Wish List: Alex Rios

by camwoody on Jul 10, 2007 10:35 AM PDT Comment 58 comments

I have seen his name tossed around a few times here but after yesterday he has undoubtedly raised his trade value (if in fact the Jays are going to be sellers this summer). What do you guys think about him?

He is 26, doesn't walk much and strikes out a fair amount. He is also 6'5 and looks like he will fill out and increase his already good power.

Do you guys like him enough to give up some valuable chips or should the Giants focus on other players?

Poll

The Giants Should Go After...

Stay put

5 votes

Alex Rios

13 votes

Lastings Milledge

9 votes

Carlos Gomez

3 votes

Elijah Dukes

5 votes

Jarrod Saltalamacchia

8 votes

Wladimir Balentien

7 votes

50 votes | Poll has closed

This FanPost is reader-generated, and it does not necessarily reflect the views of McCovey Chronicles. If the author uses filler to achieve the minimum word requirement, a moderator may edit the FanPost for his or her own amusement.

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Re: Wish List: Alex Rios

I don't see why the Jays would deal a 26-year-old even if they were sellers. I don't think there's anything we'd be willing to trade that would fetch this guy - Lowry is the only person young enough and Ricciardi, as lousy a GM as he has tended to be, is the kind of guy who would understand peripherals.

Barry Zito: Mike Hampton with a guitar

by JakeS on Jul 10, 2007 10:34 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Wish List: Alex Rios

The Jays aren't going to trade Rios. He's one of their most popular players and he's not the kind of player a team would dump in a "Sell" mode.

Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.

by jponry on Jul 10, 2007 10:42 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Wish List: Alex Rios

Alex Rios is definitely worth pursuing. He was worth pursuing before Monday night. I have to say it's dumb that an exhibition power show could raise his trade value because he's a lot more than a power hitter. He's just beginning to tap his ability as a complete player. I think since the Jays signed Wells to the multi year deal Rios could be retained too. This is no longer the team that let Carlos Delgado walk.

Don't get me wrong--I'd love to have Alex Rios here and I would support trading one of the starting pitchers and consider throwing in some of the better prospects to get him. I just think acquiring Rios would be over the Giants' heads.

Strikeouts are boring. Besides that, they're fascist. Not boring: Emmanuel Burriss. Not fascist: SF Dugout

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Jul 10, 2007 10:45 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Wish List: Alex Rios

I agree with you that it is dumb that a HR Derby could raise a player's trade value but I think that for good or ill that was his comming out party as far as national coverage goes. Don't under value the effect of national popularity on a player's trade value.

Eatin' D-Backs and crappin' out Rockies.

by camwoody on Jul 10, 2007 10:59 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Wish List: Alex Rios

Sometimes I forget how most sports fans have no clue of what's happening outside of their own team. While I was having a freakout over Rios in the Derby last night a dear friend who knows everything about the Giants just said, "...who's Alex Rios?" It's inconcievable to me that anyone who follows the sport wouldn't know why Rios is primed to explode. But it happens.

You're right about the coming out party. That ball he hit to the back of the thingy in centerfield was basically his calling card to a nation that knows little of him. I have never seen that happen ever.

Strikeouts are boring. Besides that, they're fascist. Not boring: Emmanuel Burriss. Not fascist: SF Dugout

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Jul 10, 2007 11:34 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Wish List: Alex Rios

In fairness, hoe often does the causual fan get to see the Blue Jays play. Even though they're in 2nd place (but a game under .500), they're still barely a blip on the collective national radar.

If he were playing in NY, Boston or another big media market, he'd be a household name. Dave Winfield was overlooked as a Padre. He then went to the Yankees and the world was his oyster.

Bold Prediction: Klesko will finish the 2007 season with at least 20 HRs. (OPS+ is 129 as of 7/1/07)

by Goofus on Jul 10, 2007 12:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Wish List: Alex Rios

Even my grandma has a fantasy team, though.

Saving countless runs with my Brian Horwitz

by lyricalkiller on Jul 10, 2007 7:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Wish List: Alex Rios

Hey, I still hear people throwing the name "Chase Utley" around all the time as someone who supposedly isn't a good player or a star or whatever.

