BBTF's Transaction Oracle Discussion

Transaction Oracle
— A Timely Look at Transactions as They Happen

Friday, January 23, 2004

Colorado Rockies

Signed P Shawn Estes to a minor-league contract.

Well, he’s not as bad as Jeff Fassero, which is enough to make him almost the best Rockie signing of the offseason.

Estes, Shawn - 2004 ZiPS Projection
———————————————————————-
W L G GS IP H ER HR BB SO ERA
———————————————————————-
7 11 28 28 160 183 101 21 80 97 5.70

Dan Szymborski Posted: January 23, 2004 at 07:05 PM | 5 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
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1. Mark S. is bored Posted: January 08, 2002 at 08:12 AM (#552491)

I can understand the D-Backs trading Cust. He is blocked at LF and 1B. His defensive reputation is that of a DH, so there isn't much room for him on the team.

But a left-handed relief specialist? I didn't think they missed Plesac that much.

2. Brian

Posted: January 08, 2002 at 12:08 PM (#552492)

What's Cust likely to do in Colorado over a full season? Is .300/30/100 (Todd Helton's initial season) within range? Also, is it likely that he stays in Colorado?

3. David Geiser Posted: January 08, 2002 at 03:14 PM (#552496)

Brian -

Maybe Rockies players don't adjust poorly to the road, perhaps they adjust particularly well to home.

My interest in hearing Colangelo cry poor has reached an all-time low.

4. Darren

Posted: January 08, 2002 at 04:18 PM (#552497)

From the MLEs, it looks like Cust is already Mark Grace without the fancy glove.

As the Rockies are set at 1B and have 228 leftfielders already, maybe they'll trade Cust elsewhere and keep Closser.

5. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: January 08, 2002 at 04:21 PM (#552498)

I'm tempted to start some kind of over/under; is this the most clueless trade we'll see this year, or not?

It's also interesting to consider the long-term ramifications of this trade. Will Cust be staying in Colorado, and if so, will he start? As much as we all hate to hear the "D" word, he is defensively limited and Coors isn't the kind of park where you could get away starting a lineup of Pete Brownings.

The REALLY interesting half of this trade is the inclusion of Closser, now the second hot-shot catching prospect the Rockies have picked up in the last 9 months. Does this move mean that the bell is about to toll for Ben Petrick's days behind the plate?

6. Dan Szymborski

Posted: January 08, 2002 at 05:51 PM (#552501)

I would imagine that O'Dowd saw the opportunity and decided to grab it without even knowing what do do with Cust.

If you had a cluttered house, but someone offered you a massive plasma TV for a couple quarts of motor oil sitting in your garage, wouldn't you jump on it and worry about where to put it later? I certainly would.

7. Floyd Thursby Posted: January 08, 2002 at 07:38 PM (#552508)

Cust will be an Athletic before the season starts. Adam Piatt will enjoy his new Colorado digs, assuming he can still play third.

And then they will both be traded to the Giants for Benard and Snow. You heard it here first.

8. Walt Davis Posted: January 08, 2002 at 11:23 PM (#552514)

Probably means Mike Holtz who the vaunted sabermetrically-aware A's just paid a good chunk to even though he's not a particularly good lefty specialist. As to Ciprian's question, sure there are good lefty specialists ... and there are righties (Felix Rodriguez e.g.) who are deadly to lefties though it's rare to find a manager who'll entertain such a thought. But as an example, for 98-2000, lefties managed just a 518 OPS against Mike Myers. That's awfully darn handy. Couldn't get righties out at all (892 OPS). Then last year, it all went a bit haywire and lefties had a 680 OPS but righties only 650.

Granted, the sample sizes are so small that whether there are lefty specialists or random lucky guys may be unknowable.

