Rotoworld: Choi likely to be nontendered/traded

by rungood on Dec 18, 2005 5:14 AM PST

Rotoworld's saying that because the Dodgers won the Nomar sweepstakes, they will likely trade or non-tender Hee Seop Choi.

"It appears likely that Garciaparra will play first base, which should lead to Hee Seop Choi being traded or non-tendered by Tuesday's deadline."

Now, can the a's pick Choi up on the cheap? Even if he is offered arbritation, maybe we could snatch him away from Coletti like we did with Bradley. This is how i see it going:

"Hi Ned, Billy here. So, this guy, Choi. Yeah, he's OK, I guess. Yeah, OK, I guess we'll take him off your hands. What's that you say? In return wou want a MOC Dave Stewart Starting Lineup? Hmm that's a bit steep. We'll give you this nice bag of baseballs, and because I'm feeling so generous today, I'll even throw in an Eric Chavez bobblehead doll, but that's it! Done and done."

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Where is the love for Hee-Sop Choi?

Oakland
:)

I <3 Macha. I trust Beane. Blanton isn't fat. Go A's.

by pbruins92 on Dec 18, 2005 6:18 AM PST reply actions

Eddie Kim?

He seems like the perfect washed up former prospect required to get this deal done.

Signatures? We don't need no stinking signatures.

by jubjub on Dec 18, 2005 7:16 AM PST reply actions

Dude was dialed in for like 2 weeks

He averaged a HR a game for like a 7 game stretch.

ProActiv Solution: It moisturizes my situation, perserves my sexy. ? -P. Diddy

by Dig the Long Ball on Dec 18, 2005 8:14 AM PST reply actions

re

Yeah, one week he's King Kong and the next he's Mario Mendoza. I'd love to see him get a real chance to play, but probably not for us. And I think if Billy wanted him, he would have gotten him in the Bradley trade.

by 31Boots on Dec 18, 2005 9:01 AM PST up reply actions

Over-Hyped by AN?

Seems he has a strong following here...at best hes a platoon type. For cheap hes worth a shot I'd say but I wouldn't offer them anything of value for the guy. Maybe sign him cheap as a pinch hitter/backup with some pop. Wonder if BB has the same love that many on here do for the guy ;).

Whatever Jose Canseco says must be true

by WiscoFan on Dec 18, 2005 8:34 AM PST reply actions

Choi Platoon

well, we happen to have this guy named Bobby Kielty who mashes LHP, and Choi Mashes RHP.

Combined, they make a great DH!

There are only two races in Baseball, Right Handers and Left Handers.

by Zonis on Dec 18, 2005 8:40 AM PST up reply actions

Ditto that

Dude gets slammed by the media here in SoCal.

by easyraider on Dec 19, 2005 10:10 AM PST up reply actions

Where's the room?

At this point, I'm not sure how Choi would legitimately fit onto the 25-man roster.

Frank Thomas, yes, has similar limitations (even more useless than Choi defensively, highly likely to not play 150 games) but has such a higher upside (and a significantly lower platoon advantage than Choi) that I can buy the argument for expending a roster spot on Thomas.

But Choi I can only see getting significant PT in Sacto. Which in itself might not be a bad idea, I guess, as an insurance policy of sorts ...

@('.')@

by monkeyball on Dec 18, 2005 8:41 AM PST reply actions

Choi would be our DH

platoon with Kielty. Kielty starting at DH vs LHP, Choi vs RHP.

Or, if Payton complains, Payton vs LHP, Choi vs RHP.

There are only two races in Baseball, Right Handers and Left Handers.

by Zonis on Dec 18, 2005 8:57 AM PST up reply actions

Where would

DJ play? And Swish?
Can't bench either of those guys, not after their rookie years/minor league careers...

I've been wondering for some time now... Can Swish play LF? Is there some sort of aspect to him that prevents this? If he can, then we could sign Thomas/Choi and put Swish in LF and there goes just about every positional need (obviously some are upgradeable but none would be in dire straits, per se)... Payton becomes the 4th OF he should be, Kielty bashes lefties, Choi bashes righties... Or, if we get Thomas, this still works out, with Kielty playing LF against lefties, and Swish vs. righties with Swish spelling Thomas as DH against lefties to get more experience vs. them

All that being said, I think the A's biggest need is not DH, but really LF because of all that platoon need in just about any conceivable situation other than MB moving there

by Alon on Dec 19, 2005 9:02 AM PST up reply actions

defense?

according to the Espn.com scouting report:
"Choi moves well for a man his size. That said, he is not going to be stealing many bags over the course of his career. On defense, he has all the tools to be a Gold Glove winner some day. His hands are soft and his footwork around the firstbase bag is excellent. The lefthander makes the lead throw on the double play with strength and accuracy, and he looks like he has been playing first base at the major league level for years. "

I <3 Macha. I trust Beane. Blanton isn't fat. Go A's.

by pbruins92 on Dec 18, 2005 9:13 AM PST up reply actions

Choi isn't useless defensively.

