Comments on: Eckstein to Cards

By: Kyle S

Kyle S — Mon, 27 Dec 2004 01:20:07 +0000

Don’t know if yall read Primer, but the word around the campfire there is that MGL (creator of UZR) works for the Cardinals. Thus, many there were unsurprised when the Cardinals signed Eckstein, hypothesizing that Mickey convinced his bosses that David’s defense is well worth the dinero. Not saying it’s true, as I’ve not ever seen him play much myself, but it certainly could be.

All that said, I think it’s unfair to lump the Renteria contract into that group with just his last-year’s stats. The Red Sox undoubtedly hypothesize that Edgar has a good chance of putting up 6+ WARP, which would make his contract a good deal.

By: James

James — Sat, 25 Dec 2004 03:07:29 +0000

David… not that he would have “fixed” their shortstop problems anyway, but Marlon Anderson isn’t with the Cardinals anymore. He signed a minor-league deal with the Mets.

By: Scraps

Scraps — Fri, 24 Dec 2004 21:29:19 +0000

Run scorers are never “dominant.” Only “RBI producers” get to be “dominant.”

Buster Olney probably thinks Rickey Henderson was very, very good, but never dominant.

By: Jim

Jim — Fri, 24 Dec 2004 21:19:51 +0000

Based on value, too, Eckstein is better than Cabrera. The Cabrera signing was really a bad move by the Angels. They don’t really improve the team, give up a first round pick, and give a multiyear deal for much more money per year than Eckstein would get this year if he were tendered. Also, the 4 year deal blocks Wood/Abyar.

By: Jack Howland

Jack Howland — Fri, 24 Dec 2004 20:01:31 +0000

#19 – He is last in the league in RF, and I used that to determine that Eckstein wasn’t very good. I admit that the ZR indicates that there is an argument that he is average or above average in range so I retract my earlier statement. Based on ZR Eckstein is better than Cabrera!!!

By: RealRhino

RealRhino — Fri, 24 Dec 2004 19:52:19 +0000

And I’m not sure “consecuted” means anything. Oops. “Consecutive.” Could have added that in VORP, from ’83-’91 Boggs was ranked 3, 16, 3, 2, 2, 1, 5, 16 and 10 in MLB (not AL). That SEEMS dominant to me.

By: RealRhino

RealRhino — Fri, 24 Dec 2004 19:38:27 +0000

#26. Ah, the magic of Buster Olney. You didn’t even touch on the most absurd of his comments to be found on ESPN today. In a roundtable discussion of HoF candidates (Olney, Caple, Crasnick, Kurkjian, et al.), Olney had this to say of Wade Boggs: “[Boggs] was a very, very good player, but never a dominant one.” This of the guy who from ’83-’91 put up 7 straight (and 8 of 9) seasons of MVP-quality 10+ WARP3 seasons. This of the guy who from ’83-’89 put up FIVE straight seasons equal to or better than Beltre’s 2004 season of 11.7 WARP3 (four consecuted seasons above that number). To paraphrase “The Princess Bride,” I’m not sure the word “dominant” means what Olney thinks it means.

By: Jeff in Fremont

Jeff in Fremont — Fri, 24 Dec 2004 18:15:18 +0000

On a side note, R.I.P. Johnny Oates.

By: robinred

robinred — Fri, 24 Dec 2004 18:15:08 +0000

Many people have said that Miller is not expected to pitch until June and may not be ready then; the Red Sox may be doing the same thing with him the Red Sox did with Lieber.

I think Eckstein for one year actaully would have been smart for the Cardinals, but not for three. I would rather have him than Bo Hart.

I think St. Louis will sign Larkin and Eckstein will wind up playing some 2B. I’m not saying that’s a good idea, but I think it may happen. That or Aurilia.

By: Colm

Colm — Fri, 24 Dec 2004 18:13:53 +0000

And speaking of lousy deals… Buster Olney has a column today on ESPN on the Giants that sums up a lot of them.

I know Olney’s reputation around here is lower than a frog’s arse, but every so often I read something from him that makes sense. This isn’t one of those articles. I think he must be like the broken clock that still tells the right time twice a day.

This is the crux of his lunacy:
“Alou has been one of the more consistent RBI men of his generation, with seven seasons of 91 or more. He hit 39 home runs for the Cubs last season, with 106 RBI, and his batting average with runners on base was 47 points higher than when the bases were empty; he is still extraordinary at anticipating what the pitcher intends to throw in moments of high pressure.”

The rest of the article isn’t as laughable, but if any of you uber-sabergeeks want to amuse yourselves check out:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=olney_buster&id=1953016