Friday Links (21 Dec 07)
Fri, Dec 21, 2007
by Geoff Young
Links. Who doesn’t love ‘em? Short and sweet:
- Tony Gwynn talks about the Mitchell Report (San Diego Union-Tribune).
- MB analyzes the Jim Edmonds trade (Friar Forecast).
- Tom Krasovic offers his thoughts on Edmonds as well (San Diego Union-Tribune).
- Joe P. Sheehan examines similar pitchers by pitch type (Baseball Analysts, hat tip Friar Forecast).
- Chris Young is working with Tiger Woods’ physical therapist in an attempt to keep himself healthy (San Diego Union-Tribune).
- Tadahito Iguchi understands that Petco Park is big and looks forward to hitting doubles and triples instead (San Diego Union-Tribune).
- Dave Studeman discusses steroids and the Hall of Fame (Hardball Times).
- The Padres have re-signed catcher Michael Barrett and signed outfielder Jeff DaVanon and utility man Robert Fick to minor-league deals (San Diego Union-Tribune).
- Corey’s blog is back and he’s still thinking about Kosuke Fukudome. Bonus points for having the best blog name ever (Rich Folkers is throwing up in the bullpen).
There it is. Make a little birdhouse in your soul…
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December 21, 2007 at 7:40 am
We never really talked about the Fick and Davanon signings yesterday, I really like both signings, we all know Fick and I really like the idea of having a 3rd guy who can play catcher but has other uses as well. I’m not to familiar with DaVanon’s defence can he play CF for 50 games this year?
December 21, 2007 at 8:21 am
I think Fick is a great signing. Very versatile with particular emphasis on his ability to spell AGon. Also, he’s a hustler.
December 21, 2007 at 10:25 am
2: Color me unexcited by Fick. From 2003 to now his high OPS+ has been 95 and it’s averaged 77. I love having a utility player who can catch, but he’s just not a good enough hitter to carry him, especially if he’s going to be the backup 1b.
December 21, 2007 at 10:34 am
3: I’d prefer to have someone like P-Mac back-up 1B if we’re gonna go that route.
By the way, which AAA guys do we expect to be on the team this year?
I’m guessing:
Robles
Stansberry
P-Mac
Rule V guys (don’t remember the names)
Any others?
December 21, 2007 at 10:49 am
4: Only one between Robles/Stansberry/Crabbe or something has gone wrong.
I don’t think the team thinks much of PMac these days. He didn’t even get a September callup.
It’s possible that they’d use Kouzmanoff or Headley to give Agon a day off.
There are still a few RH first basemen / pinch hitters on the FA market. Tony Clark, Matt LeCroy (who can catch in the direst of emergencies), Mike Sweeney.
December 21, 2007 at 11:18 am
5: I would assume it’s Crabbe since he’s the Rule V guy.
I was kind of thinking the same thing about P-Mac, but that’s kind of sad. Do we see more of Sinisi this year?
December 21, 2007 at 11:51 am
I don’t think Fick should be in the major anymore.
December 21, 2007 at 12:16 pm
I will be pretty shocked if Fick makes the opening day roster. He’s got “Portland Beavers” written all over himself.
December 21, 2007 at 12:57 pm
Glad to see I’m not the only person who thinks Fick is a waste of a roster spot…..it would be good to have MLB quality players on the bench, no?
DaVanon now is a nice get. The guy is suppose to be pretty good defensively and is a good bet to post a .360 OBP coming off the bench.
Given BB propensity to roll out his Sunday lineup and the injury history of both Edmonds and now OG….having a 4th outfielder who can actually contribute is key.
December 21, 2007 at 1:20 pm
08 Bench:
Fick
Barrett
DaVanon
E-Gon
Hairston/Headley
December 21, 2007 at 1:46 pm
DaVanon was pretty terrible last year. He was a good fourth outfielder before he got hurt in Arizona, but his numbers last year in very limited duty: .213/.308/[b].270[/b]. Ouch! If we wanted that kind of production we could have just kept Jose Cruz (or Hiram Bocachica or Brady Clark or Steve Finley or…).
December 21, 2007 at 2:02 pm
UZR from 2003 to Mid-2007 seems to think DaVanon can actually play CF, which pleasantly surprised me. I know defensive metrics are in their infancy, but at least over 103 games in CF during the past 4-plus years UZR thinks he was +7 runs per 150 games. Hopefully he can spell Edmonds when needed and Edmonds can stay healthy enough to be effective out there the rest of the time.
December 21, 2007 at 3:34 pm
Baseball Prospectus has Davanon right at average over his career in center although he’s been much worse over the past couple of seasons (but these are really small samples so they might not mean anything). Both Fick and Davanon were signed to minor league deals so I don’t think there’s any guarantee that they make the major league team (I don’t see that Fick has much of a shot, there doesn’t seem to be much need a left-handed hitting 1B).
I’m really amazed at how far Barrett has fallen. Just two seasons ago he was the starting catcher for the USA team in the World Baseball Classic and now he’s taking a 22% paycut for the next season. From 2004 to 2006 he put up OPS+ of 108, 110, and 121 and now he’s either going to be the backup here or maybe the starter for the Pirates (which one is worse?).
