I guess 3 million is a lot to pay a back-up catcher, that had just 120 at bats. The Cubs must have thought so, as they declined the option for that amount in 2009. Instead, they bought out the option for 300,000 and reportedly will try to negotiate a lower salary for next year. But with Blanco hitting .292 last season, there is a chance that another team might get into the bidding. The Cubs will have a 2 week window after Blanco files for free agency, to try to work something out, before other teams can make an offer. Soto is the man behind the dish now, but having a good back-up is important. You never know when an injury might happen. Koyie Hill is a good defensive catcher, but has not hit much at the Major League level. Blanco will be 38 in the summer of 2009, so any interest in him at this point, would almost have to be as a back-up.

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Go Cubs!!!!

BRING HIM BACK!

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

Maybe they should bring Scott Servais out of retirement, so he could be Ted Lilly's personal catcher...

No can do. He has a MLB ball club to manage.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-bas ... as-manager


The Mariners on Friday introduced Scott Servais as their new manager.

Servais, 48, was an assistant general manager for the Angels, and was the leading candidate for the Seattle job, as Heyman recently noted. While current Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto filled the same role for the Angels, Servais worked under him in his current role. Here's part of Dipoto's statement released by the team:

“Through the course of the 20-plus years I've known Scott, I've come to see him as one of the most complete, well balanced and inclusive baseball people in the industry. I've been fortunate enough to call him a teammate as a player, while also having worked closely with him as an organizational leader in both Colorado and Los Angeles. He is a communicator with strong baseball acumen and leadership skills. I truly believe his strong character and career experiences as a player, coach and executive have prepared him for this opportunity.”
Servais was a major-league catcher for parts of 11 seasons with the Astros, Cubs, Giants, and Rockies. He retired from playing following the 2001 season. Prior to joining the Angels' front office, Servais worked for six seasons Rangers' Senior Director of Player Development. Before that, Servais was a scout for the Rockies and a roving catching instructor for the Cubs. His comments upon being announced as Seattle's new manager:

“I am excited and grateful for the opportunity to manage the Seattle Mariners. It has long been my goal to manage a big league team and while I took a slightly different path than many, I am confident in my ability to lead. We have a terrific core of players and I'm looking forward to bringing in a coaching staff that will help me establish a winning culture here as we work toward putting a championship-caliber team on the field for the fans of the Northwest.”
Not long after Dipoto took over the Mariners in late September, he fired incumbent manager Lloyd McClendon. McClendon across two seasons was two games above .500 with Seattle, but the Mariners in 2015, despite some high expectations, finished 76-86 and in fourth place in the AL West.

Servais is poised to inherit a roster that includes Felix Hernandez, Robinson Cano, Kyle Seager, and Nelson Cruz, among others.

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Soccer 1,2,3
Spanish Honor Society 1,2,3,4
Forensics 1,2,3,4

"Smiles with Nostrils"

"...no Hmong, go find some blacks"

This is top tier thread necroing. Impeccable work by an obvious pro.

Better than trying to convince a guy to be your manager.

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”