How about trading Fred Lewis?
According to mlbtraderumors.com, the Marlins wanted to trade Jacobs for Molina, but the Giants had no interest. I guess that makes sense, with Bowker in the fold, it's really hard to gague whether Jacobs is much of an upgrade there. I think Jacobs is the better player, but it's not a huge gap, and Jacobs is 2 years from FA as opposed to Bowker who is 6 years away.
I'd be open to this trade however:
Molina, Taschner, and Fred Lewis for Josh Willingham, 1B Gaby Sanchez, SS Chase Lambin, and Dallas McPherson.
Trading Lewis might seem liek a stupid idea considering he is 4-5 years from Free Agency, but I don't think Lewis can play any better than he has and the Giants really need to look towards finding offensive players that are above average for their position (Lewis is currently above average, but he's streaky and he is barely above average).
Sanchez is a decent 1B prospect, Lambin is a guy who's bounced around the minors a bit, but is having a great year at AAA and will never get a chance in FLA with their middle infield. McPherson is an FA next year, but you know his story and if he does well in SF, he might be more inclined to stay.
Why do the Marlins do this? Well Molina is a clear upgrade for them at catcher, Taschner gives them their lefty in the pen and is under control til 2011, and Lewis is plenty of years from free agency. Lewis also has the ability (albeit not strongly) to play CF which has been a black hole for the Marlins this year. Playing Lewis in CF allows the fish to give more at bats to Gonzo and then play Cody Ross to spell both of them in LF and CF.
It makes a lot of sense to me for both clubs
The article also mentioned the Giants were interested in Beltre, which I don't think is an avenue worth pursuing. Beltre would be a nice 3B, but not at the price we'd have to pay (unless it was strictly a salary dump, which is unlikely)
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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damn it
while I was posting this, someone beat me to it. Oh well, I at least threw my own idea into the mix
www.wazzel.com (prove your sports knowledge if you can)
by NeifiChicken on Jul 30, 2008 11:42 AM PDT 0 recs
I actually like this idea, Neifi. I agree that Lewis may well already be at his peak, both performance-wise and perception-wise. I don’t know much about Sanchez or Lambin, but this is generally the kind of deal I’d do.
Your 2011 SF Giants: the 2008 Augusta Greenjackets!
by Lyle on
Jul 30, 2008 12:10 PM PDT
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no on McPherson…they only signed him to a 1-year/minor league contract, so after the season I highly doubt that he will be staying with them. And, thus far, hes only been in the minors…so I would just wait and get him upon season end.
by Scronjsn on Jul 30, 2008 11:51 AM PDT 0 recs
yes, but...
he is just one small piece of the deal. On top of that, acquiring him now and playing him at the major league level would definitely increase our chances of signing him
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by NeifiChicken on
Jul 30, 2008 11:54 AM PDT
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Also, Sabean won’t trade for a guy who he actively stayed away from this offseason.
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
by howtheyscored on
Jul 30, 2008 1:39 PM PDT
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I don't understand why Jacobs for Molina is a bad idea
Jacobs is great. What’s not to like?
¿Julio is tourist in San Francisco? Harper's Bizarre!
by hairball on Jul 30, 2008 11:56 AM PDT 0 recs
Jacobs vs Bowker
they probably don’t view Jacobs as a huge upgrade over Bowker, especially since Bowker is cheaper and under control longer. Still, Jacobs is clearly the better play right now
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by NeifiChicken on
Jul 30, 2008 11:58 AM PDT
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he fields like a child with downs syndrome
he never walks, his average is dick, and for a player with that many homers and also considering he’s in the Marlins’ lineup, he has dick for RBI’s too.
by boonitez on
Jul 30, 2008 11:59 AM PDT
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Also
He’s just not that good.
Your 2011 SF Giants: the 2008 Augusta Greenjackets!
by Lyle on
Jul 30, 2008 12:10 PM PDT
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At first I read that as his dick is average
Which led to… SO many questions for you, Boonitez.
"He called the sh** POOP!" -- Adam Sandler
by JRPhillips on
Jul 30, 2008 1:48 PM PDT
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1B with career .318 OBP?
Pass.
Neglectful father of David Quinowski
by marcello on
Jul 30, 2008 12:00 PM PDT
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Jacobs has a .290 OBP and is an absolute butcher defensively.
Dial had him as the worst first baseman in the NL at the break.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
by jponry on
Jul 30, 2008 12:00 PM PDT
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Yeah, generally defense at 1B doesn’t matter too much, but when you’re as bad as Jacobs, it matters.
I’ll be lazy and cross-post this on Jacobs.
