Linkage: Upton, Montero, Rivera

by 99 Comments

Why sending Aceves to the minors is a waste
Sending Teixeira to bat with men on base

Don’t worry, these links won’t be sent to the minors to start the season…

Justin Upton close to a long-term deal

I was one of many Yankee fans patiently waiting for The Justin Upton to hit free agency, however just like Felix Hernandez and Seattle, Upton is signing long-term to stay in Arizona. The 22-year-old is set to receive a six year deal worth $50M, which will still allow him to hit free agency at age-28. After hitting .300-.366-.532 with 26 homers and 20 steals last season, Upton was probably going to build on those numbers in 2010 and set himself up for a pretty nice payday in his first year of arbitration eligibility. Too bad.

Could Austin Romine end up being more valuable than Jesus Montero?

Well of course he could. But for it to happen, Montero would need to become a full-time DH and produce like Paul Konerko (another big righty bat who was too big to stick at catcher), while Romine becomes a slightly better than league average backstop. Bryan Smith at FanGraphs ran through the numbers and the comparison,  but the moral of the story is that even just faking it as a catcher will make Montero so much more valuable than he would be anywhere else. That’s why the Yankees won’t move him from behind the plate until it’s absolutely necessary.

Strawberry: Jenrry Mejia is the next Mariano Rivera

I love Darryl Strawberry, I really do. He was my favorite player as a kid in the 80’s, but come on dude. You can’t just look at the velocity and movement that Mets’ prospect Jenrry Mejia gets on his fastball and compare him to the greatest reliever of all time. The 19-year-old Mejia was ranked as the 56th best prospect in the game by Baseball America, but he’s walked 92 batters in 210 career minor league innings. Mo? Try 98 walks in 432.1 minor league innings. Command > movement > velocity, folks. Learn it, love it.

And finally, here’s a new site to check out called Sabometrics. Make sure you check it out, there’s some pretty interesting stuff in there.

Why sending Aceves to the minors is a waste
Sending Teixeira to bat with men on base
  • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a The Large Sample Size

    The 22-year-old [Upton] is set to receive a six year deal worth $50M, which will still allow him to hit free agency at age-28.

    (pushes back date on alarm clock two years; does not stop licking lips and rubbing palms together in anticipation)

    • rbizzler

      Man, did he make the leap last year. I am in an NL-only fantasy league and he was the steal of the draft. IIRC, he still went in the fifth round but put up top-10 numbers. Plus, I enjoy the moment when the production catches up with the hyperbole surrounding young players.

  • bexarama

    I really thought Sabometrics was gonna be a site full of SGBL quotes.

    (Melky got a hit in the Mets/Braves ST game, OMG we never should have gotten rid of him!!!)

    • JGS

      + a lot

    • RollingWave

      look on the bright side, if he really breaks out we’ll enjoy watching him screwing the Mets 60 games a year.

      it’s a win win situation.

  • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a The Large Sample Size

    Command > movement > velocity, folks. Learn it, love it.

    So… you’re saying I don’t totally suck and there’s still hope for me yet? Sweet.

    Sincerely,
    Ian Patrick Kennedy

    • Templeton “Brendog” Peck

      bust

    • Thomas

      Command > movement > velocity, folks. Learn it, love it.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4KR1zVqizo at 10 second mark (safe)

      Sincerely,
      Josh Bard

      • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a The Large Sample Size

        I think you mean Daniel Bard, but… well played.

        • Thomas

          Right. He should really just change his name for ease.

        • bexarama

          but he throws the easiest 100 MPH that I’ve ever seen!

          For Diamond Cutters, I’m Peter Gammons.

          • Bo

            And no Gm in their right mind would think about taking Kennedy over Bard.

            • Thomas

              D-Back’s GM Josh Byrnes would (I’d assume), since he traded Dan Schlereth, a lefthander relief prospect that throws around 98 with (IIRC) a better secondary pitch than Bard, (and Max Scherzer) for Kennedy (and Edwin Jackson).

            • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a The Large Sample Size

              FACT: Brian Cashman took Ian Kennedy over Daniel Bard. After that, Jim Bowden and Ned Colletti also took non-Daniel-Bard RHPs instead of Daniel Bard.

              FACT: The Arizona Diamondbacks parted ways with several prized prospects in the Curtis Granderson deal; one of their targets that allowed them to make the deal was the goal of getting Ian Kennedy and putting him in the rotation. It’s not a stretch to say that they probably wouldn’t have done the deal if it was Daniel Bard instead of Ian Kennedy. They needed and wanted a starter, not a reliever; Kennedy had more trade value to them than Bard would have.

              —————

              You’ve tried this argument before, Bo, and it failed last time as well.

              IPK >>>> Bard, even still, today, at this very moment.

              • Mike HC

                I agree here. Kennedy in the NL has more value than a still young, developing reliever. A guy that can eat up some quality innings, much like the guys we shipped to Pitt (and Kennedy might be better than both of those guys) have more value than a one inning guy, especially one that has not even proven he can do it.

                In the AL, it might be a different story, but not even necessarily so for every team.

  • b-jobber

    So you’re saying trade for the mets prospect, stick joba in the bullpen, than have this prospect be the bridge to joba until joba is ready to give up that role….baseball is easy.

    • Thomas

      Mejia for Mitre. Yankees get their future bridge to Joba and the Mets get their 4th starter.

      • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a The Large Sample Size

        We could probably get Omar to throw in Ike Davis while we’re at it.

      • JGS

        Mets get their 4th2nd starter.

        • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a The Large Sample Size

          Heh.

  • http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/0902/mlb.alex.rodriguez.through.the.years/images/1993.alex-rodriguez.jpg Drew

    No problema, we can just sign BJ for 2013 then Justin for 2016.

  • http://www.teachingftw.blogspot.com Ross

    “Command > movement > velocity, folks.”

    More on this, please. My initial reaction is push-back; seems like saying “sugary” > “creamy” > “crunchy” if someone asks you, “What makes AmeriCone Dream the best Ben and Jerry’s flavor?”

    What do you mean by C > M > V, Mike?

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

      Command is the most important thing for a pitcher, then it’s movement. Velocity, while important, lags behind the other two.

    • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a The Large Sample Size

      What do you mean by C > M > V, Mike?

      In a nutshell:

      Trevor Hoffmann >>>>>>>>>>>>> Kyle Farnsworth and Armando Benitez

      • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a The Large Sample Size

        Or, if you prefer:

        Al Aceves >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Jose Veras

    • Thomas

      What do you mean by C > M > V

      100 > 1000 > 5

      • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a The Large Sample Size

        This guy is nuts.

        N-V-T-S, nuts.

        /MQBB’d

        • Snakes on the mother effin plane

          Yes, no no no no no no Yes, no no no no no no, Yes, no no Yes, no no no no no no no no no no Yes, no no no no no no Yes, no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no noooooo wait a minute YES!!!!

  • Bo

    So command, movement are most important?

    The two things Bust Brackman lacks. Yea, hes gonna make it.

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

      You are so annoying. You have no idea.

      • Dirty Pena: The Triple Entendre

        +a million trillion bajillion

      • Thomas

        TCWA. Also, it almost looks like the guy is grabbing his crotch while he beats his horse.

      • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a The Large Sample Size

        Calling what SBGL does “beating a dead horse” is insulting to beatings and dead horses. It’s much more brainless and insipid than that act, which seems noble and valuable in comparison

        • Dirty Pena: The Triple Entendre

          Are you trying to say SBGL doesn’t beat a dead horse???

          /SBGL’d

          • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a The Large Sample Size

            Heh. Well played.

            (pours a refreshing glass of Lanny’s Patented Lemonless Lemonade™)

      • bexarama

        I actually burst out laughing and spit Snapple on my computer screen because of this, by the way.

      • A.D.

