Around the Horn: June23, 2011
June 23rd, 2011 | by Ray Flowers |(1) Who on the Twins isn’t hurt? The names are astounding: Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Denard Span, Jason Kubel, Jim Thome, Kevin Slowey, Joe Nathan… Despite that, they just keep on winning.
(2) A’s demote Daric Barton, called up Chris Carter. Will also use Jemile Weeks at second with Mark Ellis serving as a utility player.
(3) Bullpen situations – Astros (Mark Melancon), Dodgers (Jonathan Broxton), Rangers (Nefatli Feliz).
(4) Ryan Vogelsong making history for the Giants.
By Ray Flowers
Tags: Barry Zito, Chris Carter, Daric Barton, Denard Span, Jason Kubel, Jemile Weeks, Jim Thome, Joe Mauer, Joe Nathan, Jonathan Broxton, Mark Ellis, Mark Melancon, Neftali Feliz, Ryan Vogelsong
By Nick on Jun 23, 2011
Thinking about the following trade offer…
Bruce and Axford for Verlander and Stubbs
Fair? Better side?
Thanks.
By Ty on Jun 23, 2011
Hey Ray,
Working on a trade and i was hoping to run it by you. Trading Bautista and Dee Gordon for Elvis Andrus, Aramis Ramirez and Scott Baker.
Is this enough for Bautista? I’m thinking Ramirez’s power will come around and it wont be such a drop off from Bautista’s. Plus i could really use steals and another solid pitcher.
Thanks for all your help
By Ray Flowers on Jun 23, 2011
Nick – Bruce is solid, but he is inconsistent and not likely to provide a good average. Give that, I’d expect Stubbs and his all-around game to produce more fantasy oomph ROTW. Stubbs has more runs and three times as many steals right now.
Axford is a nice arm, but obviously he has no shot at duplicating the value of Verlander.
Makes this call pretty simple for me. You want the side with Stubbs/Verlander not Bruce/Axford.
By Ray Flowers on Jun 23, 2011
Ty – Bautista/DeeGordon for Aramis/Andrus/Baker.
Gordon has a ton of speed, but even so, you can’t make a valid argument for wanting him over Andrus.
Bautista for Aramis/Baker. I’m not a huge fan of Bautista, but after his last year and a half I can’t say I expect Aramis to match his power numbers the rest of the way. June has finally started to reveal Ramirez’s thump, but he still won’t match Bautista. While I also love Baker, I don’t view him as an elite option.
So do I do this deal? It’s a solid deal that could look like a real win if Gordon struggles and/or ends up being demoted when Furcal returns. I’d go this deal cause rookies make me nervous, but it’s not like it’s a no-brainer.
By Ty on Jun 24, 2011
Okay thank you ray for taking a look. I’ll see if i can’t get a different pitcher in this deal.
I’m in no hurry to make a trade but i’d like to try and do something to push my team into first. Currently i’ve been bouncing between 3rd and 6th.
By Tim on Jun 24, 2011
Hey Ray -
Having a problem with my legs. Pierre, Davis and Pedroia haven’t stolen a base in forever. Is Pierre done? Does Rajai ever move to the top of the order? Is Dustin red-lighted because of injuries? Or are they cases of management commiting to a power game now that the weather is heating up?
Thanks
By Ray Flowers on Jun 24, 2011
Tim – It doesn’t matter where Davis hits, he is going to run. Problem is, he hasn’t been hitting. He doesn’t take many walks, so he needs hits to get on base. He should pick it up.
Pierre is looking lost. He’s possibly going to lose PT to Viciedo if the club calls up the hot hitting youngster soon. Gioven his LD-rate, his BABIP is a little low, but it’s his work on the bases that is awful. Don’t know how he just lost it, but not looking good.
Pedroia = could be foot, could just be regression to mean. I think it’s both. Remember, he’s already 65% of the way to his career best in steals, despite less than 50 percent of the games played. He’s on pace for like 28 steals while his previous best is 20.
