Author Topic: Offseason moves? (Read 175984 times)

Good bench bat. Can play first against lefties as he hits them particularly well. Let's Tyler Moore have steady playing time so that if we need him to start at first/left, he's already "warmed up"

NJ Ave · « **Reply #1932 on:** December 15, 2013, 07:17:21 pm »

Quote from: HalfSmokes on December 15, 2013, 04:07:09 pm

Now if only Espinosa could actually hit lefties

Career .262/.334/.453 vs. LHP.

blue911 · « **Reply #1933 on:** December 15, 2013, 07:38:51 pm »

I'd rather have Eric Chavez

Terpfan76 · « **Reply #1934 on:** December 15, 2013, 07:46:47 pm »

Quote from: Slateman on December 15, 2013, 06:59:16 pm

Mary Tyler Moore's twin brother who rages at night

win

HalfSmokes · « **Reply #1935 on:** December 15, 2013, 08:25:36 pm »

Quote from: NJ Ave on December 15, 2013, 07:17:21 pm

Career .262/.334/.453 vs. LHP.

if you think last year was meaningless

NJ Ave · « **Reply #1936 on:** December 15, 2013, 08:51:50 pm »

Quote from: HalfSmokes on December 15, 2013, 08:25:36 pm

if you think last year was meaningless

Last years sample size against LHP was less than 40 at bats. And it's meaningless for this discussion, yes. If Danny is in the majors, he won't be hitting like last year. That doesn't make him a GREAT hitter, but it makes him a pretty good hitter against LHP.

If he hits like last year - completely worthless regardless of who's facing him - I trust we won't have to worry about it beyond, who's pitching for Columbus today?

Slateman · « **Reply #1937 on:** December 15, 2013, 08:55:50 pm »

The big question will be is Danny healthy? Because, if, and it's a huge if, he is, he's more valuable than standard Laroche. Which means Zim or Rendon play first.

NJ Ave · « **Reply #1938 on:** December 15, 2013, 09:05:34 pm »

If he's not, Kobernus might be the play. .351/.419/.450 vs lefties last year in AAA. .319/.376/.352 the year before. Huge splits for handedness, including basically an even BB/K ratio vs. lefties and a terrible ratio vs. righties.

I agree that if LaRoche sucks and Danny is back to normal (quite valuable despite enraging a lot of the fan base) then they probably move someone fulltime. Probably Rendon unless Zimmerman can't throw.

Slateman · « **Reply #1939 on:** December 15, 2013, 09:28:37 pm »

Quote from: NJ Ave on December 15, 2013, 09:05:34 pm

If he's not, Kobernus might be the play. .351/.419/.450 vs lefties last year in AAA. .319/.376/.352 the year before. Huge splits for handedness, including basically an even BB/K ratio vs. lefties and a terrible ratio vs. righties.

I agree that if LaRoche sucks and Danny is back to normal (quite valuable despite enraging a lot of the fan base) then they probably move someone fulltime. Probably Rendon unless Zimmerman can't throw.

Look, I like Kobernus, but he will not compete with a career line of Laroche. He'll never hit for power and his OBP is pretty reliant on his BABIP. Not a lot of walks or strike outs. He's useful as a utility guy, but he's not starter material.

But Laroche has put up a 3+ WAR season once, where as Danny has done it twice. While a large part of that is defense, when healthy he's capable of a .725-.735 OPS. Combine that with defense and some baserunning, and he's easily capable of surpassing Laroche. But we don't know if he's healthy and if Zim/Rendon is willing to move to first base full time.

However if he's healthy, the absolute worst case scenario is the Nationals have a huge trade chip next season.

HalfSmokes · « **Reply #1940 on:** December 15, 2013, 09:35:17 pm »

The question is whether Rizzo assumes health assembling the roster heading into next season and how much of the season both Danny and Laroche get to show health

NJ Ave · « **Reply #1941 on:** December 15, 2013, 09:43:15 pm »

Quote from: Slateman on December 15, 2013, 09:28:37 pm

Look, I like Kobernus, but he will not compete with a career line of Laroche. He'll never hit for power and his OBP is pretty reliant on his BABIP. Not a lot of walks or strike outs. He's useful as a utility guy, but he's not starter material.

What's with people not doing research anymore? It's all readily accessible.

