New Jeff Wilson mailbag up
by Adam J. Morris on Jun 5, 2009 10:30 AM CDT
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PrintJeff Wilson has a new mailbag column up...
There is the inevitable Clay Buchholz trade discussion, with someone asking if the Rangers could get Buchholz for Omar Vizquel...Wilson suggests that Vizquel plus Hank Blalock would be more realistic, but the Rangers wouldn't do that right now because Josh Hamilton is out. I suspect, though, that if the Rangers could get Buchholz for Blalock and Vizquel, they'd jump all over it and figure out what to do at DH later...
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Think we can get Lincecum for Padilla?
I’d be willing to throw in Byrd.
Discuss.
I had a paper route when I was a kid. I was supposed to go to 2,000 houses. Or two dumpsters.
Padilla AND Byrd?
Well, maybe if they threw in Bumgardner…
wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lincecum and Bumgardner?
Well, maybe if we then threw in Guardado on top of Padilla and Byrd.
Padilla/Byrd/Guardado for Lincecum and Bumgardner is more realistic but the Rangers probably couldn’t do it because with Holland struggling a little bit, that would leave us too thin in left-handed bullpen relief.
/Jeff Wilson
The two who asked if we could get Bucholz for Vizquel were obviously trolling him and his response about how it would take Vizquel + Blalock but the Rangers can’t do that right now has got to be him trolling right back/goofing on his readers. It has to be, right?
Is AJ really playing well?
Since April… 241/.328/.414
Don’t let his hot start fool you.
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland - 2009 Rangers Minor League POY
Wonder
If that’s a slump or more in line with what he really is. He’s another weird player. Nothing but greatness for years and years, and then…splat. This year he starts off hot and for a while has been mediocre at best. Really not sure what he’s all about. I will say that even though he’s not hitting well now he still looks better than he did last year with the Dodgers.
by Black Francis on Jun 5, 2009 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions
steroids are a hell of a thing
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Jun 5, 2009 12:28 PM CDT up reply actions
Unfortunately a .328 OBP is...
…Bondsian on this team.
I have no objection to man walking on the moon.
He has had a really low BABIP over the past 28 days
Which means that it could just be a minor slump mixed in with a bit of regression early season 1.304 OPS.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
LMAO...
If the Rangers wouldn’t trade Blalock and Vizquel for Buchholz because they’re worried about not having a DH, Jon Daniels and Nolan Ryan should be relieved of their duties…
Yes their only question should be...
…“are you sure you don’t want us to throw Kris Benson in too?”
I have no objection to man walking on the moon.
And don't forget to mention
bib boobies, they are a package deal
I really don't know what to say in response to the Visquel/Blalock/Buchholz answer he gives there.
Is Wilson usually that butt ass terrible?
I don’t read a lot of his stuff, but it seems like he’s usually one of the better guys.
Or am I getting that wrong?
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Chris Davis will be fine. Relax.
It's the first time I can remember saying to myself...
…“what an idiot this guy is.”
I have no objection to man walking on the moon.
Same reaction here.
"[Font} doesn't turn 19 until the end of May and his heater can already hit 99 on the gun. That's baseball porn." - Jason Parks
by hightowersmith on Jun 5, 2009 10:45 AM CDT up reply actions
Even TR Sullivan would've come up with a better response than that.
wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There it is
I was wondering when you’d drop that in there
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on Jun 5, 2009 10:56 AM CDT up reply actions
he must be trolling back...
At the 2* readers who were clearly trolling him by asking the obviously ridiculous question of whether we could get Bucholz for Omar Vizquel.
But if he’s serious, then this is one of the dumbest things I’ve ever read.
*I strongly suspect the “two” readers who both just coincidentally happened to absurdly inquire about the possibility of Vizquel for Buckholz straight up had to have been one person posting under two different accounts.
Would anyone NOT do the following?
Salty + Blalock + Vizquel for Buchholz?
Considering that before the season the Rangers would probably have traded Salty for Buchholz, and that Blalock and Vizquel are really only minor considerations, you have to do that, right?
Go Rice Owls!
wow I was kinda thinking along those same lines
Signature! I don't need no stinking signature!!
by DerekSTheRed on Jun 5, 2009 11:06 AM CDT up reply actions
Depends (how's that for a waffly answer?)
If we’re passing on this year, then I’d do it.
If we’re trying to stay in it this year, then gutting your bench doesn’t seem all that smart.
The Texas Rangers have been synonymous with explosive firepower ever since they emptied 130 rounds into Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow in 1934. - Alyssa Milano
eh
It’d be tough to give up those guys, but they are replaceable. Andrus has more than held his own at SS – Arias is sufficient to be the backup infielder right now. Blalock can be replaced, either internally (Jones full time; bring up another OF type, hopefully Smoak in a month or two) or externally (Frank Thomas, or, hate to say it, B__y B__s).
