Seeing that this off season has been a major disappointment and we still don't have a lead off hitter, should we take a one year flyer on Pods and have Owens as his backup?? I know we didn't offer him a contract and he is an unrestricted FA.

 

And I realize 90% of this board hates Pods. I think the guy is made of paper as well.... However, he's had a whole offseason without surgeries, etc, and if he's going to have a healthy year it will be this one. Anyone we pick up at this point will have some risk attached to it.

 

I am just saying, since we are on option 45 at this point, does it make sense to sign Pods to a 1 yr deal to lead off and play LF or are we ok with Owens in LF or CF and leading off?? Because it certainly doesn't appear we have any better options at this point.

 

Otherwise, I think we are going to HOPE that Crede swings the bat well in Spring Training to where we can trade him for Figgins or the like. Otherwise we are looking at Owens in CF and leading off....

 

We do need a OBP guy leading off with speed. Jerry Owens has the speed but not the OBP and a really weak slugging %. We can either pray he gets better or just restructure for the future.

 

If we're truly going to try to win next year, I think we need to answer this problem. And I think our best shot is trading Crede for a leadoff guy, assuming Crede can show some good stuff in ST.

No thanks. You said "if he is going to be healthy, he will this season." I don't think he will this season. We've got a guy who will likely put up a higher OBP if he stays healthy in LF already.

Seeing that this off season has been a major disappointment and we still don't have a lead off hitter, should we take a one year flyer on Pods and have Owens as his backup?? I know we didn't offer him a contract and he is an unrestricted FA.

 

And I realize 90% of this board hates Pods. I think the guy is made of paper as well.... However, he's had a whole offseason without surgeries, etc, and if he's going to have a healthy year it will be this one. Anyone we pick up at this point will have some risk attached to it.

 

I am just saying, since we are on option 45 at this point, does it make sense to sign Pods to a 1 yr deal to lead off and play LF or are we ok with Owens in LF or CF and leading off?? Because it certainly doesn't appear we have any better options at this point.

 

Otherwise, I think we are going to HOPE that Crede swings the bat well in Spring Training to where we can trade him for Figgins or the like. Otherwise we are looking at Owens in CF and leading off....

 

We do need a OBP guy leading off with speed. Jerry Owens has the speed but not the OBP and a really weak slugging %. We can either pray he gets better or just restructure for the future.

 

If we're truly going to try to win next year, I think we need to answer this problem. And I think our best shot is trading Crede for a leadoff guy, assuming Crede can show some good stuff in ST.

I've never liked Pods, but if he wants to aggravate his groin in Charlotte, I'd have no problem with that.

Edited December 27, 200718 yr by Dick Allen

Owens would put up similar numbers but stay healthy and play better defense, and for a fraction of the price. Pods serves no purpose on this team.

 

No thanks. You said "if he is going to be healthy, he will this season." I don't think he will this season. We've got a guy who will likely put up a higher OBP if he stays healthy in LF already.

Do you think Jerry Owens will be that guy? Or are you talking about Carlos Quentin? Well, if thats the case, then I say we just put our hopes on Jerry Owens in CF this year and leading off which is mildly disturbing...

i'd rather sign john cangelosi.

<!--quoteo(post=1553218:date=Dec 26, 2007 -> 06:08 PM:name=max power)-->

<!--quotec-->No thanks. You said "if he is going to be healthy, he will this season." I don't think he will this season. We've got a guy who will likely put up a higher OBP if he stays healthy in LF already.

Do you think Jerry Owens will be that guy? Or are you talking about Carlos Quentin? Well, if thats the case, then I say we just put our hopes on Jerry Owens in CF this year and leading off which is mildly disturbing...

I'm talking about Quentin in LF. That's the only position pods can play. If he can even play that position. Jerry Owens would be playing regardless CF at least some of the time regardless of if we got pods, unless we make another move. So I'd rather have Quentin out there than pods, even if Quentin lead off.