That's a myth perpetuated by the media. A really great place to look for some thoughtful analysis of Choi is DodgerThoughts.

"How much room do I have to cover out here?" -- Kotsay

by Sharon on Dec 18, 2005 11:00 AM PST up reply actions

Are you saying

the notion that Hee Sop can't hit lefties is a fable?

Nico

by Nico on Dec 18, 2005 3:34 PM PST up reply actions

What's wrong with

Johnson as our DH?

"Put a Milo on him." -Billy Beane

by kaweahkaweah on Dec 18, 2005 10:59 AM PST reply actions

choi is the perfect addition

there is nothing wrong with johnson as DH for most games, but this way there would still be decent DH production if johnson is at 1B if there is an injury to bradley/kotsay/payton/swisher or if one of them is in a slump (payton/swisher).

choi/kielty gives you a backup DH, backup 1B (choi), backup OF (kielty), and two decent pinch hitters on the bench for most games.

given the differences in price and the health issues when compared to frank thomas, i think it's a much better option.

of course, as someone already said, it's not going happen because if beane wanted choi he would already be here.

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Dec 18, 2005 11:23 AM PST reply actions

DePo's probably in a corner crying somewhere.

Choi doesn't have a place with us, but I'm damn curious to see how he'll do if he ends up with a team where he's given a chance to play.

"Baseball fans are junkies, and their heroin is the statistic." -Robert S. Wieder

by Kyli on Dec 18, 2005 11:34 AM PST reply actions

I love Choi...

...and hate how he's been treated the past few years, but we're set at 1B/DH with Swish and Johnson. Unless we trade an OF, I don't see anyway this works out... to say nothing of the possibility of us signing Thomas.

by dchu on Dec 18, 2005 11:38 AM PST reply actions

Choi vs. LHP

I've always been amazed at the disparity in performance some players exhibit versus left or right-handed pitchers. The difference in visible ball time is extremely small for a batter facing a lefty or righty. And yet, some players struggle against certain handed pitchers. But for some it might be a self-reinforcing effect. Take Choi. Look at his at bats versus LHP/RHP the last four years (age in paren's):

2002(23): LHP=4, RHP=46
2003(24): LHP=17, RHP=185
2004(25): LHP=36, RHP=307
2005(26): LHP=29, RHP=291

How can anyone with only 86 at bats versus LHP in the majors be written off as a platoon player? I'm sure he must have shown extreme performance bias for RHP in the minors, but how can someone improve without opportunity? Remember, Chavez? Here's his OPS vs. LHP/RHP 2002-2005.

2002(24): LHP=.623, RHP=.950
2003(25): LHP=.674, RHP=.954
2004(26): LHP=.893, RHP=.902
2005(27): LHP=.749, RHP=.818

Obviously, I'm not saying Choi could be Chavez, but one factor in the difference between their career paths could be that Chavez was consistently allowed to face LHP with roughly 1/3 of his AB's even when he put up terrible numbers. Choi has never had that chance to learn the visual cues of different pitchs from Lefties.

All that said, if we got Choi, I wouldn't want him learning to hit LHP on the 2006 Oakland A's. The 2006 Florida Marlins? Definitely.

Signatures? We don't need no stinking signatures.

by jubjub on Dec 18, 2005 12:16 PM PST reply actions

Choi's Swing...

Definitely has holes, so he's a very hot and cold hitter, a guy who in my opinion needs to play more than he has to keep it going smoothly. I think he's underrated by scouts, overrated by statheads. He still deserves more of a chance than he's gotten. I agree he's a decent platoon option, but I'd rather have thomas. Choi needs to go to a crappy team where he can play everyday and work out the kinks...

by Little Rickey on Dec 18, 2005 12:17 PM PST reply actions

For Choi's sake

preferably a crappy team in a hitters' park where more of his long fly balls clear the fences. I nominate the Royals as a logical destination: terrible team with no reason not to let him get 600 ABs, no obvious 1B (if Sweeney DHs, or Choi could DH), and a very good hitters' park.

Given that he's probably not getting a pony (or the baseball equivalent), Rob Neyer's best Xmas present would probably be the Royals signing Choi.

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

by Nick on Dec 18, 2005 4:03 PM PST up reply actions

Get Choi

Can probably get him cheap as hell. Then keep Kielty and Payton, and trade Dan Johnson.

Yes, Dan Johnson.

His trade value is probably through the roof right now - I bet we could get a pretty good haul for him. D-Rays? Astros? Padres? Hell, even the Marlins? We could get some nice prospects. I bet they'd bite too, since DJ is so cheap.

by rickeytime on Dec 18, 2005 1:16 PM PST reply actions

i love me some big choi.