Go Rice Owls!
So many holes, so little time..
a) We don’t have the money to sign Bonds; I predict the Hicks selloff will keep us from being “player-specific” at all this season
b) Arias can’t play 3B or SS it seems
c) any replacement for Hank at this point is a step back offensively at a time that the offense is struggling a bit and is down a big bat already.
The Texas Rangers have been synonymous with explosive firepower ever since they emptied 130 rounds into Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow in 1934. - Alyssa Milano
and
d) Clay Buchholz has more promise as a ML starter than anyone in our organization.
Go Rice Owls!
No doubt.
But I just wanted to shoot down the idea that those guys are so easily replaced..
The Texas Rangers have been synonymous with explosive firepower ever since they emptied 130 rounds into Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow in 1934. - Alyssa Milano
I don't care if they sign Monty Farris to be the backup SS
and bring back Jason Botts from Japan to be the DH.
Neither of those is any excuse to not trade for Buchholz.
Go Rice Owls!
+1
"wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!"by bigsteve on May 29, 2009 10:21 PM PDT
"Elvis Andrus has just performed a miracle." -Eric Nadel
iirc
bonds said he’d play for the minimum.
"Anyone that isn't pro-choice never met you" ~Brian Thomas on Seth...
I'd rather trade TT at this point
Salty has improved his defense and game calling that I would prefer to keep him. I would still be hesitant to trade Vizquel because he’s the perfect bench guy.
Signature! I don't need no stinking signature!!
by DerekSTheRed on Jun 5, 2009 11:08 AM CDT up reply actions
I'd rather make that deal too
but would Boston? It’s pretty clear that Tea isn’t a full time catcher right now and maybe never will be.
Getting Buchholz at all is a ridiculous coup. Getting him without any prospects going back (the catcher flanked by an old guy and a disappointing soon-to-be gone guy), would probably sacrifice any choice about which catcher goes.
Go Rice Owls!
how is that pretty clear?
I’m on board with Salty over Tea, but Tea hasn’t even had a chance yet.
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Jun 5, 2009 12:31 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't really think they would either
But the thing about mid-season trades is that you see weird things happen. If the Sox desperately need a DH and a backup SS, and they figured they were almost to the point of trading for Salty anyway as a long-term catching solution, maybe they go for it? I don’t know – that AL East is a crazy place though, and it isn’t obvious that the Red Sox make the playoffs like it has been in past years. Give the Sox a losing streak and expose some of those holes a bit more….
Obviously the Blalock/Vizquel for Buchholz deal is stupid. But attached onto a deal that was probably at least discussed, albeit likely very briefly before? Who knows.
Go Rice Owls!
The Red Sox.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Chris Davis will be fine. Relax.
by thedirkatron on Jun 5, 2009 11:15 AM CDT up reply actions
So when does winning the division in 2009
take precedence over the future?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
Buchholz
There’s a pretty good chance that acquiring him helps the Rangers now AND in the future. And I’d think the Rangers could find a replacement for Blalock on the trade market without mortgaging the farm.
Arias or Duran could replace Vizquel; if not them, a half-decent utility infielder isn’t that hard to find.
"I dont care to debate with a troll." - Sharky
RCCook
You do realize that with no Hamilton and Crush struggling, losing Blalock will very likely torpedo 2009.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
pffffffffffft
what is this, 2003?
mormons stole me and held me against my will with Oklahoma beer and 12+ hour work days.
If this season is resting on Hank
then we’re already in huge trouble.
If Texas could get Buchholz, they could include someone like Matt Harrison or BMac (possibly with some middle prospect) in a trade for Nick Johnson
Go Rice Owls!
You're starting to convince me...
But there’s no way the Sox are trading Bucholz for less than a Texiera-type haul.
The Texas Rangers have been synonymous with explosive firepower ever since they emptied 130 rounds into Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow in 1934. - Alyssa Milano
Losing Blalock
I addressed that above:
“I’d think the Rangers could find a replacement for Blalock on the trade market without mortgaging the farm.”
So: trade Blalock and Vizquel for Buchholz, trade some B/C level prospects for a hitter to replace Blalock, and find a new utility infielder.
Then slot Buchholz into the rotation, move someone (McCarthy?) to the pen, and you’ve got a better team all the way around.
"I dont care to debate with a troll." - Sharky
"Trade some b/c level prospects for a hitter to replace Blalock"?
Excuse me? Who exactly would that be?
Realize that Hank is in a contract year, on pace to hit 37 bombs, that Hamilton is gone and Crush/Salty are almost at point where you can’t use them in the same line-up.
