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Post by berkley on Nov 17, 2014 0:56:35 GMT -5
You know, I just looked him up on wiki and I must have seen him play for Australia in the Rugby League World Cup last year, because I watched a few games of that, but Australia was so dominant I never really noticed anybody standing out for them - the whole team stood out! Try looking at a youtube clip of him, there are quite a few of his best trys, and you can see how good he is. He has an amazing ability to shrug off tackles, keep his balance, and accelerate through the defence. still...you guys have such a huge numbers advantage(population wise) that he may well be just average over there. Well, there are very few Canadian players who have ever made it to the NFL, so we don't really have the numbers either, but I know what you mean. There is such a huge pool of American players who have grown up playing the game and have an instinctive grasp of the nuances that that will be a big disadvantage for anyone without the same background, no matter how talented. I just did watch a Jaryd Hayne highlight reel and there's no way he's average as far as pure athletic ability is concerned, but it's always possible that those incredible skills just won't translate to the seemingly similar but at the same time very different game that is American football. I'd love to see him succeed, though. And by the same token, I can see a star NFL player having a lot of trouble adapting to rugby - I think it would take him several months just to re-train his fitness to meet the cardio demands of the more fluid and continuous game, just for one thing. But the Wallabies selectors must be hoping he gives up on the NFL dream ASAP - I'm sure they must have been trying to recruit him for years. That reminds me - there was a young NZ League player who really impressed me when watching the League WC last year - was it Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (just looked up the roster on wiki)? I wonder if there have been any efforts to persuade him to switch codes. BTW, for anyone curious about rugby league, that highlight reel is a good thing to watch, because it highlighted not only the running skills that Haynes will be trying to bring to NFL football, but the passing, tackling, and kicking skills that he'll likely never be asked to use in NFL football but that show how much more versatile rugby players have to be compared to the specialised NFL players. |
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Post by Paste Pot Paul on Nov 17, 2014 10:21:56 GMT -5
Try looking at a youtube clip of him, there are quite a few of his best trys, and you can see how good he is. He has an amazing ability to shrug off tackles, keep his balance, and accelerate through the defence. still...you guys have such a huge numbers advantage(population wise) that he may well be just average over there. Well, there are very few Canadian players who have ever made it to the NFL, so we don't really have the numbers either, but I know what you mean. There is such a huge pool of American players who have grown up playing the game and have an instinctive grasp of the nuances that that will be a big disadvantage for anyone without the same background, no matter how talented. I just did watch a Jaryd Hayne highlight reel and there's no way he's average as far as pure athletic ability is concerned, but it's always possible that those incredible skills just won't translate to the seemingly similar but at the same time very different game that is American football. I'd love to see him succeed, though. And by the same token, I can see a star NFL player having a lot of trouble adapting to rugby - I think it would take him several months just to re-train his fitness to meet the cardio demands of the more fluid and continuous game, just for one thing. But the Wallabies selectors must be hoping he gives up on the NFL dream ASAP - I'm sure they must have been trying to recruit him for years. That reminds me - there was a young NZ League player who really impressed me when watching the League WC last year - was it Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (just looked up the roster on wiki)? I wonder if there have been any efforts to persuade him to switch codes. BTW, for anyone curious about rugby league, that highlight reel is a good thing to watch, because it highlighted not only the running skills that Haynes will be trying to bring to NFL football, but the passing, tackling, and kicking skills that he'll likely never be asked to use in NFL football but that show how much more versatile rugby players have to be compared to the specialised NFL players. I think a lot of players struggle converting to a similar sport like rugby union, but maybe the larger difference to Gridiron will make it easier. As you say the demands of the more aerobic sports make it harder for Americans to swap.
I don't know about Tuivasa-Sheck, but have you seen Sonny-Bill Williams play? Very good at either Union or League, but his earlier League career showcased some big hits.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 17, 2014 13:15:51 GMT -5
Cardinals traded Shelby Miller and Tyrell Jenkins for Jason Heyward and Jordan Walden. Don't like Miller (kinda reminds me of Rasmus) and I do like Heyward, and lord knows the bullpen needs help, but I'm not sure I like the move. I know they're supposedly loaded with young arms, but it feels like they're trading them all away.
Ah well, maybe I'll get a Heyward shirt.
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Post by The Captain on Nov 17, 2014 14:13:02 GMT -5
Toronto Blue Jays signed Russell Martin, a 32-year old catcher, to a five-year, $82MM contract. That's just crazy money for a guy who has a lot of mileage, only plays about 110-120 games per year, and is at the most physically-demanding position on the diamond. Sad to see him leave my Pirates, but for that money, good luck to the Jays in getting value out of that in years 4 and 5 (and possibly even year 3)
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Post by The Captain on Nov 17, 2014 14:15:38 GMT -5
Cardinals traded Shelby Miller and Tyrell Jenkins for Jason Heyward and Jordan Walden. Don't like Miller (kinda reminds me of Rasmus) and I do like Heyward, and lord knows the bullpen needs help, but I'm not sure I like the move. I know they're supposedly loaded with young arms, but it feels like they're trading them all away. Ah well, maybe I'll get a Heyward shirt. Plus, they only have Heyward under contract for one year, while Miller still had four years of control. I get that they have to replace Tavares (RIP), and they may sign Heyward to an extension, but I agree with you that is seems fairly short-sighted. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 17, 2014 14:21:27 GMT -5
Toronto Blue Jays signed Russell Martin, a 32-year old catcher, to a five-year, $82MM contract. That's just crazy money for a guy who has a lot of mileage, only plays about 110-120 games per year, and is at the most physically-demanding position on the diamond. Sad to see him leave my Pirates, but for that money, good luck to the Jays in getting value out of that in years 4 and 5 (and possibly even year 3) The AL East is essentially up for grabs for the firs time in over a decade. They are hoping Martin's skills handling a staff can turn their staff around the next 2 seasons the way he did in Pitt and that his veteran clubhouse presence will help that club become a playoff contender. They have a decent collection of talent, they have lacked the glue guys to put it all together. They are hoping Martin can be that glue guy for them like he was for the Pirates. If he can give them 2-3 years of being playoff contenders they will consider it money well spent. Also being an American league team, they can get him some at bats while essentially resting him by using him as DH when the back up catcher's turn to catch comes up. -M |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 17, 2014 14:35:14 GMT -5
Trading Kelly and Miller (and Jenkins) so close together is my concern. If they didn't make the Lackey trade (*sigh*) I'd probably love this move. Although, with Craig still on the roster maybe they don't make this move. Heyward getting an extension doesn't worry me. By all accounts, players like playing in St Louis and with Holliday another year older they'll want to secure a corner outfielder.