        IETC

      • http://www.richardiurilli.com/ Richard Iurilli

        I created a Facebook group called “Society to Prevent the Abuse of Dead Equine,” or SPADE. No Bo’s allowed.

    • Dirty Pena: The Triple Entendre

      Have you ever seen him pitch? I’m not even going to get into the general horrendousness of the command part. But how do you know he lacks movement?

      • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a The Large Sample Size

        (waits in anticipation for SBGL’s reply to that wonderfully crafted, deliciously, incisively pointed and extremely important question)

        Have you ever seen him pitch? I’m not even going to get into the general horrendousness of the command part. But how do you know he lacks movement?

        Re-questioned for emphasis.

        • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a The Large Sample Size

          …. waits patiently for response…

          • Andy (different one) in chilly NYC

            You’re gonna be waiting for awhile, pull up a chair and have a Pinstriped craft beer…

    • bexarama

      why don’t you just call him… BUSTMAN!%!!!1!! LOLOLOLOLOL

      • Dirty Pena: The Triple Entendre

        Oh, he does. No need to parody him, he already parodies himself.

      • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a The Large Sample Size
        • Templeton “Brendog” Peck

          i. she……but……yeah

          • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a The Large Sample Size

            Cornbread…

            Ain’t nothin’ wrong with that!

    • Nady Nation

      Damn – just catching up on all the morning threads. Seems like Bo is hell-bent on infuriating the crap out of everyone today, huh? Thankfully, Eric’s movie quotes will continue to push Bo’s buttons, providing us all with endless entertainment.

      • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a The Large Sample Size

        Cashman (to Joba and Phil): These are the new leads. These are the Glengarry leads. And to you, they’re gold, and you, don’t get them. Why?

        Because to give them to you… would be like throwing them away. They’re for closers.

        /MQBB’d

    • Tubby

      Yeah, it’s not like a pitcher has ever improved his control or movement.

      Too bad Randy Johnson never figured out how to improve his control. He might have made something out of his career.

      And remember that Mariano Rivera guy? The skinny dude with that straight as an arrow fastball? If only he learned how to put some movement on that thing.

      • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a The Large Sample Size

        Should have traded him to the Mariners for Felix Fermin when we had the chance. Fermin would have bolstered the 1996 roster and the only thing that matters is winning this title in this calendar year that we’re in right now.

      • Dirty Pena: The Triple Entendre

        Do you really think Brackman is as good as those two guys???

        /ah, this is too easy

        • Andy (different one) in chilly NYC

          Not enough interrobangs!!!!1!1!1!!!!!

          • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a The Large Sample Size

            Also, too much capitalization. And don’t spell out “you”, that takes way too much effort.

    • Big Juan
      • Big Juan

        (SFW)

  • A.D.

    If you’re a Mets fan you hope Mejia sticks as a starter, and thus comes nowhere near being the next Mo.

    I really don’t get the obsession with various ex players, scout x, media being enamored with finding the teams “next closer” instead of next great starter.

    • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a The Large Sample Size

      I blame John Kruk.

    • rbizzler

      Well having a ‘lights out’ closer does shorten the game. I mean, they don’t even play the ninth inning when the Yankees are leading and Mo is ready to come in. Opponents just pack their bags and head to the showers early, while managers send the bat boy/beer guy/grounds crew into an obviously futile situation. How could you ignore an advantage like that? The guy literally shortens that game. Sounds good to me.

      • http://mystiqueandaura.com Steve H

        And as fans, we get an 11% of the ticket price back, since we only watch 88.88% of an actual baseball game. Best of both worlds.

        • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a The Large Sample Size

          Shut up with your fancy advanced math, you nerd.

          • http://mystiqueandaura.com Steve H

            Spreadsheets are your friend.

            • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a The Large Sample Size

              Games aren’t played on paper, Steve. They’re played only in New York City on the big stage, where you have to always have your best 25 guys and you never leave anyone in the minor leagues, ever. All those bums at Scranton aren’t developing shit or contributing squat; they should be traded for bench upgrades immediately.

