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Thursday, May 24, 2012

Vladimir Guerrero wants to reach 500 home runs

“My goal is those 51 home runs that will get me to 500,” he said. “That’s my immediate goal. I just ask for God’s blessing of good health and to get those 51 home runs. I wish for three or four more years.”

...In 16 seasons, Guerrero stands 35th on the all-time OPS list at .931, three points ahead of Hank Aaron, 10 points behind Willie Mays. He is 35th on the all-time home run list, 11 ahead of Andre Dawson, three behind Carl Yastrzemski. He has a career .318 batting average, which puts him in the top 100 and his 1,496 RBIs rank 52nd. All those numbers form a body of evidence that makes Guerrero a very serious candidate for the Hall of Fame when the time comes.

Guerrero is hoping he still has three or four more years to solidify those credentials, especially the one that has him just 51 homers short of the magical 500 mark.

Thanks to Redd.

Repoz Posted: May 24, 2012 at 05:58 AM | 19 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: blue jays

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1. Leroy Kincaid Posted: May 24, 2012 at 07:14 AM (#4139146)

The players are writing their own headlines now?

2. ShoeGrit Posted: May 24, 2012 at 07:49 AM (#4139150)

I don't understand why Toronto signed him. They are getting good production out of Encarnacion.

Seems like Detroit, Oakland, Seattle, or even Tampa Bay all could use a righty DH that might actually give them over 100 OPS+

3. Greg (U)K Posted: May 24, 2012 at 07:52 AM (#4139152)

I don't understand why Toronto signed him. They are getting good production out of Encarnacion.

With Lind gone I think the plan is to have Encarnacion play 1B, leaving DH open. Last night Yan Gomes played 1B. He's been great since he came up a week ago, but I don't really think he's a long-term plan at 1B/DH. Since Lind went down they've also used Arencibia as a DH when Mathis catches.

Neither of those scenarios are really much of a reason to "block" Vlad. (Though not having any faith in EE to be able to handle 1B may be...he's looked tolerably bad there to me, though)

4. Joey B. has ignited his October #Natitude Posted: May 24, 2012 at 10:17 AM (#4139207)

Seems like Detroit, Oakland, Seattle, or even Tampa Bay all could use a righty DH that might actually give them over 100 OPS+.

It's admittedly a very small sample, but so far Andy Dirks has been doing just fine against lefties. I don't think Vlad can help out Detroit much.

5. BourbonSamurai, vassal of the Harpsburg Empire Posted: May 24, 2012 at 11:08 AM (#4139241)

Oakland

He's not quite toasty enough. When the last chance of a 100 ops+ has faded, and he's kind of embarrasing out there, then it will be Oakland time.

6. Smyly Smile (Walewander) Posted: May 24, 2012 at 11:48 AM (#4139293)

It's admittedly a very small sample, but so far Andy Dirks has been doing just fine against lefties. I don't think Vlad can help out Detroit much.

Andy Dirks is actually starting in left, and thank Christ for that, I don't have to see Delmon and his tiny feet stagger after the ball like a drunk trying to flag down a cab.

Now, should Vlad replace Delmon at DH? I dunno what ZiPs says but I imagine Delmon projects to do a bit better- but then again, I would 100000x rather see one of my very favourite players DH for the Tigers than see Delmon Young do it, so....yeah. He was never a real option for Detroit, we already have about nine DHs.

7. PepTech Posted: May 24, 2012 at 11:50 AM (#4139299)

"Peptech wants to date Brooklyn Decker"

I just wish for three or four years.

8. Joey B. has ignited his October #Natitude Posted: May 24, 2012 at 12:38 PM (#4139335)

Andy Dirks is actually starting in left, and thank Christ for that, I don't have to see Delmon and his tiny feet stagger after the ball like a drunk trying to flag down a cab.

Thanks, I didn't realize he had been moved permanently to left. That's what I get for relying on the depth chart.

