ---

http://www.vivaelbirdos.com/poll_vote/1196864677_xJvzUjRy

i'll abide by the majority. in the meantime ---- please refrain from posting a new diary unless you really have something original to say. and no, "ken rosenthal says" is not an original thought. put things like that in the main thread. i'll be policing closely today.

let's resolve this and move on.[end update]

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Hey all,

Erik here. I am taking the initiative to start this thread for all things rumor regarding that are going on during the current winter meetings. It's funny, because now it appears our main man Mo seems to be suffering from "paralysis from analysis" and maybe the rumors will start drying up considering he's being too greedy regarding Rolen, IMO and he's not trying to shop Anthony Reyes.

http://tinyurl.com/2xrtut

If he won't make a trade, he's going to have to move to the free agent market, and I for one am not exciting about Kyle Lohse at 3 years, $30 mil or whatever crazy amount he may cost.

Please, please, please post all things rumors here so we can stop the endless diaries, and stop the snarking at each other. Cool? Cool.

One other thing that is a pet peeve of mine, but it's not my blog so I don't know what lboros thinks--- can we do better at posting links? learn to format html, or let tiny url be your friend. URL's with like 40 characters are just kinda ugly.

Good night, and good gravy P.S. Use this diary, or Amaury Cazana Marti will suddenly destroy you, and that without remedy.