Comments on: Offseaon Update

By: Fire Gardy » A Horrible Day: Viciedo Goes to the South Side

Fire Gardy » A Horrible Day: Viciedo Goes to the South Side — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:23:24 +0000

[...] few days ago, we were talking about the young Cuban third baseman, Dayan Viciedo. Huge power bat. 19 years old. Apparently available for a cheap [...]

By: Schulte

Schulte — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 01:36:46 +0000

When I say anomaly, I mean that he was a Hardy-like player (in theory).

By: Schulte

Schulte — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 01:35:03 +0000

Good point, good point. I’m still willing to consider Delmon an anomaly. Let’s see how he does in year four…

By: sirsean

sirsean — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:12:09 +0000

Don't insult urine like that. It's a necessary function of life. Tony Batista, Juan Castro, Sidney Ponson, Ramon Ortiz, Rondell White, Mike Lamb, and Adam Everett are NOT.

It's not just the scouting reports that are down on Delmon's defensive abilities. Delmon scored a -25 in Dewan's Plus/Minus rating in 2008. That's the WORST rating for any left fielder, and the 5th worst of any fielder in baseball. That's ... not good. I mean, it doesn't get much worse than the worst at your position.

By: FunBobby

FunBobby — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 22:04:29 +0000

Isn't Delmon Young a hardy-like player? Or at least in scouting reports he is. That Young for Garza swap really threw a lot of how I view the Twins as an organization out the window.

Smith is clearly willing to trade away part of a surplus in order to fill a hole. Where as Terry Ryan would see a hole, take a piss in it, and say it was filled. Thats right, I just equated Tony Batista, Juan Castro, Sidney Ponson, and Ramon Ortiz to urine.

By: sirsean

sirsean — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:35:09 +0000

It may not be in the Twins’ philosophical makeup to go after Hardy because his defense is suspect at best and he hits for power … but when the alternative is Brendan Harris, it’s an upgrade both offensively and defensively. Given what the left side of our infield was defensively in 2008, just about anything is an upgrade.

By: Schulte

Schulte — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:13:08 +0000

I just don’t think it’s in the Twins philosophical make-up to go after a Hardy-like player. Unfortunately, Viciedo is probably not that guy either.

By: FunBobby

FunBobby — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:48:01 +0000

I also agree with the youth route. but signing a casey blake type (againg player who has shown major league ability) is really not much different thant a Viciedo type (talent but no proven ability at the major league level). Both have high risks, but I guess if I had to choose between these two types I’d take the Viciendo just because of the upside. Ideally I’d like a young player who has proven himself at the major league level, i.e. JJ Hardy. but that might be a pipe dream, since I’m sure the asking price is really high.

By: Schulte

Schulte — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:42:31 +0000

Personally, if we're going to spend dollars on a free agent, I'd actually like to try the youth route instead of the aging veteran players we've brought in over the last couple of years. Crossing your fingers and hoping for the best hasn't exactly worked the last couple years.

It's only 10 pounds a year, besides Bobby Bonilla was 240 pounds.

I think we're looking at Viciedo all wrong. If we get him, fans won't lament how big Delmon looks.

By: sirsean

sirsean — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:46:56 +0000

It's definitely not a flier, given that he's a high end prospect and won't be cheap. But it's an intriguing possibility given that even in the article they put the price in the $5-10M range for a multi-year deal. And that he considers playing third base more important than getting the most possible money (ie, the Yankees aren't guaranteed to get him, since he won't be replacing A-Rod).

But I agree with FunBobby on the physicality issue. I don't like it that he's out of shape. 230 pounds at age 19? That's a pretty big dude, and he managed to do it in a starving third world nation. What's going to happen when he can have McDonald's and Chipotle every day?

Then again -- if we can get him for $10M for four years -- and he's on the the Miguel Cabrera track, we can take those first three great years and trade him right before he goes Montezuma and becomes a lumbering first baseman. We'll see.

Most of all, I hope the Twins are at least looking at him.