I’m not big on Jacobs, his power is legit but he strikes out a good bit and has a bad defensive reputation at first. I’m not a believer in "must have JT Snow-like defense" at first base but Jacobs could be one of the worst fielders at that position — he had a -10 in ‘07 by the Fielding Bible. In addition to his contact problems, he’s 27-years-old this year and could be theoretically peaking. Jacobs’ boost in power this year is largely due to an increase on his HR/F%. 19.3% of Jacobs flyballs have left the park this year. His ISO of .266 is a career high as well.Pablo Sandoval’s success in AA could entice the Giants to conisder Molina trades but I don’t think it will happen for a couple of reasons. First, this team overvalues Molina to an extent. Especially in intangible areas like clubhouse leadership and other nebulous concepts. Molina, whether you want to believe it was a case of GM negotiation tactics or not, has landed on Sabes ‘Do-Not-Trade’ list along with Randy Winn. Statements from Sabean — ignoring the "His clock is winding down" blurb from this year — have tended to praise Molina heavily, he called him the team MVP of ‘07. Second, as much as Bowker has struggled lately, I’d prefer to give him AB’s for the rest of this season than to transplant him to the bench to share time with Jacobs. Jacobs would be a poor platoon partner because he’s struggled to hit LHP in his career and the jury is still out on Bowker’s abilities to handle lefties at the plate. Jacobs would make a little sense for the Giants if the team could move Molina and Winn, creating an open spot for Bowker in the outfield, but I seriously doubt that both Molina and Winn will be traded this year.
by xanthan on
Jul 30, 2008 12:07 PM PDT
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So he hits like Pedro Feliz, and fields like Helen Keller?
Here's to Kemp, Loney, LaRoche, Hu, and Kershaw not panning out.
by Woody Wins on
Jul 30, 2008 2:08 PM PDT
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Not sure if the Marlins would be interested in grabbing Fred Lewis for the stretch run this season if his bunions could affect how much he plays.
No, my Crazy Crab bobblehead is not for sale.
by Kitspool on Jul 30, 2008 12:22 PM PDT 0 recs
Never know; the Marlins took Benitez and his funyuns
So perhaps they’ll take Lewis and his bunions.
I once punched a hole in a light fixture in celebration of a J.T. Snow home run. That is all.
by oneflapdown on Jul 30, 2008 12:31 PM PDT 0 recs
My dumb- this was meant as a reply to Kitspool...
I once punched a hole in a light fixture in celebration of a J.T. Snow home run. That is all.
by oneflapdown on
Jul 30, 2008 12:32 PM PDT
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trading fred lewis=missing the point entirely
"he walked 18; new league record! Struck out 18, another new league record! He also hit the sportswriter, the PA announcer, the bull mascot twice..."
by i did my job on Jul 30, 2008 12:51 PM PDT 0 recs
^^^^^^^ #*($%&@
brainexplodes
Billy Hayes: His job is better than yours.
by delorean on
Jul 30, 2008 1:17 PM PDT
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not really
Fred Lewis is a nice player, but Willingham is also a guy we’d have control of for three more years and could potentially lock up into a multi year deal.
We have guys who can produce near Lewis in our org (Bowker, Schierholtz) but Willingham is quite rare for our our team. He’s a guy who can hit .270/.370/.485 for the next 4-5 years potentially, which would make him the best bat our team would likely have in that span.
www.wazzel.com (prove your sports knowledge if you can)
by NeifiChicken on
Jul 30, 2008 1:35 PM PDT
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so then why would the Marlins want to trade him?
by AndOnTheDrums... on
Jul 30, 2008 2:12 PM PDT
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because
this trade improves them overall, it’s not a 1 for 1. When you weigh the production they get from catcher and by being able to play Gonzalez instead of Amezaga, their offense clearly benefits from this.
IMO, Willingham has more value to a team like the Giants than the Marlins. We’re simply lacking in impact bats that can play in the majors anytime soon. The Marlins already have above average hitters (Hanley, Uggla, Cantu sort of, Hermida should be) and Maybin coming soon.
For 08, they can play Lewis in CF with Gonzo/Ross platooning in LF and that makes a big difference in their lineup. Then in 09 when Maybin gets his chance, Lewis can shift over to LF.
The Marlins need to worry about having the best possible team (where depth can be spread out) whereas the Giants need to find the right players to fit their needs.