Last three years, LaRoche is .221/.282/.391 against lefties. Last year his OPS against them was .567. It's really not out there to think that if Danny's not healthy, Kobernus might be a better play against lefties, with Zimmerman at first and Rendon at third.

NJ Ave · « **Reply #1942 on:** December 15, 2013, 09:44:33 pm »

And of course Kobernus wouldn't start regularly, who suggested that?

Slateman · « **Reply #1943 on:** December 16, 2013, 06:22:19 am »

Quote from: NJ Ave on December 15, 2013, 09:43:15 pm

What's with people not doing research anymore? It's all readily accessible.

Last three years, LaRoche is .221/.282/.391 against lefties. Last year his OPS against them was .567. It's really not out there to think that if Danny's not healthy, Kobernus might be a better play against lefties, with Zimmerman at first and Rendon at third.

Rather have Jeff Baker or TMo in against lefties.

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #1944 on:** December 16, 2013, 08:26:05 am »

Frankly, I don't mind competition instead of coronations. I would like to see competition for ALR so we don't crown him full time 1B and I'd like to see DE competing for a roster spot and not be given one after last year.

I probably have more confidence in Moore if he's given enough ABs than many of you, but I would like to see someone, whether it is Baker, Youkilis, or someone else in the mix pushing for playing time so that TMo can play regularly in AAA if not here. Keep him hot, as Slate says. As for DE, I think the competition is already there among Kobernus and Walters. A strong spring by DE ought to lead to some thought about how to divide time among him, Rendon, and ALR, but it probably results in Moore going back to AAA.

I also think there is another deal coming. I think Moore and maybe a reliever gets moved, perhaps for a catcher, a corner IF backup, and / or low minors pitching.

Slateman · « **Reply #1945 on:** December 16, 2013, 08:59:20 am »

Quote from: JCA-CrystalCity on December 16, 2013, 08:26:05 am

Frankly, I don't mind competition instead of coronations. I would like to see competition for ALR so we don't crown him full time 1B and I'd like to see DE competing for a roster spot and not be given one after last year.

I probably have more confidence in Moore if he's given enough ABs than many of you, but I would like to see someone, whether it is Baker, Youkilis, or someone else in the mix pushing for playing time so that TMo can play regularly in AAA if not here. Keep him hot, as Slate says. As for DE, I think the competition is already there among Kobernus and Walters. A strong spring by DE ought to lead to some thought about how to divide time among him, Rendon, and ALR, but it probably results in Moore going back to AAA.

I also think there is another deal coming. I think Moore and maybe a reliever gets moved, perhaps for a catcher, a corner IF backup, and / or low minors pitching.

I have no problem with this at Spring Training. But we both know Laroche will start the season. Being paid too much not to.

HalfSmokes · « **Reply #1946 on:** December 16, 2013, 09:01:47 am »

Quote from: Slateman on December 16, 2013, 08:59:20 am

I have no problem with this at Spring Training. But we both know Laroche will start the season. Being paid too much not to.

I don't mind him starting, what I will have a problem with is him keeping the job for long as he has his normal half season slump

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #1947 on:** December 16, 2013, 09:03:11 am »

There's got to be another team with a defense fetish that we can give $5MM to take him off our hands in a trade.

Slateman · « **Reply #1948 on:** December 16, 2013, 10:28:31 am »

Quote from: JCA-CrystalCity on December 16, 2013, 09:03:11 am

There's got to be another team with a defense fetish that we can give $5MM to take him off our hands in a trade.

Still think the Yankees are our best trading partner. They keep trying to get Phillips. Espinosa is a better defender and with that short porch, might actually produce.

NJ Ave · « **Reply #1949 on:** December 16, 2013, 10:38:29 am »

My problem with Tyler Moore is that in 181 plate appearances against LHP in the majors, he's hit .222/.276/.383.

Otherwise I think we're all pretty much in agreement that LaRoche probably needs to sit a bunch against lefties. It's the final year of his contract, so who cares if you hurt his feelings. Even last year he hit .250/.357/.434 against righties - not what you'd like from a 1B, but not something that's going to kill the team.

Against lefties he hit .198/.254/.313. Now he OPSd .825 against lefties in 2012, so maybe you give him a look against southpaws in April, but I'd have a really quick hook if he continues to struggle. It sounds like they're already laying the framework, having told Zimmerman to expect 15-20 games at 1B.