LAAMike

Claude, I just want to know when you are going to figure out how to spell "Hamilton".

Driving over Tuesday in time to see Prince Fielder.

Not trying to emulate YoT, but our St Louis adoptees were both among the three Angels that went hitless yesterday. I hope that this is just a small sample size matter as they both looked good in yesterday's game.

Those articles give me a headache.

14/21/28 would seem to be in the park for his three arb years.

Very interesting to see dynamic pricing with Hall of Fame Field going for $75.00-$225.00 and Lower View MVP going for $18.00-$55.00 (these cost $22.00 for SSH). The good old days are definitely gone.

40 man roster + 27 NRI. 19 IF, 9 OF, 7C and 32 Pitchers. That's a lot of folks.

The Braves bought out the three arb years and one FA year with a contract worth an AAV of 11.7. It is interesting to look at the three arb years at 7, 9 and 11 and the first FA year at 13 plus a 1mil signing bonus and compare it to Mariano Rivera in his prime where he saw three years at 10.5 and three years at 15. As I have written before the closer position dollars are much different than Mike Trout as a position player but this continuing trend of fully valuing players very early is a challenge and a risk for the clubs.

The players are broken into groups of like four players and the groups rotate from field to field. They have various drills, some of which are like BP. The field where the outfield abuts the parking lot can yield a few balls that fly into the parking lot. On the first field you have to stand and watch. The second field has a small set of bleachers where you can sit and watch. As Patti said above the players are on the fields right after 10:00 AM. The volunteer ushers should be able to give you a one page player roster which is a necessity with so many players whose numbers you may not know or remember.

Chuck that is some red hair!!

Although you will have to drive a bit, I love the restaurants in Scottsdale. My favorite is the Roaring Fork which has a great green chili pork pot and good prices at happy hour which last all evening if you eat in the bar.

The parking that Mancini refers to cost $5.00. You can also take the trolley from 5th and Mill for free. It leaves every 20 minutes starting two hours before the game and up to 30 minutes after the game. It drops you off 1 block from the stadium. If your hotel is not close to Mill then there are four parking lots that you can park at for free and then catch the trolley. You must have your game tickets in hand to have your parking validated when you get on the trolley.

There is free on street parking south of the stadium Depending how early you get there you might have to walk a few blocks or catch a bike rickshaw.

The CoA has hired an appraiser to determine the value of the land that Arte wants to lease for a dollar. Let's wait and see the numbers.

They are now saying that he is not dead but off of life support so it is just a matter of time.

For those of you who attempt to follow arbitration and free agency dollars and their increases of late, there is an interesting situation playing out in Atlanta. Clearly closers are on a different scale because they do not last as long as a position player. Craig Kimbrel, who I would offer as the Mike Trout of relievers, will go to arbitration on Monday February 17. He is asking 9 million and the Braves are asking 6.55 million. This works out to a FA value of either 22.5 million or 16.375 million using 40/60/80. These kind of numbers far exceed anything the greatest reliever of our lives, Mariano Rivera, ever received. As an added note, Holland settled his first arb year yesterday at 4.675 million. In any case we are dealing with an exceptional player and very different times with Mike Trout.

Using the 40/60/80 arb years formula and putting his value at 25 million for three and 30 million for three and paying this year and signing bonus totaling 5 million yields a contract of 215 million for ten years. Salaries are increasing dramatically due to the TV money so this could be a great deal for both sides if Mike stays healthy. I am not sure why the Angels would go much beyond this in 2014 when the numbers will not change much in 2015 even if he has another unbelievable year.

Reggie Willits only made $2,665,000 during his major league career. He is coaching High School Baseball in Oklahoma. I always liked the story of he and his family living in their batting cage.

I wonder what the technicality is the allows A-Rod to make 2.9 million this year when he is suspended for the entire year?

Doc Halo, Isn't the Blanton deal on a much lower scale financially then the Wells deal? I view the Blanton deal as a small gamble that did not pay off as opposed to a big gamble on Wells.

This is one I definitely had to look up. So our non roster pitching spring training invitees are: Yeiper Castillo, Hunter Green, Jarrett Grube, Wade LeBlanc, Mike Morin, Mark Mulder, Clay Rapada, Mark Sappington, Justin Thomas and Brandon Lyon plus a whole slew of roster invitees. Pretty crowded slate of pitchers.

There is a great article in SB Nation that says Maholm was a great value for the Dogs. Compares him to Vargas and Arroyo. I do not know how to post links to articles but it is Justin Millars' SB MLB Daily Dish of February 9, 2014. Another SB article talks of the possibility of Mahols going to the bullpen also. I have mentioned Maholm before and have been routinely lambasted so I will watch his season with some interest. I would even be rooting for him if it was not the Dogs.

Actually there are three freeway series games this year. March 27 and 28 at the Ravine and March 29 at home.

AO ,where is the information about his velocity and control coming from or is just conjecture? I hope that Mulder is anywhere near what you stated.

Nothing funny about any cancer. I agree that not identifying the cancer type does not bode well.