By Joel on Jun 24, 2011
Ray:
in my 6×6 h2h league, I’ve been offered Choo and Zobrist for Josh Hamilton. What do u think? Is Hamilton so far and away the best player in the deal that I just can’t do it?
By Ray Flowers on Jun 24, 2011
Joel – Hamilton for Zobrist/Choo.
Hamilton is the “best” player, but it’s not as obvious as most would think.
Back at the start of the year I had Hamilton only five spots ahead of Choo in my top-300:
http://baseballguys.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Top-300-2011-BBGuys5.pdf>
Choo has underperformed, but he’s still a strong hitter in my mind, though one who is greatly underperforming. Zobrist is easily a top-10 second baseman right now.
Hamilton played 89 games in 2009.
He played 133 games last year.
If he plays every game the rest of the way that would be only 125 games this year.
As good as he is, the guy just can’t stay on the field.
I’d do this deal if I was you.
By Marc in CO on Jun 24, 2011
Hello Ray,
Still languishing in 12th in my 14-team H2H 5X5 league. Looking for a miracle the ROTW. Considering trading Espinosa, who I picked up two weeks ago, for Dunn. I have Hill to plug in at 2B and Dunn would take over my under-performing UT spot. Too desperate or worth the risk?
Thanks,
Marc in CO
By Ray Flowers on Jun 24, 2011
Marc in CO – Every player is tradeable if the price is right. While I’m a fan of adding Dunn at a fair cost, giving up Espinosa is way too much at this point. Way too much. Espinosa has a poor batting average, but he’s still a top-10 second baseman for his counting stats and thefts. I can’t give the thumbs up to this one.
By Rob on Jun 24, 2011
Hi Ray,
So I’m still trying to trade for a catcher. The following exchange was proposed to me today and my initial reaction is HELL NO…but, being a reasonable person, I wanted to get your opinion first. Preface: I reallllllly like both arms I would be giving up.
Giving: Ian Kennedy and Wandy Rodriguez
Getting: Alex Avila and Matt Latos
My Staff would then be (if trade accepted) Hamels, Shields, Gallardo, Nolasco, Latos, Gio Gonzales.
I have no catcher at the moment and, as mentioned yesterday, I could drop a guy to pick up Napoli. Also available are Iannetta and Lucroy.
Does it make sense to trade these two arms to get Avila and Latos? I know Avila’s not a .300 hitter and he’s bound to come down but what’s your take on this trade overall?
By Ray Flowers on Jun 24, 2011
Rob – The trade seems OK. I really like those two arms as well, no way around that, but I don’t think Latos lags too far behind the others. Is Avila worth one of the arms? Your staff would still be solid if you did the deal, so you could afford to give up an extra arm. However, if you could add Napoli or Lucroy I’d just go that route. You are giving up a lot of pitching skill if you do this.
By Rob on Jun 24, 2011
My thoughts exactly. It’s not a terrible offer, but not quite worth it. I’m thinking about countering with the same guys but Kershaw instead of Latos. If he accepts, I’d feel much better about giving up Wandy and Ian. I doubt he’ll accept though. Do you think that’s a fair offer? I’m not sure I’d trade either Wandy or Ian for Avila straight up so I need a better arm coming back to me…
By Chad on Jun 24, 2011
Ray- I’m getting nervous about Pineda and the potential for shutting him down. After his great performance yesterday what’s your take on a sell high on who I could get in return?
By Ray Flowers on Jun 24, 2011
Chad – Pineda has shown no give in his game at all. The IP limit has been there all along. Still should be able to get 180 or so innings, so unless you are in a H2H setup, there’s no reason to panic or sell at a discount. If you move him, you have to be looking at getting back a top-50 hitter.
By kevin on Jun 24, 2011
Ray…
Neil Walker, Danny Espinoza, or Kelly Johnson the rest of the way?
10 team H2H. I need help in all categories.
Thanks!
By Ray Flowers on Jun 25, 2011
Kevin – Espinosa. To this point he has been a top-10 2B, and other than his average, the production has been pretty darn solid from the young fella. KJ has fallen on hard times of late, and Walker is just solid. I’d take a shot with Espinosa.