OSR’s

(originally from 11.16.06)

It sounds ridiculous rolling off the tongue.

And a bit embarrassing to say aloud.

But I must admit – I enjoy baseball more when the lights are out, the field empty.

Yes, I love the baseball off-season.

I mean I really love the baseball off-season.

Love.

Love, not in a “I love chocolate” sort of way, but LOVE as in I prefer the baseball off-season to the actual 162 game regular season way.

Don’t get me wrong – I really really like the smell of the ballpark, the crack of the bat, the studying of the box scores in the paper (errr…on-line) over my bowl of cereal. I look forward to the pennant races. I even rejoice in the wildcard chase (even though I initially thought it was going to over-saturate baseball, much the way expansion did-in hockey).

But nothing beats the off season!! The General Mangers’ Meetings…the trade rumors…fantasizing who my team will land in free agency…

Okay, okay okay…youre right – I need to get a girlfriend! But until then, lets fantasize about something I actually don’t have to have a real job to support. Off-Season Rumors! Whoo hoo!

Now Adam’s Off Season Rumors (O.S.R) are rumors that are not necessarily based in truth…but should be! May not materialize on ESPN…but could! May not make fiscal sense, but they attempt to! But most important – they are the rumors that would happen if I was in charge (and/or just rumors that would be cool if they were real)

Drum roll please….

OSR’s:

• This could be the year Manny Ramirez finally gets traded. I know, I know…his contract has cooties, and despite the fact he’ll probably hit 40+ knockers and drive in 130+ RBI’s, nobody wants to touch it.

Buster Olney wrote (and I paraphrase) that due to the crazy salaries being thrown around baseball thus far (see the bags of money the Blue Jays are tossing at the oft-injured, 38 year old Frank Thomas……….and double…no triple-take at the sheer $51.1-Million-ludicrous-ness the Red Sox bid just for the rights to bid on Daisuke Matsuzaka) that Manny Ramirez may actually be trade-able this off-season.

No, really.

So, why don’t the Pads jump in on this opportunity??!!

He’s exactly what we need (okay, not exactly….his defense and clubhouse antics aren’t ideal)…but can you think of any other bat with more pop???

Okay, I mean, any other bat besides David Ortiz, Albert Pujols, and Ryan Howard?

What would it take to get him in a Padre uni?

They’d probably ask for Jake Peavy. And that’s probably a fair trade. But, I don’t want to trade the Jakester. So let’s think of something else.

The Red Sox need pitching…relief pitching. And everyone seems to want Scott Linebrink. So how about putting a deal together with him as one of the center pieces?

How about Linebrink, Brian Giles and Clay Hensley for Manny?

I hate to trade pitching…especially someone as young and with as much promise and skill as Clay…but you have to give up something to get something.

Giles is the heart and soul of the Padres (from what I hear)…and I’d hate to give him up…but he might regain his power stroke at Fenway. Could be a win-win for everyone. (Well except for his brother Marcus, who would now try and find his way over to Massachusetts.)

Of course, this is contingent on two important things:

1) That the Red Sox actually feel Giles still has some good ball left in him.

2) The Red Sox pick up part of Manny’s salary.

• While we’re on potential Padre moves, here are some other ones I’d like to see:

I’d like to see the Padres get some legit power in the line-up, some speed and one more starting pitcher…without sacrificing too much defense.

Of course Alfonso Soriano is tops on everyone’s list. And he’d be a perfect fit at Petco considering we need a 2^nd basemen and a left fielder with power and speed. But I’m not sure if him coming here is realistic. And lets just assume that the other big free agent outfield bat, Carlos Lee, gets signed by the Astros or Phillies or Angels or Cubs or some other team. What will the Padres do?

Lets start with second basemen. I’ll rank my faves.

1) Josh Barfield (ha ha just kidding)

2) Alfonso Soriano (oh whoops—forgot, we’re pretending he’s not an option)

3) Nomar Garciaparra (he’s got star power which the Padres say they want. He’s got the bat, some pop, a glove…)

4) Chone Figgins (I hear he’s available. He’s speedy and versatile. And he’s played for Bud Black before. If the price tag isn’t too steep (aka more than Linebrink) and if we can live with his glove…)

5) Mark Loretta (didn’t want him to leave the first time. If we can’t nab Nomar or Soriano, I’d love to see him back!!)

6) Adam Kennedy (he’s a winner…and I like his first name. Wink wink. But signing him wouldn’t get me too excited)

7) Marcus Giles (the rumors won’t stop. But I’d rather keep Linebrink and sign one of the players listed 1-5 above. Note: If we didn’t have to pay a high price for him, then I’d rank him somewhere between Nomar and Loretta)

8 ) Ray Durham (got nice pop…but I’m hoping we have bigger plans)

9) Todd Walker (nice bat, but I like him off the bench not as a starter. Only exception is if we sign Soriano or Lee in left along with a top notch starting Pitcher. Then, Walker would be more than acceptable)

10) Ronnie Belliard (he killed us in the playoffs. Actually, come to think of it, I’d take him and his swinging-for-the-fence-every-time-he’s-up swing over Walker. Sorry Todd.)

11) Craig Counsell (he seems clutch…but he’s a oh hum selection)

12) Josh Barfield (can we trade him for Mirabelli?)

Of course I reserve the right to change my mind on the rankings if any of these players’ contract demands are too greedy. Actually, I reserve to change my mind at any given time for any given reason. That’s why you need to check back in all the time and see what the latest and greatest is. (hint hint, wink wink) {sigh} im such a loser