<$BlogRSDURL$>
Proceeds from the ads below will be donated to the Bob Wuesthoff scholarship fund.

Thursday, January 05, 2006

A Real Reason Why Manny Should Leave Boston

I know the Rev's been all hot and bothered over rumors that the Angels might snatch Manny Ramirez. While I still think that's a zero-possibility trade -- unless you have an ironclad reason to allow a player to force a trade, you don't do it -- here's an interesting reason why the Red Sox should move their temperamental left fielder: because he really is a butcher with the glove, according to Clay Davenport in today's BPro Chat:
Larry (Philadelphia): Does Manny Ramirez really give back as much with his fielding as he gains with the bat? There's been a pretty spirited debate over his UZR/FRAA/FRAR at Baseball Primer, with one side saying it isn't possible he's that bad in LF, one side saying Fenway distorts all LF data points, and still another side saying it IS possible Manny's that bad, and, if so, the Red Sox would be wise to unload him on some sucker who will see he'd be a disaster in a "normal" ballpark's LF. Any thoughts?

Clay Davenport: You hit a lot of different things there. I do think Manny is a very bad defensive player, and I do think Fenway distorts everything in LF. If Manny was really as bad as the extreme UZR numbers I've seen, he would be far and away the worst fielder in ML history, and I don't think he's nearly that bad. He is trending worse, however (not at all unusual for someone his age), and even if I don't think he's beyond horrible now he may soon be. He should go where he can DH, a statement that doesn't describe Boston as long as Ortiz is around.


Comments:
One thing I wondered about the Ramirez trade rumors ... let's say he did get traded to the Angels ... who would play LF?

Anderson's actually a decent (not great, but decent) left-fielder, while Ramirez, well, Ramirez isn't.

Would the Angels DH Anderson to soothe Ramirez's ego, or would they DH Ramirez?

This is just a hypothetical question as Ramirez won't be traded to the Angels (I hope), but I thought it would be an interesting dilemna.
 
It's been reported in at least one of the Boston papers and in a recent edition of ESPN the Mag by Tim Kurkjian that Manny WILL NOT DH. Manny is adamant that he play in the field, making it even more difficult to trade him.

It's also been reported that Manny will insist that the team that acquires him pick up the two option years of his contract -- and said option years are for $20 mil/yr.

Such demands are going to make it very difficult for any team to acquire Man-Ram.
 
Plus I just can't imagine the Sox would let him go for two guys with OPSs close to 700 and a prospect.

That would be a muy horrible trade, unless you really, really, really believe in defense.
 
Now Manny is staying, or so he says. Here's the latest:

http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/story?id=396286

Time to focus on Tejada, and think about converting B. Wood to third, second, or the outfield.
 
Wood's not ready, and the Os will want the moon for Tejada.

Nope, I'm afraid it's Juan Rivera, that-guy-from-Cuba-who's-name-I-can't-recall-just-now, or Figgy again (if the Angels play Ersty in CF and Kotchman at 1B).
 
I'm fine with Rivera as our in-house solution. The big bats that might be available will cost us too much in dollars, players, and/or prospects.
 
Tejada is going to cost a lot more than Ramirez, and in my opinion I would rather have Ramirez on the team thatn Tejada. So far the offers I have heard for Tejada are:

BOS: Ramirez/Clement
CWS: Uribe/Contreras/Sweeney/ + pitching prospect (apparently BAL wanted McCarthy, Sox said no)
CHC: Prior/Patterson/Rich Hill 4 Bedard/Tejada

OK, apparently BAL turned BOS and CHC offer. That said, I am sure BAL asked for a deal of

Lackey + Shields or Santana + Wood or Kendrick or Kotchman

That is not a good deal for Tejada. Angels might pick up F.Thomas, yet looks like the 2006 version is going to be relying on a lot of young players stepping up and proving themselves.
 
I'm still bemused at the idea that having Manny on the team (even at the money he earns) is considered by anyone to be ANYTHING other than a plus?

He HITS. All the time. For power, for average, draws a ton of walks.

I understand that trading top level prospects may not be the way forward, but knocking him cos he ain't that good a fielder is pretty picky, no?

for me - switching Manny for OCab/Ersty/ANY 1 prospect would be an easy choice.
 

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.



Newer›  ‹Older
This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?
Google

WWW 6-4-2