Linkage
Mariner Central, among other places, has a discussion on the idea of Figgins-for-Young.
Sully points out, adroitly, that Young is a Bret Boone-, Edgar-style hitter who takes the ball to right-center with authority ... not that he endorses the acquisition. But that Safeco-fit observation is definitely Point A in any such discussion.
Dr. D has a bias towards talent, a prejudice toward All-Star impact. Does that apply here?
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Nay verily. Dr. D also has a bias against paying for cake that somebody else has already eaten, and at age 34 n a neutral park, Young is merely an average/solid infielder with blase defense.
Young might or might not be interesting for the Safeco Mariners at, say, $8M per season. Chone Figgins is not going to provide $0 baseball performance for that $9M per season. There isn't any way to make the math work.
Young could do a few good things in Safeco, no doubt. But you don't pay a guy $16M to do a few good things. No sale.
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Prospect Insider has a piece up on Albert Pujols' future. They reason that Washington, Chicago, and ... Texas are the three logical landing spots for Pujols.
And here is a very good thread by Dave Cameron, with 147 (and counting) responses, addressing Pujols' potential free agency. He provides math towards an ARod contract for Pujols, in case your own seat-of-the-pants observation didn't do the same.
Pujols produces 8-9 wins per season; he's worth close to 1.5 Felix Hernandezes after Felix' plateau leap in 2009. A $30-$40 million salary for him has been the logical starting point, since Pujols and a rookie are worth two $15-$20M stars.
Pujols hits .325/.425/.625 in a reasonable park. I don't want to know what that would be in Texas, do you?
The only thing I cared about, with Cliff Lee, was that he not be a Yankee. And the only thing I care about, with Pujols, is that he not be a Ranger.
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Perhaps 20% or 30% of SSI / DOV fans are interested in Dr. D's noodlings on philosophy, politics and religion. For those who are, rght now at That Prophet there is a bit of discussion on The Resurrection Myth and its "seeding" globally.
Why does each world culture seem to contain some variation on death and resurrection? Tolkien and Lewis debated this at length.