Astros Launch Party A Hit With Fans: Vintage
Uniforms And The Return Of Orbit

post from The Crawfish Boxes - All Posts on 03 November 2012 08:01:00 AM. © The Crawfish Boxes - All Posts

Allunis

If you want a play-by-play recap of the event check out Grant Brisbee's live blog of the event. As for me I thought the event was fun and minus the audio licensing issues it was very well done. I loved the breaking news alert that setup the Orbit intro, in fact I think that was my favorite part of the whole reveal.

I expressed some concern in an article earlier this week about Orbit returning as the Astros mascot. I'm happy to say what I saw tonight I'm very impressed with. I think they did a good job updating the mascot outfit, and I was very happy with what I saw tonight (May have to click on the link to get the gif to show).

Now onto the uniforms.

Consider me not as thrilled as I hoped. I wouldn't say I'm disappointed and I'm hoping as I look at them more and more I'll change my mind, but right now consider me slightly disappointed. I love the BP/Spring training jerseys. I like that they incorporated rainbow's under the armpits. The others I worry are too much like the Mets Jerseys and I was kind of hoping for a shooting star across the chest for some of the jerseys. I've never been a fan of two colored hats, where the bill is a different color, but I realize it happens.

When discussing the changes Jim Crane said the uniforms would be a classy uniforms with an updated look. My impressions of these, minus the BP/ST jersey, is that they're more vintage than updated. Uniforms do sometimes undergo tweaks here and there and at this point I gotta say I wouldn't mind a few tweaks here and there. I realize a new color scheme is a big overhaul for not just uniforms but also for the ballpark, but I was kind of hoping for a little more modern and a lot loss throwback.

Judging by the reaction on Twitter, I'm sure many disagree with me and that's fine. I'm not upset about them, it just seems like they're missing something that would make them truly unique.

Anyways here are two more fun gifs for your enjoyment.

Jonathan Singleton and Jordan Lyles

Lucas Harrell and Jarred Cosart

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s-vintage-uniforms-and-the-return

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Happy Birthday Dwight Evans!!!

post from 30-Year Old Cardboard on 03 November 2012 07:00:57 AM. © 30-Year Old Cardboard

Happy Birthday Dwight Evans!!! Dwight Evans turns 61 years old today. Evans wore the Boston Red Sox uniform for 20 years! And in that time, he became known as one of the sport’s greatest defensive outfielders of all-time. The winner … Continue reading →

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November 3, 2012

post from Love My Team on 03 November 2012 06:00:09 AM. © Love My Team

November 3, 1965 - Dodgers legend Sandy Koufax wins his second NL Cy Young award by a unanimous[...]

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Angels decline Dan Harens $15.5 million option
(Yahoo! Sports)

post from MLB News Blog on 03 November 2012 12:43:56 AM. © MLB News Blog

Dan Haren became a free agent after the Los Angeles Angels failed to work out a trade and then declined the pitcher’s 2013 option.

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A battle of wits: A-Rod trade rumors, simulated

post from Beyond the Box Score - All Posts on 03 November 2012 11:01:33 AM. © Beyond the Box Score - All Posts

20121022_jel_sx9_009

With recent rumors of the New York Yankees exploring trade options for Alex Rodriguez, Spencer and myself locked horns at the negotiating table once again.

As a Jays' fan, playing the role of Brian Cashman was difficult for me. I had always worked under the assumption they just throw money at the wall, but as I researched I realized it's not just wins and dollars that motivate the Yankees...it's also cash, moolah, championships and banners. For Spencer, he had to look inward to find his Extra 2%, acting as Tampa Bay Rays' general manager Andrew Friedman.
Obviously we don't have time to really scout the other team's minor leagues or do real in-depth analysis on the players, plus we don't know budgetary restrictions or team plans. So keep in mind these negotiations are for fun and are simulated in a very short time frame, explaining just how badly Spencer has been hosed for the second time in a row.

Mr. Cashman, Andrew's on Line 2. He's joking about Theo.

Andrew Friedman (AF): Hey Brian, how's the offseason treating you?

Brian Cashman (BC)??: Not so good Andrew. The pile of money I sleep on is pretty lumpy, and Hank Steinbrenner has me on speed dial. So, y'kno...living the dream. Yourself?

?AF?: I'm doing well. Preparing some 10-year contract offers for some of our single-A players. What's money? ?

BC?: Oh Andrew...young, naive Andrew. You'll find out once a major studio picks up The Extra 2%. ?

AF?: So let's get down to it then. You guys selling any bats? We could use a few with Pena and Scott leaving.

BC?: Absolutely. I'm sure you've heard plenty of conjecture to that point, but don't be mistaken. We're not looking to just pay star players to play for a division rival because he may or may not have had a playoffs that may or may not have made him a scapegoat even though all of this teammates may or may not have been equally bad.

151087775 Photo credit: Joe Robbins

AF?: Since you don't want to trade me a star like Robinson Cano, how about A-Rod? I heard you mention that he isn't untouchable anymore. What would we be looking at there?

BC: Well A-Rod discussions will take place on a continuum. I know your...uhh, financial situation...so the more we're on the hook for, the more we're going to need in return in terms of players. And vice versa.

?AF?: We'd be willing to pay for 7-8 million of it the next two years, with that number lowering over the following seasons (per year).

