As I posted in the other thread, its an underwhelming return for the Nats. Surely someone would have offered more.

And also is Bowden still in charge of operations, with his investigation in progress? Or is Rizzo reaching for a guy he drafted?

I hope they only airbrush this picture and don't replace it!

More importantly, will Rauch get more than the one save opportunity per month with the D'Backs? Or is he going to setup for Lyon? And yes, fantasy baseball is for dorks.

Wasn't Bonifacio supposed tp be O-Dawg's replacement? I wonder if this means Zona is looking at signing Hudson or Ellis this offseason.

FIRE BOWDEN!!!!

So much for Oakland cornering the market on second base prospects.

I hope they only airbrush this picture and don't replace it!


This is my favourite

Surely someone would have offered more.

Really? I'm not so sure about that. Rauch has questionable peripherals, and I sense that GMs are evolving at whiplash speed these days into being far more cautious w/r/t trades. Moreover, if Bowden is known for one thing, it's for not giving away his pieces cheaply if at all possible. Would the Rays or the Dodgers really have given up one of their top prospects?

I know Needham wants nothing more than to conduct an orgy in the spilt blood of Lerner/Kasten/Bowden, but I don't necessarily think this was a "bad" trade, more a trade that reflects the realities of the market. If another comparable reliever subsequently goes for a ridiculous haul before the deadline, I'll reevaluate.

I know Needham wants nothing more than to conduct an orgy in the spilt blood of Lerner/Kasten/Bowden,

You're confusing my two favorite pastimes.

Rauch has questionable peripherals

Really?

I just looked at Rauch's stats for the first time this year and the first thing I noticed was how good his peripherals (particularly K/BB) were. What am I missing?

Well, Bonifacio won't be the second baseman of the future in Arizona
I wonder if the Dbacks would be bold/crazy to move Reynolds to 2b next year
Personally I don't see them springing the cash for Hudson or Ellis

Jon Rauch rhp
2 years/$3.2M (2008-09), plus 2010 club option

re-signed 2/2/08 (avoided arbitration, $1.4M-$1.1M)
08:$1.2M, 09:$2M, 10:$2.9M club option
2010 option must be exercised within 5 days of end of 2008 World Series

Very good contract for a durable reliever

I just looked at Rauch's stats for the first time this year and the first thing I noticed was how good his peripherals (particularly K/BB) were. What am I missing?

He's questioning whether those really are Rauch's peripherals. You know the underground market in strikeouts is booming in the nation's capital

Rauch has had his problems -- especially with the unfortunately timed gopher ball -- but he's been pretty damn solid this year.

I just don't get it from the Nats side.

On one hand, I wanted them to trade him because he has had a workload that worries me a bit (though that's been tempered thanks to being the closer). On the other hand, he's on a below market deal for someone as good as he's been.

I'm not sure why they'd trade him unless they were getting a return a little more solid. The Good Face looks like there's a glimmer of hope in there, but the odds of him being a legit regular? I think I'd take my chances with Rauch's arm in that case.

Crap, I blew it. I was confusing Rauch's numbers with someone else's I had recently examined. Well in that case, WTF Jim Bowden?

Although I will point out that his workload has been immense over the last two seasons. No real reason to think there's an injury risk there, but then...Luis Ayala anyone?

Nick Piecoro with thoughts on the trade

Rauch has been serving as the Nationals’ closer since Chad Cordero went down, but it would be very unlikely that he would step into the Diamondbacks’ closer role. Got to imagine that is still Brandon Lyon’s job, even despite his recent struggles.

However, Rauch does give them another alternative, for this season and next. This is important since Lyon and Juan Cruz are set to become free agents at the end of the year.

So view this move as more than just a short-term fix. The club’s 2009-2010 bullpen looks fairly strong from here, with guys like Pena, Qualls and Rauch under the team’s control and pitchers like Reid Mahon and Daniel Schlereth coming along.

If Burke doesn't start hitting enough over the next 60 games to make a case for the 2b job next year, he'll very likely be out of baseball before he turns 30. I seriously doubt the Dbacks can afford Hudson or Ellis, and I really don't think they should invest in 2bmen over the age of 30

Hopefully Manny will do the smart thing and move the torchtastic Luis Ayala to the closer's role! Since he's been so much by the book this year, that's one way of minimizing his innings and getting him out of those reallly high leverage situations!

On the bright side, we might see Jimbo's doodle pad on TO.

The Snakes now have perhaps the two tallest players in MLB history. It's the new Twin Towers.

The Snakes now have perhaps the two tallest players in MLB history. It's the new Twin Towers.

It's really going to give them a presence in the paint and help them clean the glass.

surpassing the “Big Unit” by one inch

Was this really neccessary?

EDIT:
The Snakes now have perhaps the two tallest players in MLB history. It's the new Twin Towers.

It's really going to give them a presence in the paint and help them clean the glass.

It adds length to their front line

It's amazing that the earlier Twin Tower candidate never actually spent a single inning with the Mariners. He must have been on the 40-man roster for something like 6 years, undergoing all those surgeries.

What was the previous record for tallest pair of teammates? Randy Johnson and Jeff Nelson, I am guessing.

According to today's Sun, the O's are looking for 2 to 3 prospects for George Sherrill. I think this trade pretty much insures Sherrill's continued presence in BAL past July.

