Boras confident about Ryu deal with Dodgers
(Yahoo! Sports)

post from MLB News Blog on 15 November 2012 11:01:47 PM. © MLB News Blog

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Ryu Hyun-Jin grew up in South Korea dreaming of playing in his country’s professional baseball league. Once he achieved that, he developed a new goal – to pitch in the United States for a major league team.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2012/11/16/boras-confident-about-ryu-deal-with-dodgers
-yahoo-sports/

Add to del.icio.us

Digg this

Post to Furl

Add to reddit

Add to myYahoo!

Coming Soon To 30-YOC Hall Of Fame Debate

post from 30-Year Old Cardboard on 15 November 2012 08:39:59 PM. © 30-Year Old Cardboard

Coming Soon To ’30-YOC’ – ‘Hall Of Fame Debate’ I think that you’re all going to really like this!! I try to bring a few regular events to ’30-YOC’ to give you something to latch on to that appeals to … Continue reading →

Read The Full Article:
http://bapple2286.wordpress.com/2012/11/16/coming-soon-to-30-yoc-hall-of-fame-deb
ate/

Digg this

Yankees to be subject of play (Yahoo! Sports)

post from MLB News Blog on 15 November 2012 07:15:22 PM. © MLB News Blog

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees will really provide some theater.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2012/11/16/yankees-to-be-subject-of-play-yahoo-sports/

Digg this

Triple Crown Winner Miguel Cabrera Takes The AL
Most Valuable Player Award!!!

post from 30-Year Old Cardboard on 15 November 2012 06:56:49 PM. © 30-Year Old Cardboard

Triple Crown Winner Miguel Cabrera Takes The AL Most Valuable Player Award!!! From ESPN.com Miguel Cabrera was named the American League’s MVP on Thursday, beating rookie phenom Mike Trout by a much wider margin than most anticipated. Cabrera, baseball’s first Triple … Continue reading →

Read The Full Article:
http://bapple2286.wordpress.com/2012/11/15/triple-crown-winner-miguel-cabrera-tak
es-the-al-most-valuable-player-award/

Digg this

Buster Posey Captures The National League MVP
Crown!!!

post from 30-Year Old Cardboard on 15 November 2012 06:53:39 PM. © 30-Year Old Cardboard

Buster Posey Captures The National League MVP Crown!!! From Yahoo Sports NEW YORK (AP) — Buster Posey of the San Francisco Giants was voted the NL Most Valuable Player on Thursday after returning from a devastating leg injury and becoming … Continue reading →

Read The Full Article:
http://bapple2286.wordpress.com/2012/11/15/buster-posey-captures-the-national-lea
gue-mvp-crown/

Digg this

Miguel Cabrera, Buster Posey win MVP awards
(Yahoo! Sports)

post from MLB News Blog on 15 November 2012 06:53:18 PM. © MLB News Blog

NEW YORK (AP) — Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera has won the American League’s Most Valuable Player award after becoming baseball’s first Triple Crown winner in 45 years, and San Francisco’s Buster Posey has been voted the National League honor.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2012/11/15/miguel-cabrera-buster-posey-win-mvp-awards-
yahoo-sports/

Digg this

Tony Wolters: Cleveland Indians prospect profile

post from Beyond the Box Score - All Posts on 15 November 2012 05:02:57 PM. © Beyond the Box Score - All Posts

20120222_kkt_st3_043

Tony Wolters is not the largest guy. Standing at 5'10 165 lb. he does not jump out before watching him play, but anyone who does can certainly see the promise.

His manager this past season, Edwin Rodriguez, thinks highly of him. He told me in an interview in July that he thought Wolters could become a "complete ballplayer."

Physical Bio

Bats: L Throws: R

Height: 5'10 in. Weight: 165 lb.

Scouting Report

Defensively, while the Indians are still trying to work him in at shortstop, I believe his long-term position is going to be second base. While I think Wolters' range would be passable for shortstop, his arm and footwork leave big enough questions that I do not feel comfortable fitting him in at shortstop. He has a tendency to spin around when making tough plays, and had issues with setting his feet to throw when playing shortstop, rushing his throws at times. The arm would be below average for shortstop, with the biggest knock being his struggles with throws on balls hit to his right.

At the plate, Wolters profiles as a guy who could hit .290 with some pop, with more gap power than home run power. His average speed will play up due to good instincts and Pedroia-like hustle, but he should never be a major base stealing threat. He has a quick bat, and a direct path to the ball which couples with a level swing to spray line drives to all fields.

Statistical Analysis

Wolters triple-slashed .260/.320/.404 as a 20-year old in the Carolina League, which is not bad. This is made more impressive when factoring in that Wolters was overwhelmed at first by the Carolina League, batting .130 in the month of April. Much to his credit he hung in there, and was able to bounce back.

A few concerns with Wolters are his K and BB rates, as they were both rather disappointing. He walked in just 6.7% of his PAs, and struck out in 19.4% of them. He was able to post a BABIP of .314, which may be accredited to his line drive approach.

Age Tm Lev PA 2B 3B HR SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS18IndiansRk210002025.211.286.211.49619Mahoning ValleyA-31310311943049.292.385.363.74820CarolinaA+53730885936104.260.320.404.7243 Seasons87140119261368158.270.342.385.727Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/14/2012.

Overall Summary

Wolters isn't a flashy prospect, and his ceiling is that of a .290 hitting second baseman who can play shortstop in a pinch. While that won't be showing up on any top-100 lists, he is still a player who should carry some major league value, whether it be as a starter or as a utility-man.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2012/11/15/3647878/indians-tony-wolters-prospect
-profile

Digg this

AP source: Cubs agree to deal with C Navarro
(Yahoo! Sports)

CHICAGO (AP) — A person familiar with the situation says the Chicago Cubs have agreed on terms of a contract with former All-Star catcher Dioner Navarro.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2012/11/15/ap-source-cubs-agree-to-deal-with-c-navarro
-yahoo-sports/

Digg this

Bud Selig Still Reviewing Miami Marlins / Toronto
Blue Jays Blockbuster Trade

The Miami Marlins and Toronto Blue Jays are more than feeling the ramifications of the mega-trade that sent Josh Johnson, Jose Reyes, and Mark Buehrle among others to the Jays for Yunel Escobar and a bevy of prospects and second-hand players. Already Fish Stripes has supplied an extensive take on the entire trade, covering the situation from as many angles as can be found. You can rest assured that this blog will continue to cover the story in the days ahead.

But the story still has a minuscule chance to be a non-story, albeit one of the biggest in baseball history. Commissioner Bud Selig has yet to review and approve the trade between the Marlins and Jays.

Speaking at the conclusion of the owners' meetings, Selig said Thursday the trade hasn't officially been presented to him. But he said the matter is under review and he talked to two independent baseball people who feel the Marlins did well in the proposed swap.

Selig also mentions that he is aware of the fan anger involved in the trade, but it seems impartial baseball people agree with the sentiment previously written here that, from a strictly baseball perspective, the Marlins made off well in the trade. Again, Jose Reyes and Mark Buehrle were going to cost more than they were worth thanks to their back-loaded contracts, and as a result they were likely not as good as simply having the money available to the team to utilize in the future.

The problem, as we pointed out earlier today, is that the Marlins may find it difficult to utilize any of that money saved given how poorly they have treated the players of their organization, including the free agents they traded and the lone remaining star on the franchise in Giancarlo Stanton. The Marlins' new plan post-fire sale is to gather assets and develop them into quality major leaguers three or four years down the road. But if the team cannot sign impact free agents, then they are left in a similar state as the 2006 era ball club that was hampered by mediocre support for one or two star players. And if the team cannot re-sign its best young players because of the lack of trust between the ownership and the Marlins players, then the cycle of purging will continue with or without a winning period in between.

There is a reasonable baseball argument to suggest that the Marlins came off well enough in Tuesday's trade, certainly well enough to avoid the deal being nixed by the commissioner's office. But that does not mean that the trade was a positive for the organization as a whole. Marlins fans may yet wish for Selig to deliver them back the players the Marlins traded away, but even that will not reverse the irreparable damage to the already-ugly reputation of the organization.

Your move, Commissioner Selig.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.fishstripes.com/2012/11/15/3651128/bud-selig-reviewing-miami-marlins-t
oronto-blue-jays-blockbuster-trade

Digg this

Cubs Garza cleared to resume offseason routine
(Yahoo! Sports)

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs say pitcher Matt Garza can resume his normal offseason routine after a scan this week showed the right-hander’s pitching elbow is healing as expected.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2012/11/15/cubs-garza-cleared-to-resume-offseason-rout
ine-yahoo-sports/

Digg this