YABU: You're always eating cheese. ...Is cheese good for you? . FISCHER: IT'S BETTER THAN SUSHI!!!

by ConditionOakland on Dec 18, 2005 3:25 PM PST reply actions

bok choi?

"Keep an open mind." --Milton Bradley, 12/15/05

by rungood on Dec 18, 2005 3:38 PM PST up reply actions

I don't think we should

obtain the type of player who tries to sell his progeny:

Copernicus felt the same way about the geocentric crew.

by salb918 on Dec 18, 2005 3:45 PM PST up reply actions

Be very careful, Sal:

You're not allowed to argue a bok.

Nico

by Nico on Dec 18, 2005 4:08 PM PST up reply actions

watch out for this bok, i hear he can MASH!

"Keep an open mind." --Milton Bradley, 12/15/05

by rungood on Dec 18, 2005 4:36 PM PST up reply actions

XD

HAHAHAHAHAH What the hell?!?! That made no sense to me.

by OaklandDynasty on Dec 18, 2005 7:56 PM PST up reply actions

strange enough.

that is my favorite vegetable.
being a vegetarian, it is my meat. =P mmm.
yess... bok choi and big choi, oh boy. (ha)

YABU: You're always eating cheese. ...Is cheese good for you? . FISCHER: IT'S BETTER THAN SUSHI!!!

by ConditionOakland on Dec 18, 2005 10:20 PM PST up reply actions

Durazo the Second.

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the comparison to Durazo yet. I suppose that if we don't get Frank Thomas, Choi could be a good addition. However, I think Choi needs to have to be full time for an entire season to show his true color, but I doubt the A's is going to do that.

by hedgehog on Dec 18, 2005 9:25 PM PST reply actions

NO WAY - Durazo could actually hit.

Choi has never hit well anywhere --including the friendly confines of Wrigly. His best OPS is .786
Durazo was a real power hitting threat with an OPS of .945 before the A's got him.
Choi was dumped for a reason - he earned it. Folks want a real hitter if a guy is going to stand by first base.

by Carerra on Dec 19, 2005 7:07 AM PST up reply actions

Reached majors earlier than Durazo.

Durazo reached majors at age 25, and had his best season at age 28 (.261/.395/.550) in 222 ABs at the hitter's ball park BOB. Choi reached majors at age 23, and hit .270 .388 .495 for half of a season (281 ABs) in Florida at age 25. I see plenty of room to grow, if given PT--but that's one thing the A's may not have for him.

by hedgehog on Dec 19, 2005 12:41 PM PST up reply actions

Stop the Choi Choi Train -- I Need to Get Off

People always claim that Hee Sop She Sop Choi "kills righties," and that he'd be a great platoon player. So, I decided to take a look at his splits over the last few seasons.

2003
v. RHP: 232/349/449 (in 185 ABs)
v. LHP: 059/360/118 (in 17 ABs)

2004
v. RHP: 261/381/469 (in 307 ABs)
v. LHP: 167/268/278 (in 36 ABs)

2005
v. RHP: 258/335/460 (in 291 ABs)
v. LHP: 207/343/379 (in 29 ABs)

CAREER
v. RHP: 250/353/455 (808 OPS in 829 ABs)
v. LHP: 151/311/267 (579 OPS in 86 ABs)

He's turning 27 next year, so it's not like this is a guy who hasn't tapped his potential yet (it is arguable that he might "find" more potential if given the opportunity to play every day, but note that our platoon roll idea doesn't afford him that opportunity).

So, my question is: Why are people going nuts over a guy who is basically an 800 OPS guy against RHP? That's not killing RHP. An 800 OPS is decent, but it's not something to go crazy over. Emil Brown and David Dejesus both posted 804 OPSs last year (you can use statistics to prove anything).

I don't really see Choi as a solution so much as a project. Sort of baseball's equivalent of Yinka Dare, but better than Yinka. Someone might want to take a chance on Choi -- he's got a great body (6'5", 240 lbs should have legit Dunn-like power), he obviously has some hitting ability given his OPS against RHP, but he's fucking horrid against RHP and the A's don't generally bring people in with the intent of ONLY using them in a platoon roll.

If Choi's Career OPS v. RHP was 900+, I could understand being all excited about him being non-tendered, but an 800 OPS is too average to make a fuss over Hee Sop She Sop.

by Uncle Charlie on Dec 19, 2005 2:45 PM PST reply actions

What about the guy who

could backup Chavez, is cheaper than Hee Seop probably will be, has a career OPS against righties of .882, should be in his peak at age 30, and who last year hit righties to a tune of a .940s OPS with 12 HRs in mere 182 ABs? (You want to talk long sentences?) That guy is Russell Branyan, who I think could make a great pickup, albeit it spells the end of Marco.

"A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore." - Yogi Berra

by vignette17 on Dec 19, 2005 5:04 PM PST up reply actions