I don't think Dye's dropoff will be that bad. It will be somewhere in between - 30HR/85RBI with a .825 OPS.

The question is...for this team...is that kind of production worth $11 mil for this team from the DH spot?

Well he will definitely be in RF at least one of the two years. I'm not penciling him in at DH in 09 either, I think someone else will fill that void. So yes, I think its worth it.

I'd like to give Ryan Sweeney the same shot as Jerry Owens has gotten. Too bad.

It'll be the same reason Uribe stays next season.

please be wrong.

I'd like to give Ryan Sweeney the same shot as Jerry Owens has gotten. Too bad.

Unfortunately...Ryan Sweeney has simply shown that right now, he is not ready to be an everyday big league player with his performance this season. Between the recurrence of his wrist problems and the fact that he's actually performing significantly worse this year than last (802 OPS down to 735 this season) he just can't be looked at as ready.

 

If either he or Anderson go play winterball and have some success, go to ST and have success, and then have at least a month or two of success in AAA next year, and I'm talking real good success, high OPS, batting around .300, then maybe you consider giving them a shot if you still have an opening or you can create one (i.e. moving Fields from LF to 3rd if that's where he starts the season). But right now, we do not have another ML ready outfielder in our organization, and it's going to take significant improvement from one of those 2 guys for that to change.

Unfortunately...Ryan Sweeney has simply shown that right now, he is not ready to be an everyday big league player with his performance this season. Between the recurrence of his wrist problems and the fact that he's actually performing significantly worse this year than last (802 OPS down to 735 this season) he just can't be looked at as ready.

 

If either he or Anderson go play winterball and have some success, go to ST and have success, and then have at least a month or two of success in AAA next year, and I'm talking real good success, high OPS, batting around .300, then maybe you consider giving them a shot if you still have an opening or you can create one (i.e. moving Fields from LF to 3rd if that's where he starts the season). But right now, we do not have another ML ready outfielder in our organization, and it's going to take significant improvement from one of those 2 guys for that to change.

I hear what you're saying, but Owens didn't look ready to make the jump either. I'm not saying he's going gang busters in the bigs, but he's definitely figuring it out. I guess I'd just like Ryan to get that same shot, despite his performance in AAA. But you're right, if he can bounce back and have a good spring, then he'll improve his chances.

I hear what you're saying, but Owens didn't look ready to make the jump either. I'm not saying he's going gang busters in the bigs, but he's definitely figuring it out. I guess I'd just like Ryan to get that same shot, despite his performance in AAA. But you're right, if he can bounce back and have a good spring, then he'll improve his chances.

 

 

He didn't look ready, but he has what Ozzie wants...speed. Sweeney is above average and BA...well, I won't even go there. With Pods being worthless and Erstad on the grinder dl...(I know he isn't fast, but he's smart on the basepaths)...Owens was all we had. So, he's gotten a long look. Plus, everyone and their mother knows that Pods won't be ont he Sox next year...so why not look at his possible replacement?

I hear what you're saying, but Owens didn't look ready to make the jump either. I'm not saying he's going gang busters in the bigs, but he's definitely figuring it out. I guess I'd just like Ryan to get that same shot, despite his performance in AAA. But you're right, if he can bounce back and have a good spring, then he'll improve his chances.

There is one big difference between the 2 cases: Owens was at least getting better before he was called up. His OBP in 06 in AAA was .328, it was .361 in Charlotte before his callup. He had his SB %age go from about .75 to about .85 from 06 to 07. Average .260 to .284. Sweeney has gone the opposite direction this year.

 

If he was improving, fine, give him a shot. But he's clearly gone back to the drawing board on a few things, and those things need to be ironed out before you bring him up. And now you throw this wrist injury in on top of things. If nothing else, he's still incredibly young, so we have time with Ryan. Signing JD to an extension bought us at the least 1 more year before we can create an easy opening for him by DHing JD.

There is one big difference between the 2 cases: Owens was at least getting better before he was called up. His OBP in 06 in AAA was .328, it was .361 in Charlotte before his callup. He had his SB %age go from about .75 to about .85 from 06 to 07. Average .260 to .284. Sweeney has gone the opposite direction this year.

Sweeney's BA and SLG were essentially exactly the same as '06 in mid-to-late July. he then went on about a 12 game skid where he didn't hit at all before being DLed, and hasn't hit well since. His OBP and walk rate were up at that time.... The walk rate remains improved over last season, and he appeared patient in his time in the bigs.

 

I don't think it's a question of talent with Sweeney. I think we would have seen continued improvement were he healthy.

 

Sweeney has absolutely been a disappointment this season, but most of that disappointment has been directly tied to his recent health issues.

Sweeney's BA and SLG were essentially exactly the same as '06 in mid-to-late July. he then went on about a 12 game skid where he didn't hit at all before being DLed, and hasn't hit well since. His OBP and walk rate were up at that time.... The walk rate remains improved over last season, and he appeared patient in his time in the bigs.

 

I don't think it's a question of talent with Sweeney. I think we would have seen continued improvement were he healthy.

If he hadn't had the injury issue, I'd have probably agreed with you, and I probably wouldn't have a problem with him coming back. But unfortunately, he did get hurt, he has come back according to many reports looking absolutely terrible, and it seems he's made little progress in dealing with the issues even he admitted he had with his swing during his first stint with the big league club.

 

Sweeney may well finally be "ready" sometime next season. But I can't fathom how we could say he's ready now, nor can I say with any confidence that he should have a spot opened for him in the offseason. He has to clearly take another step forwards from this season's numbers before we give him a full time shot.

If he hadn't had the injury issue, I'd have probably agreed with you, and I probably wouldn't have a problem with him coming back. But unfortunately, he did get hurt, he has come back according to many reports looking absolutely terrible, and it seems he's made little progress in dealing with the issues even he admitted he had with his swing during his first stint with the big league club.

 

Sweeney may well finally be "ready" sometime next season. But I can't fathom how we could say he's ready now, nor can I say with any confidence that he should have a spot opened for him in the offseason. He has to clearly take another step forwards from this season's numbers before we give him a full time shot.

 

The injury to Sweeney couldn't have come at a worse time for him. he could very well be getting an on the job audition if he doesn't hurt himself. Instead he has given guys like Fields (in LF at least) and Owens the chance pass him on the depth chart in the OF.

The injury to Sweeney couldn't have come at a worse time for him. he could very well be getting an on the job audition if he doesn't hurt himself. Instead he has given guys like Fields (in LF at least) and Owens the chance pass him on the depth chart in the OF.

While those guys may have passed him for now, Sweeney is a favorite of both Ozzie and KW. The injury is unfortunate, but unlike some, he'll still get every opportunity to show what he's got. I still think he's going to be a real good player.

Edited August 21, 200718 yr by Dick Allen

While those guys may have past him for now, Sweeney is a favorite of both Ozzie and KW. The injury is unfortunate, but unlike some, he'll still get every opportunity to show what he's got. I still think he's going to be a real good player.

I think many of us think that...but I still contend that it's fairly important not to push the kid too far too fast, esp. with the injury and swing problems of late.

Jermaine Dye has a full no-trade clause in the first season of his new contract and has a six-team limited clause in year No. 2.

 

from the notes off the ozzie and starting pitchers new ST work-out.

 

did we already know all of this? i wonder who the 6 teams are.