Diamondbacks Bullpen

shoewizard · Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 3:58 pm Post subject:

The big knock on Hairston is he did not inherit the baseball instinct gene. This is probably a legit criticism. So he has to hit ALOT to overcome all this crap.

He CAN hit alot though, thats the fucking point.

stu · Everyday Player Joined: 12 Aug 2006 Posts: 568

On the replacement outfield front, here is a post from Primer (dated Oct. 25 so some guys may be signed by now) that seems pretty good on outfielders who are available at the minimu. My bet is at least one of these guys would outperform Byrnes offensively this year if given the chance. Of course, the problem is identifying which noe or ones since you can sign several, but that is what the FO is paid the big bucks for.

Posted: October 25, 2006 at 04:50 PM (#2224373)

I also missed 3B/IF Donald Kelly and C Koyie Hill - neither of whom do much for me. Kelly is still young, I suppose, and has shown a little on-base ability from time to time.

Outfield: When I was a kid and first started looking into stuff like this, there was a guy where I thought if he just could improve his skills by 10% across the board (a lot to ask, really), he could be a useful major leaguer. As it turns out, he did and Al Martin went on to have a respectable big league career. He's still close to the archetype of what I look for at this position - guys with a broad range of skills, rather than specialists. Two years ago, I thought I might have found a good one in Chip Ambres, who had a solid '05 before imploding last year. Unfortunately, there aren't any guys like that this year (including Ambres himself, who awful in '06).

The popular pick for best guy available is probably Chris Aguila, who can play all three outfield spots (though he's stretched in center). Nor for me, though - I've never liked his bat (mle: .248/.294/.361). Luis Terrero (mle: .289/.336/.502) had never hit as well as he did last year before, but his tools have long tantalized. Yes, he looked awful his first stint in Baltimore, but did okay in the 2nd callup - plus he's relatively fast (weak baserunner, though) and can play all three OF spots (error prone). Fellow former top prospect Abe Nunez (mle: .255/.334/.420) wouldn't be out of place on a big league bench either.

Tydus Meadows never seems to get a real shot in AAA, much less the majors - but he can hit (mle: .269/.408/.429 - the walks were a little fluky high). A weak arm limits him to left, but he's otherwise okay defensively. George Lombard is perenially one of the best in AAA - he can't hit lefties and he might be stretched in center by now, but is better than some 4th outfielders with jobs (mle: .272/.354/.472 in limited play). Adam Hyzdu is old as dirt, but he can hit (mle: .261/.352/.473). Mike Restovich (mle: .258/.327/.474) had a real nice year and it wouldn't surprise me if this was close to his true level of ability. Mike Vento did too (mle: .310/.363/.457 - also in limited time), but I'm not that big on him - I think this was a sample size fluke.

Eric Ludwick (mle: .258/.328/.470) seems to have recovered from some of the injuries that plagued him the last few years. Mark Quinn hit for power in AA last year, but there are better available risks - like Kevin West, for instance. He was blah last year, but I still like Prentice Redman in a AAA spot - he does a little bit of a lot of things, just none well enough for the bigs yet. Rashad Eldridge was awful last season, but can potentially hit for average and draw a few walks. Chad Allen can hit for average, but doesn't do much else and is past his prospect days.

Marlon Byrd, Dustan Mohr, Bubba Crosby - you know what they can and can't do.

If you want a center fielder who can run and glove, there are a few options at your disposal, provided that you're not concerned with whether or not they can hit: Kenny Kelly, Tim Raines Jr., Todd Donovan, Ruddy Yan, Andres Torres, and Jamal Strong included. (Say, what was wrong with Strong last year?) So is Rich Thompson, who actually took a few walks last year. Luis Montanez has garnered some attention, but hasn't really hit that well for more than a month or two at a time (great w/ West Tenn, but awful with Iowa) and he's just a corner outfielder.

shoewizard · Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 4:06 pm Post subject:

Is anyone else reading this and thinking what I'm thinking?

tmar · Veteran Presence Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 1218

A name player...hmm. Maybe a peppy little acrobat.

levski · Veteran Presence Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 1812

shoewizard · Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 9:22 am Post subject:

OK, I thought I would review here just one more time possible desitnations for Eric Byrnes. I am quoting Keith Law of ESPN from his "Team Needs"

qudjy1 · Veteran Presence Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 1164

I still say chicago.

Byrnes for Marshall.

baldmaga · Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 3:33 pm Post subject:

If we could get a starter from the ChiSox for Byrnes...It'd be a miracle...A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE!

EDIT: sorry, just to be politically correct, a "Non-Denominaional Winter Season Holiday Miracle"

moviegeekjn · Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 3:45 pm Post subject:

qudjy1 · Veteran Presence Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 1164

If there is no way EB is going to be traded, I would rather Davanon be traded than Hairston. Both would be selling low, but i thinK hairston would have more value here than on the trade market...

Espo · MLB Rookie Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 173

I don't understand why Eric Byrnes is thought to be a good OF by this organization. He had a career year last year and he isn't sound defensively. He reminds me of David Dellucci in the fact that me can make the easy catch look spectacular by diving for it. I agree with many of you that its time to give Hairston and the young guys the outfield and trade EB for whatever we can get.

dirtygary · Posted: Fri Dec 08, 2006 12:28 pm Post subject:

qudjy1 · Veteran Presence Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 1164

qudjy1 · Veteran Presence Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 1164

Espo · MLB Rookie Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 173

qudjy1 · Veteran Presence Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 1164

Davanons only trade value really is his roster spot. Trust me, im with you on trading byrnes. All im saying is that if they are 100% not going to trade byrnes - right or wrong - what about clearing the roster spot by trading davanon out of here... I would rather see that than have to release (or whatever the procedure is) SH because he is out of options.....

shoewizard · Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2006 9:15 pm Post subject:

Well, Marlon Byrd, right handed batter, just signed with Texas. He probably won't play every day, but they could sign Lofton now to platoon with Byrd.

This most likely removes Texas from consideration of potential trade partners for EB

I think he is ours for the duration.

Dangerfield · Posted: Sun Dec 10, 2006 12:14 pm Post subject:

Should of read this before my other post, and thinking somethings up with Texas. My argument for Byrnes. Guys like him tend to get better the longer they're around. He keeps himself in incredible shape, and is a marshal artist. He's not a phony, and he's one of those you either like him or don't. I like him, he plays hard, and gets the most from his ability.
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TAP · Posted: Sun Dec 10, 2006 12:54 pm Post subject:

matt · Posted: Sun Dec 10, 2006 12:58 pm Post subject:

tmar · Veteran Presence Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 1218

Since it looks like Hairston will likely be the loser in the EByrnes/Hairston battle, what can we expect from a trade for Hairston?

Most rumors for Pittsburgh seem to be involving a corner OF slot, but Hairston being a RH batter may kill that.

Dangerfield · Posted: Sun Dec 10, 2006 1:24 pm Post subject: