=== O-Dawg ===

I/O:  Jason Churchill hears, or opines, that Orlando Hudson would prefer to stay in the National League.

Crunch:  If I were him, I would too.  Hudson is just the type of player who can easily drop off quickly after the age of 30.  He's been out of the AL since 2005.   I don't care for his chances to play well in Safeco Field.  Maybe one year's worth.

I/O:  Larry Stone points out that Hudson would cost the M's #18 overall to sign Hudson.

Crunch:  Hudson was an interesting suggestion as a lateral move vs. Jose Lopez -- Hudson being roughly a push for Lopez in the very short-term -- and freeing you up to deal Lopez in a blockbuster.

One of my fave roto players five years ago, O-Dawg has to step a little more carefully and deftly these days, like 50-year-old Michael thinkin' This Is It, still got the groove but gotta pace yourself, man.

Looks like this cyber-discussion is dying on the vine.

.

=== Godzilla ===

I/O:  It's speculated that Matsui would avoid Seattle because he doesn't like (or doesn't want to share glory with) Ichiro.

Crunch:  this in regards to a player who would be leaving the New York Yankees?  :- )

But I don't understand the situation that well, and I guess Taro and IceX could comment as to whether Matsui would be likely to pick Anaheim over Seattle due to Ichi-reasons.

.

I/O:  It's also doubted that Seattle would want Matsui because they want their DH to help in the outfield.

Crunch:  again we frazz out here:  would this mean that Nick Johnson, Adam Dunn, etc., are nonissues for 2010?

As with roto, multiple positions are always a very sweet bonus on a player.  But in real MLB, options are far more limited than people realize.  You may only have a choice of two or three players who can legitimately help you, not ten or twelve.

.

I/O:  Dr. D speculates elsewhere that Matsui might not be the M's kind of guy on a personal level.

Crunch:  We welcome input on that. :- )

.

=== John Lackey ===

I/O:  E-v-e-r-y-b-o-d-y agrees that this could jell, if Lackey isn't going to insist on $100M.

Crunch:  Dr. D has been around long enough to know that there are plenty of surprises in this game.  He doesn't take it as a given that the M's wouldn't hand John Lackey a huge contract if it brought him here.

Just the same, am sure the M's would love a reasonable deal -- and in this market of paying $5M to shortstops worth $9M and $4M to first basemen worth $12M, you've got to spend your money wisely.

I'm all for Stars & Scrubs, but if Lackey's taking 90 cents on his WAR dollar and everybody else is taking 50 cents on the WAR dollar, take the 50. 

.

Crunch:  Just the same, can't you see it?

A resurgent 320/360/525 Vlad, a 17-6, 2.75 Lackey, both in blue ... alongside The Next Gen of Felix, Morrow, Branyan, Gutierrez, Ichiro .... the Angels reaching back, punching the M's and breaking their hands like Jim Carrey's Riddler?

I'd love to see the Next-Gen M's pass the 90-W mark (and the Angels) and then see Lackey and Vlad pile on, beating the Angels about the head and shoulders in the Z era.

Can you visualize it?  :- )

Cheers,

Dr D