Manny in left field?

by OutHereInPA on Dec 29, 2008 6:08 PM MST Comment 34 comments

It looks like Manny Ramirez is having a hard time finding a team to pay him these days. Would the Rockies ever consider paying him, or is he just another high salary player that is too late in his career for the Rockies? Would they be wiling to cough up the money for him? It seems like a nice bat to have in the middle of the line-up. I may even be nuts for thinking this, but does anyone else think this might not be a bad idea? Let Manny be Manny on Blake Street.

Eat. Drink. Be Merry. But the above FanPost does not necessarily reflect the attitudes, opinions, or views of Purple Row's staff (unless, of course, it's written by the staff [and even then, it still might not]).

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It wouldn't be the worst thing to do with $46 million...

The play would devastate the Dodgers chances for 2009 and push them to give up some serious young talent for Peavy, while at the same time increasing our chances by quite a bit. I’m surprised nobody else has really brought up the idea, as improbable as it is with our team’s current position on the use of salary (not much) and signing bad seeds (not at all, if they can help it).

by Rox Girl on Dec 29, 2008 8:20 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

You really figure

that losing out on the Manny sweepstakes would push the Dodgers to make a play for Peavy?

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by DbacksSkins on Dec 29, 2008 9:15 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I really do...

If you look at the available FA pool after Manny signs, there wouldn’t be anybody to add a comparable amount of wins to LA’s team, and Peavy’s the only player available via trade right now that falls into that class. The Dodgers would need one Peavy like addition plus a Sheets or a Bradley type to catch up at that point, their options would be very limited.

by Rox Girl on Dec 30, 2008 6:50 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Perhaps.

I’m not saying you or I wouldn’t react like that, were we LA’s GM, (ugh….) in an attempt to replace potential “wins” missed out on by losing Manny. But do you see anything in Ned’s record indicating that he thinks like that? If anything, I would expect him to try and trade for an inferior hitter, such as Jacoby Ellsbury or even Atkins.

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by DbacksSkins on Dec 30, 2008 8:08 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I think when he moves quickly, he becomes careless

His best moves have been waiting for something good to fall into his lap, ala Manny last season. If you can get him to move early, he will tend to overextend resources for insufficient returns, ala the Casey Blake trade (or Dioner Navarro for Mark Hendrickson in 2007) or most of his FA signings. It’s just a question of what direction that carelessness will go. In this case, I think they would try to both sign an Adam Dunn/Bobby Abreu type to a too large/long contract, and trade Matt Kemp and Kershaw for Peavy. The best thing Byrnes or O’Dowd or Sabean could do is to make Colletti feel like he has to make a decisive action soon.

by Rox Girl on Dec 30, 2008 8:33 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Andruw Jones is bye bye

as LA has reached an agreement to defer what remains of his contract, and will either trade or release him. This will give the Dodgers an additional $12mm to invest in Mannywood.
Furcal
Martin
Ethier
Manny
Loney
Kemp
Blake
Dewitt

a VERY solid lineup, Roxgirl. What are your thoughts?
I know he hasn’t been signed yet, but all indications appear that he will sign. Boras is using the Giants to drive up his price or to add a year to his contract.

It also leaves Ned will more $$ to sign a starting pitcher. Ned for GM of the year!!!

raygu

by Ray Guilfoyle on Jan 2, 2009 8:37 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

That would be the best lineup in the division, when healthy

The two question marks at the bottom notwithstanding. LOL at Ned for GM of the year. Getting out of the hole one’s dug for oneself shouldn’t be viewed as a major accomplishment. He was, after all the guy that gave Andruw that contract in the first place.

by Rox Girl on Jan 3, 2009 6:48 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

And

I think they are still paying Jason Schmidt to be on the DL, and Juan Pierre to be the most expensive pinch runner in baseball.

Thought Clint Hurdle should be fired before it was cool.

by Redhawk on Jan 3, 2009 8:43 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

not as expensive

as the higheest paid backup 1bman in colorado. Remember, most baseball writers were saying Ned made a good deal sigining Andruw for 2 yrs.

raygu

by Ray Guilfoyle on Jan 3, 2009 10:58 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Jeff Baker and Joe Koshansky are not paid a lot

Todd Helton is the starter. He wasn’t last year when he was…hurt…With the surgery to remove what has likely bothered him for years, 2008 should be a distant memory.

by Andrew T. Fisher on Jan 3, 2009 4:24 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

But by your same argument

Everyone said Todd Helton sold himself incredibly short when he signed that contract early this decade.

by Andrew T. Fisher on Jan 3, 2009 4:25 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

This would be

an excellent example as to why most people don’t give a damn as to what most baseball writers say. I would also be interested in learning just who these anonymous “baseball writers” are about whom you speak. Remember, Jones had a 2007 season that was fairly lousy, too.

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by DbacksSkins on Jan 6, 2009 9:02 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Ned Colletti isn't really a GM

so much as a guy with a ton of money to spend on a fantasy baseball team.

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by DbacksSkins on Jan 6, 2009 9:04 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

this

times 1000000

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by Andrew Martin on Jan 7, 2009 11:43 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

yeah

he spent alot on Manny, Blake and Maddux last season….he paid zilch. Boston, Cleveland and SD paid their salaries.
The core of teh Dodgers lineup is homegrown-Martin, Loney, Kemp, Broxton, Billz, Kershaw, Wade, Elbert, Dewitt, McDonald

raygu

by Ray Guilfoyle on Jan 7, 2009 8:26 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I was speaking, rather,

about players like Juan Pierre and Andruw Jones. As far as I remember, neither Boston, Cleveland, nor SD paid any of THEIR salaries. I might be mistaken, however.

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by DbacksSkins on Jan 7, 2009 8:32 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Additionally,

let’s see those players actually BECOME the core of teh Dodgers lineup before we get all excited about them.

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by DbacksSkins on Jan 7, 2009 8:33 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I'd thank the Dodgers scouting

and people suchas Kim Ng for the Dodgers’ success, rather than Ned CoLOLtti.

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by Andrew Martin on Jan 8, 2009 9:28 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Hoho!!

I see what you did there! You put a “LOL” in Ned’s last name!!!

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by DbacksSkins on Jan 8, 2009 3:03 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I KNOW

I really think I’m discovering entirely new levels of internet humor now!

Seriously though I don’t know a serious Dodgers fan who thinks that Colletti is a good GM.

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by Andrew Martin on Jan 9, 2009 11:16 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I suggested this very idea.....

in a December 23rd comment…..

Why don’t WE sign Manny? I know this would never happen, and that Manny would butcher leftfield at Coors, but hear me out.

1. By signing Manny, we would be making a "blocking move" and prevent the Dodgers from getting him.

2. Also, imagine the numbers Manny could put up the next two seasons! Manny is still productive enough to put up a .300/.430/.600 year or two with us. That would be good for him, because…

3. It sets up Manny for a final 3-year, $60 million deal to end his career. Coming off his Coors stint, Manny will have the aura of a Barry Bonds offensive type player whose age does not affect his hitting much. With a better economy in the 2010/11 offseason, Manny would be sitting pretty.

We could sign Manny, potentially, for 2 years at $40 million. And he would be worth every penny. This is a bad year for free agents unless the Yankees want you, and Manny’s agent could be pitched on the benefits of a short-term deal.

Finally, the Rockies need to do something, SOMETHING, to motivate fans to go out and buy tickets for this season. What could get the fanbase more excited than to sign the most prolific slugger on the free agent market!?! It would be very unlike the Rockies to do such a thing, but could be just the stroke of genius to win us the division for the first time in team history.
———————————————-
Since I wrote this a week ago, it makes even more sense to me now. With the Giants stoking their fan interest with the Big Unit signing, they are a “Milton Bradley signing” away from passing us up in the NL West pecking order. The Dodgers will do something to solidify themselves. We just can’t stand motionless if we are serious about contending in the NL West in 2009. I agree with Rox Girl about the unlikely odds of our FO wanting to go after a “bad seed” or spend major money, but I’ve seen worse ideas pursued. Far worse.

by GoRoxGo on Dec 29, 2008 10:45 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

I agree with Rox Girl about the unlikely odds of our FO wanting to go after a "bad seed" or spend major money, but I’ve seen worse ideas pursued. Far worse.

How ’bout both?

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by DbacksSkins on Dec 30, 2008 8:11 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Did I mention how good Jorge De La Rosa is going to be for the Rox this season?

I mean, I’d hate to be one of the teams that gave up on him over the last five years. You look at the guys he was traded for and there were really only a couple of solid contributors. I mean, this guy, obviously. Hey, that reminds me, didn’t the D-backs twice have him? Who did you trade JDLR for again? I can’t remember.., I’m sure it was somebody good.

Sorry for changing the subject, what were we talking about again? I’m sure it wasn’t anything to do with a sore spot in Rox history, though…

by Rox Girl on Dec 30, 2008 8:46 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Wow....

I guess I must’ve accidentally nicked a sensitive area with my scalpel. Sorry about that.

Next time, don’t let me do neurosurgery while drunk.

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by DbacksSkins on Dec 30, 2008 9:25 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I didn't post this in your fan post

as I’ve been thinking on this one. I don’t think Manny works, and here’s why:
1) Limited range and arm, and Coors Field, even LF in Coors is pretty expansive. This is a defensive liability
2) If Manny plays LF, that pushes CF to be even more crowded. Spilly, Fowler, CarGo all would play CF (until Hawpe takes over 1st when Helton leaves). If it’s Spilly in CF, then our OF gets really bad, in terms of covering ground. If it’s Fowler or CarGo, then Spilly sits taking a good bat out of the line up
3) Basic money. I don’t think the Rockies have an extra $20 mil laying around to spend. And if they do want to run into the red some, I think it would be for an Ace type pitcher (Think Roy Halliday), and not a 38 year old corner OF like Manny.
4)Denver and the Rockies is not a big stage, Manny seems to need that attention. It wouldn’t be long before he’s wanting out, or wanting to sit, etc.

While Manny’s bat would be great (man, I’d love to have him bat in the middle of our line up), I don’t think it’s a good fit at all for the Rockies right now.

Thought Clint Hurdle should be fired before it was cool.

by Redhawk on Dec 30, 2008 8:51 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

You make great points

I missed your post about Manny last week. You make some great points. I saw something on ESPN last night on Manny and how he is the last major free agent to be signed, and I couldn’t help but think to myself that Manny would be a great fit for us. What better way to replace a superstar player with another superstar player. I would love to see Manny in left field when the Rox come out east next season.

by OutHereInPA on Dec 30, 2008 5:09 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Can you imagine

the sheer amount of backpedaling the media would do here? You’d have a few people saying “screw it, who cares? Manny is Awesome” and a everyone else saying “What happened to the plan where we build from within?! Manny is a CANCER” When like 2 weeks before they’d been hollering “The Rockies need to sign a big name free agent!!”

Manny’s short term, it’d work out well. Except for Spilborghs.

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by Andrew Martin on Dec 30, 2008 12:21 PM MST reply actions 0 recs