Mark Ellis inks 1 year deal with the Cards

[KingKat]

I think a lot of attentive fans are starting to notice some questionable compartmentalized thinking from Anthopoulos.

 

He things the offense is fine and he only needs to add pitching.

 

He thinks the team power is fine so he only needs to add contact hitters, or speed.

 

etc. etc. etc.

 

He definitely does not seem to think of individual players as holistic run machines.

 

There are so many weird quirks in AA's M.O. He loves athletic prospects but he fills his lineup with too many players with zero defensive value. Maybe what seems like an interest in athletes is just an over-valuing of speed. He also looks like he's going to flip things around this year and commit to a defense only player at 2B. Ideally, you find players that can contribute on the field and contribute offensively (even if it's just in a platoon split). This is what TB does so well.

[TheHurl]

You know what I was thinking, how come Mozeliak's name never comes up when people are talking about the best GMs in baseball? You always hear names like Friedman, Dombrowski, Daniels, Epstein, I hear very little praise for the guy that's built the absolute best organization top-to-bottom. The Cardinals are a f***ing juggernaut.

 

Holliday, Bourjos, Craig, Carpenter, Peralta, Jones, Adams, Molina, Wong/Ellis

Miller, Wainwright, Wacha, Lynn, Garcia

 

They literally don't have a hole anywhere on their team, and have arguably the best farm system in the majors to pair with it.

 

I jerked off to his interview where they asked him about Oscar T for Profar. He just talks on a very high level. He does better than anyone in the game at building an entire system. When everyone started talking about Moneyball, the price of OBP and players that take pitches went up. But the other aspect of Moneyball, drafting college players who can hit but might not have a scouts body...well things never really changed there. In turn, the Cards picked up Allan Craig, Matt Carpenter, Jon Jay, Descalsco, Adams...all later picks from college. I think the only two homegrown high schoolers in their lineup are Kozma and Yadier.

[Dr. Dinger]

You know what I was thinking, how come Mozeliak's name never comes up when people are talking about the best GMs in baseball? You always hear names like Friedman, Dombrowski, Daniels, Epstein, I hear very little praise for the guy that's built the absolute best organization top-to-bottom. The Cardinals are a f***ing juggernaut.

 

Holliday, Bourjos, Craig, Carpenter, Peralta, Jones, Adams, Molina, Wong/Ellis

Miller, Wainwright, Wacha, Lynn, Garcia

 

They literally don't have a hole anywhere on their team, and have arguably the best farm system in the majors to pair with it.

 

Their player development is off the charts. No one thought anything of Craig, Carpenter or Adams as prospects. I remembering people poo-pooing the Wacha pick as well, he never got pegged as a top of rotation starter. Lynn and Garcia became strong contributors without much fanfare also. To think that they have all that, and arguably the best hitting prospect in baseball.

[Dr. Dinger]

So... Stephen Drew anyone? You'd probably have to pay him somewhere between Infante's 4/$40 and Phillips' 4/$50, but signing Drew and sliding Reyes over to 2B might net us a win in itself.

 

Edit: Nvm, Boras.

[TheHurl]

So... Stephen Drew anyone? You'd probably have to pay him somewhere between Infante's 4/$40 and Phillips' 4/$50, but signing Drew and sliding Reyes over to 2B might net us a win in itself.

 

But the chemistry. We can't upset a player #20winChemistry

[Chappy]

At this point is there even any point in trying to upgrade this team? The most sensible options are gone and now we can either overpay in both prospects and $$ or sign some Hail Mary options. Just trade Bautista FFS.

[jaysfan2014]

Got to give the Cardinals credit for the farm development.. Yankees and Jays fans (along with the majority of the MLB) wish they had the farm the Cardinals have.

[Chappy]

Fewest Team WARP by 2B, 2010-13

[TABLE=align: center]

[TR]

[TD]Team

[/TD]

[TD]Position

[/TD]

[TD]WARP

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Mariners

[/TD]

[TD]DH

[/TD]

[TD]-2.5

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Royals

[/TD]

[TD]2B

[/TD]

[TD]-2.0

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Mariners

[/TD]

[TD]1B

[/TD]

[TD]-1.4

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Blue Jays

[/TD]

[TD]2B

[/TD]

[TD]-1.2

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Pirates

[/TD]

[TD]1B

[/TD]

[TD]-0.7

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Astros

[/TD]

[TD]LF

[/TD]

[TD]-0.6

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Orioles

[/TD]

[TD]2B

[/TD]

[TD]-0.4

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Rangers

[/TD]

[TD]1B

[/TD]

[TD]0.2

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]White Sox

[/TD]

[TD]3B

[/TD]

[TD]0.2

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Indians

[/TD]

[TD]1B

[/TD]

[TD]0.6

 

 

[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

 

The good new just keeps pouring in.

