The Bucs need offense wherever they can find it.

I think a lot of local fans over-rate Castillo's D, because he's got a lot more natural ability than consistency.

It's the way Castillo turns the DP - that's what does it.

And how odd is it for the Pirates that excitement over the 8th hitter being a "good" 8th hitter is what passes for analysis.

Jack Wilson owes Cristian Guzman something for covering up his poor season.

I think he gets a bit of a pass because of the appendix, but he's certainly been pretty feeble with the bat.

JW was zero in UZR as of the ASB. Castillo was -6 (per 150). Despite his reputation as a defensive whiz, Wilson's UZR over the last 4 years is slightly negative. Overall he is a dead-average SS, which is OK...

It's OK as long as the Pirates don't give him $24m over the next 4 years.

An average SS is worth 5 mil a year or so. (Actually, his projection is down to 4 runs below an average SS, due to his sucky hitting this year.) I would give him 4 mil a year for 2 or 3 years.

Then again, I would give T. Clark 500,000 for one year. BTW, that is the worst signing (contract extension) of the year, and one of the worst all-time, off the top of my head. It solidifies my long-held opinion that AZ is one of the worst franchises at projecting and valuing veteran player talent, due to a complete misunderstanding (actually, non-understanding) of how to go about projecting player performance. And this is with a new GM. As I know Gebhard personally, I will refrain from commenting on him specifically, other than to say that he is a heck of a nice guy and a veteran baseball man...

BTW, that is the worst signing (contract extension) of the year, and one of the worst all-time, off the top of my head.

Are you talking about the Tony Clark extension? I thought it was only 1 million per year for 2 years. Even if he reverts to his 2002-04 form, and is so useless he has to be released, so what?

They overpaid by a million. They overpaid a lot more than that on Russ Ortiz.

Clark's 3 year average is currently .257/.320/.530.

A projection would lower that somewhat for his age, but also raise it a bit, weighting the most recent kickass stats more.

Defensively, I have him as an average 1B, going by standard zone rating.

I find it hard not to see that player being worth a million.

I thought it was for more than that (like 2 or 3 mil a year). I googled it, but all I got was "for an undisclosed amount."

He has been -1 to -3 in park adjusted lwts for the last 4 years, and actually +38 so far this year. His +38 this has raised his projection 6 runs from the pre-season. His defense (UZR) is about average. His peripherals (GDP, baserunning, etc.) are terrible, around -5.

Given his age, his updated projection is near replacement! Beware the dangers of just looking at OPS and not including other things, age, baserunning, etc. Remember that he is a first baseman! There is a huge difference between an .840 (or whatever) first baseman and an .840 2B, 3B, SS, CF, C, etc. Huge! There is around a 20 run difference between the average SS and average first baseman.

Even for a million a year, let's face it, they gave him his extension because of his banner year at age 32 1/2. And a banner year it is. When he reverts back to his true talent level next year, everyone is going to be calling the signing "Tony Womack-like" (remember his banner year last year for the Cards?). The sure sign of a "stupid" team (D-Backs, Yankees, etc.) is inflating a player's value based on recent performance. I don't know about you, but to me 1 mil a year for 2 years is a lot of money. I would not have given him anything. He is a replacement (or platoon) player, plain and simple. In 2 years (the last year of his contract), he is going to be terrible - worse than replacement and that mil will be money down the toilet. The whole concept of a replacement player is that you can pick one up for the ML minimum salary. That is espcially true of first baseman. They are a dime a dozen in the minor leagues. Throwing away a million dollars per for 2 years, is simply wasting a half win a season. It all adds up, especially for a bad organization. And yes, the Russ Ortiz deal was a terrible one as well. Of course, there are multitudes of bad pitcher deals (Wright, Milton, Benson, Ishii, ad nauseum). I guess at 1 mi per, this is not "one of the all-time worst deals" or the "worst of the year." I honestly thought that it was for 2 or 3 mil per for 2 years, which would be pretty bad for a replacement player...

I thought it was for more than that (like 2 or 3 mil a year). I googled it, but all I got was "for an undisclosed amount."

Clark was signed for $700K for this year. He gets $1m in 2006 and $1m in 2007. He also gets full no trade clause through the end of 2006.

