Contact

Dan Vachalek & Joe Canteillo take the mound for some pitch and catch!

1. Why won't Detriot give Justin Verlander a 6th year? He's 26, and went 19-9 last year!

Dan: I wouldn't be so quick to give him a 6-year deal. I would just give him 5 years because when players are in their contract year, they seem to have better years. I don't feel comfortable giving more than 4 years on a contract, because a lot of things could happen but, that could be different for the general managers.

Joe: In my opinion I don't think Verlander is worth that sixth year because, frankly, no pitcher is. I believe it was Jeff Moorad, when he was the principal operating partner of the D'backs when asked if he would ever give a six year contract to a pitcher said: "No."

Verlander is what can be considered an ace in these times when considering that (discounting 2005 when he went 0-2 in 2 games) he has a 65-43 .602 record with almost four straight years of 200 plus innings. But loooking at why it is not that great an idea to give a pitcher a long term contract consider these examples:

Mike Hampton: (Number with a bullet!) He had a 49-39 record when he suddenly goes 22-4 in 1999. Leaves the Astros and signs with the Mets and goes 15-10. Signs long term with the Rockies in the off-season of 2000 for $121 millionand goes 14-13 (2001) and 7-15 (2002. Rockies dump him to the Marlins and the Marlins flip him to the Braves. He actually has two fair to middling years in 03 and 04 and then blows out an elbow. After coming back he tears an oblique in 07 and then a pec in 08. On 8/5/08 he wins his first game in three years. On 9/15/09 he had rotaor cuff surgery and will miss 2010. His win average since signing long term: 9 games a year. That is $13.4 million a win.

In no particular order also consider these deals:

2) Carl Pavano: $40 million for four years. 9 wins in three years.. $4.44 million per win.

3)  Barry Zito, $126 million, 7 years. Word is Zito has lost 4-5 mph, leaving  little between the fastball and his signature breaking ball. He's got almost six years to go.  

4) Kevin Brown, $105 million deal. According t oJohn Heyman, "The first $100-million free agent. There were whispers that no one was offering anywhere near nine figures, but the truth is that while L.A. was the high bidder, there were other fools out there, as well. He brought his surly demeanor to the Bronx for two years, and left without a word, never to be heard from again. That is, until the Mitchell Report was released." 

5) Chan Ho Park, $65 million, five years, Rangers. He went 9-8; 1-3 and 4-7 i nhis firts three years with Texas before rebounding in 2005 and going 8-5 to start the year. Texas unloads him to SanDiego during 05. He has gone 18-18 since with five different teams.   

6) When the Giants signed Barry Zito in 2006, they figured they had an ace for the next seven years

But, Zito with the Giants has been a less than stellar. His ERA with Giants is i nthe 5.00 meighborhood and he looks simply awful.  His velocity and control have deteriorated to the point where his once devastating curveball is no longer as effective as it once was. The Giants are still on the hook for another 4 years of Zito at a whopping $76 million bucks due full to a no trade clause. The weird thing with Zito is he hasn't been hurt or a tlest no one is saying he has been hurt since signing with the Giants. 

Michael Madderom: Because it's bad business. History is replete with starting pitchers given 5 and 6 year contracts who ended up costing far more than their production warranted. I can't think of a single 5+ year contract for a starting pitcher that was still working out for both sides after year 4. Anything more than 3 years for a starting pitcher is asking for trouble. 6 years is insane. (Note: Verlander reportedly signed a 5 year deal tonight) 

2. What odds do you give Mauer will stay in Minneapolis after this year?

Dan: I'd say that there are 60-40 odds of Mauer staying in Minneapolis after this year. He likes the city, and they are a contender. They have a chance to win it all, he has no other competition, plus, as long as Morneau is still there playing 1B and the Twins are paying him, he stays in Minneapolis. Of course, if Posada retires, Martinez isn't in Boston anymore, and they pay him the big bucks, he leaves for either Boston or New York Yankees.

Joe: To be truthful I have not the foogiest. He has been on the DL already and catchers can be fragile to a certain point due to the fact that that they are involed in every play on the field and are i nsoem horrific physical plays a the plate. Plus they cosntntl yare gettign knciked nad dinged with the ball just from the fact they are a catcher. So realizing that how much is Mauer worth to the Twins as a catcher and how much is he worth as an offensive threat? The answer the second question is the 2009 MVP is worth his weight in gold to the Twins as an offensive driving force in their lineup.  The answer to the first question is this that since making Joe Mauer their starting catcher in 04 the Twins have played 648 games and Mauer has played 415. That is a situation  the Twins need to fix. The Twins need to pick a new position for their franchise player. Mauer is a good to excellent catcher but the Twins need his bat in the lineup 150 times a season,  The yneed hsi MVP ability in the lineup and that will happen until he's a third baseman or left fielder. His recurring l injuries are a flashing red sign that he should be moved.

