Bring Over Bobby Crosby?
by Ian Casselberry on Nov 14, 2008 11:00 PM EST
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12 comments
The Detroit Tigers would seemingly love to have Rafael Furcal as their shortstop - and USA Today's Paul White and Mel Antonen agree he'd be "a nice fit" - but he'll likely be too expensive for their 2009 budget. But could Furcal still end up affecting who the Tigers' shortstop will be next season?
If the Oakland Athletics were somehow able to sign Furcal - which would certainly represent a change in approach for Billy Beane and company - their incumbent shortstop, Bobby Crosby, would suddenly be expendable.
Could Crosby thus be a candidate to fill the Tigers' need for a one-year stopgap? He has one more year left on his contract, worth $5.25 million. That's cheaper than Jack Wilson ($7.25 mil) or Khalil Greene ($6.5 mil) would be. He's also younger than either of those guys, as he'll be 29 when next season begins.
Last year, Crosby hit .237/.296/.349, which is pretty much the average for his five-year major league career. His 64 RBIs were his highest total since the 67 he compiled in his Rookie of the Year league season in 2003. Unfortunately, the seven home runs he hit weren't anywhere close to the 22 home runs he smacked as a rookie, and were the lowest total. But compared to the other light-hitting shortstops the Tigers have been eyeing (John McDonald?), Crosby stacks up pretty nicely.
How about defensively? If Revised Zone Rating is your defensive metric of choice, Crosby had the fourth-best in the American League last year. Are you more of a Range Factor person? If so, well... Crosby ranked behind Edgar Renteria.
(Speaking of Renteria, he could also end up influencing this whole scenario, as he's another free agent shortstop the A's are looking at right now.)
Injuries have been a big problem for Crosby over his career, with his ribs, ankle, back, and hamstring all keeping him out at one point or another. But he played in 145 games last year, which was the most since his rookie season. And the Tigers already have Ramon Santiago on hand if/when Crosby were to get dinged up again.
Let's put it to you. Could Crosby be the best shortstop to fit the Tigers' limited needs? Or would you have any concerns about him?
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Bottom of the List
He hits about as poorly as Ramon, is worse defensively and is an injury risk. Unless the A’s are up for absorbing one of our awful contracts or willing to part with him for like…Erick Almonte (why can’t he share time with Santiago by the way?), this doesn’t sound like a hot idea.
by MacRae on Nov 14, 2008 11:44 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Crosby
His VORP the past three years:
2006: -4.1
2007: -6.0
2008: -1.3
Pass. Michael Holloman’s a better option than him.
http://designaterobertson.blogspot.com
by Rogo on Nov 15, 2008 12:20 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
PMR
Crosby ranks favorably there, as well.
by Ian Casselberry on Nov 15, 2008 12:23 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
SS Range
With Inge at 3B full time this year, in theory, our SS isn’t going to have to cover as much ground as Renteria had to last year. I’d prefer a SS with lesser range that can hit his way out of a wet paper bag. Hell, why can’t Carlos Guillen take one for the team and split time at SS with Santiago? Every other day, let him DH and put Sheffield in left. Gary’s happier that way. Maybe he’ll hit if he’s happy. And if Gary gets hurt? Oh, no. Let Joyce, Thames, and Clete get some playing time in LF.
However, I was delighted to see that the media’s favorite SS not named Jeter, Mr. Eckstein, was last on that list. Fun stuff.
http://designaterobertson.blogspot.com
by Rogo on Nov 15, 2008 12:32 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Also...
His glove cost the A’s 7 runs more than an average SS. His fielding rate (similar to OPS+ or ERA+) was 95 for 2008 meaning he was 5 “points” worse than your average SS.
By comparison Renteria cost us 6 runs and was also 5 points worse than the average SS.
by MacRae on Nov 15, 2008 1:52 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Why can't Santiago get any love?
I’m sick of this talk that we need a new SS. Ramon finally got into some games last year. 58 to be exact. He walked in every six at bats, had a .282 AVG and a .870 OPS and he’s a switch hitter. He’s 29, he has good range and he could be our lead off hitter. It drives me nuts that the Tigers think they need to go spend money on another SS when they have a quality one on the roster already. He even had three HR’s in his last five games. Stop looking for a SS and fix the bullpen or go get Randy J or Wood for two years.
by MSU4LIF on Nov 15, 2008 8:36 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Santiago leadoff?
Wow, I hadn’t heard that idea. I wouldn’t cast off the first seven or eight years of his career quite so quickly on the assumption he’s set a new level of performance. The most important thing about Santiago being the Tigers’ SS is the Tigers themselves have said they don’t think he would hold up playing every day.
I don’t know what they’re basing it on, but Santiago’s 2008 screams out to me as one of those seasons where you’d regret assuming that’s what he can do. I believe Joe Posnanski calls this the Gloaden Rule, and it says players like Ross Gload (or Santiago) can look good enough to earn a starting job when they’re getting part time play and in their part time roles they can help your team. But when they actually get a starting role, they can get a manager fired.
Last thought: Can somebody explain to me why Nick Punto’s name hasn’t come up one time? I’m just curious because the Detroit media seems to be throwing every other name at the wall. I think I’d rather have Punto than Wilson, Crosby or Greene.
by mattintoledo on Nov 15, 2008 10:02 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Honestly
I just threw up in my mouth a little.
by seanheyboer on Nov 15, 2008 10:42 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
I still like Punto better than the guys who would cost the Tigers more money and players to acquire such as Wilson, Crosby and Greene but I probably should have done my homework before I suggested him as a solution. It turns out his Marcels projection for next year is the same .648 OPS they’re predicting for Santiago.
Of course, neither of those other three are expected to do much better than a .700 OPS and like I said, they’d cost more money and a prospect (of limited worth, admittedly).
by mattintoledo on Nov 15, 2008 11:54 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Crosby's range
Crosby is one of those players on which the range numbers disagree. PMR ranks him well but Fielding Bible +/- puts him near the bottom. Revised Zone Rating does not favor him either. Usually if someone is an outstanding fielder, he’ll do well on all systems. Anyway, I don’t think he’d be a good pickup for the Tigers.
by LPanas on Nov 15, 2008 1:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Bobby Crosby
The Edgar Renteria Experiment failed…. again. I don’t know why any more teams will try their luck and another 30 million dollars for Renteria. Crosby is a nice fit though.
The Trade-Maker
by dasox313 on Nov 15, 2008 3:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
It's Santiago's time!
I am new here so hello.
This has been driving me crazy for weeks. With all the rumors sorrounding this team’s need to cut payroll and glaring needs on the pitching side I believe are focus here should be on filling SS internally. I like Santiago more than most and I believe having him and Inge on the left side of the infield will help our pitching staff out tremendously. DD thinks Cale Lorg is a stud so we shouldn’t clog the line with a bloated contract guy. Our offense can survive with solid performances coming out of the first 6 batters. If we can get great defense and sub-par offense out of Inge and Santiago hitting 8-9 that is fine with me. Crosby, Greene, Lugo all represent expensive downgrades in defense for only minimal improvement offensively. That to me would be crazy esspecially since none of them would be hitting outside of the bottom third of the line-up anyway. Give it to Santiago and if Lorg is exploding in the minors he can be brought up mid-season. Otherwise, the position is still there for him in ’10.
by tigerfaninChicago on Nov 17, 2008 11:48 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
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