A's approach v. Padres approach

by oakinboston on Jul 2, 2008 6:07 PM PDT

Got this from DePo's blog

The Padres signed, according to ESPN rankings, the #3, 5, 6, and 10 Latin American players, and an Aussie Rules player who oozes athleticism.

A number of ANers have wondered aloud about whether it is better to go all out for a talent like Inoa ($4.25 m pricetag), or to take the shotgun approach like the Padres and spread the money ($5m) amongst some of the lesser prospects with the hopes that a few pan out.

I think I'll put my support in the Inoa camp, especially because we aren't just talking about the top prospect internationally, we are talking about a "generational talent", or so they say.

Still, I have to admire the Padres for doing this. I think both the A's and the Padres are setting a trend for future international draftings, and I would guess that down the road, it will quickly become more expensive to make these types of moves.

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As a Padres fan

I think I inclined to give my vote to the A’s. But that is because we can’t seem to do much of anything right these days. However, in all seriousness, I think it really depends on the needs of your team. Dumping 4.25 mil into one guy would not make sense for the Padres since they have so many holes to fill.

by sacpadre on Jul 3, 2008 8:59 AM PDT reply actions

I don't think there's much of a justification for having a "set approach"

i.e. a dogmatic policy that you are going to try to sign the best player, or that you are going to try to sign 4 of the top 10, or whatever. If your scouts red-flag a guy, even if he’s the consensus top talent, you may not want to sign him. Or whatever; there are a million ways for things to shake out.

I think we can all agree that the most important thing is that small-market teams have committed to bidding competitively in the international arena, even if they concede that they’re at a disadvantage in bidding for MLB free agents. Not everyone can sign a top 10 player every year (obviously), but everyone can make a legitimate effort to.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 3, 2008 9:09 AM PDT reply actions

Good points -

Absolutes can get you into trouble, even if the idea itself is sound.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Jul 3, 2008 9:12 AM PDT up reply actions

yep agreed.

changed the title of this post because the old one seemed like it had a good chance of going 0-fer in comments. it is unnecessarily dramatic.

by oakinboston on Jul 3, 2008 10:00 AM PDT up reply actions

FWIW

Normally “vs” is used to abbreviate “versus” except in court cases. Since the A’s approach is not suing the Padres approach, another slight edit might be in order…

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 3, 2008 10:31 AM PDT up reply actions

or are they...

"It's not my fault your team's so shitty." -Steve Friend, head coach, Chabot College, to Laney College's head coach, who asked why we scored so many runs after we beat Laney 30-3 in 2006

by flipgatey3 on Jul 3, 2008 10:54 AM PDT up reply actions

Ehh, I don't believe the A's and Padres are setting any kind of trend

The big money teams, Yanks, RS, Mets, Mariners, have already thrown millions at young talents from LA, in the past.

ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524

by rfloh on Jul 3, 2008 9:31 AM PDT reply actions

You don't think increased demand,

in the form of more teams competing for the best players, is going to raise prices?

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 3, 2008 9:45 AM PDT up reply actions

Sure

And how are the A’s and Padres setting a trend? They aren’t the first teams that decided to spend big in LA. As it is, the Reds and Rangers both offered more than the A’s for Inoa? So what trend is being set by whom?

ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524

by rfloh on Jul 3, 2008 10:34 AM PDT up reply actions

The trend of small market teams offering competitive bonuses to top players in Latin America

is being set by the A’s, and the Padres, and for that matter the Reds.

This trend—of more competitive bidding, of more teams being involved—will increase prices of Latin American talent until it is at least closer in average rate of return to other forms of freely available talent like MLB free agents.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Jul 3, 2008 11:12 AM PDT up reply actions