Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - This Day in Baseball, Playoff Edition: October 5

This Day in Baseball, Playoff Edition: October 5

We had three playoff games, managerial changes, some front-office reshuffling, and a few early off-season rumours. Let's go, people!

With the Padres trailing 1-0 in the third inning yesterday, Jake Peavy felt a sharp pain in his rib-cage. He gave up another 5 runs before coming out of the game and discovering that he had at least one, and possibly two, broken ribs. Reggie Sanders led the St. Louis attack, hitting a grand slam and driving in six runs. San Diego scored three in the ninth and actually put the tying run on base, before a shaky Jason Isringhausen finally struck out Ramon Hernandez to end it.

Peavy is done for the season, which may end for the Padres before this weekend. Peavy outpitching Chris Carpenter looked like San Diego's best chance of upsetting the Cardinals. Now they need Pedro Astacio to beat Mark Mulder tomorrow, which would surprise pretty well everyone.

Matt Clement stunk the joint out yesterday. He hit two of the first three White Sox hitters, and was tagged for three home runs. The Red Sox were down 8-2 before Tito finally got him out of there. Jose Contreras cruised into the eighth inning, and the White Sox pummelled the defending champs 14-2. A.J. Pierzynski homered twice and drove in and scored four runs. Mark Buehrle will try to put the White Sox ahead 2-0 tonight, while Boston responds with The Fat Man.

In the late game, Robinson Cano cleared the bases with a first-inning double, as the Yankees cuffed Bartolo Colon around in the early going. Mike Mussina kept the Angels scoreless into the sixth, and Leiter, Sturtze, and Gordon were able to hand a 4-1 lead over to Mariano Rivera. There are few things in life more dependable than that.

What's up with Vladimir Guerrero's base stealing? With his team down by three, he was caught stealing to end the sixth. He was successful stealing in the ninth, but still... it was the ninth inning, and his team was losing 4-1. He would come around to score on Erstad's single, but what was the point? The risk far, far outweighed the almost irrelevant benefit.

We noted the two managerial moves yesterday: Alan Trammell was cashiered in Detroit, and Jim Tracy is out in Los Angeles. The Tigers wasted no time filling the vacancy - Jim Leyland returns to a major league dugout for the first time since 1999. Leyland was a two-time NL manager of the year in Pittsburgh, and managed the Marlins to a world championship in 1997. Welcome to the American League...

The Texas Rangers will have the youngest GM in major league history. Jon Daniels, age 28, takes over from John Hart. Owner Tom Hicks insists that Hart was not pushed, but jumped of his own accord. While they'll no doubt remember Hart in Texas for trading Alex Rodriguez, the transaction that hangs around his neck like a very dead and smelly albatross was his signing of Chan Ho Park to a five year $65 million dollar contract. Oops.

The Cleveland Indians say they plan to offer Kevin Millwood a multi-year deal. I think Millwood is the most attractive FA pitcher out there, and the Indians operate under a very tight budget ($42.5 million this past season.) Cleveland can generally be outbid - they haven't be able to re-sign their own FAs all that often - and Millwood didn't enjoy everything about his year in Ohio.

In the Rumour Department, in yesterday's Star Richard Griffin suggested that the Blue Jays may try to send Corey Koskie back to Minnesota as part of a deal for Justin Morneau. This interested me because I was actually wondering to myself what it would take to pry Morneau loose. Honest I was! At first glance, this makes no sense for the Twins - they are seriously challenged offensively, and Morneau has some real big-time power potential. But they don't seem to like him much in Minnesota. I figured that a deal for Morneau would probably require Aaron Hill and something else - the Twins need infield help pretty well everywhere, and Hill would make a wonderful fit at any of three positions for them. But if they insist on Koskie instead of Hill as the big item coming back... well, gosh. I guess I could live with it. Although I absolutely do expect Koskie to be a more productive hitter in 2006 than Aaron Hill.

