So, the Winter Meetings end with....

by Chaim Witz on Dec 9, 2005 10:17 AM CST Comment 33 comments

The Rangers trading Soriano for "something", but not what we were hoping for. No pitching to plug into the rotation. No true answer in CF.

Hopefully, the Rangers offered enough to Morris to get him in here. The money saved from moving Soriano hopefully make it possible. Nevertheless, Morris is not "really" a number one starter, so that is a shame.

Right now, we still have a line up of decent offense, average defense and no starting pitching.

Additionally, it seems that JD irritated most of the other GM's in the league. Honestly, that doesn't bother me too much. Perhaps he was irritating by over-valuing our players, and they couldn't fleece us in a trade. On the other hand, hopefully he didn't turn everybody off to the point that they just don't want to deal with him. I guess we shall see.

Hey Tom, take a contract with you to the Rose Bowl and after Texas wins, get Roger drunk and have him sign it during all the celebration going on.

I still would like to see another pitcher come in here that is not named Tomko, Eaton, etc. I also have no desire to bring in someone like Benson, if its only to allow the Mets to free up more money to sign more players. I'll take him, but Milledge is the target there.

In lieu of not getting any pitching, we may just have to rely on crappy FA's like Tomko (hoping for a Morris or Millwood signing.) At the same time, if we could pull in Hudson and Bradley or Milledge, then I will just wait until next off-season for any significant pitching moves.

Man! I used to love the Winter Meetings.

0 recs | Comment 33 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Personally...

Brad Wilkerson was what I was hoping for for Soriano.

Sledge and Galarraga are gravy.

by Adam J. Morris on Dec 9, 2005 10:38 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Personnally

I think that if you are happy losing Soriano for Wilkerson you have lost your mind. Losing 100 RBI's and 36 HR is never a good thing especially if it is to only add another mediocre outfielder.

by DIESCTBRS on Dec 9, 2005 10:47 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Wilkerson

He's not a mediocre outfielder.

And he's better than Soriano.

by Adam J. Morris on Dec 9, 2005 12:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Wilkerson's D

I've been watching BW's highlights over at the Nats official site. Wilkerson has 17 offensive highlights and 12 defensive highlights ...

http://tinyurl.com/dr22y

Nice throw to peg Biggio at home on July 21st. He looks pretty nimble to me.

BTW, Sledge has a coupla offensive highlights in April before his season ended.

And Armando GalarrrRRrrraga doesn't look THAT skinny:

http://tinyurl.com/cogz7

by shroomer on Dec 9, 2005 1:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

I'm pretty sure that listed weight is outdated, and that he's put on some since his signing weight. One of the BA reports during the season called him intimidating on the mound. Not many 175 pound guys have an intimidating presence.

by Brett Perryman on Dec 9, 2005 3:51 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanx for the link.....

Whoever thinks Wilkerson can't handle CF at TBIA needs to catch those highlights......plus the double he hit that bounced over in right-center at the 380 mark would have been in the bullpen here !

by tklawless on Dec 9, 2005 10:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That would be me....

I don't think he is the guy to handle CF with the Rangers. If he stays, I would like him in one of the corners. Besides, there is great disparity from handling CF at the Ballpark and handling CF at The Ballpark every day with our pitching staff letting the hitters tee off into the gaps.

I have said this already, but let me make it clear. I have liked Wilkerson since approximately two years ago, and have absolutely nothing against him.....no matter what I may post.

I don't see him as a stud, but as a nice player for the Rangers. I don't regard him highly as someone we must keep to improve. If the guy brings in a better pitcher, move him for the pitcher.

Note: Please don't tell me that one of the 12 offensive highlights for Wilkerson was a ground rule double. I know they have a tough ballpark and he had a down year, but that just didn't do it for me when I read it...lol

I miss 1989. I miss 1995. Please make me miss another season in 2006.

by Chaim Witz on Dec 10, 2005 12:20 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Highlight......

Just commenting on the 380 ft. RCF at RFK. The guy looks like a gamer to me..... maybe not a HOFer, but a solid player and I have no problem with him playing a corner and GM,Jr. in CF.
Looks like Mench may have to go for a pitcher (which I hate to see) but you gotta do what ya gotta do to get a couple of pitcher's in here.

I'd rather we step up for Millwood (hell, we already offered Morris $8.5M, to no avail) keep Mench, sign Ponson to an incentive-laden deal, hope Diamond is up here May-June, and maybe Nix, Laird & Gonzo can bring maybe a 4th-5th guy (doubtful, the way the pitching on the market is going)
Because of our situation (Ballpark, heat, etc) one of the youngsters really needs to step up for us to compete.
You just can't buy or trade for enough pitching.......we're not the only one's with this problem, just, sadly the only one's with this type of young explosive team with a window of "real" opportunity !!!

by tklawless on Dec 10, 2005 11:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Sori's RBI numbers aren't good.

In fact, he hit only .236 with RISP and had a .733 OPS. If anything, he was not the player you wanted at the plate with men in scoring position.

Wilkerson, on the other hand, hit .283 with RISP and sported an OPS 200 pts higher than Sori. I would expect the 2006 numbers for Wilkerson and Sori to change dramatically given that Sori is going to a pitcher's park and Wilkerson will be coming to a hitter's park ... and not following the pitcher in the lineup.

Trading Sori straight up for Wilkerson would have improved our offense (not to mention defense). Getting Sledge and Galarraga as well just makes the deal that much more sweet.

by Athos on Dec 9, 2005 1:29 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

100 RBI

Lets see how many RBI Soriano gets playing in that craptastic lineup in the NL in that park.

by Chris Martin on Dec 9, 2005 3:35 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

RBI's

RBI's are the most overrated offensive stat in baseball. They mean absolutely nothing. You can get all the hits your heat desires, but if nobody is on base in front of you, then no RBI.

by pfe1223 on Dec 10, 2005 11:45 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Word.

