D Backs would be idiots to be buyers at this point. If the guys they have can get hot and get them to 8 or 9 games over .500, then sure, go for it if it that happens before the trade deadline. Otherwise forget about it.

The article is very much worth clicking through to because of the interview with Dan Haren. Very interesting stuff there.

Instead of Youkilis why not just bring up Wheeler?

Cuz like everyone else that hits .370 in Reno he'll hit .220 in the majors...

Actually I agree. Just bring him up and give him a shot. Can't hurt.

Wheeler's only 23, you would think they'd be very interested in seeing what he can do in the Show, is he bad defensively? His range and fielding percentage isn't bad this year in only his second year at the position. Of course he's listed at 6'3" and 235, so it's hard to imagine he's nifty, but so far this year has been better than Bell.

Davidson seems a little more iffy defensively, though he's only 21. Either way it's a little odd to think about burning resources getting a stop-gap when you have two or three potential future 3B in your system.

The D backs need to turn over the roster and get different kind of players.

They have too many all or nothing Fly Ball hitters, and it just doesn't play on the road. Fewer HR, and a lot fewer doubles and triples.

Since 2007 their Home/Road OPS Split is 786-692.(94 Pts) NL avg is 750-717. (33 Pts)

.265 BA at home, and dead last .238 on the road over the last 5 years.

Yes, they play in a hitters park and play road games in Petco, AT&T and the somewhat more moderate Dodger Stadium, but they also play road games in Coors field. Even if you account for all that, the gap is still way too large. 450 more K's on the road than at home the last 5 years.....thats almost double what you would expect. The hitters background at Chase may be TOO good..and when they leave that environment, they don't pick up the ball as well.

Wheeler is probably another guy that is going to K well over 20% in the majors. 18-19% in the PCL for D Backs hitters has usually translated to 23-25%. (Or more) Davidson is striking out 22% of the time in the southern league, and while he has had a power breakout so far this year, heis also likely to K over 25% in the majors at this point. I don't think they should rush him. I think they should tell him get that K Rate under 17% or you're not getting called up. (OK I know they can't do that, but thats the radical POV)

They just already have too many of these types, and always have. Chase field is a doubles and triples factory. If they had more contact, gap hitters they would not lose much by hitting fewer homers at home, and their offense would play much better on the road.

This will take years, but they need to draft and develop more contact hitters with at least gap power. Easier said than done, I know....but they have to try.

I'm not sure why a team would give up anyone decent for Joe Saunders considering that he was waived by the D'Backs in the off season, and had no takers. He had to go back to the D'backs on a reduced salary. Trade value is not high for him.

Is Kirk Gibson being asked to solve Fermat's Last Theorem?

I'm not sure why a team would give up anyone decent for Joe Saunders considering that he was waived by the D'Backs in the off season, and had no takers. He had to go back to the D'backs on a reduced salary. Trade value is not high for him.

Surely his trade value is not high. But he should have some value. 81 IP and a 3.40 ERA. Still in search of the ever elusive sub 4.00 FIP though. He currently sits at 4.01 and has never had a season under 4.00 FIP. Pretty much the poster boy for DIPS Defiler.

He's earning his contract though and probably done more than you could reasonably expect to get from the raw rookie Bauer had he started the season in the major league rotation. Bauer is having control problems and getting knocked around a bit lately.

This signing has actually turned out to be a good idea and worked out better than expected.

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It seems like acquiring Parra would make the Boston OF very crowded once everyone is healthy, but I suppose they figured with the current state of the OF, they'd worry about that when it happens. In any event, expecting to get Parra for Youkilis at this juncture does seem quite unrealistic.

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So voros, was that akin to a bill james "pass"
or did you pick up on my little "defy" vs. "defile" joke ?

Parra could be a very valuable player in Fenway's RF. and if the Sox got him it would give them more options going forward if they want to trade Ellsbury or let him walk as a free agent, moving either Kalish to CF or Parra himself to CF.

their being scouts being dispatched

Huh? Extra "being," I suppose, although it's still a crummy sentence.