Hmmm ...1) Less spending. This is a common theme among writers right now. After the weeks following the Winter Meetings, things still have not taken off. Teams aren't making a lot of trades as they want to hold onto prospects and keep costs down. They aren't buying up free-agents like they used to. But why is it? Certainly, the economy has played a part, but how much? Are teams really that squeezed that they can't spend on free-agents? With some teams still spending and raising payrolls, I'm not entirely convinced. Could it be just that teams are learning the free-agent game? Relievers used to get huge contracts, but have stats analysis and experience finally taught teams to spend better? And now, this smarter spending and poor economy is all coincidental? Or did the economy spur the smarter spending, and when it works out, will it become a precedent for future spending/negotiations? Or will free-agent spending go back up once the economy gets better? I know it seems like the Yankees are the only teams willing to spend, but the Orioles and Nationals would have dropped a lot of money on Teixeira as well.
2) Older players aren't getting any play. This seems to have really taken off last season with the Mitchell Report, and it has followed through this off-season. People are scared off of players past the age of 33-35, and even players of those ages. But why? You can talk about how steroids and amphetamines helped aging players stay young. But Ty Cobb hit .401 at 35 and .378 at 38. Stan Musial hit .330 at 41. Joe Morgan hit .289 at 38. Babe Ruth hit 34 HR at 38. Mike Mussina was just great at 39. Steve Carlton had a 3.11 ERA at 38. Players have always been able to succeed after their primes. Are teams just being too pessimistic thinking that the drugs were the only reasons for their success? Then comes the biggy -- did the drugs have anything to do with the players' success anyway?
3) Will players still get their money? The longer things drag out, the more you wonder just how low salaries for guys are going to get for next year. Is Ben Sheets going to have to take $5M to pitch next season or will he still get something closer to 3/$36M? Is Adam Dunn going to get his $13M a year or will he have to settle for 9 or 10? Will there really be bargains or will guys still get a lot per season but maybe with fewer years than usual? And again, does this have to do with the economy or are teams just getting smarter with their money?
4) What happened to Derek Lowe being the most sought-after pitcher after Sabathia? It seemed like Derek Lowe was number 1 on many teams' lists at the end of the season, but he is still waiting while Sabathia, Burnett, and Dempster have already signed. As of now, it really only seems like the Mets, Phillies, Red Sox, Brewers, and maybe the Braves are interested, and only the Mets and Phillies seem legitimately interested. Is this because people were initially excited, but after considering his age and demands, they became less so? Or were the never really that interested and the media drummed up all the attention?
5) How long will the focus on defense last? If Tampa and Seattle have bad seasons, will teams look at that and say that they prove defense isn't as important? If they both succeed with less-than-stellar offenses, will it change the game? History is often cyclical, and defense could once again reign, at least until someone proves that a massive offense can offset a bad defense. Will teams have the patience to watch the Adam Everetts and Endy Chavezes hit .250 but play stellar defense but give them a lot of at-bats? Will we criticize them for letting them have those at-bats even if they're playing great defense?
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