16 Responses to “Around the Horn: August8, 2012”

1. By Joe M on Aug 8, 2012

   Hey Ray

   First of all I love you video intro of a point to the screen for baseballguys.com and the little finger twirl for around the horn

   Now, If there’s one thing I learned about Ray Flowers is sample size means almost everything to properly evaluate a player and I’ll almost always agree with you.. However, in the Mike Trout case I only sort of agree with you. I agree with the part that these numbers cannot be maintained.
   But I think there’s more to Mike Trout than maintaining these numbers. Every generation has the handful of players that are above and beyond the league average and I really believe Mike Trout has the POTENTIAL to be one of those. He has a sweet stroke, he has great speed, he plays a great defense, and just an overall BALLPLAYER with a great nose for the game. This guy seems to have been built for baseball.

   While I agree he will not have a career avg of .348, he wont steal 60 bases a year, and he will definitely not have 160 Runs a year. But do you not think he’s capable of a .300+ Avg, 25+ Steals, 25+ HR, 110+ Runs, and 100+ Rbi’s? And to top it off he seems like a damn good fielder too.

   I think if he can maintain anything close to the downplayed numbers he’s a HOF lock and would be considered a great (not the greatest, but definitely might be a name people will use to compare players of future generations.. “The next Mike Trout”)

   I know a season of stats means nothing and saying a player has the potential to be the greatest is way too overused in sports. But there’s no denying that Mike Trout has the skills to be great.

   Just my thoughts

2. By Joe M on Aug 8, 2012

   Just a quick question on the side especially since you’re a SanFran Fan, I have Romo and Casilla, Would you drop Casilla at this point for Affeldtdtd or do you think Casilla still has a shot of keeping/regaining the closer role?

   Thanks
   Joe M

3. By Ray Flowers on Aug 8, 2012

   JoeM – Ah yes, my magical finger twirl… LOL

   Could Trout be the same type of player that Carlos Gonzalez is?

   The answer is yes.

   Is he a lock to do that cause of one magical season?

   The answer is no.

   Could Trout be a .300 hitter who goes 25/25.

   Yes.

   But remember, over the last 11 years, since we hit the 21st century, only three players have hit .300 with 25 HR and 25 SBs in more than one season (they all did it twice):

   Abreu, Guerrero, HanRam
   
   Even substantially dialed back numbers like .300, 25/25 are EXTREMELY hard to come by, no matter how talented a player is.

4. By Ray Flowers on Aug 8, 2012

   JoeM – The felling is that while the team wants to turn back to Casilla, they just can’t trust him. Not only does he have that pesky blister, but he’s also pitching worse than Romo and Affeldt (as I’ve been saying since Wilson went down, Romo should be the closer). I’d move on from Casilla to Affeldt, but the team has NOT said that Casilla is out of the mix completely.

5. By Joe on Aug 8, 2012

   Hey Ray,

   I have a trade in the works…which pitcher would you be more willing to trade away; Grienke or Haren? It’s seems to me like a coin flip but wanted your take.

6. By Ray Flowers on Aug 8, 2012

   Joe – Very similar options like you stated. I’d say trade whichever brings back a better return. Both should be solid regardless.

7. By Jonathan on Aug 8, 2012

   Ray,

   I have a trade question for you. I have received a trade offer of Rafael Betancourt for Matt Moore. My current staff in addition to Moore is Strasburg, Gallardo, Mike Minor, Josh Johnson, Brandon Morrow on the DL along with my closers being Hanrahan, Wilhelmsen, and Cook. I would love to add Betancourt but I am bit hesitant to give up Moore with the potential shutdown of Strasburg looming. Any Suggestions?

   I also recently picked up Balfour in case Cook loses the job along with Romo. Who do you see coming away with the closing duties in Oakland and San Francisco?

8. By Ray Flowers on Aug 8, 2012

   Jonathan – Gotta admit it’s guess work, but I think Balfour gets a shot at 9th. I love Romo, ALWAYS talk him up, but the Giants just won’t commit to him. I’d bet he and Afeldt share the work with Casilla blister and bad work of late.

   How much of a boost can adding Betancourt and his 8-10 saves ROTW make? Probably not that much if you can add Balfour and Romo to your lineup. Maybe you get 4-5 saves there… know what I mean? If those extra saves matter, you can do, but your SP staff has injured Morrow, and potential IP with Strasburg.

9. By Jonthan on Aug 8, 2012

   Ray,

   It is a head to head league that uses K/9 instead of K’s. Would that change your opinion?

10. By Ray Flowers on Aug 8, 2012

    Jonathan – K/9 for a RP means nothing at this point. You might get 25 innings from a RP moving forward, maybe less. Is that really gonna dent a full season K/9 mark? Not at all. Even if it’s H2H, 3-4 innings a week isn’t gonna make much diff.

11. By Nate on Aug 9, 2012

    Hey Ray,
    Who do you like better ROTW? Stubbs or Werth?

    Thanks!

12. By Ray Flowers on Aug 9, 2012

    Nate – Stubbs. Not only he is the healthy one, he’s killing it of late even though no one seems to notice.

    Last 4 weeks: .292-5-15-22-9
    Pace: .234-50-50-90-35

    Why on earth would you consider dropping that?

13. By Joe M on Aug 9, 2012

    Hey Ray

    Was listening to the show last night and a caller came on saying he had the 5th pick in the upcoming NFL draft and given the scoring setting the first 5 picks were most likely going to be QB’s. He said he would then take one of the top 3 RB’s with the number 5 but what to do with his number 20 in the second round. Kyle said he should take a QB there and you said wait till the 3rd. I completely agreed with you to wait till the 3rd but my reason being that if it actually played out where the first 5 guys already drafted a QB in the first round in a 1 QB league I would bet anything that none of them will be taking a QB in the 2nd or 3rd round when it swings back around.

    I just think people really need to be aware of other peoples draft picks also wondering why Kyle would have him go QB there given that scenario.

    I just notice that some of the guys on the channel never mention to monitor everyones picks in the league as a strategy. This has worked so many times for me being able to squeeze an extra round before having to take someone knowing the guys in front of me already has that position filled.

    Just my 2 Cents..

14. By Mark on Aug 9, 2012

    Ray, I just received an offer of Carlos Beltran and Adrian Beltre for Ryan Braun (I would be giving up Braun). It’s a 10 team head-to-head league in which I am a little weak in homeruns, but doing well in all other hitting categories. What do you think?

    BTW, I may have Konerko going on DL otherwise would be dropping Colby Rasmus in the 2 for 1 deal and moving either Beltre or Aramis Ramirez to Utility with the other playing 3rd.

15. By Ray Flowers on Aug 9, 2012

    Joe M – I did NOT say I would take a QB in the second or third round for a normal lg. The league you are referencing is a lg where TWO Qbs start. If it’s only one QB starting, no way I’m taking one that early.

    Yep, total rookie mistake not to keep an eye on what others are doing in the draft. It’s vitally important information.

16. By Ray Flowers on Aug 9, 2012

    Mark – I just received an offer of Carlos Beltran and Adrian Beltre for Ryan Braun (I would be giving up Braun). Likely to drop Rasmus

    I don’t have a problem with this deal, but I also don’t think you have to do it either. Beltre is great, but you’ve got Aramis Ramirez who has been killing it for months. Beltran continues to impress, but he’s no Braun.

    You can do this, but it’s not a difference making move in my opinion.