9. Alan Posted: January 09, 2002 at 04:38 AM (#552519)

How about Cust to the Mets for Rusch and Payton/Agbayani. I don't think it's a good trade for the Rockies, but I do think it's a move they'd consider. Phillips probably wouldn't want to trade Rusch for a prospect though, when he can get overpaid, 57 year old Rick Reed for him. (please note that Rick Reed is one of my favorite players, but I don't want him back on the Mets)

10. Robert Dudek Posted: January 09, 2002 at 12:34 PM (#552523)

Who exactly was Cust blocked by in LF? I just wish Garagiola had talked to the Jays - they would have gotten more from them and Ricciardi would have the DH of his dreams.

11. Walt Davis Posted: January 09, 2002 at 07:33 PM (#552524)

*Who exactly was Cust blocked by in LF? *

Umm...Luis Gonzalez, for at least another year or two.

12. theboyqueen Posted: January 09, 2002 at 08:23 PM (#552525)

Luis Vizcaino is right handed.

13. Alan Posted: January 09, 2002 at 08:56 PM (#552526)

Walt, Luis Gonzalez is easily replaceable.

14. Alan Posted: January 09, 2002 at 10:40 PM (#552527)

seriously, I think he could play right if they wanted him to.

15. Robert Dudek Posted: January 10, 2002 at 01:47 AM (#552528)

Yah... What Alan said. But I see why the D-backs wanted to trade Cust. But they could have got a lot more for him, don't you think?

16. Alan Posted: January 10, 2002 at 05:49 AM (#552530)

Ed, the point isn't that left-handed specialists aren't valuable. It's that left-handed specialists aren't particularly hard to find. Myers is indeed one of the best specialists in baseball, as throwing sidearmed at 95 mph and being a lefty will make it a little bit easier to get left-handed batters out. He's managed to keep lefties to a an OPS of about .550 the last four years, pitching 2 of them in Colorodo. I think it's likely he'll perform similarly in Arizona. It seems to me he'd be less affected by Coors than almost any other pitcher, since he's a strikeout/ground ball pitcher who relies mostly on his fastball. However, is someone who will throw about 45 innings a year, albeit mostly important innings, worth arguably the team's best major league ready prospect? People who can hold left-handed hitters to a .650 OPS are available in the minors and in Japan, and some of them can get right-handers out too, which Myers hasn't shown the ability to be able to do. And if Cust is so expendable, I still think they could've gotten something better for him from a team in need of a 1B/DH.

17. Walt Davis Posted: January 10, 2002 at 09:27 PM (#552532)

Don't worry, I agree it's a bad trade. Maybe not as bad as some, since I think Arizona is in a win NOW situation, but they should have gotten more. I just found the question kind of humorous, especially given when I asked myself the same question I was able to name AZ's RFs right away but had trouble thinking of their LF.

I'd imagine Gonzalez would move to right if asked, but he hasn't played it since at least 95 (b-r doesn't give OF breakdowns before 96) and the last couple years he's had an average range factor for an LF, so I'm not sure how successful that move would be.

And are we sure that Cust is that much better than Dellucci after we account for defense? Durazo? So he was pretty expendable for the short term, but they should have gotten more and why toss in a C prospect with it?

Now what would have been an interesting and bold move would have been to trade Gonzalez when his value is at an all-time high (and I assume he has a reasonable contract too). Maybe if somebody out there had a good CF and 2B/SS/3B laying around.

Now how about Counsell for 3 years, $7+ million?

18. Robert Dudek Posted: January 11, 2002 at 09:59 AM (#552533)

If Cust really is a bad defensive outfielder then it makes sense to deal him - but you'd likely get a lot more from an American League team because Cust's defensive liabilities are much less important.

If Dan's MLEs are for real then we're talking about a "can't miss" as a hitter (how many guys ever had those numbers at that age in the majors?).

By the way, if Luis didn't play any RF in 2001 then it means he has NEVER played RF in the majors. According to Total Baseball, through 2000 he had 1360 games in Left, 9 in Center and 0 in right.

19. Walt Davis Posted: January 11, 2002 at 06:25 PM (#552534)

Robert, I agree 100%. I'd imagine there are a number of AL clubs calling Colorado right now...and kicking themselves for not calling Arizona earlier. Beane must be wondering why he traded Guthrie for Justice when he probably could have gotten Cust for him and saved a few million in the process.

