FIVE YEARS

Or even worse, the other kind of Buy high (pass the joint Stonedman).  

Stoneman coughing on the doobie says, "Oh shit, you mean I was buying GMJ, not KGB?  That was $50M for a sad sack, not $50 for a sack?"

If you forget the # of years of the contract, forget the age he'll be in 5 years and just look at last year's stats between the 2, you can, kind of, see what they were thinking.

Sarge Jr.
G    AB    R    H    2B    3B    HR    RBI    SB    BA    OBP    SLG
147    620    102    194    44    6    19    79    10    .313    .371    .495

Figgy:
G    AB    R    H    2B    3B    HR    RBI    SB    BA    OBP    SLG
155    604    93    161    23    8    9    62    52    .267    .336    .376

Prediction: .265 14 71  NOT WORTH IT!  

How do you guys seriously have any confidence in Stoneman now?

I've been poking around his stats, and while 2006 was a career year, he might actually be able to produce somewhere in that area for maybe 2 of the next 3 years.  One thing I was shocked to see is that he has hit almost identical in Texas and on the road over the last 3 years, so it might not be all Texas pumping up his stats.

His range appears to be just a smidgen above average, but he is a real CF.  Hopefully he won't decline too fast.

Also, the Angels will be leading him off, allowing Figgins to bat number 9 where he does much better.

My question is which stupid teams (Giants, ???) were still looking for a CF?  The Cubs and Dodgers blew their $$$ already.

I think the Pierre contract was actually worse, and the Soriano one was probably worse too, so there is that.

This could be the dumbest comment i've read all day.  We now have the best staff in the majors and whether you'll admit it or not, added power. The A's will lose Thomas,Zito and perhaps Payton without adding anyone.

Nicely done.

Are there any smarter posters online? If not, goodbye.

Lame

who doesnt fit into our equation right now? lets hire him to pop a cap in GMJ, eliminate 2 jackasses with 1 stone...man?

People were just posting this week that Stoneman was talking about Andruw Jones. It was just published somewhere that Vernon Wells is the Angels' number one priority. Carl Crawford could've been moved over there and would've been a far better fit, provided the power bat still comes from somewhere else in another deal.

But this?? The guy really isn't even an upgrade. And 50 million dollars? That's just crazy.

That's 50 million dollars that could've gone toward somebody good for crying out loud.

This is settling for something less than the very best. You have money to spend, you should be showing everyone that you want to be the very best. And Mathews Jr. is significantly less than the very best.

This is tough to swallow.

The only hope is that the next move, a big one, comes very, very quickly, and it eases the pain of this signing.

I know it doesn't make much sense, and much of what I say on here doesn't make much sense, but is there still a way for us to trade for Jones or Wells and make that work in our everyday lineup? Can we move one of those guys, or move Mathews Jr., and still get one of these much more coveted players?

Otherwise, it's a very bitter pill, and I'm in a little shock right now.

It's not even the fact that it's GMJ. It's the ridiculous amount money and the crazy length of the contract, considering that we already have figgins, willits, and murphy who would probably produce slightly less, at a much cheaper price.  Couple that with the crop of free agent CF's on the market next year, and the current need for an impact bat/corner infielder, and I'm convinced that this is a total trainwreck.

I just fail to see the logic in it.

So Cal baseball is responsible for the two most retarded contract this offseason, and it sucks.

Santana, Cabrera, Kendrick, Mathis and Wood.  and maybe Shields.

and Stoneman said, "Well, now, that's asking an awful lot, but, I'm willing to negotiate!"

and the other GMs came back and said "No way, all or nothing."  To which Stoneman replies, "Ok then, nothing."

He would be right to do this, I don't htink anyone here would disagree with that.  So, for argument's sake let's believe this is where Stoneman finds himself.

What would you suggest he do in the FA market?

One in my imagination could be...

1. GMJ - CF
   
2. Cabrera - SS (wouldn't be shocked if Izzy is here)
   
3. Vlad - RF/DH
   
4. Rivera - LF/DH
   
5. GA - LF/DH
   
6. Kendrick - 2B
   
7. Napoli - C
   
8. Kotchman/Morales/MacPherson - 1B
   
9. Figgy - 3B/super utility to keep GA/Vlad out of the OF as much as possible.  Should probably sit versus lefties for Quinlan, Izturis or someone.

1. Lackey
   
2. Santana
   
3. Weaver
   
4. Escobar
   
5. Saunders
   
6. Colon

1. K-Rod
   
2. Shields
   
3. Speier
   
4. Donnelly
   
5. Carrasco

Money aside, we can argue over how big of an upgrade we've gotten, but I don't think you can argue that we are better at CF, middle relief AND leadoff now.  We had to pay more to get what we needed (not our 1st options that we wanted, but what we needed), but that's what big market teams do. And thanks to Arte, that's what we are.

Sorry, Angeles fans, but this contract demonstrates a basic reality--Billy Bean has done a lot with a little. Stoneman is just not his equal. This contract is dumb, dumb, dumb.

Rev., I think you got it right in you initial analysis. But don't just give away the next few years. The A's have lost an impact player in Frank Thomas. And I still believe Dallas McPherson has  serious potential.  (I'm not a total stathead, but the numbers are there.)
The only good thing I can take from this (As an A's fan who lives abroad but comes back to the US for two months a year and gets the Angeles feed), is this--at least I will not have to put up with Rex Huddler's inanities. Such as, when Chone comes up, Rex will say "He's gettin' Figgy wit' it.
Fuck, I hate that.

P.S. Mr. Stoneman, how about Manny for three years?
Just try to pich to Manny. Oops, Here comes Vlad.

As always, I thank you for allowing me to post on your site.
Happy Thanksgiving.

Journeyman "Forrest Gump's" his way into big glory/big $$$ -- Hmmmmmm, does that ring a bell (ahem, Weaver the Elder)