Manny to Oakland?
by A'sIN on Jan 20, 2012 3:57 PM PST
Email
Print Enrique Rojas says that the A's are interested in making Manny Ramirez (yes, THAT Manny Ramirez) their old new designated hitter. He's still in line for a 50 game suspension and wouldn't be able to take the field until early June, but he has 547 career homers and is a career .312 hitter and was an electrifying player just 2 seasons ago in Los Angeles. He no doubt comes with a lot of risk and a lot of baggage, but if he does sign a deal you'd have to figure it's for dirt cheap.
So is this a low-risk flier that could give this team some upside and a big bat or is it a Mike Piazza/Mike Sweeney signing that won't have a significant impact? My take is that, while Manny is not exactly the most clubhouse friendly guy, and he only could play 110 games this year, this is a low-risk signing with a very big potential payoff. There are 3 ways this potential signing could pan out.
1. Manny is Manny and he comes in with a rejuvenated bat, cranks 20 longballs and gives us some pop at the DH position.
2. Manny is Manny and he displays the same poor attitude and we cut him before the break.
3. He puts up decent numbers while the team is mediocre or cellar-dwelling and we trade him for a prospect or two.
Well, if it turns out that Manny chooses option 2, it's really not that big of a loss. So we waste the DH slot for a few games on an old washed up former star. With a team without a whole lot of expectation, taking a flier on a guy who, in my opinion, is closer to Frank Thomas than Mike Sweeney is worth the risk.
So what do you guys think of this potential signing?
84 comments
|
1 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Kinda funny stuff
I wrote a post from 2 weeks ago, here:
http://www.athleticsnation.com/2012/1/5/2685634/as-should-sign-manny-ramirez-roy-oswalt
The post is about why the A’s should sign Manny. I guess Beane can’t wait to hear my idea for the next player he should sign. If I knew he was reading, I would have suggested he trade for Harper in the Gio deal!
They
seem to do this every year… pick up an old slugger that nobody wants anymore to try to show the fans “hey look, maybe we can compete this year, we just signed _______, come buy tickets!”
hmm hadn't really thought about it till you said it but
Mike Piazza
Jason Giambi
Frank Thomas
Hideki Matsui
and now possibly Manny
im starting to see the pattern
anyone caught starting, promoting or participating in "the wave" should receive a lifetime ban from baseball
Billy struck gold with the Frank Thomas signing (the first time, in 2006)
but the others either didn’t work out. One could argue that Giambi was not used correctly. He should not have been expected to play 1B on an everyday basis. But that’s because the A’s expected Chavvy to play 3B every day or nearly every day, not go right back on the DL. Also, Barton had been banished to AAA.
i was thinking
of Franks second run on the A’s but i agree with you on the rest
anyone caught starting, promoting or participating in "the wave" should receive a lifetime ban from baseball
the best part of his second time
was the first day he came back. The Coliseum was just buzzing! Unfortunately, he was never healthy enough to do much.
I always enjoyed
the bats boys copying him behind his back when he was in the on deck circle
anyone caught starting, promoting or participating in "the wave" should receive a lifetime ban from baseball
This would be a "meh" signing that isn't consistant with rebuilding a team
"Trying not to rec a "***k the Giants" post is like trying not to look at boobs."-anonymous
"i guess i just like beer"-stm
Ouch! hehehe Good Point!
"Trying not to rec a "***k the Giants" post is like trying not to look at boobs."-anonymous
"i guess i just like beer"-stm
True
I picked “Other” because I figure that, even if he resumes the dumb antics, he’ll be too irrelevant to have much of a negative effect in the clubhouse.
There is an evening coming in/Across the fields, one never seen before,/That lights no lamps. -- Philip Larkin, from "Going"
who is voting for the "Big Bat" option?
facepalm
You have to include smiley faces - Poppy
;- ) :- ) :-O : -> : -] : -}
by micdog2001 on Jan 20, 2012 4:28 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
50 feet of crap
The Moneyball movie has a line; “There are rich clubs, then there are poor clubs, then there is 50 feet of crap, then there is the Oakland A’s”.
