MLB & Division Watching (2010)

[Lintyfresh85]

What an ending to the Twins-Rangers game.

Rules are rules, but damn, that's a hard way to end a game.

[DPMOmaha]

what happened?

[Lintyfresh85]

Bases loaded, two outs, Rangers down two.

Vlad hits a grounder up the middle for a base hit. One runs scores. Michael Young is rounding third, hits the brakes and gets back safely into third on a throw from Orlando Hudson.

The ump calls Young out for touching hands with the third base coach... in reality it didn't factor into the play at all, but the ump still called the out.

[blue911]

Pudge was coaching 3rd?

[JCA-CrystalCity]

No but he's a BoSox fan, and all of their players are banged up. Maybe he's just a fan of the DL.

Should take a look at my keeper fantasy team.  I'm stocking for next year.  Nathan, Youk, Ellsbury, Pettite, Putz, Thornton (who had the save today).  Heck, I took a flier on Conor Jackson and Ben Sheets, too, plus Adam Rosales.  Shawn Marcum was my best injury gamble.

As for the rangers, yes, I have CJ Wilson, David Murphy, Cristian Guzman (as a throw in who I will cut) and Josh Hamilton.  Had Scott Feldman. Also had Andrus and Nelson Cruz last year.

[imref]

It looks like Colby Rasmus is talking his way out St. Louis, complaining that he isn't getting enough playing time.  he might make a nice addition to our team.

[Lintyfresh85]

I'd love him.

Don't find many .800+ OPS guys manning CF.

Plus, while he's slightly below average this year in the field, last year, and his reputation points to him being a solid CF'er.

[imref]

I tend to agree, I would be willing to give up any of our current OF'rs for him.

[Potomac Cannons]

I tend to agree, I would be willing to give up any of our current OF'rs for him.

Not Morse.

[Lintyfresh85]

Not Morse.

I would. Morse could be Werth 2.0... but still, Rasmus still offers overall better value (hitting/fielding/running) than Morse does.

[NatsDad14]

I would give up Morse 100 times to get Rasmus. That has to be the most ridiculous Morse related comment from a Nats fan since Peric said on Nationals Journal he would take Morse over Heyward based off of Morse's AAA stats.

[Potomac Cannons]

I would. Morse could be Werth 2.0... but still, Rasmus still overs overall better value (hitting/fielding/running) than Morse does.

Rasmus could be a really good CF.  His high BABIP this year is unsustainable.  His two years come off as a 2-2.5 WAR player.  Speedy guy who doesn't have great SB%.  Not sure which year had the true defensive metrics for him.  If it is this year then he is a corner OF with power and a high K%.  That's a LHB Morse at 24.  I'd put a package together based around Bernadina for him before Morse (if his first year defensive metrics are right).

[NatsDad14]

The BABIP argument is bad because Morse has a higher BABIP this year and Morse's career BABIP is .356

[PANatsFan]

I would give up Morse 100 times to get Rasmus. That has to be the most ridiculous Morse related comment from a Nats fan since Peric said on Nationals Journal he would take Morse over Heyward based off of Morse's AAA stats.

Well, there's eagleskins type motives there.

[Tyler Durden]

Didn't see this another thread -

Any chance we could get Colby Rasmus for Ian Desmond?

I would put Espinosa at SS, Kennedy at 2B next year and maybe bring up Lombardozzi, Kobernus, Hague, ort whoever else the next year.  Our outfield would be pretty set, though, with Willingham, Rasmus, and Morse, with Bernadina backing up all 3 positions.  Hopefully resign Dunn.

C - Ramos
1B - Dunn
2B - Kennedy
3B Zim
SS - Espinosa
LF - Willingham
CF - Rasmus
RF - Morse

for 2012, put Morse in LF and Harper in RF.  Also put in one of our minor leaguers in at 2B for Kennedy.

Looks good to me.  The only reservation I would have would be Rasmus seems like he might be head case wanting to leave the Cards and the greatest player of our generation (minus Zim and Strasburg, of course). 

