So, words on the Internet tell me that the Dodgers and Angels are the lead suitors for Miguel Cabrera. Now, in case you are not familiar with Miggy, I'll list a few of his upsides: he's 24 and hits baseballs with levels of prejudice that would make stereotypical Southern sheriffs spit take their moonshine. Baeballreference.com just told me that the two most similar hitters to Cabrera at age 24 are Hank Aaron and Ken Griffey Jr. Similar to Joe Morgan, I can only evaluate baseball players that I have personally seen play and can thus not comment on Aaron, but Griffey always struck me as strong to medium strong. Thus, I can see the upside of acquiring Cabrera, however I am sort oppossed to gutting the entire team to get him.
Quoting the above referenced article, "(t)he Dodgers would have to give up four players from a group that includes pitcher Chad Billingsley, pitching prospect Clayton Kershaw, third baseman Andy La Roche, first baseman James Loney and outfielder Matt Kemp. The Dodgers probably would balk at giving both Billingsley and Kershaw in the same deal because it would hurt the organization's pitching depth."
As much as I like Cabrera, this would be a terrible trade. I know this will make me a gay fag who likes men and their cocks, but I would like to throw some happy fun time baseball statistics into the mix. James Loney had the 11th highest VORP among major league first basemen last season, with an average of 275 fewer at-bats than the 10 guys ahead of him. Kemp as 12th among major league rightfielders with an average of 305 fewer att-bats than the guys ahead of him. Surpsingly to me, Billingsley was 33rd in starting pither VORP, again with an average of 70 fewer innings pitched than the guys ahead of him. (I'm not posting any links for this stuff, because you have to love baseball as much as I do and pay for a Baseball Prospectus account if you want to check any of these sweet stats out). Kershaw is the top pitching prospect in baseball and Laroche sucks (hey, he's 93 at-bats scattered across a season and done nothing with them), but he does come to the plate to that song from Karate Kid.
Finally, all of the Dodgers are younger than Cabrera (though that's pretty irrelevant) and more importantly are not free agents in two seasons or in threat of eating their way into having to play a different position. The only way I could like this trade would be if the Dodgers could further sweeten the deal with Penny and Broxton and pry the D-train away along with Cabrera.
D-Train! Woot Woot!
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4 comments:
OMG. B-rex has officially entered the fray. I guess he pulled a Zumaya suffering an injury that prevents him from playing guitar hero.
Also, if you get the chance look at the MLBTR post regarding this topic. There is some fucking ridiculousness going on in the comments section. Check out the comments from bosox21. The guy is fucking insane. I think he went to Pat Robertson's law shcool and holds a position in the justice department.
His highlights include the following:
1. "Loney is easily replaced"
2. Kemp is only a "prospect"
3. "1Bs with good batting avgs are plentiful. Unless you hit 40 HRs along with your .320 avg, you're just not that special at 1B." (A guy by the name of notjoemorgan dropped a sick retort to that one)
4. "To me, .875-.925 1Bs grow on trees. A team with the resources like the dodgers arent worried about replacing that. Break out 1Bs are an annual event. spend a few mil and the problem is gone."
5. "I've been a fan for 25 years and studied finance and statistics in college."
6. "u have obviously never taken statistics or projected baseball performance before"
A truly great performance by any standards. Also, that kbrooks2LA guy was both hilarious and informed.
No, no, no...
Don't "sweeten" this trade. D-Train brings a whole new set of simmering issues that are far from bedrock acquisitions needed to improve this club.
Let's stick to basics. Keep the kids, and let's pass on Cabrera. If we are to upgrade at 3B, lets pay outright for the best, A-Rod.. or Lowell. We need an experienced bat that will help protect our kids, not SUPPLANT them.
At the very worst, I don't see all that much harm in just holding... the kids will play full time next season, and 3B will be a LaRoche/Nomar tandem. I'm fine with that... and in lieu of a stupid, prospect-wasting trade like Cabrera, instead shoot for a targeted trade for a solid 4th starting pitcher. I love Ethier, but circumstances and prospects say that, in my opinion, I'd give him up plus ONE of our young pitching prospects for a decent 4th spot rotation starter. Not too much to ask.
You're the best...around...no one's ever gonna keep you down!
Laroche is the greatest baseball player if all time if only for playing that Danny Larusso classic every time he comes to the dish.
Is this bosox 21 guy mentally retarded? If so I feel sorry for him. If not he should stop flapping his dick sucker on topics he knows nothing about. I took a statistics class in college and it was rad cuz it was full of all the dumb chicks who couldn't hack it in real math. I've never gotten more pussy in my life.
To clarify, the D-train thing was meant sarcastically. I would probably support a trade of Olmedo Saenz for Willis, but not much else.
I would happily trade Ethier for a 4th starter, mainly because Ethier isn't that good. Unlike Juan Pierre, I wouldn't advocate moving Ethier for nothing, but I see no need to make holding onto him a priority. This isn't really an issue because no one is trying to pry Ethier away or anything.
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