I remember someone once was complaining about the USA WBC roster and they were like, "Chase Utley? Aren't we supposed to be sending the best players?"

And I was like, "Dude, Utley is probably the best second baseman in baseball." This was a few years ago, of course, but yeah, it is weird to realize sometimes that not everyone's as hardcore into baseball and follows all the teams like I do.

Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.

by jponry on Jul 10, 2007 12:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Wish List: Alex Rios

I distinctly remember wondering why the Phillies kept burying Utley on the bench a few years ago. They'd play him a game here or there, or use him to PH, but never really gave him much of a shot. I really wanted to trade for him then. How I wish that had happened...

Your 2012 NL ERA champion: Sergio Romo

by Lyle on Jul 10, 2007 1:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Wish List: Alex Rios

Alex Rios would be awesome in a Giants uniform, the guy has such a natural swing. Did you guys see last night, those homeruns he was hitting during the derby, it looked like he wasn't even swinging hard, just trying to make contact, But Unfortunately I don't see this happening.

I can not invision any possible scenario where we get Alex Rios(anytime soon). The only way this can possibly happen is if we include Cain, or Lincecum in a package with some other prospects. Rios is in his third year, and is making $2.3M this year, very cheap for a small market club like Toronto. He isn't eligible for free agency untill after the 2010 season, so The blue Jays will not be looking to move him before then.

Forget trading the old guys, Sabean must go first!!!!

by ramirez415 on Jul 10, 2007 10:56 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Money

The Jays are not that small of a market. They have spent a lot of money in the last few years (AJ and BJ) and if they could land two or three young pitchers that they could lock up for cheap they might be willing to part with a young star.

Believe me, this is wishful thinking but remember:

They have Adam Lind and Travis Snider waiting in the wings

They have Halladay and a whole lot of nothing in the rotation.

AJ Burnett has yet to prove that he can stay healthy ditto for Chacin.

They have so much money tied up in Burnett, Wells, Ryan, Glaus, and Halladay that they may be looking to trade 1 young cheap player for several young cheap players.

Eatin' D-Backs and crappin' out Rockies.

by camwoody on Jul 10, 2007 11:20 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Money

I would trade, say, Lowry and Schierholtz for Burnett and Rios. Hard to picture that actually happening, but it makes some sense for both teams.

by Evan on Jul 10, 2007 11:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Money

The only player they are looking to deal right now is Glaus. And he's probably headed to LAA

If Brad Hennesy had Steve Kline's attitude you'd get Rob Nen... without the triple digit heat.

by milesntrane on Jul 10, 2007 12:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Money

I'm always amazed when people are so confident that they know exactly what's going on in major league front offices. Is Ken Rosenthal that reliable?

Burnett was in the news last week because Ricciardi said flat-out that he wished he hadn't signed him to that big contract. So if someone offered to take Burnett off their hands, I imagine they'd listen.

by Evan on Jul 10, 2007 1:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Money

I'm always amazed that there are guys like you and PacBell Boozer who just rip on people who share rumors that they hear in the various outlets of the media.

If Brad Hennesy had Steve Kline's attitude you'd get Rob Nen... without the triple digit heat.

by milesntrane on Jul 10, 2007 1:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Money

I'm not really ripping. I'm just saying that it's silly to assume that if we don't hear about it in the rumor mills, there's no chance of it happening. Especially when we're in an off-day pipe-dream thread to begin with.

by Evan on Jul 10, 2007 1:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Money

Fair enough. Sorry. That guys rips on me a lot.

If Brad Hennesy had Steve Kline's attitude you'd get Rob Nen... without the triple digit heat.

by milesntrane on Jul 10, 2007 1:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Money

I hear you, but I think Evan was in the clear here. And Evan, I would trade Lowry and Schierholtz for Rios, straight up. I like our young pitchers waiting in the wings (Sanchez, Misch) better than any older pitcher any team can give us.

***

Succumb to the Enchanted t-shirt! Adopted dad of Minor Izzy

by hairball on Jul 10, 2007 2:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Wish List: Alex Rios

We're totally signing all those guys in 2016.

by Evan on Jul 10, 2007 11:01 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Wish List: Alex Rios

By 2016 I imagine we'll have a few little Dukes in the minor leagues too. "Sign with Daddy's team or else, kids!"