Willingham could play 1B for us with Schierholtz or Bowker playing LF. In terms of offensive production, the difference between Nate and Lewis shouldn’t be that great
www.wazzel.com (prove your sports knowledge if you can)
by NeifiChicken on
Jul 30, 2008 2:29 PM PDT
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not really
Step 1: FLA chooses to play Lewis in CF, which allows Gonzo to start in LF. Because Gonzo is old, Ross would platoon with him (as well as spell Lewis and Hermida)
Step 2: Giants play Willingham at 1B and move Bowker to the OF where he is used to playing (or choose to play Nate instead).
That’s really not even that hypothetical, it just makes sense to maximize production for both teams
www.wazzel.com (prove your sports knowledge if you can)
by NeifiChicken on
Jul 30, 2008 3:06 PM PDT
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i think bowk stays at 1b
with willingham in left.. why teach willingham 1B when we are already teachin bowk
proud father of the newly acquired Brandon Crawford..
by Azmanz on
Jul 30, 2008 8:03 PM PDT
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Gonzo is old and probably one (year) and done (in FLA). I don’t see him playing beyond this year as more than a 5th OF, though I suppose it could happen. Once Maybin is ready, Gonzo would be gonezo.
I do like Willingham, though. He’s the type of right handed power bat that the Giants need for their park. However, he does seem to get injured every season, so that is a big negative.
Proud adopted parent of future big league slugger Thomas Neal
by nostocksjustbonds on
Jul 30, 2008 6:38 PM PDT
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He also seems to be 29
And not play SS or 3b, our two greatest positions of need.
Not really what this team needs, a meh 30 year old OF.
Eugeniooooooo!!!!
by FairweatherFan on
Jul 30, 2008 6:54 PM PDT
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meh?
He’s better than any OF we have now, so yes, I’s say that’s a need
www.wazzel.com (prove your sports knowledge if you can)
by NeifiChicken on
Jul 30, 2008 9:30 PM PDT
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Again with the Dallas McPherson
For nothing- yes.
For something – no.
for anything – no.
you can't block the Bocock
by oldjacket on Jul 30, 2008 1:01 PM PDT 0 recs
trading Lewis
I’m not sure his value is at its peak yet and he is under control for a few more years, but I would have no trouble trading him to a contender maybe next season or as part of a bigger package in the offseason.
Proud adopted parent of future big league slugger Thomas Neal
by nostocksjustbonds on Jul 30, 2008 1:10 PM PDT 0 recs
I see what you're saying
but I just really don’t see his value getting much higher than it is now. He might tack on a few points to his average in later years, but nothing drastic, and I think the value of his being far from FA gives him the most value to a team like FLA right now as opposed to later on
www.wazzel.com (prove your sports knowledge if you can)
by NeifiChicken on
Jul 30, 2008 1:41 PM PDT
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He’s a bit old for a guy playing his first full time MLB season. If he can prove to hit lefties more consistently (.250ish?) he’d be a lot more valuable. He’ll never be a plus defender, but I think his power will develop a bit more as will his ability to get on base. He’s got the speed now, but it won’t last indefinitely.
If I were to wager, I’d say that once he learns the league a bit more, he’ll improve his value overall. He’ll never be a star, but he can be a productive major leaguer for a few seasons and continue to hit at the top of the order Once he hits free agency he’ll command a contract for more than he’s worth. The idea is to try to trade him at his peak value, and I don’t think he’s quite there yet, but its not too far away.
Proud adopted parent of future big league slugger Thomas Neal
by nostocksjustbonds on
Jul 30, 2008 6:44 PM PDT
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I agree with this
+1, he hasn’t peaked.
I don’t see another team giving up all that much for him, though I appreciate the nuances of a well-thought out package deal.
"[Greg] Vaughn is in a funk so deep, George Clinton wearing a miner's helmet couldn't find him."
- Jim Baker, ESPN.com, May 2002
by achiappanza on
Jul 31, 2008 8:04 AM PDT
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No thanks!
yeah, well, the whole world stinks, francine -- so get used to it!
by satyricrash on Jul 30, 2008 1:12 PM PDT 0 recs
Actually,
Lewis is not producing above-average offensively for his position. Undoubtedly, he’s a good guy with speed and occasional defensive flashes, and we all like him. But this team cannot get by with a LF who tops out at 12-15 HRs a year. What if this is his ceiling?.
Meet my three little friends: Timmy, Dirty, and Cain
by Buck Henry on Jul 30, 2008 1:15 PM PDT 0 recs
Average EqA for a LF = .271
Fred Lewis’ EqA = .278
Even with his recent struggles, he’s an above-average LF. He’s also appears to play plus defense for that position. He could still regress some, as he has been doing lately, but he’s an above-average LF. There’s more to production than just HRs.
by xanthan on
Jul 30, 2008 1:18 PM PDT
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hater
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
by jponry on
Jul 30, 2008 3:22 PM PDT
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which he is maintaining season long
And there are some reasons to believe that it is not a fluke.
