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IIRC, Branyan was offered a good deal - turned it down, because he wanted a multi-year guarantee -- and THEN Z went out and snagged Kotchman and Garko, (obviously viewing Carp as insufficient). From where I sit the sentiment that Z could've had Branyan cheap is rewriting history. It wasn't until after it was clear the market had vanished the Branyan finally signed a cheap deal - (and even that includes a vesting option - IIRC).
As for Washburn -- did I miss where he signed with someone? Did he tell someone here what his contract demands are? I seem to recall him discussing 2009 being the final year he was gonna play - (until he posted a sub-3.00 ERA with Seattle). Of course, when he re-opened future playing as an option, I seem to recall that being before he imploded with Detroit.
My question is this -- if EVERY team in the majors always needs pitching, (a standard ... slightly hyperbolic axiom) -- then if it is such a slam dunk that Z could have Washburn -- WHY wasn't he signed by any of the other 29 teams prior to ST beginning?
The final question I have is this: Does anyone here know what each SP that has gone out there was intending to work on each outing? I certainly don't. I think there is an assumption that we're seeing 100% effort out of these guys -- when in fact, ST is routinely a time for pitchers to work on new patterns, get loose, ease into things.
What I know is that on May 21st, 2008, Washburn was 2-6 with a 6.99 ERA and every Ms fan who could watch the games was convinced that he was ***NEVER*** under any circumstance going to be a viable major league pitcher for the rest of his natural life.
Me? All I can do is shake my head and remember the gushing over how great Jaku (5.32 ERA) was going to be after his stellar Spring.
Doc is often the temperate voice going against the lemming hordes plunging off the cliffs of enthusiam. If there is a niche for my own ramblings - it is that I instinctively factor in "what is going on in this guys HEAD" into my analyses. During a season, one can at least assume that players are trying to win. That assumption cannot be made during ST. Outside of the long-shot rookies, I don't presume to know what is any players mind during ST. The guys like Tui, Carp, Fister ... THESE guys are doing everything to compete at full-out 100% levels. They HAVE to.
In Atlanta, the glory years were mostly where the Big Three could work on their sand game, while the 47 auditioners for the bullpen actually competed.
Final week of ST? THAT is when I think it might be reasonable to think eyes-on analysis might be useful (to someone not on the coaching staff, who has some idea of what a given pitcher is working on that day).