HOT STOVE, COOL SAND

That's like saying I'd rather have a pile of shit than a stack of rotting meat.

Almost anyone besides Erstad in CF would be an improvement, but paying $50 over 5 years for Lil Sarge's career year is a push.

Alex, you do realize that before he landed Jay Payton, Beane was making a serious run at Matthews? I guess fringe players are only good if they're on the A's.

Matthews Jr. had the #4 highest VORP for CF in 2006 (behind Sizemore, Beltran and Wells), #29 in all of MLB.

Actually, you forgot to list that the Angels landed Justin Speier (sp?), making their bullpen quite possible the best in MLB.

If Beane was making a "serious run TWO SUMMERS AGO, he certainly wasn't intending on then signing him to a 5yr/$55M dollar deal. He was looking for a fourth outfielder at a bargain price.

If the Angels get one decent season from Matthews they should count themselves lucky. He had one very good Arlington enhanced season (and it wasn't a particularly great fielding year by all accounts) at age 32. There is nothing that would indicate that he'll either a) be able to replicate that or b) will hold up well to age 37.

And it's great that the Angels signed Speier to make their already sick bullpen even sicker. It's too bad the bullpen can't teach the hitters how to A) get on base and B) get hits that aren't singles - they're going to need someone besides Vlad & Juan Rivera to help them in that department. & survey says Matthews & Shea Hey aren't the solution.

(also, what Alex said)

This is true, but it doesn't make overpaying for Matthews (and signing Hildebrand at all) any smarter.

I don't think this was a bad decision at all. The dude is a piece of shit, but he's at least a serviceable 1B/3B guy on a team with nothing but unproven young guys at those positions. It's a one year deal. In the worst case scenario, the young guys emerge and they trade the dude during the season.

He hit just as well on the road, though.

But he made that catch zomgsportcenterAMIRITE!!!!!

"Shea Hey" :D

I'd rather have a 28 year old league average starter than an aging flash in the pan center fielder, but that's just me.

"He hit just as well on the road, though."

Yeah you're right only 100 points of OPS. That's nothing.

"but he's at least a serviceable 1B/3B guy"

He's shit defender, who doesn't walk and who by all accounts is an asshole with an inflated opinion of himself. That's not my definition of serviceable. AT LEAST it's only a one year deal.

If his road OPS is the OPS he produces with any regularity for the Angels, I think he'll have been worth at least 60% of his contract.

He's shit defender

Who cares about defense from a 1B as long as you aren't Ortiz or Piazza over there.

who doesn't walk

Yeah but the Angels love that for some reason.

$ to donuts, Shea plays more DH than either of those positions. Also why even go with Shea? Rob Quinlan'll put up just as mediocre stats for you.

"Matthews had the 8th best road OPS among starting major league centerfielders."

He's also had one year where he's played that well. The Angels (are) aren't paying for what he did last year. They are paying for what he does the next FIVE. Also how many of those guys are going to make $11/year anyway?

Yes, we've covered that.

Oh yeah, I forgot that you are like me in that you live in the area but don't have terrible taste in baseball teams!

seriously...have you seen that guy lately?

Texas gives Borat & Zito a weekend ultimatum, ie they're out.

</jaymc>

I don't really know anything about his politics. He's allegedly one of the smarter players in baseball, and is one of the most respected among the union reps.

Is he really? I had no idea although with ballplayers it usually safe to assume they are.