Pudge to the Nationals

Another name to cross off the list of candidates

(Looks like 2 years/$5-6 million)

3 months ago m34josh 23 comments 0 recs |

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Brian shouldn't have told the country that he doesn't want Posey to start.

He’s going to have less leverage against demands like this.

VAE PVTO DEVS FIO

by Bhaakon on Dec 7, 2009 11:26 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

By doing this he is making it clear that he is only interested in short term deals and that there are no promises with regards to long term playing time. This is exactly what he must do. He can’t lie, and he would weaken the attractiveness of joining the Giants even further if he doesn’t commit that the job being offered is to at least open the season as the starting catcher.

by giantsrainman on Dec 8, 2009 2:02 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with rainman for some strange reason. Any FA catcher on the market now knows he will be catching Opening Day for the Giants as opposed to being a backup. This makes the job more appealing.

No Edgar, it's not your fault, it's the fault of the idiot that plays you

by rxmeister on Dec 8, 2009 6:52 AM PST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

One bullet dodged.

"It appears that Sabean is playing a game of chicken with Neukom wherein he elucidates the most outrageous things he could do as ML GM without getting fired." - cornball

by scout6 on Dec 7, 2009 11:52 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Now someone not named the Giants needs to sign Dye

"meh"

by SFGuy on Dec 8, 2009 12:10 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I still say I prefer Dye to the Velez/Torres platoon they have planned right now.

No Edgar, it's not your fault, it's the fault of the idiot that plays you

by rxmeister on Dec 8, 2009 6:54 AM PST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

The Velez/Torres platoon is terrible but I’d still definitely prefer it to Dye for three reasons:

1) It’s essentially free whereas Dye will cost some money.
2) They’re going to be more willing to give up on it than Dye
3) They’re likely to be better than Dye will be.

To illustrate point 3:

Dye has been remarkably consistent defensively over the last 4 years and has been -20 runs or more each year. That means that if Velez/Torres are league average defensively they’ll be 20 runs better (obviously). Offensively lets say Dye puts up his Bill James wOBA projection of .350 and Velez/Torres put up Velez Bill James wOBA of .310. Those numbers aren’t particularly unreasonable as that’s pretty much Velez career number and Dye has put up numbers worse than that for 2 out of the last 3 years.

Offensively that difference works out to be around 15 runs (over 500AB) and so Dye is probably at least 0.5 win worse than the Velez/Torres platoon. That’s incredibly conservative though as they probably have more offensive potential that that, platooning the two will give you better offense and they’re likely to be above average defensively in LF.

Proud parent of Waldis Joaquin!

by GiantFan on Dec 8, 2009 7:18 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

and Torres will be a +15 run defender in LF, so against lefty’s that would have to be considered. I have no idea where Velez will end up in the field, but he was much improved (to my eye) last season. OT, but I would actually rather see this craptacular platoon in CF and Rowand in left, but of course he won’t be moving.

by tyrannoman on Dec 8, 2009 7:47 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, i was being very conservative because they should be above average defensively due to Torres being a very good LF and Velez being at least average. Also, they’re got the potential to be better offensively than that although of course they’ll never be competent.

Proud parent of Waldis Joaquin!

by GiantFan on Dec 8, 2009 7:52 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

“I have no idea where Velez will end up in the field, but he was much improved (to my eye) last season”

His small sample size UZR in LF was pretty good.

by AmorVincitOmnia on Dec 8, 2009 11:09 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

with his speed, I would think he could make up for a lot of mistakes. He just seems more comfortable, and better on D

by tyrannoman on Dec 8, 2009 11:21 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Definitely.

by AmorVincitOmnia on Dec 8, 2009 11:40 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I’m glad because that’s too much for him, although i guess the Nationals have to overpay somewhat for free-agents.

Proud parent of Waldis Joaquin!

by GiantFan on Dec 8, 2009 1:32 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

although the giants have done basically NOTHING so far this off-season, things are actually looking very good with Penny and Pudge both getting stupid contracts with other teams

"My friend once told me a story about San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum. He said his cousin went out to a bar in San Francisco and saw Lincecum there. He went up to him to give him a handshake.

Lincecum refused. He didn’t want to give him a handshake. He wanted to give him a chest bump."

by Tim LinCyYoung on Dec 8, 2009 1:40 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Thank God

"It ain't over till it's over." - Yogi Berra

by 49er16 on Dec 8, 2009 8:05 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Vagabond

Does anyone else find it sad that Pudge is winding his career down in this manner? Rodriguez is without question among the best five catchers in baseball history, and he’s going out in some bizarre barnstorming tour unbecoming of an all-time great. This will be his fifth team since 2008!

Also, he dipped below .300 for his career just this past September.

by biff pocoroba on Dec 8, 2009 9:03 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Not really, he gets paid $5-6M to play baseball for two years. If he wanted to go out in a more positive manner then he could have done that but he obviously chose not to and he joins a long list of sporting greats to have done so.

Proud parent of Waldis Joaquin!

by GiantFan on Dec 8, 2009 9:08 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

If he hadn’t been pumped so full of steroids, his career would have been over 5 years ago, so no, I don’t feel bad for him.

by KCE on Dec 8, 2009 9:16 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Actually that seems to be the perfect way to wind down a Hall of Fame career; a lot of the greatest players kept playing way past their time, and that’s before players could make 6 %$^#ing million dollars for two years.

by Mrbasepaul on Dec 8, 2009 10:21 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Nah.

It’s not as if they diminish his accomplishments in any way.

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

by Natto on Dec 8, 2009 10:23 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

QUIT SITTING ON UR HSNADS SABES BRASSSSSSS

Brian Sabean strongly encourages you to disregard the drudgery of your employment responsibilities and join him in the consumption of spirituous libations.

by satyricrash on Dec 8, 2009 9:27 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, another dumb contract that we didn’t do

by Mrbasepaul on Dec 8, 2009 10:22 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Ivan would not have been a bad pick up for teams that don’t have Bochy’s addiction to starting veterans but way to go Nationals for Sabeaning that one. 6 Mil over 2 years for him? Wow I can’t see that ending up badly.

by Giant Voodoo on Dec 8, 2009 11:16 AM PST reply actions 0 recs