9. Johnny Slick Posted: May 24, 2012 at 12:53 PM (#4139342)

Vlad would be a disaster in the Safe. A righty pull hitter who adds no value with walks (which, since they're worth the same in every environment, are therefore more valuable in ones that don't score a lot of runs) whose shots at home are going to wind up in Death Valley? There's a reason the team has been looking for switch-hitters over righties, and there's also a reason why so many people think that Adrian Beltre was a disappointment here even though he was worth his contract. At best, Vlad would have that kind of season where he was actually pretty okay but would be looked on as crap due to park effects. At worst... well, Ken Griffey Jr. is a lefty and look at what he did in 2010...

As for the headline... in related news, Johnny Slick wants a pony.

10. Los Angeles El Hombre of Anaheim

Posted: May 24, 2012 at 01:09 PM (#4139352)

People may mock, but I want this for him, too. I'm pessimistic, but I'd love to see him get there. A lot of really great players tend to tamp down the joy, but not him. I loved his exuberance, and I want to see his face if/when he ever gets that 500th.

11. Bitter Calculus Instructor Posted: May 24, 2012 at 01:10 PM (#4139356)

[2] I'd think LF in Boston would be a good fit. They recently signed Scott Podsednik to fill in for all their injured outfielders.

Does Vlad have any sort of opt out clause if he doesn't get called up by Toronto?

12. RJ in TO Posted: May 24, 2012 at 01:18 PM (#4139360)

Does Vlad have any sort of opt out clause if he doesn't get called up by Toronto?

If he hits, he'll be called up (as part time DH, and "Oh ####, the starting left fielder hurt himself, and the fourth outfielder is already in the game" emergency guy). If he doesn't hit, it probably won't matter whether or not he has an opt-out clause, as it's unlikely anyone else will want to give him a shot.

13. A triple short of the cycle

Posted: May 24, 2012 at 01:39 PM (#4139379)

Oakland already has Manny set to join the team. Conventional wisdom (Chronicle, 95.7) is saying that the A's need Manny to help their moribund offense, but the guys Manny will be taking PAs from have not been hurting the team (Gomes, Smith). The A's need their infielders to start hitting. They have been fine at OF/DH. They definitely don't need Vlad.

14. Booey Posted: May 24, 2012 at 02:32 PM (#4139430)

I always loved watching Vladdy play. Here's hoping he can golf another 51 balls that bounce two feet in front of the plate over the fence to reach his goal.

15. zonk Posted: May 24, 2012 at 03:07 PM (#4139463)

If he does have a TOR escape clause and if he can see to it that unfortunate accident befalls Mr. Soriano -- I would be more than happy to let him flail around LF in Wrigley and guarantee him 400 PAs for the duration of the season.

16. donlock Posted: May 24, 2012 at 05:02 PM (#4139545)

Didn't see anything in his last season with the O's to think anything other than put a fork in him, he's done.

Has anyone ever heard him speak English? He has played big league baseball for 16 years, brings his family to live with him in each town and apparently never has learned to speak English. Hard to believe.

Does someone on each team get assigned the job of translating? The Orioles travel with a non-playing translator for their recent and current Asian players.

17. Willie Mayspedes Posted: May 24, 2012 at 05:14 PM (#4139555)

Oakland

He can teach Cespedes some patience at the plate!

18. Fred Lynn Nolan Ryan Sweeney Agonistes Posted: May 24, 2012 at 05:14 PM (#4139556)

The A's need their infielders to start hitting. They have been fine at OF/DH. They definitely don't need Vlad.

Just to back this up... Suzuki and Pennington are both well below their career #s so far.
Barton would be having his worst season by rate stats (.617 OPS), only if his 2011 hadn't been so ####### terrible.
Weeks hasn't played long enough to say with any certainty, but his OPS is more than 150 points lower than last year's.
And their third baseman is... well... who isn't hurt, today?

Kind of impressive, when you look at it all together, like that. Is it something in the water in Oakland, or what?

19. The Yankee Clapper Posted: May 24, 2012 at 05:39 PM (#4139577)

Has anyone ever heard him speak English? He has played big league baseball for 16 years, brings his family to live with him in each town and apparently never has learned to speak English. Hard to believe.

You can speak enough of a language to get by and still be reluctant to give interviews in your second language. I took French in high school and college (the only subject I ever really struggled with) and would not want to be quoted on the record butchering that language.

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Thursday, May 24, 2012

Vladimir Guerrero wants to reach 500 home runs

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