# ML Baseball 2010, talk to tide us over! **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [February 11, 2010, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546 "2010-02-11T11:44:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Tanbarkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@Tanbarkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanbarkie)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2010, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546/81 "2010-02-21T06:27:05Z")
> [@KennerTheGreat](#): > > The Blue Jays have [signed](http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100219&content_id=8098540&vkey=news_tor&fext=.jsp&c_id=tor) Jose Molina to a one year, non-guaranteed contract. He’s guaranteed 400 grand, but that jumps to 800 if he makes the Opening Day roster. > There’s also a 1.2 million club option for '11. [You get a Molina!](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Molina_%28baseball%29) [You get a Molina!](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yadier_Molina) [You get a Molina!](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustavo_Molina) _[Everybody gets a Molina!](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengie_Molina)_ ---
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2010, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546/82 "2010-02-21T06:45:50Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I would say “hasn’t sucked” vs. pretty good, but yes, you could do worse than Chan Ho Park in your bullpen. Actually, the correct description of Park as a reliever the past year is “sterling.” As a RP in 2009, he posted an ERA of 2.52 (2.10 FIP) and struck out 52 batters in 50 innings, against 16 walks. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2010, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546/83 "2010-02-21T14:43:10Z")
> [@Tanbarkie](#): > > [You get a Molina!](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Molina_%28baseball%29) [You get a Molina!](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yadier_Molina) [You get a Molina!](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustavo_Molina) > > _[Everybody gets a Molina!](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengie_Molina)_ Gustavo is not related to the 3 brothers, despite being a catcher named Molina. ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2010, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546/84 "2010-02-21T15:03:28Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Gustavo is not related to the 3 brothers, despite being a catcher named Molina. Neither is [Izzy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izzy_Molina), though he was also a catcher named Molina. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2010, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546/85 "2010-02-21T15:38:03Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Nationals signed Wang, a good move at a good price. > > Not that anyone will ever feel sorry for the Yanks, but this is a good example of where the arbitration system is broken. The Yanks cut him as the arbitrations rules are set to where Wang could not earn less than $4.5 million guaranteed from the Yanks. This is a rare situation but one that could happen to any team. If a player basically misses two years, a larger arbitration paycut should happen. Especially when the player is not even ready for Spring Training. If they really wanted to resign Wang, they’d have given him arbitration or avoided it completely and resigned him before it came to arbitration. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2010, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546/86 "2010-02-21T15:40:26Z")
> [@Ataraxy](#): > > ESPN is reporting that Johnny Damon has accepted an $8 million deal with the Tigers. I suppose this is a decent move, but for more cash that I’d like to spend on him. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2010, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546/87 "2010-02-21T16:09:44Z")
> [@ReticulatingSplines](#): > > Actually, the correct description of Park as a reliever the past year is “sterling.” > > As a RP in 2009, he posted an ERA of 2.52 (2.10 FIP) and struck out 52 batters in 50 innings, against 16 walks. OK, I stand corrected. > [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > If they really wanted to resign Wang, they’d have given him arbitration or avoided it completely and resigned him before it came to arbitration. I think you missed my point, the Yanks would have ended up losing arbitration and it would have been for over $4 million, probably $4.5 million based on rules about cutting pay in arbitration. So they did not want to pay him that much. This is not about Wang, this is about a fault in the arbitration rules. As I said it could happen to any team. ---
**Author:** ![Tanbarkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@Tanbarkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanbarkie)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2010, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546/88 "2010-02-21T18:56:57Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Gustavo is not related to the 3 brothers, despite being a catcher named Molina. Yeah, I know. Needed an extra Molina for the complete Oprah though. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2010, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546/89 "2010-02-21T19:44:09Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > I suppose this is a decent move, but for more cash that I’d like to spend on him. I suspect Leeland cried about a desperate need for a leadoff hitter. If reports are true ,his other best offer was for 4 mill. Why did we pay double? He doesn’t have to live in the inner city. We are a contender. ---
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2010, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546/90 "2010-02-21T20:03:41Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > OK, I stand corrected. > > I think you missed my point, the Yanks would have ended up losing arbitration and it would have been for over $4 million, probably $4.5 million based on rules about cutting pay in arbitration. So they did not want to pay him that much. This is not about Wang, this is about a fault in the arbitration rules. As I said it could happen to any team. I wouldn’t consider it a flaw of the system. The yankees didn’t have to offer him arbitration, which they didn’t. In turn he gets free agency, which i would consider fair. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2010, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546/91 "2010-02-21T21:57:01Z")
The flaw in the rules is that the Yankees couldn’t offer Wang as low a salary as the Nats could. ---
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2010, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546/92 "2010-02-21T22:01:02Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > The flaw in the rules is that the Yankees couldn’t offer Wang as low a salary as the Nats could. Sure they could have. They were free to offer him whatever they liked after they didn’t give him arbitration. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546/93 "2010-02-22T00:14:48Z")
The Freep says Chicago offered 7 to 7.5 with incentives. That is why we went 8. But what would Chicago have done with Damon? The fear many Detroiters have is, what if Granderson suddenly realizes his potential with a change of scenery? Sometimes it happens. He has terrific potential. He has had years with lots of triples. Last year he kn0cked 30 HRs. What if 160 ks was a freak and he learns plate discipline. Sounds like off season mental meandering. ---
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546/94 "2010-02-22T00:52:07Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > The Freep says Chicago offered 7 to 7.5 with incentives. That is why we went 8. But what would Chicago have done with Damon? > The fear many Detroiters have is, what if Granderson suddenly realizes his potential with a change of scenery? Sometimes it happens. He has terrific potential. He has had years with lots of triples. Last year he kn0cked 30 HRs. What if 160 ks was a freak and he learns plate discipline. > Sounds like off season mental meandering. Granderson will be 29 before the season starts. He is probably is as good as he is ever going to be. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546/95 "2010-02-22T02:06:28Z")
> [@Hawkeyeop](#): > > Granderson will be 29 before the season starts. He is probably is as good as he is ever going to be. I hope so. He has changed through time. But his strikeouts grew along with the HRs. He is at his best smacking line drives and running fast. I don’t know how the Yankee ballpark will suit him but Comerica was line drive friendly , assuming you like extra base hits. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546/96 "2010-02-22T16:19:40Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > I hope so. He has changed through time. But his strikeouts grew along with the HRs. He is at his best smacking line drives and running fast. I don’t know how the Yankee ballpark will suit him but Comerica was line drive friendly , assuming you like extra base hits. His power is an excellent fit for Yankee Stadium’s short right field porch. What he needs to do though is be less home run happy and strive to get his batting average back up. The homers will come without him trying so hard in the friendlier confines of the Bronx. ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546/97 "2010-02-22T16:32:45Z")
> [@Hawkeyeop](#): > > Sure they could have. They were free to offer him whatever they liked after they didn’t give him arbitration. IIRC, if a team doesn’t offer arbitration to a pending free agent, they can’t negotiate with him until the following May 1. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546/98 "2010-02-22T17:14:34Z")
Any guesses on who the first Dominican stuck at home with visa problems will be? ---
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546/99 "2010-02-22T18:04:51Z")
> [@KennerTheGreat](#): > > IIRC, if a team doesn’t offer arbitration to a pending free agent, they can’t negotiate with him until the following May 1. I believe they got rid of that rule a few years ago. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546/100 "2010-02-22T18:15:01Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > His power is an excellent fit for Yankee Stadium’s short right field porch. What he needs to do though is be less home run happy and strive to get his batting average back up. The homers will come without him trying so hard in the friendlier confines of the Bronx. He does not get on base very much for a leadoff hitter. He strikes out a lot, which means he fails to advance runners very well. He does not steal a lot. He does not create runs. He did when he first came up though. He does not walk very much. I think he frustrated the Tigers management. Hitting HRs got him to the Yankees, so he was not wrong. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ml-baseball-2010-talk-to-tide-us-over/528546.md?page=6)