Renck's Latest: Hawkins, Saito, Spilborghs, Atkins

I don't get why the Sox have all this fascination with Ryan Spilsborghs. If they need a RHH OF who can play all three positions, do they have that little faith in Rocco Baldelli? And if so, why is he still here. Bench spots are short on an American League team with 12 pitchers. If they got Spilsborghs, who is sent packing? Baldelli or Kotsay? Both are solid defensive outfielders with health concerns. Given that Kotsay also acts indirectly as the backup 3b, one who assume it was Baldelli. (I'm assuming, as most are, that Lugo will be released when Lowrie comes back.)

I believe the only reason that the Braves are listed as a potential suitor for Atkins is for the logical fact they would be buying low on a potential middle of the order right handed hitter. However, there are two big reasons why the braves are a very unlikely destination for atkins.

1. While atkins has heat up this month, he still is too inconsistent to be relied upon as an everyday starter for the braves to take on all his salary or for the braves to give up any thing in return.

2. Where would we put atkins? Chipper is not going to play anywhere else, kotchman is not going to play anywhere else. It makes very little since for the braves to start an experiement with atkins in left since that would do more harm than good. Can Atkins play second? That is my only logical sense of where to put him, and that would be an experiement in itself.

Now I would not mind getting atkins for cheap, as we need a right handed run producer and atkins has been a second half player in recent memory. But, I just think it would be more of a headache than help. I personally think the best place for atkins to go was St. Louis, but that no longer seems the case.

agree completey

Isn't Saito one of the "broken" pitchers Boston signed in hopes of getting one or two that actually pan out? Has he, and if so, why trade him?

I'm not really sure why Atkins would appeal to pretty much anyone.

His line drive rate is way down and his groundball rate is up, and combined with his lack of speed this has led to a low .244 BABIP.

His walk rate is back up from last year and his strikeout rate is down, but this is a guy whose value is tied around his offense.

He's been a very below average defensive third baseman for a while now (-6.0 career UZR/150 at third), so if he's not hitting then he's absolutely a negative on someone's roster, and that doesn't even factor in his salary.

Yeah, his line in 58 plate appearances this month is .346/.414/.538, but this guy still has a .560 OPS against righthanders this year.

The Rockies' goal should simply be to shed his salary. They need to stick to the current alignment with Stewart at third and an outfield of Gonzalez/Fowler/Hawpe.

The 17 K's in 59 MLB plate appearances this year is alarming for C-Gon, but he's a great defensive outfield, he destroyed AAA, and his line drive rate is still 32.4% in those plate appearances, so he's been hitting the ball hard for the most part. The guy needs to get his everyday shot now.

Tulowitzki and Lowrie half comparable batting stats.

TT's Career Stats
.274/.347/.444

Lowrie's Rookie Season
.258/.339/.400

I didn't include Lowrie's five games from this year because he was obviously injured and it will heavily skew the stats due to only have a half a season under his belt.

De Le Rosa who has been horrendus for the past month could be moved out of the rotation to make way for Penny who would likely be the #3.

Saito is a huge upgrade to the pen.

Obviously Iannetta would be the key player in the trade for the Rox but there is a little bit of depth on the team, there would be two young catchers coming back in return and most importantly, the pitching staff would be looking much better.

There is no reason for the Red Sox to trade any pitching on their team. If they do trade pitching than they have to get something back in return.

Helton, Hawpe, Tulowitski and Iannetta are the only players that could replace the production they would lose by giving up any pitching.

Colorado and Boston do not much up well in a trade because the players the Sox would want back in return are either untradeable (Helton) or in a team friendly financial position. So essentially one team is a swuare peg and the other is a round hole.

lance broadway and eddie kunz for garret atkins?

"There is no reason for the Red Sox to trade any pitching on their team. If they do trade pitching than they have to get something back in return."

Actually there is a reason to make a trade. The players they currently have on the DL will have to replace someone on the active roster or clear waivers. Why would a team make a trade if they can just wait and claim the same player off waivers once he is activated?

Why in the hell would the Braves get Garrett Atkins? He is 30 years old, he has already reached his peak in his career, and the Braves have nowhere to put him. The only possible options would be:

1. Move Chipper to left and put Atkins at 3rd. Chipper made his 13th error today so I can see the Braves wanting to test that out again. (That is assuming one of Matt Diaz or Jeff Franceour is involved in the trade to Colorado.)

2. Put Kasey Kotchman in the deal to Colorado and ask for someone in return like Seth Smith or Ian Stewart including Atkins.

Altough neither one of these scenerios is going to happen, I would like to see Chipper be moved back into left, or the Braves get rid of Franceour and Kelly Johnson.

PS. If I were the braves, I would offer Kelly Johnson, Jeff Franceour and a player to be named later for Garrett Atkins and Seth Smith or Ian Stewart.

Why would the braves move Chipper back to left field where that was when all his injurys started and 2 he mad 10 errors at 3rd his range would be greatly dimished in the out field!

Why would the braves move Chipper back to left field where that was when all his injurys started and 2 he mad 10 errors at 3rd his range would be greatly dimished in the out field!

Posted by: atlbravos | June 29, 2009 at 07:49 AM

First of all, Chipper has 13 errors this year at 3rd, and its not even the all star break. 2, so all of Chipper's stubbed toes happened in left? Did chipper's hands get hurt in Left Field. Please Chipper gets hurt at every position. If he dives and gets dirty he is out for two or three days.