20. Alan Posted: January 12, 2002 at 05:12 AM (#552535)

Just read in a Jayson Stark article that the Rockies have some interest in Zeille if the Met's will eat most of his salary. How about the Mets eat all of his salary and take Cust from the Rockies, since they don't seem to want him.

21. Benji Posted: January 13, 2002 at 01:07 AM (#552536)

If the DBacks were a NY team ,their idiotic press would fawn all over it. This, essentially, is a Steve Phillips trade: overpaying for a guy that's not a key player. And much cheaper to find if you have good scouts and/or a real feel for talent.

22. Alan Posted: January 13, 2002 at 03:01 AM (#552537)

Benji, I don't think the NY press would love this trade. Everyone, including the writers, know the system is bare, and giving away someone who put up the numbers Cust did in the high minors for a lefty specialist wouldn't be praised by everyone in the press(although some surely would like it).

23. David Geiser Posted: January 13, 2002 at 07:13 PM (#552578)

Perhaps someone can tell me why David Weathers deserved a three year contract worth $9 million, and Rick White was non-tendered and then got a one-year contract worth $1 million.

24. Benji Posted: January 14, 2002 at 01:05 AM (#552538)

They overwhelmingly praised signing Weathers, and last year lionized useless for wastimg money on Turk and Franco. They'd do flips over it.

25. Benji Posted: January 14, 2002 at 01:05 AM (#552539)

They overwhelmingly praised signing Weathers, and last year lionized useless for wastimg money on Turk and Franco. They'd do flips over it.

26. Alan Posted: January 14, 2002 at 05:43 AM (#552580)

I've never seen Weathers trying to cover 1st, so I can't comment on it, but I would think watching Al Leiter bat is funnier. When he tripled last year, I laughed for about a week.

27. Alan Posted: January 14, 2002 at 05:43 AM (#552581)

I've never seen Weathers trying to cover 1st, so I can't comment on it, but I would think watching Al Leiter bat is funnier. When he tripled last year, I laughed for about a week.

28. Alan Posted: January 14, 2002 at 05:45 AM (#552540)

Benji, they didn't give up their best prospect to get Weathers. All they lost was a draft pick, and they don't make much use of those.

29. Dan Szymborski

Posted: January 14, 2002 at 03:56 PM (#552541)

Walt, I bet the Orioles were upset when they heard about the trade. Thrift must be upset that he didn't jump on the opportunity to land a premier lefty reliever for some minor league outfielder.

30. NTNgod Posted: January 27, 2002 at 04:23 AM (#553393)

Two days MAY be a record length for an O'Dowd plan, though...

I'm going to have to look that up. Does anyone else remember O'Dowd sticking to a plan this long?

31. NTNgod Posted: January 27, 2002 at 05:33 AM (#553396)

Hmm, good point Rossy.

I think that's an exception to the rule, though. I'm pretty convinced Petrick kicked O'Dowd's dog a couple of times, which makes it personal...

32. NTNgod Posted: January 27, 2002 at 06:32 AM (#553399)

How long do think Gload will stick with the Rocks this time?

Jim Bowden's been awfully quiet this week - he's probably due for his transaction fix.

O'Dowd could send Gload to the Reds (for no particularly good reason, other than it's a transaction).

33. Devin has a deep burning passion for fuzzy socks Posted: January 27, 2002 at 07:06 AM (#553401)

Okay, let's get this right. O'Dowd gets Gload back, thereby making the Zeile trade cheaper, and he's getting picked on for it. Am I the only one missing the point?

34. Repoz

Posted: January 27, 2002 at 05:32 PM (#553404)

Devin

35. Steve Treder Posted: January 27, 2002 at 09:12 PM (#553408)

"O'Dowd gets Gload back, thereby making the Zeile trade cheaper, and he's getting picked on for it. Am I the only one missing the point?"

