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The Pirates declined SS Cesar Izturis‘ $5.45 million club option for 2008, making him a free agent, according to MLB.com.
Izturis, who has prior second-base experience, batted .258 in 110 games last season.
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Seriously? Eckstein’s greatest talent might be being able to blend in against a white-washed wall like some kind of man-sized chameleon. Unfortunately, this can’t be applied to baseball, which he happens to stink at.
Go with Gotay.
do u read the site? \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/
eckstein is pest..he always puts the ball in play…and matsui…well we ALL know about matsui….he cant play in NY despite his colorado year…i say go with castillo…good #2 hitter….hes the best choice out there…if u ask me….matt should do a poll of which second baseman would u guys prefer…
GOTAY?
ECKSTEIN?
MATSUI?
IZTURIS?
CASTILLO?
IGUCHI?
I say we sign Eckstein. He seems a good fit for our #2. Takes a lot of pitches, and always puts the ball in play and you know youll always get 100% out of him. Let Castillo walk and take the draft pick. With the supplemental picks from Castillo and hopefully Loduca and the extra 1st rounder for Glavine, next years draft will give us a real good chance to take a step forward in rebuilding our farm system.
The problem with Eckstein is that he plays bad D, has no power, never walks, never scores runs, never drives guys in. You could say alot of the same thing about Castillo except that he played solid to above average D. Also, Eckstein is becoming almost as big an injury risk as Castillo. Not to mention the fact that its been years since he played 2nd. Pass on both and give Gotay the job with Easley to spell him.
From Firejoemorgan.com on Eck:
Speaking of people whose brains are wrong, ESPN’s Buster Olney has some things to say about Eckstein:
3. David Eckstein, SS
Injuries have limited the shortstop to 240 games over his last two seasons, and he doesn’t have the body or playing style of someone who will last.
Sign him!
But nobody can argue this: When Eckstein plays, he produces.
I can argue that. I can easily argue that. You want me to argue that? I will argue that.
The man’s career OPS+ is 89. That is below average for baseball players. His career high OPS+ is 101. That is one percent better than the average baseball player. He has never had more than 26 doubles in a season. He has never had a slugging percentage in the .400s. He is a terrible hitter.
His batting average in each of his last three seasons is .294, .292 and .309, and he made a couple of All-Star teams.
Oh my God. If Buster Olney were a GM, he would stock his teams with Ecksteins and Juan Pierres and Christian Guzmans and they would go 20-142.
He has been a shortstop and the Cardinals need a shortstop, and Eckstein may end up returning to St. Louis. But Eckstein could also be, for a big-market contending club, a very interesting buy as a super utility player, because he can play second base, and perhaps even third base, along with some shortstop.
David Eckstein playing third base would be amazing. I would love to see that. If Jacoby Ellsbury hit a ball down the line to David Eckstein and Eck had to backhand it and throw from foul territory, by the time the ball landed in the first baseman’s glove Ellsbury would be sitting on the bench after his inside-the-park little-league HR and Kevin Youkilis would be at the plate with a count of 2-0.
You could move him around, give him days off when he had a nagging injury, and always inject energy into your team — like a sixth man in basketball.
This is a reason to sign him?
GM: So, tell me why we should sign your client.
Eckstein’s Agent: Tons of reasons. First of all, he’s a winner. Second, he can inject energy into your team. Third, when we gets injured — and he will definitely get injured — you can give him days off!
GM: (has long since left room)
Pay him well on a two-year deal and promise him 400 plate appearances, and he could help you get to October.
Pay him well on a two-year deal, and he will certainly collect his paychecks while not helping your team at all. And if your team makes it to October despite his mediocre/bad play, he will totally help you win in October, with his career .278/.333/.335 line in the postseason.
Finally, here is the voice of reason, in the form of Keith Law:
Quite possibly the most overrated player in baseball because people say “gritty” and “scrappy” and “smart” when they really just mean “short.” Eckstein has had a nice run in the National League as a slap-and-run guy who does all of the little things and not many of the big things: He’s got a short swing and isn’t strong, so he hits for very little power, and he’s never drawn many walks or worked the count. He’s still an above-average runner, but not a burner and not worth much on the base paths; the speed is most valuable in helping him bunt for hits or leg out some ground balls. He’s a bad defensive shortstop, and given his age he’s likely to get worse, so it makes much more sense for someone to sign him as a second baseman.