And we weren't going to get a front-of-the-rotation starter for Sori. The fact that nobody in the league except Washington would give anything really valuable for Sori ought to tell you something.

JD is off to a pretty good start. If he manages to land a couple of competitive pitchers like Morris or Millwood, this team will be improved overall offensively and defensively.

by Athos on Dec 9, 2005 10:51 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Comments.....

Morris will be a No. 1 here !

The Ranger's are being inundated by calls from other teams, so I guess JD didn't piss anyone off.

Thank God Tomko said NO.....Way too much to give up for Eaton (who said he'd never sign a long-term deal here anyway).....Agreed, No on Benson (but could we get ANNA?).....would love to pry Milledge away, but they say he & Heilman are untouchable.....No to Bradley (he's an idiot, plus Dusty wants him).....some pitching would need to come with O Hudson or no deal, because by then we'll be running out of chips !!!

There may be pitching coming, can't believe they'll stand pat, either in a trade (or two) or through free agancy (Morris, Millwood) and we still need bullpen help.......so pull up a chair, the hot stove is just getting fired up !!!

by tklawless on Dec 9, 2005 10:46 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

anna benson

is a cancer that this team does not need. i can see her sleeping with one of the core and causing all sorts of problems within the wives' circle.

if hot is what you want, bring a playboy to the game.

by ab03 on Dec 9, 2005 12:10 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Damn...

It was a joke (about Anna)

by tklawless on Dec 9, 2005 10:38 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

re:

"The Rangers trading Soriano for 'something', but not what we were hoping for. No pitching to plug into the rotation. No true answer in CF."

Wilkerson was more than I thought we'd get. Soriano's price tag and his refusal to move really hurt his trade value. He wasn't going to get a premiere pitcher.

Wilkerson played centerfield last year, and quite competently, so I'd say he can be a true answer in CF. The whole in RF may necessitate his presence, but that's something that will play itself later.

Also, as you mention, the Rangers save money by trading Soriano, which may be enough to get a guy like Morris. In which case, trading Soriano will have yielded both

Morris may not be a dominating #1...but other than Roger Clemens, what free agent or trade block guy is? Burnett has the stuff but not the track record, and he was horrendously overpriced, anyway. Millwood is very inconsistent. Zito is, too. Then there are the Loaiza's and Byrd's and Washburn's of the world out there.

by Ian Cobb on Dec 9, 2005 12:11 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

re:

"hole" not "whole".

by Ian Cobb on Dec 9, 2005 12:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

My thing

I would have much rather held onto Soriano and see where we are at towards the trading deadline. If he goes off and dominates early many teams will ask for him and will probably supply us with a starting pitcher. He is getting into his prime years (30 when players usually are at their best). I just don't see the importance of losing his contract, unless we do sign Morris (which I still feel is doubtful) or Clemens.

by DIESCTBRS on Dec 9, 2005 12:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Peak years

27 is the most common peak years.

A player's best years are generally from 26-29.

by Adam J. Morris on Dec 9, 2005 1:26 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Ok

And this is according to??? Adam Morris. Looking back at some of the great players over the last decade I would have to say that they usually put up their best numbers while they hit 30. Bonds*, McGwire*, Sosa*, Helton, Edmonds, Palmeiro*, Bagwell, Biggio, Clemens, Pudge, etc.
I am sure there are many others.

by DIESCTBRS on Dec 9, 2005 2:15 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Not to isolate on an ethnic category

But try checking peak years for just Dominican players. Having spent a little time in La Romana, San Pedro de Macoris, etc .. there are kids in their 'beisbol world' who peak as early as 18 and never get any better.

It also strikes me that you've cited a sample length that crosses about 12 years. In that time frame, 14,400 names have been on rosters. The ten you name are good examples, but a really tiny slice of the pie.

by Ed Coffin on Dec 9, 2005 2:53 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Good Point

But I also chose those players because like Alfonso Soriano, each of those players were All-Stars.

by DIESCTBRS on Dec 9, 2005 3:09 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

this list

is this the roster of the steroids hearing?

athletes are not supposed to get better at 30.

by ab03 on Dec 9, 2005 3:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Why

Jordan? And yes that is why I went ahead and placed asteriks by their names.

by DIESCTBRS on Dec 9, 2005 4:18 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Well,

Aging. Physical ability (including ability to heal from day-to-day stuff) declines faster than skill can improve in most cases by the time you hit 30 or so.

by Brett Perryman on Dec 9, 2005 4:29 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

i love how you list bonds and jordan

as if they are the every man. jordan sat out an entire year and a half and still came back to dominate his sport. some people list jordan as the best athlete ever. clearly he his the exception to every rule.

ditto (to a lesser extent) for bonds.

i don't predict a vast decline for soriano but at his age, i am not exactly looking for him to get better.

by ab03 on Dec 9, 2005 4:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Your list

Pudge and Bagwell don't really belong on that list. They had their best years before they turned 30.

And this is not according to me. Bill James first did a study on aging and baseball players in the early-80s, and found that 27 was the most frequent peak, which was contrary to conventional wisdom.

Subsequent studies have shown that 26-29 is generally the peak age for positional players, with pitchers generally peaking a little later.

There was one up at, I believe, Baseball Primer this fall. I'll see if I can find it.

by Adam J. Morris on Dec 9, 2005 4:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I would like to see that

Plus I believe Pudge was in his 30's when he played for the Marlins. He was probably the biggest factor in the playoffs that year.

But once again Zywica (I think you said it), I chose those players because they are considered top-tier (all-star) players. Which is the category people place Soriano under.

by DIESCTBRS on Dec 9, 2005 4:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs