Re: 2011 Baseball Thread

[MartyS (Gromit)]

Papelbon to Phils.  I really would rather not have this be essentially a closer swap via free agency.

Another out of the blue acquisition, I had not heard any talk at all of them even looking at another closer...

[k1]

I'm just waiting for the first mention of "bridge year" for the Sox.

[D.B. Barnes]

Good news!


Kidnapped Baseball Player Wilson Ramos Rescued -- Alive and Well in Venezuela

Kidnapped Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos was alive and well in Venezuela after his rescue in an air operation this evening, officials said.

"They got him," the Major League Baseball player's agent, Gustavo Mercano, confirmed to The Washington Post. "He's safe."

Ramos was with police this evening, has called his family and was on his way home, Mercano told the Post. He gained his freedom in the mountains of Montalban in the state of Carabobo in central Venezuela, the Post reported, citing Venezuelan Communications Minister Andres Izarra.

Izarra said it was "a rescue operation by air," The Associated Press reported. State television reported that three men were arrested in the kidnapping.

Ramos' mother was shown on television exclaiming, "Thanks to God!"

After speaking to her son by phone, she said, "He's fine."

Ramos's family had been waiting to hear from kidnappers who abducted Ramos as police in Venezuela mounted an urgent nationwide search for the ballplayer.

Police had said they believed Ramos was still alive, even though there has been little trace of him since he was kidnapped Wednesday. On Thursday, police said that they found the SUV used by four armed men used to abduct Ramos in Santa Ines, in central Carabobo.

Ramos, 24, was kidnapped at gunpoint in front of his family while visiting his mother's home in Venezuela. An eyewitness to the crime -- whose identity had to be protected -- described the chilling abduction.

"Suddenly and with no warning, I see the SUV stop and they're pointing at them with guns and the only thing they say is not to look at their faces," the witness said.

According to Justice Minister Tareck El Aissami, the vehicle used in the kidnapping was found abandoned in a nearby town. He said that anti-kidnapping units with top-notch investigators have been dispatched to central Carabobo state.

Major League Baseball and the Washington Nationals issued a joint statement Thursday stating that the organization's Department of Investigations was "working with the appropriate authorities on this matter."

"This was a targeted kidnapping, so they were aware of where he was. They knew the money he could produce, they probably knew how much baseball players make," Chris Voss, former FBI lead international kidnapping negotiator, told ABC News.

Ramos is an emerging star with the Washington Nationals, a natural whose fielding and power hitting propelled him into the role of starting catcher in only his rookie season. In 2011 he hit .267 with 15 home runs and 52 RBIs in 113 games. He also threw out 19 of 67 runners attempting to steal a base, a 28 percent success rate.

Ramos may be the highest profile symbol of the growing, and some say epidemic, problem of kidnapping for ransom in Venezuela. Hundreds of such abductions occur each year.

"It's a business, the victim is a commodity," Voss ABC News.

The situation appears to be worsening, especially for Venezuela's wealthy. According to ESPN, since 2004 at least three major league players from Venezuela have had relatives kidnapped. In 2009, the 56-year-old mother of retired player Victor Zambrano was rescued after a three-day kidnapping ordeal.

[Bob]

Tought decision for those guys born there.   Not like they can just decide to NEVER go back and leave all their relatives behind and putting them all in armed compounds cannot be the answer either. 

Yuck.

[Bob]

Current thoughts on who will be the next Cardinal manager from the STL paper.   Even if you aren't a Cards' fan, I thought it would be an interesting read to see some of the thought process that goes in picking a manager.



With GM John Mozeliak and chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. about to choose a manager, let's handicap the field. I've put them in most likely order of finish — my opinion only — and obviously I could be wrong.

Also, this little exercise isn't for the fans and journalists who reside in Candy Land. So if you're expecting fluff or political correctness, move on.

MIKE MATHENY

Plusses • Immense leadership potential. A strong Cardinals pedigree; earned respect as a catcher here from 2000-2004. Could keep much of a veteran coaching staff together. Familiar with current Cardinals and has a good handle on their minor-league system. Popular with fans. Former teammates have called Mozeliak to urge Matheny's hiring. Has the respect of key veteran players. A Mozeliak ally, Matheny would work well with all branches of the baseball operation.

Questions • What makes Matheny think that he can walk into Tony La Russa's old office and take over one of the great jobs in North American professional sports after paying no dues as a full-time coach or manager in the minors or majors? Has he earned this? As Matheny makes mistakes while growing into such a big job, how many wins will it cost the 2012 Cardinals? Will Matheny have credibility issues if he's viewed as being controlled by management? Does he know how to run a game?

Why he'd get the job • Mozeliak believes in him and deems that Catch 22 is worth the gamble.

Why he wouldn't • Think A.J. Hinch.

JOSE OQUENDO

Plusses • Is a loyal Cardinal who logged many years as player and coach with the big-league club, learning about managing by being near Whitey Herzog, Joe Torre and La Russa. That's an impressive baseball education. He's close to Albert Pujols, who could be more inclined to stay (provided that the money is right) if Oquendo lands the post.

Questions • The perception is that Oquendo wouldn't stand up to Pujols or Yadier Molina. Too many fans and players have watched Pujols ignore Oquendo's stop signs at third base. Oquendo's best relationships have been with the team's Latino delegation, which is fine, but can he lead all 25 men? How are his communication skills? Does he have the presence to fill the big chair, or is he a career coach? Could Oquendo work well with the player-development side as part of a Mozeliak initiative to have a united and fully integrated operation?

Why he'd get the job • If Mozeliak concludes he needs someone more experienced than Matheny.

Why he wouldn't • If his time as a "hot" candidate has passed.

TERRY FRANCONA

Plusses • In eight seasons in Boston, Francona won two World Series. And only the Yankees won more regular-season games than the Red Sox. An experienced leader, accustomed to big-stage games, pressure and expectations. Has handled the grind of a tough market. Has developed a rep as a player's manager. If he's still energized, Francona would be well acclimated to take over a World Series champ managed by La Russa.

Questions • It was only one bad month out of an otherwise impressive eight-season run, but the 2011 Red Sox collapsed in September to trash their huge lead in the AL wild-card race. It was reported that Francona (A) lost the clubhouse; (B) was affected by taking pain-killing medication; (C) was stressed by a strain in his marriage. Is Francona burned out? Does he really want the Cubs job instead?

Why he'd get the job • Easily the most qualified.

Why he wouldn't • If Mozeliak fears that Francona's life is a reality show waiting to happen.

RYNE SANDBERG

Plusses • Instant credibility in the clubhouse. A Hall of Fame player who refused to take a short-cut to a big-league job, he headed to the minors to learn how to be a coach and a manager. That's honorable and admirable. Players who played for him in the minors say Sandberg runs a good game and knows how to deal with players. Cubs fans would hate this.

Questions • OK, if Sandberg is such a marvelous candidate, then why have the Cubs declined to hire him in their last two manager searches? Sandberg does have a quirky personality. He doesn't know Cardinals players and isn't familiar with the St. Louis minor-league system and the people who run it. Would Cards fans accept a Cubs legend as the new boss?

Why he'd get the job • Is ready after a diligent apprenticeship and would bring star power and Hall of Fame cachet to the assignment.

Why he wouldn't • Lacks a working knowledge of the Cardinals.

JOE MCEWING

Plusses • Made a remarkably fast rise as a coach and manager in the Chicago White Sox system. Super Joe, the former Cardinals utility man, made a positive impression during his time here by playing the game the right way. Veteran White Sox who spent time in Class AA on injury-rehab assignments came away impressed by McEwing's leadership and ability to run a game.

Questions • Too much, too soon? Would he have a hard time winning over veteran Cardinals who know him as a scrappy utility guy?

Why he'd get the job • If Mozeliak takes a chance on an underrated candidate that has real potential and more experience than Matheny.

Why he wouldn't: • If Super Joe is ready, why didn't the White Sox hire him as manager instead of Robin Ventura?

CHRIS MALONEY

Plusses • Organization man. Has made friends during his time as a coach and manager in the Cardinals' system. Has done a solid job at Class AAA Memphis.

Questions • Players seemed to like playing for him, but scouts we've talked to didn't see anything notable about his managing in Memphis.

Why he would get the job • Can't think of a compelling reason.

Why he wouldn't • It's easier to give Maloney a coaching job on the big-league staff.

[k1]

The Francona pain killer thing is a non issue. He has been on them for years due to insane amounts of surgery on his knees. He even cleared it with doctors to verify that he didn't have a problem.

[k1]

[Bob]

So, how many more years left on that contract?

[k1]

Too many.

[Bob]

Too many.

This sounds a lot like a conversation you and I had about the merits of signing JD Drew......

[D.B. Barnes]

So, I guess the Marlins made an offer to Pujols. I'm really hoping he stays with the Cards. He seemed like the kind of guy who'd want to spend his entire career with one team. That's pretty much unheard of in this day and age, and I just think it'd be awesome for one of the greatest hitters of all time to achieve that.

[Bob]

Mike Matheny new Cards manager.   Seems like a good choice.

[k1]

Mike Matheny new Cards manager.   Seems like a good choice.

Yep.  Now let's see if my original (before the Cards were in need of a mgr.) thought of Tito to the Cubs pans out.

[D.B. Barnes]

Mike Matheny new Cards manager.   Seems like a good choice.

Yep.  Now let's see if my original (before the Cards were in need of a mgr.) thought of Tito to the Cubs pans out.

I was really hoping he would go to the Cards. Just seems like a good fit and the Cubs seem like a really toxic team.

[k1]

Agreed.  I can't imagine he wants to deal with that nutcase Zambrano after all those years of Manny.  It's like going with a mostly happy crazy to a "will this guy beat me with a bat in the dugout" crazy.



Oh, if you're on twitter you can now follow @NotGMBen for fake Ben Cherington tweets.  The guy is on par with @NotCoachTito (who sadly has retired his account with Tito being fired.)