Telcon Mack/Sandy: Think 2014

Hey buddy, it’s Mack. Hope you’re surviving the season. BTW, stay away from TC today.

No... still not reinstated...  no, please. I'm fine. Just stay out of it.

Listen, I wanted to share with you my thoughts about the future.


First of all, Michael Baron and I were… yeah, the photo dude… anyway, Michael and I were discussing the existing payroll you are operating with and we estimated it in the $80-90mil range.


One of my readers, The Rahman Brothers, emailed me… yeah, you’re right… TWO of my readers, The Rahman Brothers wanted me to point out to you what the 2014 free agent market looks like.


Yeah, you’re right… the 2013 free agent market looks good, but the real prize is going to come the following year. Look at these guys:


Through 9-14:


CF Matt Kemp: 26/yrs. old - .316/.395/.561/.956 – 33-HR, 110-RBI, .380-BABIP, .381-wOBA


LF Josh Hamilton: 30/yrs. old - .296/.346/.526/.872 – 21-HR, 87-RBI, .328-BABIP, .353-wOBA


RF Andre Ethier: 29-yr. old - .292/.367/.421/.788 – 11-HR, 62-RBI, .351-BABIP, .340-wOBA


CF Curtis Granderson: 30-yrs. old - .265/.365/.558/.923 – 39-HR, 111-RBI, .304-BABIP, .390-wOBA


CF Shane Victorino: 30/yrs. old - .291/.364/.511/.875 – 16-HR, 57-RBI, .306/BABIP, .374/wOBA


C Miguel Montero: 28/yrs. old - .281/.350/.464/.814 – 16-HR, 81-RBI, .320-BABIP, .341-wOBA


CF Michael Bourn: 28/yrs. old - .299/.353/.393/.747 – 2-HR, 47-RBI, 54-SB


SP Matt Cain: 26/yrs. old – 11-10, 2.84, 1.06, 170-K, .267-BABIP, 2.84-FIP


SP Zack Greinke: 27/yrs. old – 14-6, 3.87, 1.17, 181-K, .325-BABIP, 2.86-FIP


SP Cole Hamels: 27/yrs. old – 14-8, 2.71, 0.97, 177-K, .260-BABIP, 2.89-FIP


SP Jake Peavy: 30/yrs. old – 7-7, 4.92, 1.26, 95-K, .326-BABIP, 3.24-FIP


So Sandy, what I figure is:


By spring training 2014, the team will be Davis at 1B, Havens at 2B, Jose at SS, David at 3B, Duda in RF, den Dekker is in CF, the Captain is holding down LF, Thole is catching, Wheeler, Harvey and Niese in the rotation, Familia, Mejia, Schwinden, Gee, Edgin, Acosta, and Beato in the pen, and Evans, Murphy, Satin, Centeno, Valdespin, and Tejada on the bench.


So, by then you have cleared Pelfrey, Paulino, Santana, Pagan, Dickey, and Bay and the only two long term contracts you have are Wright and Jose through 2017.


The Madoff mess is done with, your payroll is well below $100mil, A-Rodriquez, Marte, and Morris are banging on the door and the fan base remains around 2.5mil.


I can’t think of a better time to light it up.


I’m thinking Montero at catcher... yeah, I know, but at least he has the same last name... Grienke as SP1, and Kemp in that new shortened centerfielder.


Okay… fine… Cain instead of Grienke.


Lineup:


Reyes, Havens, Wright, Kemp, Duda, Davis, Montero, Nieuwenhius…


Rotation: Cain, Wheeler, Harvey, Niese, Gorski


Bench: Evans, Thole, Murphy, Tejada, Valdespin, den Dekker


Pen: Mejia, Familia, Carson, Holt, Edgin, Leathersich, Schwinden


Sandy…


You there?