Since tellitlikeitis got that thread locked up...here's one for 2013. Pitchers and catchers report - Feb. 11 Full squad reports - Feb. 15 First ST game - Feb. 23 It was also announced that the Cubs will play @ Minute Maid for the final 2 ST games on March 29 - 30.
I'm docking you 3 game checks and you're suspended for the season. Signed, Roger Goodell Wait, wrong forum...
Well, don't expect too much in the way of non-roster invites this year. If there are any, they'd probably be from within the organization. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Astros">#Astros</a> manager Bo Porter said he's already prepared to enter spring training with Houston's roster basically as-is. <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23MLB">#MLB</a></p>— Brian T. Smith (@ChronAstros) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChronAstros/status/286964510013677568" data-datetime="2013-01-03T22:37:25+00:00">January 3, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Astros">#Astros</a>' Porter said he can't get carried away with wishful thinking. Houston believes its roster can compete in <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23MLB">#MLB</a> and Porter's ...</p>— Brian T. Smith (@ChronAstros) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChronAstros/status/286964669741142016" data-datetime="2013-01-03T22:38:03+00:00">January 3, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>... ready to push players to their maximum potential.</p>— Brian T. Smith (@ChronAstros) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChronAstros/status/286964749701365760" data-datetime="2013-01-03T22:38:22+00:00">January 3, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Per yet another strong piece from @<a href="https://twitter.com/jeffpassan">jeffpassan</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Astros">#Astros</a> expected to have second-largest opening-day payroll decrease (-47 percent) in <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23MLB">#MLB</a>.</p>— Brian T. Smith (@ChronAstros) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChronAstros/status/290974157557092352" data-datetime="2013-01-15T00:10:19+00:00">January 15, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Houston">#Houston</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Astros">#Astros</a>' non-roster invites: Kevin Chapman, Trevor Crowe, Sergio Escalona, Chuckie Fick, Rene Garcia,Jake Goebbert ...</p>— Brian T. Smith (@ChronAstros) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChronAstros/status/292062701188943872" data-datetime="2013-01-18T00:15:48+00:00">January 18, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>... Edgar Gonzalez, Jason Jaramillo, Marc Krauss, Brandon Laird, Che-Hsuan Lin, Carlos Perez,Jose Martinez, Chris Wallace, Josh Zeid.</p>— Brian T. Smith (@ChronAstros) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChronAstros/status/292063000368664577" data-datetime="2013-01-18T00:17:00+00:00">January 18, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Brian McTaggart breaks down the non-roster invites Also, regarding post #9: Since that list is all pitchers and catchers, I'm assuming that they'll be reporting to minor league camp.
As you were... <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Astros">#Astros</a> sign LHP Erik Bedard to minor-league deal with invite to major-league spring training. <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Pirates">#Pirates</a></p>— John Perrotto (@jperrotto) <a href="https://twitter.com/jperrotto/status/293523808667717632" data-datetime="2013-01-22T01:01:44+00:00">January 22, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Why the heck not I guess. If he is the same Erik Bedard that he has been over the last couple of years, then he gets cut and he didn't cost you anything. If he pitches well and makes it to the big club, he might end up being a trade chip.
I like it. No risk and if he can somehow get back to his pre-injury prone days, he'll be a good veteran addition for the kids and a valuable trade chip. He was pretty highly regarded when he was an Oriole...finished 5th in the Cy Young voting in 2007.
Remember when the Mariners traded Adam Jones for him? Orioles made out like bandits in that trade. Is there another team in the past handful of years with as many bad trades/signing as the M's? Adam Jones for Erik Bedard Cliff Lee for Justin Smoak Shin Soo Choo for Ben Broussard Rafael Soriano for Horacio Ramirez Signing Chone Figgins to a big deal Signing Carlos Silva to a big deal Lucky for them they're pretty good at finding talent through the draft & international signings, though it hasn't paid off for the big league club.
They had signed Cliff Lee to a big deal, and had to trade him for something as the team was going nowhere... the Mariners are an AL version of the Astros from 2007 - 2010. Not sure if they want to be contenders, or focused on simply rebuilding... not sure if they are big market or mid/small market.
I don't know what to make of this, actually. On the one hand, of course I know that we traded away basically anybody of value (with a few exceptions like Altuve, Lowrie, Norris, Harrell, Lyles, etc) last year. I get that. And I also get the fact that we wouldn't want to go out and sign high priced free agents since we're still several years away from competing at a high level, and those players would block some of our developing players. AND I also get that one of the advantages we have right now is that we can offer our developing players playing time, to help them come up the experience curve sooner. That being said, why isn't Crane out there signing international stars with the extra money? Why isn't he putting the extra money into stadium upgrades (and no, I don't consider that hideous, tacky new billboard in left field to be any kind of an upgrade at all, quite the opposite)? Why not get top caliber talent to coach the minor league system? Is he just being cheap, to save a few million bucks?
