2/4/12

Baseball: Jameson Taillon, Juan Pierre, Manny Ramirez, Mark Cuban



Jameson Taillon has been surpassed by Cole as the best pitching prospect in the system but it’s easy to envision the two sitting atop the Pirates starting rotation within three to four seasons. The Pirates’ first pick of the ’10 draft has the stuff to rival Cole’s but he’s not nearly as polished. Despite that fact, Taillon had a solid first year in low-A ball. He showed excellent control with a walk rate of 2.14 BB/9 but his command was inconsistent. Taillon has a big, strong pitcher’s frame and should have no difficulties providing 200+ innings on a regular basis once he reaches the Majors. The organization was patient with him in ’11 and watched his pitch counts and innings, keeping him below 100 innings on the year. He has a four-pitch mix that includes a 93-97 mph fastball, curveball, slider and changeup; he has the potential for three plus pitches with his changeup lagging behind the other offerings. Taillon will move up to high-A ball in ’12 and will look to sharpen his secondary pitches. It’s possibly that he could also spend some time in double-A but the organization may choose to be cautious with him. - http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/top-15-prospects-pittsburgh-pirates/

Perhaps the most telling thing about Juan Pierre’s signing is that the Phillies may only need him for the first six weeks of the season. Given the choice between keeping Brown on the Major League roster and giving him a chance to work his way into regular playing time while Howard is out or signing someone else, the Phils chose to sign someone else. Even if Pierre stays with the Phils for the duration of the season, his value is limited due to the fact that he is not an efficient base stealer, as well as the fact that the Phillies have few players for whom he can pinch run without Charlie Manuel having to burn a second player after the inning ends. Finally, bringing in Pierrer also throws another road block onto Brown’s already cluttered road to regular playing time. Like many of the Phillies’ moves this offseason, signing Pierre probably doesn’t make the Phillies any worse, but it is also unlikely to make them any better. http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/phillies-procure-pierre/

I might be coming around on Manny Ramirez. I have long felt that where there is smoke there is fire. Too often when an idea first comes out it seems crazy, then it sort of gathers momentum until it reaches this point where it seems inevitable, then it happens and you are sort of surprised still as that initial crazy reaction comes in but then it just makes too much sense. Could this be happening with Manny Ramirez? First came the ESPNDeportes report regarding the A’s being interested in Ramirez. In my initial assessment I was quick to criticize the idea saying on Twitter http://tvprookiecardretirementplan.wordpress.com/2012/01/28/maybe-manny-being-manny-in-oakland-is-ok/?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

The owner of the reigning NBA champions will not be the next owner of the Dodgers. Mark Cuban was eliminated from the Dodgers' ownership sweepstakes Friday, along with baseball executive and former agent Dennis Gilbert, according to two people familiar with the process but not authorized to discuss it. At least eight bidders advanced to the second round Friday, including a group led by Magic Johnson and veteran baseball executive Stan Kasten and another headed by local developer Rick Caruso and former Dodgers manager Joe Torre http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/la-sp-0128-dodgers-bidders-20120128,0,2201745.story?track=rss&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&dlvrit=53322

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