MAYBE IT’S LATE BUT JUST CALL ME…

Lyrics from the song “Call Me” are in the thoughts of the 273 unsigned free agents, as Spring Training is about to begin. The list is a conglomeration of veterans near the end of their careers, fringe players and those who are victims of the salary syndrome (too old, too much money).

Among the latter that should have this song as a ring tone are hitters Ivan Rodriguez, Vladimir Guerrero, Johnny Damon, Jason Kendall, Magglio Ordonez, Edgar Renteria, Derrek Lee, Pat Burrell, Raul Ibanez, Hideki Matsui and Kosuke Fukodome. Surprisingly, Kelly Johnson at age 30 has not been signed.

The top pitchers on this list include Roy Oswalt, Javier Vazquez, Tim Wakefield, Brandon Webb, Jon Garfield, Brad Penny, Rich Harden, Arthur Rhodes, Chris Young and Damaso Marte.

Harden and David Aardsma are also 30 but both are coming off serious injuries.

Are any of the above still productive? Generally, yes. I believe Guerrero, Damon, and especially Lee still have something in the tank but must be willing to take big pay cuts to still play.

The same goes for Oswalt who could be a stopgap starter on a team waiting for their prospects to develop (Seattle/Baltimore/Pittsburgh/Colorado?). Having earned $16,000,000 over the two seasons while a member of the “Greatest Rotation of the Decade”, Oswalt is affordable. But apparently he is holding out for more than what clubs are willing to pay. He has banked nearly $92,000,000 over his career so this is more about personal pride and whether he has the desire to keep playing.

A few seasons ago, Jermaine Dye walked away rather then taking less pay and that’s what will happen to these players who want A-Type salaries for diminished skills.

For a few less bucks, they might find a job. In the meantime they’ll have to wait for the dubious ring tone “Call Me”.

The Marlins Swim in Muck and Mire

Is it desperation or disillusion that made 80 year old Jack McKeon a manager again?

McKeon, known for turning the 2003 version of the Florida Marlins into world champions is again back at the helm as delusional owner Jeffrey Loria seeks ways to prevent the fish from sinking even further in the NL East.

Loria thinks he can win with a team that ranks second lowest in payroll. He thinks that by rubbing a bottle and getting his genie, McKeon, magical things will happen.

The team is 3-20 in June and is rapidly floating away in a sea of muck. Not even McKeon 2.0 can lower the tide. It didn’t help that of Scott Cousins was all but persecuted for his aggressive play on Giants’ catcher Buster Posey. The bad karma seemed to begin then much to the delight I’m sure of all Giants fans.

Unlike their cross-state rivals the Tampa Bay Rays, Florida’s farm system is not equipped to replace injured players, especially starting pitchers so the margin for error is miniscule.

The final verdict is that the team is really playing down to its level. I’m not saying that they will spend the rest of the season winning 5 out of 25 games but their run at first place in April and May was more a fluke than reality.

That’s where Loria comes in.  He wants to prove to the world that his pattern of stingy spending can produce perennial winners.

The team awaits the opening of their new ballpark next year which for all intents and purposes will have been built in vain since fan apathy has never been higher.

Anchored in the depths of muck and mire with a trivial fan base, more debt and short on revenue, the Marlins quandary is all too real and all the Jack McKeon’s of the world won’t change it.

 

 

Wasteful Spenders?

With the season halfway over, it’s a good time to examine how this year’s free agents have fared.

 

Good signings include:

 

Lance Berkman -hitting over .300 and playing the of until Albert Pujols was injured, Berkman has been reinvigorated in St. Louis

 

Adrian Beltre-after a monster comeback year in Boston that was eerily like his last walk year in Los Angeles, Beltre is producing with the Rangers.

 

Victor Martinez-signed more as a dh than a catcher, Martinez is having another .300 season with the Tigers.

 

Johnny Damon-he was a throw-in in order for the Rays to sign Manny Ramirez but has been a steal for them.

 

Corey Patterson-After years of mediocrity, this former first round pick is a key member of the Blue Jays lineup this year.

 

Cliff Lee-no surprise that he is having another stellar year for the Phillies, the team he chose to play for.

The biggest mistakes include:

 Adam Dunn-took his huge bat and salary to the White Sox where is has been so bad as a dh, Ozzie Guillen is now compelled to bench him during some home games to spare him the inevitable boos.

 Dan Uggla– he of the famous dustup with Hanley Ramirez because of salary envy finally got the big bucks with the Braves and is hitting .177

 Jayson Werth-think the Phillies miss his .235 average?

 Carl Crawford– all of the off-season buzz about his move to Boston has been pretty much muted by a .275 OBP.

Hideki Matsui– Oakland took a flyer on his aging bat and he has not disappointed – hitting .221 with 3 HR’s

Javier Vazquez– now with his sixth team, Vazquez is an example of dumb GM’s who will never learn that a new team may not be the answer. Vazquez is 4-7 with a 6.37 ERA for the Marlins.

And the worst signing of the off-season award goes to:

The Tampa Bay Rays for signing Manny Ramirez. In a move that never made sense, Ramirez lasted all of two weeks before he took flight out of the country carrying his millions of dollars with him rather than stay and get a 100 game suspension for another drug violation.

This either exemplifies the need for enhanced drug screening before a free agent is signed or is an example of just how desperate some teams can be. The Rays are a team that should know better.

Scott Boras, how do you sleep at night?