Tigers should try to sign Roy Oswalt
by Kurt Mensching on Dec 21, 2011 10:44 AM EST
in Detroit Tigers Analysis
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PrintThe best-kept secret of this offseason seemed to be that Roy Oswalt was going to be a free agent. Sure, there were some procedural moves that had to happen first. But the Philadelphia Phillies were not going to pay him the $16 million or so he would cost to keep around in 2012. He was going to be available for the right team.
Of course, it's important to remember that Roy Oswalt would be available for one key reason: A recurring back injury caused retirement fears in June. According to CSN Philadelphia, Oswalt had been getting cortisone shots for years for degenerative disc issues. At $16 million, that was too big a risk for the Phillies to take.
Fortunately, Oswalt did return in 2011, and he did so at a pretty high quality. His xFIP for August was 3.78 and he improved to 3.58 in September. His FIP (2.58 Aug, 3.27 Sept.) and ERA (3.71, 3.51) were better both months, and FIP is probably a better measure here when you consider career tendencies. So it's safe to say, when healthy, he's going to be pretty valuable to a team.
Oswalt was thought to want a 2 or 3 year deal until Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com tweeted that Oswalt was willing to take a one-year deal. The thought is, Oswalt would like to prove he's healthy and get one nice multi-year deal out of it before retirement. (Maybe part of the great disappearing Oswalt story is that ESPN.com itself doesn't even have a story on this.)
So why bring the Tigers into this?
It feels like the kind of move Detroit needs to make. I don't think anyone is going to sit here and debate that Oswalt can be a valuable contributor in the rotation. Some have mentioned that Detroit needs a left-hander, but I would argue that Detroit doesn't need a left-hander. Especially if they had a pitcher of Oswalt's quality whose splits are nearly equally good no matter the side of the plate the batter stands (career OPS against of.680 vs. RHB, .694 vs LHB)
People may also get into the mind set that the Tigers only need a back of the rotation starter. This always causes me confusion. I thought the goal of baseball was to score as many runs as you can, and limit opposing teams from scoring as many runs as they can. Me, I'd be perfectly happy with a rotation of five aces. Short of that, give me the five best pitchers you can feasibly sign. You set out to sign a No. 5 pitcher, you just end up complaining that he pitches like a No. 5 pitcher all season.
If Oswalt is available and fits the 2012 budget, you try to sign him. If he's not interested, that's fine. If you're not interested, I'm confused.
But like every deal, you can't judge just by the player. You have to judge by whether it fits into your plans and budget. In this case, Oswalt is looking for a one-year deal. That should fit into the plans just fine if you want to give your pitching prospects a little more time to develop. Working in tandem, if you're afraid of signing Oswalt and losing him to injury, you've still got those prospects to fall back on.
What about using the money on position players? There's only one possibility for the Tigers that will cost money, and that's Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes. As many of you know, the Tigers might need upgrades at second and third bases, but the chances of that happening are not that high. For one, the free agent market is now so bad it's out of the question. The Tigers would need to make a trade to bring in a quality infielder, and the infielders people would like to receive are generally going to cost at least one or two top prospects -- maybe even Jacob Turner. Which takes us back to that "need a pitcher" thing. If they can upgrade without giving up too much, kudos on a job well done.
After spending just $4.5 million on free agents so far this year, the Tigers ought to have some wriggle room to fit Oswalt into the budget -- unless they are absolutely certain they can sign Cespedes, anyway, and then it gets a bit fuzzy. Plus, there's no guarantee Cespedes will be a big upgrade either.
Ron Neyer of SB Nation's Baseball Nation wrote:
With a one-year deal, there's relatively little risk involved. And more to the point, there are good reasons to think Oswalt can still pitch. While his record and his (3.69) ERA were nothing special, and his strikeout rate was the lowest of his career, Oswalt's walk and home-run rates were right in line with his career marks. Also, he pushed his strikeouts up after returning to the rotation in August after a six-week absence.
It's possible that Oswalt will never again show his Hall of Fame-caliber talents for more than a few weeks at a time. But if he passes the physical, he'll probably be worth whatever it takes to get him this winter.
Oswalt just might be the best remaining upgrade the Tigers can make this offseason. I'd love to see them do it.
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You set out to sign a No. 5 pitcher, you just end up complaining that he pitches like a No. 5 pitcher all season.