I don't know, Devin, I think the point is this: what possible use do the Rockies have for Gload anyway? In what way does snatching him back from the Mets help the Rockies? If Zeile came cheaper, does that make him any less of a purposeless stand-in at third base?

36. Steve Treder Posted: January 27, 2002 at 09:36 PM (#553409)

And incidentally, The Score Bard is my new idol.

37. There are no words... (Met Fan Charlie) Posted: January 29, 2002 at 03:03 PM (#553414)

Crispix Attacks, AKA Tim McCarver! I LOVE IT!

("Y'know, Gant, in French, means 'glove...'")

38. Greg Franklin Posted: January 29, 2002 at 11:44 PM (#553415)

Met Fan Charlie made a misidentification. Crispix Attacks is actually Vin Scully.

Go ahead, read the post out loud in Scully's cadence and tone. It makes sense, doesn't it?

If it was Harry Caray, he would fixate on reading the players' names backwards. ("Hey, it's Daolg Ssor! Wow! Sounds like a tough cookie!")

39. Walt Davis Posted: January 31, 2002 at 12:20 AM (#553419)

but nothing beat Harry saying "RRRRRRRRRRod Carew".

And the Vin characterization is right. That guy drives me nuts with his "isn't it ironic..." musings (no, it's not ironic Vin, it's coincedence). But even I had to give him credit when Jim Gott was pitching against Tim Teufel and Vin pointed out that Gott was German for "god" and Teufel was German for "devil".

40. Greg Franklin Posted: January 31, 2002 at 05:22 AM (#553420)

Our family's Harry imitation was "Andres GalaRRRRAGGGGAAAAH". Even the non-fans got into it.

Rimidalv Orerreug, I never heard Harry butcher the real Nomar's name - I like your rendition, very snappy. Since the Angels own Zitro's rights, they should do the Jeff Barry thing and send Zitro + Erstad to the White Sox for some prospects.

41. Shredder Posted: January 31, 2002 at 05:23 PM (#553623)

I used to like Jesse, as Bob Starr used to call him, when he was with the halos. This guy had some seriously wicked stuff at one point. Too bad he had all of the arm injuries. Now that he's a Ranger, I hope he gets rocked.

42. Chris Dial Posted: February 01, 2002 at 05:14 AM (#553800)

12 HRs in 48 IP? Maybe the Mets will get him to be the closer for the post-season - that's better than Benitez.

43. SM in DC Posted: February 01, 2002 at 03:23 PM (#553803)

Speaking of David Neid... I just found my collection of inaugural Rocks/Marlins 1993 baseball cards -- any update on some of the stiffs who's cards I got conned into believing would "collector's items" one day?

44. J. Lowenstein Apathy Club Posted: February 02, 2002 at 05:33 PM (#553808)

Coors Fi-eld is the place to be,

45. jwb Posted: February 21, 2002 at 08:58 PM (#554895)

Not many guys finish with higher ERAs than IPs. Looney has a chance:

46. jwb Posted: February 22, 2002 at 07:10 AM (#554896)

Well, this is just one of the things you say off the cuff and then you do the math (Thanks, Sean, for giving us the data to do the math) and find it just ain't so. Of the 7,203 pitchers who pitched in at least one game through the 2000 season, 896 have an ERA higher than their number of innings pitched, about 12%. However, only 15 pitched 10 or more innings.

My favorite is Al Travers who had an ERA of 15.75 in 8 innings. Along with the 14 earnies, he also gave up 10 unearned runs. This was the one day Tigers' strike in 1912 when management hired a sandlot team to play the Athletics.

47. Dan Szymborski

Posted: February 22, 2002 at 07:22 AM (#554897)

Didn't he go on and become a priest or something?

48. jwb Posted: February 22, 2002 at 10:50 PM (#554898)

Two years ago he gave it a shot in the Marlins organization. It didn't go well:

5/25/00 Signs with the Calgary Cannons as a free agent

49. Sharkbyte Posted: February 27, 2002 at 06:29 AM (#554900)

Alright, the Rockies would be equally well off with 62 cents American. Happy?

