Sheets Throws Well During Workout; Cubs May Try to Sign Him?

[prophet]

http://sports.yahoo.com/m...I6ocRvLYF?urn=mlb,213042

 

What does everybody think? is this any more than just some reporter making noise?

[Invader3K]

It's been reported since then that the Cubs are turned off by his agent's ridiculous salary demands (supposedly he wants something like two years and $10-12 million per year), so there may not be much to it at all.

[pogokat]

i think i would be ill if he signed with the cubs

[TheFyl]

The Cubs are stretched thin, I don't think they've done anything worth while during the whole offseason, except bring in Greg Maddux as co-Jim Hendry. I could see them over paying to get Sheets and what a sad state of affairs that would be. Until Braun and Fielder ripped him up game after game of course. he'll have to see what happens

[RockCoCougars]

i think i would be ill if he signed with the cubs

I will be sick as well if Sheets goes to the Cubs. Not sure where the dislike for the guy comes from. People seem to forget that he started the all-star game his last year here and went out there hurt for several starts after sustaining this injury. Ben was probably the best pitcher in franchise history and I'm really convinced that he's going to bounce back. Not sure how bridges were burned with the Brewers and he doesn't want to come back, but it must be due to the team refusing to negotiate a new contract with him. I can see both sides, but most of us should be able to relate to how upset one can get when a new employee is brought in to your workplace, makes more money than you and is incompetent....just saying.

[sveumrules]

Not sure how bridges were burned with the Brewers and he doesn't want to come back, but it must be due to the team refusing to negotiate a new contract with him. I can see both sides, but most of us should be able to relate to how upset one can get when a new employee is brought in to your workplace, makes more money than you and is incompetent....just saying.

 

Except here's the thing, the Brewers offered Sheets arbitration after 2008 which he declined, so they were willing to engage in contract talks. I'm assuming you're referring to Suppan with the last bit but the thing is in 2007 he made 6 million while Sheets made 10 million and in 2008 he made 8 million while Sheets made 11 million. Last year was the first time that Suppan out earned Sheets, 12.5 million to zero.

[Invader3K]

It's funny how many people were screaming in 2008 for the Brewers to sign Sheets to a 4 year/$60 million deal, or "whatever it takes to keep him." Melvin made the right move.

[RockCoCougars]

It's funny how many people were screaming in 2008 for the Brewers to sign Sheets to a 4 year/$60 million deal, or "whatever it takes to keep him." Melvin made the right move.

It's easy to second guess after an injury, but I'd still have signed him to that contract. I also would never have signed Suppan and Wolf to their deals. The $60 million is roughly the same amount that Suppan and Wolf will earn from the team over the same timeframe counting Suppan last year. No doubt Sheets would have hurt the team less than Suppan last year, even had he not thrown a pitch, so basically what it comes down to is would you rather have Sheets for the next three years or Jeff Suppan for this season and Wolf for the next three. I'd take Sheets in a heartbeat because he's proven he can be an ace, while Wolf is basically a middle of the rotation starter. I'll take my chances on his health because I don't think Wolf is a sure thing to stay healthy himself by any means.

[BREWCREW5]

Let him go and sign there. I will enjoy watching him go on the DL continuosly.

[Invader3K]

It's easy to second guess after an injury, but I'd still have signed him to that contract. I also would never have signed Suppan and Wolf to their deals. The $60 million is roughly the same amount that Suppan and Wolf will earn from the team over the same timeframe counting Suppan last year. No doubt Sheets would have hurt the team less than Suppan last year, even had he not thrown a pitch, so basically what it comes down to is would you rather have Sheets for the next three years...

That is all well and fine, but this is not a realistic approach for a team with a limited budget like the Brewers.

[TooLiveBrew]

Sheets will hold a throwing session next Tuesday at the Univ. of Louisiana-Monroe for any interested teams. Says his arm feels "fantastic".

 

Link

[RockCoCougars]

It's easy to second guess after an injury, but I'd still have signed him to that contract. I also would never have signed Suppan and Wolf to their deals. The $60 million is roughly the same amount that Suppan and Wolf will earn from the team over the same timeframe counting Suppan last year. No doubt Sheets would have hurt the team less than Suppan last year, even had he not thrown a pitch, so basically what it comes down to is would you rather have Sheets for the next three years...

That is all well and fine, but this is not a realistic approach for a team with a limited budget like the Brewers.

I'm talking about giving Sheets the four year deal pre-injury....obviously the deal would look bad now because he got hurt.

 

That said, giving Jeff Suppan $42 million is a realistic approach? Or even giving Randy Wolf $31 million?

[RockCoCougars]

Sheets will hold a throwing session next Tuesday at the Univ. of Louisiana-Monroe for any interested teams. Says his arm feels "fantastic".

 

Link

Melvin, Peterson and the others will probably be busy that day at Mark Mulder's throwing session.

[TooLiveBrew]

Well given that Sheets's contract demands thus far have been ridiculous, I'd imagine the Brewers have zero interest. Not to mention that pesky 'Sheets doesn't want to come back to Milwaukee' thing.

[Oldcity]

Melvin, Peterson and the others will probably be busy that day at Mark Mulder's throwing session.

 

No, they'll sign Mulder without seeing him throw. They'll probably skip Sheets' session anyway. Anyone but the Cubs...