So true, once again.
by kimo from kauai on Jan 20, 2012 4:43 PM PST reply actions
For Pete's Sake
JUST LET CHRIS CARTER BE THE FULL-TIME DH.
by Rebuilding Season on Jan 20, 2012 5:40 PM PST reply actions 5 recs
This.
Although Carter can be the DH for the first 50 games. If he rakes, just cut Manny.
by Billy Frijoles on Jan 20, 2012 5:42 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
good point
if carter or whoever is DH does well during manny’s suspension, then everything he does will just be gravy.
DO NOT WANT
probably will cost more than league minimum….carter will be league minimum
will not bring a draft pick or prospect back in a trade….useless
no reason to pick him up, especially since we’re not looking to win, and he won’t attract more fans
Snoochies
What's next????? Barry Bonds
Beane is off his rocker this offseason, but what the hell, sign Manny and Bonds and lets put some fans in those seats..
Beane "Barry you have 2 months to Roid UP and get that “big head” back in shape"
Lance "you sunk my" Blankenship
barry
“that’s only possibly if you hire mcguire to be our batting coach and i can get a locker next to manny’s”
Snoochies
Maybe we could get an All-Steroid user lineup? (i'll need help filling out the lineup card AN)
Tejada-SS/ or 3B
Bonds-LF
Manny-RF
Giambi-1B
Cust-DH
Every man for himself...
Randy Velarde at 2B.
Jeremy Giambi and Adam Piatt as extra outfielders.
Difference of opinion among my community is a sign of the bounty of God.
And the locker next to Jack Cust's in the mix somewhere
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
i recommended this about 2 years ago
but that was for Manny then, not now.
by rollierollieOxenfree on Jan 20, 2012 6:27 PM PST reply actions
Aged Manny, sans steriods, after a long layoff.
Yeah, that’s about right.
JJ Martin
The best way to catch a knuckleball is to wait until the ball stops rolling and then pick it up. ~Bob Uecker
well we appear to be perfectly split in the vote
but the comments suggest not! haha. while I definitely think he’s over-the-hill and isn’t a great leader, he was a tremendous hitter in his prime, and he badly wants another shot to prove he can still perform. i’d take a risk on him because he has a huge chip on his shoulder.
that chip is likely to remain unless he can get around on a fastball
which he wasn’t able to do the last time he played in MLB.
Probably helps sell a few extra tickets
I am so confused by these moves (Gomes, Manny); it just gets more and more difficult to find a strategy here.
Baja been here
You and Billy obviously disagree on how good Gomes and Manny are going to be in 2015.
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
Gomes is pretty confusing to me
I don’t see him as that much better than the guys like Taylor, Cowgil, Reddick.
Ramirez has the potential for much greater payoff.
You don't like getting someone who will block Carter,
but can’t for two months because he isn’t eligible due to getting caught cheating twice?
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
With our luck he'd get caught a 3rd time on Day 49.
A hot dog at the ballgame beats roast beef at the Ritz.
~Humphrey Bogart
even better
The A’s are able to trade Manny for some nice prospect, in a deal that seems like a Fucking – A deal. Just no way could any one imagine Billy could get so much for Manny. And a just as the deal is going though, MLB tells the world Manny has been caught for a third time, and thus the A’s must give the player back!
I am for bringing in Manny
Let a young guy play DH for first 50 games, say Carter or Allen. If they are doing well and nobody is injured then you can drop Manny.
If guys are hurt or not-performing then Manny gets a chance.
The clubhouse disruption concern would be much greater if we were a team in contention.
Hey, Oakland is a team that has given many guys second chances.
Another point- I am paying $ for MLB extra ticket for 2012. Lots of fans will pay top $ for tickets. The team owes it to those people to put a competitive team on the field. I am for the team being as competitive as possible without total sacrifice of the future. Signing Manny does that.
I don’t think adding Ramirez (who had a great 2010) is going to kill future plans.
I think its a pretty low risk move. Who knows perhaps he can still play.
by Yellowhorse on Jan 20, 2012 9:55 PM PST reply actions 2 recs
I agree
I don’t imagine that Manny will cost too much at this point. Thus this is all upside. Carter can DH for the first 50 games and if Manny causes a logjam when he does come in I think that the problem will solve itself or it won’t cost very much to fix. I see this as nothing but upside.
Slegna must die!
by Athletics fan and runner on Jan 21, 2012 5:18 AM PST up reply actions
The horror
I have really, honestly, truly tried to remain optimistic about these nefarious doings this offseason, but I cannot and will not be down with this one. I have never rooted against ANY player who donned the green and gold, but I guess there’s a first for everything. I’d rather Anthony Recker hit cleanup for us … for real.
by LurkyLee on Jan 20, 2012 9:57 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
Didn't realize there was as much negativity towards Ramirez personally
I think if he acts up then drop him. I doubt that the A’s will be paying big money to Ramirez. I respect your thoughts regarding him.
by Yellowhorse on Jan 20, 2012 10:01 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Thirded
I’ve been an A’s fan for forty years and I was sort of looking forward to finding out which youngsters would break out this year, but if they sign this d’bag my fandom will be put on hiatus until he’s gone. That’s never happened before.
I couldn't care less what kind of personality or "character" a guy has ...
What do you do between the lines? That’s the only thing that’s important – did you or do you help the A’s win? Nothing else matters.
I needed a team so I wouldn’t turn into one of the eighty million pink hat-wearing Bud Light-drinking mulleted idiots at Fenway.
Many people feel he gave up in Boston
in order to force a trade. That was in a large market on a team that went to the playoffs. How much effort do you expect from this guy on a small market team with no chance to play in October?
That was “between the lines” and that’s what the young players on this team would be watching on a daily basis. I don’t want his BS rubbing off on anybody.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/659793-manny-being-manny-no-just-manny-being-selfish
“He couldn’t be bothered with running out ground balls or playing the outfield.”
“in his final at bat with the Dodgers, he couldn’t be bothered to finish the at bat, arguing the first strike, getting the heave-ho from the umpire, and then giving Dodger Stadium a one-finger salute.”
if he can hit...then bring him in...
i don’t know what a major league hitter looks like anymore
by JimBarnett2KevinGarnett on Jan 20, 2012 10:53 PM PST reply actions
And the good news is that
If he takes steroids (and I’m pretty sure he does) it won’t matter that he’s 39.
by OnlybuyBeaneJerseys on Jan 21, 2012 12:15 AM PST reply actions
Being an asshat: an undervalued commodity.
We can’t afford to sign a 5-tool player, so we sign a player that IS a tool. Unfortunately, the Angels still have an even bigger douche in CJ Wilson. We can’t even compete there.
If Manny Can Still Hit -
and that is an unknown at this point – he could represent a serious middle-of-order bat. Sort of like the Giants during Bonds era – unpleasant, turns off gentile fans – but a serious bat, nonetheless.
However, as with M Bradley, could be a total sicko A*hole and offend everybody. And get A’s into ALDS. At least Colon could deal with him in clubhouse.
at the end of the 2010 season and start of 2011 season
Manny couldn’t get around on a fastball. Now he’s a year older. Will his bat speed increase? That for me is the bottom line. I’m also not in favor of having multiple players on the roster who are below average defensively. One you can handle if he can provide some reliable offense. But remember that Jonny Gomes is well below average defensively.
Gomes and Manny
At any point in this upcoming season, will both these guys be on the 25 man? At the game 50 mark, if Gomes sucks, cut him, if good trade him and the same with Manny. If Beane can get anything for one or the other, it is on bonus.
