With Tony La Russa in place and looking for a new GM for the Diamondbacks, the organization still faces fundamental questions about how it will incorporate statistical analysis into its decisionmaking, writes Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. La Russa’s recent comments indicate that he is more interested in adding lower-level front office pieces with analytical backgrounds, notes Piecoro, which is a strategy that runs the risk of being ineffectual.
A bit more from the NL West…
- Grant Brisbee of SB Nation’s McCovey Chronicles opines that at this point, former ace Tim Lincecum couldn’t even be trusted with a postseason roster spot for the Giants. He certainly won’t get a rotation spot, notes Brisbee, and the spot starter/long relief role will likely go to Yusmeiro Petit, with Ryan Vogelsong rounding out the rotation. Even in a middle relief role, Hunter Strickland’s overpowering fastball (which has averaged 98 mph this month) could be more valuable than what Lincecum could bring.
- Hanley Ramirez does not seem to be handling the final stretch leading up to his free agency very smoothly, writes Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register. Ramirez refused to talk to reporters following a two-error game Tuesday, and even on Monday, he turned away reporters from the Dodgers’ own regional sports network. Manager Don Mattingly implied that he thinks Ramirez might be burned out from answering the types of questions associated with his current situation, as he’s never been this close to free agency before and hasn’t dealt with the situation in the past.
Thinking Dodgers best served by *only* (to be clear this time) going qualifying offer with Hanley. If he gets a better deal, God bless him. Wouldn’t want to let him outright walk though.
His stats look like a match for Stephen Drew’s last season. Make the QO if you are willing to pay the $ for that, but I don’t see the logic of any team signing him long term. He’s talented, but can’t stay on the field, and he’s in his decline phase.
I mean maybe WAR looks similiar but Hanley has a career OPS+ of 131, has an OPS+ of 122 this year, and in 2013 had an OPS+ of 192 in 2013. Also he has a 118 OPS+ this year against RHP (146 against LHP) while Drew had a 64 OPS+ against lefties last year.
I understand defensive value but shift Hanley to 2B/LF/3B/1B/DH and you get elite offensive talent that doesn’t need to be platooned and can be your number 4 hitter with limited defensive negative value. Meanwhile Drew adds good D but was a platoon number 8 hitter.
Yeah you summed it up nicely. Drew and Hanley aren’t great comps at all.
I can understand why Hanley doesn’t want to talk about next season. He is stuck in a rundown. If the Dodgers make him a QO, which they probably will, he will have a hard time turning it down. I can’t imagine anyone will sign him for the number of years that would make it worth giving up the draft pick. Except maybe the Yankees. Considering his situation it is just possible the Dodgers would offer him two years, but not more.
Oh how far Tim Lincecum has fallen.
Yankees will sign Hanley. And they will overpay.
I hope the Dodgers offer Hanley a QO and if he declines let him walk. I’ve been against the Dodgers giving him a long contract since he was traded to LA but I’m surprised at some of the predictions for his next deal, they seem too short. If he’s unable to get big bucks from an AL team then LA might be able to get him on a team friendly 2-3 year deal. I look at the Dodgers and around the league and see a lack of right handed power. I just don’t see Hanley getting less than 4 years even with the QO attached.