Also realize that Hank’s obp (the big chink in the armour) the last 28 days is right there with his career norm plus he’s done a good job hitting the ball the other way of late.
We need (a productive) Hank Blalock this year if we want to win the AL West and I don’t think there’s any way we could trade b/c level prospects to replace what he brings to the table.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
The other side of that
do we have an arm in the farm as good as Buchholz?
Rock Flag & Eagle Radio: Thursdays 10 PM - 1 AM on FM 88.7 The Choice
"Computers can’t measure the size of a man’s heart."
- Hawk Harrelson, MLB Guru/Analyst
Don't the Usual Suspects and Ranger spin masters
all want us to believe the Feliz is all that?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
Is having two of those types of arms a bad thing?
Sure, Neftali Feliz may be that, but I’d rather have two of those arms for 6 years than one plus Hank Blalock for another 5 months…
That means you're pissing away 2009
and you have a team filled with young players in or on the doorstep of their prime that could take a couple of more progressive steps in a hurry.
I’m guessing on the ages but humor me -
C – Salty/TT combo platter is 24ish
1B – Crush is 23
2B – Kinsler is 26
SS – Andrus is 20
3B – Face is 32
LF – Byrd is 32, Murphy is 28
CF – Hamilton is 28
RF – Cruz is 29 (on July 1)
DH – Blalock is 28, Jones is 32
There is no shit on this roster killing time and doing nothing more than playing for a paycheck like Lofton or Sosa.
Keeping as many great arms as you can is always a good but we have Holland here and Feliz knocking on the door. That team above is aged in a way that it is primed to win right now and you don’t piss thru the window of opportunity when it opens.
Given where this team is right now and what they need, you don’t trade Hank Blalock.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
I don't think trading Hank means you're pissing away 2009...
But if you do, I’ll agree to disagree…
I think you’re just about as well off right now and even better off going forward with Buchholz stepping into the rotation…
I'm sorry when
did Hank become vastly superior to what Jones offers at DH?
Hank isn’t going to save this team. If Boston will take Visquel, Blalock, Teagarden, and let’s say Vallejo, why on Earth would we not do that deal for Buckholtz?
Duran, Arias, or someone off the streets becomes the utility guy. Jones is full time DH, Ramirez comes up to back up Salty or they sign a vet backup and Boggs remains until Hamilton returns.
Holland goes back to the pen until McCarthy has to be put back there because of the number of innings he’s pitched. Or maybe you send Holland back down to stretch him out and work on his breaking ball.
Millwood
Buckholtz
Padilla
Feldman
McCarthy
Harrison
Release Padilla if they want. That’s a better rotation and a better team than Tea, Blalock and Vizquel sitting on the bench most nights.
Hank would be missed
but if I lived in DFW, I’d drive him to the airport if it meant getting Buchholz.
Go Rice Owls!
JBImaknee
Okay, that means pissing thru the window of opportunity to win the AL West this year.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
I don't think it is that black-and-white
You’re acting like Buchholz would just blend into the arsenal of guys who’ll show up in the future. Buchholz would instantly become the #3 pitcher in this rotation, at least. The team’s pitching has not been markedly better than last years (if you believe the "it’s all the fielding arguments). The Rangers pitching will improve in 2009 with Clay Buchholz in the rotation.
I do agree though – losing Blalock certainly would hurt the offense, but it would likely precipitate a deal for another hitter. Whatever pitcher Buchholz displaces (Feldman, Harrison, BMac) could be spun off into that hitter
Go Rice Owls!
Black and white
Is the only way Josey can see anything. You guys should all know that by now.
"I dont care to debate with a troll." - Sharky
Replacing Blalock
Hell, I don’t know- Nick Johnson, maybe? How about Brad Hawpe? Matt Holliday?
Finding an .850 OPS hitter on the trade market isn’t nearly as difficult as you seem to think it is. Especially one that can out-produce Hank’s .300 OBP, or even the .335 mark he’s put up for his career. This team has plenty of power- what it needs are guys who can get on base.
And sure, we could use a productive Hank Blalock. But I’d sure as hell rather have Clay Buchholz on this team going forward, because it improves our chances to win multiple division titles, not just one.
"I dont care to debate with a troll." - Sharky
Think Billy Beane is going to give a division rival in need
Matt Holliday for a b/c prospect?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
OK, then
How about Hawpe or Johnson?
And note I said “prospects” plural- not singular.
"I dont care to debate with a troll." - Sharky
Really think you can get NJohnson or Hawpe for b/c prospects or that this
owner will add payroll after shedding Blalock?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
x
losing Blalock will very likely torpedo 2009.