[Dr. Dinger]

From Baseball Prospectus:

Fewest Team WARP by 2B, 2010-13

[TABLE=align: center]

[TR]

[TD]Team[/TD]

[TD]WARP[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Royals[/TD]

[TD]-2.0[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Blue Jays[/TD]

[TD]-1.2[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Orioles[/TD]

[TD]-0.4[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Rockies[/TD]

[TD]1.6[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]White Sox[/TD]

[TD]1.6[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

 

 

Fewest WARP by Position, 2010-13

[TABLE=align: center]

[TR]

[TD]Team[/TD]

[TD]Position[/TD]

[TD]WARP[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Mariners[/TD]

[TD]DH[/TD]

[TD]-2.5[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Royals[/TD]

[TD]2B[/TD]

[TD]-2.0[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Mariners[/TD]

[TD]1B[/TD]

[TD]-1.4[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Blue Jays[/TD]

[TD]2B[/TD]

[TD]-1.2[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Pirates[/TD]

[TD]1B[/TD]

[TD]-0.7[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Astros[/TD]

[TD]LF[/TD]

[TD]-0.6[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Orioles[/TD]

[TD]2B[/TD]

[TD]-0.4[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Rangers[/TD]

[TD]1B[/TD]

[TD]0.2[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]White Sox[/TD]

[TD]3B[/TD]

[TD]0.2[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Indians[/TD]

[TD]1B[/TD]

[TD]0.6[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

[jaysfan2014]

Boston isn't sure if they can afford Drew either--signing him would put them over the tax. Plus, it would likely necessitate a trade of Will Middlebrooks, because Bogaerts would be playing 3B.

[Angrioter]

Apparently Ellis is suffering from a terminal illness.......

 

Great job Fat Greek

[TheHurl]

I still think he'll hook up with the A's for a middle. They have Lowrie, Callapso, Punto, Sogard, Parrino and Nakajima all on the 40. Miles Head probably moving up to AA this year. They also have one too many major league starters with Kazmir, Gray, Straily, Parker, Griffin and Milone. An overpay for Milone and Sogard?

[jaysfan2014]

And most of that negative WARP at 2B was likely because of Izturis and Bonifacio alone. Let's hope Goins and whoever we get for 2B(if any) can reverse this trend..

[ILDD]

Now Ellis is gone (and AA might have tried to sign him, Ellis could have taken one look at the green concrete and hung up the phone) how about trading for Dustin Ackley?

 

He's now blocked in Seattle, he had a good second half to the season and will at least provide good defense even if his bat never picks up.

[jaysfan2014]

Maybe Callapso or Sogard.. Punto has already been signed, and Nakajima has not played above AAA.

[Angrioter]

Like why the f*** would Mark Ellis want to come to a clusterf*** team up in Canada and play on plastic/cement when he's 37 years old and the Cards are offering him a better shot at a WS?

 

I hate you but hate more your accurate analytical.

[TheHurl]

And most of that negative WARP at 2B was likely because of Izturis and Bonifacio alone. Let's hope Goins and whoever we get for 2B(if any) can reverse this trend..

 

Replacement level can't reverse the trend...just hold it steady

[Anemic0ffense]

I mean I wasn't even that big on Ellis, but it's just painfully obvious that this team views Goins as a starter... Pathetic... f*** AA

[Angrioter]

Pitching+defense = ~75% baseball game.

 

The starting rotation needs to be improved.

[TheHurl]

I think Izturis will get more starts than Goins. Purely by how much money he's making.

[Angrioter]

Why

 

You dont like a rotation with Esmail Rodgers and Tod Redmond

 

We have a very deep rotation but lacks men that guarantee wins; men of "3-3.5" runs per 9 innings.

I'm not asking for a Halladay kind of pitchers but reliable men like: Latos, Hamels, Lee..............Tanaka?

[flafson]

I think AA is thinking defense and playing time at Rogers center, that does make Ellis a very good fit IMO.

Drew is probably a much better fit but he doesn't want to pay that kind of money.

That only leaves Goins and a trade option.

[ILDD]

We have a very deep rotation but lacks men that guarantee wins; men of "3-3.5" runs per 9 innings.

