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Saturday, October 10, 2009

Rogers: Is Dusty Baker’s job safe in Cincinnati?

Latest whispering derailments from ‘Hobo’ Rogers.

Dusty Baker may not be as safe in Cincinnati as the Reds’ strong finish would suggest. Owner Bob Castellini reportedly has his eye on the Cardinals tandem of manager Tony La Russa and pitching coach Dave Duncan. ... Another former Cubs manager, Don Baylor, is being mentioned as a candidate for the vacancy in Houston, but general manager Ed Wade is trying to sell Jim Fregosi to owner Drayton McLane. ...

The Brewers are telling teams they don’t plan to trade Prince Fielder. They hope to get pitching back in trades for shortstop J.J. Hardy and possibly third base prospect Mat Gamel, a .302 hitter in five minor league systems who has been made expendable by the emergence of Casey McGehee, claimed on waivers from the Cubs last fall. ... “Heart of the Game” by S.L. Price, on the late Mike Coolbaugh, might be the best baseball book since “Ball Four.” ... Speaking of books, “Moneyball” protagonist Billy Beane is responsible for A’s teams that have gone 226-259 since Barry Zito’s exit, and Beane admits “we have a long way to go” in getting competitive again. Manager Bob Geren is safe for another year as the search for hitters continues. ...

Repoz Posted: October 10, 2009 at 04:50 PM | 12 comment(s)
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1. JoeHova Posted: October 10, 2009 at 04:24 PM (#3347979)

I hope the Brewers explore trading McGehee before they try to trade Gamel. McGehee is injured, 3 years older than Gamel, and has a career .741 minor league OPS (compared to Gamel's .862). McGehee's .499 slugging this year seems like a fluke. Even if it's not, the Brewers should try to sell high on him.

2. Walt Davis Posted: October 10, 2009 at 04:39 PM (#3347991)

A’s teams that have gone 226-259 since Barry Zito’s exit

And the second clause relates to the first how?

And while I can't imagine Melvin is as dumb as Rogers portrays here but I'd love it if the Brewers trade Gamel and keep faith in McGehee. Granted, I'd really prefer the Brewers trade Fielder and stick Gamel at 1B but I'm willing to compromise. :-)

3. Teheran's Uranium Enriched Missiles Posted: October 10, 2009 at 04:54 PM (#3348000)

Gamel is available? Hmm, Braves might want to take a hard look at this one.

4. philly Posted: October 10, 2009 at 05:49 PM (#3348031)

A’s teams that have gone 226-259 since Barry Zito’s exit

And the second clause relates to the first how?

Wasn't Zito the last of the Big 3 to leave? It's not that his individual exit led to the poor subsequent performance. Presumably, it's more that it officially ended the era of the Big 3, iow since the last of the A's big 3 left the team the A's record is 226-259.

5. AJM Posted: October 10, 2009 at 07:55 PM (#3348110)

Since Barry Zito's exit he's gone 31-43.

6. Walt Davis Posted: October 10, 2009 at 09:28 PM (#3348159)

Philly, I know. But Zito's exit has nothing to do with the team's performance over the last three years. "A's teams that have gone 226-259 over the last 3 seasons" tells you what you need to know without implying that if they'd resigned Zito it would have been different. Well, it might have been worse and cartainly more costly. But I guess 407-402 since the Hudson trade or 697-598 since letting Giambi leave just don't sound sufficiently damning of Beane's "philosophy" of not paying big money to his FAs.

The A's "demise" has pretty much nothing with letting their stars get away -- the only one they should really regret is Tejada. It has something to do with the unfortunate Chavez contract and wasting too much money on guys like Piazza but mostly it's due to the farm system not producing well enough. That will doom just about any franchise but the Yankees to long stretches of mediocre performance.

7. Harveys Wallbangers

Posted: October 11, 2009 at 08:55 AM (#3348320)

If Melvin trades Gamel then he really is exposed as relying on Jack Z and not having a clue about talent.

Gamel may be a flop. But we know that Casey had a poor man's Ludwick 2008. Come 2010 the bubble will burst. Gamel will have a chance to be truly better.

Granted that the strikeout rate is d#mn scary for Mat.

8. TerpNats Posted: October 11, 2009 at 10:51 PM (#3349314)

The teams seemingly in the best position to spend this winter are the Red Sox, Yankees, Nationals and Giants.

As a Nats fan, I'm glad they'll have money to spend; the question is, how many free agents would realistically be interested in them? If you were being pursued by the above four teams, I presume you'd prefer to sign with one of the AL East evil empires, and the Giants could contend for the postseason if some of their young players continue to mature. Washington won't contend for at least another two years, and that's only if everything falls into place. The Nats' hope is to find good free agents everyone else overlooks or deems one-dimensional, a la Adam Dunn.

9. Tripon Posted: October 11, 2009 at 10:57 PM (#3349320)

The Nats should be able to find a 2nd baseman, how do you like Orlando Hudson? All you have to do is give up your 2nd rounder. :)

10. TerpNats Posted: October 11, 2009 at 10:59 PM (#3349325)

Hudson's been on the Nats' radar for quite some time.

11. MM1f Posted: October 12, 2009 at 01:04 AM (#3349435)

Any chance McGeehee can catch at a near-MLB level?
He caught part time in AA and AAA.

If he could catch even a little he would be a damn good super-sub, being able to play 2b, 3b, 1b, and C.. and probably LF/RF if you needed

12. Mike Emeigh

Posted: October 12, 2009 at 10:47 AM (#3349712)

I agree with HW. I also think the Brewers should be trying to trade Weeks instead of Hardy, but Hardy's more or less pouted his way out of Milwaukee.

-- MWE

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Rogers: Is Dusty Baker’s job safe in Cincinnati?

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