In today's column, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe writes that there could be a few interesting options for manager Terry Francona this offseason. There could be two additional openings for the former Red Sox manager with reports indicating that the Angels' Mike Scioscia and Jim Leyland of the Tigers could be in danger of being dismissed this offseason. Cafardo opines that either team would be ideal for Tito as both teams have the resources to improve and he would be inheriting the same kind of talent-rich team he had in Boston after the 2003 season. Here's more from Cafardo..
- Outfielder Cody Ross has three major-market teams – the Phillies, Yankees, and Red Sox – very interested in him. Ross has made it clear that he would like to stay in Boston and Larry Lucchino said earlier this week that the club is beginning the process of keeping him for next season and beyond.
- The Red Sox are also thinking about re-signing James Loney and he is receptive to coming back, but he could pick up attention in a thin first base market. The Rays can be expected to kick the tires on Loney as they are unlikely to re-sign Carlos Pena.
- Mariners first baseman/outfielder Mike Carp could be expendable as the club is likely committed to Justin Smoak at first base. Carp is starting to appear on a few teams’ wish lists and one NL scout is rather high on him. “He’s an interesting name,” said the scout. “He’s been buried on that roster in a big ballpark, and if you take him out of there, he may break out. He’s someone you’d take a chance on.”
- One Angels exec expects to see Scioscia back in the dugout for the Halos next season. “It would be shocking for me,” said the executive. “I know there have been some issues, but Mike is one of the best, and that’s widely recognized. Guys like Sosh don’t come along very often, which is why he has the long-term contract that he does.“But I suppose crazier things have happened.” Scioscia is signed to a lucrative contract through 2018.
- The Red Sox could consider Ed Wade as they seek experienced front office help. There has also been talk that the Sox would consider Blue Jays assistant GM Tony LaCava, but that would require LaCava being offered a bigger title.
- Rays bench coach Dave Martinez may now be the front-runner for the Astros job because they are using Tampa Bay as their model. Red Sox bench coach Tim Bogar also has the Rays background and is tight with former Astros second baseman Craig Biggio, who is on the panel that will pick the next manager.
Not a fan of Loney, but definitely don’t want Pena in Boston. he can’t hit lefties at all and you know Boras is still going to drag him out until the last minute thinking he can get at least the 7.25m he made last year with the thin 1b market.
If Boston is going to have a 1b who is nothing but a strikeout machine, rather than give 4-5m even to a liability, such as Pena? Let retread Gomez play the position for league minimum and do the same, he might even have 1 good season, even be another Brian Daubach if they are really lucky.
No on Loney also if he wants more than 4-5m. A glove only 1b that can’t hit isn’t worth much. Glorified Casey Kotchman.
Rather than waste any money on FA (or potential FA) would much rather see it thrown at Ross, even if it meant giving him upwards of 3/33m.
Ross should stay in Fenway. He can’t really hit righties all that good, and he is really taking advantage of the monster/ easily hitting hr to left. I can’t see the yankees getting involved in him, I think they look at swisher and hunter strongly before him.
But everyone’s numbers in Fenway is usually good. That place is an absolute bandbox. Somewhere Carp could probably break out. I think a big part of safeco’s problem is seattle doesn’t get that hot in the summer, so the balls can’t fly out of the stadium as easy. The dimensions aren’t that bad.
Cody Ross would be a pretty significant upgrade over a guy like Brett Gardner. His splits against RHP this season [.738 OPS] are pretty much in line with his career [.728] — and that’s pretty much a league average hitter.
I don’t really know why anyone is pointing to a Fenway effect, considering this is his 3rd 20 HR season, two of which occurred while playing for the Marlins. And more to the point, YS3 is one of the most hitter-friendly parks in the majors no matter which way your splits favor.
Problem with that is that if you get rid of Gardner, then you lose even more running game. I’m not saying Gardner is amazing, but man, you need SOMEBODY on that team who can run.
He’s been gone pretty much the whole year and it hasn’t hindered the team. Theoretically, yeah I agree with you, but the team still has plenty of guys who can go 1st to 3rd and score from 2nd.
