Perrotto's Latest: Position Battles, Roberts, Pudge

Here's how I see the position battles.

A's:
1B: Giambi
DH: Cust
LF: Holliday
RF: Buck
AAA: Barton and Cunningham.

Although I REALLY think Cunningham should also be in the mix for CF; he's got more upside than Sweeney.

Sox rotation:
4. Clayton Richard (he looks the most ready of the prospects).
5. Bartolo Colon.

First guy up if injury is Lance Broadway, as I think he's better than Marquez at this point. Poreda in AAA working AS A STARTER. HE IS NOT A RELIEVER.

I really hope Perrotto's right about Pudge.

Rex:

I hope that is how it plays out, although Barton could use some good coaching from Giambi.

I think Barton takes over next year at first, and Cunningham takes over at center as Giambi and Holliday are most likely gone next year. Cunningham is faster and Sweeney is more of a corner outfielder anyways.

If Oakland is going for it this year, they might as well let the big bats hit away.

Glavine in '09
G-27
GS-27
W-9
L-9
ERA-4.70
IP-155.0
H-173
HR-18
BB-62
K-83
WHIP-1.52

Those guys in oakland are battling for dh/1b/rf right not 1b/dh/lf.

Interesting "chunks"? Is that really how you want to phrase it? Tidbits. Notes. Points. Updates. Nuggets. Items. Mentions.

And yes, I'm picking at your words, but sometimes the egregiously poor choice of wording calls for it.

So, the Sox might not be done dealing...
Shocking.
As if I ever put stock in KW saying he will or won't do something.
As far as I can tell, it's usually just a ploy for discussions. KW doesn't like talking to the media, so it seems as though he uses it when it's helpful and dismisses it when it's not...

Ahh, thanks DJ.

Perrotto's article says "left" for some reason, and I didn't even think about it as I typed it.

Good catch.

As for Hailmatty, I think my wording was fine. However, it's a minor point, and if it'll make you happy... there you are. :)

The problem is that Oakland has way too may outfielders: Cust, Sweeney, Buck, Cunningham, Denorfia, Davis, etc. And then Beane got Copeland in the Rule 5 draft.

None of them are going to be superstars either. Some will be good, but not elite.

If the A's are trying to win sooner then later then Sweeney shouldn't be starting. If Sweeney becomes an everyday player this season, its going to require alot of patience and time in order for him to develop and grow accustom to the bigs.

Melonis-
Always thought you were a Rays/Twinkie fan for some reason.

The Pudge to the White Sox rumor isn't new. I read it about a week ago. The question is....is the clubhouse big enough for AJ and Pudge. AJ wants to play every day. And Pudge wants to be a starter. This could be a distraction that a good clubhouse doesn't need.

Williams can always suprise you, but I really don't see any more big deals happening unless Dye is dealt. As for the rotation KW has stated the #4 spot is probally Colon's if he has any sort of decent ST. What else would you except with 3 young guys, the best will probably be #5.

"Eric Patterson could play centerfield for the A's. He got some work there last year I believe and has some upside."

I would like to think that Ryan Sweeney will easiy outperform Eric Patterson.

What happened to the objectivity of this website? Excuse me...but how do you leave off the Cardinals in "some of the more interesting position battles?" I am sure that Perrotto article listed the Cardinals closer and 3B positions.

The Cards are having a major battle to solve the 2008 worst closing problem of any .500 team (32 blown saves). Similarly, Glaus is down so the only starting 3B job is open out of all the winning teams from 2008. A 2008 draftee with only 2 months of pro ball experience will be battling for the position as well, to boot!

Tampa Bay closing situation makes that list? Are you kidding me? There is not even a competition right now! Until Percival shows he cannot handle the duties, there is no competition!

I am not saying that some of these battles are not interesting. In fact, the White Sox one is huge and is imperative to their team. All I am saying is that the 1B/RF/DH positions for Oakland does not belong on that list and neither does the TB closer competition...because it is non-existent. There is no competition BIGGER than the Cards closing situation given their 2008 problem. The White Sox can match that and say they have 2 rotation spots open, which is just as important. Those 2 make the top 3. I do not know what the other would be. Detroit has an interesting situation with their rotation. That will be big for them.

