Comments on: Summer of ’09

By: Felonius_Monk

Felonius_Monk — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 11:57:05 +0000

I know people hate the A-Rod deal, but I’m really leaning to the conclusion that that Howard contract may be the absolute worst in baseball, simply because Amaro didn’t need to do it. That deal stinks NOW, and in 5 years it’s going to be absolutely embarassing. At least guys like Lee and Soriano provided SOME value into their 30s. I could really see Howard being more or less out of baseball (or a DH somewhere with the Phillies eating most of the deal) by the time he’s 35.

By: Felonius_Monk

Felonius_Monk — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 11:52:03 +0000

“You can argue all you want that Derosa made an impact on our playoff chances but he was only a half win above replacement statistically in his time here – was that worth Chris Perez?”

Statistically, I’m pretty sure I’m right in saying Perez has been worth about half a win since the trade, and has been extremely lucky on flyballs (if you use xFIP or SIERA to rate him, he’s been sub-replacement) so the answer (so far) is probably yes. You also have to account for the fact that DeRosa netted a supplemental pick, so Perez really has to out-perform that pick (who I thought was actually Jenkins, not Blair, who may find his way into a few top-100 lists this year).

By: Felonius_Monk

Felonius_Monk — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 11:47:53 +0000

People continue to over-rate Chris Perez IMO. If he hasn’t figured out how to get the ball over the plate now, I’m not convinced he ever will. As Azru stated, with neutral luck he’d be a wild middle-reliever somewhere. He might have an Aaron Heilman-esque career but I really don’t see, at this point, that we’re going to miss him much.

By: zuke354

zuke354 — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 14:07:35 +0000

Wallace at the time was thought by some teams as a possible third baseman. That was his value. The cards sold high. a DH/1st baseman that doesn’t hit HRs isn’t as valaube.

Perez perfomed with promoise? That is a bit of a strech. Salas is performing with promise. Actually, he has out performed Perez.

By: zuke354

zuke354 — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 13:59:12 +0000

3) That is fine. But then the cards also wouldn’t have zack cox. So if you want to look at it that way, then you include Holliday and Cox as part of the deal.

4) The cards didn’t trade a cost controlled all-star closer. They traded somebody who turned into a cost controlled closer. In the playoffs, the cards lost 2 games by 2 runs or less. Not sure you can say he didn’t make a difference.

5) Again, its Holliday and Cox.

By: Jim1956

Jim1956 — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 12:29:08 +0000

I think you are wrong on #3. If the Cards had not signed Matt after free agency, I’m pretty sure they would have received 2 compensation picks in the ’10 draft. If I’m right, we would have 2 more prospects in the system that would go down as compensation for that trade. So signing Matt would have to be considered part of the whole thing. Right?

By: jjray

jjray — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 03:26:13 +0000

The rubber will meet the road next season in AAA for Adams. 1) Will he commit himself to a workout regime in the offseason to improve his body? 2) Will he maintain the power numbers in Memphis? Can’t wait to see how it plays out for Adams. The Cardinals could have themselves a very valuable prospect in Adams come this time next season. If he stumbles in Memphis in 2012, Adams is still young so it won’t be fatal but his stock will drop.

By: sportsman

sportsman — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 02:32:38 +0000

bottom line to me was/is
we did not need to make both trades
even at the time, one was highly probable to provide whatever improved odds the FO thought we needed

By: Mrs. TLR

Mrs. TLR — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 01:12:48 +0000

Shane Peterson is playing at AA, not AAA.

By: bc

bc — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 22:44:35 +0000

“Which is greater speculation – what I said or to imply that Derosa alone would have been enough to overcome a team that swept us 3-0 in the playoffs?”

Talk about a false choice. I just don’t care enough about this issue to debate it much but I will say that there is no point in asking which is the “greater speculation” between two utterly unknowable and speculative questions.

If DeRosa is healthy does Holliday take a fly ball off of his nuts? Does the ball even get hit? Have we already won an earlier game? Do we even play the Dodgers in the first round? This could go on forever.