A Question About the Deadline

by jacksontsmith on Jul 30, 2009 12:13 PM EDT

It is July 30th, and for the second season in a row the Rays are rumored to have a shot at a big bat for the middle of their lineup. While it clearly did not affect the outcome of our season last year, not landing Jason Bay hurt a little for the first week of August. Now we are rumored to be interested in, but not limited to, Victor Martinez. Now I do not do enough blogging to know whether listening to Topkin is a smart thing, but he is claiming we are much less interested in Martinez now that we cannot get Lee as well. My question, however, is with the Red Sox also after Victor, the deadline looming tomorrow, and our team's playoff likelyhood slipping, would any of you be disappointed if we do not make a move to improve our club? While V-Mart may not be the answer, his bat heading to Boston would sting a little. And maybe its desperation, but it seems like we need some improvement on this club. I don't mean to sound naive, but if nothing it may provide a moral boost after losing a huge series to New York. Longer post than I expected but I'd love the insight.

This post was written by a member of the DRaysBay community and does not necessarily express the views or opinions of DRaysBay staff.

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I'd be a bit disappointed

But at this point, we’re probably playing for next year anyway (not to sound like a pessimist). If that’s the case, then we’ll have all offseason to make moves to improve the team.

Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Jul 30, 2009 12:28 PM EDT reply actions

I don't see it.

Playing for next year seems nuts when we are four games back in the wild card. To think we can’t catch the Red Sox, who are floundering, and Rangers who’s pitching is suspect, seems a little ridiculous.

by jacksontsmith on Jul 30, 2009 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't see the Rangers being a major threat.

Suspect is a very gentle way of describing their pitching. As good as their defense is, they can’t keep the ball out of the park.

I don’t think the Sox have a much better team than we do, unless they make a deal for Halladay or Adrian Gonzalez.

by Suttree on Jul 30, 2009 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Even if we don't make a move, as long as the Yankees and Sox don't improve, I'm cool.

I think we’ll go on a huge ass tear soon enough.

by Suttree on Jul 30, 2009 12:34 PM EDT reply actions

I hope you're right.

I keep thinking Burrell will get hot and stay hot like he has in the past. Seems like Pena, who sprinted out of the gate, has slowed to a leisurely stroll.

by jacksontsmith on Jul 30, 2009 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions

It would be a historical first if a player of Burrell's pedigree completely collapsed at his age.

And he wouldn’t be the first player in history to have an awful first half followed by a fantastic second half.

So, either way, I’m rooting for the outcome.

by Suttree on Jul 30, 2009 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Historical first?

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/belleal01.shtml
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/murphda05.shtml
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/vaughmo01.shtml
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/thomago01.shtml
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gilesma01.shtml
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/trammbu01.shtml

Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Jul 30, 2009 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Not all of them are of his pedigree

But several of them were much better

Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Jul 30, 2009 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Burrell has a 683 OPS.

Thomas, Giles, and Trammel all dropped below that in their casket seasons, but Thomas rebounded, and I’m not sure why you included Marcus Giles, and Trammel isn’t quite Burrell’s class.

by Suttree on Jul 30, 2009 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions

None of those guy up five years like this: wOBA 354, 380+, 380+, 390+, 370+

And then suddenly collapsed to a wOBA of 300.

Even Albert Belle declined more gracefully than this.

by Suttree on Jul 30, 2009 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions

I should really proof read my posts, but my point stands.

Burrell’s collapse would be historic.

by Suttree on Jul 30, 2009 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions

And FWIW

I was just looking at OPS+ (because it’s right there) and thinking of examples off the top of my head. I’m sure there are a few better examples I just didn’t think of within 2 minutes. Murphy, at the same age, went from offensive superstar to completely average. Maybe he didn’t drop as far as Burrell has, but Burrell also was never the hitter than Murphy was.

Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Aug 1, 2009 4:45 AM EDT up reply actions

I laughed at Marcus Giles.

by R.J. Anderson on Jul 30, 2009 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions

It takes some kind of man to go from MVP to out of baseball before the age of 30.

by Suttree on Jul 30, 2009 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions

That's Gorman Thomas, not Frank

Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Aug 1, 2009 4:42 AM EDT up reply actions

I'm aware.

by Suttree on Aug 3, 2009 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions

All of those guys were on the juice

Patty did it on hookers and GT’s

I can't help that I make some things look easier than they really are.

by Sandy Kazmir on Jul 30, 2009 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions

V-Mart not only improves our playoff odds this year,

but next year as well. Navarro is a piece of garbage, we will be in the same situation looking for a replacement C next year if we don’t do something now.

by davidsmarch on Jul 30, 2009 6:25 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

The time is now

Pick a name our beloved Navi is 50th out of 51 catchers in wOBA with at least 100 ABs. So literally any guy on this list would be a better stick, and almost assured of being a better glove. So let’s pick a name and find a guy that will get through waivers.

I can't help that I make some things look easier than they really are.

by Sandy Kazmir on Aug 1, 2009 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions

You do realize

that since July 3 (He got no PAs on July 1 or 2) Navarro is hitting .271/.322/.441. That is 59 plate appearances, so it means very little, I agree, and his overall numbers remain horrendous. But given his history and watching him at the plate, I think there is some cause for optimism.

by bobr on Aug 2, 2009 8:17 AM EDT reply actions