This is funny.
by Adam J. Morris on Jun 5, 2009 1:04 PM CDT up reply actions
Not as funny as you saying on the podcast (that was recorded this past Monday?)
“Blalock has zero value to the Texas Rangers”
Do you realize some of the things you say on that show or that somebody like myself might be listening who will call you on it?
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
Did I say that?
Maybe.
But he has no trade value right now.
He’s a six million dollar low-OBP platoon DH.
And the idea that him being here is the difference between this team winning and losing this season is laughable.
I assume that, if he gets hurt, the 2009 season is over — we might as well call it a day, call up Borbon and Feliz, and start selling off vets?
by Adam J. Morris on Jun 5, 2009 1:16 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah, you said it and I listened to it twice
to make sure I heard it correctly.
You also said a couple of weeks ago that Chris Young hasn’t been a good pitcher the last two years. Seriously, that’s an incredibly uninformed statement on par with saying Blalock has zero value.
Blalock’s obp the last 28 days is returning to normal and with good health, I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t get it back to .330+ shortly or by year’s end. Now that Hamilton’s gone and Crush/Salty are inept, this team needs offense. Blalock is rocking a .900+ OPS the last 28 days and is on pace to hit 37 homers. He’s a player in his prime who is in a contract year.
You don’t trade these kind of players when you have a chance to win the division otherwise you wind up with the shit from somebody’s front yard that comes in a package named Brad Wilkerson.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
x
You also said a couple of weeks ago that Chris Young hasn’t been a good pitcher the last two years. Seriously, that’s an incredibly uninformed statement on par with saying Blalock has zero value.
I’m pretty sure I said he hasn’t been that good a pitcher the past two years, and that’s true.
Chris Young in 2008 — 3.96 ERA, 97 ERA+, 4.40 FIP in only 102 1/3 IP
Chris Young in 2009 — 4.46 ERA, 86 ERA+, 4.63 FIP
He’s got a below average ERA+ before you even take into account the fact that he’s pitched worse than just the ERA reflects.
And I thought you were of a sabermetric bent? One would assume not, seeing as how you are bad-mouthing Bill James fave Brad Wilkerson, and touting the pretty well debunked contract year phenomenon.
by Adam J. Morris on Jun 5, 2009 1:34 PM CDT up reply actions
If JD being a "Wash man" is per se proof he's not saber-friendly
Then touting the contract year phenomenon should be per se proof that Josey isn’t saber-friendly.
"wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!"by bigsteve on May 29, 2009 10:21 PM PDT
"Elvis Andrus has just performed a miracle." -Eric Nadel
CYoung gives his team a chance to win the game
which is THE most important quality any starting pitcher can have and decidedly trumps both FIPS & DIPS. I don’t give a damn what a pitcher’s fips & dips are, did he give his team a chance to win?
2008 was a little bit of a rollercoaster. Young was very good in April (5 of 6 Game Scores 50+) and terrible in May, a month that was punctuated by a Pujols linedrive that skull-fucked him – breaking both his nose and fracturing his skull. Bad months happen to pitchers.
He came back too early but was very good in two of those three starts. After taking another month off, he had another horrendous start and then came back in September to reel off Game Scores of 84, 59, 74, 63.
In 2009, CYoung has Game Scores of 50+ in 9 of 12 starts this year.
Your boy Donuts screwed the pooch when he dealt both CYoung & AGonzales for a bag of rocks. To try and justify it in some way by saying that CYoung hasn’t been very good the last two years is flat-out wrong.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
That's not any type of justification of the trade
Its just the truth.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
CYoung was up & down in 2008 but it was mostly just one month
of bad pitching. CYoung has been good in 2009.
To say he hasn’t been a good pitcher the last two years is wrong.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
"Good in 2009" might be a stretch
The 3 games with Game Scores below 50 have been absolute stinkers: 7 earned in 3.2, 8 in 3.0, and 6 in 4.0. Those games produces GS of 15, 26, and 11, respectively. Those also happen to be half of his road starts. His other three road starts include two good ones and then a mystifying performance against a bad COL team where he walked 6 but lucked out with only 1 ER.
His BB/9 is 4.5 and his K/BB is a very weak 1.44. That’s not an aberration, as his K and BB rates have been trending the wrong direction ever since he was traded.
He has not been good this year, he’s been decent and erratic.
"wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!"by bigsteve on May 29, 2009 10:21 PM PDT
"Elvis Andrus has just performed a miracle." -Eric Nadel
When I saw CYoung, I read that as "Cy Young"
And thought this was a post about Feldman.
"wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!"by bigsteve on May 29, 2009 10:21 PM PDT
"Elvis Andrus has just performed a miracle." -Eric Nadel
Hmmm
“I don’t give a damn what a pitcher’s fips & dips are”
Not very saber-friendly of you…
"I dont care to debate with a troll." - Sharky
RCCook
Saying I don’t give a damn is probably a little strong.
To me, fips & dips are parts of the watch but Game Scores actually tell you what time it is.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
No they don't
They are a more elaborate way to describe a quality start while still not using many sabermetric principles.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
Game scores don't even describe quality starts
you can have a 50 plus when you get an injury in the first inning. Short stints where nothing terribly bad happened to you but you burn the bullpen can get you above 50.
QS% at least tells folks you didn’t burn the bullpen.
E(W) (from Baseballprospectus http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=3456 ) probably does a better job of capturing how many wins you should have. Basicly it takes the inning you leave, the number of runners on and what bases they are on, and how many outs in the inning, and assigns the probability based on history of getting a win. You go deep into a game and don’t allow runs or runners, you get a high probability, you get chased early, or give up a ton of runs, you get a low probability.
As a stat, game scores are up there with Range Factor.
"He (Padilla) shouldve gone back to Venezuela and watched on his Direct TV waiting to find out who his new team would be!!. ." - crops.mlblogs.com
How often do pitchers have short stints (1-3 innings pitched)
where they leave the game with Game Scores of 50+?
It’s very rare to ever see it happen and it’s usually because of injury or ejection.
That doesn’t invalidate the importance of the stat.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
Until the number of occurences are 0
You should try using some other statistics to go with Game Scores if you’re going to keep trying to shove it down people’s throats.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
How about those numbers by CY I posted?
Care to respond to the disputed definition of “good in 2009”?
"wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!"by bigsteve on May 29, 2009 10:21 PM PDT
"Elvis Andrus has just performed a miracle." -Eric Nadel
Its all about game scores
a stat that doesn’t league adjust or park adjust. An extremely craptastic stat that isn’t even as good as E(W).
"He (Padilla) shouldve gone back to Venezuela and watched on his Direct TV waiting to find out who his new team would be!!. ." - crops.mlblogs.com
Cahill
I don’t know if you are the most irrelevant poster in here but you are definitely in the trust tree.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
He is so hilariously stupid sometimes
I am almost tempted to unblock him.
"Guillermo Moscoso despite his stunning game yesterday, is not a legit prospect. He is simply too old, too skinny, too weak, and lacks the fastball to make it at the professional level. ." - crops.mlblogs.com
Trading Blalock for Buchholz would be better for this team now and in the future
Trade some of that future for Nick Johnson if you want a replacement bat.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
Definitely
Salty for Buchholtz makes sense, and neither Omar or Blalock will be around next season. Jones becomes full-time DH.
"Was this really necsarry?" - cowpoke/hurler hurley
Not even close, imo.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Chris Davis will be fine. Relax.
by thedirkatron on Jun 5, 2009 11:16 AM CDT up reply actions
what do you have to add to get it done?
they’re pretty stacked at SP – but I would’ve thrown in a non-Feliz starter
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Jun 5, 2009 12:35 PM CDT up reply actions
Maybe Perez might do it. Maybe. Doubt it, though. Replace Visquel with Andrus and that'd do it.
Otherwise you’re talking about having to put together a package of pitching prospects so stupid-big that it’d make more sense just to hanf onto them rather than deal them all for one guy.
Look, the Sawx are in a position where unless it’s a stupid good trade, they’re not dealing Buchholz.
They have no need to.
They’re set for now and they’re set for the future.
Why F with that for a pu-pu platter of good but not great pieces you don’t really need right now to win?
If anything Boston will pull off a deal where they use their financial muscle to buy a player if they feel the need to plug a hole for the stretch run.
Buchholz ain’t going nowhere unless you’re talking a mega-huge blockbuster.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Chris Davis will be fine. Relax.
by thedirkatron on Jun 5, 2009 12:40 PM CDT up reply actions
Looking at it again, Perez wouldn't do it at all.
Don’t know what I was thinking.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Chris Davis will be fine. Relax.
by thedirkatron on Jun 5, 2009 12:41 PM CDT up reply actions
Blalock to the Red Sox
I just don’t see it happening for Buckholz or for anyone. Even if they do decide to replace Ortiz permanently, Blalock isn’t a Theo Epstein type player at all. There’s numerous guys likely available whom the Red Sox would target way ahead of Blalock: Nick Johnson, Josh Willingham, Jack Cust, Russ Branyan, Travis Hafner, Brad Hawpe, Aubrey Huff, etc…
I could even see them taking on an expensive veteran contract like Helton or Berkman before I can see them doing anything involving Blalock.
