Swing batter swing

Meanwhile, in Baseball Prospectus, they are calling the signing of Johnny Damon potentially responsible for an eight-win swing:

With neither the Yankees nor the Red Sox having a good Plan B, Damon and his solid bat make for a considerable swing from one team to the other, probably on the order of eight wins in 2006. The Sox will be scrambling to fill their center field hole from outside the organization, while the Yankees upgrade from Bubba Crosby to a player who is, right now, a legitimate major-league center fielder. (Link)

Damon was good, but I somehow don't see the Sox just putting in a replacement-level center fielder. Still would like to see a trade for Brad Wilkerson...

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Schuerholz on Marte

Chanced upon this pre-Renteria trade interview with John Schuerholz, and it's interesting to see the Braves' own view on Andy Marte pre-trade:

JH: Let's shift over to another high profile young player who's been getting a lot of press...Andy Marte. At the moment he seems like he doesn't have a position, but those things tend to work themselves out.

JS: They always have. In all my years in baseball...40, and in my years as a general manager, this is my 25th, they always work out. You never have a problem with too much talent. The problem is when you have too little. We find a way to make matters work if we have an excess of talent...whether you move a player to another position, whether you trade a player...

JH: Is there any possibility that Marte goes to camp at a different position or tries to learn a new position?

JS: I don't think so. I don't think so. He's too young...he's a primary dominant third base candidate for a major league team in the very near future, whether it be for our team or someone else's team. I mean this guy's total package, offensively and defensively, his power potential, and excellent defensive skills make him a legitimate major league third baseman. Right now, though, there's a guy named Chipper Jones ahead of him. (Link)

Very good to hear the positives on Marte: despite the rumours about possible injury, it does seem the Braves were legit in trading him. Speaking of third basemen, one thing I do like about Mike Lowell that I hope to see happen at Fenway: he turns the hidden-ball trick well...

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Johnny Damon, Yankee

Good Lord, I run off to the jungle for a couple of days (army reserve commitments - standard practice over here) and Johnny Damon is now a Yankee? Groan. Yes, he's probably not the brightest bulb in the bunch, but he was a character, and I like characters. And I'm a bit worried about the pattern of the Sox not sewing up negotiations early for some players. Although I admit I'm less upset about the negotiations for Damon than I was about Pedro. Man, is Texas willing to swing Brad Wilkerson around?

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Back in the saddle

Singapore Sox Fan is back from London and Montreal, and back in business! And in the absence of blogging I see there's been an incredible amount of activity: welcome Josh Beckett, Mark Loretta, Mike Lowell, Andy Marte; goodbye Bill Mueller, Kevin Millar, Doug Mirabelli, Hanley Ramirez, Anibal Sanchez, Edgar Renteria. Probably missed some names there, but wow, an all-new infield for 2006. Awesome deals, I thought.

Meanwhile, I see the NY Times is reporting that Roger Clemens put down Boston as one of the four teams he would play for in 2006. Would probably cost too much, but wouldn't that be an awful nice twilight of his career?

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