Is there any reason that ESPN still hasn't managed to update their Team Stats Pages? They're still stuck on 161 games... and I need to use their splits! Get with it, you knuckleheads!

Is that enough Raw Material for you lot? I hope so! Here's today's schedule:

Houston (Pettite 17-9, 2.39) at Atlanta (Hudson 14-9, 3.52) 4:05
Boston (Wells 15-7, 4.45) at Chicago (Buehrle 16-8, 3.12) 7:05
New York (Chacon 8-10, 3.40) at Los Angeles (Lackey 14-5, 3.44) 10:05

Posted by Magpie on Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 08:00 AM EDT.

This Day in Baseball, Playoff Edition: October 5 | 45 comments | Create New Account

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.

Pistol - Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 08:42 AM EDT (#129644) #

But they don't seem to like (Morneau) much in Minnesota.

Apparently Torii Hunter and Morneau got into a scuffle recently and Hunter was complaining that the clubhouse wasn't like it used to be and that some young players didn't respect the veterans enough. I assume he was implying Morneau was one of them.

The Twins need to trade that cancer!

Morneau actually didn't have a very good year. He hit .239/.304/.437. He did have a bunch of odd ailments prior to the season but still showed good pop with an ISO of almost .200 and will be 25 in May.

Morneau's ISO Slg would have led the Jays this year

Player	ISO
Wells	0.194
Hinske	0.168
Hillenb	0.158
Cat	0.150
Koskie	0.149
Johnson	0.143
Hudson	0.141
Rios	0.135
Adams	0.127
Zaun	0.122
Hill 	0.111

Jim - Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 08:43 AM EDT (#129645) #

Vlad's stolen base in the 6th was stupid, but they didn't hold him on in the 9th. It was only a steal because Posada took the time to throw down, if he hadn't it might have been indifference.

The best play was Molina's slow ground ball to Jeter in the 9th. Jeter went to his right, fielded it, threw to Cano who clearly was only thinking one as he stretched to make the catch. After pausing, he makes a one hop throw to first that would have gotten Molina if Martinez had come up with it. Molina is so slow it is hard to believe. You really had to see it to believe it.

Cristian - Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 09:08 AM EDT (#129646) #

The other shocker yesterday was Scott Podsednik hitting a homerun in his first playoff game after going taterless in 507 regular season at bats.

By the way, I'd consider sending both Koskie AND Hill to Minnesota for Morneau. Maybe by sending both, the Twins won't ask the Jays to cover any of Koskie's salary.

Jim - Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 09:12 AM EDT (#129648) #

Morneau did take that terrible pitch to the head early in the season. I know when he came back he hit well right away, but I can imagine that it had some effect on the season as a whole.

Craig B - Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 09:27 AM EDT (#129649) #

Vlad's stolen base in the 6th was stupid

IT. WAS. A. ###-DAMNED. HIT. AND. RUN.

I know McCarver thought it was a straight steal, but McCarver's so ####-stupid and full of himself that he doesn't pay attention to the game anymore.

Erstad swung at a pitch that was low and probably two feet outside. Would he have done that on a straight steal?

Broadcasters? Experts? Hah! Idiots, more like. Fire all of them. Guerrero's going to get a tarnished reputation for idiocy when that should all devolve down to Scioscia for a bad hit-and-run call. Jim, I'm surprised - I know you know baseball better than that!

Jim - Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 09:52 AM EDT (#129650) #

'Jim, I'm surprised - I know you know baseball better than that!'

I was actually watching The Office and didn't see the play. Everything I heard was that it was a stolen base. I should know better then to listen to everything I hear.

Pistol - Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 10:18 AM EDT (#129653) #

"Broadcasters? Experts? Hah!"

Well, they did rightfully point out that Rocky V was certainly not the best of the Rocky series.

Shortstop - Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 10:29 AM EDT (#129656) #

It was a hit and run and i didn;t think it was a bad call. I mean, they were down, but Erstad was not hitting well, so myabe sending the runner would open a hole, and they needed a spark. They have played that way the whole year, and in this incident it failed.

I'm not a McCarver guy as well. I wish all the games were on ESPN. Sometimes, its better to turn the volume off and listen to the radio.

Magpie - Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 10:39 AM EDT (#129657) #

My bad for posing the question. I wasn't watching, I just went by the post-game play by play.

Sending Vlad in the sixth with two outs and Erstad hitting - it doesn't really open a hole. With a runner on first, you've already got a nice hole open for a LH hitter. Assuming Erstad can actually pull a LH, even one as old and rickety as Leiter. If it works, I guess he can score from second on a single. Which is probably the best you can expect from Erstad against a LH anyway.

Craig B - Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 10:58 AM EDT (#129659) #

Sending Vlad in the sixth with two outs and Erstad hitting - it doesn't really open a hole.

Sorry, Magpie, this isn't quite right. Nor was the "hole" to be opened on the right side of the infield.

If you watch the Yankees much, you'll notice that when there's a runner on first, eight or nine times out of ten (at least) Jeter calls his own number to take the throw from the catcher. It's VERY rare for the NY second baseman to take the throw. Jeter calls 'em, and it's in his nature to want to make the play even though you're "supposed" to mix it up.

That's the hole that Scioscia was trying to open - knowing that Erstad is likely to hit the ball on the ground the other way, and knowing that the steal attempt will pull Jeter from his usual deep short over towards the bag, Scioscia started the runner. They got the outside pitch they wanted, but it was waaaaay outside and Erstad, try as he might, couldn't get to it.

I think the play was *defensible* as such - there's a clear benefit that was being sought. But I do think that the risks didn't balance the reward. On a three-ball count or 2-0, I'd be happier trying to do this.

King Ryan - Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 11:06 AM EDT (#129660) #

Like Craig, I was also certain it was a hit-and-run when I saw it. I'm really not sure if that makes it a better play or not, though.

Anyway, the Angels are definitely one of the most boring teams in the MLB. I know it's fashionable to hate the Yankees, but for entertainment value, I really hope the Angels don't advance.

Craig B - Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 11:08 AM EDT (#129661) #

Incidentally, Scioscia puts the hit-and-run on with Erstad at the plate all the time, even though Erstad doesn't really have good pitch recognition or bat control anymore.

Shortstop - Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 11:10 AM EDT (#129662) #

Everything that goes wrong in the playoffs is magnified by 100%. But when McCarver does a game, its 500%. I can see the reason why some would have a problem with the hit and run call, but i've seen a few Angels games and this is the way they play. They hit and run in counts and situations you may not expect. Besides, its not like its Pudge or Molina behind the plate. If Vlad could have gotten a good jump, i will take my chances against Posada.

It was a good game though. That first inning was really the back breaker. 4 straight two out hits. I wish Colon threw a little more off speed pitches in the first inning. it looks like he was trying to announce his presense of authority too much. It was a two seamer, followed by a four seamer.

Magpie - Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 11:17 AM EDT (#129663) #

eight or nine times out of ten (at least) Jeter calls his own number to take the throw from the catcher.

I don't watch 'em that much, and that's interesting. (He's the Nap Lajoie of the new milennium?) All other things being equal (like that ever happens), it actually might make more sense for the shortstop to make that play whenever possible.

So I get it now. Scioscia didn't care about the pre-existing hole with the first baseman holding the runner. He wanted to create a more useful one.

Jordan - Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 11:18 AM EDT (#129665) #

Morneau is certainly more of a slugger than a hitter -- I would expect his major-league average to be around .270, with an OBP maybe in the .330 or so range. But it's the power you want -- his last full minor-league season (Rochester, 2004, 23 years old) produced 23 doubles and 22 homers in just 288 at-bats for a .615 SLG, with 28 walks and 56 strikeouts. Interestingly, that season is remarkably similar to Josh Phelps' last AAA sojourn at 24: 20 doubles and 24 HRs in 257 AB, with 32 BB and 83 K. There are a few legitimate questions about Morneau that I'd want my scouts to answer, and until then, I wouldn't sell the farm to get him.

That said, he does have tremendous power, which the Jays sorely need, and he's ten years younger and $11M cheaper than Corey Koskie. His trade value will never be lower than it is right now, and the Twins are at a last-hurrah point rather than a building-for-the-future point in their cycle. If you could somehiow swap these players, of course you do it in a heartbeat.

But I can't see any deal happening. The Twins offered Koskie $8M over 2 years, which was the equivalent of the Jays' offer to Delgado: he could feel free to take it as an insult. If they didn't want him a year ago, why would they want him now, one lousy, injury-plagued season later? I can't think of a single big-league team that wouldn't love to take Morneau off Minnesota's hands, and they'll be able to offer a lot more than a player the Twins previously spurned plus assorted prospects and cash. I just don't think Terry Ryan's that desperate, and I don't think the clubhouse incident is that important. I wouldn't give up Hill, either, but I imagine him, Rios or McGowan would be the starting point in any trade talks for Morneau. I'd be happy to be proven wrong, but this one sounds more like a sportswriter's conjecture than a doable deal.

Shortstop - Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 11:22 AM EDT (#129666) #

I just read that Torri Hunter took a swing at Morneau during the last week of the season. Interesting.

Mike Green - Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 11:26 AM EDT (#129667) #

Erstad can't hit lefties at all. With the Yankees having Gordon and Rivera cleaning up the seventh, eighth and ninth, you have to make hay against the middle relief. In those circumstances, down by 4, and with Molina following, you might think about a pinch-hitter, preferring pinch-hitter and Molina vs. Sturtze to Erstad vs. Leiter.

Having chosen to keep Erstad in, the hit-and-run was not a bad call. The key question is what maximizes Erstad's chance of reaching base. I suspect that it's roughly a wash, H and R attempt or not.

Nigel - Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 12:14 PM EDT (#129669) #

I think the hit and run call was a very risky one given the pitcher. Having seen Leiter pitch 4 or 5 times since coming over to the Yankees, there is almost no certainty that he'll throw a pitch close to the plate on any given count. It's always a risk with any pitcher that they'll throw a nearly unhittable pitch, but the odds are considerably higher with Leiter. I thought the call was a bad one in the circumstances. With a different pitcher, I can understand the call.

Mike Green - Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 12:22 PM EDT (#129670) #

A goodly percentage of the utterly unhittable pitches from Leiter will be in the dirt where Posada would have no chance to get Guerrero.

Incidentally, I would have definitely disapproved of the move at a 3-1 count. At that point, Erstad's chance of reaching base without the hit and run is considerably better.

Mike D - Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 12:29 PM EDT (#129671) #

Presumably, people are thinking about tossing in Hill, McGowan or Rios into a Morneau deal because of their assorted struggles at the big-league level.

But we always covet what we don't have. Morneau struggled, and struggled badly, this season after April.

Here's his OPS, by month:

April 1.149
May .757
June .737
July .726
August .590 (!), with 5 BB, 26 K
September .706
October 1.000 (3-for-7 with a double, baby!)

His season line against lefties? .201/.255/.331, with four times as many K's as walks.

I do not trade for Morneau, period, without plenty of due diligence that would confirm that he'll be OK going forward. And I would definitely not trade Hill, McGowan or Rios for him, since they are all at least as likely as Morneau -- and in McGowan's case, way more likely than Morneau -- to develop into players that will ably fill an organizational need.

Mike Green - Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 12:54 PM EDT (#129675) #

Morneau apparently had a concussion, and then had left elbow problems later in the season. Here's the story, including his lovely minor league numbers. Due diligence in concussion cases is the subject of differing medical opinion. Talking about a Canadian athlete with a concussion on opening night for the NHL is bad karma.

James W - Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 01:05 PM EDT (#129676) #

For what it's worth, Clement only hit two batters. ESPN's box score tends to repeat things for some reason.

Pepper Moffatt - Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 01:06 PM EDT (#129677) #

Morneau has some fairly ugly K/BB ratios. They're not Phelps ugly, but they suggest you can control him by not throwing him anything close to down the centre. He's unlike a, say, Jason Giambi, who won't chase crap and take the free base.

Of course, Giambi didn't start out like that - he was in the majors for a couple years before he started posting eye-popping walk totals. It's possible that Morneau could develop into that kind of player. Of course, he could also go the Josh Phelps route.

Mick Doherty - Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 01:15 PM EDT (#129680) #

Tonight is opening night for the NHL? You mean, like, hockey is back? Oh.

Magpie - Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 01:38 PM EDT (#129683) #

For what it's worth, Clement only hit two batters. ESPN's box score tends to repeat things for some reason.

DOH! Well, that calls for a nice, seamless edit. Don't want posterity to think poorly of me...

Wildrose - Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 01:57 PM EDT (#129688) #

I think the team should pursue Morneau hard, they have the prospects and financial clout to match any other potential offer.

The big issue is, obtaining Morneau is a calculated risk, you'd have to believe his performance in 2005 was an aberation, and that he can resume his 2004 trajectory.

I don't think you can build a championship organization without being bold.

Lefty - Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 02:11 PM EDT (#129690) #

Thanks Magpie for throwing the Morneau rumour up for discssion on a real thread.

I posted the initial comment on this yesterday in the Koskie poll thread, which is no longer up. I am glad to see many posters have picked up and all the points made in that post and expanded on those thoughts.

I also threw out the Phelpsian warning shot as an off the cuff comment. But I think it would be instructive to see what Gleeman.com has to say on his blog. This is a small exerpt:

"However, if Hunter is no longer able to coexist with players like Morneau, the fact is that it is Hunter who should leave. While he is a key part of the team and a big reason for the Twins' recent success, if the team is going to return to the top of the division it will be because of the development of young players like Morneau, not Hunter".

Aaron appears to believe that Morneau does have a future and would rather see Hunter's departure from the Twins than players such as Morneau. That gives me additional reason to believe this rumour is worthy of strong consideration from the front office.

During his 2004 minor league season Morneau was hitting for avg. and power. He was the talk of baseball before he made his major league debut. Then sent back down only to be recalled in August. During his rookie year he was all over the place in the batting avg. catagory. But his power was unmistakeable. Later in the 2004 campaign pitchers started staying away from him. Causing his avg. to fall. He made the necessary adjustments and started drawing his walks and fouling off the borderline pitches.

His minor league numbers do suggest he can hit for avg. There is also evidence he can hit for avg. in the majors if he can maintain plate discipline.

I chalk-up his poor numbers in 2005 to two issues. The first being the unsettled nature of the Twins line-up all year. The team was in total disarray out of the blocks and nothing changed all year long. And two, as previously mentioned, Morneau really wasn't healthy at any time during the year. It was one issue after another.

I'd say if you stuck him in the four hole with a consistant though uninspiring BlueJay line-up this kid would flourish.

I also pointed out that his value may never be lower than at present. But this doesn't mean the Twins are are going to be ready to give this guy away. The Twins appear well stocked in pitching at the major league level now. Maybe someone like Rosario in low minors might entice them. And maybe with the Rivas departure and less than inspiring middle infield overall the might have an interest in Hudson. Would anyone do that deal?

All I can say is that is time for the Jays to land a bopper. Morneau just may be it. I bet the Jays have already done their due dilligence on this guy. I wonder what their conclusions are?

Lefty - Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 04:04 PM EDT (#129704) #

Could the BlueJays be interested in this player? I suppose the Marlins do not intend to file for arb.

The Marlins aren't expected to make an attempt to keep outfielder Juan Encarnacion.
Jeremy Hermida will have a chance for an everyday position next year. SOURCE Rotoworld.com

AWeb - Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 04:29 PM EDT (#129705) #

Had anyone heard about this beforehand:
http://tsn.ca/mlb/news_story.asp?id=138811

Apparently, the A's just let Macha go. I'm kind of hoping Beane will announce that he'll do the coaching himself. Just so a few sportswriters/broadcasters heads explode.

Jordan - Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 04:29 PM EDT (#129706) #

This is a surprise:

Oakland Athletics manager Ken Macha was out of a job Wednesday after failing to reach an agreement on a new contract, general manager Billy Beane said. "We decided it's best to part ways at this point," Beane said on a conference call.

"We offered a three-year deal with a club option and they countered with a three-year deal without a club option," Beane explained. "I don't think we were ever going to be able to bridge the gap. It was a significant gap."

That doesn't sound like an unbridgable chasm to me. Very odd.

Lefty - Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 04:48 PM EDT (#129707) #

Stacking up the reports posted by Jordan and AWeb, I'd have to agree this is odd. It seems its getting more common to part ways using money as the pretext.

BCMike - Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 05:03 PM EDT (#129710) #

Maybe Macha just wants to manage a team that has a few players who can sell jeans ;)

A club option sure doesn't sound like a significant gap.

Mick Doherty - Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 05:18 PM EDT (#129711) #

Ken Macha ... Toronto coach and manager-in-waiting?

Jordan - Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 05:28 PM EDT (#129714) #

I think the Jays were very interested in Macha during the Buck Martinez interviews, but I doubt they'd bring him onboard now. They like Gibbons and they've given him and his staff contract extensions. I also doubt Macha would be interested in a demotion to coaching.

I would have to imagine Paul DePodesta will give Macha a call very shortly. As for the A's, the Primer folks are suggesting Bob Geren, Ron Washington or Larry Dierker.

Lefty - Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 05:30 PM EDT (#129715) #

He seems to have done pretty well with revolving and young talent.

Devil Rays might be a good fit. And I bet the guys at ussmariner would love to have him in Seattle.

I just have a feeling that the BlueJays won't have the resources to sign him. Ricciardi wouldn't dare bring him in anyhow. Would he?

Magpie - Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 05:42 PM EDT (#129716) #

Macha's name came up last week in connection with the Pirates job as well...

Craig B - Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 05:51 PM EDT (#129717) #

Encarnacion - I doubt it. At least, I hope so. Encarnacion is basically Shea Hillenbrand minus 30 points of batting average, and he's about equal to Alex Rios in right field.

A good 2005 with the bat doesn't change that.

Pistol - Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 06:05 PM EDT (#129718) #

"That doesn't sound like an unbridgable chasm to me. Very odd."

Well, that's probably because there was no money mentioned.

It sounds like the A's didn't really want Macha back and lowballed him forcing Macha to be the one to leave.

Managers rarely work the final year of their contract - they're either extended or fired. That Oakland let his contract run out indicates to me that they didn't really want Macha.

Smithers - Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 06:13 PM EDT (#129719) #

The possible trade for Morneau sounds like a good starting point for JP to begin reshaping the team. Although Koskie's off-year can be partly explained by injuries, I'm not positive that he will be able to help the team going forward. If the Twins would take him back as part of a potential deal, it would allow Hill and Hillenbrand to share 3B and allow the Jays to retain O-Dog at 2B. Morneau would step in at 1B and give them a lefty slugger to replace Koskie. I'm not sure if Hinske will return, but he would be a useful whipping boy for another year in the chat. Hopefully a useful fill-in 1B/DH as well.

I would hate for the Jays to trade Orlando because of how much we would miss his glove and enthusiasm. So what if he is arb-eligible, I say use some of the new money to give him a new 2-3 year deal.

Lefty - Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 06:18 PM EDT (#129720) #

Craig B, I should have put in a sarcasm tag.

The reason for posting that was he is a bat that fits in with Ricciardi's public position of downplaying the possibility of a real batter and his thoughts on getting two "useful" bats.

Clearly, this is not the player the fans want to see. But does fit Ricciardi's vision of the possible.

Lefty - Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 06:20 PM EDT (#129721) #

The money is mentioned in AWeb's link.

Jacko - Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 06:58 PM EDT (#129722) #

Nobody can know for sure what caused Morneau's numbers to plummet this year, but there are some pretty obvious reasons to look at:

(a) untreated bone chips in his elbow
(b) pressure from hitting cleanup for the first time
(c) fatigue from getting over his other offseason issues (chicken pox, appendicitis, and pneumonia)
(d) getting beaned in the head early in the season (though he did go on a tear once he got over the concussion)

If the Twins aren't willing to cut Morneau a little slack, and are anxious to run him out of town, then the Jays should do everything they can to trade for him. His trade value couldn't possibly be any lower.

I think it's pure fantasy that Koskie + a prospect would be enough to land Morneau. Koskie is a very old 32 while Morneau is only 24. If the Twins trade him, you can be sure they will be asking for a position player in return, perhaps Adams, Hill, or Hudson. I still think that's worth considering.

The other deal the Jays should be looking at is trading Koskie to the Phillies for Thome and cash. Over the next 3 years, the difference between Koskie and Thome is around 30MM. If the Phillies are willing to kick in some of the difference, it's a deal worth making.

I'd love to see the Jays land Ryan Howard, but I think he's going to end up costing way too much.

Cristian - Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 07:38 PM EDT (#129725) #

Interesting piece in a Toronto Sun article today:

Ricciardi said existing players often are called on to help seal the deal. Scott Schoeneweis, for instance, already has spoken to Washburn about the virtues of playing for the Blue Jays. "I don't want to go too far into it, but he's looking for anything," Schoeneweis said the other day. "He told me his decision is a long way off but he is open to anything."

I don't think it's tampering for Schoeneweis to talk to his friend about playing in Toronto. However, the way the article is written, it seems possible that JP asked Schoeneweis to contact Washburn. This is probably tampering. The fact that Washburn's season is still ongoing makes the situation even stickier.

Jim - Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 09:39 PM EDT (#129726) #

I could see Morneau as a left handed hitting version of Konerko. About the same size, both had some doubts at the point in their careers where Morneau is.

I saw more of Justin Morneau in the minors then probably any player that has ever come through New Britain. I have been wrong about players, but the only three prospects that I saw a good amount of and liked better then Morneau were Bagwell, Bernie Williams and Jay Bell. I would trade either Hill or Adams as the centerpiece of a deal for him without blinking.

Remember the last slugging first basemen that the Twins gave up on too early on.

Would it be a risk? Sure, but sometimes you need to take them to get to the next level.

Braby21 - Wednesday, October 05 2005 @ 10:09 PM EDT (#129728) #

Source - Fanball.com
Wednesday, October 5, 2005

When asked about third baseman Corey Koskie's future with the Blue Jays, general manager J.P. Ricciardi told the Toronto Star, "I don't know, If Aaron Hill is on our club he's going to have to play every day. I don't think it would do him any good to be a reserve. It will play itself out." The Twins were apparently upset when they lost Koskie and have exchanged offers with the Blue Jays since. The Jays might be willing to pay the difference in what the Twins had offered last winter and then throw in a mid-level prospect to get Morneau to fill their first base void.

Please do it...now. Give them Gross or Bush, Koskie and the difference between Koskie's and Morneau's contracts for a year for Morneau...now.

This Day in Baseball, Playoff Edition: October 5 | 45 comments | Create New Account

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.