I'm not asking for a Halladay kind of pitchers but reliable men like: Latos, Hamels, Lee..............Tanaka?

 

Not asking for Halladay, just reliable pitchers like Latos, Hamels and Lee?

 

ERA over the last 3 years (qualified pitchers) they rank 25th, 15th and 5th. You want elite pitchers, no team has that pitching strength except maybe Tigers.

 

Personally I'd be happy with guys like Buehrle - 32 starts per year, 6 innings per start and 4.5 ERA.

[Abomination]

I think AA is thinking defense and playing time at Rogers center, that does make Ellis a very good fit IMO.

Drew is probably a much better fit but he doesn't want to pay that kind of money.

That only leaves Goins and a trade option.

 

I suspect AA is a little scared regarding signing someone at second after seeing Izzy (who was an above average defender prior to last year) flop so badly, and Boni be completely useless (he certainly was never going to be a wizard, but I don't think anyone thought he'd be quite as bad as he was). I can understand Goins being somewhat appealing to him under that scenario. I think if we see anyone come in to fill that hole, it'll be a young guy who doesn't hurt the payroll if he has trouble adjusting.

 

I agree that Drew seems unlikely, but would be an interesting choice. Ellis at his age probably didn't want to deal with the turf, although who knows for sure.

[saskjayfan]

Replacement level can't reverse the trend...just hold it steady

 

A 37 year old ellis moving to carpet..his defensive statistics would have plummeted. Goins isn't just good defensively..he's elite. All of you seem to know exactly what Goins will bring offensively based on his minor league stats or his incredibly big sample size as a major leaguer? If Goins could post a .640 OPS to .670 OPS with his level of defense he would be a good player for the jays who desperately need defense. They have plenty of offense.....I'd rather let goins develop than watch a good time oldy explain what a surprisingly difficult time it was to adjust to the turf..

[John_Havok]

Goins isn't just good defensively..he's elite.

 

Way too small sample size to draw any real conclusions, but in that small sample size, he was great defensively. If you extrapolate his small sample size defensive metrics to a full season he would equate to being the best defensive 2B of all time. I don't think it's egregious to say that we probably shouldn't expect that.

[Angrioter]

Goins isn't just good defensively..he's elite.

 

Way too small sample size to draw any real conclusions, but in that small sample size, he was great defensively. If you extrapolate his small sample size defensive metrics to a full season he would equate to being the best defensive 2B of all time. I don't think it's egregious to say that we probably shouldn't expect that.

 

What about Kelly "f***ing" Johnson?

http://www.bluejaysmessageboard.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=445&d=1387144279

 

[TheHurl]

A 37 year old ellis moving to carpet..his defensive statistics would have plummeted. Goins isn't just good defensively..he's elite. All of you seem to know exactly what Goins will bring offensively based on his minor league stats or his incredibly big sample size as a major leaguer? If Goins could post a .640 OPS to .670 OPS with his level of defense he would be a good player for the jays who desperately need defense. They have plenty of offense.....I'd rather let goins develop than watch a good time oldy explain what a surprisingly difficult time it was to adjust to the turf..

 

I can say for certainty that no one, no matter how good their defense has survived as a major league regular with a 13/1 K to BB rate. Without increasing the BB-Rate and/or decreasing the K-rate his bat just can't survive 500 PA's. Unless of course he's the greatest 2B defensively ever and I can tell you for certain that he isn't. I'm a big Goins fan, probably rate him higher than most of the prospect hounds of the board do. However, I'm realistic that he's best in a defensive back up role.

 

What I'm trying to say is that he's got to be historically good defensively to keep up his 2 win pace that he put up last year. That's asking a lot.

[Stangstag]

What about Kelly "f***ing" Johnson?

http://www.bluejaysmessageboard.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=445&d=1387144279

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]445[/ATTACH]

 

Haha wow

[Angrioter]

I can say for certainty that no one, no matter how good their defense has survived as a major league regular with a 13/1 K to BB rate. Without increasing the BB-Rate and/or decreasing the K-rate his bat just can't survive 500 PA's. Unless of course he's the greatest 2B defensively ever and I can tell you for certain that he isn't. I'm a big Goins fan, probably rate him higher than most of the prospect hounds of the board do. However, I'm realistic that he's best in a defensive back up role.

 

What I'm trying to say is that he's got to be historically good defensively to keep up his 2 win pace that he put up last year. That's asking a lot.

 

Goins is a younger J-Mac's version. Goins is a very useful player in the right hands (Rajai, Reed Johnson and maybe Pillar); Rays kind of player