This…a thousand times this.
People bitch about how horrible Penny was last year (and for the most part he was), then say that we need to only sign a #5 starter…well what the hell do they think Penny was?
Oswalt as a #2/3 moves those behind him down one slot…. Scherzer would be the best #4 starter in the league, and Porcello would be the best #5. Add in having the best #1 and you have the makings of one hell of a rotation.
The only possible concern that I would see is that he has only pitched in the NL and wonder if his numbers would translate as well to the AL. But even a bit of regression from his NL numbers puts him as a pretty darn good pitcher.
by wilsonm24 on Dec 21, 2011 11:01 AM EST reply actions 2 recs
Penny had the worst ERA amongst pitchers who qualified for the leaderboards
last season, there was cause for complaints. If his ERA was half a run lower or he showed some form of bad luck last year, I would agree. However Penny was beyond bad for even a #5.
Disagree
His ERA was not good but for a #5 to get 11 wins and eat up close to 200 innings is something that most teams didnt have, let alone the Tigers in previous years. Its not even so much how he pitched as what he did to not have to bring up pitchers that were not even close to being ready for the majors. Was not pretty to say the least but he did what he was called on to do.
President of the "Bring back Neifi Perez" fan club.
You're right
Because your #5 pitcher should have the ERA of a #3…
ERA is also a very good judge of how well a pitcher pitched…
Or neither of those is true and Penny was what he was, a #5 pitcher who everyone bitched about because he pitched like a #5 pitcher.
Wouldn't it be nice to have Rick in the five slot?
"You, on the other hand, make Eeyore look like Rainbow Brite." -johnmoz
"I think of you more as the blue book style essay of sports journalism."-Kurt Mensching
Contributor, Bless You Boys
by David Tokarz on Dec 21, 2011 7:10 PM EST up reply actions
I think that is where he honestly needs to be right now
Takes a little pressure off him, might allow him to work and experiment a little more with his pitches.
i agree as well
that’s why i’ve never thought, as others have said also, we need a “5th” starter as much as a “good” one. quotation marks are “fun”.
by atlantatiger on Dec 22, 2011 10:05 AM EST up reply actions
I don't think it's where he NEEDS to be, but I'd like him as our #5
He’s a heck of a #5.
As for working on things and feeling pressure, I doubt this. A baseball game is a baseball game. Outside of the first week or two of the season, you’re pretty likely to match up with the other team’s #1 or 2, so I don’t think the pressure is substantially less. It’s still a lineup full of big league hitters.
The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love. ~Bryant Gumbel, 1981
I always liked him.
It would be great to see him in Detroit on a one year deal. Our starting rotation would practically unstoppable nest year. Verlander, Fister, Oswalt, Scherzer, and Porcello, with Turner in Toledo as insurance. I’m not really sure how much you would have to shell out on him for just one year, but 13 million should be able to do it. The thing that really hurts his value on a one year deal is the draft pick that comes with his price tag. Most teams wouldn’t want to give up first-rounders on deals that just bring a player for one season.
Does it matter?
Sign him anyway. We’ll just have one less reliever in the farm system next season.
by Rob Rogacki on Dec 21, 2011 11:15 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs
Don't you mean that the Nationals will have one less reliever three years from now?
"You, on the other hand, make Eeyore look like Rainbow Brite." -johnmoz
"I think of you more as the blue book style essay of sports journalism."-Kurt Mensching
Contributor, Bless You Boys
by David Tokarz on Dec 21, 2011 7:10 PM EST up reply actions
Didn't realize that.
I just figured he would have been offered arbitration. I guess that is how Philly got all that money too burn on Papelbon.
Unless we sign Schlereth to a 12 year contract
I think it’s safe to say that our offseason will be better than Philly’s.
by Rob Rogacki on Dec 21, 2011 11:43 AM EST via Android app up reply actions 1 recs
Ruben Amaro Jr. has come to embody every complaint I used to have
about DD, but worse. The Ryan Howard extension a few years back makes the Willis and Guillen extensions look like chump change.
Oswalt is a perfect fit for this team
If he pitches well, our prospects develop and the BYB contingent is happy. MLive? Not so much, but trolls don’t have feelings anyway. If he pitches poorly, we have some bum named Jacob Turner ready to take over at any point. If I’m DD, I make signing Oswalt to a one-year deal my top priority.