There's really no drawback if he's signable for the minimum
Carter gets a 50-game shot at DH. If he’s hitting remotely well, just cut Manny. If he’s still totally bombing, send him back down again and let Manny play for a couple of months to see if you can get anything for him at the deadline.
I really don’t see the problem here.
by laserbeams on Jan 21, 2012 12:55 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
so are
we trying to win? or just win enough games so are draft pick is lower? seriously the lineup as constructed now with or without Manny is brutal…bring up the rooks..save money and grin and bear it :)
Ray Fosse thinks Pete Rose is a prick......
at least
BB is mart enough not to send his people to watch manram take bp like the orioles and jays did…a round of bp in an indoor cage is easy for a masher like him…it basically comes down to does he still have bat speed?
Ray Fosse thinks Pete Rose is a prick......
Anyone know the rules on Manny playing in the MiLB before being reinstated?
Of course, he’s going to need some kind of warm up for at least a month. If he’s allowed to start in AAA when they start their season in mid-April, maybe he’ll show he’s healthy and we could trade him before he even takes a swing as an A.
The team wrecker in sitting in the owners box!!!
Manny could not possibly do anymore damage than Wolfe already has in his tenure as the A’s owner!!! Let ask Manny if he’s invested well enough to put together a group of MLB players to buy the team from Wolfe so we can get back to baseball and away from the wrecking ball called Wolfe!!!
by NorCalFaithful on Jan 22, 2012 7:05 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
So.... remember that time that Oakland started and fastracked the Environmental Impact Report so that they could get Victory Court moving forward and the A's could stay?
Yea, neither do I.
by LoneStranger on Jan 23, 2012 3:52 PM PST up reply actions
yeah, the city council approved it on condition
that they only do the EIS in stages. This is a bigger project than just the ballpark. The city only has to pay for the EIS in stages. When Wolff told Quan that he was not interested in Victory Court that made it difficult to just go ahead and spend the money on that stage of the EIS.
But I thought the city didn't care what Wolff thought, they were talking directly with MLB?
by LoneStranger on Jan 23, 2012 9:16 PM PST up reply actions
Mayor Quan has talked with Wolff
officially in late summer or early fall. Unofficially, as early as early spring. Dellums’ administration did contact the A’s when the Fremont plan was called off, and wrote that now famous letter to MLB after the A’s didn’t respond.
Best I can tell, Mayor Quan's approach has been,
“We want the A’s, we want a new stadium in Oakland, not sure how we’d pay for it, we’re kind of broke these days.”
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
well, the truth is we don't know exactly what they said
I’m just going by what the mayor told me last spring.
Keep in mind that San José is supposedly not paying for the ballpark either. The fact that the A’s owners are only interested in paying for all or part of a ballpark in San José and nowhere else, is in my view more important than any particular economic problem in Oakland. San José is also experiencing severe economic problems too, as are most cities.
You list an option as "trade bait by July"
But Manny has to miss 50 games first, doesn’t he? That means he’s not even eligible until very late May or mid June if they decide to send him to AAA first.
I’m not sure that’s good bait.
But as said above, Vern Carter should be everyday DH for all 162 games. We gotta see exactly what he’s made of. Sure he started 0-33 but then he cranked an OPS well over 1000 for his last 40 PA’s that year. Big Vern needs a shot.
unless he's absolutely mashing he won't be trade bait
who really believes that (w/o any PEDs) Manny can catch up to a fastball in 2012, when he had trouble doing so in late 2010 and early 2011?
He's trade bait even if he's OPS-750ish
Veteran with playoff experience. If he’s showing consistency teams will think he’s got some upside. (even if he’s know as a club house cancer) He’s contract will also be really cheap since few people are taking a flier on him. He could be easy to flip.
