Parra avoids arbitration

[reillymcshane]

I think it's a great idea to give Parra another try as a reliever.

 

As was pointed out, he's had success as a reliever (although only 60 innings, so small sample size alert should be on). And we could use a lefty or two in the pen. Parra is still young. He's got a good arm.

 

If he looks like crap in spring training, you can let him go. The risk is that you end up eating the 1/6th of his salary he's due if cut - which is $200,000. Of course, he could get hurt and get put on the IR, and we'd be forced to pay him his $1.2 million. That's another risk.

 

Like Braddock, I wouldn't look at him strictly as a loogy. I could see a really strong bullpen if Parra and Zach can rebound.

 

A bullpen of Axford, K-Rod, Loe, Parra, Braddock, Veras and Estrada wouldn't be shabby. Add in McClendon, Dillard, Kintzler and Fiers to the mix - you have good competition and depth.

 

At the risk of losing 200K, I say Manny's a good risk.

[CheezWizHed]

de la Rosa was given up on by 4 organizations before he found success. You can't blame the Brewers for the one.

 

I was pointing out the "People Complaining" on both sides of the issue, not blaming the Brewers. MLB teams eventually have to give up on guys that might find success elsewhere. It happens. Its just too early to do that with Parra, IMO. Also, at $1.2M, he is only $6-700k more expensive than a MLB minimum, right? Its not like we save the whole $1.2M by cutting him.

 

DLR isn't a bad comp either, IMO. Power lefty with good AAA numbers and struggling MLB numbers (at this point in their careers). Both had some injury issues. Not saying Parra will be the next DLR, but its why guys with those skillsets keep getting more chances. Especially the left-handed ones.

[thumperden]

Parra has professed his preference to be a reliever when he was still struggling with injuries in the minors, as has been circulated in forums right here on brewerfan.net. He complained about throwing with pain, and to make a long story short, was told by the coaches he has to deal with it like the others have to. That was the first sign I had seen anywhere where he may not be strong mentally. We have since seen his confidence crumble time and time again in the bigs when he gave up long ball after long ball.

He offered much promise as a starter, which is why the club kept trying him in that role. It's obvious that his starting days are behind him. I pull for him to have a strong comeback year and hope he has addressed his mental fragility. I can't remember if he throws a cutter but it sure would be nice to have a fastball with some movement on it, regardless of role he has on the team.

[JohnBriggs12]

What has DLR accomplished that would have been worth having him around stinking up the joint for most of 5 seasons? At least when DLR was around, the Brewers didn't fashion themselves as serious contenders. And by 27 DLR started turning it around. Parra is 29, has never shown any sign that he's improved significantly and he's coming off a season lost to injury. I don't get the comp at all. Letting DLR go was the right decision then. He was out of options and the Brewers were very close to contending.

 

And don't kid yourself, $700K is significant to any business the size of the Brewers. I know, I work for just such a company. It doesn't make or break them but you don't throw it away either.

[joepepsi]

Have you heard a Rolling Stones ablum in the last 40 years?

 

Not to turn this into a Stones discussion, but they've released a lot of good stuff since '72. Exile on Main Street, Some Girls and Tattoo You are generally regarded as good albums. I also have a soft spot for Undercover (wore that cassette out one summer). You can't compare Manny Parra to Mick Jagger either. To me, he's a one hit wonder at this point (first half of '08). I will compare him to Norman Greenbaum at this point. His 'hit' was very good, but we are years removed. This season will probably provide his last opportunity for another hit, if he doesn't get one, he's going to lose his record deal.

Nice analogy with Norman Greenbaum! My point is the Rolling Stones still may be tremendously popular but they mostly ride the wave of past successes and have been for a very long time. Parra is doing the same in a way, riding on the success of one OK season.

 

fwiw, Exile was released in 1972. I was around when Some Girls was released. I was turned off by the disco pandering, the incredible hype at the time of release, the mocking C&W, and the overall commercialism of the Jagger dominating era of the group. That's just my opinion; lots of people and critics loved that album and Tattoo You.

[Roderick]

Did any dollar amount for Kotteras signing ever come out?

