ShortStop 2014

[Edgy MD]

I would guess some reasons he might not might be because (1) he might view Turner's mobility limitations as less restrictive than Young's relatively weak arm (2) Young hasn't even been in much practice as a secondbaseman, and (3) Turner's innings were probably far less than an ideal choice --- one that Terry'dd probably want to avoid in 2014 if at all possible.

But yeah. Go, Terry! Go, EY!!

[Benjamin Grimm]

Edgy MD wrote: (2) Young hasn't even been in much practice as a secondbaseman

Yeah, but it's his "natural position", whatever that means. I imagine they determine that through DNA testing.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Seratelli cut, Internet says.

[Edgy MD]

That one inning has bumped EY up a spot in the depth chart.

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: That one inning has bumped EY up a spot in the depth chart.

Won't commit to Q either apparently.

Drew?

Ordonez?

Me?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Yeah. Big St blockbuster back on.

[Guest cooby]

Mixtapewormhole wrote: Hey thanks! Quasi-new guy, actually. Anything I miss the past, uh, 8 years?

I really like that picture

[Frayed Knot]

Yanquis DFA Eduardo Nunez, once thought to be their heir apparent to Jeter at SS.
OK he's a totally rotten SS (Jeter's err-apparent is more like it) but he can hit a little w/some pop and wouldn't just be limited to SS.
If nothing else having him as the backup/PH --or as an occasional starter with one of the glove-men coming in later on-- would give us two different skill-sets manning that position instead of essentially two guys essentially duplicating the same stuff.

He's still just DFA'd so you may have to trade for him in case someone else out there is interested.

[Frayed Knot]

Nunez winds up getting dealt to the Twinkies for a minor league pitcher.
Olbermann reminded us (or at least claims) on last night's show that the Yanx once failed to complete a trade for Cliff Lee (in 2010 while w/Seattle) because of their refusal to include Eduardo Nunez in the deal.

[Edgy MD]

Eyeball judgment of says Ruben looked solid at short during the Reds series.

[batmagadanleadoff]

This article identifies the Mets as one of three teams positioned to trade for Dodgers SS Hanley Ramirez (29 years old) if the Dodgers are unwilling or unable to extend the free-agent-to-be's contract.

[batmagadanleadoff]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: This article identifies the Mets as one of three teams positioned to trade for Dodgers SS Hanley Ramirez (29 years old) if the Dodgers are unwilling or unable to extend the free-agent-to-be's contract.

The Mets might have the trade chips to get Ramirez if he's put on the market, but how would the team keep him? The Mets can pay somebody $20-$25M a year? This I'd like to see.

[Frayed Knot]

Another Arizona SS has poked his head into the trade rumors -- Nick Ahmed, 24 y/o, currently at AAA Reno hitting to the tune of .304/.385/.401
http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=ahmed-000nic
The caution here would be that those numbers are a serious jump from not just last season but from any of his 2+ years of minor league ball, something which could be attributable to the hitting environment of the PCL in general and Reno in particular. Also not a lot of power there although is described as "an elite defender" by the likes of Ken Rosenthal who is reporting that "multiple teams" have contacted the Snakes about his availability.



The other DBacks' SS previously mentioned as being available (as reprinted and updated from page 1 of this thread)

Didi Gregorius - Ariz http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gregodi01.shtml
-- Mariekson Julius Gregorius, LHB, 23 y/o from Amsterdam in the Netherlands, was originally Reds property before being dealt to the Snakes a year ago in a three-way deal that docked the SS Choo in the river city. But the DBacks have other options at SS (see: Owings, Chris) and may be willing to deal. Hit decently for a rookie though no RoY votes; reportedly a good glove; and although I had thought he had good legs he�s has never been a base-stealer at any level. The MLBN crew thinks he�s a likely NYM target (for whatever that's worth).
Recalled to MLB last week (6 for 20 so far) after hitting .310/.387/.447 in 226 AAA ABs



Chris Owings - Arizona http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/owingch01.shtml
-- A 22 y/o 41st overall draft pick out of HS in South Carolina got his ML cuppa late this season.
Minor league numbers are good but mainly in hitting environments (Cal Lg + AAA Reno) and much less so in between at sea-level AA Mobile. It�s his presence that reportedly makes Gregorius available so I�m guessing they like the glove a whole lot. #3 DBacks prospect (and top position player) this winter according to BA. Snakes have been active so far this winter and just dealt their next best prospect, 3B Matt Davidson, to the White Sox for closer Addison Reed.
.270/.309/.431 in 204 ABs w/Arizona in 2014



btw, a bit early to draw any conclusions, but Stephen Drew = 1 single in 14 ABs since his return to Boston

[ashie62]

Nice and all but Sandy is pretty committed to Tejada at the moment..

[Ceetar]

Ashie62 wrote: Nice and all but Sandy is pretty committed to Tejada at the moment..

Well, you do have to play SOMEONE there.