Michael: 50-1 against. Never say never, but...Mauer is going to command HUGE money. The Twins have traditionally been adverse to paying anything beyond moderate money in free agency. This is a team that was seriously considered for contraction a few years ago largely because they have a billionaire owner who's only interest is in how much he can make off of the team from year to year. No way they ante' up the money Mauer is going to demand.

3. Multiple Choice - who will the Angels miss most?

A. Lackey
B. Figgins
C. Guerrero
D. Sorry - can't talk, I have to get my Juan Rivera jersey cleaned

Dan: I think that they will miss Chone Figgins the most. He has a great ability to get on base, he has speed, and he is very versatile on defense (he can play multiple positions). He can play in the outfield, third base, second base and shortstop. He also isn't a weak fielder, so that definitely helps. Another thing that is going to hurt even more, is that Chone Figgins will be with the Mariners, so they will face him multiple times in the year. They will wish they still had him in their lineup and on defense for them, and it'll hurt the more and more they play against the Mariners.

Joe: I am don't consider Lackey to be an ace so I go with Figgins. I was actually hoping the Yanks could sign Figgins for their Damon repalcement but  I reckon at 9 million a year he was too steep for their budget.

Michael: Lackey. They've been trying to dump Figgins for years and just couldn't get the asking price. Vlad is done.

4. Where is Chien-Ming Wang going to land?

Dan: I don't think he lands anyway except back in Japan, to be honest. After last year's awful display of pitching in the MLB, I don't see why any team would want him. He was just awful for the Yankees last year. He had a 2.02 WHIP, 9.64 ERA and a .365 BAA last year. That is horrundus, and I don't see why any team would want to risk their chance on a pitcher like that..

Joe: My guess is the Mets. They need to sign some pitching right about now. Anyone at this point. Wang will come cheap and has upside. He did win 19 games at one point.

Michael: Does Canada have a professional Baseball league yet? Seriously. Who cares where some flash in the pan who completely lost his stuff/command and has pitched 137 total innings over the last two years ends up?

5. Salary Arbitration hits on Feb 5th -give me a case to watch and one you would love to arbitrate.

Dan: I don't really follow arbitration that much, but the one I'm watching is the Corey Hart-Milwaukee Brewers arbitration hearing. I would love to arbitrate this, because I think that this should definitely rule in the Brewers' favor. Corey Hart looked terrible in the playoffs 2 years ago against the Phillies (couldn't hit the ball, head always pulling out while swinging). He just looked horrible. I don't think a 3.25 million dollar salary player is going to give you a .260 BA with 92 strikeouts and okay fielding ability in right field.He doesn't get on base much, which isn't going to help him out either. I wouldn't rule in favor of Hart what-so-ever.

Joe: Lincecum, who has been the NL's most dominant pitcher since early in the 2007 season. Since then he has a 40-17 record with a 2.90 ERA.

He was 33-12 record with a 2.55 ERA the past two seasons, leading the league in strikeouts both years. He averages 10.5 Ks per nine innings.

Lincecum also leads the majors in ERA, batting average against (.214), winning percentage (.733) and strikeouts over the past two seasons.

I want to hear how the Giants can justify bad mouthing him to the guy making this arbitration decision.  

Michael: (Caveat, these players may have signed and I just don't know it)

One to
watch - Verlander. (Note: But it appears the watch is over)

One I'd love to arbitrate - I take this to mean the one I'd love to represent, not from the team perspective. Tim Lincecum. Who wouldn't love to be representing a two time Cy Young winner in an arbitration hearing? He's asking for $13mil and the Giants are offering $8mil.

I repeat. He's a two time Cy young winner. (In two full seasons). The Giants should pay the $13mil then either lock him up long term or trade him immediately. His value will never be higher than it is right now.

6. Andre Dawson will be inducted into the Hall as a Montreal Expo, but wants to be a Cub- thoughts?

Dan: I don't understand why they won't allow him to be elected into the Hall of Fame how he wants to be. He is being elected, he had a great career, and he should be able to choose what team he enters the Hall of Fame as. That is how he is going to be remembered for the rest of his life, and whenever people walk through the hall and look at his plaque, they are going to see him in as an Expo. He wants to be seen as a Cub for the rest of the time the Hall is up, but the Hall is going to rule in favor of the other way. They should be able to grant favor to the player who dedicated his time and talents to the MLB for numerous years.

Joe: The reason the Hall took control over the decision making on what hat a guy wears going in is because it was said certain teams were "bribing" certain players with a minimum of time with their team to go in wearing their hat. That being said, in Dawson's case I think he had his best years with the Cubs and if he wants to go in a Cub, then he should.

Michael: This is real simple. The Hall of Fame determines which team an inductee was most productive with. It's an honor to be inducted, don't try to make yourself bigger than the Hall by telling them which cap you should be wearing on your plaque. That's very
presumptuous and frankly, the Hawk wasn't -that- good to have leverage to dictate to the HoF.

A couple of years ago Roger Clemens stated that if he didn't have a Yankees cap on, he'd boycott his induction ceremony. It was a pompous, presumptuous statement at the time. Knowing what he now know about Roger and his affinity for needles while in New York, it's even more absurd.

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