Anyways, I just thought I would note how some of these new article writers are injecting some extra subjectivity into their posts. I know Tim is a Cubs fan but he mostly does not allow it to affect his posts.

"Forgive me, I forgot that the Indians had an open 3B position and that they had gotten to .500 by season's end."

I'm sorry JB, we can't forgive you for an error like that. Total lack of objectivity...

Roberts needs to be traded in my opinion. Here's my argument. Basically it comes down to 1 of 4 scenarios:

1. Trade him now: The problem with this move is that as long as O-Cab is out there, Roberts will be a secondary option because Roberts will cost young talent. The problem with O-Cab is that he's a borderline Type A player who would cost a team a compensation pick, making plenty of teams to pause until his price drops to the point where he's suddenly a "bargain." A lot of other FAs may need to sign before OCab does, and injuries in ST may create more demand for OCab, therefore it makes it's much more unlikely to see Roberts traded before the season starts. It just sounds like waay too much needs to happen.

2. Trade him midseason: Roberts has a long track record of stolen bases, doubles power, and OBP and has outlasted many other elite leadoff guys who have faded. Starting off the season normally will reassure the few cautious skeptics out there. Injuries at 2B around the league may also create demand as well. We need to remember that without Chase out there for the start of the season, in spite of being completely different types of player, Roberts may be the best 2B in the league, and having that guy available will be very attractive. All-star caliber Up-the-middle defense and leadoff bat is impossible to find just lying around.

3. Extend him now: The problem here is that all reports seem to have MacPhail targetting a 3-YR plan, and, Roberts is asking for a 4th year. There may be some wiggle room here with options and such though. The bottomline is that there is extreme popular support from outside and inside the Warehouse to make this happen. The Orioles are well funded and have plenty of flexibility to extend Roberts if they want to so it's a question of will. MacPhail so far has held an extremely disciplined management style that holds itself against a larger book. This is just a chapter. He has not signed ONE player around age 30 or over to multiyear deals at premium levels. If he's able to pass on Teixeira, trade Tejada, trade Bedard, I don't see why he would make an exception for Roberts. He's not running a Summer Camp.

4. Take the draft pick: If this were a contending team then taking a draft pick would be a major loss. And in all honesty, as great a player Roberts is, as elite a leadoff man he is, as good an all-around player he is, he is not Jim Palmer or Frank Robinson in their prime. Losing an MVP or CY caliber type players with nothing more than draft picks would be a net loss, but if Roberts turns into a #15-30 overall pick, for a rebuilding team who has shown an uncanny ability to draft well and find sleepers in the middle rounds of late, having a super-charged draft signing budget, it may not be so bad. Some of their better pitching prospects were taken 2-6th rounds. Having an extra 1st rounder might make the annual pitcher vs. Hitter argument moot.

All in all, since Roberts has said he won't talk extension once the season starts, and circumstances make it unlikely that he'll get traded before April, he's likely going to leave Baltimore. O's fans better be willing to maybe accept that. So the question is primarily based on HOW he leaves, midseason or by Free Agency. Either of which ain't so bad for Baltimore. I think MacPhail should be selecting the greater of two forms, the offers in July vs. the possible #15-30 draft pick.

Trading Roberts now wouldn't be a good idea but midseason everything could change. A team could come up with some real need's of the O's (ss,3b,1b,nice prospect and pitcher along with infield help).Now if roberts is gone who would you consider batting 1st? Jones,Pie,?Seems to be another big hole to fill.I feel with the younger pitching a solid line up would be a serious need which it all comes down to run support.I say the O's should be ready to make some noise by 2011 and play close to 5oo ball in 2010.I can't see all the O's arms being a bust. The Orioles start winning and putting a few free agent's in the mix it will all come together.The money is there,maybe not Newyork money.Like I said we have to score run's for the pitching to get better and have more gut's to go after the hitter's.Sign Roberts 3yrs with an option, watch closely knowing Roberts could be moved if things are going to take longer then expecting with contending.If Roberts was moved now who would bat 1st?

Thank you.

And for what it's worth, I write for a living, so I'm sure the vast majority of your readers didn't have any issues with your wording the way a word-nazi like myself did.

he made a post earlier complaining about word choice and i guess they fixed it