Batting Around 1/13/05
A couple of quick notes:
Q & A up The reader responses to Dejan Kovacevic's first Pirates Q & A are up. It was interesting to see that while the responses showed a range of answers, the majority of Bucs' fans are more or less of a like mind. I had intended to send in my responses to Mr. Kovacevic, but some things came up and I never got around to emailing them in. Ah, blessed procrastination. On the bright side, it was good to see Charlie and bkopec join in the fun.
Mini Camp underway Minicamp time is a good chance to read more about the status of rehabbing players. Usually, the reports are optimistic, but you can still glean some information from the reports. The Bucs seem to have cornered the market on former first round draft picks who are on the mend. Sean Burnett, John Van Benschoten and Paul Maholm are being evaluated, but none will not be allowed to throw for at least a couple of weeks. Kip Wells, a former first rounder for Chicago, also is shrouded in a good bit of uncertainty after off-season carpel tunnel surgery. And let's not forget newly acquired Todd Ritchie, another former first rounder, who is trying to prove he's finally recovered from 2003 rotator cuff surgery.
Cameron rumor The New York Post lists the Bucs as one of the teams potentially interested in Mike Cameron's services. Personally, I just don't see it. Cameron is owed $14 million over the next two years. I would assume that the Mets would pick up a good bit of that, but would it be enough to make a deal worth it? Cameron has skills, he hit 30 homeruns last year (which would have led our ballclub), but his weaknesses (high strikeout rate) would be over-emphasized in the Bucs' swing-at-anything mindset. Plus, Cameron's best skill has always been his defense, but he struggled in the field last year. Would Cameron be an upgrade over Tike? Probably, but I get the feeling that Cameron represents diminishing returns.
<__trans phrase="Comments">
I think Cameron would be a great pickup. His hitting has been fairly steady over the last 6 years, so I'm not sure he's that likely to decline badly over the next 2 years. You have to take into account the fact that he spent all but the first of those years in bad hitters' parks. His OPS was about 100 points higher on the road last year and over the last 3 years as a whole. The Ks don't bother me that much given that he draws a lot of walks. Defensively, he'll be a big upgrade over Redman as long as he doesn't get any limbs amputated.
<__trans phrase="Posted by:"> Wilbur Miller | January 13, 2005 11:01 AM
I agree with WIlbur. Cameron is definitely one of those better players we keep hearing about and know we need on the roster.
<__trans phrase="Posted by:"> Rowdy | January 13, 2005 11:31 PM
I guess the question with Cameron is not whether he'll be an upgrade for the team (I think that's undeniable), but whether he's a good investment. If management has $14 million to throw at a guy, is Cameron the right guy? On one hand, I think Cameron seems more like a Pittsburgh kind-of-guy, than a New York kind-of-guy. He could thrive on the Bucs. But on the other hand, he is coming off wrist surgery and will miss at least a month of the season. And who know how that injury will affect his performance for the rest of the year. Also, Wilbur's point about Cameron's consistency is a good one, but he's coming off a season where he had an OBP 20 points under his career average and his zone rating was a career low as well. It could have just been a bad year, but it could be a sign of things to come.
Would I like Cameron on this team? Sure, but not at his current price tag. I just think if management was prepared to spend that kind of money, there might be better ways to invest it.
<__trans phrase="Posted by:"> trev | January 15, 2005 6:53 AM
I wouldn't trade for Cameron unless the Mets picked up part of his salary. I didn't know about the wrist injury, though. That's a bad injury for hitters. Because of that, the Mets might have to pick up most of the money before I'd be interested, and it sounds like they won't do that.
<__trans phrase="Posted by:"> Wilbur Miller | January 15, 2005 7:38 AM