Links for Sunday night as the Braves get ready to host the Cardinals..
- Both Victor Martinez and Adrian Beltre are mashing as they head into free agency, writes ESPNBoston.com's Gordon Edes.
- As he evaluates players and prepares for what could be a busy offseason, Bucs GM Neal Huntington says he's happy with what he sees, says Jeff Wallner for MLB.com.
- Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald writes that while Cubs interim manager Mike Quade doesn't identify himself as a sabermetrician, he does believe in using numbers to help him make informed decisions.
- Marc Hulet of Fangraphs reviewed the top prospects in the NL Central.
Ian_Smell
Neal shouldn’t get too happy, his job isn’t exactly secure.
No Gimmicks
Of course it is. Unless the ownership is monumentally stupid.
Huntington is in a rebuilding phase. He’s developed some talent in Alvarez and Tabata and such. They’re awful, of course, but on the right track.
Dave_Gershman
Since when are Alvarez and Tabata are awful?
Vote_For_Pedro
He means the team is awful not some of the players like alvarez,tabata, and such.They have 6 outta 8 position players locked for next year, so all they need position wise is a SS and a 1B/RF depending weather or not Jones is at first or right.If you have watched the bucos recently they have had preety good starting pitching against the reds. So there is some promise just not enough to prove much but we will see.I can see the bucs getting an ok SS, a #2-3 SP, and a 1B in FA.
Smrtbusnisman04
Maybe this is bias, but I really want them to keep Ronny Cedeno. I know he strikes out too much, but he’s a power hitting SS, he’s got good range and he THROWs really hard. I want to see what would happen if he stayed for another season. Consider it a high risk-high reward move.
I hope the Pirates sign a good SP, but please let it be one who won’t cost them a 1st round draft pick. I want them to draft Anthony Rendon.
bucs_lose_again
The Pirates pick is protected, much like it has been for many years, much like it will continue to be for many more.
bucs_lose_again
The Pirates pick is protected, much like it has been for many years, much like it will continue to be for many more.
Smrtbusnisman04
You forgot Neil Walker. Neil was given many chances by the Pirates management, but he’s finally put it together and showed us what Dave Littlefield saw when he drafted him.
Dave_Gershman
I’ll tell you something, Neil Walker looks really, really good.
jwredsox
I’m not sold on him. He strikes out over 21% of the time and walks just 5.3% of the time. And his .308 batting average is only being sustained by a .366 BABIP. Plus his defense has been terrible (-8.2 UZR) which should improve but he is a long way from league average for defense. He should be a decent player for a bad pirates team but it is a huge leap to call him really, really good.
Henry Castellanos
Jose Tabata was actually developed by the Yankees. Thanks for the injured Nady, and injured, no-control sucky Marte
mstrchef13
Does Victor Martinez have enough offense to be an everyday 1B? Any chance that if he is an everyday 1B his offense increases due to not having to be a lousy catcher 120 times a year?
wickedkevin
He doesn’t want to play 1b or be a dh.
venn177
Yep. He wants to catch that way he can make more money.
BoSoxSam
Unless it increases dramatically, his value will still be considerably lower.
JDortmunder
have enough offense to be an everyday 1B?”——– Not really though being a sh is his main asset. At his best he’s probably about an .850ops and about 14-18 hr’s. He’s not moving Youkilis even if Beltre leaves. I think they’ll get somebody else at third. The only way Youk moves is if they got AGon and that’s not happening.
start_wearing_purple
My concern is that Youk really isn’t more than a fill in at third now, a guy who can take over maybe once a week but shouldn’t be there permanently. Anyway, Beltre has proven to do really well with the Sox and there isn’t much in the third baseman market and no one on the farm will be ready for 2-3 years. My bet is Beltre gets a deal or Theo tries to make an unexpected trade… I suppose there’s virtually no chance the Nats listen to offers on Zimmerman.
jwredsox
Agreed. Especially about Youk. People think they can just move him to third and it will be seamless but I don’t buy it.
start_wearing_purple
My concern is that Youk really isn’t more than a fill in at third now, a guy who can take over maybe once a week but shouldn’t be there permanently. Anyway, Beltre has proven to do really well with the Sox and there isn’t much in the third baseman market and no one on the farm will be ready for 2-3 years. My bet is Beltre gets a deal or Theo tries to make an unexpected trade… I suppose there’s virtually no chance the Nats listen to offers on Zimmerman.
ugotrpk3113
Good observation Gordon.
Zack23
Wish he noticd this for Beltre:
July: .277/.327/.532
August: .288/.325/.538
Much closer to his career line of .275/.328/.462 than his 2010 line. Can’t wait to see a GM go and overpay him for his offense.
jwredsox
Wow those numbers are so bad /sarcasm. He needs to go to a hitters park park but even if he only hits .275 he will still provide value by playing some of the best 3B in the league.
Zack23
Did you even read my post?
I did not claim his numbers were “bad”, I pointed it out to show that you know some GM is going to pay for his .320/.380 line but then somehow will be shocked when he’s back to hitting .280/.330
Zack23
Did you even read my post?
I did not claim his numbers were “bad”, I pointed it out to show that you know some GM is going to pay for his .320/.380 line but then somehow will be shocked when he’s back to hitting .280/.330
Zack23
Wish he noticd this for Beltre:
July: .277/.327/.532
August: .288/.325/.538
Much closer to his career line of .275/.328/.462 than his 2010 line. Can’t wait to see a GM go and overpay him for his offense.