I think he’s surprise though
First-He’s probably juiced. (I mean really he’s been caught twice already.) He’s going to game the system. What’s the worse that happen? It’s probably his last season anyway .
number two, it’s not like in 2010/2011 he wasn’t catching up to fast balls as much as he wasn’t pulling the fastest pitchers. It’s a comparative thing. Manny was a guy who in his prime could pull with consistency a 97 MPH fastball, which very few players can do. Now even fast forward two years, if he’s pulling with consistency 93 MPH fastballs, he’s league average or better.
by OnlybuyBeaneJerseys on Jan 22, 2012 12:57 PM PST up reply actions
This makes no sense to me
I thought the A’s were passing on Matsui because they wanted to use the DH position to get at-bats for the younger hitters, give some rest to regulars on occasion, etc.
If the FO did a total 180 on that mindset, that’s fine, although disturbing. Still, why even bother with a guy you can’t use for 50 games? If the A’s are 15-35 then there will be no point to having him around.
"Hello and welcome to another wonderful and frightening night of A's baseball." - Gaijin_Suketto
by EddieVegas_NRAF on Jan 23, 2012 12:41 PM PST reply actions
I honestly think
that MAnny will cost less and that he will be better than Matsui in 2012.
Slegna must die!
by Athletics fan and runner on Jan 23, 2012 3:42 PM PST up reply actions
based on what?
Manny’s performance in late 2010 and 2011 looked an awful lot like he was declining, that his bat was slowing down.
BTW that doesn't mean I think Matsui would be more productive
he looked like he was slowing down as well. It’s normal, they are both getting old.
Manny
His triple slash in 2010 was .298/.409/.460 which is far from awful. I don’t put too much stock in 88 plate appearences with the whitesox in 2010 as enough data to consider him awful for a meaningful stretch though it should be noted that in this stretch he did put up a .420 OBP. In terms of his Tampa Bay performance in 2011, that was 17 plate appearences. It is hard to derive anything meaningful from that. He has missed a year, or the vast majority of one, which does make him a wild card. But, the OBP he put up in 2010 is better than any OBP that Matsui has ever posted.
I just don’t get why people are certain that he is declining. Based upon 88 plate appearences with the white sox during which he posted a .420 OBP and 17 at bats? Isn’t his track record worth more than 105 PA?
I think that he is a perfect signing. Enough bagage that others are driven away, keeping the costs relatively low, and enough upside that it could turn out very well.
Slegna must die!
by Athletics fan and runner on Jan 23, 2012 6:48 PM PST up reply actions
take a look at his production before and after the suspension
and particularly after he was traded to the White Sox. Also take a look at his brief time with Tampa Bay. I watched a fair number of games where he played in the second half in 2010, and it was noticeable that his bat speed had slowed down. There could of course be many reasons, but the most likely is his age.
Maybe your eyes are slowing down and his bat's fine.
After all, you’re not getting any younger either!
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
LOL.
Yeah I really don’t think Manny w/o PEDs at his age will do anything other than provide some entertainment value for a few weeks and get ESPN to talk about the A’s 3 or 4 times.
by Billy Frijoles on Jan 25, 2012 11:55 AM PST up reply actions
And even then, only if we're playing NYY or BOS
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
Cinderella was a lousy baseball player
She missed the ball, though in fairness she had a pumpkin for a coach.
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
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Athletics Nation
Related FanShots on Athletics Nation
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
Baseball Nation Recent Stories
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- Barry Bonds thinks it will be ‘very sad’ if he doesn’t get into the Hall on his first try
- Chris Johnson’s glove webbing had a Spidey sense at Coors Field — for one play, at least
- Jonathan Lucroy breaks hand after suitcase falls during search for sock
- The Juice: Long Adam Dunn homer punctuates Chris Sale’s 15 Ks, Mark Trumbo goes deep after Jered Weaver goes down for Angels
- Leyland begs media to make umpires ‘accountable’ for bad calls (VIDEO)