Edited December 27, 200718 yr by max power

just a question, how many SBs and SB% would owens need to have for it to make up for his lack of power legitimately?

That's an interesting question. You have to assume several things. Assuming Jerry got 600 ABs with an OBP of .330, SLG of .320 and a SB% of 80, I calculate he needs 96 stolen bases to bring his offensive value to around that of an average CF.

ye gods.

Just say "no" to Pods.

you know its been a disappointing offseason when fans are questioning if its a good idea or not to bring pods back...

Edited December 27, 200718 yr by GreatScott82

Also, another reason that Owens would be better than bringing in a Pods or other scrap player, is that Ramirez will likely platoon with him anyway. And since some reports have him as a future solid starter (while others say he is a super-sub), if he ends up being at that higher end, he'll probably take over the CF job by end of year anyway.

 

Since the players who would be major upgrades right off the bat (Ramirez won't be that, probably) are gone, CF is probably now set.

 

<!--quoteo(post=1553218:date=Dec 26, 2007 -> 06:08 PM:name=max power)-->

<!--quotec-->No thanks. You said "if he is going to be healthy, he will this season." I don't think he will this season. We've got a guy who will likely put up a higher OBP if he stays healthy in LF already.

Do you think Jerry Owens will be that guy? Or are you talking about Carlos Quentin? Well, if thats the case, then I say we just put our hopes on Jerry Owens in CF this year and leading off which is mildly disturbing...

Jerry's upside is probably Juan Pierre in his prime, not great, but passable.

We have no major league lead off man, second baseman, left or center fielder. Other than that, we are ready

We have no major league lead off man, second baseman, left or center fielder. Other than that, we are ready

Quentin projects to be a very nice LF, and Richar has good potential at 2B. CF is going to be a ? to open the season, but Ramirez could develop nicely. I think all 3 positions you mention have some very good potential.

 

When Pods is healthy he is productive. The problem the last two years and part of 2005 was to keep him healthy. But, I have no problem with him coming back if the team knows he can produce and the price is right.

Say no to Prancer and say no to the Nebraska punter. The fact that any of those two had meaningful ABs in September still irritates me.

 

 

 

you know its been a disappointing offseason when fans are questioning if its a good idea or not to bring pods back...

 

People always make suggestions that are not such a great idea and are certain not to happen regardless of how the offseason's been.

 

And I'd like to see the math from the chap who claims Owens needs 96 steals to be league average.

when Owens was in the Minors did he ever have an obp legitimately higher than his avg? Could it develop to .30 points above?

when Owens was in the Minors did he ever have an obp legitimately higher than his avg? Could it develop to .30 points above?

 

Yes. Every year in the minors. 60-80 points above.

 

http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/O/Jerry-Owens.shtml

The older Ray Durham is a better lead off hitter than what we have had the past 2 years.

Owens may improve. He was getting better as the end of the season was rolling around. But, does he take enough pitches to get some more walks? Where is Ricky Henderson when we need him?

Owens wasn't that bad last season. Everyone looks to his September stats as a positive sign, but he seemed to show improvement starting in late July.

 

Since 7-28-07:

 

52 G, 214 AB, 20 BB, 20 SB

 

.290/.350/.701

 

If he had that line for a season, that would be a decent leadoff hitter. Also, projecting his other stats, he would have around 60+ SB as well.

 

What is ironic is Podsednik had almost an identical line in 2005:

 

.291/.351/.700 with 59 SB

Owens wasn't that bad last season. Everyone looks to his September stats as a positive sign, but he seemed to show improvement starting in late July.

 

Since 7-28-07:

 

52 G, 214 AB, 20 BB, 20 SB

 

.290/.350/.701

 

If he had that line for a season, that would be a decent leadoff hitter. Also, projecting his other stats, he would have around 60+ SB as well.

 

What is ironic is Podsednik had almost an identical line in 2005:

 

.291/.351/.700 with 59 SB

Which is why signing Pods, for more money and more injury risk, would be silly.