Two Easy Steps to Make the Playoffs This Year

by elijahdukes on May 16, 2008 2:25 PM EDT

1. Trade Hellickson and Hammel for Holliday. We get a great OF (that can play RF if he needs to) and the Rockies get a high ceiling prospect in Hellickson as well as an MLB ready SP in Hammel, both of which they say they need. We could even throw in another prospect from High A or AA Montgomery if need be. After all, even though the Yanks have the most $$$, trades require prospects and players, and we are rich in those.

2. Sign Bonds. $5 million deal about right before the all start break.

Our lineup then looks like:

Iwamura

Crawford

Upton

Bonds

Holliday

Pena

Longoria

Navarro

Bartlett

Our bench is: Gomes, Hinkse, Floyd (pretty damned impressive), and they will get playing time because Bonds is a part time player anyway.

With this kind of power and speed, combined with our great pitching/defense, we would be unstoppable.

0 recs | Comment 22 comments

Story-email Email | Print |

Comments

Holiday's career OPS away from Coors: .760

"I've seen many, many blue skies turn gray, but the sun will eventually return, and so will I. So will I." - Carlos Pena

by R.J. Anderson on May 16, 2008 2:40 PM EDT 0 recs

Why do people want him?

I am perfectly happy with the platoon so far. Why switch it up?

Top Josh Paul Pornos- Big Navi Stroking, 2pitchers1cup, BJ to the Balls

BELIEVE in 08!

by SRQman on May 16, 2008 3:02 PM EDT up 0 recs

Ain't no way in hell we get Holliday for Hellickson and Hammel.

Hellickson is still in A ball, and Hammel is an inconsistent average league starter. Holliday is a proven elite bat.

by Cory Alexander on May 16, 2008 2:40 PM EDT 0 recs

Even despite his Away OPS

by Cory Alexander on May 16, 2008 2:40 PM EDT up 0 recs

Proven elite bat...at Coors.

"I've seen many, many blue skies turn gray, but the sun will eventually return, and so will I. So will I." - Carlos Pena

by R.J. Anderson on May 16, 2008 2:42 PM EDT up 0 recs

I know, I know. Still wouldn't get a deal done for us

by Cory Alexander on May 16, 2008 2:57 PM EDT up 0 recs

I don't think it's entirely fair to cite his away OPS and call it good.

by JI on May 16, 2008 3:59 PM EDT up 0 recs

I think this lineup would kill our outfield defense.

Holliday has never played anywhere but left field. Crawford plays LF very well, but lacks the arm strength to play right or center. Upton has worked for years to finally play a defensive position well. And as much as I hate to admit it as a Gomes fan, one of the biggest reasons they have done so well is because they have constantly used defensive replacements (first Haynes and now Gross). Adding the stars you suggest would remove the roster spots necessary to keep Gross.

Let’s see how things play out for a while (Or at least as long as Floyd stays healthy and continues to rake)

by GomesSweetGomes on May 16, 2008 3:55 PM EDT 0 recs

Bonds =

Throwing Cliff Floyd under the bus.

But if he wants to sign a minor leage deal, I’d do it.

RJ is not an elitist douchebag who hates scouting

by ttnorm on May 16, 2008 8:05 PM EDT 0 recs

What's the point of sending the GOAT to the minors?

"I've seen many, many blue skies turn gray, but the sun will eventually return, and so will I. So will I." - Carlos Pena

by R.J. Anderson on May 16, 2008 8:46 PM EDT up 0 recs

More Importantly

What’s makes anyone think the GOAT would even stoop so low as to sign a minor league deal? That’s ridiculous.

by floridaroar on May 16, 2008 9:02 PM EDT up 0 recs

The Plan Should Be:

Forget Holliday. We don’t have the ammo to pull of a trade for him and why give anything for him when there’s someone better who would play for us without giving up players in return… Bonds.

Sign Bonds, let him platoon in RF with Hinske and at DH with Floyd. Bonds does play a decent RF.

Trade Gomes (hate to see him go but he should have decent value now) and someone like Niemann for a reliable veteran starting pitcher, perhaps someone like Derek Lowe. I don’t have confidence that our #4 and #5 guys are going to maintain their current high level of outings, especially during a playoff run. I’d like to be able to hand the ball off to someone who’s been through it before.

by floridaroar on May 16, 2008 9:06 PM EDT 0 recs

Only if you can re-sign Lowe to a decent sized deal first.

If so, then absolutely, Lowe with this defense? Man.

"I've seen many, many blue skies turn gray, but the sun will eventually return, and so will I. So will I." - Carlos Pena

by R.J. Anderson on May 16, 2008 9:29 PM EDT up 0 recs

Yeah I agree. But what’s a World Series Championship worth these days? If they’re in the hunt, bite the bullet and make it happen.

Kazmir, Shields, Lowe
and then whoever stays hot between between: Garza, Andy, and Jackson

by floridaroar on May 17, 2008 2:25 AM EDT up 0 recs

That wouldn't be fair.

"I've seen many, many blue skies turn gray, but the sun will eventually return, and so will I. So will I." - Carlos Pena

by R.J. Anderson on May 17, 2008 10:38 AM EDT up 0 recs

Wouldn’t it be great to hear the Red Sox and Yankees fans cry though?

“Whaa, it’s not fair.”

Oh man, that’d be worth the price of admission.

by floridaroar on May 17, 2008 1:45 PM EDT up 0 recs

Why in the world would anyone wanty Bonds in Tampa?

We are in 1st place, and our DH/RF combo has been part of the reason we are 25-17. Bonds hasnt played in months, has been getting fatter and fatter every year, has a broken down body, and carries a terrible image and likely unwanted media coverage. We are 25-17, why would we want to do this I dont get it?

Hellickson and Hammel probably wouldnt even get us Brad Hawpe

by blazinrayz on May 17, 2008 1:09 AM EDT 0 recs

Here's why:

2007 Stats = 340 AB, HR 28, RBI 66, BB 132, K 54, SB 5, AVG .276, OBP .480, SLG .565, OPS 1.045

Get it now?

Pretty impressive for someone who ” is getting fatter and fatter every year, has a broken down body, and carries a terrible image and likely unwanted media coverage”

by floridaroar on May 17, 2008 2:18 AM EDT up 0 recs

And he's still the greatest player of all time who's going to get on base half of the time he comes up.

"I've seen many, many blue skies turn gray, but the sun will eventually return, and so will I. So will I." - Carlos Pena

by R.J. Anderson on May 17, 2008 10:37 AM EDT up 0 recs

He'll be 44 in 2 months

For those that don’t know, that is OLD for a hitter. Not only old, but prehistoric as far as hitters go.

Bonds was the greatest juice monkey of all time, that is far from making him the GOAT. It is widely accepted that without the juice, Bonds is just one of the greatest but CLEARLY not top 5 of all time material.

We have Floyd and Hinske. Tell me which of them Bonds is going to step in for and outproduce to the extent that it makes it worth having THAT guy on our 1st place team? LOL I cant believe some peiople actually think 44 year old Bonds could be our savior (as if we were in need of one).

Last I checked Bonds is not playing in Tampa or anywhere else, while other juice monkeys have had no problem finding jobs. Sounds to me like thgere is several problems with the guy, none of which aare enticing to a 1st place team

Get it now?

by blazinrayz on May 17, 2008 2:00 PM EDT 0 recs