New-age stats shed light on Cy Youngs (AP)

post from MLB News Blog on 20 November 2009 09:38:56 AM. © MLB News Blog

For so many years, the formula for winning a Cy Young Award was pretty simple: Win a lot of games. Denny McLain was a unanimous pick in 1968 and deservedly so. He posted 31 victories — the combined total of this year's Cy Young starters, Tim Lincecum and Zack Greinke. A whopping win total, a [...]

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Interesting Free Agent Rankings

post from Talking Chop on 20 November 2009 09:33:00 AM. © Talking Chop

More photos » by Winslow Townson - AP

Billy Wagner could wind up in an Atlanta Braves uniform next year.

Browse more photos »

Keith Law ranks the top-50 free agents at ESPN Insider. Some interesting notes:

He lists Mike Gonzalez 16th, ahead of Rafael Soriano, saying they are the two best relievers on the market, but he considers Gonzo healthier and more valuable from the left side.
Rafael Soriano is 19th, and the thing that jumped out at me is that Law says he should be looking for K-Rod type money in a contract. Francisco Rodriguez got a 3-year, $37 million deal after leading the AL in saves, Soriano has been a full-time closer for less than a year, and as my 2009 review of him showed, he regressed throughout 2009. I can't see a team desperate enough to give Soriano that type of money, or even close. Maybe I'm misjudging the market for relievers.
Billy Wagner is ranked 23rd, and Law says of him that the biggest concern is if he can handle the closer's workload, and that an incentive-laden contract for games finished would make sense for the signing team. I can see the Braves being open to something along those lines.
He mentions a Japanese reliever named Ryota Igarashi, and I can see the Braves taking a chance on him if he chooses to come to the States.
Adam LaRoche is listed 29th, and while the review is not glowing -- pointing out his overall averageness and his first half swoon -- Law seems to think that some team will still pay him like a regular first baseman in both salary and years. This could easily put the Braves out of the running. I still think our best option is to offer him arbitration and act excited if he accepts, keeping him around for one more year.
I noticed that there were a lot of free agent second basemen. Teams needing a second baseman and not wanting to give up the draft picks to sign one of the free agents may create a market for Kelly Johnson.

Good overview of the free agents by Law, if you're an insider you should check it out.

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http://www.talkingchop.com/2009/11/20/1166387/interesting-free-agent-rankings

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Keith Law defends his Cy Young vote to a St.
Louis ESPN Radio affiliate

post from The Crawfish Boxes on 20 November 2009 09:24:00 AM. © The Crawfish Boxes

Keith Law defends his Cy Young vote to a St. Louis ESPN Radio affiliate

I don't know if anyone has heard this yet, but it is brilliant. You can almost feel the desperation in the hosts voices as their arguments get torn to shreds and they have nothing but anger to grasp at. The best part is, the host doesn't seem to understand anything Law is talking about.

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http://www.crawfishboxes.com/2009/11/20/1166402/keith-law-defends-his-cy-young

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The sixth nonsense

post from Philliesflow.com on 20 November 2009 09:13:52 AM. © Philliesflow.com

Charlie Manuel finished sixth in the voting for NL Manager of the Year. Sixth? Moving on, here’s the rates some free agents who could fill the Phils need at third base tallied hits, walks, doubles and triples, home runs and extra-base hits per 100 plate appearances for their last season in which they [...]

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How Lincecums GM looks at the 2nd Cy Young

post from Love My Team on 20 November 2009 09:05:09 AM. © Love My Team

Yesterday, Tim Lincecum won his second Cy Young in his first two years in the majors. At the[...]

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Trade Bait: Heilman to D-Backs

post from The Baseball Opinion on 20 November 2009 09:04:59 AM. © The Baseball Opinion

Aaron Heilman's star has fallen, but he's still a useful member of a bullpen. At least that's what the Arizona Diamondbacks think as they traded for him yesterday. The D-Backs sent minor leaguers Scott Maine and Ryne White to the Chicago Cubs.[...]

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Wanger Could Possibly Reunite With Torre

post from A Die Hard Yankees Fan on 20 November 2009 09:03:00 AM. © A Die Hard Yankees Fan

From Diamond Notes (hat-tip to MLB Trade Rumors):

Yankees pitcher Chien-Ming Wang, a non-tender candidate, told Taiwanese reporters Thursday that his first choice was to remain with New York. But if the Yankees cut him loose, Wang said he would not be opposed to going to the Dodgers.

?Not bad,? Wang said of the scenario presented by reporters that would have him going to Los Angeles. The two-time 19-game winner indicated that he would feel comfortable playing for a manager in Joe Torre who knows him well. Wang also went to middle school with Dodgers reliever Hong-Chih Kuo, and the two remain friends.

If I were the Yanks I'd offer a contract at least. I wouldn't be surprised if he heads West though.

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AOL Fanhouse's Top 50 FA's

With the free agent market officially open AOL Fanhouse has listed their top 50 free agents. Toping the list is John Lackey.

You can find all the characteristics of an ace in Lackey. He has the big-game experience, has thrived in that environment, and the ability is obviously there. You can bet all the usual suspects will be in on the action for the 6-foot-6 right-hander. This isn't a guy you need to worry about falling flat after he signs either. Lackey is a pitcher who isn't afraid of adjustments. He knows how to change things on the fly and fight through his struggles.

The rest of the top 10: 2. Matt Holliday, 3. Jason Bay, 4. Andy Pettitte, 5. Chone Figgins, 6. Rich Harden, 7. Randy Wolf, 8. Johnny Damon, 9. Jose Valverde, 10. Aroldis Chapman. Rest of list can be viewed here.

YES has a list of their top 20 free agents. Holliday tops their list.

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fas.html

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Go Watch The Premiere Of The 2009 World Series
Film

Here's some info on where you can see a special premiere screening of the film.

On Monday, November 23rd at 7:30 p.m. there will be several screenings throughout the area. If you're in Manhattan you can attend the event at the Ziegfeld Theatre located at 141 west 54th street. There will also be screenings in many other theaters in New York and New Jersey.

Check out the full list. Tickets to the event are $30.

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2009-world-series.html

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Facebook, Twitter and Free Agents

Tigerblog just entered the 21st century. I finally figured out to how to set up a Facebook fan page so if you want to follow the site that way, sign up as a fan. You can also find me on Twitter at @tigerblog.Free agent signing season begins today. I expect things will be rather subdued until [...]

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http://www.tigerblog.net/facebook-and-twitter/

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