Yes
The #5 slot without Brad Penny was a dumpster fire last season, because we tried the exact same “Oh, it’ll be OK if we send out AAA prospects and long relievers in spot starts” crap that we’re otherwise going to pull again if nothing changes. For all that I hated watching Penny, we at least played .500 ball behind him and that’s perfectly acceptable for every fifth start.
The Tigers left games on the table last year — in aggregate — not because of their offense but because of the back of the rotation and middle relief.1 I like Oswalt a lot to address the first of those concerns, and Dotel (and a full year of Coke in the pen) start to address the bullpen woes.3 Fix those issues, then we can start worrying about 2B/3B/LF.2
As I said elsewhere, replace bad players with decent players before replacing decent players with great players. Signing Oswalt is replacing a basically non-existent player with a potentially very good player, seems like a no-brainer to me.
1 Also defense, but upgrading that is a bitch without affecting offense
2 And call me crazy, but I think it’s worth rolling the dice on Delmon for another season. How quickly we forget his five postseason HRs…
3 Woes named Schlereth, Perry, Purcey and Thomas, for the most part. Can’t believe we rolled those guys out for more than 115 innings of work and still made the ALCS.
"Virtually all tactical ploys—the sacrifice bunt, the stolen base, the hit-and-run—operate on average to reduce run scoring." -- Eric Walker
by johnmoz on Dec 21, 2011 11:36 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
You're crazy on Delmon
He can’t field. He can hit occasionally. He’s bad at baseball.
"You, on the other hand, make Eeyore look like Rainbow Brite." -johnmoz
"I think of you more as the blue book style essay of sports journalism."-Kurt Mensching
Contributor, Bless You Boys
by David Tokarz on Dec 21, 2011 7:12 PM EST up reply actions
Absolutely
His value is hot right now, best find a willing sucker to take him on.
What’s Brian Cashman’s number?
by metatron5369 on Dec 21, 2011 10:12 PM EST up reply actions
You wouldn't call his value hot if you read more than 10 posts on BYB
Everyone is making Delmon Young sound like the second coming of Wendell Magee.
The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love. ~Bryant Gumbel, 1981
, I’m not a huge fan but to say he is terrible is a bit extreme. If he hits ill live with his bad d, I just hope the contract year leads to offensive production. He runs extremely funny I will give u that.
by syper17 on Dec 22, 2011 12:11 AM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
2010
.298/.333/.493/.826 in 153 games. (.352 wOBA)
Somebody (Baroque?) said on Twitter that Delmon reminded her of the smart student who never had to try very hard so he never learned to study until it was too late. He got through to MLB on raw athletic talent. I think he’s still a prospect in many ways, in the sense that the things he needs to get better at are primarily things that can be taught, instead of inherent failings. You know, not swinging at the first pitch. Keeping his tongue in his mouth. That kind of thing.
That said, yes, his career -11 UZR/150 is painful. He might be better suited to right than left at Comerica.
"Virtually all tactical ploys—the sacrifice bunt, the stolen base, the hit-and-run—operate on average to reduce run scoring." -- Eric Walker
Watch David call 2010 a small sample size
or his favorite new word: “anomaly,” which means “small sample size for a sample too big to be a small sample size.”
by Rob Rogacki on Dec 23, 2011 11:07 AM EST up reply actions
Yeah, because one fluky year clearly proves he's got the talent
Young had a career year in which he struck out at a significantly lower pace than he’s ever struck out at before. His K rate jumped 4% last year, and his ISO dropped .025 points.
Oh, and in 2010 he was worth less than 2 wins. I get that people knock WAR for being too defense dependent, but even his surface level numbers (OBP, SLG) weren’t particularly impressive. And we’re trying to contend this year- so we’re supposed to take a risk on a guy who might rebound to become a pretty okay outfielder who can’t get on base in the 3 hole?
"You, on the other hand, make Eeyore look like Rainbow Brite." -johnmoz
"I think of you more as the blue book style essay of sports journalism."-Kurt Mensching
Contributor, Bless You Boys
by David Tokarz on Dec 23, 2011 11:48 PM EST up reply actions
So... basically what I just said that you would say
by Rob Rogacki on Dec 24, 2011 12:42 PM EST up reply actions
Thank you
"You, on the other hand, make Eeyore look like Rainbow Brite." -johnmoz
"I think of you more as the blue book style essay of sports journalism."-Kurt Mensching
Contributor, Bless You Boys
by David Tokarz on Dec 24, 2011 2:08 PM EST up reply actions
We don't know if he's wrong yet
If Delmon repeats his 2010 season in 2012, then yes, he is wrong.