[Invader3K]

That said, giving Jeff Suppan $42 million is a realistic approach? Or even giving Randy Wolf $31 million?

 

We did overpay for Suppan, but you have to remember the circumstances at the time. Melvin wanted someone who would reliably take the ball every fifth day. Maybe if Sheets hadn't gotten hurt two years in a row, he wouldn't have done the signing at the time. And I think the Wolf contract is fine. A slight overpay, but not one that is going to cripple the team even if he is mediocre (his numbers don't point to him outright crashing and burning as an SP).

 

I would not be surprised if the Brewers have "a representative" at Sheets' session either.

[JohnBriggs12]

Gordon Wittenmeyer of the Chicago Sun-Times today quotes a team source that "Sheets is not in their plans". Sort of confirming that, the Tribune's Paul Sullivan said this morning on the Score that the Cubs don't have room in their budget for Sheets, but he suspects they do have the money if they wanted to.

[Invader3K]

It's funny to see teams like the Cubs and Yankees tightening up the purse strings. Even they don't want tons of bad money sitting on their books any more. They are probably being smart, since next year's FA class is supposedly much better than this off-season's. I'm sure the Cubs' new ownership has a lot to do with it, too.

[RyDogg66]

Any chance someone could edit the thread title. Just looking at the way it is formatted hurts my eyes. Im talking taking the cap letter out of CUBS.

[owbc]

I really hope he does not sign with the Cubs, because Sheets is going to be great when he gets back--and plus he will have added motivation against the Brewers. He always had a reputation as being injury prone, but he was only hurt 15% of his time with the Brewers. The other 85% of the time he was one of the top 5 pitchers in the NL--and he was the absolute best in 2008 before his elbow gave out (the first ever "normal" pitching injury that he ever had). In addition, Sheets was dominant while pitching through pain at times, including that clutch shutout against the Padres in September 2008 when the slumping Brewers desperately needed a win. Now that he had a year off, he will be completely healthy. I suspect he will start slow (as always), but by mid-summer he will be back at his game and worth every dollar for the team that signs him.

 

As a baseball fan, he was my favorite pitcher ever to watch in person--even over C.C. and Halladay. His quirks were great--always came out throwing all fastballs in the first inning, had virtually no athleticism, horrible hitter and defender, etc. He worked extremely fast, especially when he got on a roll. Almost never threw over to first base. Could go a month without walking a batter. He was at his best in about the 5th inning when his fastball was up to 95 and he had the curveball going. The Braves looked like little-leaguers in the 18K game--flailing aimlessly at balls that bounced 2 feet in front of the plate and then watching a dead-straight fastball down the middle.

 

As much as I hate the Cubs and love the Brewers, I will laugh if Sheets comes back and beats the Brewers--especially the Brewers fans that booed him, called Capuano the ace over him, and wanted him gone because of the injuries. I'd rather have Sheets 70% of the time than any other starter on the team 100% of the time.

 

Edit: I can't believe I said that about the Cubs. Never!!!

[stoutdude04]

As much as I hate the Brewers and love the Cubs

Ouch.

 

Sheets was always my favorite pitcher. I would definitely be sad to see him go to the Cubs. I would not be at all surprised to see him do so out of spite. I have a feeling there is bad blood between the two. I have nothing but my gut feeling about that however.

[pretendastronaut]

This is from Trenni's twitter page;

To see video of Sheets and hear my interview
w the righty, watch Hot Stove on @MLBNetwork at 6E/5C. And of course we'll
have analysis!!

Sheets said he usually throws curve in upper 70's but velocity and strength
will come. Also said he's not limiting team options to South.

Sheets threw about 55 pitches today. Consensus is he looked pretty
good. Told me he feels great. Only 4th time he's thrown off mound.

Sheets hitting upper 60's to low 70's on his curve
about 1 hour ago from Echofon
I'm no scout but Sheets curve looked pretty darn good. Great location. Obv
no batter in the box, but he still looks strong.

Just talked w scout, re:how Sheets looked. Good mechanics. Great shape. Is
way ahead of where he'd be velocity wise at beg of normal spring about

Sheets taking a quick break. Told he will throw breaking balls
second next time out. Scouts eager to see his curve.

First round on mound for Sheets all fast balls. Topped out at 91MPH.
One scout I've talked with says he looks good and 91 is good for Ben

Right now Sheets hitting 88-90 on the gun. Hitting
most of his spots but erratic on a few.

About 20 scouts and coaches at UL-Monroe to watch Ben Sheets. Talked w him
a bit. Looked really strong during long toss. Just took the mound

[TooLiveBrew]

Wow, thanks for posting those, pretendastronaut

[prophet]

Ouch.

 

Sheets was always my favorite pitcher. I would definitely be sad to see him go to the Cubs. I would not be at all surprised to see him do so out of spite. I have a feeling there is bad blood between the two. I have nothing but my gut feeling about that however.

That would be terrible. But i could never see a player doing such a thing. I'm in Green Bay, and that would be like an iconic Packer going to a divisional rival for the sole purpose of sticking it to his former team. That would never happen.

[sheetskout]

Notes look good but I think the days of Sheets hitting the mid-to-upper 90's are over.

 

The salary demands need to come down but I think some teams may be getting desparate enough to take the flyer. I will laugh my ass off if the Cubs sign him for that and he tanks.

 

I mean seriously, my rear end may fall off.