[NatsDad14]

It would take more than Ian Desmond. I wouldn't mind having a future lineup like this

LF Crawford
CF Rasmus
3B Zimmerman
1B Dunn
RF Willingham (Harper in 2012)
SS Espinosa
2B Desmond
C Ramos
Pitcher

[Potomac Cannons]

And once again, what are the quantifiable reasons to move Morse for Rasmus?  Rasmus is younger.  He's got good speed but his SB% has been consistently average to slightly above at each level.  His defensive metrics really seem like two different players at this point.  He may well be a power hitting CF with good defense.  Or he may be a power hitting corner OF who runs a lot but not with the necessary discipline/effectiveness.  Morse is the only one of our OF's I'd withhold in going after Rasmus.  Hammer is old and injury prone.  Bernadina is a defensive stud and league average, or slightly above, at the plate.  Nyjer and Willie are old and easily replaceable.  Morse's potential as a 1B also adds to his value and makes him the only one of them to withhold in that scenario.

[ronnynat]

Rasmus could be a really good CF.  His high BABIP this year is unsustainable. 

.336 isn't that high. Some players can do that just about every season.

[NatsDad14]

And once again, what are the quantifiable reasons to move Morse for Rasmus?  Rasmus is younger.  He's got good speed but his SB% has been consistently average to slightly above at each level.  His defensive metrics really seem like two different players at this point.  He may well be a power hitting CF with good defense.  Or he may be a power hitting corner OF who runs a lot but not with the necessary discipline/effectiveness.  Morse is the only one of our OF's I'd withhold in going after Rasmus.  Hammer is old and injury prone.  Bernadina is a defensive stud and league average, or slightly above, at the plate.  Nyjer and Willie are old and easily replaceable.  Morse's potential as a 1B also adds to his value and makes him the only one of them to withhold in that scenario.

Using 1 year defensive stats is dumb. You should know as a guy who is a supposed expert on defense. If you want a truer picture of someone's defensive talent, you need a bigger sample size like 3 years. If you use his 2 year average, it's 5.9 UZR/150. For all the talk about BABIP for Rasmus, Morse has a higher BABIP this year and a career .356 BABIP. Plus, Rasmus is a lot better defender and is a younger guy. You looked down on Rasmus 2.5 WAR, but Morse has a 2.1 WAR for his career. Someone quote this post so that Potomac Cannons can read it.

[PatsNats28]

It's in the the Out of Town Scoreboard forum, MLB Thread.

http://www.wnff.net/index.php/topic,17099.msg630605.html#msg630605

[Lintyfresh85]

Rasmus has a Total Zone rating of 30 in 4 minor league years.

TZ is a crude version of UZR. So, basically, Rasmus is an above average CF'er that's going to get you about 7 runs worth of defense in CF.

Morse, on the other hand is going to be a negative fielder in RF.

Factor in positional scarcity and I don't think you can even compare the two.

If Ramus were to put up numbers comparable to Morse, he'd be the better player just based off defense/position alone.

On BABIP, Rasmus put up a .321 line throughout his minor league career, .336 BABIP is much more indicative of his ability to pick up hits than the .282 line he put up in 2009.

Secondly, Rasmus is 24 years old (doesn't turn 25 till August 2011). He shouldn't hit his peak for another 5-6 years. Morse should be just about right at his peak.

I usually see your point Potomac... but on this one, Rasmus trounces Morse in every single way.

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

This had me in stitches...not because I have a Bobby Cox hard on love affair going, but because Loria is such such a thumb-sucking little twit.  Amazing.   

[Lintyfresh85]

What had you in stitches?

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

Oops, this:

No tribute for Cox from Marlins
The Associated Press
Sunday, September 5, 2010; 5:50 PM

MIAMI -- Retiring Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox has received an assortment of going-away gifts this year from other teams, including a Wrigley Field seat and an autographed Stan Musial photo.

The Florida Marlins gave Cox a snub.

Florida's three-game weekend series against NL East rival Atlanta ended Sunday without any ceremony for Cox, who criticized Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria earlier this season.

Cox has been honored in every other city when the Braves have made their final visit of the season - even by American League teams such as the Twins and White Sox.

But there was no ceremony or gift for Cox when the Braves played in Miami for the final time this year.

Marlins president David Samson declined to give a reason, saying the team had no comment. But the Marlins were likely mindful of remarks Cox made after his protege, Fredi Gonzalez, was fired as their manager in June.

Said Cox of Loria: "That guy doesn't appreciate anything."

Cox will retire after this season, his 25th as manager of the Braves. He didn't get a win in his last trip to Florida, either, losing 7-6 in 10 innings.

What had you in stitches?

[NatsAddict]

Loria and Samson sit up in their bed together each night, thinking up classless things to do the next day.