December 21, 2007 at 5:11 pm
I think if Padres have a 5th OF’er on the roster that it will be Sinisi …
December 21, 2007 at 5:31 pm
If Fick is on the Padres bench, then that will be worse than Edmonds starter or any of the others “starting” moves that have been derided on this blog. Of couse, a bench player doesn’t have the same impact, but it will be a worse decision anyway.
December 21, 2007 at 8:05 pm
Way OT - Selig made $14.5 million for the year- he’d be tied for 13th among individual players.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c.....ref=si_mlb
Looking at it another way, he made more than David Ortiz, Derek Lee, Miguel Tejada.
Suppose we could calculate his VORP?
December 21, 2007 at 11:09 pm
Really wish the Padres had at least taken a look at Alexei Ramirez. That guy can rake, and the White Sox got him for nothing.
December 22, 2007 at 1:11 am
Count me among those liking the Davanon signing. He’s a good fourth outfielder that provides much needed depth and versatility, in that he can play all three outfield positions and hits equally well from both sides for his career.
Josh Hamilton was traded to the Rangers for Edison Volquez and another minor league arm. Hamilton seems like he could have been a good long term solution in center. The free agent class in center next year is woefully thin, so we’re going to be scrambling for a centerfielder again next year.
December 22, 2007 at 5:50 am
I’d like to see Sinisi get a shot.
I’m not excited about Fick, and I don’t think he makes the team.
I imagine one of our backup IF’s will be Robles, Stansberry or Luis Rodriguez. EGon or Crabbe don’t seem to be much in the SS department.
Crabbe isn’t a bad pick as 25th man with his versatility.
December 22, 2007 at 9:19 am
16: don’t you mean VORC?
December 22, 2007 at 9:26 am
#20: VORP = value over replacement puppet.
December 22, 2007 at 12:10 pm
Peavy on Clemens: Schilling is an ass.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/.....take2.html
December 22, 2007 at 12:34 pm
Look back at the archives for 2007, as usual in baseball, so many different players and heroes, in April and May –guys like M.Giles, who has a great start and helps the team avoid a sub par April and great May or someone like Russell Branyan, who shows heads up in a game a steals a base or hits a huge homer at Wrigley off of their ace to win it in the emotional Young-Lee fight game (not to mention Jose Cruz Jr. who really helped them in April/May –are then released or not a factor in the season 60-90 days later — and my point is –why not sign a few more veterans to bolster this team and perhaps get a month or two of production from while young prospects like Antonelli or Headley continue to season as opposed to going to the outfield to learn on the job at the mlb level. We also need another starter –even if we sign Prior - here list of (outfield) free agents that I would think would fit on this team -Kenny Lofton, Luis Gonzalez or Kevin Mench.
As far as pitching, we could probably get Livan Hernandez, Jeff Weaver or Josh Towers fairli cheaply. I just want one more durable 5th starter and one more vet outfielder to be safe. Also, it would be great if we could get Akinori Otsuka for a cheap price as you can never have too many relievers over a long season.
December 22, 2007 at 1:05 pm
Y’all really need to read this:
http://www.flotsam-media.com/2.....izing.html
December 22, 2007 at 2:02 pm
Chase Headley: Could Win Time in Left Field
RotoWire.com Staff - RotoWire.com
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Update: The Padres plan to give Headley a chance to win substantial playing time in left field, according to the team’s official site.
Recommendation: The Padres have not been very successful in their offseason pursuit of outfielders via free agency and trades, so journeyman Scott Hairston is the incumbent left field starter. This is a tricky situation because Headley is a top prospect without any outfield experience, whereas Hairston has a lower ceiling but plenty of experience. A platoon is possible, as is a spring training battle for an everyday role. San Diego is confident that Headley’s bat is ready for the majors. He will need to adapt quickly to the outfield.
December 22, 2007 at 4:23 pm
re: 24
Hilarious.
December 22, 2007 at 4:50 pm
Rangers got Josh Hamilton for a couple of pitching prospects.
I’m disappointed the Padres didn’t manage to counter that offer.
He’d be very capable of platooning the CF with Edmonds.
The more I think about it, the more I’m thinking that Edmonds’ contribution to the club next year is going to be less than Cameron’s to last year club.
December 22, 2007 at 5:20 pm
#27 If the Pads *Don’t* sign another veteran outfielder or two I think it will be a huge mistake. If Edmonds gets hurt and misses a month or two (which is 50-50) or Giles does not heal properly then the Pads could be in a lot of trouble. If anyone could question the Padres Front Office and their lack of aggressiveness in this Hot Stove year it would be their failure to get some help in here for the outfield.
December 23, 2007 at 1:07 am
27: I don’t think that the Padres have a pitching prospect with as much upside as Volquez (maybe Latos, but he’s a long way off yet). Also, if you were Jon Daniels, would you make another deal with KT?
December 23, 2007 at 7:46 am
#29 I was thinking the same thing. Needless to say, Daniels has been getting a lot of heat in Dallas for that C.Y /AGone trade.
December 23, 2007 at 12:45 pm
29, 30: I was referring to the original trade with Cincinnati. Why is Volquez rated that high? From the numbers and some of the articles I read, he’s not a deal breaker.
I don’t know if he’s equal Latos. I doubt it since the Rangers actually traded 2 pitcher for Josh Hamilton, and the Rangers is a club that can use pitching.