50. Greg Franklin Posted: February 27, 2002 at 09:50 AM (#554901)

Yeah, we thought you were buried underneath the ice in Salt Lake City.

Since you have extensive ties to both countries, who were you rooting for in that hockey game?

51. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: March 08, 2002 at 07:34 PM (#555309)

And yet, Pat Meares continues to suck up outs. At least Stocker has full use of both of his hands.

52. Geoff Young Posted: March 08, 2002 at 09:25 PM (#555311)

But more importantly, the Padres signed Kevin Towers to an extension through 2007. Woo-hoo!

53. David Nieporent (now, with children) Posted: March 08, 2002 at 10:08 PM (#555312)

Stocker's retired? What the hell are the Orioles going to do for a shortstop in five years?

54. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: March 13, 2002 at 03:53 PM (#555316)

Is this true? If so, we need to scrape up some garlic and stakes, pronto.

55. Buddha Posted: March 27, 2002 at 03:52 PM (#555610)

The Tigers continue to trade minor prospects for average players at positions they already have similar players to fill. This trade is like the Damian jackson trade, another pick up of an average (at best) player. Whereas Jackson is a utility player on a team loaded with utility players, Paniagua is an average middle reliever on a team full of average middle relievers. The only difference is Paniagua makes $1.4 million.

Couldn't they wait to see if someone decent is released? Or just let Santos take over the role as 6th or 7th inning man. But no, they have to go get some castoff for a decent prospect in Merrill.

Their reasoning seems to be that they have a number of prospects at second (santiago and Woods), but if that is the case then why not deal some of them for a player who may actually turn out to be an impact player? Paniagua is nothing special and well never be anything more than a guy who was an average reliever with a team playing in the best pitcher's park and the best defense in the league. Now he's an average pitcher on a team with a mild pitcher's park and the worst defense in the league. Good luck Jose.

I see Jose giving up a lot of doubles this year.

56. McCoy Posted: April 29, 2002 at 03:28 AM (#556078)

Don't forget Don Baylor still has job security as well as Larry Bowa.

57. Dan 'The Boy' Werr Posted: April 29, 2002 at 06:04 AM (#556081)

Anybody who would stubbornly insist on starting Shumpert ahead of Ortiz deserves what he gets.

Sadly, it appears this practice didn't leave with Bell.

58. Darren

Posted: April 29, 2002 at 03:32 PM (#556086)

Davey Johnson took over a 83-79 team and led them to 77-85, then 86-76 seasons. Not stellar, but not bad.

He'd probably be a good fit in Colorado. He's not afraid to try unconventional things and he's not afraid to give jobs to young guys who deserve them. Both would be big assetts in Colorado.

59. David Geiser Posted: April 29, 2002 at 06:09 PM (#556087)

Managers tend not to be fired with more than a year left on their contracts. Phil Garner was an exception, but he was fired along with his GM. This is one of the reasons that I think Don Baylor's job is safe.

60. Benji Posted: April 29, 2002 at 10:02 PM (#556090)

Not telling anyone Muser, Mcrae and Boone are good managers, but the worst two, by far, are Torborg and Bowa. Loria may have deliberately hired Torborg to make sure the Marlins lose, but after Bowa blew a wide open division in 2001 (and got Manager of the Year!!) there is no excuse to keep him with the Phils in last and him chasing Rolen out of town. And I would slip Buck Martinez between those three to third worst.

61. Roger McDowell spit on me! Posted: April 30, 2002 at 03:02 AM (#556094)

Maybe it's time to officially throw my hat into the managerial ring. Or the General Manager's ring. Last time I did that was when I was 16, with the White Sox, and I suggested that they needed power in their lineup. They signed Richie Zisk and Oscar Gamble that offseason, and actually made a run...I still have the letter from "Bill Veeck" saying they would keep my resume "on file".

62. Voros McCracken Posted: May 02, 2002 at 02:27 AM (#556097)

I just checked this thread and wondered how many posts it would be until Clint Hurdle's mom posted. "Two" apparently was the right answer.

