In this week's Baseball Notes column, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe praises the Padres for building a roster suited to their home ballpark. Let's take a look at a few other highlights from Cafardo's piece….
- The Padres aren't talking about Adrian Gonzalez at the moment, but according to a GM who has inquired about the slugger, a losing streak might be all it takes for San Diego to reconsider Gonzalez's availability.
- According to multiple scouts, the Cubs would move Derrek Lee if they could. Lee is earning $13MM in the final year of his contract, and also has a no-trade clause.
- Rhode Island native Chris Iannetta acknowledged he'd heard rumors that he could be traded to the Red Sox, but said: "They’re just rumors. I don’t put any stock in any of that until someone directly involved actually tells me."
- The Diamondbacks may have to think about dealing someone like Kelly Johnson in an attempt to acquire help for their bullpen (7.42 ERA).
- Some managerial speculation: Cafardo thinks that if Joe Torre doesn't return to the Dodgers, he'd fit with the Braves, Mets, or Blue Jays next year, and wonders if the Orioles might consider Davey Johnson to replace Dave Trembley.
I doubt the Jays are going in that direction
Can Colvin play 1B?
Can Tyler Colvin play 1B?
Kelly Johnson for bullpen help? I think he may be a touch better than that 😉
I’m guessing that from Iannetta’s comments, he isn’t a regular visitor to this site, sorry Tim.
No offense to Joe Torre and his fans, but I don’t want him anywhere near a Braves dugout, unless he’s on the opposing teams side. I rather have Ned Yost or Fredi Gonzalez. And I will probably get grilled for my comment on Joe Torre.
Why would the D’backs trade on of the top offensive players in the NL for a reliever or two? That’s really undervaluing Johnson by a lot.
Calling Kelly freaking Johnson one of the top NL offensive players is overvaluing him a lot. Ever heard of selling high? The guy has some nice stats, but let’s not think the D-Backs are getting some team’s top prospects for this guy.
Let’s also not think that the D’backs should sell one of the top performing players ON THE SEASON for a couple of relief pitchers. It’s premature and unnecessary and would put them at a disadvantage. Terrible trade idea and scenario.
Can a Boston writer possibly go one column without mentioning Adrian Gonzalez?
They’re all awful, but Cafardo is especially bad imo. It really does seem like he sits down every week without any ideas of what to write ahead of time, does some googling, and writes some BS as if it were informed or authoritative.
I’m not so sure it’s fair to characterize all Boston writers as “awful”. Clearly Shaughnessy is a miserable curmudgeon whose only contribution to society is stirring up controversy and being Gordon Edes’ curly-haired boyfriend.
Peter Gammons may be a minion of the Red Sox, but he’s earned well-deserved praise as he clearly loves the game as much as anyone. And while Cafardo may not be breaking any news in these Sunday columns, he’s been right just as often as he’s been wrong, and MLBTR clearly thinks he’s a tad interesting if they link his column every Sunday.
I dunno, Gammons seems to me like a formerly good writer. “Wrong as often as he’s right” doesn’t sound like high praise frankly, especially given that most of the things Cafardo gets right are completely obvious. And it’s not as if MLBTR is flooded with material on sundays. Gotta post something.
But agree to disagree. No accounting for taste.
Id like to see the Sox try and get Iannetta, but im not sure exactly what kind of trade value the Rox have for him. Couple of years ago hes putting up allstar numbers, and now hes back down at AAA.
I love how he ignores the fact that Torre has said he has zero interest in going somewhere new… he will either continue with the Dodgers or retire…
Cafardo can’t seem to write one of these columns without mentioning Adrian Gonzalez. As a Red Sox writer, he shows this entitled attitude that is really tiresome. He might do well to note that the Padres are in first, while the Red Sox are in fourth. And with Beltre at third bass, Youkilis at first base, and a rotating cast of DH candidates (Ortiz, Lowell, Martinez, etc.), I’m just not sure what they would do with Gonzalez, especially since his defense is part of what makes him valuable (and the same goes for Beltre and Youkilis).
personally im pulling for wally backman to run the club….this team needs a kick in the ass. I feel like Lumbergh from Office Space is managing the mets…
The one bad thing Torre has is handling the pen… the ONLY bad thing. This guy is a clubhouse guru. He keeps his young players level headed and knows how to deal with the media. You will never hear about how Torre throws a player under the bus. He will either blame the team as a whole or take the personal blame.. how many managers are willing to admit that they messed up? That earns SO much respect from the players and they are willing to do anything for a guy who will defend them.
Personally, I dont follow the Mets, but I think they need someone who is a loud, yelling guy who will get these guys to play like they can. Obviously, injuries have killed them, but they need a guy with a pair…
It sounds like Torre wants one more year in LA and then to take on a job in the FO, but only under his terms… Whenever he is done, Don will almost undoubtedly take over
I completely understand what you are seeing. My only thought is they have had a soft manager who has not gotten the job done, obviously. Would another soft spoken, but well respected manager be good or bad at this point?
fair enough.
While I dont think Torre was the problem, at all, in NY with the Yankees, when they went to a hard nose manager instead of a respecting type, the team won a title…now, there were 1/2 billion dollars spent in between, which may have affected that outcome though… 😉
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Well, maybe you havent met McCourt… mister we-pay-no-taxes-and-lower-payroll..
Anyways, Torre is the one who has hinted at wanting a FO job after, not McCourt. I think Don would have taken over NY had they stayed, and now it is the same situation, just on the other side of the country..
Yea, Torre knew what he was getting into with Steinbrenner, but I doubt he thought McCourt was this crazy…
And I think Torre just loves the game. He didnt need to manage after winning one title in NY.. he had money and proved to himself he COULD win in the majors… but he just enjoyed managing. Guess it is the same thing if he decides to go into the FO after..
Side note, but imagine a FO that has Ng, White and Torre all in it, a lot of baseball knowledge, just need to get rid of Colletti… and McCourt 😉