And can we stop comparing him to every #3 hitter in the league? We can’t control where Leyland puts him in the lineup. Conventional wisdom says that Cabrera should be hitting 3rd, but he’s not. That’s out of our control. If Delmon were hitting 6th or 7th, there would be a lot less bitching about his spot on this roster.
Delmon Young was one of the best prospects 5 years ago.
So I don’t get how it’s a fluke that he lived up to his potential for a single season in 2010. I expect him to hit like that or better every year. His BABIP in 2010 (.312) didn’t spike either, so I thought that season was just a forecast of better things to come. His regression in the first half of 2011 was the fluke IMO.
by Keith-Allen on Dec 27, 2011 10:42 AM EST up reply actions
16 Type A free agents
13 were offered arbitration (not Oswalt, Saito, or Beltran)
3 of those accepted (Frankie Rodriguez, Ortiz, and Kelly Johnson)
10 declined and their clubs will be compensated if they sign elsewhere
Under new CBA agreement 8 players would have required compensation if they were offered and signed elsewhere. Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder, Jonathan Papelbon, Roy Oswalt, Jose Reyes, Jimmy Rollins C.J. Wilson, and David Ortiz
Five players fit that description: Rollins, Papelbon, Reyes, Pujols, Wilson, and Fielder.
Rollins signed with his old club
Papelbon had signed before the CBA was announced, so Philly gives up a pick
Reyes signed with Fla, Wilson and Pujols with LAA, and that leaves just Fielder.
"King of Minutiae"
One year signing philosophy should also focus on others
Brad Penny’s stats should take into account that he was in fact the #4 man in the rotation during the Coke experiment. The accumulated stats of our #5 starters including Penny is not a pretty picture.
Have always liked Oswalt but wonder if the one year rent a player with injury history is worth the money. Not advocating it but Edwin Jackson, if still available, might fill a #5 need or other FAs who would fill the bill for one year and at least pitch .500 ball
Edwin
still needs to play for a couple more teams before coming full circle.
Baseball: It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart.
by House by the Side of the Road on Dec 21, 2011 12:34 PM EST up reply actions
Edwin
must feel like his baseball career is like a joint at a fraternity party.
6 so far.
"You, on the other hand, make Eeyore look like Rainbow Brite." -johnmoz
"I think of you more as the blue book style essay of sports journalism."-Kurt Mensching
Contributor, Bless You Boys
by David Tokarz on Dec 21, 2011 7:12 PM EST up reply actions
Sign Oswalt to an incentive Laden Contract
I say sign him, if hes awesome…great, if he bombs….call up turner
Need to make a push for world series and this fits the bill.
Could still sign Yespedes and Trade for Prado. Depending on the packages/bids.
..
by JasonsLoveTigers on Dec 21, 2011 12:15 PM EST reply actions
I like this Yespedes thing
It’s like a cross between his two names, or campaign slogan. Just say YESpedes!
The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love. ~Bryant Gumbel, 1981
Yes Please
Sign him now! Oswalt on a one-year deal is perfect. If he is mediocre, we let him walk and Turner fills his spot in 2013. If is injured, Turner jumps in in 2012. If he is great, we run away with the Central, then offer him arb and get a draft pick for him.
As far as free agent signings go, it’s a perfect fit.
I had tigerblood in my veins long before Charlie Sheen went crazy.
Go Tigers!
By the way, I am greatly comforted . . .
. . . given the Tigers needs at 2B and 3B, that the Royals have already signed Yunieski Betancourt to play those positions. I was worried about coming down to spring training and finding Betancourt still available . . .
Dombrowski has a crush on Yoenis
He has been watching this kid’s career from the start and my guess is he wont do anything big until the Cespedes deal shakes itself out. If the Tigers acquire him after a bidding war with the Yanks and/or Marlins there may not be $12-$14 million in the budget for a top shelf starter like Oswalt. If he loses & can’t get a Cespedes deal done than Oswalt makes even more sense. Best case dream scenario is that he gets them both and then deals Delmon to the Angels for a top of the order infielder. I hate waiting around for MLB to declare this kid a free agent so we can get on with it though…
Cespedes shouldn't affect Detroit's ability to sign Oswalt for a year
I would think Ilitch would sign for any budget south of 130M. We can easily sign both players and still be under for 2012. The nice thing about Oswalt is that he wouldn’t affect the 2013 budget, which might start getting expensive via arbitration.