BC?: And what type of player would we be looking at in return in that scenario? ?

AF?: We would be willing to surrender a decent prospect, who do you guys like? ?

BC?: What about Brandon Guyer? He's pretty blocked for you guys and coming off of that nasty labrum tear. ?

AF?: If you guys want Guyer then we want to lower the amount we take on to five million the first two years, with that number decreasing dramatically ?thereafter.

The amount we pay A-Rod has to decrease dramatically in later years.

BC?: I'm not sure I want to pay $24M for a 2-3 win player to play against us. I know A-Rod had a down year, but he showed a lot of improvement when deployed as a DH (125 wRC+ vs 110 at third). This is still a player that's gonna return more than $5M in value in terms of wins for you.

Basically, I'm saving $5M but you're assuming I can deploy that $5M, minus Guyer's salary, to replicate three wins, minus Guyer's contribution. I can't make that math work.

And I know you've likely got about $35M before arbitration salaries to play around with, more if you move Shields.

AF?: Well we may have some guys you'd be interested in at the Major League Level, if paying most of A-Rod's deal isn't what you'd like to do.

In fact...what do you guys think of James Shields? ?

BC?: I think he's dreamy. However, I know that since he doesn't have a terrible contract, the Dodgers wouldn't be interested...so I might be your best option.

151087775 Gary A. Vasquez-US PRESSWIRE

James Shields? Dreammmyyy...

BC: Are you suggesting an A-Rod-and-cash-for-Shields deal? Because that's definitely something I can run to Hank. ?

AF?: We offered to give him a 15 year extension and they offered us Zach Lee. So there's a market there.

Hell, Kansas City offered us Starling, Myers, Odorizzi, Alex Gordon, Eric Hosmer, and Mike Moustakas. ?

BC?: Oh I bet they did. ?

AF?: If we give you Shields, we'll pay 5-5-3-0-0 of A-Rod's deal, but we want another piece. We can't just give our ace to a division rival.

BC?: Well at those numbers, I'm essentially paying $106M for Shields. If we had a little more salary certainty moving forward I might be OK with that, but he can just walk on us in 2015. There's not enough certainty for me to commit to paying ARod $61M in 2015-17 when we might not have Shields anymore. ?

AF?: If you would like us to pay those salaries at the end of the deal, that would be okay as well. ?

BC?: Even in that scenario, we couldn't give up any assets beyond the large cash expenditure. ?

AF?: How much of the contract would we have to take on to acquire another asset? ?

BC?: Depends on the asset, of course. Who in particular are you looking at? ?

151087775 Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

So, Banuelos and Pineda. Do they still have all of their limbs attached?

AF?: How are the medicals looking on Banuelos and Pineda? More so Banuelos.?

BC?: We would send Banuelos back if the total you were paying from ARod's deal was $30M, and that can be backloaded if you'd prefer. We see him as a three-win pitcher eventually, and he's a highly controllable asset. ?

AF?: How about Pineda? ?

BC?: We gave up our top prospect for him. He'd cost more. ?

AF?: James Shields is a bona fide front of the rotation pitcher, Pineda is a pitcher with one good season coming off of shoulder surgery. Plus you gave up your top prospect for him and Jose Campos, another well regarded young player. ?

BC?: I just meant relative to Banuelos, not that he's untouchable.?

AF?: If you're willing to include Pineda, I could take on $25M of A-Rod's contract.

BC?: 30. And not back-loaded. 8-8-5-5-4.

AF?: We prefer it to be frontloaded anyway, so we can agree on that. If we take on that much then I'd like two out of Romine, Phelps, and Betances. You can give us just Betances if you pay all the HR and milestone bonuses. ?

151087775 Photo credit: Jonathan Daniel

C'mon Son.

BC?: C'mon Son. 25+Shields for ARod+Pineda turns into 30+Shields for ARod+Pineda+two more good prospects?

There's no way those two guys are worth only $5M. With what I'm asking for right now, you're paying $30M for 5 years of a three-win player, and a few controllable years of what was a three-win pitcher pre-injury. That's a hell of a deal in terms of $/WAR. We're paying $89M, ARod, and Pineda for two years of Shields. Don't get greedy, Andrew.

?AF?: You assume A-Rod for three wins a year for the next five years, and we aren't so sure that is likely.

I think us going 8-8-5-5-4 on him, as well as getting Pineda, and one out of Romine and Betances is a fair deal. What if we throw in Guyer? You guys eat a bit more contract, and get Guyer. Then we only pay $25M of his deal.

BC?: $25M+Shields+Guyer for ARod+Pineda+Betances, you mean? ?

AF?: If that's good for you guys. ?

BC: If we can make the breakdown a 5-10-5-3-2?

?AF?: We could do 10-8-3-2-2.

BC?: 8-10-3-2-2 would work.

?AF?: Is that a deal? ?

BC?: Sure. ?

AF?: So we get A-Rod (and pay $25M of his deal), Betances and Pineda for Shields and Guyer? ?

BC?: Yup?.

AF?: Alright, hopefully David Stern doesn't veto it. Basketball reasons and all.

###

Result: New York Yankees trade Alex Rodriguez, Michael Pineda and Dellin Betances to Tampa Bay Rays for James Shields and Brandon Guyer. The Rays will only pay $8M, $10M, $3M, $2M and $2M of ARod's deal.

BtBers, who won the trade?

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