The Clark extension was pointless, IMHO, because AZ has Conor Jackson at 1B, Chad Tracy at 1B (he was moved there to make room for Glaus at 3B), and Carlos Quentin slated to take over in RF. Assuming AZ does the right thing and plays Jackson full time at 1B next year, Clark will be a glorified pinch hitter, DH in interleague games, and an occasional starter at 1B. At least I hope that's what he'll do, if the manager is smart.

About the money. The Dbacks are known to overpay for an outbreak season; they did it with Mantei after 1999, did it with Bautista after 2001. It does come to the fact that they have no idea how to properly evaluate talent. In Clark's case, in particular, the Dbacks resigned him because of his "intangibles": local resident, nice guy, good in the clubhouse, blah blah blah. IOW, the front office overpaid to have a local boy on board.

In the end, I really couldn't care less if the Dbacks spent a million next year on Clark, or on the next reincarnacion of Carlos Baerga. As long as Jackson gets the starting job at 1B, and Clark is the glorified pinch hitter, I really won't lose sleep over his salary. No skin off my teeth.

No skin off my teeth.

I assume this was intentional? :)

As long as Jackson gets the starting job at 1B, and Clark is the glorified pinch hitter, I really won't lose sleep over his salary.

This is a good point. At this level, unless the difference between Clark's salary and the minimum causes the DBacks to fall out of the running for someone useful, there's really not much impact to the fans by signing him for 1 mil a year.

By the way mgl, I thought the same thing as you, that it was for 2-3 million a year.

I assume this was intentional? :)

If you mean this:

Skin O'my teeth --> Megadeth --> Arizona --> Dbacks

Then you're right.

Overpaying a little for a local boy, especially when you don't give him undeserved playing time, may not be so bad. Ducey seemed to serve to make me a bigger fan than I would have otherwise been when I was young.

What sort of premium should teams be willing to pay to insure they are getting somebody who is at least replacement level? I think the answer is definitely more than zero.

Look at what the Yankees have gone through with their starting pitching this year or the Dodgers at 3B. Trying to find replacement level players takes ML playing time which can cost you games in the standings.

I think it's worth it to pay somebody like Tony Clark above the league minimum because his performance is more predictable than a career minor-leaguer or a refugee from Japan.

Clark has started this season as a pinch hitter, and he did pretty well in that role. Since his OPS is slugging heavy, if they leverage him right, he can be useful. Bring him in with men on base, and pinch run for him if needed.

They have done this very well for the beginning of 2005, and should not be tempted to overuse him going forward, keep Jackson or Tracy in there. Clark is also useful as a defensive replacement at 1B, he is average, and what I hear about Jackson is that he is not much of a fielder, though more experience at the position may remedy this.

I see you were mistaken about the amount he was making. No offense, MGL, but if you think that pauing 2-3 million for replacement level is historically bad, you must have a short memory.

You want a worse deal? How about paying a below replacement level hitting, horrible defending, 40 year old center fielder 14 million over 2 years? I'd gladly take Clark straight up for Finley, though I don't think the Diamondbacks are dumb enough to do it. I don't think anyone is.

I don't know about you, but to me 1 mil a year for 2 years is a lot of money.

To me, it is a huge amount of money. In baseball terms, I don't see it as a lot, since there are so many contracts (good and bad) that dwarf it. I think an elephant is huge, but throw him into the ocean with 100 blue whales, and all of a sudden he looks pretty small.

Another things about Clark...

Melvin felt that Clark helped Chad Tracy a lot this year with learning the finer points of manning the 1B bag, and wants Clark to do the same with Jackson this year and next. I agree that Clark's best value is as a pinch hitter with runners on and potentially as a defensive replacement late in games. In those roles, along with DHing some, he may prove useful enough to earn most of his $1m contract. AZ loves to have proven veterans around, and I sure as hell would prefer to have Clark for a million than Carlos Baerga back for a million. Or someone like Jose Macias or Jose Offerman or any such stiff.

AHEM. Find your own thread DBacks fans.

Hey, MGL started it, not me :)

I concede...

Clark has driven himself in 21 times. Other D'Backs have driven him in 9 times.

Fewest runs for players with 20 or more homers:

Darryl Ward 2000 - 36
Dave Henderson 1993 - 37