Strikeouts are boring. Besides that, they're fascist. Not boring: Emmanuel Burriss. Not fascist: SF Dugout

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Jul 10, 2007 11:40 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Wish List: Alex Rios

That reminds me. When is Nikoli going to sign with us? We need some power soon.

Eatin' D-Backs and crappin' out Rockies.

by camwoody on Jul 10, 2007 11:46 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Wish List: Alex Rios

I had a dream of Nik and Darren Baker hitting 3-4 in the lineup in ten years or so.

Strikeouts are boring. Besides that, they're fascist. Not boring: Emmanuel Burriss. Not fascist: SF Dugout

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Jul 10, 2007 11:53 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Wish List: Alex Rios

Thats so funny, i also thought the same. I was looking and found this.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/06/27/sports/s084401D35.DTL&feed=rss.sport s

I guess Nikoli tore some legimants dunking during a basketball game, so does that mean the kids athletic. Does he play baseball?, Does anyone know, is he any good?

Grandpa was real good?And we all know about dad.

Forget trading the old guys, Sabean must go first!!!!

by ramirez415 on Jul 10, 2007 12:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Wish List: Alex Rios

I've wondered about this myself, but I assume he either doesn't play or isn't good. Otherwise, with him being 17, we would have heard something about his potential draft status or college intentions by now, right?

My VORP is higher than Merkin's VORP.

by Poe on Jul 10, 2007 1:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Wish List: Alex Rios

Yeah you would think if he was anygood, we would be hearing about him by now, well doesn't Barry have another son, we might have to wait for him.

Forget trading the old guys, Sabean must go first!!!!

by ramirez415 on Jul 10, 2007 1:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Wish List: Alex Rios

I think he only has two other daughters.

Barry Bombs gear | comics | Ray - grounded for LIFE

by Natto on Jul 10, 2007 1:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Wish List: Alex Rios

Remember this guy? or this guy?

by Evan on Jul 10, 2007 1:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Wish List: Alex Rios

Ozzie Canseco: Proof steriods don't help you play baseball.

Do they know to win the game a team has to actually score at least once?

by noahthek on Jul 10, 2007 1:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Wish List: Alex Rios

Reading that article, it looks like Bobby Jr. and Bobby Sr. had one thing in common, they striked out alot, unfortuanely for JR. it was the only thing they had in common(on the baseball field)

Good Point, but you figure the greatness has to be passed to one of the kids. I was reading about Bobby Bonds, I guess his brother was drafted in the NFL, and sister was a track star,good atheletes in the Bonds family, so their have to be some Bonds out their to continue the Bonds/Giants legacy.

Forget trading the old guys, Sabean must go first!!!!

by ramirez415 on Jul 10, 2007 1:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I got Bobby Bonds, Jr.'s autograph..

Got it when he was in San Jose one year.

Lance Niekro AAA Watch: 66 AB .318/.395/.515 5 2B 1 3B 2 HR 8 BB (through 6/24)

by WalrusMan on Jul 10, 2007 3:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Wish List: Alex Rios

Is Nikolai from his white wife or black wife? just curious

If Brad Hennesy had Steve Kline's attitude you'd get Rob Nen... without the triple digit heat.

by milesntrane on Jul 10, 2007 1:08 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Wish List: Alex Rios

The former.

Barry Bombs gear | comics | Ray - grounded for LIFE

by Natto on Jul 10, 2007 1:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The pole construction is misleading

Should the Giants go after one of these guys, of course. They should be going after all of those guys.

Will they acquire any of them. The answer to that is as well of course... NOT. Unless they're willing to give up Cain or Lincecum (which they won't be) they have no shot at any of these guys (cept maybe Dukes). They are all top prospects and I think people don't realize how few top prospects are getting moved nowadays. And if they do get moved its for superstars or at least top level players, not Matt Morris or Noah Lowry.

by awesomer on Jul 10, 2007 1:37 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: The pole construction is misleading

I think a package containing Lowry could **maybe** land one of those guys. The one I want most is Salty, although partly that's because I think he may be, realistically, the most available.

