Our Chone Figgins??

by HITX on Aug 3, 2008 5:08 AM CDT Comment 11 comments

I like most others feel that we have our SS of the future in Andrus. That however, along with health concerns have made Joaquin Arias the forgotten man. At 23, the guy still has at ton of upside. Arias does have plus defense and speed. If he gets a little more patient at the plate and continues to hit he could be one of the most valuable future Rangers. With the ability to play SS,2B, and OF, could he not pick up 3B too? He takes the place of one of Blalock or Ramon Vasquez's place on the '09 40 man roster? How do you guys feel?

Poll

What is Arias future roll?

trade bait

45 votes

utillity man off the bench

59 votes

future third baseman until Andrus is ready and Young makes a move

12 votes

Possible long-term solution at third

6 votes

SS of the future after Andrus is packaged and dealt for a top of the rotation starter

9 votes

injuries catch up with him and he never develops

27 votes

158 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 11 comments

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Comments

Who in the hell voted for him to be a possible solution at 3rd?

Mind boggling if you ask me.

The bloggerformelyknownasBigBaddBubbaJ

by NYTXFAN on Aug 3, 2008 10:22 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Injuries catch up....

He may get a job next year as a utility guy, but he would have to beat out Duran for that. It’s gonna be tough for him to find a spot. I’m not convinced his arm is enough to play SS everyday now.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Aug 3, 2008 10:32 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Hmmm

A SS that makes tons of errors and can’t throw and doesn’t hit for power or show any plate discipline.

I’d put him as a AAA utility guy that should only see the majors in the event of a series of injuries to others ahead of him. Wouldn’t hurt my feelings if he just disappeared from the 40 man roster.

Warner Madrigal makes Ezequiel Astacio look downright handsome.

by tricer on Aug 3, 2008 12:10 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Tons of errors?

Fewer than Whittleman, Andrus, and Lemon…. and was a plus defender before his injury (and may still be). Be that as it may, until he proves his arm is not a problem he has little value….

by Goyogringo on Aug 3, 2008 1:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Seldom

Explain poll votes, this one is worth a word. Arias’ value may be greater in trade than on a bench in Arlington or OKC. Even with some injury concern, and possible arm strength problems, I’d think his reputation inside the game (not fan opinions, he isn’t universally known) makes a trade for a B – or C + pitcher possible (or the usual final piece to add to a troubled deal).

"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang (1844-1912)

by Ed Coffin on Aug 3, 2008 2:26 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Trade Bait

Young and Andrus are here as SSs with Lemon on the way too. We have Kinsler, Duran, and Vallejo as possibilities at 2B and possibly 3rd too. I don’t think Arias has the arm strength needed to be a great defensive 3B, he still doesn’t have much power, he still doesn’t have that great of plate discipline, and he has lost a year of development time and is no longer one of the young guys that you can look at as being very young for the league. Let some other team think he is the answer because he isn’t going to be any type of answer here past being a bench player.

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Aug 3, 2008 3:10 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Reminds me of...

Toronto’s situation a few years ago…Having 4 solid middle infield prospects so MYoung was just traded as an expendable piece. Now Felipe Lopez, Izturis, Woodward(?) are fringey and MYoung is a FotF. Hope we don’ get bitten by a similar situation…

Here are just a few of the key ingredients: dynamite, pole vaulting, laughing gas, choppers - can you see how incredible this is going to be? - hang gliding, come on! -- Dignan

by Hypo-Luxa on Aug 3, 2008 10:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Arias is no Young

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Aug 4, 2008 9:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

right

just saying there’s the possibility to trade the wrong guy when you have a surplus. Not all of Andrus, Arias, Vallejo, Duran are going to work out and I hope when/if we trade one of them we choose the right one to stay and the right one to leave. All I’m saying…

Here are just a few of the key ingredients: dynamite, pole vaulting, laughing gas, choppers - can you see how incredible this is going to be? - hang gliding, come on! -- Dignan

by Hypo-Luxa on Aug 4, 2008 12:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Arias is plus defender

with great range, great feet, and a great arm (pre-injury). So I’m not sure where everyone is getting their info. Defensively, it seems like he could profile as a utility guy without a problem. He was being groomed for that role staring in the fall of 06 when he injured his shoulder and missed 07. If doubts about his arm troubles subside, then he could bring a decent low level prospect. While I agree that he does not seem to have much of a future with the big club, why not keep him and move him to 2nd or 3rd in AAA next year while Andrus plays SS, and vallejo develops(who will probably be at AA again before a AAA promotion midseason)? Arias would become the first injury replacement that they would call up for 2b/ss or as a utility guy; if Vazquez leaves as a FA and Duran takes his spot next season, who will be the guy who gets the call if needed? I think Arias can be that guy (though they could also sign a journeyman to be that guy). This would prevent Andrus from repeating Duran’s yo-yo ride between the big club and AAA so that he can spend the whole year there. If the Ranger’s feel that Andrus is ready to be the 1st shortstop called up as an injury replacement next season, then keeping Arias is not so important. I haven’t done my 40 man roster algorithm yet so I’m not sure if keeping him will pose a problem or not with other guys we want to protect.

Here is MJH’s review of him and the system’s other top infielders:

“Arias is an extremely gifted defensive player with extraordinary range, a fabulous arm, the feet of Nureyev and quicker hands than Sugar Ray Leonard (or, for you kids out there, Floyd Mayweather). “

http://rangersfarmreport.mlblogs.com/archives/2008/01/prospect_previe_7.html

by Goyogringo on Aug 3, 2008 4:33 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs