signing nomar, trading everett

In article <yMhof.844$tO4.364@tornado.texas.rr.com>, usual suspect
<club.DeleteThis@baby.seals> wrote:

> Purpura appears to have his sights set on signing Nomar Garciaparra in
> the $6m range. Some have speculated that the Astros may put Nomar in LF,
> even though he's never played in the OF. Frankly, I think signing Nomar
> makes Adam Everett expendable as he's up for arbitration and set to make
> ~$2.5m.
>
> Nomar (career OPS: .911) is certainly better offensively than Everett
> (career OPS: .670). Defensively, they're about even. Nomar's FPCT at SS
> is .968 to Everett's .973, and Everett also has a higher zone rating
> (.872 to .829).

Does this include injury seasons? I'm wondering how much he's slowed
down...

> The big issues are whether Garciaparra can stay healthy through enough
> of the season to help the Astros, and what Houston can get in a trade
> that includes Everett.
 >> Stay informed about: signing nomar, trading everett 

In article <1134694899.508243.4740.DeleteThis@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>,
David233 <David233.DeleteThis@aol.com> wrote:

> I doubt we sign Burnitz because if
> Bagwell is OK Berkman plays LF. Signing Burnitz would tell Bagwell
> that management doesn't think Bagwell is ready to play.
>
> David

Signing Burnitz would tell Jason Lane that management thinks he's
topped out.
 >> Stay informed about: signing nomar, trading everett 

"Steve Cutchen" <maxfaq.RemoveThis@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:161220050111444575%maxfaq@earthlink.net...
> In article <1134694899.508243.4740.RemoveThis@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>,
> David233 <David233.RemoveThis@aol.com> wrote:
>
>> I doubt we sign Burnitz because if
>> Bagwell is OK Berkman plays LF. Signing Burnitz would tell Bagwell
>> that management doesn't think Bagwell is ready to play.
>>
>> David
>
> Signing Burnitz would tell Jason Lane that management thinks he's
> topped out.

2005 BA, OPS:
Burnitz - .258, .757 (now 37 yrs old and in decline)
Lane - .267, .815 (29 and probably at his peak)

Signing Burnitz and putting him in the lineup in place of Lane would tell me
that we have morons for management.
 >> Stay informed about: signing nomar, trading everett 

In article <GsGof.1052$tO4.26@tornado.texas.rr.com>, Mike Allen
<mallen8.DeleteThis@houston.rr.com> wrote:

> "Steve Cutchen" <maxfaq.DeleteThis@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> news:161220050111444575%maxfaq@earthlink.net...
> > In article <1134694899.508243.4740.DeleteThis@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>,
> > David233 <David233.DeleteThis@aol.com> wrote:
> >
> >> I doubt we sign Burnitz because if
> >> Bagwell is OK Berkman plays LF. Signing Burnitz would tell Bagwell
> >> that management doesn't think Bagwell is ready to play.
> >>
> >> David
> >
> > Signing Burnitz would tell Jason Lane that management thinks he's
> > topped out.
>
> 2005 BA, OPS:
> Burnitz - .258, .757 (now 37 yrs old and in decline)
> Lane - .267, .815 (29 and probably at his peak)
>
> Signing Burnitz and putting him in the lineup in place of Lane would tell me
> that we have morons for management.

I am not a Burnitz signing proponent. If I knew Bags was out and
Berkman was gonna play first, there would be an opening for a LFer...
but even then, I'm not sure Burnitz is it.
 >> Stay informed about: signing nomar, trading everett 

Steve Cutchen wrote:
>>Purpura appears to have his sights set on signing Nomar Garciaparra in
>>the $6m range. Some have speculated that the Astros may put Nomar in LF,
>>even though he's never played in the OF. Frankly, I think signing Nomar
>>makes Adam Everett expendable as he's up for arbitration and set to make
>>~$2.5m.
>>
>>Nomar (career OPS: .911) is certainly better offensively than Everett
>>(career OPS: .670). Defensively, they're about even. Nomar's FPCT at SS
>>is .968 to Everett's .973, and Everett also has a higher zone rating
>>(.872 to .829).
>
> Does this include injury seasons? I'm wondering how much he's slowed
> down...

Year Tm AVG OBP SLG OPS
2003 Bos .301 .345 .524 .869 (156 games)
2004 Bos .321 .367 .500 .867 (38 games)
2004 ChC .297 .364 .455 .819 (43 games)
2005 ChC .283 .320 .452 .772 (62 games)

In comparison, Everett's best average was .273 (2004), his best OBP was
..320 (2003), and best SLG was .385 (2004). IOW, Nomar at his worst
offensively with limited play is still better than Everett at his best.

Couple more things. Since 2002 at MMP (and I know Garciaparra has only
27 ABs there in that time frame), Nomar has an OPS of 1.151 to Everett's
..772. With RISP since 2002, Nomar's OPS is .820 to Everett's .727.

>>The big issues are whether Garciaparra can stay healthy through enough
>>of the season to help the Astros, and what Houston can get in a trade
>>that includes Everett.
 >> Stay informed about: signing nomar, trading everett 

David233 wrote:
> I don't know about this move given Nomar's history of injuries the past
> couple seasons.

I said I saw that as a cause for concern. That said, the Astros have
interviewed others, like Rondell White, who are coming off injuries. I
see more upside to a deal for Garciaparra than for White.