63. Jason JL Posted: May 07, 2002 at 07:43 PM (#556352)

One thing about Dusty Baker and Sabean is that they have always played close to the chest when it came to off-field problems. Sabean's recent comments regarding Kent's behavior were the exception that proves the rule that he does not generally air dirty laundry in public.

Given that Estallela has been let go by both the Giants and the Yankees within the space of a year and a half, I would think that there's something beyond Sabean's Santiago fetish in the Giants' treatment of Estallela.

64. Darren

Posted: May 07, 2002 at 08:25 PM (#556354)

Yeah, they also predicted 196 RBI for Helton last year. I think they get a little excited when it comes to Coors.

65. Repoz

Posted: May 07, 2002 at 10:55 PM (#556356)

Jack Cust after 100 AB's at AAA

BA-.330

66. Darren

Posted: May 08, 2002 at 03:15 AM (#556358)

Weren't the Rockies pretty successful with Bichette in the OF? I think Cust would survive. I mean, he'd be taking Benny Agbayani's place, for pete's sake, so he'd probably be a defensive upgrade.

67. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: May 08, 2002 at 02:59 PM (#556362)

Free Bobby Estalella! Free Bo- uh...

Free Ben Petrick! Free Ben Petrick!

68. Darren

Posted: May 08, 2002 at 06:46 PM (#556365)

Is Colorado Springs at the same altitude as Coors? I didn't think it was.

Also, if Cust puts up MLEs of those numbers in Coors, they'll still be awesome.

69. Jason JL Posted: May 08, 2002 at 07:58 PM (#556368)

Hmmm...hadn't heard that Estallela was gay. That's what I get for living 800 miles away from my home team. Oh well.

If that's true, the Giants WERE morons for letting him go--IF that was why they let him go.

Also if it's true, it would be an ironic turn of circumstance, considering Bill James' article on Bobby Estallela Sr., who was in a similar situation in the 40s/50s (I forget which)--except that there the cultural issue was that he was Latin.

-JJL

70. Ken Arneson Posted: May 08, 2002 at 10:36 PM (#556373)

I am certain that cutting a player because he is gay would be illegal in San Francisco. They could be sued. And the Giants have shown in the past to be rather accepting of homosexuality. They were the first team to have an AIDS awareness day.

Can we get back to analyzing facts instead of innuendo now?

71. Bernal Diaz has an angel on his shoulder Posted: May 09, 2002 at 08:48 PM (#556377)

I bet if the catchers had sex with chicks on the field during the 7th inning stretch attendane would go up.

72. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: July 20, 2002 at 12:43 PM (#557790)

Smith's going to be a seriously high-octane NRI for somebody next year.

73. Mike Emeigh

Posted: July 20, 2002 at 11:41 PM (#557792)

The Rockies aren't going to advance Closser agressively, IMO. Closser, the *other* prospect in the Cust for Myers deal, is hitting well at Carolina, but he has a lot of work to do behind the dish. He doesn't set up well at all, and his throws are all over the lot - sometimes he'll throw two or three laser beams, then follow it up by bouncing a couple and hitting Choo Freeman in CF on the fly a time or two.

-- MWE

74. Walt Davis Posted: July 29, 2002 at 10:41 PM (#558057)

According to ESPN, the Sox are picking up most of the contract too, so this is a strange trade. But hey, picking up a little something and unloading a smidgen of his contract is a bit better than just releasing him.

75. Stevens Posted: July 30, 2002 at 02:45 PM (#558063)

Don't call me a Kenny Williams apologist, but this deal (while not amazing) is at least something, as Walt points out. Same for the Kenny Lofton deal.

Does this do enough to exonerate him for the Durham deal? Can he rank above "worst GM in baseball" now? I think so. Granted, that's not saying much.

76. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: August 01, 2002 at 03:27 AM (#558255)

I'm scared. I feel like the Tigers and Rockies are in some kind of bizarre arms race, with the Tigers collecting utility infielders to pit against the Rockies' mediocre outfielders in some inter-divisional war of aggression. In the event that the hammer does come down, I guess I'm stuck marching with O'Dowd's legions, since orange makes me look fat.

77. John Posted: August 01, 2002 at 03:55 AM (#558258)

As a Ranger fan, I don't see how this deal can turn out to be good. What's the best realistic case--Hollandsworth lights it up for 2 months (thereby making himself too expensive to re-sign), and Reyes turns into a league-average 5th starter or long reliever? I think anything more is unrealistic, and if that's the best case, and you consider that it's not especially likely to occur, isn't it almost per se outweighed by giving up on Kapler (while picking up 1MM of this year's salary) and a real prospect? I guess--I hope--that they see something in Reyes that others have missed, but I can't for the life of me figure out what it is. Can he turn into something like this year's where-the-hell-did-THAT-come-from version of Paul Byrd? Anyone shed some light on the guy?

78. User unknown in local recipient table (Craig B) Posted: August 01, 2002 at 02:39 PM (#558263)

Mark Corey : Rocky Mountain High

79. User unknown in local recipient table (Craig B) Posted: August 01, 2002 at 02:53 PM (#558265)

Figures that as soon as I make that joke I see NTNgod has already made it on another thread. :(

80. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: August 01, 2002 at 03:04 PM (#558266)

I view Kapler as an upgrade on Hollandsworth, since Kapler doesn't hurt himself whenever he bends over to tie his shoes. I also think that he's got a bit more production hidden inside somewhere, since he's shown a whole bunch of skills in the past (just never at the same time, and almost none of them this year). He might put it all together, and if he does, he'll be pretty good. If not, he'll stillReyes is a good pitcher, but he's bombed whenever he's spent time in the rotation, so he's probably Texas's best long-reliever at this point. I'd tend to think that Bell and Davis are ahead of him on the rotation depth chart.

I'm curious about the Rockies' intentions toward Romano. Right now, he's a double hedge against Pierre and Butler (Ortiz is on his way out). The Rangers' willingness to deal him implies that they liked what they saw of Ryan Ludwick earlier, especially since they dealt Kapler as well. Hollandsworth's a temp, and he's gone at the end of the year. The Rangers don't need or want him; they have outfielders coming out of their ears.

Personally, I've always hated Hollandsworth as a player, ever since the Dodger hype machine helped him steal the '96 ROY from Jason Kendall (or Edgar Renteria, depending on individual preference).

81. jeff angus Posted: August 01, 2002 at 03:52 PM (#558267)

No one has commented specifically on Payton. I live on the wrong coast to see him often, but to me he's completely UN remarkable.

His zone rating is positive. He hits 295/335/450 away from Shea, has a strong platoon split. Doesn't steal bases or get thrown out trying.

Is he a very good 4th OF for a .500 team? Does anyone think he's the next Bombo Rivera? Anyone think he'll be a starter? And if 'yes', what IS Payton gonna do?

Does anyone think his value could be remotely equal to that of Thomson? And does anyone think getting rid of Thomson (whose stats pitching in Coors are better than away from there, including HRs yielded) was good for the Rockies?

82. NTNgod Posted: August 01, 2002 at 10:17 PM (#558274)

Please free me. Somebody, set me free. (whimper)

Don't worry, Jack, according to an article in the Rocky Mountain News, you'll be freed when the Rockies return to Coors.

From the article:

83. NTNgod Posted: August 02, 2002 at 12:21 PM (#558276)

Congratulations, Jack - you're FREE:

84. NTNgod Posted: August 03, 2002 at 12:56 AM (#558283)

For some reason, the 'Oh Yeah!' at the end of that always segues in my Gen-X mind to Kool-Aid Man busting through the wall.

Just thought I'd share :)

85. Greg Franklin Posted: August 03, 2002 at 11:24 AM (#558286)

Cust's first day: not too bad.

