2nd base - 2006

[Elster88]

Nymr83 wrote: even with them his SLG% wasnt so good. besides which, that slg% wasn't even this year! this year he was down in the land of rey ordonez.

Good point. But this does not mean he's "nothing".

[nymr83]

well, nobody is ever literally nothing.
when i call someone "nothing" you can translate that to "better players are readily available and possibly already within the organization." thus making my victim worth next to nothing to his team. that is the context in which i'm calling matsui "nothing."
if you want to put forth some stats showing that none of the internal (or easily available external) options are better players i'm all ears

[Valadius]

The first thing we need at second base is a glove. He has to play good defense. Next is hitting for average, followed by speed and power. I want a second baseman that'll hit .285 with 15 homers and 15 steals minimum.

[Elster88]

Nymr83 wrote: if you want to put forth some stats showing that none of the internal (or easily available external) options are better players i'm all ears

It's been done. Ad nauseum.

It all comes down to burden of proof. We have Matsui. If you want to propose someone you think is better (as Dickie Johnshot does with Ray Durham) then go ahead. It doesn't fall to me to show the guy is better than every 2Bman on another team or every middle infielder on the farm.

Note: Anderson Hernandez's triple A stats don't count.

[Elster88]

Valadius wrote: The first thing we need at second base is a glove. He has to play good defense. Next is hitting for average, followed by speed and power. I want a second baseman that'll hit .285 with 15 homers and 15 steals minimum.

I'm sure everyone does. Now who can we find to do this?

See that's the problem. Everyone wants a second baseman like this, or a first baseman who will make a run at the triple crown, or a starter who will accumulate 300 strikeouts. Simply saying "He should do this this and this" is a complete waste unless you have an idea for a particular player.

Besides, I would say these numbers are within Matsui's capability. Maybe not 15 HRs, but with the right number of doubles and triples he'd make up for that if he only hit 5-8 HRs. It might be easier if morons weren't booing him at Shea or claiming that Miguel Cairo should start at second. (I'm not talking about you Valadius)

[Valadius]

One person just made available - Rich Aurilia.

[nymr83]

]See that's the problem. Everyone wants a second baseman like this,

speak for yourself. i'll place power well above speed and "hitting for average" doesn't mean much when your OBP stinks and you have no power.

[nymr83]

Aurilia was good once, I'm not sure what he has left or how he plays at 2B.
In 2005 he did this: .282/.338./.444 (in cincy's bandbox) for an OPS+ of 99 (matching his career number of 102 nicely.)

He is a natural SS, but played 68 games at 2B last year, does anyone know if he's good there?

Can he replicate the .282./338./.444?
I's say that is VERY doubtful since he is 34 years old, those were his best numbers in 5 years, and Shea is almost the opposite of Great American Ballpark.
If you reduce those numbers to something more like .275/.325/.420 for Shea Stadium and other factors i'd say that a group of Anderson Hernandez, Jeff Keppinger, Kaz Matsui, Marlon Anderson, Chris Woodward, etc. would put up equivalent numbers.

IMO Aurilia is nothing we don't already have. Durham definetaly intrigues me more, but trade rumors and fre agents are two entirely different things and i can't get my hopes up on aquiring him just yet.

[Guest Edgy DC]

]Edgy, YOU picked one stat (the 32 doubles)...

.
No, I didn't. I said a lot more than that, and described his statistical bottom line as being in the middle for shortstops. Do you want me to post the OPS numbers for National League shortstops of 2004 for you?

]...and i said that even with them his SLG% wasnt so good.

No, you didn't. You said it was disgusting. It's not.

]besides which, that slg% wasn't even this year! this year he was down in the land of rey ordonez.

If you're willing to read what I wrote, I think my comments make it pretty clear that I don't need to be told that.

Regarding the minimum of 15 homers: The Mets have had --- what? --- three secondbasemen in their history with 15 homers? Add Tim Teufel's 14 in a part-time gig 1987 and you can fudge and get four.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

The Globe and Mail suggests the Jays would be open to trading Orlando Hudson to make room for Aaron Hill.

Hudson is nobody's idea of a superstar but he's 27, a switch hitter and an excellent fielder. Think Kaz Matsui with less speed and a better glove. He would make a whiz-bang "career-switch" into a backup role a la Woody/Relaford and in the event of a trade of Matsui might fill his role well.

[smg58]

Hudson's glove makes him a very viable option if no better alternatives present themselves. His OPS this year was as good as Matsui's in 04, and unlike Matsui he's proven he's capable of better. If we do a good job upgrading the offense in other places, I think he'd make a great fit. And the Jays might take somebodly like Zambrano in return. I see no reason not to pursue this.

[Elster88]

Nymr83 wrote: ]See that's the problem. Everyone wants a second baseman like this, speak for yourself. i'll place power well above speed and "hitting for average" doesn't mean much when your OBP stinks and you have no power.