The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love. ~Bryant Gumbel, 1981
Oswalt fastball was down to 91.7 MPH last year
Is he on the decline? 3.65 ERA in the National League is over 4 with a DH.
Also, MLB trade rumors said the Tigers are on a tight budget, I would like to see the Cuban if its one or other. We have been hearing that Turner is a top of the rotation star in the making for years now. I don’t want to see a big contract of a guy in decline mess it up. It seems Turner rumors have him traded daily.
"Always 1984"
Just say no Dave!
Yes, the Turner rumors are troubling… I really hope we hang onto him. The reality is this club doesn’t have much in the way of young starts in the minors, and if we lose Turner we are looking at some very rough years 4 years from now. We cannot afford to trade any more blue chip youngsters away.
I had tigerblood in my veins long before Charlie Sheen went crazy.
Go Tigers!
AL team ERA was 4.08, NL was 3.81
So, I guess you could say that’s the difference due to the DH
Unless you believe that pitching is vastly superior in one league
"King of Minutiae"
Maybe you sign a guy like Oswalt as insurance, but at what price?
I think the Tigers are really hoping one of the prospects steps forward for that 5th starter slot. There are at least four of them that MIGHT be ready by April, or at least July. I would not think they would spend a lot of money on a possible middle-of-the-rotation starter, even one past his prime, just for insurance purposes.
And I think DD made a similar point when referring to Buehrle a couple of weeks ago.
by knucklescarbone on Dec 21, 2011 1:46 PM EST reply actions
Actually 5 possibilities, if you want to throw Below into the mix.
At a minimum he could probably hold down the fort if Turner or one of the other guys needs another month or two of seasoning.
by knucklescarbone on Dec 21, 2011 1:58 PM EST up reply actions
This offseason is taking on something of a tantric feel...
So yes, please sign him. I need a move or I’m going to burst.
Tantric?
Either you misunderstand the word, or I do, or this ahs been an even stranger offseason than I thought.
A slightly different, albeit related application.
You have think a little more dirty…so if you are easily offended then just trust me.
I bet cosmo would have something on it.
A macho guy like myself doesn't read cosmo . . .
. . . and I do understand what you are saying although I was understandably slow to leap to the conclusion that was what you meant. But I guess you are having a stranger offseason than i thought.
I don't read cosmo either
but supposedly they provide lots of good information on such matters. Men’s Health?
Regardless, this off season has been a big tease so far and I’m ready for the payoff.
Back in my day
They called that a “Happy Ending”
Justin can now let the fungus grow back on his shower shoes.
Isn't this the same guy....
who just two years ago, said he would use his no trade clause so he wouldn’t have to come to detroit? i’ll pass
Like the article stats
If he fits the budget, go for it. You could also call Kuroda too. The asking for GG sounds like it is coming down.
I'd much rather spend 12M for 1 year of Oswalt
than Turner, Castellanos, plus for 3 or 4 years of GG.
The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love. ~Bryant Gumbel, 1981
I'd agree with that even if it doesn't take both Turner and Castellanos
but it’s easy to spend someone else’s money.
I wouldn't sign this guy right now.
All other things being equal, he would be a good addition, but he isn’t our primary need.
Patience is important when you are wheeling and dealing. Wait a bit and (1) he might be cheaper, given his post-injury situation, (2) someone else, like Kuroda, might be cheaper, (3) we might have an opportunity to make a deal for someone we need more, like an infielder, or Cespedes.
I will be disappointed if they just stand pat until the season starts. But, I would rather be disappointed that way than have them make the wrong deal.
This could a nice one year deal for a GM that wants to stockpile draft picks
Sign Oswalt, have him pitch his one year, then “offer him a guaranteed one-year contract with a salary equal to the average salary of the 125 highest-paid players from the prior season”. Just hope that he declines.
That will only work if he actually has a good year
At which point signing him was already a good investment. If Oswalt only has a mediocre year, though, a GM probably won’t have the confidence to offer the $12-13M contract it would take to secure a sandwich pick.
