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Batting a position player 9th isn't by any book unless you are Tony LaRussa.
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You're a family man d3a. You really mean to tell me that in a situation where your job doesn't really change that much, you would tell your family to get lost 10 days earlier?
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I think a couple other managers tried it after TLR gave it a go. It probably doesn't make much difference, but the point was to guarantee Pujols an AB in the first inning and then to turn him into a cleanup hitter the rest of the game.
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If i knew that the team i was on has no chance in competing this year or next and for me to go to a team that has a chance to win WS espicially when A-Ram dont have a ring, i would tell my family its worth 10 days. To me it shows that he dont care about winning. Yes family is the most important thing but its 10 days. My dad is an over the road truck driver and is gone from us 4-6 weeks at a time
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I didn't mean to imply that TLR was the first to do it, but he certainly has done it the most. I agree that the reason why he did it was different than the Cubs situation with Campana. That said doesn't Campana's skillset scream batting 9th. When he is on base he is perhaps the most dangerous man in baseball. Unforunately him getting on base is going to happen less than just about anyone else in baseball.
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I think the counterargument is that you bat him eighth. If he's going to be on third base every time he gets on base (they just can't throw him out!) then they are forced to give him pitches he can put in play to pray for an out. That means they won't walk him in front of the pitcher. But I don't think it makes a difference whether he bats 8th or 9th. I see your point though.
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To me have to give the guy a chance to prove he can get on base. He did get on base at a .350 clip in minors. Not saying that great but seen alot worse. His singles/walks turns into doubles/triples with his speed.
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I understand d3a a father doing what he has to do to provide for his family, but Aramis decision would be purely selfish reasons to shift. His family isn't going to improve any because he is going to make the same money this year whether he plays the string out with the Cubs or a contender. It only makes his life better for the chance to go chase a personal goal. I am not saying that it doesn't matter, but I guess it just seems silly to me that we go after a guy that cites family reasons for not being interested in a trade (and while I am holding out hope that the rumors are true, they are just rumors that he would be willing to waive the NTC later).
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I think that OBP was largely batting average driven. He can't seem to get the ball out of the infield most of the time. *shrug*
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i know its a personal decision, but i kind of want ball players that WANT to win and him letting 10 days decide to go to a winning team tells me he just dont care, that he rather play for a losing team.
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Look I agree Campana batting 9th is not going to happen and I see the various reasons for it not to happen. I guess I just see Campana as being one of those rare players where it even makes sense to discuss.
D3A, if he could get on base at a .330 clip then I think I would be okay with him playing everyday. His speed is that good that even if he is only putting up a .330 OBP/.300 SLG that he could be useful. I just don't think he can do that at the big league level.
D3A, if he could get on base at a .330 clip then I think I would be okay with him playing everyday. His speed is that good that even if he is only putting up a .330 OBP/.300 SLG that he could be useful. I just don't think he can do that at the big league level.
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i agree it would be nice for him to take walks but that seems to be something Cubs dont care about. They dont seem to teach patients in the minors and today when they traded for a guy who has under .310 OBP in the minors shows me they dont plan on trying to get better at it
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I guess it tells me something slightly different. It tells me that personal goals aren't the most important thing to Ramirez. That can be both a positive and a negative. I really hope that he agrees to waive his NTC because out of what we want to trade he is going to net the most or the opportunity to rid ourselves of more (Ramirez with Sori or Z to the Yankees would be interesting). That said it doesn't seem much different than Wood saying he isn't interested in leaving, and everyone seems pretty okay with that.
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i think his speed alone could get him .330 clip. he learns to slap the ball past 3B into the hole he would beat those out all the time. Also needs to bunt for singles like crazy. Pierre has made very nice career out of it.
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Never too late to start caring about something as fundamental as getting on base.
Also, Rami has earned the right to stick around until he wants to leave and we have no right to tell him to GTFO.
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Hendry/Fleita/Wilken all come from the old school/scout side of baseball. They value tools more than anything else. It works in some cases with guys like Aramis Ramirez, but in other cases it turns into guys like Felix Pie. Abreu is unfournately probably the best they could get for Fukudome, and if he ever learned the strikezone he could be a special player with his skills. Unforunately the odds are extremely poor that he ever will. I guess I don't mind the Cubs getting a high risk/high reward compared to a low risk/low reward guy.
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The difference between Campana and Pierre is the strike out rate. Pierre was exteremly tough to strike out, and Campana unforunately is not. It is very difficult to be a valuable player without drawing walks and hitting for power. Again I don't mind Campana on this team, and when I watch him get a start I can't help but think how he could actually be a useful everyday player if he could just get on base at an average rate.
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Prolly a reason why Beane would never want to come to the Cubs. He wouldnt know what to do with guys in the system. I also like the idea of having guys with tools but its also important to have OBP as we are learning. To score guys have to be on base. Can hit 3 HR a game and lose every game 4-3
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i will have to see what Campana K/rate in minors was. You think someone like Campana could learn not to K alot.