Young/Tex

by trza on Apr 9, 2007 12:01 PM CDT

This was going to be a comment, but I figured it was substantial enough to merit a diary.

Two points of info on Young and Tex:

Michael Young's batting average on balls in play is a shocking .174 through six games. That is about half of his BABIP for the last three years (.335, .356, .349). He has been spectacularly unlucky so far. I have little doubt that many of the line drives that he has hit right at people will begin falling.

Teixeira simply hasn't gotten anything to hit. There's a greater than .200 differential between his batting average and his OBP (.211 vs .423). He is without an extra base hit so far this year, but pitchers apparently are happy to pitch around him to get at Sosa. It's a wise strategy, because Sosa hasn't made them pay for it. Blalock has done what he can to carry the load, posting an OPS of .830 so far. Tex's struggles so far are more worrying than Young, even though it doesn't appear entirely to be his fault. I don't think he'll get many pitches to hit with Sosa hitting 5th. Still, I think Tex will be fine. He just has to be ready for the few decent pitches he does see, take the walks, and hope Sosa can pick up the production. Or, Ron W will figure out what's going on and move Kinsler from 9th to 5th.

At this point, knee-jerk reactions against Young and Teixeira are premature. I think these statistics show the folly of reading too much into the failings of some players this early on.

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Meh

we need another bat, I think everyone knew that coming in. The only question I have, is who might be avaliable at the deadline, and what he would cost us.

by FirebatM3 on Apr 9, 2007 12:08 PM CDT reply actions

sluggers that might be available...

Adam Dunn and Pat Burrell may be available at the deadline.

The question is: what trade ammo do we have?

I think that any decent bat is going to cost us Hurley + and I don't think the system is in position to trade our only blue-chip prospect.

I mean if you are a rival GM and wanting to make a deal w/ Texas what do we have (other than Hurley) that is valuable?

by tricer on Apr 9, 2007 12:15 PM CDT up reply actions

I keep hearing Dunn

brought up as possible trade bait this season and I can't understand why. Who does Cincy have to hit when Dunn is gone? Griffey?

Dunn is one of the only guys on that team w/ any power. Don't get me wrong, I'd like to see him here, but remember he loves the strikeout too.

I believe he's in the final year of his contract as well.

by cgolden on Apr 9, 2007 12:22 PM CDT up reply actions

Word

But Cincy never seems to be as high on him as perhaps they should be, though maybe that's just their fans' opinion. ("Who cares how many homers he hits or how much he walks? He freaking strikes out all the time! You can't win with strikeouts!")

So perhaps he'd be available if Cincy falls out of it in the summer, and if we'd be willing to part with a package like Hurley, Teagarden + x to get him.

And I'm pretty sure there's a team option in Dunner's contract for next year.

"Look out, Itchy, he's Irish!"

by thedirkatron on Apr 9, 2007 1:43 PM CDT up reply actions

NO TRADE CLAUSE

For crying out loud, people keep forgetting Burrell has a no-trade clause, doesn't want to leave Philly, and has said that even if he did waive the no-trade clause it would be for a city on one of the coasts. Burrell is not coming to TX.

Signature here

by t ball on Apr 9, 2007 12:29 PM CDT up reply actions

BUllpen depth

especially with teams like Cinncinnati, I think you can swing a good deal that way. Also, this might sound crazy, but if McCarthy, Tejeda and Loe are doing well, and Eric Hurley is knocking at the door come July, we might have starting pitching depth to deal from. Right now, I still say Aki is gone by the deadline for a bat.

by FirebatM3 on Apr 9, 2007 12:38 PM CDT up reply actions

Agreed

I'd like to see Aki stay around but if Gagne is halfway decent, we have see what we get for Aki.

And if some of the bullpen arms we sent to AAA are doing well we might be able to package them together for someone as well. There are always teams looking for bullpen help.

by cgolden on Apr 9, 2007 12:41 PM CDT up reply actions

WHen does

there contract expire we do not want half year rentals again right?

by myoungfan11 on Apr 9, 2007 12:18 PM CDT reply actions

sorry, but

what?

Sarcasm fever... Catch it!

by trza on Apr 9, 2007 12:26 PM CDT up reply actions

Dunn

I read today that Dunn has a $13 million team option for next year, but that is void if he is traded. So essentially he would be a rental. Though, on the bright side, he is a Texas boy so he may want to stay in Texas.

by hurley325 on Apr 9, 2007 12:48 PM CDT up reply actions