Manny vs. Magglio

by wcmori on Feb 6, 2012 3:05 AM PST

Peter Gammons tweeted this weekend that, in addition to Manny Ramirez, the A’s are also considering Magglio Ordonez, who has been recovering from ankle surgery in the offseason.

We all know that Manny didn’t do much in 2011, getting only 17 at bats with Tampa before his PED issues struck. But Magglio didn’t do much last season either, posting a .255/.303/.331 slash line in 329 at bats with Detroit. His power seemed to evaporate, as he hit only 5 home runs all year. In 2010 though, Magglio had a .303/.378/.474 slash line, while Manny had a .298/.409/.460 slash line.

So given all that, who would you rather see the A’s go with, Manny or Magglio – or none of the above? Personally, I could live without either of them – but if I had to choose, I think Manny has more potential upside than Magglio at this point, and certainly more potential entertainment value!

Poll

Who would you rather see the A's give a shot in 2012?

Manny Ramirez

57 votes

Magglio Ordonez

75 votes

None of the above

80 votes

212 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 21 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

Personallity for the clubhouse

Aside from the fact that Manny is now off steroids and will not post the same numbers he did in 2010, we should be looking at personalities. Manny is an ass-hole, straight up. Nobody can argue that. He has had numerous altercations with his own teammates and coaches. This is part of the reason why Boston didn’t want him anymore. He is not a leader, he is a chump. I think he would be a terrible fit for the A’s and I don’t want him on my team. He has a bad attitude and an a huge sense of entitlement.

With options like Ordonez, Guerrero, and Damon out there, we shouldn’t even be looking at Manny.

by Mike Siegel on Feb 6, 2012 8:44 AM PST reply actions

If Damon is thrown into the mix

as Jim Bowden seems to think is the case, I’d prefer him. But I’d still rather see the kids get the at bats and see what they can do.

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by wcmori on Feb 6, 2012 3:55 PM PST up reply actions

I don't like this question

We can do both. Magglio’s only a spring training invite.

by OnlybuyBeaneJerseys on Feb 6, 2012 10:08 AM PST reply actions

As a baseball player

There is no question. Manny.

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by dwishinsky on Feb 6, 2012 10:42 AM PST reply actions

in the past anyway.

I continue to suspect that his later 2010 performance exhibited an age-related decline of skills.

Of course, Magglio could be due for that. He also has trouble staying healthy.

by OaklandSi on Feb 6, 2012 11:15 AM PST up reply actions

Magglio will be like Mike Piazza (A's version) 2.0

Mediocre performance followed by an injury – total waste of a roster spot.

If OnlybuyBeaneJerseys is right and all it takes is a spring training invite, I still don’t think it’s worth it. It’s hard to cut a guy like that at the end of spring. Chances are a young player will be sacrificed for him.

by Billy Frijoles on Feb 6, 2012 11:34 AM PST up reply actions

Manny certainly declined.

He declined from OUT OF THIS WORLD PHENOMENAL to merely well-above average. At 37 Ramirez put up a 2.5 WAR season, with 146 wRC+ and a wOBA of .396. His WAR was dragged down by negative fielding and baserunning. Ordonez last year at 37 did -1.0 WAR, with a .283 wOBA and 72 wRC+. Granted it was his worst year by far, but his better years of late (2008-2010) would be amongst Ramirez’ worst. I think Ordonez is more fragile than is Manny too despite the age difference. As a DH I think Ramirez could still be worth a whole lot more than any of the bats the A’s presently have. I’m not adovcating for him mind you, but if it is Maggio or Manny I am firmly on the Manny side.

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by dwishinsky on Feb 6, 2012 6:19 PM PST up reply actions

I am not interested in the Manny of late 2010 and early 2011

and I suspect that the Manny of 2012 will not improve. The man is almost 40 years old and will presumably not be able to get away with PEDs.

by OaklandSi on Feb 6, 2012 6:48 PM PST up reply actions

Ok, but there must be something legal he can take.

Maybe just a bunch of caffeine? Antihistamines? Cough syrup? Hypnosis?

I, for one, would love to see Manny come in and jack a few summer balls once the “kids” have shown they are not all right.

by paris7 on Feb 6, 2012 8:07 PM PST up reply actions

Jack a few balls and the kids are ALWAYS all right.

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 Feb 6, 2012 8:54 PM PST up reply actions

There's a double enntenndre here somewhere.

{Uh, oh, mixing threads}

by paris7 on Feb 7, 2012 1:17 PM PST up reply actions

Well early 2011 doesn't really say much

17 at bats. But late 2010? I’d take that. In 24 games with the White Sox his wRC+ was 116. He was worth 0.2 WAR during that time despite negative baserunning numbers. 0.2 WAR over 24 games turns into 1.4 WAR over the year – that is with him having “bad numbers”. Only Willingham and Sizemore beat that 116 figure. Bad Manny is still better than our good players in an average year.

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by dwishinsky on Feb 6, 2012 9:08 PM PST up reply actions

no thanks

to any and all of the above. Damon, might be a fun reunion – he is a good clubhouse guy, and as long as he didn’t take away too many AB’s from guys like Carter, I’d be ok with it. His OBP has dropped consistently over the past few years, however, and given he had one of his least productive years in his career with the A’s, I don’t think coming back to the coliseum would be at the top of his list.

by oakballnack on Feb 6, 2012 10:44 AM PST reply actions

He's only one year younger than Manny

He has much worse numbers and wants 3 times the money. Manny’s the most logical pick.

by OnlybuyBeaneJerseys on Feb 7, 2012 3:05 AM PST up reply actions

We're apparently still in the Damon sweepstakes as well?

Ugh. Also Koji Uehara…I would actually enjoy watching him…not his pitching but his crazy enthusiastic reactions.

by Billy Frijoles on Feb 6, 2012 1:12 PM PST reply actions

Of the four, Uehara is the only one

who will probably have better than an “ok” season and who won’t take playing time away from someone else who should be getting it.

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 Feb 6, 2012 4:13 PM PST up reply actions

I've always wanted to see Damon back in an A's uniform

but at his age I would rather give the at bats to Carter. However, all the rumors keep making me think that they aren’t really going to give the shot to Carter with the Magglio, Manny, and Damon rumors consently being put out there. Of those three, crazy enough I would say Manny. He would be suspended 50 games, which then allows Carter to get those at bats and see what he has in that time. 50 games should be a sufficent to see what Carter can do.

by JJ209 on Feb 6, 2012 7:54 PM PST reply actions

How about Vladimir Guerrero?

Yes…….No?

by BalcoBomber on Feb 10, 2012 2:59 PM PST reply actions

no

kila/carter

Snoochies

by guessatomo on Feb 10, 2012 10:32 PM PST up reply actions

Looks like the Orioles are out of the Manny "sweepstakes"...It is looking more and more inevitable.

https://twitter.com/masnRoch/status/168110086512836608

by Billy Frijoles on Feb 10, 2012 5:15 PM PST reply actions

50 games is a long time to wait.

Maybe we’ll know a lot more about our actual talent by then, and will feel that Manny has a nice spot for us, temporarily. And maybe we’ll drop him right then and there if any of the big question marks pan out. But I don’t really see a big downside to any of this.

by paris7 on Feb 10, 2012 7:45 PM PST up reply actions