Nomar???

by GangGreen23 on Dec 1, 2005 5:33 PM PST

Not sure if it has been discussed yet, but on the slight chance that is hasn't, what are the merits of the A's signing Cubs SS Nomar Garciaparra to be our full-time DH and back-up infielder?

If he is willing to sign a 1 year deal for a low salary that is incentive laden, then why not throw out a feeler to him?

Adding Nomar could make sense.

Eric Chavez has a bum throwing shoulder and that could rear its ugly head during the season. Imagine if he needed to have surgery in the middle of next year?

Ditto with Bobby Crosby. He has problems staying healthy and has slumped with the bat in September of the last 2 years.

If either Chavez or Crosby miss time due to injury next year, we will be sunk. We just don't have the depth to compensate.

We have only Scutaro and Ginter as replacement options. With Ginter, we should have gotten a decent bat, which we didn't, and his glove was even more terrible. With Scutaro, we get the glove but lose the bat, especially slugging.

With Nomar, we could get both without missing a beat. After his last few seasons, Nomar could flourish if he was "spotted" during the year, to play the field somedays, but be the DH most days.
He is a much better fielder than teams give him credit for.

Not sure what the consensus is so please cast a vote.

Poll

Should A's sign Nomar Garciaparra?

Yes, Nomar can be our full-time DH and back-up infielder.

18 votes

Yes, Nomar always bats .300 or better, with decent power numbers.

5 votes

Yes, Nomar can give Chavez and Crosby days off without losing offense.

4 votes

Yes, Nomar can be had on the cheap, say for $3 Million.

3 votes

Yes, Nomar can play in the field, which Frank Thomas can't.

1 votes

No, Nomar is done as a player.

1 votes

No, Nomar can't stay healthy.

2 votes

No, Nomar will cost too much.

4 votes

No, Nomar isn't ready to be a backup or fulltime DH yet and will whine.

1 votes

No, let's trade Kennedy, Meyer, Cruz and Jairo for Adam Dunn.

4 votes

43 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Just a suggestion,

GangGreen23: You might want to duck...

Nico

by Nico on Dec 1, 2005 6:16 PM PST reply actions

I'm not sure it's been discussed yet...

but does anyone think we should fire Macha?

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on Dec 1, 2005 6:18 PM PST reply actions

Well,

at least one of us out there has a life outside of AN.

Yeah, that's right, I wrote "have a life". By a show of hands, anyone else?

</ keeps hand at the side knowing that 'outside' is a foreign concept>

by LowcountryJoe on Dec 1, 2005 6:25 PM PST reply actions

waaaaait a minute

No, let's trade Kennedy, Meyer, Cruz and Jairo for Adam Dunn.

Dead give away...author spends too much time here and is just being coy by using faux disclaimer

by LowcountryJoe on Dec 1, 2005 6:29 PM PST up reply actions

Nomar .....or No More?

Hmm. Let's weigh pros and cons.
PLUSSES:
1) It seems like Nomar can still hit, maybe not like the batting title days but enough to help the team (.450-ish SLG).
2) Defensive versatility, pretty good skill at a few key IF positions.
3) At least he wouldn't be hitting against us (anyone else remember him just destroying the A's? Seems to me like it was a double every time he came up ...)
MINUSES:
1) Shaky health. I wouldn't get him unless we could be pretty sure he was in good shape ...
2) He's 32--not that old, but starting the inevitable decline period.
QUESTION MARKS:
1) Personality. Sometimes I read he's a great guy, sometimes I read he tore the Boston clubhouse apart. How would he feel about being a utilityman/DH, probably not playing every day?

BOTTOM LINE: If we know he's healthy, and can get him for small change, then it sounds good to me. Otherwise it'd be too risky.
Gee, I didn't really give a definite answer did I? :P I think the health issue is paramount and will also affect the asking price so that would be the key. But ideally--he could be very valuable on the A's.

by TheBigO on Dec 1, 2005 10:24 PM PST reply actions