They’d probably just as soon take Eric Hinske back as trade for Blalock. They’re certainly not going to give up anything valuable for Blalock.
As for Vizquel, I’m not sure how he improves the Red Sox over Green/Lugo. I doubt if he’s any better or worse than either of them at this point.
Saltalamacchia or TT has value to them, but not as much as Buckholz. Blalock and Vizquel have negligible value to them.
And I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Buckholz replaces Penny in their rotation at some point before September.
He wasn't being serious in his response due to the outragousness of the question
Though I hate when TR does it cause he is like that with almost every question… I don’t see a problem with Wilson doing it on this question.
I don't really think he was kidding
Two readers asked the same question. Vizquel for Buchholz would never happen. Vizquel and Hank Blalock for Buchholz seems a little more feasible.
A few problems: 1. Buchholz nearly tossed a perfect game for Triple-A Pawtucket last week, and his ERA afterward was 1.30. His trade value is soaring. 2. Vizquel might be a good fit, but at 42, some might wonder if he can play every day. 3. With Hamilton injured, the Rangers can’t trade away Blalock’s big bat.
He seems rather serious to me. And he also seems to think that Blalock has a “big bat”.
wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"And he also seems to think that Blalock has a "big bat"."...
…maybe he has access to the Rangers showers.
I have no objection to man walking on the moon.
Blalock
Here is the thing about him – we’re intimately familiar with his disappointment, injuries, etc. Around the league it isn’t as obvious that he’s as much a disaster as we think he is here at LSB.
Now the Red Sox aren’t run by idiots. But from a PR point of view, getting those three guys who can go on their roster right now makes it easier to give up on a guy who they clearly aren’t going out of their way to make space for on their big league roster for some reason. I suspect someone in Boston doesn’t like Clay Buchholz. This gives whoever that is some ammo to get rid of him.
Go Rice Owls!
let's break this apart
if Vizquel for Buchholz would never happen, then Vizquel for Hank Blalock DOES seem a LITTLE more feasible. Still not liklely, but MORE feasible.
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Jun 5, 2009 12:36 PM CDT up reply actions
More Realistic
A more realistic trade would be Smoak and Teagarden for Buchholz.
I wouldn’t make that deal, but I think that’s what it would take.
I agree on the price,
but they got Lars.
"I saw your act, just didn't make it for me. Just a lot of fluff."
Lars sucks. Well, he's much worse than Smoak, anyhow.
The long swing and terrible body have finally caught up with him in AA and while I don’t think he’s this bad, he’s certainly not the golden God people seemed to think after last year.
And no way they make that deal, imo.
I’d make it in a country heartbeat or however that saying goes.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Chris Davis will be fine. Relax.
by thedirkatron on Jun 5, 2009 12:46 PM CDT up reply actions
You have to change your perspective some
The whole point of this is the Red Sox could maybe use both Vizquel (fix their glaring hole at SS) and Blalock (sub in for Ortiz, who is hitting worse than a certain Rangers 1b). Obviously, if you were in the offseason just looking for the right players to give the Sox to get Buchholz, you’d have to start with someone like Smoak or Feliz. But the landscape isn’t there for a prospect-for-prospect deal, it is there for a “fix Boston’s holes”-for-prospect trade.
The pressure is beginning to mount. I could very easily see Boston trading Buchholz for far less than a Smoak + Tea package if it fills their holes. I don’t think Vizquel + Blalock counts as “filling their holes” – I’m sure there are many better DH/SS combos out there who Buchholz could make available.
The Red Sox have two months to make a deal that could address Ortiz’ situation or the shortstop position in case Lowrie has a setback. They are pitching-rich at the moment, with a big hole in the lineup and one on the field, as well.
"It’s a good position to be in, pitching-wise – it beats the alternative of looking for it," said Epstein. "I think we’ll be active on trade talks as far as discussions go, but I would never want to predict if we’re going to be active enough that we make a trade. There are areas we can make improvement, either internally or externally."
The Red Sox do not have forever to wait for improvement. For now, though, they can simply hope that their wait will be worth it.
Go Rice Owls!
An amusing comment from that article
Theo should be on the phone with colorado seeing what it will take to acquire Todd Helton from the Rockies. They are team that needs to drop payroll and get younger. I would offer Bowden and Anderson plus one other throw in. See if they will bite on it. I would also talk with the Rangers about Vizquel. Offer them Brad Penny after June 15th for him.
Who here would like to trade Holland and Smoak for Todd Helton. Raise your hands everyone!
Go Rice Owls!
Seems like everyone's soured on Lars, but, yah, that's utterly ridiculous for Helton.
With that contract there’s no way they get anything for him at all.
