Technical difficulties prevented me from posting this earlier, but I am on the latest and greatest episode of The Writers Radio. Big thanks to Ed and Brian for being so kind as to have me on the show! Give it a listen:
- Ducksnorts on The Writers Radio (July 19)
And to anyone who is just now coming to Ducksnorts via The Writers Radio, welcome! Have a look around and let me know if you have any questions.
http://www.msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5801734
interesting but i dont think it will happen
Whither Shea Hillenbrand?
He’s currently in need of a team.
Just heard on XX radio that Mitchell and his steroid investigators were hanging around the Pads. When asked about it SA said, “No comment.” Can’t be because we’ve had great power numbers the last few years. I was also doing some checking on Hillenbrand. He’s been described as a “Kent” type individual in the clubhouse — a real loner. He apparently called Theo the same name that Ozzie used to get himself suspended. That punched his ticket out of Boston. If those reports are true, put me in the “no” vote.
The article i posted above is about Beltre not Hillenbrand.
LaMar i think Mitchell is checking around the padres because of the lack of power from certain players over the past 2 years.
Or because we’re known to have employed steroid users in the past. That’s not even a question. And Grimsley mentioned teams in the Southwest as being a connection to steroids from Mexico.
Steve, I know and am intrigued by the Beltre possibility in a “which year is the fluke” sort of way. I was responding to Clyde’s post about Hillenbrand.
Adrian Beltre this year
.321/.403/.256 (OBP/SLG/AVE) 7 HR
Mark Belhorn this year
.297/.405/.202 7 HR
Belhorn almost matches his SO in about 1/2 as many AB’s, but he doesn’t come with a $10M+ price tag either.
is beltre an ok club house guy? I think it may be worth a shot if we either trade Giles for him (i know it would not be popular) or if the Seattle takes half of his contract.
farquaad
Belhorn does not have the glove that beltre does.
Bellhorn’s glove is underrated.
Beltre is so full of risk, I can’t believe we’re really considering him. He’s 80% risk, 10% production, and 10% ugly appendectomy scars.
“Bellhorn’s glove is underrated.”
Its not his glove its his range and inaccurate arm that make him a poor fielder.
Fielding stats don’t tell the whole story, but Bellhorn ranks well in most of them. His Zone Rating is substantially better than Castilla, who people think was great, and his Rate (BP) is better too.
If Beltre’s bat doesn’t rise to somewhere between his career and 2004, he could be Brooks Robinson and he wouldn’t be worth it.
I vote no on Beltre. I think we would be waiting for his contract to expire with the same anticipation that we have been waiting for the end of Klesko’s contract. (Hell, with the exception of Beltre’s contract year, Klesko’s offensive numbers are better than Beltre’s – yes I know, apples and oranges defensively).
I’d be all for it just for the possibility of being able to watch Dodger fans cry like little bitches if he can come back and rip apart the NL west again!
I suppose that’s a biug “IF” though!
The Beltre rumor is scary. I think Hillenbrand would be OK as a rent a player for the rest of the year — but he obviously has some issues.
I think I would take someone like David Bell (just off the top of my head), over both of them. But someone like that really wouldn’t be worth trading for.
It doesn’t sound like the Astros are going to be trading Ensberg. I think he would be a great fit.
David Bell shouldn’t be near the top of anyone’s head.
AGREED!!!
OK, easy everyone . ..Didn’t say I was a big Bell fan . . .I’m just saying Bell over:
Beltre — ’04 was probably a fluke, and the guy is overpaid, with years left on the contract.
Hillenbrand — seems like a decent enough player, but the guy has some serious issues.
Betemit would be nice, but I’m sure the Braves want Linebrink (and something else) for him.
I’d live with Hillenbrand’s issues over the willow reed that Bell swings. The stuff in Toronto seems to be between him and a hard-assed manager, not his teammates, and Bochy is easygoing.
Beltre. That’s like doubling down on a draw of 5.
For me the Beltre thing just depends on how much of the remaining 35 million or so he is owed the Mariners would pick up. I don’t think he is as good as he was in 2004 but I do think that the AL has had to had some affect on his production. If the price is right I would love to have someone who has the ability to play a gold glove type of third but still has the type of offensive upside that Beltre has or has had. But only if the price was right!
I like Hillenbrand as well. I think his bat somewhere in the middle of the order would look great. We would probably be giving up something defensively but as long as the offensive production is there it’s not really that big of an issue to me.
Hillenbrand had issues in both Boston and Toronto. That’s enough of a pattern for me. I know Bochy’s laid back, but what is this guy’s story?
Anyway, I agree he’s a solid bat. I don’t know . . . guess I’d take a flyer on him for the rest of the year. He’s a FA, right?
Whatever. Anyone’s an upgrade over Castilla.