Rockies trade Jeff Baker to Cubs
The Cubs acquired Jeff Baker from the Rockies, according to Yahoo Sports.
over 2 years ago
rockies17_4
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We'll have a full story and analysis of this trade a little later as more details emerge.
In the meantime we can all try and speculate what the return might be.
Minor league pitcher
I’m sure this was a move just to clear roster space and he will be in Iowa and not the big club. I would expect a lower level prospect coming back
I like to dream we somehow got an MLB ready reliever for him...
… perhaps Kevin Hart or the like, but I tend to agree with you that it’s more likely we’re getting minor league return here. We’re going to have to make another trade to bolster the pen.
by Greg Stanwood on Jul 2, 2009 8:01 AM MDT up reply actions
We'll definitely only get minor leaguers back.
I think the point of this move is to alleviate the Rockies from having to go through a roster crunch of their own.
He'd have to clear waivers to be sent to Iowa
He’ll be on the big club. Baker’s talents are envied, even though the stats are pretty bad.
Amazing...
…apparently the FO would rather have Q available as a 25th man than Baker…
WTF are they thinking?
Baker is not as good defensively
and can’t play SS
EYJr can't play shortstop.
I mean, he REALLY can’t play shortstop. And Lord knows the Rockies would love it if he could, but he can’t. If EYJr has a career, and I certainly believe he will, it’s one that’ll be just like his dad’s, as a second baseman who won’t embarrass himself in the outfield.
Staying on the sunny side of Blake Street since 1993.
The Shawn Chacon Experience - Life as a Rockies fan, one day at a time: Because we're all still recovering from those nine blown saves.
Not what I was implying...
I guess I need to spell it out every time, but EY2 would start at 2nd and Barmes would play utilityman.
Eschew Obfuscation!
If it ain't broke...
Barmes is hitting well enough to justify being in the lineup right now, and based on everything I’ve read about EYJr’s glove, he’d be a rather sizable downgrade from Clint at second.
Now, going forward, your plan has some merit, but right now, Barmes is our second baseman, which means we need a backup that can play shortstop in a pinch if Tulo contracts swine flu for a few days or whatever, and that’s why Quintanilla is on the team and EYJr isn’t.
Staying on the sunny side of Blake Street since 1993.
The Shawn Chacon Experience - Life as a Rockies fan, one day at a time: Because we're all still recovering from those nine blown saves.
If people are worried about Dex and CarGo starting full-time through growing pains
how bad would it be to have 3/8 of our lineup getting their feet wet? True, CarGo got his feet wet a long time ago – it just doesn’t look like it.
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Jul 2, 2009 8:47 AM MDT up reply actions
I agree 100% with this post....
….Namely, we have to stop thinking of CarGo as a first year player (103 games, 364 ABs) – fans should expect better production at the plate from this guy. As PF pointed out: to have a third of our line-up so raw would be problematic for me. I have no problem waiting for a September call-up to see what Young can do.
In my opinion, Q makes an adequate back-up for Tulo & Barmes. These guys don’t have any lingering/chronic health issues so long as they avoid the oft-mentioned off field misshaps (venison, bat handles).
Q's situation is downplayed by the fact that with the way our team is structured, he's barely able to get a chance to play.
It seems that somebody else with more tools could provide better use of that roster spot. Like you said, with Tulo and Barmes healthy (and through June, highly productive overall), the backup middle IF spot is increasingly less important.
Q may end up keeping his spot all year, and still barely be of use.
by Greg Stanwood on Jul 2, 2009 3:00 PM MDT up reply actions
I'm surprised you like EY2 so much
As I’m sure you’ve seen his MLE’s. MLE’s aren’t the be all/end all, but his are pretty unimpressive. Is this Barmes fatigue, or what do you see in EY2?
Free Seth Smith!
same thing as we saw in his daddy
Great OBP skills and the sheer basestealing ability to make up for a lack of slugging. A .090-ish IsoD is pretty solid. Granted, he’ll need to keep it up in the majors, but a .360 OBP isn’t terribly unrealistic, considering his Juan-Pierre-esque speed combined with a far better batter’s eye.
Really, a 1-2 of EYJ and Dex would recreate a lot of the 2007 havoc of Bunty and Kaz, but with much better OBP skills.
Chris Iannetta status: DOOM
Seth Smith status: Badass
Matt Murton status: Prisoner Exchanged for CarGon
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Jul 2, 2009 9:51 AM MDT up reply actions
They're going to carry better than the MLE will show.
EY2 is the type of player that will get handicapped in the MLE’s by playing at Security Service Field.
Speed, line drives, not a lot of power...
The last one is pretty big, MLE’s tend to reward AAAA players like Murton/Koshansky while underrating guys like Young.
thanks for the info
Is this your take on all AAA MLE’s or does it have something to do with the CSp park?
And, since I don’t have nearly the knowledge of the Rockies’ development history as you, do you remember some examples of players it missed on in this regard? Maybe Spilly and Barmes? (I definitely don’t recall their MLE’s and probably couldn’t find them/compute them.)
Free Seth Smith!
Spilly's MLE's were pretty good as I recall,
But he was showing quite a bit of power. Barmes might be a better example, I really don’t remember if I knew what his were like.
I don't put much stock into MLE's right now
or projections, really, either.
I’m not saying his line will directly translate, but it could mature into what I’m suggesting.
Just as a disclaimer, I’m not OMG EYJ2 OMG, I just figure if we can get him in some sort of MLB readiness, he’d be a very potent weapon.
Chris Iannetta status: DOOM
Seth Smith status: Badass
Matt Murton status: Prisoner Exchanged for CarGon
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Jul 2, 2009 10:12 AM MDT up reply actions
Jeff Baker is no longer SUPER!
"If we never try, we shall never succeed." - Abraham Lincoln
Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!
Baker
It just wasn’t meant to be for him in this organization – if he hadn’t have gotten hurt over and over again he would have been our four-corner guy for years. I hope he does well in Chicago – in fact, I would think the Cubbies would be well served to get him in at third base while Ramirez is hurt to see if he can’t show some of that power.
Staying on the sunny side of Blake Street since 1993.
The Shawn Chacon Experience - Life as a Rockies fan, one day at a time: Because we're all still recovering from those nine blown saves.
This is one of the feelgood guys you just hate to see leave
But you know he doesn’t really serve a purpose anymore. Only thing I might’ve kept him for is if we did move Atkins and then he’d be 3B insurance.
Chris Iannetta status: DOOM
Seth Smith status: Badass
Matt Murton status: Prisoner Exchanged for CarGon
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
The rockies have acquired a reliever from oakland, more details to come
i’m guessing its santiago casilla, who they have liked previously but is struggling. He profiles similar to a manny corpas. Outside chance it might be brad ziegler. Any idea who rockies might trade?
Where'd
you find that out?
"If we never try, we shall never succeed." - Abraham Lincoln
Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!
I'd be happy with either guy
Casilla has the kind of power arm we’re sorely lacking, and Ziegler is a ground-ballin’ fool.
Staying on the sunny side of Blake Street since 1993.
The Shawn Chacon Experience - Life as a Rockies fan, one day at a time: Because we're all still recovering from those nine blown saves.
Those are two pretty solid arms... but bullpen arms nonetheless.
I’m guessing a return would be a name that makes Rockies fans sort of cringe but doesn’t particularly inspire a lot of joy in Oakland at first. Who falls into this category? EY2? Brandon Hynick? This could be interesting.
Spills could be another possibility
As is Atkins or Q. But without a source or confirmation, it’s nothing but a rumor.
I don't think Oakland will do TOOO much in the OF
They already have Cust eating a spot there, and Travis Buck and Aaron Cunningham being pretty much MLB ready, not to mention Ryan Sweeney as depth.
I figure if they traded us Gonzalez, they didn’t need much more OF, even considering Holliday leaving at the end of the season.
Chris Iannetta status: DOOM
Seth Smith status: Badass
Matt Murton status: Prisoner Exchanged for CarGon
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Jul 2, 2009 10:10 AM MDT up reply actions
I guess thats true.
I’ve got my fingers crossed that we unloaded Q and picked up a solid bullpen arm, but I doubt it.
I could see Hynick
The Rockies seem to be stacking up minor league starts, and every one wants more starters. EY2 I would doubt…and yes that would hurt. Nelson I’d see first.
I'd be disappointed if we trade Hynick
Chris Iannetta status: DOOM
Seth Smith status: Badass
Matt Murton status: Prisoner Exchanged for CarGon
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Jul 2, 2009 10:29 AM MDT up reply actions
Me too, especially right after his perfect game.
by Greg Stanwood on Jul 2, 2009 10:30 AM MDT up reply actions
You know me... sometimes I'll be quirky.
I’ll be quirky… ALBUQUERQUE! They’re moving the Isotopes to Jeff Baker for Albuquerque!
Seriously, he’s kinda got some nifty numbers at the high-A level, so I can dig it.
Staying on the sunny side of Blake Street since 1993.
The Shawn Chacon Experience - Life as a Rockies fan, one day at a time: Because we're all still recovering from those nine blown saves.
Well you know how hard it is to project minor league relief pitchers
Chris Iannetta status: DOOM
Seth Smith status: Badass
Matt Murton status: Prisoner Exchanged for CarGon
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Jul 2, 2009 9:57 AM MDT up reply actions
Top 30 lists overlook bullpen arms
David Patton and Matt Daley weren’t on any of our top prospect lists. Alberto Arias is another.
Still just a rumor at this point.
I tried to iron out a source, but no response so far.
by Greg Stanwood on Jul 2, 2009 10:00 AM MDT up reply actions
Daley just made the PuRPs list, only after he was already in the majors.
Patton and Arias were only on the fringes, and I don’t know if they ever actually cracked it. If it’s not a clear closer type of arm like Weathers, it’s very rare to see them on the top 30, even if there’s a big league future there. Look at Edgmer Escalona right now as a good example. Solid, MLB worthy power arm, but you wouldn’t know it from looking at our prospect lists.
Arias had a lot of upside
I was disappointed to see him go
Chris Iannetta status: DOOM
Seth Smith status: Badass
Matt Murton status: Prisoner Exchanged for CarGon
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Jul 2, 2009 10:11 AM MDT up reply actions
As was I, far moreso than other waiver losses like Josh Newman.
by Greg Stanwood on Jul 2, 2009 10:11 AM MDT up reply actions
yeah exactly
I didn’t really weep to see Newman go, although someone I know is friends with his then-girlfriend.
Chris Iannetta status: DOOM
Seth Smith status: Badass
Matt Murton status: Prisoner Exchanged for CarGon
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Jul 2, 2009 10:13 AM MDT up reply actions
espn chi-caw-go confirms
http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/news/story?id=4302300
"Right now, I'm eating Scrambled Eggs, with a comb, from a shoe!"
still
Best. Name. Ever.
Except for maybe Junker.
Chris Iannetta status: DOOM
Seth Smith status: Badass
Matt Murton status: Prisoner Exchanged for CarGon
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Jul 2, 2009 10:13 AM MDT up reply actions
reply fail
meant to respond to WolfMarauder…
"Right now, I'm eating Scrambled Eggs, with a comb, from a shoe!"
my mac freaks out posting replies sometimes
not quite certain why…
"Right now, I'm eating Scrambled Eggs, with a comb, from a shoe!"
You definitely replied to the right post.
It just fell all the way down to the bottom due to the other replies.
by Greg Stanwood on Jul 2, 2009 10:21 AM MDT up reply actions
You definitely replied to the right post.
It just fell all the way down to the bottom due to the other replies.
by Greg Stanwood on Jul 2, 2009 10:21 AM MDT up reply actions
My replying is going a bit crazy itself, it seems.
Lots of double posts.
by Greg Stanwood on Jul 2, 2009 10:26 AM MDT up reply actions
THE ENTIRE CITY
Chris Iannetta status: DOOM
Seth Smith status: Badass
Matt Murton status: Prisoner Exchanged for CarGon
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Jul 2, 2009 10:29 AM MDT up reply actions
We should have asked for Santa Fe as well.
by Greg Stanwood on Jul 2, 2009 10:30 AM MDT up reply actions
I'd have settled for Hatch
mmmm green chile
Chris Iannetta status: DOOM
Seth Smith status: Badass
Matt Murton status: Prisoner Exchanged for CarGon
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Jul 2, 2009 10:31 AM MDT up reply actions
Minor Detail
The city is spelled Albuquerque. It was originally named after the Duke of AlbuRquerque over 400 years ago, but the R was dropped very shortly thereafter and has been Albuquerque ever since.
Not so minor...
Baseball ref came up with nothing the first time I looked this guy up because I spelled his name like the city without that other r, and now I’ll probably be confused and misspell both forever after.
AlbuRquerque
is the Relief pitcher. maybe memory aid?
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Jul 2, 2009 12:50 PM MDT up reply actions
I did not know that
I saw Alberto and immediately thought “his last name is spelled wrong.” I guess the whole town is wrong
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Jul 2, 2009 12:49 PM MDT up reply actions
HAHA.
But I replied to the wrong post.
by Greg Stanwood on Jul 2, 2009 10:15 AM MDT up reply actions
So, has anyone actually seen this guy pitch?
Does he project as a late inning guy or long relief, or as a major leaguer at all? He he a hard thrower or a soft tosser?
He doesn't seem to have a page at Baseball America, so I'm not finding a good scouting report anywhere,
His stats are available at Baseball Reference. I’ll post the link in a sec
by Greg Stanwood on Jul 2, 2009 10:23 AM MDT up reply actions
He doesn't seem to have a page at Baseball America, so I'm not finding a good scouting report anywhere,
His stats are available at Baseball Reference. I’ll post the link in a sec
by Greg Stanwood on Jul 2, 2009 10:24 AM MDT up reply actions
I advise looking at
Fangraphs and The Baseball Cube for MiLB stats
Chris Iannetta status: DOOM
Seth Smith status: Badass
Matt Murton status: Prisoner Exchanged for CarGon
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Jul 2, 2009 10:30 AM MDT up reply actions
Never got good at navigating Fangraphs.
I forgot about The Baseball Cube. Do either have a good scouting report on Alburquerque?
by Greg Stanwood on Jul 2, 2009 10:31 AM MDT up reply actions
not so much scouting reports
But if you know what you’re looking for in a statline, there’s a lot of info there.
Chris Iannetta status: DOOM
Seth Smith status: Badass
Matt Murton status: Prisoner Exchanged for CarGon
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Jul 2, 2009 10:31 AM MDT up reply actions
Just checked both.
No scouting reports to be found.
I tend to use Baseball Reference for stats.
by Greg Stanwood on Jul 2, 2009 10:34 AM MDT up reply actions
Thanks.
Looks like he could be an interesting project. Just by looking at the stats, it seems like he likes to go after batters and isn’t afraid of the strikezone (judging by a high K rate and 4 homers against with 8 earned runs).
The biggest early alarm bell would be the injury frequency.
by Greg Stanwood on Jul 2, 2009 10:35 AM MDT up reply actions
Haven't found any details, but they're probably out there somewhere.
by Greg Stanwood on Jul 2, 2009 10:37 AM MDT up reply actions
If anyone belongs to their SB nation site
Would you mind going over there and asking. I would, but I need to wait 2 days before I can post.
really? Why?
Chris Iannetta status: DOOM
Seth Smith status: Badass
Matt Murton status: Prisoner Exchanged for CarGon
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Jul 2, 2009 10:42 AM MDT up reply actions
I believe I belong to BCB. I'll see what I can do.
by Greg Stanwood on Jul 2, 2009 10:44 AM MDT up reply actions
Courtesy of "toonsterwu" on BCB:
“In response to the Rockies fan above, Alburquerque is a smallish righty with good life on his fastball (clocked in the low-mid 90’s), with a solid slider (I think), and a decent change. It’s a decent talent to get in return for Baker, particularly if there is a roster jam and the Rockies wanted to clear Baker. Al has also sharpened things up this year, showing better command and improved stuff. I’d like to see him tried as a starter.
That said, Alburquerque wasn’t high in our system, IMO. Should he have gotten more consideration? Perhaps, but it’s not a huge loss. To give up a guy like that for Baker is fine by me."
by Greg Stanwood on Jul 2, 2009 11:34 AM MDT up reply actions
Baker for the whole city of Alburquerque?
I mean it’s really hot there in the summer time..and what are the Rox going to do with a whole city? Put there AAA team there and their AA team in the Springs like the should in the first place?
Let's keep AAA in the Springs
and put AA in Albuquerque, so the drive isn’t too bad for late-day callups
Chris Iannetta status: DOOM
Seth Smith status: Badass
Matt Murton status: Prisoner Exchanged for CarGon
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Jul 2, 2009 10:31 AM MDT up reply actions
Funny how the Cubs had the right to trade the Dodgers property.
Hehe.
by Greg Stanwood on Jul 2, 2009 10:35 AM MDT up reply actions
Isn't that where a certain suspended player is doing rehab...
We get Manny Ramierez for Jeff Baker?!?!? I LOVE YOU DAN O’DOWD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yeah... that would be great, but Manny's last rehab locale was in Ontario, CA.
So we’d get JASON SCHMIDT, OH YEAH, THAT’S WHAT I"M TALKING ABOUT… oh wait. Jason Schmidt. Yeah. Uhm, no thanks.
MLB pitching depth
/crosses arms indignantly
Chris Iannetta status: DOOM
Seth Smith status: Badass
Matt Murton status: Prisoner Exchanged for CarGon
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Jul 2, 2009 2:56 PM MDT up reply actions
Hey... Adam Eaton can put together two good games at altitude in the PCL
Show me a perfect game down there, and then I might take you seriously.
I feel the same way
but we didn’t realy have room with him coming off the dl best of luck in chicago
"I've never known a man worth his salt who in the long run, deep down in his heart, didn't appreciate the grind, the discipline... I firmly believe that any man's finest hour - this greatest fulfillment to all he holds dear is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle, victorious." - Vince Lombardi
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