Eugeniooooooo!!!!
by FairweatherFan on
Jul 30, 2008 3:30 PM PDT
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yes, but
aberrations happen. One season alone isn’t enough to know that it’s not a fluke, let alone 95 games
www.wazzel.com (prove your sports knowledge if you can)
by NeifiChicken on
Jul 30, 2008 3:31 PM PDT
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Exactly..
there are plenty of examples who have kept up a BABIP this long and fell back to expected levels. Actually, I’m sure there are more than plenty examples.
What are the reasons to believe it is not a fluke?
by kingofthacove on
Jul 30, 2008 3:34 PM PDT
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Yeah he is, BP has him at 9 BRAA and 3.7 runs above position.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
by jponry on
Jul 30, 2008 1:18 PM PDT
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NERDS
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
by jponry on
Jul 30, 2008 1:26 PM PDT
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I SPIT ON YOUR STATS
Actually I’m sort of into it now that I understand how it works. It’s just been Opposite World for me lately; embracing math, driving a motorcar. It’s madness.
"While conservatives tell you 'leave things alone and no one will lose,' and liberals tell you 'interfere a lot and no one will lose,' baseball says 'someone will lose.' Not only says it - but insists upon it! ... Democracy is lovely, but baseball's more mature." BVCE supports SF Dugout and Manny Burriss.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on
Jul 30, 2008 2:13 PM PDT
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RZR agrees with BRAA for once.
Rowand is the #2 CF, Winn the #2 RF and Lewis the #2 LF by that stat.
you can't block the Bocock
by oldjacket on
Jul 30, 2008 1:30 PM PDT
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well, BRAA is batting runs above average. BP’s defensive stats have Lewis as bad, but Dial and RZR both have him as above average
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
by jponry on
Jul 30, 2008 1:36 PM PDT
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my bad
BP’s slew of acronyms ge the better of me again
you can't block the Bocock
by oldjacket on
Jul 30, 2008 1:40 PM PDT
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HR's
aren’t everything.
In fact, they are only a small part of offensive production. Ex: Dallas McPherson.
Eugeniooooooo!!!!
by FairweatherFan on
Jul 30, 2008 1:29 PM PDT
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No Willingham comments?
I see all these “pass on McPherson” posts but Dallas is really more of a throw in than anything in this deal. Willingham is the CENTERPIECE of this idea, so it seems like he should be the focus more than Dallas.
In my opinion, the beauty of a move like this is that we get a type of bat that we simply do not have in our system close to the bigs (possibly sans Sandoval) which is a bat that hits well above average. Lewis is a sizable piece to give up, but you have to give up something to get something and FLA can justify the downgrade in offense because of the way this helps them in others ways (i.e. upgrade in C, and allows Gonzo to get at bats in LF over Amezaga getting at bats in CF)
The other two minor leaguers I named aren’t too shoddy either. Lambis could step in play SS for us right now and Gaby Sanchez is not an outstanding 1B prospect, but he’s better than anything we have in the minors over the age of 18
www.wazzel.com (prove your sports knowledge if you can)
by NeifiChicken on Jul 30, 2008 1:39 PM PDT 0 recs
I'd rather leave out McPherson
and Lambis and Gaby Sanchez, and try for someone like Jeremy Hermida.
Willingham’s a good hitter, but he’ll be 30 next year, and his D, at least in 2007 and 2006, was pretty poor, around 10 runs below average. Conversely Fred Lewis’ D appears to be pretty good.
The offensive gap between Willingham is probably around 20-25 runs over a full season. OTOH, the defensive gap between Lewis and Willingham is probably around 20 runs over a full season.
ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524
by rfloh on
Jul 30, 2008 2:40 PM PDT
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yes, but
When you add in Hermida, it lessens the odds of the Marlins benefiting in the short team through this deal. Who plays right for them? Ross? Lewis?
The defensive point is valid, but we can also move Willingham to 1st I feel (yes, he only has 2 games there, but it’s an easier position) allowing us to play either Bowker or Nate in LF.
www.wazzel.com (prove your sports knowledge if you can)
by NeifiChicken on
Jul 30, 2008 2:47 PM PDT
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I shoud have posted that in the original post
but I did mention it in subsequent replies. The idea I envisioned was resigning him prior to 09, say 5 years, 38 million? (essentially buying out his arb years plus two more seasons). We have no 1B options close and in this scenario Willingham could probably be our 1B until at least 2010 (when hopefully Sanchez would progress to the point of warranting the 1B job) and then we could move Willingham back to LF.
www.wazzel.com (prove your sports knowledge if you can)
by NeifiChicken on
Jul 30, 2008 2:51 PM PDT
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Is Lewis' arm so crappy
that he can’t play right?
