7) Double the scouting department budget on good scouts.
Double the player development budget on good instructors.

I like Holliday as a player.. probably a notch above Jason Bay both offensively and defensively. Some of you have to get over your fear/loathing of all things Boras. The guy does what he’s supposed to do and some players let him pull all the strings and others don’t. Take your best show and don’t be afraid to walk away, that’s my attitude with regards to Boras and his clients, starting with Teixiera

With less pressure in KC, Kennedy could blossom into a decent middle rotation starter. He’s young and did great flying through the minors. Seems the Yankees rushed him and the pressure is too much for him in NY.

Ka’aihue in 2008 at AA had a .450+ OBP, 104/67 BB/K, and 37 jacks in just over 400 ABs. He could be a guy to step in as the first baseman for the Yanks for many years to come. Since the Royals just traded for Jacobs and also have Butler and Shealy at first, it would appear the Kila could be available.

I don’t really remember if he was a “special instructor” type of a guy who was there when he could be (home games/practices) or if he was a full time coach that attended the away games as well – but I do know that he was definitely with USF.

Now I go back to enjoying the fact that Cincy beat USF yesterday for their 3rd loss!!

you’re right. i think i thought i was more like an average than a cumulative type stat.

thanks!

Last year Tex had a better season than Holliday. Tex had a Vorp of 67. Best year of his career. Holliday had a VORP of 60.

When you say Tex’s VORP is around 30 I think you’re only looking at part of his season’s statistics due to the fact that he was traded midseason in 2007 and 2008. To get his total VORP you have to add together what he did for both teams as VORP is a counting stat.

Tex is probably around a 50-55 VORP player for his career.

The bigger issue when looking at Matt Holliday’s statistics is how generalizable they are. If you are going to lay out $150M on a position player you can’t make a mistake. You need to know what you are getting.

Holliday’s home road splits are far too concerning IMO to lay out that kind of money for him. His career OPS is .130 points higher at home.

Put in another way Holliday is around a 75 VORP player at home and a 40-45 VORP player on the road.

Tex’s statistics are more reliably generalizable than Holliday’s are. You can be more certain of the kind of production you’ll get. So even though his absolute numbers aren’t as good as Holliday’s I would still prefer Tex.

but CB, Holliday blows Tex away if you go by your favorite stat, VORP. Tex is around 30 or so consistenly, while Holliday is up in the 60’s i believe…

exactly.. you are making my point. people covet Hughes as the next future ace of this staff, and wont trade him, even it if were to get the type of pitcher like Peavy most people think Hughes, at his ceiling, could become and is right now.

“This is what Gardner can become? Taravas is not exactly young either, he’ll be 27 next year and has been in the league for 5 years, so I don’t buy the fact that he’s still developing and learning the game.”

how is 27 years ol now old for MLB players? really?

he’s been in the league 5 years, but only played 4 full seasons… and one year, he missed 60+ games due to injury, and in the 1st year, he played in 10 games, and got 1 AB. that doesnt count as 5 years in the league.

his career averages are .283 and .330, which if thats what Brett Gardner was anywhere near last year, he’d be jesus christ reincarnated on this blog.

so yeah, Taveras, to me, is what people are crossing their fingers that Gardner hopes to become at the MLB level. he wont cost much, because he’s still arbitration eligible, and he might be worth a shot, especially if Kevin Long can get a hold of him and work with him.

i’m not saying thats a great thing, and i’m not saying that Gardner or Taveras would be the best two options for the Yankees to start CF next season.

but you gotta start to look somewhere.