> Everett is a great defensive shortstop but his hitting
> is below average. The Astros are pretty solid offensively with the
> first six batters in the lineup but Ausmus, Everett and the pitcher at
> 7, 8, and 9 are woeful.

That's pretty normal in baseball.

> If Nomar can stay healthy is an upgrade over
> Everett but his injury bug is worrisome.

Even if Nomar continues to diminish, I see him as an overall upgrade
over Everett. I don't see Everett's offense improving.

> If the Astros can sign Nomar for SS and Burnitz for LF I like our
> offense a lot.

I still think Burnitz would be a great fit offensively with the Astros
at MMP. I think, though, his salary would make him a hard fit with the
current payroll. That's compounded by the fact that he'd be replacing or
platooning in LF with Burke (unless the Astros part with a player who
won't be eligible for arbitrartion for a couple more seasons) and/or
Berkman.

> Bagwell is the wildcard in all this and we won't know
> his status until spring training. I doubt we sign Burnitz because if
> Bagwell is OK Berkman plays LF. Signing Burnitz would tell Bagwell
> that management doesn't think Bagwell is ready to play.

Not necessarily. The team is clearly looking at adding another
outfielder (i.e., White) or someone willing to convert to the OF (i.e.,
Garciaparra). Burnitz fits the bill and his salary would be between the
other two. I think a Burnitz deal will boil down to whether he's willing
to sign for less than he can make elsewhere and whether he's willing to
platoon in the OF with Berkman (if Bagwell is healthy), Lane, Burke (if
Berkman plays 1B), etc. Signing Burnitz would be redundant if the Astros
pick up Garciaparra and don't trade Everett. We'll find out Tuesday --
deadline for tendering contracts to arbitration eligible players -- if
the Astros have any inclination to trade Everett.

I also just read that Nomar has agreed in principle to a one-year deal
with the Dodgers, so I strongly suspect we'll see Everett batting
seventh (or eighth) again in 2006. That would leave Lidge and Burke as
the Astros' trade bait.
 >> Stay informed about: signing nomar, trading everett 

Mike Allen wrote:
>>Signing Burnitz would tell Jason Lane that management thinks he's
>>topped out.
>
> 2005 BA, OPS:
> Burnitz - .258, .757 (now 37 yrs old and in decline)
> Lane - .267, .815 (29 and probably at his peak)
>
> Signing Burnitz and putting him in the lineup in place of Lane would tell me
> that we have morons for management.

Purpura has said he's sticking with Lane in RF. He's looking for a
LF-oriented player to either play every day or platoon with Chris Burke.
As such, Burnitz would be a good fit (especially since MMP's LF is so
much smaller than in other parks). He's always hit well at MMP, too
(.881 OPS since 2002 with 8 HR in 52 AB).
 >> Stay informed about: signing nomar, trading everett 

Steve Cutchen wrote:
>>>>I doubt we sign Burnitz because if
>>>>Bagwell is OK Berkman plays LF. Signing Burnitz would tell Bagwell
>>>>that management doesn't think Bagwell is ready to play.
>>>>
>>>>David
>>>
>>>Signing Burnitz would tell Jason Lane that management thinks he's
>>>topped out.
>>
>>2005 BA, OPS:
>>Burnitz - .258, .757 (now 37 yrs old and in decline)
>>Lane - .267, .815 (29 and probably at his peak)
>>
>>Signing Burnitz and putting him in the lineup in place of Lane would tell me
>>that we have morons for management.
>
> I am not a Burnitz signing proponent. If I knew Bags was out and
> Berkman was gonna play first, there would be an opening for a LFer...
> but even then, I'm not sure Burnitz is it.

Is Chris Burke it? If not, do we trade him or let him platoon in LF and 2B?
 >> Stay informed about: signing nomar, trading everett 

In article <zdipf.8210$g_6.6404@tornado.texas.rr.com>, usual suspect
<club.RemoveThis@baby.seals> wrote:

> Steve Cutchen wrote:
> >>>>I doubt we sign Burnitz because if
> >>>>Bagwell is OK Berkman plays LF. Signing Burnitz would tell Bagwell
> >>>>that management doesn't think Bagwell is ready to play.
> >>>>
> >>>>David
> >>>
> >>>Signing Burnitz would tell Jason Lane that management thinks he's
> >>>topped out.
> >>
> >>2005 BA, OPS:
> >>Burnitz - .258, .757 (now 37 yrs old and in decline)
> >>Lane - .267, .815 (29 and probably at his peak)
> >>
> >>Signing Burnitz and putting him in the lineup in place of Lane would tell
> >>me
> >>that we have morons for management.
> >
> > I am not a Burnitz signing proponent. If I knew Bags was out and
> > Berkman was gonna play first, there would be an opening for a LFer...
> > but even then, I'm not sure Burnitz is it.
>
> Is Chris Burke it? If not, do we trade him or let him platoon in LF and 2B?

Well, I'm not a huge Burke fan yet, either. He had his moments last
year. And he's inexperienced enough to be on a steep curve... if he's
gonna curve. The big thing is something you've mentioned. Burke is
cheap compared to Burnitz, and will be for a while. In two years, when
Bidge gets his 3000 and retires, he might be a real nice offensive fit
at second if his hitting grows up like it should.
 >> Stay informed about: signing nomar, trading everett