SSH2005

But playing poor defense and having a noodle arm can also give up runs to the opposing team. Pierre's weak defense takes away some of the the upside of his speed and ability to steal bases.

If Brian Anderson can't put up a .666 OPS next season to match Willy Taveras's .666 OPS in 2005, I will eat my own pubic hairs. I'm more concerned with Anderson playing solid defense in center field and from most accounts he does.

Last season, Rowand's OBP (.329) was a bit higher than Pierre's (.326). I know that's normally not the case though. But Rowand's bat in 2004 was far and away better than Pierre's 2004 offense. Careerwise, Pierre has put up a higher OBP while Rowand has always had a higher OPS.

I wouldn't put too much stock in that. GM's aren't always right. For example, a baseball GM just signed 37 year old Jeromy Burnitz to a 2-year, $10-$12 million contract. That's pretty sad. As bad as Rowand's offense was last season (I hated it as well), it was still better than Pierre's. Small sacrifice on defense? Ummm, no.

But qwerty just posted a stat that shows it doesn't.

ESPN echoes what Chisoxfn said... http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/scouting?statsId=4344 You arm strength tends to get a lot worse when you aren't injecting roids into it anymore.

^^^^^ Sosa's arm probably started sucking once he stopped delving into Manny Alexander's supply.

Owens isn't good defensively in center field. That's the problem. If he was, I would go with your plan. And the only way I would stick Podsednik back in center field would be if Bobby Abreu was playing left field.

First, you said that Pierre's arm was "average." Now, you are inferring that he actually has a "really weak arm." Which is it? You seem to be backtracking.

Pierre has a massively limp noodle arm. I thought everyone knew this?

I'm not so sure that Brian Anderson will be able to put up a .666 OPS.

:puke At least Eric Chavez is actually good.

Another thing about Taveras... If the defense plays their corner infielders up against Taveras, they can take away most of his offense from him -- bunting.

Do you just think Taveras is good because he hit well against us in the World Series? He's really not that good. I wouldn't be surprised to see Jerry Owens put up better offensive numbers than Taveras. Of course, Owens wouldn't play good defense in center field like Taveras. That is Taveras's main asset. The only way this trade would make some sense is if it was Contreras for Taveras and guys like Chad Qualls and Troy Patton. Taveras couldn't be the main guy in the trade. Well, Pierre normally puts up a high OBP as well unlike Gathright and Taveras. Pierre will probably have a bounceback season in 2006 and put up a high OBP again in his contract year. But I definately see the trend you mentioned as well.

Haha, Aaron Heilman told the Mets to trade him if he wasn't starting in 2006. Heilman: Start me or trade me http://www.nynewsday.com/sports/baseball/m...ports-headlines I can see why the Mets are willing to deal him then. The Devil Rays would be happy to use Heilman as a starter and the Mets would get a decent setup man.

When are we finally going to complete that Willie Harris for Wes Helms trade? Bruuuuuce told me so.

I don't get why the Mets want to trade Heilman so bad. He's better than the bums they are rumored to be dealing him for, Baez being one of them. Yep, I guess the Mets are stupid like that.

He's also a lefty... http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/W/alex-woodson.shtml

Could be roids. I just figured that Batista went to Japan because the Fukuoka Hawks offered him WAY more than any MLB team would have (2-years, $15 million). That's crazy money for a bum like Batista.

Joe Borchard is practically free and could hit a lot of homers and put up a crappy AVG and OPS. Would you want him starting for us? My point is that if Batista does win the starting job at third base for the Twins, he could actually end up hurting their offense. He's a one-dimensional hitter, he swings for the fences every at bat.