Gather the wood. . .time to fire up the Stove!!

[metirish]

From what I read the ChiSox were more than happy with Iguchi's defence and the only thing they needed to work on was the double-play ball, certainly he looked good in the play-offs.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I don't agree that defense is a constant.

Defense is more challenging at lesser levels. Standards are lower, fields are poorer, players are fielding more poor throws, and throwing to poorer receivers. Pitchers are bouncing more balls. Runners pursued by fielders are perhaps younger and more athletic in the minors, but maybe less foxy.

Hits are sharper in the bigs. Overspin is more biting. Bad hops are more crippling. Infielders have to play deeper and throw farther.

A guy who was considered a good defender in a lesser league may well still have some growing to do at the big-league level.

[smg58]

With the Mets being reportedly interested in everybody else, why has nobody (meaning the rumor mill, not CPF) mentioned Brian Giles? He's a better fielder than Manny, gets on more often (which the Mets really need), wouldn't force Floyd to move to right, would cost less money and wouldn't cost us any players, and the power difference wouldn't be nearly as dramatic as it looks if you put both Giles and Manny in Shea. If the Yankees can show serious interest in him as a centerfielder, which would be very risky, why can't the Mets show interest in him for right?

[Guest sharpie]

There was a buncha talk here about Giles a couple of weeks ago.

[metirish]

Would Giles be a significant upgrade over Diaz in RF, I think not,infact I will say that Diaz hits more home runs and has more rbi than Giles next season.

[Elster88]

Now, now, none of that.

BA/OBP/SLG/OPS

Giles (career) -- .299/.413/.542/.955
Giles (last year) -- .301/.423 (3rd NL)/.483/.906

Diaz (career - 104 g) -- .263/.328/.477/.805

Not to mention atrocious defense.

I love blue and orange prospects as much as the next guy, but to mention Diaz in the same breath (or to put him above!!) a guy with a ten year career of a .955 OPS is silly.


Of course, the problem is age.

[metirish]

Diaz is on the up while Giles is on the way down, and the slide is fast..I hope the MFY's get him....

[Elster88]

metirish wrote: Diaz is on the up

I hope so, too.

]Giles is on the way down

Then it should be cheap to pick him up in a trade and bat him leadoff.

[Elster88]

smg58 wrote: and the power difference wouldn't be nearly as dramatic as it looks if you put both Giles and Manny in Shea.

Yes it would.

[metirish]

]Then it should be cheap to pick him up in a trade and bat him leadoff.

not likely, word is that the Yankees are going to go over $30 million for 3 years...at the expence of not playing Diaz I just don't think Giles is worth it.

[Elster88]

I'd take him for that much, but it's not worth a bidding war when there are other options.

[nymr83]

]Then it should be cheap to pick him up in a trade and bat him leadoff.

hahaha....a great idea, but i doubt willie would lead a guy off for having an amazing OBP, that would make too much sense.

as for 3 years, $30 million thats probably about right, but if its gonna take a 4th year and more money to trump the yankees i'm not so sure its worthwhile.

[Valadius]

Thank God Jason Kendall isn't available this offseason. If the Mets were to try for him, I would barf. His skills have eroded a ton, and he's been overrated for years anyway.

[Guest Edgy DC]

how did he come up?

[Valadius]

We need a catcher, and he was traded last offseason.

[Guest GYC]

From Rotoworld.com: http://rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&show=NL&id=6403:

]According to the Palm Beach Post, the Marlins are close to a trade that would send Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell to the Rangers for Hank Blalock and a pitching prospect. The Marlins are asking for either John Danks or Thomas Diamond, the Rangers' top two pitching prospects. Unless they back down from that, the deal may yet fall apart. Unless the Marlins are paying a portion of what Lowell is owned, Blalock alone should be enough to get a deal done. Beckett may be worth Blalock, but at $18 million over the next two years, Lowell has negative trade value. Blalock will make $13.5 million over the next three years. Nov. 19 - 2:22 am et

[Guest OlerudOwned]

GYC wrote: From Rotoworld.com: http://rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&show=NL&id=6403: ]According to the Palm Beach Post, the Marlins are close to a trade that would send Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell to the Rangers for Hank Blalock and a pitching prospect. The Marlins are asking for either John Danks or Thomas Diamond, the Rangers' top two pitching prospects. Unless they back down from that, the deal may yet fall apart. Unless the Marlins are paying a portion of what Lowell is owned, Blalock alone should be enough to get a deal done. Beckett may be worth Blalock, but at $18 million over the next two years, Lowell has negative trade value. Blalock will make $13.5 million over the next three years. Nov. 19 - 2:22 am et

Oh man, imagine Wright, Blalock, and Zimmerman in the same division. Actually, I'd rather not imagine Blalock in the division.