If they could get someone to just take the money off their hands I imagine they’d poop themselves trying to hurry and get the paperwork off the league office.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Chris Davis will be fine. Relax.
by thedirkatron on Jun 5, 2009 12:48 PM CDT up reply actions
Someone I'm Facebook friends with...
…had a status update saying he’d like to see the BoSox get Smoak without giving up Buchholz or Anderson, and suggested Bowden or Bard, a middling pitching prospect, and a middling OF prospect.
I found that amusing.
by Adam J. Morris on Jun 5, 2009 1:06 PM CDT up reply actions
I really think
that with Davis’ struggles there is no way that Smoak gets traded unless someone of the ilk of Greinke or David Price is coming back which will never happen
They've already got Smoak...
…in Lars Anderson who, despitte struggling a bit in AA this year, is akin to Smoak as a prospect and plays the same position. So unless they’re planning on moving Youkilis back to 3rd, I don’t see them going after a 1B prospect. But I definitely agree that it would take another good /very good prospect in addition to Salty or TT to land Buckholz.
Smoak is far superior to Anderson, imo.
He’s really tumbled this year in the eyes of… well, seems like everyone.
The bad body/long swing concerns are getting pretty dire at this point.
Plus he’s a DH whereas Smoak’s a 1b.
However, your argument that they don’t need a 1b prospect is valid. Between Youk and Lowell and Poppy and Anderson they’ve got some serious CIF depth right now.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
Chris Davis will be fine. Relax.
Why does it seam that many people here are SO against letting Salty go?
I know there is not much of a sample size, but what has been shown that would make you think Salty > TT as a whole? Yes Salty’s defense has gotten much better, but still not up to TT level. Everyone says Salty’s upside at the plate is MUCH better than TT. Again something I just dont see. I think Salty is better at the plate than TT but not much. I see their career plate stats something like this:
Salty – 260/315/500
TT – 250/325/475
Yes Salty production at the plate is better, but not MUCH. I like them both but for a chance to get Buchholz and you HAVE to put Salty in instead of TT, consider it done!!!
Elvis has "shook up" Arlington!!
TT is never going to be more than a .250 hitter
Salty is a switch hitter. If Salty can be comparable to TT defensively and can call a good game, then I want Salty.
Signature! I don't need no stinking signature!!
by DerekSTheRed on Jun 5, 2009 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions
Salty had one thing to prove before this season
that he could be viable defensively. he’s been more than that – he’s looked great and been pretty damn good. and the pitchers are responding while he’s behind the plate, whether that’s because of a confidence of the defense behind them or his game calling/framing, etc.
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Jun 5, 2009 12:38 PM CDT up reply actions
Hammy for Buchh?
mormons stole me and held me against my will with Oklahoma beer and 12+ hour work days.
It'd be a PR nightmare
wouldn’t do it.
Rock Flag & Eagle Radio: Thursdays 10 PM - 1 AM on FM 88.7 The Choice
"Computers can’t measure the size of a man’s heart."
- Hawk Harrelson, MLB Guru/Analyst
This isn't about figuing out who to trade for Buchholz
It’s about what is the minimum amount required to extract Boston’s best prospect in response to their current urgent needs.
Go Rice Owls!
Here's my theory
Hammy as great as he is, we really got for a raw prospect that wont ever turn into a top level pitcher. We all know it, that why we werent flipped out and pissed off when the deal went down to begin with. Hammy has addiction concerns (not worried about that really) and injury conserns (terrifies me in a JD Drew kinda way), we arent terrible without him in fact we are damn good without his production, Buchholtz is a top of the rotation guy to match with Holland and Feliz, and Buchholtz has extra FA time and will be in team control longer than Hammy…
given that, its not as brain-dead crazy as when you first think about it.
mormons stole me and held me against my will with Oklahoma beer and 12+ hour work days.
I wouldn't mind it
I’d probably trade anyone on this team not named Ian Kinsler for Buchholz, but a> it isn’t going to happen for the PR reasons (as Maximilian says), and b> Boston doesn’t need Hamilton, since as you point out, they already have one guy with JD Drew-type injury concerns.
Go Rice Owls!
Hammy and a catcher
for Buchholz and one of their really good relievers
still not sure I’d want in on that. But I see where it’s going…
"Hang-Dai, Wu...Hang-Fu$&ing-Dai"
by Walter Sobchak on Jun 5, 2009 12:39 PM CDT up reply actions
ok comparison selling then...
a) salty, hank, omah, poveda for buchholz
or
b) TT, hank, omah, perez for buchholz
do the bosox do either? do the rangers do either?
i would also consider asking for one of there several B- middle infield prospects.
"Anyone that isn't pro-choice never met you" ~Brian Thomas on Seth...
They won't do B?
