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EMSoccerCoach · 07-29-2011, 03:58 PM

Idols Extend Palmer
Pending FA inks 3-year extension

LOS ANGELES - Why think about leaving?

In the end, that's what it came down to for righthander Jim Palmer. The 28-year-old hurler agreed today to a 3-year extension with the defending champion Los Angeles Idols, locking him up through the 2024 season.

"Three straight championships, four in five years and they pay to keep our talent, like they just did with Winny [Dave Winfield, who inked a long-term deal of his own this offseason]," Palmer said. "There's nowhere else to be in this game right now."

Acquired before last season after a 20-win campaign for the Boston Riders in exchange for catcher Yogi Berra, Palmer went 15-11 with a 4.47 ERA last year, failing to live up to expectations but impressing enough the management wanted to keep him around.

"He probably cost himself 8 figures with last season," one general manager said. "But pitching to contact with that kind of offense behind you makes sense. He probably could have put up better numbers if he wasn't pitching with leads so much."

Palmer will make roughly $7.25 million in each year of his extension, a tick above the $7 million he's making this season.

Jim Palmer is staying put in Los Angeles

Sacramento's Maddux Top Prospect
But Alabama named top system

Sacramento Stingers righthander Greg Maddux was named the preseason top prospect by Baseball America today as we get ready to kick off the 2021 campaign.

Maddux, 21, repeats the honor despite a rough season in the minors last season, during which he posted a 5.17 ERA at Garland. During a late-season callup to Sacramento, however, he posted a 3.50 ERA in six starts, going 1-2.

"He's walking a lot more guys than anyone expected him to coming out of high school," one scout said. "But he gets it. He knows what he's doing out there and he's super bright. He'll put it all together soon."

Meanwhile, the Alabama Airmen, who posted a losing record last season (76-86) a year after winning the Southern League East division title, were named the top minor league system on the strength of Lance Berkman (#7) and four pitchers in the Top 50 (Dan Petry, Jack McDowell, Ryan Dempster and Vern Law).

The Chicago Hitmen were ranked the worst system, placing only one prospect (Vernon Wells, #74) in the Top 100.

Top 10 Prospects:
1. Greg Maddux (Sacramento)
2. Kevin Brown (Arizona)
3. Adrian Beltre (New York)
4. Roy Halladay (New Orleans)
5. Javier Vazquez (Oklahoma City)
6. Hilton Smith (New Orleans)
7. Lance Berkman (Alabama)
8. Todd Helton (Philadelphia)
9. Tim Hudson (Charlotte)
10. Kevin Millwood (Las Vegas)

Cobb Comes Out Swinging

Maybe THIS will be the year Ty Cobb stays healthy.

Cobb batted a stellar .370 last season for Wichita, raising his lifetime average to .330. However, his alltime high in games played is 144, reached in his rookie 2014 campaign. Since then: 132, 70, 94, 126, 115 and last season's 101.

That's 106 games per season. It's an impressively productive 106 games, but still leaves his team without him for 56 games in an average season.

That stopped being worth it for Los Angeles. Still only 26 years old, though, Cobb has two years left on his deal with Wichita in which to shake the injury bug and put in a full season.

"If I play a full season, I'm the best in the game," Cobb said unapologetically.

He may be right. And we may never know.

07-29-2011, 03:58 PM	#1551
EMSoccerCoach Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 2,464	Idols Extend Palmer Pending FA inks 3-year extension LOS ANGELES - Why think about leaving? In the end, that's what it came down to for righthander Jim Palmer. The 28-year-old hurler agreed today to a 3-year extension with the defending champion Los Angeles Idols, locking him up through the 2024 season. "Three straight championships, four in five years and they pay to keep our talent, like they just did with Winny [Dave Winfield, who inked a long-term deal of his own this offseason]," Palmer said. "There's nowhere else to be in this game right now." Acquired before last season after a 20-win campaign for the Boston Riders in exchange for catcher Yogi Berra, Palmer went 15-11 with a 4.47 ERA last year, failing to live up to expectations but impressing enough the management wanted to keep him around. "He probably cost himself 8 figures with last season," one general manager said. "But pitching to contact with that kind of offense behind you makes sense. He probably could have put up better numbers if he wasn't pitching with leads so much." Palmer will make roughly $7.25 million in each year of his extension, a tick above the $7 million he's making this season. Jim Palmer is staying put in Los Angeles Sacramento's Maddux Top Prospect But Alabama named top system Sacramento Stingers righthander Greg Maddux was named the preseason top prospect by Baseball America today as we get ready to kick off the 2021 campaign. Maddux, 21, repeats the honor despite a rough season in the minors last season, during which he posted a 5.17 ERA at Garland. During a late-season callup to Sacramento, however, he posted a 3.50 ERA in six starts, going 1-2. "He's walking a lot more guys than anyone expected him to coming out of high school," one scout said. "But he gets it. He knows what he's doing out there and he's super bright. He'll put it all together soon." Meanwhile, the Alabama Airmen, who posted a losing record last season (76-86) a year after winning the Southern League East division title, were named the top minor league system on the strength of Lance Berkman (#7) and four pitchers in the Top 50 (Dan Petry, Jack McDowell, Ryan Dempster and Vern Law). The Chicago Hitmen were ranked the worst system, placing only one prospect (Vernon Wells, #74) in the Top 100. Top 10 Prospects: 1. Greg Maddux (Sacramento) 2. Kevin Brown (Arizona) 3. Adrian Beltre (New York) 4. Roy Halladay (New Orleans) 5. Javier Vazquez (Oklahoma City) 6. Hilton Smith (New Orleans) 7. Lance Berkman (Alabama) 8. Todd Helton (Philadelphia) 9. Tim Hudson (Charlotte) 10. Kevin Millwood (Las Vegas) Cobb Comes Out Swinging Maybe THIS will be the year Ty Cobb stays healthy. Cobb batted a stellar .370 last season for Wichita, raising his lifetime average to .330. However, his alltime high in games played is 144, reached in his rookie 2014 campaign. Since then: 132, 70, 94, 126, 115 and last season's 101. That's 106 games per season. It's an impressively productive 106 games, but still leaves his team without him for 56 games in an average season. That stopped being worth it for Los Angeles. Still only 26 years old, though, Cobb has two years left on his deal with Wichita in which to shake the injury bug and put in a full season. "If I play a full season, I'm the best in the game," Cobb said unapologetically. He may be right. And we may never know. __________________ The Pastime Baseball League The Pastime Baseball League - 10-Year Recap The Pastime Boxing Association