[Frayed Knot]

Ashie62 wrote: Nice and all but Sandy is pretty committed to Tejada at the moment..

I don't believe that Sandy is even remotely committed to Tejada.

[Edgy MD]

Anybody have any taste for seeing if that .418 ObP of Seratelli has any big league applicablity?

I guess it's not particularly sensible to reach for him if they haven't really pumped Wilmer out there for a week or so.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Matt Reynolds is having a very good year at AA too. Doesn't hit for any powa, but reaches base a lot. I get the impression they may have some questions as to his readiness to be an actual SS (must have been playing 2B alongside Tovar but Tovar's been hurt).

[Edgy MD]

I'm ready to try Dykstra there.

I've lived with Turner's lousy defense there, I can live anybody's.

I can't remember who the quote was from. Something like "You can shake a tree and 20 glove guys fall out. Hitting is what makes you a big leaguer." That's where I'm at.

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: Anybody have any taste for seeing if that .418 ObP of Seratelli has any big league applicablity? I guess it's not particularly sensible to reach for him if they haven't really pumped Wilmer out there for a week or so.

Seratelli's played the OF too, a little more versatile overall. He hasn't really played SS much (but Tejada really isn't the problem) though, he seems more like a Campbell replacement who hasn't really been bad or anything.

Of course, desperate for offense we could probably use both somehow. maybe.

[Edgy MD]

Tejada isn't really the problem. But he's a problem. Right now, the problems run all over the diamond.

Shortstop perhaps is a greater opportunity to find an answer that can impact the team's fate going forward.

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: Tejada isn't really the problem. But he's a problem. Right now, the problems run all over the diamond. Shortstop perhaps is a greater opportunity to find an answer that can impact the team's fate going forward.

well, in that case maybe the answer is just to play Flores.

Going forward anyway, which we're rapidly approaching as the number 1 priority.

Problems are in flux. they change all the time. Perhaps SS is one with a greater opportunity for long term answers, but maybe not. There isn't exactly a glut of solid dependable long term answers around the league or in the minors. Flores? maybe. It's almost not Seratelli. Or Tovar.

As for the immediate problem of scoring runs, at least Tejada is making out less frequently than the average NLer. Small potatoes and there are lot bigger immediate holes in the offense right now. Of SS with at least 150 PA, Tejada is literally 7th in baseball in not making an out. Not slugging to save his life, but maybe that's why he should be hitting first or second and letting someone else drive him in, rather than 7/8 where he's more likely to need to drive someone in than get driven in by the pitcher, the crappy catcher, or the sorry excuses for leadoff hitters we've used this season. (Eric Young doesn't drive anyone in either)

[Edgy MD]

Ceetar wrote: well, in that case maybe the answer is just to play Flores.

I kind of said as much.

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: Ceetar wrote: well, in that case maybe the answer is just to play Flores. I kind of said as much.

yeah. Then you started grasping for other ideas. Diluting the cause. None of those other things are going to happen for the same reason they're not playing Flores every day.

They're still bridging that gap between best chance to win now, and best for the future growth. I don't think anyone thinks Tejada is the longterm answer anymore. I think they're desperately hoping Flores hits for 3-4 games in a row so they can just toss him out there and forget about Ruben, but they're not yet willing to just play the prospect guy and he hasn't even come close to hitting enough to pretend he's making progress.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Well, Flores can't hit in four consecutive games unless he plays in four consecutive games.

[Ceetar]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Well, Flores can't hit in four consecutive games unless he plays in four consecutive games.

Can we start with hitting in two maybe?

I'm all on board with playing Flores a lot and seeing if he can be part of the future, but please, show me something to warrant playing time!

[Frayed Knot]

Ruben's decent OBP (.339) is being somewhat pumped up by his [u:3fgp9jvd]5 IBBs[/u:3fgp9jvd], something that's more a matter of where he has hit than how.
Take away those--which wouldn't happen if hitting 1st--and he's down in the .310 range

[Edgy MD]

Ceetar wrote: Ceetar wrote: well, in that case maybe the answer is just to play Flores. I kind of said as much. yeah. Then you started grasping for other ideas. Diluting the cause. None of those other things are going to happen for the same reason they're not playing Flores every day.

Anybody else think I was serious about Allan Dykstra?

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: Edgy MD wrote: well, in that case maybe the answer is just to play Flores. I kind of said as much. yeah. Then you started grasping for other ideas. Diluting the cause. None of those other things are going to happen for the same reason they're not playing Flores every day. Anybody else think I was serious about Allan Dykstra?

I don't think you were serious, just spitballing.

[Ceetar]

Frayed Knot wrote: Ruben's decent OBP (.339) is being somewhat pumped up by his 5 IBBs, something that's more a matter of where he has hit than how. Take away those--which wouldn't happen if hitting 1st--and he's down in the .310 range

True, but those were also a while ago. And his numbers are actually better recently.