Another Option for 1B?
by beat_la_25 on Dec 18, 2009 8:24 AM PST
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PrintFirst of all, let me credit the genesis of this post to Satchel Paige of Beyond the Boxscore. In the post-Johnson signing meltdown, I think many people's first instinct was to look for a veteran stopgap who'd likely be available on the cheap... Lyle Overbay, anyone? However, Satchel Paige's post got me thinking about a guy who was just a few years ago one of the top prospects in the KC system, and still shows great potential for the future... Kila Ka'aihue. He's 26 years old, he's basically a career minor leaguer, and he's blocked as hell in KC with Billy Butler, Mike Jacobs, Josh Fields, and possibly Alberto Callaspo gumming up the 1B and DH spots for the forseeable future. Ka'aihue provides the one thing this team is in most dire need of... a guy with a decent bit of power and from all accounts a workable but not fantastic glove at first (looked at scouting reports but I can't find a site for minor league UZRs), but the ability to get on base again and again and again. He's an ok hitter, .250 avg last year with 17 HRs, but where this guy really stands out is in his ability to take a walk. He put up an 18.8 BB% in 441 AAA ab's last year, for an OBP of .392. He's got the skills, he's got the patience, and all he needs is the opportunity. The badass name also has to be worth at least another 1.3 WAR or so. Considering the Royals were willing to trade a productive Leo Nuñez for Mike Jacobs, blocking Ka'aihue entirely, it seems obvious that they don't value him particularly highly, suggesting that he could be had on the semi-cheap. I know it's against Bochy's policy to play anyone without major-league experience, but here's to hoping he could make an exception to put some Pineapple Power in the lineup (hey, it worked for the Phils, didn't it?). So what are your thoughts? What do you think it would take to get him here? Do we (or should we) have any interest in him?
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At this time last year I was coveting Ka’aihue, but he didn’t do much in 2009. A .392 obp with moderate power really isn’t very good for a first baseman at AAA, especially one who isn’t much with the glove. If you want to play a poor-fielding 26-year-old who lit up AAA and can draw a walk, why not just go with John Bowker?
honestly, i’m not entirely sure why we aren’t already.
Petey and Fresh always dunking on Spartans,
Biscuits in baskets from Heatley and Thornton,
Bam-Bam and Gore on the way to some rings,
These are a few of my favorite things.
well, besides the poor numbers in his big-league stints. i think he should at least get a shot though.
Petey and Fresh always dunking on Spartans,
Biscuits in baskets from Heatley and Thornton,
Bam-Bam and Gore on the way to some rings,
These are a few of my favorite things.
He was awful.
Joe Martinez: You are cool.
When it's all said and done, America will be remembered for three things: The Bill of Rights, jazz, and baseball.
Ka’aihue looks like a player who just had career year in 2008. His numbers before then aren’t good and neither were his numbers last year. To put it into context he put up an OPS of only 825 last year which is terrible as a 25 year old 1B in the PCL (corresponds to an MLE OPS of 645). If you want to acquire him for the minors then i probably wouldn’t bother but no team should have plans for him on their 25 man roster.
Proud parent of Waldis Joaquin!
should’ve included some illustrations.
Petey and Fresh always dunking on Spartans,
Biscuits in baskets from Heatley and Thornton,
Bam-Bam and Gore on the way to some rings,
These are a few of my favorite things.
A cat photo would have at least gotten Grant’s attention.
Officially disinterested in any high school outfielders from the state of Mississippi.
Proud adoptive parent of Sergio Romo. Looking forward to adopting Justin Smoak.
I know you nerds know NOTHING about the real game of baseball, or any other athletic endeavor requiring teamwork under physical stress.
Mr. F! | comics | art | New Nattowear | Unofficial McImage Directory
The funny thing is that what would be a reasonably sized paragraph in print seems huge on the computer screen.
Meet my new son: Sundrendy Windster, on the Curacao-SF express (via Arizona).
by EliminateMe on Dec 18, 2009 11:05 AM PST up reply actions
im telling you, i can smell the laroche cooking, and it smells like 3/ 30
Les Plack = more chicks
Dingerz.exe League Champs 2009- The Rile Rods...managed by yours truly.
by Headhunter Rollins on Dec 18, 2009 10:00 AM PST reply actions
Rosenthal said today that the Giants are going to continue to wait the market out and look for bargains, so I don’t see a crazy contract like this coming. It looks like Sabean is going to do what he did with Nick Johnson, (although it didn’t work) and that is to offer a contract slightly higher than the competition does and hope the player takes the higher bid.
No Edgar, it's not your fault, it's the fault of the idiot that plays you
What about Jesus Guzman?
It seems like everyone is down on him right now, whereas 8 months ago some people were calling him the savior. I haven’t seen him on any of the prospects lists and people on this site have seemed to stop talking about him all together. From his limited time in the bigs, it became blatantly obvious that he is terrible in the field, but he showed that he can swing the stick a little bit, and his numbers in the minors/winter leagues show that he is a very good hitter. So why has he become the forgotten man? Did he forget how to hit or something?
Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son
by lincecuminyourface on Dec 18, 2009 10:06 AM PST reply actions
Can't be the real reason...
That would assume that Bochy and Sabean can correctly evaluate a hitter…
Hector Sanchez: Underrated. Fighting body bias since the 2009 off season. I still love you, son, even if you're fat.
He also look bad defensively at first in the few innings he got to play. So they could be making the right call with him based on SSS bad defense at 1b. That sounds more like Sabes and Boch.
We're all basically Pedro Feliz.
