MLB 2008 Off-Season Transactions starring Wesley Ray Helms

by **stevelxa476** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 21:32:35

stevemc wrote:Griffey to the Braves

Now sources are saying he has chosenSeattle.

by **philliesphhan** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 01:53:09

I gotta say I already liked Griffey. Now that he has returned to Seattle and dicked over the Braves at the same time, I like him even more.

by **BigEd76** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 02:04:10

stevelxa476 wrote:
stevemc wrote:Griffey to the Braves

Now sources are saying he has chosenSeattle.

"By the time you read this, Ken Griffey, Jr. already will be a Brave."

RealKen says it's for $2M and there's incentives based on the Mariners' attendance...

by **CFP** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 14:44:47

Law is on fire today

John (Laurel Springs, NJ): Ryan Howard or Adrian Gonzalez? Next 7 yrs?

SportsNation Keith Law: (1:35 PM ET ) Gonzalez. That's not even close. Ryan Howard wakes up at 3 am every night, screaming, "no! not the slider!"

by **momadance** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 14:50:05

He also wakes up at 3 AM every morning looking at ROY and MVP trophies and soon to be World Series ring.

by **FTN** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 15:00:31

Why was this posted in the transactions thread?

Nick (Long Island, NY): I dislike the Phillies as much as anyone, but how can you say 'not even close' when it comes to A Gonzalez and Howard, yet Ryan Howard is looked upon as the 'better' player in the world of baseball. Is this the problem of glorifying home runs or are you just smarter than everyone else?

SportsNation Keith Law: (1:51 PM ET ) It's glorifying home runs, ignoring his futility against lefties, ignoring his horrid defense (and Gonzalez' excellent defense), ignoring his body and the direction it's likely to go in the next few years, and yes, I am just smarter than everyone else.

by **CrashburnAlley** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 15:11:26

FTN wrote:Why was this posted in the transactions thread?

Nick (Long Island, NY): I dislike the Phillies as much as anyone, but how can you say 'not even close' when it comes to A Gonzalez and Howard, yet Ryan Howard is looked upon as the 'better' player in the world of baseball. Is this the problem of glorifying home runs or are you just smarter than everyone else?

SportsNation Keith Law: (1:51 PM ET ) It's glorifying home runs, ignoring his futility against lefties, ignoring his horrid defense (and Gonzalez' excellent defense), ignoring his body and the direction it's likely to go in the next few years, and yes, I am just smarter than everyone else.

Adrian Gonzalez, UZR/150...

2006: 5.8
2007: -3.3
2008: -5.8

Howard, UZR/150...

2006: -0.5
2007: 0.1
2008: 2.6

Howard, according to UZR, is a better fielder.

My FG articles · by **MattS** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 15:20:19

by **FTN** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 15:21:22

UZR is a crap stat.

by **CrashburnAlley** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 15:26:40

FTN wrote:UZR is a crap stat.

Obliged. RZR from The Hardball Times...

Adrian Gonzalez

2006: .809
2007: .722
2008: .697

Ryan Howard

2006: .789
2007: .723
2008: .743

by 1 » Thu Feb 19, 2009 15:32:16

momadance wrote:He also wakes up at 3 AM every morning looking at ROY and MVP trophies and soon to be World Series ring.

actually, i think his parents have those

:oops:

by **GM-Carson** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 16:29:46

Braves got jerked around by a lot of free agents this offseason: AJ Burnett, Rafael Furcal, and now Griffey.

by **smitty** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 16:39:23

Keith Law has admitted that he writes stuff to get people to pay attention to him. That makes sense since what good is it if you are a national baseball writer and folks don't pay attention to you. That sad:

Howard vs. lefties -- .786 OPS

Gonzalez vs. lefties -- .734 OPS

Law last year said the Phils had no chance vs, the Rays because the Rays played in the AL and he spits out lots of nonsense. It's part of his job description. People pay attention to him. But it's probably not a good idea to take what he writes all that seriously.

by **smitty** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 16:43:30

CrashburnAlley wrote:
FTN wrote:UZR is a crap stat.

Obliged. RZR from The Hardball Times...

Adrian Gonzalez

2006: .809
2007: .722
2008: .697

Ryan Howard

2006: .789
2007: .723
2008: .743

Using another crap stat -- Dewan's +/-:

Howard -- +1, 12th in MLB

Gonzalez -- -6, 25th in MLB

by **Shore** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 16:46:44

Klaw wrote:Jeremy (NY): Keith, Nolasco had a 186/42 K/BB. If that's not a 1 or 2 material, I don't know what is.

Keith Law: You're right. You don't know what is.

Simmons (LA): Do you think Amare gets traded before the deadline? Oh, shoot. Wrong chat!

Keith Law: [90210 reference] [porn star reference] [House] [Manning face] [random basketball stat] [TAINT]

by **FTN** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 16:57:47

I think Howard's bad rap is tied more to his throwing woes. I was surprised he had a better +/- than Gonzalez. That I do take seriously not RZR or UZR

by **steagles** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 17:50:06

andy marte designated for assignment.

he's trash, no interest.

by **FTN** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 17:52:38

Agreed

by **philliesphhan** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 17:57:16

FTN wrote:Why was this posted in the transactions thread?

Nick (Long Island, NY): I dislike the Phillies as much as anyone, but how can you say 'not even close' when it comes to A Gonzalez and Howard, yet Ryan Howard is looked upon as the 'better' player in the world of baseball. Is this the problem of glorifying home runs or are you just smarter than everyone else?

SportsNation Keith Law: (1:51 PM ET ) It's glorifying home runs, ignoring his futility against lefties, ignoring his horrid defense (and Gonzalez' excellent defense), ignoring his body and the direction it's likely to go in the next few years, and yes, I am just smarter than everyone else.

And Gonzalez had a .675 OPS against lefties last year, so I guess he ignores it, too

by **smitty** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 18:15:52

philliesphhan wrote:
FTN wrote:Why was this posted in the transactions thread?

Nick (Long Island, NY): I dislike the Phillies as much as anyone, but how can you say 'not even close' when it comes to A Gonzalez and Howard, yet Ryan Howard is looked upon as the 'better' player in the world of baseball. Is this the problem of glorifying home runs or are you just smarter than everyone else?

SportsNation Keith Law: (1:51 PM ET ) It's glorifying home runs, ignoring his futility against lefties, ignoring his horrid defense (and Gonzalez' excellent defense), ignoring his body and the direction it's likely to go in the next few years, and yes, I am just smarter than everyone else.

And Gonzalez had a .675 OPS against lefties last year, so I guess he ignores it, too

So we've pretty much established that Law is full of baloney regarding these guys hitting lefties and playing defense. So that leaves the body type. I guess Gonzalez is the second coming of Jack LaLanne and Howard is a big, fat slob.

It will be interesting to see how Howard's career plays out here. I think there's a fair chance he won't flame out really early as so many guys are predicting. Some of his comps had pretty long, productive careers. And Howard has been better than his comps so far -- those guys have just been the closest comp to him.

Howard is pretty unique. He might surprise us all. His drop in production over the last three seasons is certainly a concern -- a big one. But if he snaps back this season and has a season about what he did in 2007 or thereabouts then he's back on track in my view.

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MLB 2008 Off-Season Transactions starring Wesley Ray Helms