yakyubaka - Yu Darvish will apparently be posted during the off-season. It seems Darvish has already spoken to the Nippon Ham Fighters and the club is on board with the decision (they have always stated they would be supportive of Darvish). While clubs probably won't spend as much as they did for Daisuke Matsuzaka, some are estimating it could cost a club upwards of 3B yen to talk to Darvish (about half the amount Boston paid in order to talk to Matsuzaka). Incidentally, the Sanspo article mentions that there are about 8 clubs interested in Darvish, including the Rangers, Yankees, Mets, and Braves.
mlb - Consider this a compliment: Mets closer Hisanori Takahashi reminds Jerry Manuel of the first "consistent" closer he ever managed. "Keith Foulke," Manuel said. "Keith, you knew that you were going to get a strike. You knew that there was not going to be an issue with bases on balls. And that's a huge thing when you bring him in." Like Foulke, a former American League All-Star and Rolaids Relief Award winner who closed for Manuel's White Sox from 2000-02, Takahashi pitches off his changeup. And like Foulke, Takahashi has thrived in the ninth inning thanks in large part to some impressive control.
BA - Clemson righthander Benson was the clear No. 1 talent in 1996, when some scouts wondered if he was the best college pitching prospect ever and if he might shoot straight to the big leagues. After signing for a record $2 million, he needed two years to get to Pittsburgh but won 21 games in his first two seasons there. He showed signs of becoming the ace the Pirates envisioned, but he blew out his elbow in spring training in 2001 and had repeated shoulder problems in future years. All told, he went 43-49, 4.26 in 126 starts with the Bucs.
9-27-10 from: - AMAZIN - Vaughn was nothing short of spectacular in his pro debut this year, showing real potential as a middle-of-the-order run producer and surely making the decision for Brooklyn's MVP a tough one. After getting drafted in the fourth round out of San Diego St., Vaughn (to his credit) signed very quickly and got right to hitting as the Cyclones cleanup man. And hit he did; like Ceciliani, Vaughn's name is all over the league's offensive leader boards as he led the league in slugging and OPS while finishing top three in homers, extra-bases, doubles, RBI's and a whole host of other offensive categories. He also showcased his all-around athletic ability stealing twelve bases and covering center field in a pinch and what really surprised those who had watched him in college was the increased plate discipline he showed, walking in an exemplary 12.8% of his ab's. Vaugh himself attributed the overall improvement at the dish to regular playing time, which he didn't always receive at San Diego State. On the down side, his K-rates and BB:K worsened pretty significantly after the All-Star Break (13:31 in his final thirty games, 21:29 in 38 games before that) further bolstering critics' claims that he was a college player beating up on inferior competition. This is why a promotion up to Hi-A next spring should be an interesting litmus test about how legitimate Vaughn's power bat really is.
9-26-10: - Mack on metszilla - He’s my favorite for getting the job. Satin has never got any press (except from me) and will be next year’s Kirk Nieuwenhuis when it comes to additional positive press. He hits as well as Havens, and is showing signs of pop (12-HRs, 74-RBIs in 2010 at A+/AA). He’s adequate defensively and I expect him to have a breakout year at AA/AAA in 2011, but he would not be ready until earliest 2012.
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