[Thurston Fluff]

As bad as Will Ferrell may have been in "Land of the Lost", I'm sure the movie sold a lot more tickets with him in it that it would have with say Jim Belushi or someone like that. Also, I didn't see the movie, but was it really Ferrell that was bad, or the writing, directing, plot, co-stars, and other things that were out of Ferrell's control?

 

Dude got nominated for a Razzie as worst actor for that movie. I doubt anyone could have done worse than he did. I also made less money than it cost to make. If that was his only bad movie lately then maybe we could say it was other people's fault. He was rated most overpaid actor two years running by Forbes. You don't become that from one movie. He was good in the Other Guys but his high water mark was

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. since then he was getting paid on reputation more than current ability. Bringing that back to baseball same goes with players. They are paid based off the belief that some of what they are capable of doing in the future is based off what they have done in the past. Obliviously age plays a part in that but Parra isn't old.

[logan82]

Of course a player in arbitration is going to get a raise or at the very least get the same amount of money. Players are grossly underpaid before they hit arbitration. Even after they hit arbitration in some cases.

[RockCoCougars]

Have you heard a Rolling Stones ablum in the last 40 years?

 

Not to turn this into a Stones discussion, but they've released a lot of good stuff since '72. Exile on Main Street, Some Girls and Tattoo You are generally regarded as good albums. I also have a soft spot for Undercover (wore that cassette out one summer). You can't compare Manny Parra to Mick Jagger either. To me, he's a one hit wonder at this point (first half of '08). I will compare him to Norman Greenbaum at this point. His 'hit' was very good, but we are years removed. This season will probably provide his last opportunity for another hit, if he doesn't get one, he's going to lose his record deal.

Nice analogy with Norman Greenbaum! My point is the Rolling Stones still may be tremendously popular but they mostly ride the wave of past successes and have been for a very long time. Parra is doing the same in a way, riding on the success of one OK season.

 

fwiw, Exile was released in 1972. I was around when Some Girls was released. I was turned off by the disco pandering, the incredible hype at the time of release, the mocking C&W, and the overall commercialism of the Jagger dominating era of the group. That's just my opinion; lots of people and critics loved that album and Tattoo You.

For some reason, I thought Exile was '74. Anyway.... since I grew up with it, I really don't mind any of the 'later' Stones catalog except Bridges to Babylon- even some of the albums that are almost universally panned.

 

Anyway, kinda-back on topic, if Parra is Greenbaum, I'd say that Jagger could be represented by Clemens. They ceased touring/playing at roughly the same time, and though it could be argued that they were only in it for the money, when push came to shove, they still performed pretty well. (I doubt that Mick was on HGH though).

[dadofandrew]

Parra has very good numbers as a reliever in his career. Good bargain for $1.2M, if healthy.

 

LHP's that throw 93 (and can hit 94-95) mph have value even if they have sucked. Considering Manny has had sporadic success, he's a good risk, for $700K over the minimum.

[Funketown]

Dude got nominated for a Razzie as worst actor for that movie. I doubt anyone could have done worse than he did. I also made less money than it cost to make. If that was his only bad movie lately then maybe we could say it was other people's fault. He was rated most overpaid actor two years running by Forbes. You don't become that from one movie. He was good in the Other Guys but his high water mark was

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy.

Yeah, Ferrell was horrendously bad in that movie, although I'm not sure anybody could have saved it. And that's coming from a guy who enjoyed Blades of Glory and Stepbrothers.

 

In baseball terms, he went 3-15 with a 7.86 and gave up about 1.98 HR/9.

[joepepsi]

This thread is a Hat Trick. 3 topics at once. I am proud to have contributed!

[Polish Falcons]

Did any dollar amount for Kotteras signing ever come out?

 

 

$700k

[CheezWizHed]

This thread is a Hat Trick. 3 topics at once. I am proud to have contributed!

- Did any dollar amount for Kotteras signing ever come out?

- Ferrell was horrendously bad in that movie

- Not to turn this into a Stones discussion

- Parra has very good numbers as a reliever in his career.

 

I count 4 topics... http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

[adambr2]

Parra doesn't really profile as a LOOGY though, nor does Braddock, so it will be interesting to see if one or both of them make the pen, and if we end up seeking an actual LOOGY this year from somewhere.