That Martin deal seems high to me too, but if he really projects at a +4 WAR and is significantly better at framing than Narvarro then it makes some sense. Plus, it's Toronto. I feel like they have to overpay.
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Post by Prince Hal on Nov 17, 2014 16:44:23 GMT -5
Toronto Blue Jays signed Russell Martin, a 32-year old catcher, to a five-year, $82MM contract. That's just crazy money for a guy who has a lot of mileage, only plays about 110-120 games per year, and is at the most physically-demanding position on the diamond. Sad to see him leave my Pirates, but for that money, good luck to the Jays in getting value out of that in years 4 and 5 (and possibly even year 3) Typical Blue Jays signing. |
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Post by Prince Hal on Nov 17, 2014 16:47:40 GMT -5
Toronto Blue Jays signed Russell Martin, a 32-year old catcher, to a five-year, $82MM contract. That's just crazy money for a guy who has a lot of mileage, only plays about 110-120 games per year, and is at the most physically-demanding position on the diamond. Sad to see him leave my Pirates, but for that money, good luck to the Jays in getting value out of that in years 4 and 5 (and possibly even year 3) The AL East is essentially up for grabs for the firs time in over a decade. They are hoping Martin's skills handling a staff can turn their staff around the next 2 seasons the way he did in Pitt and that his veteran clubhouse presence will help that club become a playoff contender. They have a decent collection of talent, they have lacked the glue guys to put it all together. They are hoping Martin can be that glue guy for them like he was for the Pirates. If he can give them 2-3 years of being playoff contenders they will consider it money well spent. Also being an American league team, they can get him some at bats while essentially resting him by using him as DH when the back up catcher's turn to catch comes up. -M I wonder if the Jays have a catcher in the pipeline, because though all of what you say makes sense, Martin is an old 32. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 17, 2014 17:05:00 GMT -5
Arrencibia was there big catching prospect to be wasn't he? And he kind of busted, so I don't know if they had someone who was a prospect behind him.
And in Sox Nation we just saw a guy last well into his mid-late 30s (almost 40)on his leadership and effectiveness carrying/managing a staff, not on his durability to play 150+ games or offensive production in Varitek who is 42 now and been retired for what 3-4 years?
-M
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Post by Deleted on Nov 17, 2014 17:13:00 GMT -5
I'm also going to go on record here to say I hope the Sox stay away from Cole Hamels and do not trade for him. He has not fared well against the AL historically, especially the AL East, and my gut tells me he will be an acquisition in the Lackey arena for the first few years if he does come to Boston. If they give up 1 prospect maybe, but talks are Philly will want 3 top prospects for him, which is way too much. Hamels is a #2-3 starter at best, but everyone pushes him as a #1 because he showed flashes of brilliance. #1 startes don't have flashes of brilliance, they have consistent performance, not something you can say of Hamels who has had a lot of ups and down through his career.
-M
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Post by Deleted on Nov 17, 2014 17:32:29 GMT -5
And it looks like the Stanton deal is official, 13 years $325 million, no trade clause and Stanton can opt ou after 6 years. Press conference scheduled for Wednesday to formally announce deal.
-M
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Post by The Captain on Nov 17, 2014 17:37:47 GMT -5
And it looks like the Stanton deal is official, 13 years $325 million, no trade clause and Stanton can opt ou after 6 years. Press conference scheduled for Wednesday to formally announce deal. -M I want to know how much of a sticking point the opt out clause was, because God knows if I had another $175MM guaranteed still to come, I wouldn't care if the team never won another game for the rest of my career. Unless he thinks he can find some other team to give him $30MM over that period of time, he'd be a fool to even consider it. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 17, 2014 17:52:02 GMT -5
How much did A-Rod leave on the table to re-up with the Yankees that last time?
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Post by Prince Hal on Nov 17, 2014 19:58:24 GMT -5
Arrencibia was there big catching prospect to be wasn't he? And he kind of busted, so I don't know if they had someone who was a prospect behind him. And in Sox Nation we just saw a guy last well into his mid-late 30s (almost 40)on his leadership and effectiveness carrying/managing a staff, not on his durability to play 150+ games or offensive production in Varitek who is 42 now and been retired for what 3-4 years? -M That could be, but remember, Varitek played a total of just 109, 39, and 68 games his last three years (ages 37-39); his last truly solid year was '07. Still, I will not say a bad word about him. He was a stud, and even if he had been a bust as a player, he would be a hero for introducing the insufferable A-Rod to the ineffable delights of a catcher's mitt sandwich on July 24, 2004. |
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