Comments on: Minor Transaction Wrap-Up

By: BX

BX — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:14:04 +0000

I think Sabean has pulled ahead in The Contest.

Garko signs for 550K while Sabean signed Huff for 3MM.

So the Giants are out 3MM and one Scott Barnes.

By: Scott Gianelli

Scott Gianelli — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:16:21 +0000

I have to think Winn had some sort of injury that made it impossible to swing from the right side last year. Those numbers are just too bad to be attributed to luck, I think. If he’s over that, it’s a very good signing for the Yankees.

Garko’s defense has improved steadily at first, but he’s living with a first impression made shortly after being moved from catcher. (I wonder if he can still catch — he’d have quite a bit more value that way.) Murphy has made some highlight-reel gaffes, but his range is actually good. There’s nothing wrong with Tatis as a bench player, but a Branyan/Garko platoon would cost $5M or less at this point, so why commit to Murphy/Tatis?

By: Louis Rizzo

Louis Rizzo — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 04:53:24 +0000

ummm…. im pretty sure Randy Winns BABIP against lefties was .178. thats .123 under his career norm. Its called unfathomable bad luck. Considering that all but guarentees a rebound, id say it was a sensible smart choice for the Yankees, who obviously did there homework.

By: fire jerry manuel

fire jerry manuel — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 02:12:05 +0000

so….

that tatis/garko point was embarrassing.

almost as embarrassing as the flood of “thumbs down” for anyone who disagreed with it. FANGRAPHS GROUP THINK AHHHHHHHH.

By: Kirk

Kirk — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 17:24:01 +0000

You could potentially say that Thome gives the team depth at 4 positions instead of 2. This is due to Kubel’s ability to play OF and Cuddyer’s ability to play 1B and not Thome’s defense (does he even own a glove?).

By: BX

BX — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 16:50:25 +0000

An outifield with Kubel and one of Young/Cuddyer is already pretty entertaining, and not in a good way for the Twins fans.

By: crix

crix — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 08:35:25 +0000

Minaya is a moron. He signs Matthews, then platoons Tatis and Murphy at first, did everyone forget about RUSSELL BRANYAN. Hello!? Average 1B. Defense, 31 HR
SLG%=.520 OB%=.347 OPS=.867

DOESN’T COST MUCH

How about doing a piece on Branyan?

By: Kevin S.

Kevin S. — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 06:10:04 +0000

A couple of things. Logically, a stat that gets most of its value from a player’s defensive range is going to have difficulty evaluating a position where defense isn’t primarily judged by range. It’s why UZR doesn’t even try to rate catcher defense. Keith Law has said that first base is where there’s a large discrepancy between his evaluations and advanced defensive statistics. Finally, I think even MGL himself has said (though I don’t have a link to this) that UZR’s rating of 1B is its weak link.

By: Steven Ellingson

Steven Ellingson — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 05:53:14 +0000

I’m not sure why that really matters. The point is, that most of our good hitters are lefties and an ideal construction not factoring in handedness would end with four or 5 lefties hitting in a row. The reason why this isn’t a big deal is that Thome will probably only play against RHP, and can be pinch hit for if need be if a loogy comes in.

By: Steven Ellingson

Steven Ellingson — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 05:46:08 +0000

20 men pitching staffs? That’ll make for a short bench.

Also, since when has gardy been reluctant to pinch hit? He’s pinch hit himself into some weird defensive rotations, and that was when they didn’t have a legit pinch hitter.