***

Succumb to the Enchanted t-shirt! Adopted dad of Minor Izzy

by hairball on Jul 10, 2007 2:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Awesomer

Jeeeeeezzzusss. It ain't a scientific fuckin' poll. Who do you like? Who do you want? Shit.

Eatin' D-Backs and crappin' out Rockies.

by camwoody on Jul 10, 2007 3:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Wish List: Alex Rios

There's no option in the poll for "pony".

by zenbitz on Jul 10, 2007 1:42 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Wish List: Alex Rios

If we end up with none of these guys we should all be entitled to one (1) pony each.

Strikeouts are boring. Besides that, they're fascist. Not boring: Emmanuel Burriss. Not fascist: SF Dugout

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Jul 10, 2007 1:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Wish List: Alex Rios

I'll take the 40 acres and start my own Giants "farm" team

If Brad Hennesy had Steve Kline's attitude you'd get Rob Nen... without the triple digit heat.

by milesntrane on Jul 10, 2007 1:51 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Wish List: Alex Rios

Rios ain't available. The trade targets should be Balentien and Jones with the trade bait of Bonds and Morris.

by giantsrainman on Jul 10, 2007 2:40 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Wish List: Alex Rios

Why would we trade Bonds? One, the fans don't want it. Two, the ownership would lose their only cash cow in a season with no winning going on, and the pursuit of a major record going on. Three, Barry has a no trade clause and I can't see him OK'ing a trade to a team that isn't a front-runner for a World Series ring (Boston, Tigers, LAA, Dodgers) to leave his hometown.

If Brad Hennesy had Steve Kline's attitude you'd get Rob Nen... without the triple digit heat.

by milesntrane on Jul 10, 2007 2:44 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Wish List: Alex Rios

Barry will set the record before the trade Deadline and after he sets the record he should be traded. We ain't winning this year and Jones or Balentien are worth far more to our future the Barry is. After the record it is time to move on for both the Giants and Barry. Barry can win in Seattle he can't win in San Francisco.

by giantsrainman on Jul 10, 2007 2:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Wish List: Alex Rios

As much as I hate to say it, as I am a huge Barry Bonds fan, its time to move on. If Barry can hit another 5HR's before July 31st(meaning if he sees enough pitches) He should be traded to a contender.

Forget trading the old guys, Sabean must go first!!!!

by ramirez415 on Jul 10, 2007 3:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Wish List: Alex Rios

Rainman, are you that sold on Balentien? I like him but Vlad he ain't. Before this year the kid had 542k in 492 games. He had legit power but does that worry you as much as it does me?

2005-2006
300k in 244 games

ouch!

Eatin' D-Backs and crappin' out Rockies.

by camwoody on Jul 10, 2007 3:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Wish List: Alex Rios

As long as postive results occur when contact is made I am never bothered by strikeouts. Low stikeouts is nice but frankly how one makes outs just doesn't really matter to me. I just am not a believer in the whole BABIP therory. A litter can make up for high strikeouts with high BABIP. If he does so then the strikeouts do not mean anything to me. In fact strikeouts are the least likely outs to end up as double plays. To me hitters and pitchers have equal control of BABIP and it is never just luck when it is higher or lower then league average. This skill and this competition is what baseball is all about.

by giantsrainman on Jul 10, 2007 3:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Wish List: Alex Rios

K's definitely bad at all compared to any other out.

.230.335/.435 140 K, 70 BB 444 AB
.328/.399/.596 70 K, 39 BB 329 AB

This says he's pro. He strikes out a lot sure, but as was stated earlier K's don't mean a thing really. If you're gonna penalize K's so much, you should penalize groundballs to short even more.

And it appears he's struck out a lot less as he's moved up through the minor league system, a huge +. And he walks a ton too.

by awesomer on Jul 10, 2007 3:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Wish List: Alex Rios

i don't know how that got italicized, but that should read "not bad at all"

by awesomer on Jul 10, 2007 3:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Wish List: Alex Rios

He apparently focused last year on being more patient and the change in approach seems to have paid off.

Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.

by jponry on Jul 10, 2007 3:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Wish List: Alex Rios

I have to disagree with you guys on the K thing. Ks don't tell the whole story but a young power hitter that strikes out 150 times a season in AA is likely to strike out as much or more in AAA or MLB unless the player undergoes a drastic transformation in style.