Might need to happen after the season, but that’s an incredible package from Texas.
"[Font} doesn't turn 19 until the end of May and his heater can already hit 99 on the gun. That's baseball porn." - Jason Parks
by hightowersmith on Jun 6, 2009 8:35 AM CDT up reply actions
The long national nightmare is over, new post on Crops!
Opining on Padilla and approving Vizquel/Blalock for Buccholz, Sully is in da house!!!
He also laments the rule against trading draft picks, setting forth this epic trade proposal if it were legal:
(man, I just thought of something else that makes me mad — if we could trade on draft day, which I think they said would be legal the next time they have labor disputes, we’d then have enough pitchinhttp://www.lonestarball.com/2009/6/5/899895/new-jeff-wilson-mailbag-up#commentsg that we could trade BMac and Feldman plus a prospect hitter like Whittleman, who will never play 3b here, for Strasberg! The Nats need so much they’d have to think hard about doing that……..)
Ho. Ly. Crap. BMac, Feldman, and Whittleman for Strasburg? The Nats wouldn’t be able to say yes fast enough!!!!
"wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!"by bigsteve on May 29, 2009 10:21 PM PDT
"Elvis Andrus has just performed a miracle." -Eric Nadel
Thank God
I was going into withdrawl.
"Guillermo Moscoso despite his stunning game yesterday, is not a legit prospect. He is simply too old, too skinny, too weak, and lacks the fastball to make it at the professional level. ." - crops.mlblogs.com
Indeed
I was afraid the embarrassment of the Moscoso episode had driven them off the interwebs. I would have declared a day of mourning if that had happened.
"wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!"by bigsteve on May 29, 2009 10:21 PM PDT
"Elvis Andrus has just performed a miracle." -Eric Nadel
And for what it's worth, the most entertaining part of that Strasburg proposal
Has Sully ever heard of Ryan Effing Zimmerman?
Assuming that a) trading draft picks is legal, b) the Rangers could make a deal for Strasburg that didn’t involve Smoak, Feliz, AND Perez, and c) somehow the Nats continue listening to the offer once it gets beyond “we’ll give you McCarthy, Feldman…”:
Why in the world would the Nats want to trade for a THIRD BASEMAN? Sully is correct that they’ve got lots of holes to fill, but I’m pretty sure third base isn’t anywhere near the top of the list.
"wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!"by bigsteve on May 29, 2009 10:21 PM PDT
"Elvis Andrus has just performed a miracle." -Eric Nadel
The more you break down that post
the more subtle genius you see in it.
"Guillermo Moscoso despite his stunning game yesterday, is not a legit prospect. He is simply too old, too skinny, too weak, and lacks the fastball to make it at the professional level. ." - crops.mlblogs.com
Is it possible that Crops is an elaborate comedy bit conceived by brilliant writers?
The Fire Joe Morgan of Rangers prospect talk, if you will?
"wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!"by bigsteve on May 29, 2009 10:21 PM PDT
"Elvis Andrus has just performed a miracle." -Eric Nadel
I'd prefer not to think so
its even better if its unintentional comedy. You might be right though.
There are times that they have 3 or 4 things that are funny to me crammed into one sentence.
"He (Padilla) shouldve gone back to Venezuela and watched on his Direct TV waiting to find out who his new team would be!!. ." - crops.mlblogs.com
Yeah, I prefer to think this is a serious attempt at prospect talk
The misspellings and some of the other stuff make me think it’s serious, but there is so much hilarity that I start to wonder, “this is too funny to just be unintentional comedy.”
I hope it’s serious, because if so, it’s quickly becoming legendary.
"wORLD sEIRES HERE WE COMER!!!!!!!!!"by bigsteve on May 29, 2009 10:21 PM PDT
"Elvis Andrus has just performed a miracle." -Eric Nadel
I don't know
if I’d call it genius, but I do believe it is a bit. I think it is a parody of Jamey’s Farm Crop Series
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
They are terrible if they
are offering real analysis and they are terrible if they a a parody of Jamey.
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland - 2009 Rangers Minor League POY
Both BMac and Feldman?
All the Rangers will have received for John Danks is half a package to acquire some former prospect who couldn’t even crack the Red Sox rotation?
Go Rice Owls!
they finally said something I agree with
trading draft picks
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland - 2009 Rangers Minor League POY
that's not realistic
I think it would take something like McCarthy, Mathis, Ben Harrison, Strop, Esteban German Duran (yes, both of them), Garr, Diamond, Gac, and either Eric Fry or Clark Murphy for Strassburg and either Milledge or Dukes.
That way they could rebuild their whole system with all kinds of prospects instead of just one, and get rid of one of their troublemaking statutory rapist outfielders to boot.
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