What I’m Reading
• Just imagine a Mauer-less Twinky-Town. Through means of a trade, no less. My head hurts already.
• So Jose Reyes’ thyroid is due to keep him out anywhere from two weeks to two months. Great diagnosis, Doc.
• Now that the Twins’ Joe Nathan is out, the Indians are saying to themselves, “Whoa, whoa whoa! Slow down. You’re telling me that we might actually have a shot at the AL Central crown? Far out. Well, we might as well keep Kerry Wood now.”
• The countdown begins: will the Red Sox be able to snag Josh Beckett long-term before the end of Spring Training? They’re getting closer.
What I Think About It
• I understand that it might come down to a “We might as well get something other than draft picks for him if he’s just going to leave, anyway,” situation, but a trade of Joe Mauer from the Twins would efficiently kill any baseball spirit Minnesota has.
Can’t sign him to an agreeable extension? Try harder. They cannot let him get away.
Obviously he still has a ways to go to reach Jeter status in terms of significance to the franchise and city, but he’s gotta be getting close.
Plus he’s a homegrown boy.
The Twins have made it explicitly clear that they have every intention of maintaining him. He’s still more likely to stay there than head elsewhere, but if doomsday comes for Minnesota, it’s going to be the day that Joe Mauer leaves town.
The bright side is that we should know more as we inch closer to Opening Day. Some sort of report of how well talks are going or how far apart the two sides are will arise sometime in the next few weeks.
After that, though, talks may cool until the temperature rises and the trade deadline is on the horizon.
• Why is it that I can picture the Mets’ shortstop getting a letter in the mail similar to this?
Dear Jose Reyes,
Please sit out two weeks to rest. Or six weeks. Better yet, make it eight weeks just to be on the safe side.
Uhh...yeah.
Sincerely,
Dr. Smith, Ph.D.
Philadelphia, PA
Alright, I shouldn’t make jest of Reyes’ unfortunate thyroid problem, I just find it strange that such a discrepancy in return times could exist.
Two weeks doesn’t necessarily require a DL stint. Eight weeks? Well that’s a different tale.
The Mets can’t catch a break right now. Next thing they know, Carlos Beltran will probably need knee surgery or something. Wait a minute...
There was a lot of optimism heading into the 2010 season for the Mets, but it may be starting to waver.
The team is still packed with superstar names (Reyes, Beltran, Jason Bay, Johan Santana, David Wright) but this seems to be an ongoing trend for the former Shea residents. A proverbially “stacked” that is well overpaid, breaks down, and, in the end, disappoints.
• Is Kerry Wood the key to the Indians’ path to a division title? Well, no. Probably not.
But no team goes into a season with the literal mindset of “OK, let’s rebuild.” It just doesn’t happen.
The beginning of spring not only sees the snow melt away, but also dismal records such as the 65-97 showing Cleveland chose to post last year.
Coming into 2010 Wood is looked at as a valuable asset that could offer teams back of the bullpen help come midseason should things go awry, despite his somewhat expensive contract.
But now that the Twins have the ability to get early leads but not necessarily keep them with Joe Nathan on the mend, the Indians may wait a little longer before they give up hope and deal the former Cub.
And if things do turn sour, then, well...then they rebuild.
• The Red Sox and Josh Beckett are reportedly making progress in contract talks and could potentially have a deal finalized in the coming weeks.
This is great news for Boston long term, as it all but ensures a potential Cy Young candidate in town for at least five more years (Beckett is supposedly even asking for longer).
But in the short term, it’ll be a bonus to this year in general.
Beckett doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who is going to propel himself to bring his game to another level in a contract year. He’s a gritty, hard-worker who goes out there every fifth day and works his tail off regardless of what his contract status is at the end of the season.
He does, however, seem like someone who unfortunately would allow the negotiations to get into his head and let it affect his performance.
Beckett is a creature of habit. He’s an outstanding talent, but he seems to get thrown off his routine far too easily and issue shaky performances in return.
It’s key for the Red Sox to get this done as soon as possible so he can concentrate on getting ready for 2010 and focus on returning to his 2007 form.
— PD
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