Watching his press conference really makes me sad.

I shut my office door and watched almost the entire thing.  Derek, Mariano and CC were there.  Those guys looked somber.  I’m going to miss him.

I remember the championship the year before his rookie year.  Back when Jeter was a rookie, Mo was setting up, and Pettitte was a 24 year old Sophomore winning 21 games and making a run at the Cy Young.  We had a GREAT run with this group and it’s sad to see the game passing them by. 

Thanks for everything Jorge.

i’m so sad for the millionaire who gets to retire at 40, after doing his dream job with the best team in baseball for his entire career.

wait what?

He talked about the double off Pedro and how his roar at second base was a reaction to the excitement of the fans and his teammates.  He said Mango Tree had been pitching him inside all night, he expected a pitch inside, he swung at an inside pitch that was probably off the plate but it “found a lot of grass.”  Then YES replayed the hit and Jorge’s primal scream and it gave me goosebumps.

[4] not to mention his hot wife

So who takes over the designated “red ass” on the team? Tiex? Somebody’s got to step into Posada’s ornery role, at least, I hope so.

I don’t see Tiex as much of a red ass, i’d nominate Swisher but he’s too goofy. Maybe the ghost of Joba?

Prince Fielder 9yr 214mm with Detroit. Boras is insane

[9]  214 millimeters?

In other news, Betemit to Baltimore.

It would be nice if there was widespread bitching about the Tigers overspending and ruining baseball, but there won’t be.

The TIGERS? Fielder’s signing with the TIGERS? So weird.

[12] WTF?

big fat man signs big fat contract.  I guess he’s going to DH pretty much exclusively?

Cody Ross to the Townies.  He should form a solid platoon in right with Sweeney, which sucks.

So with the $3 million to Ross, do the Sox still have enough money left to sign Oswalt?

[16] Well they definitely have the money.  Who knows if they’re willing to spend it.  Scutaro was due 6 million, so they still shed some payroll if you look at this as Scutaro for Ross.

Detroit has a pretty dangerous lineup with V-Mart, Cabrera and Fielder. Of course, they also have 3 players who should probably be playing DH.

[18]  V-Mart is out for the year, I think.

Nine years for Fielder is crazy and you have to think they were bidding against themselves.

EDIT:  Well, he’s only 27?  9 years might be perfect, actually.  Not worse than we’re doing with Teixera.

[19] Same guys in 2013 though, right?

24 million a year for a fat DH is crazy.

Yes, they are definitely well set-up for the next few years. 

Fielder will be an albatross, though.  Whether it’s for 1 year or 5 will determine how successful this contract is.

I would love to know whether anyone was offering anywhere near that much in years/$.

[22] If I were Cashman I would have asked the Steinbrenners for 30/1.

His hot wife looked pretty good. Classy dress.

MLBTR was saying Cabrera will DH.

[25] You know you’re a bad defender when Prince Fielder takes your position.

[23] And Prince would have passed because of Detroit’s insane offer. I know potentially having Fielder, VMart, and Cabrera in the lineup looks great, but where do they play them? If it’s Martinez C, Fielder 1B, Cabrera DH, that’s two terrible defenders right there.

[27] Well you could go with Martinez C, Cabrera 1B, Fielder DH.  That’s only two terrible defenders right there.

Talk is Cabrera @ 3B..so, the point remains

[29] Optimizing their terrible defense!

What the Prince signing means:

  ....one less team in on Johnny Damon.

I for one am very excited for the 2013 lineup of V-Mart C, Cabrera 3B, Fielder 1B and some replacement level hitter @ DH.

[33] If that ever happens I vow I won’t even complain one time during the game thread if we bunt.

[33] I won’t go as far as guaranteeing it. But I would be surprised not to see it at least once.

[34] I will double post though.

So…Pujols = Fielder with 1 less year?  Stunned is the right word for a 9 yr deal for this amount of money.

[36] At least Fielder is really 27 and not secretly 35.

I can’t imagine Leyland is going to be too thrilled about having a fatty man 1B, a fatty man 3B and a catcher with busted knees.

[32] The Tigers have an all-star catcher who won the silver slugger last season with a 141 ops+.  I guess they could move him to DH to make room for Victor Martinez when he returns next season.

[39] I totally forgot about Avila. Guy is legit.