Ross is not an upgrade over gardner for the yankees. Arod is their steals leader with 13, so his game is important for them. He is also able to get his obp up over .360 whereas ross’ obp usually lies down around .320. He also isn’t very good defensively, and the amount of balls that gardner can track down compared to ross is significant. It is also the 3rd 20 hr season in his career, and the previous one was 2009, that is not spectacular at all.
I would stay away from ross, he can hit 20 hr but he is not going to help in the field, on the bases, or take enough walks. Gardner has 3 of those, speed on bases, good defensively, and obp.
Also, fenway is perfect for RHH, pretty easy to knock one over, or even hit it off the wall for a double, and alot of opposing leftfielders dont always play it right.
See below. Steals really don’t matter.
Steals certainly do mater as long as you have a success rate in the 70% range.
Gardner’s career rate is 83%, which is pretty good. He doesn’t have the best instincts, but his speed makes up for that. it also helps because with a speed guy at top it is alot easier to get them around to home.
He’s been gone the whole year, the team hasn’t missed a beat. I wonder sometimes if the people who go on and on about Brett Gardner actually watch Yankee games or if they are fans from other markets. He’s not a very instinctive base stealer.
I’m not knocking the guy, but between his lack of power and the assorted troubles the NYY have had regarding their OF ability to hit LHP [not to mention Nick Swisher floating a $100MM price tag], it’s not at all difficult to see where Cody Ross enters the picture.
Just throwing this out there, but Gardner is a much more dynamic player than Ross. Here is a comparison between their Fangraph and BR War Counts for 2010 and 2011:
Ross in 2010 got 1.4 WAR from BR and 2.3 WAR from Fangraphs. That same year Gardner earned 7.0 WAR from BR and 6.1 WAR from Fangraphs. In 2011 Cody Ross earned -0.1 WAR from BR and 1.0 WAR from Fangraphs, while Gardner earned 3.7 WAR from BR and 5.7 WAR from Fangraphs.
Basically, Gardner is just simply a better player than Cody Ross.
“Cody Ross would be a pretty significant upgrade over a guy like Brett Gardner”. No he really wouldnt be. He has a .702 ops outside of fenway, a 86 wrc, and a WOba of 306, he also doesnt get on base as much as gardner. The difference in their defense alone makes gardner the better option.
See below. Yankees have had lots of problems this year with their OF hitting LHP — from Jones to Ibanez to Granderson. Add in Nick Swisher’s impending free agency [with his floated $100MM price tag] and Brett Gardner’s complete lack of power, it’s not difficult to put this together.
In case anyone hasn’t noticed, YS3 is just as much a bandbox as Fenway Park. As for Gardner’s OBP, it was .345 in 2009 and .345 in 2011. Ross’ OBP this year was .331 and his career OBP [over a much larger sample than Gardner] is .324.
If you think Gardner is going to be posting .380+ OBPs like he did in 2010 from here on out, okay I see your point. Personally, I don’t see it.
Ed Wade? Interesting…
How about Mike Carp in Boston at 1b. Loney would make an excellent pinch hitter and 8th in defensive replacement.
I don’t see how Carp would be any better than Loney. If Loney can go back to being a doubles hitter again he’ll be pretty valuable at the end of the lineup.
Hey…Carp is better than Crap.
Loney really isn’t that good. He plays the easiest position on the diamond, but his offensive stats are nothing good. OBP and power isn’t that good. A doubles hitter would work at another position, but usually 1B is where you can get a good hitter at a really easy position, why waste a giveaway there with someone who can’t hit.
The situation with Carp reminds me a bit of Michael Morse. Someone needs to get him out of that park. I am next to certain he could really turn out to be a steal in the right situation.
Being an Oriole fan and living in Houston, I hope the Sox hire Wade. He’s absolutely terrible.
With the credentials he has acquired as Joe Maddon’s bench coach in Tampa, Dave Martinez would be crazy to take the manager’s job in Houston. Its two years and out of baseball for whoever gets the nod.