Balentien can play but will his all or nothing approach translate to the MLB? I am not sure. Now he only has 67 in 85 games but can he keep that up?

I can't think of many players with as much raw power as Wily Mo Pena but he strikes out so much that it almost negates his power.

Eatin' D-Backs and crappin' out Rockies.

by camwoody on Jul 10, 2007 4:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Wish List: Alex Rios

He would certainly be more of a risky player than Adam Jones, but he's got lots of power and he can draw a walk. What you would worry about would be if he can hit for contact in the majors. Of course, if he could maintain his walk rate and continue to hit for power, he could be a valuable player even if he only hit .260.

Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.

by jponry on Jul 10, 2007 4:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Your last sentence is wrong

The strikeouts don't negate his power, its the fact that he gets on base at a career .311 clip that does.

I notice you haven't mentioned Adam Dunn yet, usually everyone's favorite target when it comes to K's. This is because he has a career OBP of .377.

Grady Sizemore and Ryan Howard also are in the top 5 of Ks this year after being top 15 last year (I'm assuming Howard would've been with 600+ PA). I don't think anyone ever (if they're not a moran) has questioned their value.

by awesomer on Jul 10, 2007 4:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

MLB vs. MiLB

You are comparing guys that strike out a lot in MLB to guys that strike out a lot in the minor leagues. I don't have the numbers but Dunn struck out a lot less in the minors than he had in the majors. Dunn's strike outs have also made him lesser of a player than he could have been.

If you strike out a lot does it mean that you can never be a productive major leaguer? No. Is it a bad sign? Yes.

If Brandon Wood could limit his strike outs he would be in the majors right now. He cannot however and that makes the Angels apprehensive.

Eatin' D-Backs and crappin' out Rockies.

by camwoody on Jul 10, 2007 4:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You were the one who busted out Wily Mo

So I had just assumed we moved on to major leaguers.

Adam Dunn has changed his batting stance to hit for more power and walk a lot. Your statement makes no sense, how can you quantifiably say that if Adam Dunn struck out less he'd slug anywhere near the amount he did now? Also its a lot easier to strike out less when you're facing inferior pitching.

I don't really think its a sign of anything, if you can walk a ton in the minors you can probably still walk a ton in the majors and K a little more than what's the problem. See across the bay for a perfect example of a man who K'd a ton in the minors, K's a ton in the majors, yet is an incredibly effective hitter (Hint: He would be second in the Giants in HR and he only has 160+ AB this year).

Brandon Wood is not in the majors right now because the Angels are run piss-poorly. This is the same franchise that dished out a load of money this offseason to Shea Hillebrand this offseason and insists on playing Garrett Anderson as much as possible.They would be nowhere near their record right now if he had stayed healthy, which would have left Reggie Willits in the minors all year.

Wood also was blocked by Ocab at short and needed to move to 3rd because his defense was poor. So needing to learn a new position has also affected his arrival to the majors. I'd put K's as reason #384238482342838 of 384238482342839 of why he's not playing now.

by awesomer on Jul 10, 2007 4:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well...

you would be vastly underestimating the effect his Ks have had on the Angels moving him up and therefore would be wrong.

I cannot honestly say that Dunn would have been a better player if he had retained the hitting style he had in the minors but he was a much more complete player in the minors than he is now.

Just as an aside, your tone is a bit dickish and I am starting to wish that I had made fun of your spelling in some of your posts (pole instead of poll, moran instead of moron.) It's called a dictionary dude.

Eatin' D-Backs and crappin' out Rockies.

by camwoody on Jul 10, 2007 7:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Well...

Changing the subject and attacking one's opponent is the desporate effort of one losing a debate. Who gives a shit about bothering to look up the correct spelling? It ain't worth the time and isn't necessary to make one's point.

by giantsrainman on Jul 10, 2007 7:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Well...

Rainman reread the post. I didn't change the subject. I mentioned the spelling as an aside. I can see that looking up spelling is something you don't give a shit about though.

Eatin' D-Backs and crappin' out Rockies.

by camwoody on Jul 10, 2007 8:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs