# The Official MLB Offseason Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [October 29, 2011, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185 "2011-10-29T14:39:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2011, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/221 "2011-11-21T23:27:59Z")
There is already a Hank Aaron Award, and it’s given to the best offensive player at each position. And there’s no reason to change something simple and understandable like Most Valuable Player into something like “Most Valuable Position Player.” ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/222 "2011-11-22T00:11:29Z")
I didn’t realize that they named an award after Hank Aaron. Strange, I thought that such things were usually not named for living people. That said: it’s clearly no longer all that “simple and understandable,” because there are some voters who think that since the creation of the Cy Young Award, pitchers should be automatically excluded from consideration. It certainly doesn’t say it in any definition of the award, but there certainly are voters who think it, and I’d endorse making such a thing official, since there is already an award exclusive to pitchers. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/223 "2011-11-22T02:11:27Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > hat said: it’s clearly no longer all that “simple and understandable,” because there are some voters who think that since the creation of the Cy Young Award, pitchers should be automatically excluded from consideration. It certainly doesn’t say it in any definition of the award, but there certainly are voters who think it, and I’d endorse making such a thing official, since there is already an award exclusive to pitchers. The Cy Young award is about 45 years old, and pitchers have been winning and contending for MVPs throughout that time. If anything I think it might be less common now. Nothing has become unclear; it’s just that baseball writers always find ways to make things confusing. There are awards for the best pitchers, awards for hitters, and an award for the most valuable overall player. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/224 "2011-11-22T03:28:01Z")
The Rangers have signed Joe Nathan and plan to covert Neftali Feliz to a starter, which they said they were going to do before this season. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/225 "2011-11-22T18:25:35Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > At least this, along with the Cy Young, might curtail **gonzo** ’s periodic mutterings about how Verlander gets shut out of awards due to some never-quite-articulated prejudice against him. Wow, famous last words. It appears that **gonzomax** has been banned. Didn’t see that coming, i must admit. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/226 "2011-11-22T18:58:17Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > Here’s your answer. Igraham should be prohibited from voting on BBWAA awards in the future. 1. The rules say pitchers need to cbe considered. 2. Ingraham is an idiot. I’m sorry, but if you can’t grasp the fact that a starting pitcher has more of an impact on the games he plays than a position player does, you’re just plain frickin’ stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/227 "2011-11-22T19:10:45Z")
Congrats to Ryan Braun, but I’m a little disappointed Kemp didn’t get the MVP. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/228 "2011-11-22T19:44:30Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > Congrats to Ryan Braun, but I’m a little disappointed Kemp didn’t get the MVP. I think Kemp deserved it, but Braun had a great year so I’m not too upset. Wish it had been closer though. Anyone following the fallout from the new CBA draft and international signings rules on Twitter? People are freaking out. ---
**Author:** ![Cell\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@Cell\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cell_Guy)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/229 "2011-11-23T01:55:48Z")
Quite the damning article regarding Pujol’s agent, Dan Lozano. If any of the allegations are true this could change a number of things. > **[Dan Lozano: Albert Pujols's Superagent, "King Of Sleaze Mountain"](https://deadspin.com/dan-lozano-albert-pujolss-superagent-king-of-sleaze-5861982)** > > Somebody's out to get Dan Lozano. The agent for Albert Pujols, Lozano is pursuing what everyone expects to be the biggest contract in baseball, the financial and professional zenith of a career that's been two decades of success. When Lozano, 44,... ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/230 "2011-11-23T18:10:18Z")
Grady Sizemore comes back to the Indians, for $5 million + $4 million in incentives. Nicely done. ---
**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:** [November 25, 2011, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/231 "2011-11-25T13:48:54Z")
Yanks signed Garcia to a one year deal for $5m. A good signing I think to ensure they have a 5 guy that can eat up innings and give them a good chance to win. Last year he finished 12-8 with a 3.62 ERA in 26 games in 2011. He’s had back to back season around 150 innings. He will be 36 next year but on a one year contract that is not too important. Yanks are said to be banking on at least one of the young arms to step up and either fill in when injury strikes the rotation or to push someone out of the rotation if they are floundering. This could be Hughes or Garcia, AJ they will probably nurse through yet again as he still has one one more high priced season after 2012. I think this will put them out of the Buerle race and I am sure they will pass on Wilson now. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/232 "2011-11-30T16:43:25Z")
Bobby Valentine wins the game of musical chairs for the Red Sox job. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/233 "2011-11-30T17:41:33Z")
Farewell, Jonathan Broxton. I’m sure you’ll pitch well in the American League, where you can only be haunted by the Phillies if you have to face them in the World Series. I’d like to say we’ll miss you, but…yeah. ---
**Author:** ![storyteller0910](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@storyteller0910](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/storyteller0910)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/234 "2011-11-30T18:11:11Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Bobby Valentine wins the game of musical chairs for the Red Sox job. I’ve been a Mets fan for 26 years now, and never really had a “backup” team, but from here on out, I’m rooting for the Red Sox unless they’re playing the Mets. I will always believe that Bobby Valentine was the best manager they ever had in Queens. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/235 "2011-11-30T21:47:50Z")
I think Valentine is a good manager even though he outsmarts himself sometimes, but some of the Red Sox players are evidently not happy he’s been hired. The team may have even told them that they were not going to pick Valentine or anybody like him. So that might get entertaining in a hurry. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/236 "2011-11-30T23:22:26Z")
I’ll be anxiously awaiting the fake mustache, nose and glasses. ---
**Author:** ![Tanbarkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@Tanbarkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanbarkie)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/237 "2011-11-30T23:26:55Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I think Valentine is a good manager even though he outsmarts himself sometimes, but some of the Red Sox players are evidently not happy he’s been hired. The team may have even told them that they were not going to pick Valentine or anybody like him. So that might get entertaining in a hurry. I’m not terribly convinced that managers really have that much of an impact on a team’s record, so I’m pretty “meh” on Valentine either way… at least as far as team on-field performance goes. I’m not enjoying the fact that I’ll be spending the 2012 season anxiously watching out for Valentine to melt down during a post-game conference (or other media situation), however. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/238 "2011-12-01T00:09:22Z")
storyteller0910: > [@](#): > > I will always believe that Bobby Valentine was the best manager they ever had in Queens. Really? Better than Davey Johnson? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/239 "2011-12-01T00:25:02Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I think Valentine is a good manager even though he outsmarts himself sometimes, but some of the Red Sox players are evidently not happy he’s been hired. Perhaps if they wanted a say in such matters they should have remembered that the regular season does not conclude on August 31. ---
**Author:** ![storyteller0910](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@storyteller0910](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/storyteller0910)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/240 "2011-12-01T00:26:48Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > storyteller0910: > > Really? Better than Davey Johnson? Don’t even get me started. But yes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185.md?page=13)