If you didn't cherry pick half of a sentence, you would realize that I had the word OR in there indicating that not everyone wants exactly a second baseman that was described.

My point was that everybody wants good players, the problem is finding someone who is available that fits the description you are looking for. Everyone clams up when that happens, but is quick to attack the guy who they don't like. Still waiting for the

]internal (or easily available external) options

that should replace Matsui with the reminder that minor league stats do not guarantee a productive major league player.

[MFS62]

My concern with Hudson is that he has been a dome/turf player.
Boys and girls, can you say "Kaz Matsui"? (OK, in Japan, Matsui played almost all his games under those conditions, Hudson plays about half)
But I wonder what Hudson's home/away fielding splits look like.

And I would imagine playing half his games on turf has a positive impact of his offensive numbers, too.
But from what I've seen when he played at Yankee Stadium, he looks pretty good.(limited sample)

Let's just say I am cautiously positive about him.

Later

[smg58]

This past year Hudson had a .717 OPS at home and a .738 OPS on the road, with .724 at home and .762 on the road between 02 and 04, so it doesn't appear that the turf helped him. His weakness is that he is not all that good right-handed: the lefty/righty OPS differentials are .774/.606 for 05 and .785/.616 for 02-04. That could leave an opening for Keppinger as a platoon player on this level, though. If the Jays could use Zambrano (or even Trachsel, if they have somebody else worth having to throw in), I'd be happy to talk shop with them.

While we're discussing options, can anybody here familiar with the Red Sox comment on Bill Mueller's willingness or ability to play second base full-time?

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Post today sez the Mets are asking about Grudziealanek, who would presumably inherit the Frank Tanana Memorial Polish Guy Roster Slot from Mientkiewicz,

Bah, I say.

[Guest GYC]

http://rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&show=NL&id=5676

The Marlins and Mets have reportedly been discussing a Luis Castillo deal for the last two weeks.

The Mets tried to get Castillo when he was a free agent two years ago. The second baseman is owed $5 million in 2006 and there's a $5.75 million club option for 2007 with a $500,000 buyout. It's safe to assume the Marlins are asking for pitching in return. They might also want a middle infielder, either Anderson Hernandez or Jeff Keppinger.

[nymr83]

the mets shouldnt take that salary off the marlins hands and possibly give them a way to keep delgado.

[Guest Edgy DC]

]It's safe to assume the Marlins are asking for pitching in return. They might also want a middle infielder, either Anderson Hernandez or Jeff Keppinger.

I'm thinking Matsui maybe.

[MFS62]

Castillo is a speed player who is approaching the age when speed starts to decline (unless your name is Ricky Henderson).

I'd tread carefully.

Later

[Guest sharpie]

I'm not crazy about having 2 similar guys at the top of the lineup, one on the way up and one on the way down. No to Castillo.

[Valadius]

I'd like someone with a little more pop.

[Guest OlerudOwned]

Valadius wrote: I'd like someone with a little more pop.

Basically, what Kaz would've ideally turned out to be?

[Valadius]

Essentially, with a little extra glove.

[Guest cleonjones11]

Gap hitter with great speed..makes contact..above average defense and can play second and third. Why not? he is available...

Regarding Kaz what is the Japanese word for whipping boy?

[Guest GYC]

Castillo also has a 38-game hit streak at Shea Stadium. I'll try to find where I read that earlier.

[smg58]

Castillo did have a .391 OBP last year. There's something to be said for that. He's no longer a big-time base stealer, though. How has his defense been lately?

Somebody was also reporting that the Mets were looking at Mark Grudzielanek. He can field the position and is a pretty good hitter, and he might come cheap.

[Guest Rotblatt]

I don't really care about stolen bases. Castillo's a good hitter who works the count & draws walks. His OBP for the last 3 years has been .381, .373 & .391. He's EXACTLY what we need at the top of our order, IMO.

And he's only 30--I'd think he has a few more good years in him.

I wouldn't give up Heilman or Seo for him, and Zambrano's probably too expensive for the Fish, so that's a bit of a problem. Maybe if we take on LoDuca at the same time, we could get away with Zambrano & Anderson Hernandez for Castillo & LoDuca.

LoDuca pretty much sucks, IMO, but maybe we could move him to Colorado.

[nymr83]

i didnt realize he was only 30 and his that his OBP was so good 3 straight years, i guess i'm on the Castillo bandwagon, lets get him....butnot if it stops us from getting Delgado.

[seawolf17]

I know Castillo was injured at the end of last year... something with his shoulder, IIRC. Not the end of the world for a top-of-the-order guy, but it was affecting his infield play -- he couldn't throw. I'm not necessarily against sticking him out there and batting him in the two-hole 160 times next year, but there is a small red flag there.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Just an observation, but Castillo to me is starting to resemble the latter-day Luis Sojo and Carlos Baerga around the midsection.