If Castillo doesn’t require 4 years ( and I would even hope for 2, but that seems unrealistic at this point) you bring him back. If his knee is ok, he’s your best option. Eckstein is probably the next best option. Everyone rags on this guy, and I have too, in fact, he’s just an annoying player, but i’ve hated him because of what he does, not what he’s not doing. But the guy gets it done, and he wins. There’s no denying that he’s played short stop for 2 world series winning teams. I dont care what the perception is, that’s getting it done.
Hmmm….
Julio Lugo just won a championship with the Red Sox.
He is thus a winner.
And this is very important.
Wright has never won a title.
He is thus not a winner.
That’s not getting it done.
Nor is Reyes getting it done.
We shall trade both for Lugo
sign Eckstine
have Lugo play 3rd and short at the same time
(because both have to be manned by a winner)
and we’re as good as World Champions
Assuming a full healthy 162 games
Izturis:
Opening Day Age 28, Prediction at Shea: .265ba .300obp .330slg with 20sb 1hr. Good range, Good glove. (You’re paying for youth, his glove, and roster flexibility 2B/SS/3B, depending on his attitude could be a great role/bench player) I’d go as high as 2 years $5.5 mil or 3/8.
Iguchi:
Opening Day Age 33, Prediction at Shea: .275ba .345obp .420slg with 15sb 10hr. Good range, Good glove. I’d go as high as 2 years $8 mil or 3/11.
Eckstien:
Opening Day Age 33, Prediction at Shea: .285ba .350obp .360slg with 20sb 5hr. Average Range, Average glove. (I’d pay more for Eckstien because he canplay SS, of his has ample postseason experience and a higher ceiling based on past performance). I’d go as high as 2/11 or 3/16.
Castillo:
Opening Day Age 32, Prediction at Shea: .295ba .365obp .360slg with 25sb 5hr. Good Range, Good glove. (Ceiling not as high as Eckstein, but I’d pay a bonus for his experience as our previous year 2B). I’d go as high as 2 years $12mil or 3/15.
Gotay:
Opening Day Age 25, Prediction at Shea: .280ba .350obp .400slg with 5sb 10hr. Poor Range, Average Glove. Under contract, likely to resign for $400k
Based on this I would sign the X Factor (Eckstein), more roster flexibility with 2B/SS, which would be nice if Reyes went down. Also, roster flexibility and Eckstein being a right handed hitter gives us a chance to see Gotay with more ABs as a switch hitter against righties.
djbutler: opening day age who knows? at shea prediction: will pull bizarre predictions from thin air and post them. No fact, just speculation. I’d sign him for 1 sec, not quite two cents.
Nice!
Thank you!
Predictions are speculation, that is the synonym for predictions??? That said, my numbers don’t stray far from park adjusted three year averages and any fool with access to a baseball encyclopedia (or baseball-reference.com) can see that. How ’bout contributing something to the discussion other than hate. Easy to hate, but I’d rather hear your predictions, assessments, or analysis on the topic at hand of the Mets 2B situation… who would you sign and why?
Honey, not hate!!!!! just a little snarky teasing.
I’d try Gotay. He’s young, he’s cheap, he practically is a draft pick! And when there’s a tough lefty out there, I’d stick Easley in.
No need to spend money on mediocrity nor to commit years to fragility.
I don’t think second basemen generally make or break a team. I’d not worry about second, and focus entirely on pitching at this point.
There will always be another Eck if Gotay doesn’t work. You lose nothing going with Gotay.
By your own estimation, Iguchi is the best option, and yet you’d sign Eckstein. Huh?
Iguchi the best option??? only if all you are looking for is a cheap 2B. However, the Mets have a cheap 2B in Gotay. Eckstein offer roster flexibility, backup if Reyes goes down (remember he used to be injury prone). If the Mets want a good 2B, Castillo is actually the best option, but he will cost as much as Eckstein if not more.
JETER THE TAX CHEAT
New York state tax officials want Derek Jeter to pay hundreds of thousands — possibly even millions of dollars — in back taxes and interest for the years 2001 to 2003, when he claimed Florida residency despite spending the bulk of his time in New York.
An administrative judge’s ruling shows that Jeter has claimed Florida residency since 1994. New York state isn’t going back that far, but it does want it’s cut from Jeter’s check from after be bought a $13 million apartment in Manhattan. Jeter made $34 million in salary from 2001 through 2003 and likely millions more in endorsements.
THROW HIS ASS IN THE SAME CELL WITH BONDS