I'd love to see this happen
but I feel the Tigers are done. They need a whole lot more, but I feel save for some low level relief pitching, we will not see any more moves…
Country Strong
I would love to have Oswalt on our roster
Even if he gets injured, and plays part of the season, as long as we don’t break the bank to get him, he’ll make a good stop-gap for Turner, or whomever we can grab before the trade deadline.
According to MLB Trade Rumors, doesn’t look like Detroit is in on him. DD’s inactivity on many fronts is starting to make me nervous.
DD is always inactive
Right before he jumps.
"You, on the other hand, make Eeyore look like Rainbow Brite." -johnmoz
"I think of you more as the blue book style essay of sports journalism."-Kurt Mensching
Contributor, Bless You Boys
by David Tokarz on Dec 21, 2011 7:13 PM EST up reply actions
Off a bridge?
"trout jefferson is using multiple numbers and no swears. I barely recognize you man." - Kurt Mensching
by Trout Jefferson on Dec 21, 2011 8:58 PM EST up reply actions
No
… into the striped shirt sales department at Kohl’s.
by H2OPoloPunk on Dec 21, 2011 11:09 PM EST up reply actions
He feels that the sales aren't good enough
He waits for the extra 20% off coupon to come in the mail.
Like a Tiger . . .
. . . lurking in the weeds waiting to pounce . .
Eh
Dave Dombrowski plays ’em close to the vest.
He must make a killing at the MGM Grand, because he’s a stone cold operator.
by metatron5369 on Dec 21, 2011 10:14 PM EST up reply actions
Still would trade for Gio
Oswalt okay but at 13mil???? Get Gio for Turner and whoever else. The Tigers need a left handed starter..period. Gio did pitch well and that was with a weak hitting team. Look what Fister has done here with some offense behind him. I’m not liking that the Tigers have NOT improved their offense yet. The huge holes at 2b,3b, and leadoff are too glaring not to be addressed, but anybody worth mentioning is now off the table. Nobody wins with 5 rightys as starters and 2 very mediorce leftys in BP.
you really don't NEED a lefty starter
No longer the Founder, President and CEO of the Ryan Raburn Fan Club
To find a team with a successful 5 RHP rotation, you have to go all the way back to the 2011 Tigers.
And that was, like, a billion years ago.
by lesmanalim on Dec 22, 2011 2:29 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
Bunch of scrubs too
"You, on the other hand, make Eeyore look like Rainbow Brite." -johnmoz
"I think of you more as the blue book style essay of sports journalism."-Kurt Mensching
Contributor, Bless You Boys
by David Tokarz on Dec 22, 2011 3:51 PM EST up reply actions
Reducing the number of runs scored against...
Helps just as much as scoring more runs. The difference between, for example, Oswalt and Penny is probably better than the difference between Ryamon Santiaburn(see what I did there?) and the lusted-for Prado. I’m writing this on my phone or I’d do some actual number crunching.
by SweetLouDoubleU on Dec 22, 2011 6:46 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I think I'd take Raburn/Santiago over Prado
Third base needs the big improvement.
"You, on the other hand, make Eeyore look like Rainbow Brite." -johnmoz
"I think of you more as the blue book style essay of sports journalism."-Kurt Mensching
Contributor, Bless You Boys
by David Tokarz on Dec 23, 2011 11:49 PM EST up reply actions
I agree, but remind me-
could prado play at 3rd? I mean, I know he can play third, but would we want him to? I know he isn’t my first choice there, but he’s roughly 93 choices ahead of Inge/Kelly. And I don’t hate those guys, I promise.
by atlantatiger on Dec 24, 2011 1:30 AM EST up reply actions
He could, potentially
So I’d take him there.
"You, on the other hand, make Eeyore look like Rainbow Brite." -johnmoz
"I think of you more as the blue book style essay of sports journalism."-Kurt Mensching
Contributor, Bless You Boys
by David Tokarz on Dec 24, 2011 2:09 PM EST up reply actions
Gio is going to the Nats.
Fine with me.
Hey, here’s an idea (probably a bad one, but an idea nonetheless)—
Pick the best/readiest combination of a lefty and righty prospect. Say Turner and Crosby, or Oliver. Use them in combination as the 5th starter for the first month or two, with each pitching no more than 4 innings to start and the other coming in in the 5th (or earlier, as need be). Probably eventually one of them takes charge of the role and the other one can be either sent back down or kept up for another role. You would have to clear an extra spot on the roster, probably one of the reliever spots (I think we all could live without Schlereth on the opening day roster, for instance).
