Utility Man?
by TNCardsFan on Feb 27, 2009 12:09 PM EST
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PrintWhat does everybody think about the idea of seeing how cheap we could get Nomar Garciaparra for a utility guy?
That seems like a pretty good replacement to Miles and he can play all four infield positions.
Just saw where he's pondering retirement, so he might be pretty affordable.
He finished strong last September hitting around .400 and he's not terribly old. Seems like he would be a good candidate to back up first and 2nd especially and maybe start the season at 3B.
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Meh
Freese will probably do just as well. If Nomar could play second, then yes, but I don’t think that he has ever played there.
vivaelbeñsheets
by vivaelpujols on Feb 27, 2009 12:41 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
but anybody can play second
/played out, mandatory response
How depressing is it being you? Is it closer to being a lifelong cubs fan or being born without lips? - Janitor
by themanthemyth on Feb 27, 2009 1:08 PM EST up reply actions
Hasn't Nomar said he's either
going to sign with the A’s or retire?
I read that somewhere, but I can’t remember exactly…
Patiently awaiting the day Colby Rasmus does this: .275/.381/.551/.932, 29HR, in St. Louis...
Nomar
I heard he had some early discussions with the Phillies, but Nomar would like to stay in California. Oakland is the most likely place for him to end up. He can DH with the A’s.
"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray
If he wants to stay even closer
to his hometown of LA, he could be a utility guy for the Los Angeles Anaheim Angels of Anaheim and Los Angeles.
Patiently awaiting the day Colby Rasmus does this: .275/.381/.551/.932, 29HR, in St. Louis...
by RunninRedbird on Feb 27, 2009 2:26 PM EST up reply actions
Yes he did
reportedly , and even if he hasn’t, why would anyone want someone who hasn’t missed less than 40 games in 6 seasons?
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
and....BEN SHEETS!!! **
**not that BEN SHEETS might be involved in this comment, just BEN SHEETS!!!
(BEN SHEETS might be involved in this comment)
Its a shame he was injured so much of his career...
probably would have been up for HOF consideration with a few more healthy years.
Chuck Norris bows to no man...but he does bow to The Mang.
What about trading...
…for Mark Teahen of the Royals? He can play both corner infield and outfield spots adequately. He’s working out at second base this spring, a la Mather/Schumaker. He came up as a 3rd Baseman. It could be interesting if we could get him on the cheap. Course, I don’t think he’d be available for as cheaply as we’d want to pick him up…so maybe the idea is moot.
Adequate?
I don’t think that he’s adequate at any of those positions. According to UZR, he’s a well below average third baseman and a below average corner outfielder. He’s entering arbitration and I think Mather could probably put up better offensive and defensive numbers while playing the same positions. I’d rather go for the guy who’s already with the org and essentially free than trade for a guy with a minimum amount of upside.
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
Improvement
In 2005, Teahen was maybe the worst third baseman alive. He had a UZR of nearly -16. The next season, however, he pulled it together and improved to a 1.5 UZR. Then, the Royals moved him to the OF. His first year there he had a 9.5 UZR total. Last year, they moved him around a bit (LF, RF, 1B, 3B) and he was below average in RF and at 3B, but the two new positions (1B/LF) he was able to be above average. Being moved around so much does not help the comfort levels.
Counterpoint
Teahen has improved when he gets playing time at those different positions, but Joe Mather has shown he can handle each of those positions (except third base, which he’s auditioning for this spring), and be an above average defender in both corner outfield spots. He also put up a wOBA similar to Teahen’s in 2008, despite it being his first taste of big league pitching. He’s younger, cheaper, cost-controlled longer, and already on the Cardinal 40-man roster, so we don’t have to give up anything for him.
Why would we trade for a player who plays the same positions, is older, has fewer cost-controlled years left, is more expensive this season, costs us a player, and essentially doesn’t give us anything that we don’t already have? We have a slew of left-handed hitting outfielders, a left handed hitting third base prospect, and two players who profile to be just as good as Teahen at a lower cost.
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
I agree...
That’s why I said “Course, I don’t think he’d be available for as cheaply as we’d want to pick him up…so maybe the idea is moot” in my original post…just thought I’d throw that idea out there.
What I'm saying is
even if we could pick him up for league minimum, why would we want to do that? We have players currently on the roster with more upside then Teahen gives us at the positions that he plays. It’s like trading for a known commodity just because you’re not sure what you’re going to get from the people you already have. He would be the ultimate “safe bet”.
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
Nomar would not be cheap
At least, not how cheap the Cardinals would like him to be. He’d be an okay utility guy, but I’d rather see someone like a Spiezio kind of guy. I’m surprised the Cards haven’t tried to reunite with Mark Grudzielanek.
Welcome to Baseball Heaven.
BEN SHEETS
damnit!! i think have that Ben Sheets turrets syndrome
BEN MOTHERHUSHYOURMOUTH SHEETS
ManRam
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
does that mean
you want to be in a tower with Ben Sheets?
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
and....BEN SHEETS!!! **
**not that BEN SHEETS might be involved in this comment, just BEN SHEETS!!!
(BEN SHEETS might be involved in this comment)
by mattyfrommo on Feb 27, 2009 11:36 PM EST up reply actions
a tower of luv
mother of ass i shouldn’t try to be clever when i’m sober
BEN MOTHERHUSHYOURMOUTH SHEETS
ManRam
I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson AND THAT'S A WINNER!
Nomar
can’t field in the MI anymore; he’s basically a corner infielder with injury problems, probably wouldn’t want to play for us and would cost several million. It’s a non-starter IMO. The A’s are probably his best fit, they need a Spezio-type. We’ve got Mather, Freese, Craig, Barden, etc etc, we really don’t need anyone like that.
Because chicks dig the intentional base on balls.
used to play basketball
against a guy named Semaj. I’ve always liked that name.
hecanthithecanthithecanthithecanthit
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