I’ve no idea what package the Marlins might want. Just saying that IMO, the improvement from Lewis to Willingham isn’t enough, and that I’d rather forego the filler to get someone with better future like Hermida.
If you project him as an average player or thereabouts, his poor D very nearly canceling his O, yeah, $35M-$40M over 5 years sounds like a pretty fair valuation, unless the market changes dramatically.
OTOH, he will be 30 next year. He isn’t your typical prearby player, who is around 26, entering his prime. He’s already in his prime, and might be declining soon. Who knows?
As for changing Willingham’s position, I really don’t see the logic in moving a poor defensive LF to 1b, and then, 1 1/2 years later, when he is 31, moving him back to LF. If you’re going to move him to 1b, you might as well make the move permanent, given that his poor D in the OF removes much of the offensive value he gives you.
ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524
by rfloh on
Jul 30, 2008 3:07 PM PDT
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well the only logic for moving him away from 1B eventually
is that Gaby Sanchez would be able to take over 1B. Then again, that might not happen by 2011, perhaps we’d just be waiting for Vilanona
I see your point, but either way, I really like Willingham’s bat, so if he is producing and we have better LF and 1B options, trading him is always an option.
The way I see it though, I can’t see us getting a bat of his caliber (not that it’s even that amazing a bat) within the next 2-3 years (without doing something stupid like signing Teixeira) so I’m intrigued.
www.wazzel.com (prove your sports knowledge if you can)
by NeifiChicken on
Jul 30, 2008 3:15 PM PDT
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Just for shits and giggles
Assuming we ditched Winn for no 2009 ready prospects (and made no other moves, this is our poential 09 lineup)
1) Frandsen 2B .295/.340/.410 6 HR
2) Lambin SS .270/.340/.415 10 HR
3) Nate RF .298/.333/.460 15 HR
4) Willingham 1B .270/.365/.485 25 HR
5) Rowand CF .290/.350/.455 18 HR
6) McPherson 3B .265/.345/.500 28 HR (optimistic, but I like him a lot still)
7) Bowker RF .275/.315/.450 18 HR
8) Sandoval? C .275/.305/.435 (well he probably should start 09 in AAA realistically)
Obviously I’m stretch with some of them (McPherson, Lambin, and Sandoval) but I don’t know if you could call any of those absurd. The potential is reasonably there for all of those players to produce around those levels, and that would likely give us an above average offense, hopefully to be paired with an improving young staff
www.wazzel.com (prove your sports knowledge if you can)
by NeifiChicken on Jul 30, 2008 3:28 PM PDT 0 recs
That’s a nice looking lineup. Except Nate’s LF* I assume, not RF.
by giants9107 on
Jul 30, 2008 4:10 PM PDT
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nice looking lineup?
that team loses 110 games, banked.
Billy Hayes: His job is better than yours.
by delorean on
Jul 30, 2008 4:13 PM PDT
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As If
McPherson OPS’s .845 ?
Eugeniooooooo!!!!
by FairweatherFan on
Jul 30, 2008 4:15 PM PDT
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Yeah, that is never going to happen.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
by jponry on
Jul 30, 2008 4:21 PM PDT
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totally feasible
if he cuts down on his strikeouts by 85%
Billy Hayes: His job is better than yours.
by delorean on
Jul 30, 2008 4:36 PM PDT
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And replaces them with walks.
Eugeniooooooo!!!!
by FairweatherFan on
Jul 30, 2008 5:00 PM PDT
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why is .845 so unreasonable?
The guy posted a .776 OPS at age 25 in the bigs
He’s never been given a full year in the bigs
www.wazzel.com (prove your sports knowledge if you can)
by NeifiChicken on
Jul 30, 2008 5:22 PM PDT
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He’s struck out around 130 times in less than 400 ABs.
That’s a pretty big problem.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
by jponry on
Jul 30, 2008 5:47 PM PDT
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yes it's a problem
but he didn’t have problems he wouldn’t be attainable. You can’t always focus on what a player can’t do, but what eh can, and what McPherson can do is draw walks and hit the ball out of the ballpark.
He might strike out at Dunn like rates, but he also has close to Dunn-type power. He isn’t quite as good at hitting homers or walking like Dunn, but he also doesn’t have to be in order ot be a productive player.
www.wazzel.com (prove your sports knowle