              Ramiro Peña can’t hit a lick; let’s trade Jesus Montero for Mike Lowell so we can bolster our bench and improve our 2010 odds of winning it all.

              • bexarama

                You forgot that only REAL MEN can make it in NYC. REAL MEN not like that pussy Javier Vazquez who is a failure at everything he has ever done (though not as big a failure as Brackman).

              • Thomas

                Major leaguers belong in the majors and minor leaguers belong in the minors. It is as simple as that.

                Even the blind can see it.

  • http://www.sabometrics.com Craig Glaser

    Thanks for the link and the feedback! Hope you guys enjoy the site.

  • Sean

    Melky got his first spring training hit with the braves

    good luck to the melk man

    • http://mystiqueandaura.com Steve H

      Louie Kritski: Why do they call you Milkman?
      Milkman: Because I killed the milkman.

      /MQBB’d

    • http://iheartrerun.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/rerun.jpg The Honorable Congressman Mondesi

      Just FYI, this probably belongs here: http://riveraveblues.com/off-topic/

      • A.D.

        if he provided a link he could have gone with the “linkage” theme, people gotta get inventive with how they’re on topic.

        • http://iheartrerun.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/rerun.jpg The Honorable Congressman Mondesi

          Eh… Probably best to just actually keep it on-topic.

          • A.D.

            Yeah, I agree.

        • Sean

          We better listen to Mondesi, he might tell Mike on us and we will never be able to comment again!

          I love how serious some people take this stuff

          • Tom Zig

            Rules are needed to create order. If RAB just let us post willy nilly, we would be like MLBTR.

          • http://iheartrerun.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/rerun.jpg The Honorable Congressman Mondesi

            Dude, your feelings were so hurt by my comment that you felt the need to post two separate comments bitching about it? Grow up. I didn’t say anything rude to you, there’s really no need to react like that.

            • Sean

              check the time stamp home boy

              • http://iheartrerun.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/rerun.jpg The Honorable Congressman Mondesi

                Irrelevant. I said you posted 2 comments about it, I said nothing about when those comments were posted.

      • Sean

        You are such an obedient blog reader

        • http://iheartrerun.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/rerun.jpg The Honorable Congressman Mondesi

          I didn’t say it in a rude way, there’s really no need to be a dick in response.

        • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a The Large Sample Size

          This will end badly.

          • http://iheartrerun.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/rerun.jpg The Honorable Congressman Mondesi

            Nah, I’m over it. Too busy cleaning my pants, apparently. Not worth it.

            • Nady Nation

              Not gonna lie – you are obviously in the right in this exchange, and Sean took your comment way too seriously, but I did chuckle at that post.

              • http://iheartrerun.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/rerun.jpg The Honorable Congressman Mondesi

                Oh poop jokes are always funny, I have no problem with that. I just wish he wasn’t so sensitive that one little comment which was more helpful than rude could anger him so much. That’s no fun.

                • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a The Large Sample Size

                  I found it VERY rude. VERY.

                  “FYI” stands for “Fuck You Idiot”, right?

                • http://iheartrerun.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/rerun.jpg The Honorable Congressman Mondesi

                  Ha. I’ve been busted.

          • Big Juan
            • Sean

              Why would I receive the banhammer?

              • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

                If you don’t stop impersonating other people, you’re gone. One warning.

                • Big Juan

                  That’s why.

                • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a The Large Sample Size

                  That’s generous. I’d say this should be a zero tolerance policy.

  • http://www.thechuckknoblog.com/ JobaWockeeZ

    The Mets top prospect is a reliever? Wow.

    • http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/0902/mlb.alex.rodriguez.through.the.years/images/1993.alex-rodriguez.jpg Drew

      Ha. Forget about Mejia, what about this guy? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0Mbil3g-cQ sfw

  • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a The Large Sample Size

    What is that, a lame movie quote Eric???

    /SBGL’d

  • Dirty Pena: The Triple Entendre

    On-topic please.