The market for Brian Giles could heat up a bit now that Blake and Nady have been moved to teams that weren’t interested in Giles. The U-T raised the interesting possibility of Giles turning his club option next year into a player option because he wants to play for the Padres. If he could do that, that would be pretty cool and make trading him this year pretty much a no brainer. It might actually make him more attractive to other teams who wouldn’t have to worry about his large option or buyout and could collect a draft pick or two when he leaves (he was a type A player after last year).
And the guy we got from the Astros seems to be playing well but most scoutings sites think he’s a pitching Paul McAnulty (great in AAA sucks in the majors). Who knows
I like the whole Giles to the Mets trade talks that appear to be going – maybe we can get Martinez from them
Speaking of the Pirates. Check out their batting stats on BR. They are 2nd in R/G yet 9th in OPS. As I look at the stats, one # sticks out—309 BB-14th in the NL. Teams with somewhat higher OPS and as many as 80 or 90 more walks score less runs.
#6@malcolm: They have a team batting average of 282 with RISP, almost 20 points higher than in other situations and 3rd best overall in baseball. It’s .288 with runners on. That’s fairly fluky and likely to diminish as the season wears on. They also have decent team speed which helps translate those unusually high number of base hits into runs.
You’ve also got to account for park factors. Runs per game depends on the park but isn’t adjusted for it, OPS+ is adjusted. For example, the Braves in a pitcher’s park have an OPS+ of 107 but score fewer runs per game than Arizona, playing in a hitter’s haven with an OPS+ 13 points lower. Still, Pittsburgh is no band box, it’s pitcher-friendly. It looks to me like mostly fluke situational batting average, plus hacktastic guys like Nady having an unusually good BABIP.
#6@malcolm: The Twins have a similar dynamic going on this year. Super-great with RISP. On-base and OPS in the middle of the league.
Many say their luck will run out, and they won’t be in contention during the last month. But as with the Diamondbacks last season, strange things happen.
Tom, I cant really tell about speed, except that they are tied for last with you know who in SB. As for parks, they are also 2nd in R/G in away games. Hitting with runners on seems valid if not quantifiable; but again we’re reaching to try to justify the value of BB.
They don’t steal bases, but they’re not plodding like the Padres.
One team scoring more runs than expected with lower BB totals does not somehow devalue walks. Last year Pittsburgh was last in the NL in walks and close to the bottom in runs scored.
In most seasons the runs scored for every team will track pretty close to their OPS+, once you account for the park. The Padres have usually looked like an outlier, with a positive OPS+ but low runs per game, but that’s just been the park.
#8@Kevin: Yeah, the closer we get to game 162, the less chance there is for those numbers to adjust. But it makes for a good betting opportunity the following year, if people expect them to keep up the clutch work.
Agree. I haven’t seen anyone suggest Reineke doesn’t have the arm to be a reliever, whereas McAnulty was often dismissed as a mistake hitter with inadequate bat speed.
#12@Tom Waits: Agreed on Reineke – from all accounts it sounds like he may be a very useful bullpen arm. It also sounds like there’s still a possibility of him making it as a starter as well. I’m much higher on him as a reliever – but granted this is just based on what I’ve read.
On another note – any idea what happened to Will Startup? It doesn’t seem like he’s pitched all year. Same goes for Euclides Viloria, the 19 yr old Venezuelan kid who pitched in the AZL last year.
#13@Masticore317: Startup went down with the dreaded forearm tightness in the spring and had a setback in May. Wouldn’t be surprising if he needed TJ surgery.
I’m higher on everybody as a reliever, at least in terms of their chances of succeeding. It’s just so much easier.
#12@Tom Waits: I’m not sure how it would work, because an acquiring team doesn’t want to turn a team option into a player option, but Giles wouldn’t want to lose that $3 million buyout, and Giles seemingly loses all leverage with the Padres if he’s that dedicated to coming back here. So there are a lot of issues to resolve there. But if those issues are resolved, and Giles does qualify as a type A free agent (last year he was one of the lower ranking A’s), the Padres would only lose a second round pick since their first round one is protected. I don’t think the loss of a second round pick would stop them from re-signing Giles.
#16@Ben B.: You’re right, they’re guaranteed to finish in the protected zone unless 20 other teams come down with org-wide projectile diarrhea lasting two months.
#17@Masticore317: Well, my good buddy Peter Friberg might (might) say that TJ is no big deal. And as far as I can tell Startup hasn’t gone under the knife yet. But guys who get it done are somewhat prone to relapses, have a lessened chance of making it at all, and often have shorter careers.
The Pirates are sooo bush league. 18 more years of no playoffs-can MLB just end their misery and move them to AAA? Nice “trade”.
The market for Brian Giles could heat up a bit now that Blake and Nady have been moved to teams that weren’t interested in Giles. The U-T raised the interesting possibility of Giles turning his club option next year into a player option because he wants to play for the Padres. If he could do that, that would be pretty cool and make trading him this year pretty much a no brainer. It might actually make him more attractive to other teams who wouldn’t have to worry about his large option or buyout and could collect a draft pick or two when he leaves (he was a type A player after last year).
The Indians just acquired Anthony Reyes from the Cardinals for a minor league reliever. Too bad we couldn’t get on that.
Evan Scribner has had two lights out appearances with Lake Elsinore since being acquired in the Tony Clark deal.
