MVN: Most Valuable Network

According to Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times, knuckleballer RA Dickey has chosen to sign with the Minnesota Twins. Now if you recall last year, Dickey signed a free agent deal with the Twins only for the Mariners to snag him in the Rule 5 draft before even so much as putting on a Minnesota Twins uniform.

Here's what Dickey had to say:

"They seemed to be the team that had the most interest in me," Dickey said on Wednesday. "Not only that, they also seemed to have a real plan for how they want to use me. More than the other teams."

Baker goes on to say that the plan is to have Dickey work out of the 'pen and maybe even collect some spot starts down the road for the Twins. Kinda sounds like what Dickey did last year for the M's. Honestly this move doesn't move me either way, though it was nice to have a guy in the pen that could throw several consecutive days.

Willie Bloomquist, you either loathed the guy or if you are a casual fan you loved him. Either way it's most likely that he wont be a Seattle Mariner by the time Spring Training rolls around. Not a big surprise, WFB when used correctly helped the M's - but most often than not he was used far beyond what was logical. But his managers seemed to love the guy.Right now he's waiting for an offer, any offer - but he has come to realize that the big dogs need to be signed first before someone will sign a role player. One of the interesting things is, that he's represented by none other than Scott Boras.From the Tacoma News Tribune:"I'm not expecting to go back to Seattle. It doesn't look like the route they're going," Bloomquist said. "I'm not holding my breath. It's business. I enjoyed my time in Seattle and... Read more

So lets take a little check list.AJ Burnett = FailRafael Furcal = FailSigned Greg Norton = Sorta FailWell OK, so resigning Greg Norton isn't that big of a deal and not really a fail unless Bobby once again decides to misuse Mr. Norton. He should not be starting, unless it's an emergency. I really did enjoy what he brought off the bench as far as pinch hitting goes. But other than that he shouldn't be in the game - I mean in LF he makes Raul Ibanez look like a perennial gold glove winner. The only positive so far this winter is the trade for Javier Vasquez - he's not a #1 or #2 but he'll fit into the rotation nicely and (hopefully) take some pressure off Jair Jurrjens.I'm not bummed about Furcal deciding to sign with the Dodgers, honestly going after him was a mistake anyways. It just didn't... Read more

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Don't get me wrong, I liked Furcal's time in Atlanta - I enjoyed it very much. But now, with this supposed deal to bring him back I find it asinine that the Braves felt the need to go out and sign an aging shortstop to a pretty large deal when the they have the second best defensive shortstop in all of the major's in Yunel Escobar.It's not needed, period. And the group thought of moving Kelly Johnson to LF doesn't help either. At second he's an average defender with a plus bat, you put him in LF he'll go from that to - under average all the way around, and as I've contended many times the Braves have shown the confidence in KJ to make a major league 2B and he's done quite well for himself. So why on earth would you go and screw that up??And on a side... Read more

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Of the arbitration eligible players on the Braves roster - it may come as no surprise to many of you, including myself that Chuck James wasn't tendered a contract. Though it doesn't rule out a possible minor league contract at some point. As it is, he's expected to miss most of next season recovering from shoulder surgery. Honestly, this doesn't bother me a bit.... Read more

In the next few days you'll notice some changes, including a new URL (see comments). A while back Corey Humes of Most Valueable Network came to me, and asked if I'd have any interest in joining the network and bringing what Rain Delay offers to MVN. I had no problems saying yes. MVN is a fine group and I'm happy to be apart of it, it's an exciting time around the Rain Delay Home Office. School has been going well, carrying a 4.0 right now which just absolutely stuns me to no end. And now RD gets to be a part of MVN, and have no fear other than a address change - that's the only change that will be happening, everything else is biz as usual. RD will be (I think) one of the only multi-coverage baseball blogs on the network, I could be wrong.... Read more

As is typical with the Braves, well except for last year - they went out and found a veteran back up catcher for Brian McCann. David Ross is that guy, better with the bat and glove than guys Bobby was forced to trot out there to give Heap a rest, which wasn't much as Heap played in 145 games last season. Ross isn't going to hit for a high average, but he's going to mash a ball or ten when he gets a hold of one. He falls in line with what the Braves normally want in their back up. Vet, can hit a bit, and can play some D. He should fit in fine, though this means most likely that Clint Sammons will find himself back at AAA when the season starts. Which is fine, Sammons still needs some work as evidenced from his cup of coffee this season.... Read more

Figured if I wrote about Mark Kotsay and his 88 game stint with Braves, I might as well write about Teixeira who played 103 games for the Braves in 2008 before being traded at the deadline to the Angels for Casey Kotchman and Stephen Marek. He is as advertised. Wicked switch hitter, with a vacuum for a glove at first base. Matter of fact he was the best defensive first baseman in the majors this year with a +24, though Albert Pujols was on his tale with a +20. Here's what he did in his time in Atlanta for both 2007 & 2008. PA AVG OBP wOBA BB/K ISO OPS+ WPA/LI 2007 240 .317 .404 .428 0.59 .298 163 1.21 2008 451 .283 .390 .386 0.93 .228 136 1.93 He was nothing short of a stud while he wore a tomahawk. Tex was a notoriously slow starter, this was a... Read more

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