86. Greg Franklin Posted: August 04, 2002 at 07:57 AM (#558290)

Cust's day: 0 for 3 with 3 whiffs, before being double-switched out of the game in the 7th.

And Nomar's semi-famous college roommate is the new Rockies leadoff hitter!?

Rockies 2, Cubs 1

87. Buddha Posted: August 04, 2002 at 04:50 PM (#558291)

Wow, a schoolhouse rock reference. What's next Interplanet Erubial Durazo? Ollie Ollie Ollie get your Marlon Byrd here? Conjunction Junction, what's the function of keeping Bobby Hill in the minors while playing Delino Deshields?

Ah the memories....

My favorite (not that you asked)? Has to be the history schoolhouse rock. Especially the ones about how Americans moved west because they needed a little "elbow room." It shows all the happy Indians giving up their land to the good natured white folks. Then they all sat down and ate turkey together. It's a hoot.

88. Mike Emeigh

Posted: August 18, 2002 at 07:34 PM (#558438)

The Wreck of the Brian Fitzgerald, of course.

-- MWE

89. Mikαεl Posted: January 08, 2003 at 08:59 PM (#562705)

Chris Stynes now becomes simultaneously...

90. Old Matt Posted: January 08, 2003 at 09:01 PM (#562706)

The type of players the Rockies should seek out...contact hitters that will take advantage of the huge gaps in Coors Lite rather than trying to hit the mountains outside the park. He could be a .340 hitter.

91. Walt Davis Posted: January 08, 2003 at 10:37 PM (#562711)

Now that it's sorta been mentioned, a Norton/Stynes platoon might not be half bad.

In BP 2002, they promoted the "contact hitters" approach in Coors. Later in 2002, Rany looked at it and came to a much different conclusion.

92. Nasty Nate Posted: January 08, 2003 at 10:44 PM (#562712)

who can forget the magical summer Stynes played in Boston? ...Merloni tried to poison his gatorade, but he was sent down to Pawtucket before he got a chance.

93. Dan Szymborski

Posted: January 09, 2003 at 12:16 AM (#562713)

Personally, I wouldn't worry too much about trying to figure out a Coors formula. I'd like to see a Rockies team just put together a bunch of hitters that are good in *regular* parks and wait for some of them to catch lightning in a bottle at Coors Field.

94. Bill Posted: January 09, 2003 at 05:01 AM (#562716)

Completely agree with Dan and KK. KK could also have added Andres although he was in a funk before he went to Colorado. There may be some magic strategy for what sort of pitchers they should get, but I think good hitters are the answer on offense.

95. Bill Posted: January 09, 2003 at 05:32 AM (#562718)

I remember it well KK. I was lucky enough to be in Denver for their first game at Mile High and I assured my hosts, who were not baseball mavens, that Andres was an awful player and would be a disaster for the home club. Not one of my better calls.

96. Colin Posted: January 21, 2003 at 09:11 PM (#563925)

He might have been useful for Atlanta in place of Vinny castilla, but I guess they decided they didn't want him once before.

97. dlf Posted: January 21, 2003 at 09:19 PM (#563926)

Not to denigrate Jose's usefulness to the Braves, but a hanky filled with day old phlem is more useful for everything but the Phillies chance of a playoff berth that Vinny the Sucking Vortex of Doom.

98. Cris E Posted: January 21, 2003 at 09:30 PM (#563927)

I'll start the over/under bidding at 200.

Does the thin air affect K rates? I seem to remember it being thrown out as a factor (ie no effect) when BP did their How To Play at Coors articles last year. Even so, I'll say under just because ODowd will change his strategy twice during the season resulting in Hernandez pitching through May and June.

99. Old Matt Posted: January 21, 2003 at 09:35 PM (#563928)

I thought that Coors decreases Ks to the tune of 30% or something....

100. There are no words... (Met Fan Charlie) Posted: January 21, 2003 at 09:42 PM (#563929)

And another one gone, another one gone, another one bites the dust...

At this rate, the Mets might try to entice Wayne Garret out of retiremnt to play 3B.

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