-7.5 UZR/150!!! Suck it, non-stat nurds!!!
Hector Sanchez: Underrated. Fighting body bias since the 2009 off season. I still love you, son, even if you're fat.
Scouts also pan his defense.
Joe Martinez: You are cool.
When it's all said and done, America will be remembered for three things: The Bill of Rights, jazz, and baseball.
No
That just means that if they think all minor leaguers are bad hitters, eventually they’ll be right. This is the eventually.
I think if the Giants’ fail to sign or trade for anybody, he’ll wind up platooning with Ishi. He’ll be removed early for defense though. (like the second inning!) I’d be very surprised, however, if they don’t make a move that makes both he and Ishi obsolete.
No Edgar, it's not your fault, it's the fault of the idiot that plays you
His numbers in the minors aren’t really that good.
I know you nerds know NOTHING about the real game of baseball, or any other athletic endeavor requiring teamwork under physical stress.
Mr. F! | comics | art | New Nattowear | Unofficial McImage Directory
Just a little thing.
Jacobs was non tendered by the Royals so he is no longer blocking any one there.
Who’s brain did you bring me?
Brain SabeanOranother.
I look forward to the Mike Jacobs Fanpost that will inevitably pop up.
I know you nerds know NOTHING about the real game of baseball, or any other athletic endeavor requiring teamwork under physical stress.
Mr. F! | comics | art | New Nattowear | Unofficial McImage Directory
HEY GUYS, LET'S GET MIKE JACOBS!
Tommy Joseph is the Dingerzball Wizard
I take pictures
by SoFa King Mike on Dec 18, 2009 11:04 AM PST up reply actions
/ stomache roils like a grwolers that just will not pass.
Who’s brain did you bring me?
Brain SabeanOranother.
by daveinexile on Dec 18, 2009 11:07 AM PST up reply actions
If you want to remain blessfully ignorant just don’t sit in a stall next to me once go to “the office”.
Who’s brain did you bring me?
Brain SabeanOranother.
by daveinexile on Dec 18, 2009 11:27 AM PST up reply actions
Don't be in a stall next to xanthan after he's eaten chicken
Tommy Joseph is the Dingerzball Wizard
I take pictures
by SoFa King Mike on Dec 18, 2009 11:30 AM PST up reply actions
/ in best Beavis voice
“Are you threatening me?”
Who’s brain did you bring me?
Brain SabeanOranother.
by daveinexile on Dec 18, 2009 11:38 AM PST up reply actions
I am flat out shock we have not had one yet. It has been over a week and the does hit like asmaller version of Dave Kingman. He does not doo much right but in some corners that is all you need.
Who’s brain did you bring me?
Brain SabeanOranother.
by daveinexile on Dec 18, 2009 11:04 AM PST up reply actions
presumably made by Mike Fox
The very bad man traded my son...So now I'd like you all to meet my new son, Ryan "Aaron" Garko...Dammit it's just not the same!
Sneaktobetterseats demands a Mike Jacobs signing!!
No Edgar, it's not your fault, it's the fault of the idiot that plays you
SWOOP!
Tommy Joseph is the Dingerzball Wizard
I take pictures
by SoFa King Mike on Dec 18, 2009 11:28 AM PST up reply actions
There are NO Options for 1b
There are only candidates for Panic Signings. Few to none out there are significantly better than the very inexpensive options we have in house. Those not on our 40 man roster, will become a part of it only for several millions of dollars, which (several millions of dollars) will do little in the way of runs produced. This is the absolute worst time of year.
Johnson I could see, but now there is talk the Gs could seriously consider Mark DeRosa. Mark DeRosa. Mark DeRosa at about $18 mil over three years. How is that an improvement of Ishi at 1/2 mil per year?
From Chris Haft’s article about Ishi’s winning ROY (1b):
“Ishikawa, 26, hit .261 with nine home runs and 39 RBIs in 120 games. He excelled at home, batting .349 with seven homers at AT&T Park, compared to .162 with two homers on the road. Ishikawa also excelled defensively, committing only three errors in 803 total chances for a .996 fielding percentage. That ranked third among National League first basemen behind Atlanta’s Adam LaRoche (.999) and Colorado’s Todd Helton (.998).”
Ishi’s line: 261/329/433/752. It is noteworthy he hit very well at home but poorly on the road (which I think gets fixed with experience). DeRosa’s line for last year?
250/319/433/752. DeRosa slightly better career numbers are accumulated in hitters parks (Cubs, Rangers), while Ishi’s numbers are accumulated in noted LHH park ATT. I wouldn’t mind if DeRosa were being considered as a RHH platton player, to compliment Ishi. But the stated reason for not bringing back Garko at $2 mil was they ’didn’t want to pay $2mil for a part time player.’ Therefore, DeRosa is being looked at as a full time player.
So far, this doesn’t make sense on any level
If Kila is essentially free, I would totally trade for him. However, I have trouble believing that the Royals would give him away.
Joe Martinez: You are cool.
When it's all said and done, America will be remembered for three things: The Bill of Rights, jazz, and baseball.
I haven't seen him to know
whether he’s any different than Bowker or Guzman, as already pointed out.
That said, if Brain and Bork have decided those two are never going to play, then can’t one or both or (sorry Jporny) Fred be swapped for some other team’s AAAA retread(s)? There’s always a chance that a new zip code might make a difference, and it’s an absolute certainty that paying DeRosa eleventy billion simoleons to do what some PCL refugee can do for nothing.
At least it would make for new deck chairs to rearrange.
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
"I sometimes still can get insider info and I am not a dumb or average fan.
Molina is needed."
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