Cubs To Sign Ben Zobrist, Flip Starlin Castro to Yankees

[Laika]

They've now given hundreds of PA to Stephen Drew and traded a useful pitcher for Starlin Castro just to avoid playing a young, cheap, league average hitting player in the position. The only way this makes any sense at all is if he's clearly a butcher. Like a Chris Colabello of second base.

 

Maybe they think his hands are too boxy to play the infield

[Laika]

BP in July:

 

Glove - 45 - Fringe-average range; actions and mobility fringy and hands inconsistent; capable of making tough play and then booting an easy one; below-average instincts and feel in the infield; below-average clock.

Arm - 45 - Below-average arm strength; above-average accuracy.

 

BP one year ago:

 

5 potential glove - solid-average range; improving footwork; high baseball IQ; footwork can get choppy around the bag; fringe-average defender (present)

[Frenchsoup]

BP in July:

 

Glove - 45 - Fringe-average range; actions and mobility fringy and hands inconsistent; capable of making tough play and then booting an easy one; below-average instincts and feel in the infield; below-average clock.

Arm - 45 - Below-average arm strength; above-average accuracy.

 

BP one year ago:

 

5 potential glove - solid-average range; improving footwork; high baseball IQ; footwork can get choppy around the bag; fringe-average defender (present)

 

Sounds like Daniel Murphy, which isn't great.

[Dr. Dinger]

So all of a sudden organizations and their scouts can be thoroughly trusted when it comes to evaluating defense in the minors?

 

ok. I thought we were past that.

 

You've probably never even watched Refsnyder play.

[Laika]

You've probably never even watched Refsnyder play.

 

you probably throw like a girl

[Sammy225]

You've probably never even watched Refsnyder play.

 

Listened to him on the radio once... Sounded solid

[Dr. Dinger]

I don't know why you guys are so bent on making Refsnyder some cause célèbre. He's never been highly touted by any prospect publication, his own team won't give him playing time, and we've never heard of any other teams asking for or valuing him in trade negotiations. I think it's pretty likely that you're just wrong about him, rather than 30 organizations and every major prospect site. He's just a dude, and 2B is not a position where teams are willing to accept crappy defense unless it's accompanied by exceptional offensive production.

[Dr. Dinger]

you probably throw like a girl

 

That's irrelevant and hurtful.

[Laika]

I don't know why you guys are so bent on making Refsnyder some cause célèbre. He's never been highly touted by any prospect publication, his own team won't give him playing time, and we've never heard of any other teams asking for or valuing him in trade negotiations. I think it's pretty likely that you're just wrong about him, rather than 30 organizations and every major prospect site. He's just a dude, and 2B is not a position where teams are willing to accept crappy defense unless it's accompanied by exceptional offensive production.

 

Because he smells like Devon Travis and Kyle Seager

 

Just want to see Ref got an opportunity, bro.

[Brownie19]

I don't know why you guys are so bent on making Refsnyder some cause célèbre. He's never been highly touted by any prospect publication, his own team won't give him playing time, and we've never heard of any other teams asking for or valuing him in trade negotiations. I think it's pretty likely that you're just wrong about him, rather than 30 organizations and every major prospect site. He's just a dude, and 2B is not a position where teams are willing to accept crappy defense unless it's accompanied by exceptional offensive production.

 

you could say the same thing about Travis really. Traded for Anthony Gose ffs. Old prospect with a good bat and questionable defense. I don't think anyone is saying he's going to be Robbie Cano, but they've been spending and trading a lot to try and fill that hole when they might have a better option in house.

[Dr. Dinger]

Because he smells like Devon Travis and Kyle Seager

 

Just want to see Ref got an opportunity, bro.

 

Seager? He was actually a notable prospect with power and 3B-stickability. Travis, maybe. But Travis probably isn't even as good as we hope he is.

[Dr. Dinger]

you could say the same thing about Travis really. Traded for Anthony Gose ffs. Old prospect with a good bat and questionable defense. I don't think anyone is saying he's going to be Robbie Cano, but they've been spending and trading a lot to try and fill that hole when they might have a better option in house.

 

Yeah, I'm sure an organization as rich and well-staffed as the Yankees just happened to accidentally overlook him repeatedly.

[Laika]

Seager? He was actually a notable prospect with power and 3B-stickability. Travis, maybe. But Travis probably isn't even as good as we hope he is.

 

"notable prospect"

 

Check again on Seager. He had a .921 OPS in 2010 and then on the M's top 10's for 2011, he was ranked f***ing 9th by BA and Sickels. Behind JOHERMYN CHAVEZ.