And the guy we got from the Astros seems to be playing well but most scoutings sites think he’s a pitching Paul McAnulty (great in AAA sucks in the majors). Who knows
I like the whole Giles to the Mets trade talks that appear to be going – maybe we can get Martinez from them
Speaking of the Pirates. Check out their batting stats on BR. They are 2nd in R/G yet 9th in OPS. As I look at the stats, one # sticks out—309 BB-14th in the NL. Teams with somewhat higher OPS and as many as 80 or 90 more walks score less runs.
#6@malcolm: They have a team batting average of 282 with RISP, almost 20 points higher than in other situations and 3rd best overall in baseball. It’s .288 with runners on. That’s fairly fluky and likely to diminish as the season wears on. They also have decent team speed which helps translate those unusually high number of base hits into runs.
You’ve also got to account for park factors. Runs per game depends on the park but isn’t adjusted for it, OPS+ is adjusted. For example, the Braves in a pitcher’s park have an OPS+ of 107 but score fewer runs per game than Arizona, playing in a hitter’s haven with an OPS+ 13 points lower. Still, Pittsburgh is no band box, it’s pitcher-friendly. It looks to me like mostly fluke situational batting average, plus hacktastic guys like Nady having an unusually good BABIP.
#6@malcolm: The Twins have a similar dynamic going on this year. Super-great with RISP. On-base and OPS in the middle of the league.
Many say their luck will run out, and they won’t be in contention during the last month. But as with the Diamondbacks last season, strange things happen.
Tom, I cant really tell about speed, except that they are tied for last with you know who in SB. As for parks, they are also 2nd in R/G in away games. Hitting with runners on seems valid if not quantifiable; but again we’re reaching to try to justify the value of BB.
#2@Ben B.: using that logic I think I could agree with a Giles trade.
#4@JP: I really like that pickup.
#5@Loren: I’ve seen quite a few reports saying they think Reineke has a chance to contribute.
#9@malcolm:
They don’t steal bases, but they’re not plodding like the Padres.
One team scoring more runs than expected with lower BB totals does not somehow devalue walks. Last year Pittsburgh was last in the NL in walks and close to the bottom in runs scored.
In most seasons the runs scored for every team will track pretty close to their OPS+, once you account for the park. The Padres have usually looked like an outlier, with a positive OPS+ but low runs per game, but that’s just been the park.
#8@Kevin: Yeah, the closer we get to game 162, the less chance there is for those numbers to adjust. But it makes for a good betting opportunity the following year, if people expect them to keep up the clutch work.
#10@Masticore317:
#2@Ben B.:
If Giles gets that player option, though, the Padres are much less likely to sign him and give up the draft pick to the team that loses him.
#10@Masticore317: #5
Agree. I haven’t seen anyone suggest Reineke doesn’t have the arm to be a reliever, whereas McAnulty was often dismissed as a mistake hitter with inadequate bat speed.
#12@Tom Waits: Agreed on Reineke – from all accounts it sounds like he may be a very useful bullpen arm. It also sounds like there’s still a possibility of him making it as a starter as well. I’m much higher on him as a reliever – but granted this is just based on what I’ve read.
On another note – any idea what happened to Will Startup? It doesn’t seem like he’s pitched all year. Same goes for Euclides Viloria, the 19 yr old Venezuelan kid who pitched in the AZL last year.
#13@Masticore317: Startup went down with the dreaded forearm tightness in the spring and had a setback in May. Wouldn’t be surprising if he needed TJ surgery.
I’m higher on everybody as a reliever, at least in terms of their chances of succeeding. It’s just so much easier.
#9@malcolm: It’s not about walks leaders. It’s about on-base percentage leaders. The value of on-base percentage is not disputable.
#12@Tom Waits: I’m not sure how it would work, because an acquiring team doesn’t want to turn a team option into a player option, but Giles wouldn’t want to lose that $3 million buyout, and Giles seemingly loses all leverage with the Padres if he’s that dedicated to coming back here. So there are a lot of issues to resolve there. But if those issues are resolved, and Giles does qualify as a type A free agent (last year he was one of the lower ranking A’s), the Padres would only lose a second round pick since their first round one is protected. I don’t think the loss of a second round pick would stop them from re-signing Giles.
#14@Tom Waits: That totally sucks – it seemed like Startup had a real chance of making it.
Also, I know what you mean regarding relievers. It sounds like Reineke definitely has a higher upside as a reliever anyway.
Nice to see X Nady getting a shot with the biggest team in baseball.
#16@Ben B.: You’re right, they’re guaranteed to finish in the protected zone unless 20 other teams come down with org-wide projectile diarrhea lasting two months.
#17@Masticore317: Well, my good buddy Peter Friberg might (might) say that TJ is no big deal. And as far as I can tell Startup hasn’t gone under the knife yet. But guys who get it done are somewhat prone to relapses, have a lessened chance of making it at all, and often have shorter careers.
My kind of first inning: 2 strikeouts, 3 walks, a homer. And then Greene goes and ruins the true outcomes with a lousy single.
Adrian is good at baseball.
Come on Banks. They gave you a four-run lead – there’s no reason to hand it all back.
The Padres have 2 run-scoring rallys in 1 inning … when was the last time *that* happened??? I *love* it!