Don't be so sure, Birdlives.

Billy Wagner day-to-day with spasms

I think he meant that it hasn't exactly been a seller's market so far.

I think he meant that it hasn't exactly been a seller's market so far.

Yeah, pretty much. Either somebody over pays or Sherrill isn't going anywhere, and I don't see anyone over paying.

Well, he starting pitching market didn't seem to have any consistency from Sabathia to Harden to Blanton. I don't know if this sets the market or just eliminates one unit of supply and one unit of demand.

I really like the idea of Mark Reynolds at 2b. Not sure if pitching staff will.

Wasn't Bonifacio the prospect the D-Backs were supposedly reluctant to give up for Sabathia or Burnett or Holliday or somebody like that?

And all this time I thought Rauch was a lefty. I'm sure I've seen him pitch ... and I still thought he was a lefty.

Jon Rauch by the numbers:

Negatives first:

1.) Pretty high workload the last 2 1/2 years.
Most appearances any reliever since 2006
Most innings too
It's also notable that in the previous two years his numbers when working on back to back days were excellent, but this year Struggling a bit on back to back days.

2.) Extreme flyball pitcher and somewhat homer prone. Also, although the FB rate is down this year compared to previous years the line drive rate is up quite a bit
FB/GB/LD Chart.
Homerun Chart

3.) Struggling since June 30th

Jon Rauch pitching from career game #249 (Jun 30, 2008) to game #255 (Jul 19, 2008)




Positives:

1.) You have to be very good and consistent to get that much workload.

2.) Despite the FB rates, he induces a lot of popups. His IFFB rate is 17.3% this year and over 16% for his career. Thats almost double the league average.

3.) His K/BB ratios keep getting better and better, and this year are LITERALLY off the charts.

4.) Other positives to be gleaned from his career splits page

A.) Equally tough on rightie and lefties the last two years.
B.) Looks very solid in the on base, risp, clutch, and leverage breakdowns
C.) His numbers vs. current roster Dodgers , Giants, & Rockies is EXCELLENT.
Only the Padres have a good record against him.

SUMMARY:

As already discussed in this thread, Bonifacio is unlikely to ever be a major league caliber hitter. If he turns out to be one, then I got this one wrong. Rauch is a reliever with a strong track record, and a cheap controllable contract for 2 1/2 years. So this is very good value and addresses a major weakness of the team. He has a very strong record vs the hitters on 3 of the 4 division rivals, and if he holds true to form, will be a major asset.

HOWEVER...there are caution flags with his workload the last 2+ years, his increasing LD Rates, and the fact that he has been less effective than in past years on back to back days.

Working In the Arizona bullpen, he should not have to have quite such a heavy workload, and I think having to work a little less frequently will help him maintain the level of performance he has reached the past few years. Just beware Melvin overusing his newest toy.

I give the trade a grade of B+. It was a good and sensible move for the D Backs, but there are no sure things, and people should be aware of the warning signs due to Rauch's workload.

Wasn't Bonifacio the prospect the D-Backs were supposedly reluctant to give up for Sabathia or Burnett or Holliday or somebody like that?


I'm pretty sure that would be Scherzer.

Bonifacio is a slick fielding second baseman with a career .283/.338/.360 hitting line in the minors. That line includes his 546 at bats in 2006 while playing on the moon and hitting .321/.375/.449. Did I ever mention how happy I am that Lancaster is no longer the Diamondbacks A+ affiliate?

Jeez, the Roger Bernadina of the infield.

Jeez, the Roger Bernadina of the infield.

I was trying to come up with the right Nats-related comp! That might take it. My gut said Pete Orr. Endy? Nook? Make the pain stop!!!

Roger Bernadina

All right, another alumnus of the Hoofdklasse Honkbal has made the majors!

Given that we're talking about the Snakes and tall pitchers, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention this guy (retired due to injury).

Who steps in as closer for the Nats-- or are they figuring on not really winning enough games to need one?

I'm pretty sure that would be Scherzer.

No, it was Bonifacio. I forget what player he was attached to in the trade rumor but it was definitely him and how the D-Backs were reluctant to include him ... and the comments were almost all along the lines of "why would tney be reluctant to give up this guy?" Somebody mentions it in another thread today and they said Nady.

Dave -- Looks like it's Joel Hanrahan.

Of course, the day the D'backs trade away a 2B, Hudson gets hit on the ankle and has to be carried off the field.
(I realize they still have Augie and Burke)

Prince Fielder and Chocolate City: two largest teammates ever?

Meanwhile, I need a new screenname.....

How about "Rauch's got the ugly face!"

Of course, the day the D'backs trade away a 2B, Hudson gets hit on the ankle and has to be carried off the field.

Word is Hudson doesn't have a break. Probably just a really mean bruise

No, it was Bonifacio. I forget what player he was attached to in the trade rumor but it was definitely him and how the D-Backs were reluctant to include him

The rumor was "a package of prospects including Bonifacio". I doubt Bonifacio was the deal breaker

The Dbacks are interested in acquiring Shaq next

Well, he starting pitching market didn't seem to have any consistency from Sabathia to Harden to Blanton. I don't know if this sets the market or just eliminates one unit of supply and one unit of demand.

I actually think these trades were valued properly. At least if you ignore Milwaukee already has gotten a 3-0 out of CC.