[Valadius]

And Chipper Jones, when he's playing third.

[Guest OlerudOwned]

Valadius wrote: And Chipper Jones, when he's playing third.

I was more playing at the Young 3rd Basemen thing. Chipper is faaar from young (thankfully).

[Valadius]

Kenji Jojima: Decision Expected Tuesday

Jojima (shinbone) is expected to make a decision Tuesday whether to sign with Seattle or return to Japan as the Mariners increased their offer to $6 million a year guaranteed, the Seattle Times reports.

[Guest abogdan]

Would that trade make Texas more or less likely to deal Soriano? They would have already somewhat filled their need for pitching by getting Beckett, which would lean against them dealing Soriano for more pitching. But, they'd also be adding a big chunk of salary with Lowell, and might then want to move Soriano so their payroll won't take a hit.

I'd also love to see the Mets get Giles, but he's going to take too many years for too much money to sign him. He's about to turn 35, and it's going to take at least three years to get him, probably four.

[Valadius]

I don't want any 35-and-up outfielders imported. We're supposed to be starting a youth movement.

[nymr83]

i have no problem with a 35 year old...but i am wary about committing for ages 36, 37, and maybe 38 now.

[Valadius]

Luis Castillo: Part of Fire Sale?
RotoWire.com Staff - RotoWire.com
Monday, November 21, 2005

Update: With the Marlins about to have a fire sale, the team has discussed a potential trade of Castillo to the Mets, the Palm Beach Post reports.

Recommendation: Marlins' owner Jeffrey Loria, who is frustrated over stalled talks for a new stadium, is prepared to jettison salary from last year's club record $65 million and go with a 2006 payroll as low as $40 million, which could be the lowest in the major leagues. Other names mentioned as being on the block are Carlos Delgado, Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell -- Beckett and Lowell may both be on the way to Texas -- Paul LoDuca and Juan Pierre. Castillo would fill a major need for the Mets at second base and provide some additional speed (though he has been slowed by injuries the past few seasons), to go along with Jose Reyes at the top of the team's batting order. New York may also have inquired about LoDuca and the Marlins could have interest in Aaron Heilman, Jae Seo and Anderson Hernandez.

[Guest OlerudOwned]

="Valadius"]Luis Castillo: Part of Fire Sale? RotoWire.com Staff - RotoWire.com Monday, November 21, 2005 Update: With the Marlins about to have a fire sale, the team has discussed a potential trade of Castillo to the Mets, the Palm Beach Post reports. Recommendation: Marlins' owner Jeffrey Loria, who is frustrated over stalled talks for a new stadium, is prepared to jettison salary from last year's club record $65 million and go with a 2006 payroll as low as $40 million, which could be the lowest in the major leagues. Other names mentioned as being on the block are Carlos Delgado, Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell -- Beckett and Lowell may both be on the way to Texas -- Paul LoDuca and Juan Pierre. Castillo would fill a major need for the Mets at second base and provide some additional speed (though he has been slowed by injuries the past few seasons), to go along with Jose Reyes at the top of the team's batting order. New York may also have inquired about LoDuca and the Marlins could have interest in Aaron Heilman, Jae Seo and Anderson Hernandez.

I dont like Heilman/Seo in a deal for Castillo. Not one bit.

[nymr83]

i'd do Heilman and Matsui for Castillo and a decent prospect (think Bannister level)

[Valadius]

That kid Hermida?

[Guest OlerudOwned]

Nymr83 wrote: i'd do Heilman and Matsui for Castillo and a decent prospect (think Bannister level)

That seems more easy to swallow. Thing is, Florida probably wont be willing to give up prospects in mid-firesale.

[Valadius]

If it would get rid of salary and they ran out of options they might.

Are the Marlins cursed or something? Geez.

[Guest sharpie]

They won't take Matsui, they are trying to shed salary.