Anyway, just a thought.
by knucklescarbone on Dec 22, 2011 7:35 PM EST up reply actions
And I was thinking you could either
alternate them in that role, with one starting every 10th game but
assured of a 5th inning “start” in the other 5th game, or use them based on team matchups, with the lefty starting against lefty-heavy lineups and the righty facing rigthty-dominant orders.
Could work, or could be a disaster ready to happen. I do not think I have seen anyone do this, probably for good reasons.
by knucklescarbone on Dec 22, 2011 7:42 PM EST up reply actions
Sounds like a good way to make a guy press too hard to impress
Leyland typically likes his young pitchers to know their role on the team. If they’re up for one or two starts,he tells them. If they’re up for a legit audition (like Below and/or Oliver last year), he gives them at least two or three starts so that they’re not pitching on eggshells.
I think it’s all moot because we’ll sign somebody and the first time we’ll see a kid is when they need a starter because of injury. However, if we did want to give the kids a chance, I’d say you hand somebody the job out of spring training and stick with them for at least 4 or 5 starts before evaluating whether or not a change is in order.
The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love. ~Bryant Gumbel, 1981
After seeing the price tag for Latos and Gio,
I could get on board with this idea.
"What's a dazzling urbanite like you doing in a rustic setting like this?" the Waco Kid
by 77bestrookieclassever on Dec 22, 2011 9:20 PM EST up reply actions
OSWALT IN DETRIOT
33-35 are a pitchers preium drop off years. Holding on with moxy. Rodgers did it for a yr. Oswalt is a dangerous gamble because his back is very brittle. Too give him 6m for a year is wasteful. Why is he only looking for a yr deal? To go all out. Sucker some club into signing him for 3 yrs at 50 million, then suck and retire with loads of money. They should pay the clubs money to play for them! Why isnt philly signing him if hes such a big deal. Because they know hes injury prown. Hes not a good risk. Detriot [richard] around during the winter and now its down to whos a better gamble to lead us back to the promise land.
Is cabera so wonderful as a first basemen that we cant use fielder at first and move cabera TO THIRD. Is jv so infalable that we cant get 3 good pitchers for him before its found out that hes really overated and sucks because of watered down talent in the american league! Like Kennedy AND kruchev There were so many diffent ways to alreasdy fix this ongoing problem without going to nuclear threats.. Detriot you have zero marquis players.. You have 3 positions that need filling by pros who can handle a 162 game schedule both fielding and with the bat! We need 2 more starting pitchers who can post better than 4.49 era,s. This cuban guy isnt even a citizen of the u.s. Manny is his hero so why are you challengeing for rights on him. There was only one clemente/cepada/marichial/alou/concepcione/. Who are you figuring him out to be? Reality folks. Right nOw . In hand, what do you do drumbowsky?
Since youve stalled on everything else you take a 100 rbi man who hits 35-40 hrs and bats .275 thats what you do if you dont want any quality pitchers . So you get some more offense. What type of money does Fielder,s agent ask for and over how many tears!
This guy can hit and field. Talk about crowds coming to the park now to see our line up hit! HOLY COW! Drop jackson to 9th. period hes not good enough to lead off. Santiago 8th. bosech-young—cabera—martinez-fielder-paraltra-avila—santiago-jackson!
NOT BAD EHEY?
by markrenner@bellsouth.net on Dec 26, 2011 9:11 PM EST reply actions
If by "NOT BAD EHEY?"
you meant your imitation of an MLive commenter, then not bad at all.
Otherwise, no.
"Some guy told me I should walk with the Lord. I'd rather walk with the bases loaded" Ken Singleton
Here's my favorite line:
There was only one clemente/cepada/marichial/alou/concepcione/.
The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love. ~Bryant Gumbel, 1981
What do Kennedy and Khruschev have to do with baseball?
"You, on the other hand, make Eeyore look like Rainbow Brite." -johnmoz
"I think of you more as the blue book style essay of sports journalism."-Kurt Mensching
Contributor, Bless You Boys
by David Tokarz on Dec 30, 2011 1:49 PM EST up reply actions
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