# 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:** 23
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/441 "2012-01-26T17:22:00Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > He originally ate himself off 3B. In his defense, he thought it was a pizza pie. He was kind of drunk at the time. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/442 "2012-01-26T23:12:14Z")
Moving Cabrera to third will cost the Tigers half the wins they get from Fielder’s bat. I’m not exaggerating. Fielder is a really good hitter but he’s not THAT good. He averages about 5 WAR a year, all of it with his bat. Cabrera is a bad FIRST baseman; at third he’s going to be Godawful. He’s gotta be 20, 25 pounds heavier than he used to be. He’ll cost them a couple of wins over there easily. ---
**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:** [January 27, 2012, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/443 "2012-01-27T16:51:49Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Moving Cabrera to third will cost the Tigers half the wins they get from Fielder’s bat. > > I’m not exaggerating. Fielder is a really good hitter but he’s not THAT good. He averages about 5 WAR a year, all of it with his bat. > > Cabrera is a bad FIRST baseman; at third he’s going to be Godawful. He’s gotta be 20, 25 pounds heavier than he used to be. He’ll cost them a couple of wins over there easily. I’m thinking they’ve got to put him out at left field. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/444 "2012-02-01T15:42:16Z")
I’m not sure that’s a terrific solution either, but it’s better than third. With Martinez out, the logical thing to do is to have them share 1B and DH, but I guess the egos involved are too big. I’d be inclined to make Fielder the DH just in an effort to get an extra year out of his fat ass, which isn’t going to last the whole contract but maybe at least you can get four productive years out of him instead of five. ---
**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:** [February 1, 2012, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/445 "2012-02-01T15:49:00Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I’m not sure that’s a terrific solution either, but it’s better than third. > > With Martinez out, the logical thing to do is to have them share 1B and DH, but I guess the egos involved are too big. I’d be inclined to make Fielder the DH just in an effort to get an extra year out of his fat ass, which isn’t going to last the whole contract but maybe at least you can get four productive years out of him instead of five. Jay Jaffe made some interesting points in his BP article on the idea of moving Cabrera. After reading it over I am not totally sure it is a bad idea anymore. [Prospectus Hit and Run: The Heavyweight Infield | Baseball Prospectus](http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=15914) (free) ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/446 "2012-02-02T01:18:16Z")
Martinez’ injury sounds like more than a routine ACL - he just had a microfracture procedure too. The 1B/DH split makes sense for 2012, and they can assess Martinez a year from now. ---
**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 2, 2012, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/447 "2012-02-02T15:52:31Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Martinez’ injury sounds like more than a routine ACL - he just had a microfracture procedure too. The 1B/DH split makes sense for 2012, and they can assess Martinez a year from now. Yeah, that was news to me as well. I agree with you, if that article is correct. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/448 "2012-02-03T02:30:52Z")
[Possible Josh Hamilton relapse.](http://www.bbtia.com/home/2012/2/2/report-josh-hamilton-relapses-after-drinking-at-dfw-area-bar.html) I don’t agree at all with the disease theory of alcoholism, but if there is any truth to this, it isn’t going to help Hamilton get a big contract with his injury history. ---
**Author:** ![IAmNotSpartacus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@IAmNotSpartacus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IAmNotSpartacus)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/449 "2012-02-03T06:14:33Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > I’d much rather pay Prince $23.8m every year from years 28 through 37 than pay Albert $25.4m for his 32-42 years. Iono. Albert’s keeping his body in tip top shape. Prince is a fat slob. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2012, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/450 "2012-02-04T18:16:19Z")
> [@IAmNotSpartacus](#): > > Iono. Albert’s keeping his body in tip top shape. Prince is a fat slob. In terms of future prospects Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder are effectively the same age. On top of that, **Pujols is a better player**. I know people tend to think of them together because they’re both big home run hitting first basemen who became free agents at the same time but they are not even close in value. Pujols last year was just a tiny bit worse with the bat and that had never happened before, and he’s a vastly better glove man. But, again, the age difference isn’t really that great because Prince Fielder is really, really fat. Fat first basemen **never** last. Ever. They blow their knees, feet, or back out when they’re 31 or so, and they’re gone shortly thereafter. You can just sit around thinking of porky first basemen all day and the result is always the same; their careers end early and fast. I’ll just think some up now: Kent “Shamu” Hrbek: Started losing it at 32, out of the majors at 34 Mo Vaughn: Started declining at 31. Blew out at 33. Came back for another OK year at 34, then got hurt again and was gone. Boog Powell: Started getting hurt at 31, effectively done at 34 Cecil Fielder: No longer really a good player at 31; hung around until he was 34, but sucked Bob Horner: STarted as a third baseman but moved to first because he was porky and got hurt a lot. Done at 29; tried to come back at 30 but couldn’t hit anymore. Players who’re porky at other positions sometimes last longer, because playing another position is often indicative of a lot of underlying athletic ability, and those players usually don’t START fat; Babe Ruth and Tony Gwynn weren’t born fat, and were great athletes. But players who start fat just don’t last. And Prince Fielder’s way fatter than any of these guys. He’s the fattest baseball player I have ever seen, and he’s gotta be the fattest player in the history of baseball to actually play really well for more than a season or two. I don’t think he has much hope of producing five good years, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it was less than that. Albert Pujols will still be a productive major league ballplayer when he’s 37. Prince Fielder doesn’t have a chance in hell. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2012, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/451 "2012-02-05T06:27:32Z")
The Blue Jays are now talking about installing grass at the Dome. Please, God, please. ---
**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 5, 2012, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/452 "2012-02-05T14:33:37Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > The Blue Jays are now talking about installing grass at the Dome. > > Please, God, please. I can’t recall, did they finally upgrade to the better artificial turf at least in the last few years or are they still playing on that stupid carpet like crap? ---
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2012, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/453 "2012-02-05T14:56:38Z")
Fielder has missed one game in the last three years and has played at least 157 every year since reaching the majors. He is a big guy and may not age well, but he definitely takes care of himself. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2012, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/454 "2012-02-05T16:38:04Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I can’t recall, did they finally upgrade to the better artificial turf at least in the last few years or are they still playing on that stupid carpet like crap? They went to the stuff that looks like grass years ago, but it still doesn’t really look like grass, and while it’s better than the old “carpet on concrete” for player health, it’s not as good as grass. The problem, as before, is that the dome, while built primarily to house the Blue Jays, is a multi purpose facility and they want to use it for monster truck rallies, which apparently actually attract paying customers, to my admitted amazement. ---
**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 5, 2012, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/455 "2012-02-05T19:19:29Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > They went to the stuff that looks like grass years ago, but it still doesn’t really look like grass, and while it’s better than the old “carpet on concrete” for player health, it’s not as good as grass. > > The problem, as before, is that the dome, while built primarily to house the Blue Jays, is a multi purpose facility and they want to use it for monster truck rallies, which apparently actually attract paying customers, to my admitted amazement. At least it is the better turf now, that astroturf was just silly. I didn’t know truck rallies sold tickets to stadiums. That is weird, I mean maybe in the south where Nascar also is huge but unexpected in Toronto at least. ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/456 "2012-02-10T21:19:03Z")
Not on-field news, but: [Kevin Youkilis marrying Tom Brady’s sister](http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2012/02/report-tom-bradys-sister-engaged-to-kevin-youkilis/1) Brady has three older sisters and this is #2. This is just all kinds of weird. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/457 "2012-02-10T22:26:31Z")
> [@chizzuk](#): > > Not on-field news, but: [Kevin Youkilis marrying Tom Brady’s sister](http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2012/02/report-tom-bradys-sister-engaged-to-kevin-youkilis/1) > > Brady has three older sisters and this is #2. This is just all kinds of weird. Worlds colliding, Jerry! /Costanza ---
**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 10, 2012, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/458 "2012-02-10T23:22:36Z")
Yanks are shopping AJ at a bargain price. What teams have at least a neutral ballpark and need a 4 or 5 guy to eat 190+ innings? Dodgers could be a good fit if the have an ownership group. Who else? ---
**Author:** ![Fred\_Garvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c67d28/32.png) [@Fred\_Garvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fred_Garvin)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/459 "2012-02-13T20:29:52Z")
[So, who had the A’s in the Cespides pool? Anyone?](http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7570918/yoenis-cespedes-agrees-4-year-36-million-deal-oakland-athletics) ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/460 "2012-02-13T23:15:24Z")
Well, that’s just bizarre. They could afford to sign a Cuban guy but couldn’t keep cheap young pitchers? What? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185.md?page=22) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185.md?page=24)