[Dr. Dinger]

"notable prospect"

 

Check again on Seager. He had a .921 OPS in 2010 and then on the M's top 10's for 2011, he was ranked f***ing 9th by BA and Sickels. Behind JOHERMYN CHAVEZ.

 

I don't read Sickels. He's pretty much just some scouting report aggregator who managed to rack up a substantial reader base because he wrote about prospects for free at a time when prospect lists were paywalled. His lists are the product of groupthinky fans chirping in his ear and egging him to adjust grades endlessly. Blah. Also his site is an ugly mess.

 

Fact is, no site has ever pegged Refsnyder as an impact player. I don't think I've ever seen him graded as 60 OFP or equivalent anywhere, maybe not even 55.

[Nafro]

"notable prospect"

 

 

Check again on Seager. He had a .921 OPS in 2010 and then on the M's top 10's for 2011, he was ranked f***ing 9th by BA and Sickels. Behind JOHERMYN CHAVEZ.

 

Think how fun it is to say Johermyn Chavez though!!!

[Laika]

I don't read Sickels. He's pretty much just some scouting report aggregator who managed to rack up a substantial reader base because he wrote about prospects for free at a time when prospect lists were paywalled. His lists are the product of groupthinky fans chirping in his ear and egging him to adjust grades endlessly. Blah. Also his site is an ugly mess.

 

Goldstein had him 8th, in between Dan Cortes (who?) and Blake Beaven.

 

"The Good: Seager is a sound hitter with a knack for putting the fat part of the ball on the bat. He has above-average bat speed and hand-eye coordination, and he hit .344 in games away from High Desert. He's a heady, instinctual player with nearly average speed who plays a fundamentally sound second base.

The Bad: Other than the bat, Seager's tools are a bit short. He has below-average power with little projection, and while he makes all of the plays on balls he gets to, he's not especially rangy at second base. Like most players who put up big numbers in the Cal League, scouts are reticent to put a big number on him until he proves it at a higher level."

 

Sounds a lot like, oh, I dunno, Refsnyder.

[Dr. Dinger]

Goldstein had him 8th, in between Dan Cortes (who?) and Blake Beaven.

 

"The Good: Seager is a sound hitter with a knack for putting the fat part of the ball on the bat. He has above-average bat speed and hand-eye coordination, and he hit .344 in games away from High Desert. He's a heady, instinctual player with nearly average speed who plays a fundamentally sound second base.

The Bad: Other than the bat, Seager's tools are a bit short. He has below-average power with little projection, and while he makes all of the plays on balls he gets to, he's not especially rangy at second base. Like most players who put up big numbers in the Cal League, scouts are reticent to put a big number on him until he proves it at a higher level."

 

Sounds a lot like, oh, I dunno, Refsnyder.

 

Goldstein made a lot of whiffs. Never trust a fat guy in a fedora.

[Dr. Dinger]

Never trust anyone in a fedora!

[Dr. Dinger]

Refsnyder = Tommy La Stella

[BTS]

Goldstein made a lot of whiffs. Never trust a fat guy in a fedora.

 

Fat Jewish guy in a fedora? That's how I picture GD.

[Laika]

Refsnyder = Tommy La Stella

 

Of course he's more likely to flop than succeed. Still deserves a chance based on the profile.

 

And the "Yankees know best" argument is weak

[Dr. Dinger]

Of course he's more likely to flop than succeed. Still deserves a chance based on the profile.

 

And the "Yankees know best" argument is weak

 

Why is that weak? They have been watching him play every game for years. They know very well what his skillset is. They have a gaping hole at his position, he's moved all the way up the minor league chain, and they still won't even give him a chance to take the job and run with it.

 

Granted, Starlin Castro is steaming dogshit, so he might end up taking the job anyway.

[Dr. Dinger]

Fat Jewish guy in a fedora? That's how I picture GD.

 

Yep, and absolutely having the time of his life working for the Stros now I'm sure.

[GD]

Fat Jewish guy in a fedora? That's how I picture GD.

 

Only fat and Jewish. If you ever associate me with fedoras again, I'll tell Tercet your home address.

[Dr. Dinger]

Only fat and Jewish. If you ever associate me with fedoras again, I'll tell Tercet your home address.

 

I've always pictured you in a kippa rather than a fedora.

[GD]

I've always pictured you in a kippa rather than a fedora.

 

I just ate a meat supreme pizza foh

[Spanky99]

Refsnyder profiles like Devon Travis a bit...

 

With the bat...

[Laika]

I just ate a meat supreme pizza foh

 

From King David's?

 

extra tuna...

[GD]

From King David's?

 

extra tuna...

 

From Pizza Nova

[Laika]

From Pizza Nova

 

ffs

 

you live in Toronto, eat better pizza