Hank Blalock

[pogokat]

But Blalock means we have the risk that Joe Dillon or Vinny Rottino are not above average fielders when they are playing...

 

with the guys that don't need a platoon you at least know the defense will be consistant...

[twobrewers]

It's time to turn the page on Turnbow. He needs a change of scenery. McClung has similar stuff without the baggage.

By "the baggage" do you mean - "any major league success"?

 

McClung has simliar stuff and has never been successful. Turnbow has had several spans of brilliance in his career.

[molitor fan]

Whoa nelly - Blalock is a significantly better fielder than Braun. His metric rankings from his full seasons have him in the upper half of the league, iirc. Just because he's not great doesn't mean he's not much better than Braun. Ryan was catastrophically bad in 2007.

 

I simply disagree with you here. I believe defensive metric ratings are absolute garbage, and that Braun is projectable defensively. The wave of anti-Braun (at third) sentiment has bertainly been rising over the last several months. I choose to not hop on, as I think he has the tools to succeed, with repetition.

[madtowndrunkard]

Gwynn has been rumored to TEX twice last July, and they need rotation help.

 

They would seem to maych up wonderfully, and Doug's constant harping about a LH 3B seems very strange.

It shouldn't seem all that strange. We've got Hart and Hardy who cannot hit righties very well. We really don't have a legit #2 hitter. I think Melvin is thinking Blalock would hit 2nd vs righties and Hart or Hardy would hit 2nd vs lefties. I hate these platoons but Melvin for what ever reason loves them. I guess if gives something for Ned to screw up.

 

The big thing that bothers me about Blalock is his inability to hit away from Ameriquest. The other thing that bothers me is he's a 1st half hitter. Unless Blalock is just given to us, I think Doug should look else were. Who would play 3rd base vs lefties? Counsel? He's worse then Blalock. Graffy is not expected to be healthy for the start of the season.

 

While I understand Doug's want for a left handed hitter, Blalock should not be that guy. What Doug should really be looking for is a guy who can get on base vs righties...and that guy is Andy LaRoche. Either that or Rolen.

[Tbadder]

A Bill Hall--Hank Blalock platoon at 3rd base might put up some gaudy numbers.

[dpapo]

For what it's worth, in his latest blog Tom Haudricourt says,

"I'm starting to get some vibes on Texas third baseman Hank Blalock."

 

I'm have mixed feelings about Blalock and I wouldn't want to trade Bill Hall in a deal for him. That would just create another hole to fill and I'd just rather have Bill Hall than Blalock. I read somewhere that he worked really hard on taking grounders with manager Ron Washington. I guess it depends on what the Brewers would have to give up for him. However, I think I am going to do some more reading on Blalock just in case he does end up a Brewers.

[Ennder]

Whoa nelly - Blalock is a significantly better fielder than Braun. His metric rankings from his full seasons have him in the upper half of the league, iirc. Just because he's not great doesn't mean he's not much better than Braun. Ryan was catastrophically bad in 2007.

 

I simply disagree with you here. I believe defensive metric ratings are absolute garbage, and that Braun is projectable defensively. The wave of anti-Braun (at third) sentiment has bertainly been rising over the last several months. I choose to not hop on, as I think he has the tools to succeed, with repetition.

 

I can agree that defensive metrics are not as advanced as offensive, I can agree that it takes 2 seasons of data to really get a good feel for them. I cannot agree that they are rubbish, Braun is an absolutely terrible defensive 3B right now and there really is no way to argue any other opinion on it. He might very well improve next year, young players are generally defecient in defense and he hasn't played 3B all that long. This is 'the year' as I see it and I'm not sure we can take the chance on hoping he improves if there is another option out there. The Cubs will always be in contention and the Reds have one of the best minor league systoms in baseball so we have to deal with them soon. At some point the Astros might get a GM that has a clue and they have the money to contend as well. The division wont' stay this weak forever.

[PlayerHader]

For what it's worth, in his latest blog Tom Haudricourt says,

"I'm starting to get some vibes on Texas third baseman Hank Blalock."

Umm...that is the basis for this whole thread. Check the first post.

Also, count me as one who would be very excited to get Blalock at a reasonable price. Cheaper than Rolen with much more upside. He'd be great in our lineup in a division which most of the best seem to be RHP.

[TooLiveBrew]

This is 'the year' as I see it and I'm not sure we can take the chance on hoping he improves if there is another option out there.

 

To this point, there isn't a team in the Central better than the Crew. This is as good a year as we'll get...

 

Not a good time to hope that Braun only cancels out half his offense, which is likely to regress.

[logan82]

Not a good time to hope that Braun only cancels out half his offense, which is likely to regress.

I can't wait for all the "Braun swithching positions hurt his offense" posts next year if he moves to LF. I also think he will regress.

[Dmiles23]

If I remember correctly, Blalock's injury wasn't really his shoulder, was it? I thought I remember hearing that he had a rib removed because it was pinching the nerve to his arm. I may be completely wrong, but that's stuck in my head for some reason. But if he did only have a rib removed, it's much less of an injury risk.

[mothershipconnection]

Yep, Blalock did have a rib removed last season.

[Ennder]

If I remember correctly, Blalock's injury wasn't really his shoulder, was it? I thought I remember hearing that he had a rib removed because it was pinching the nerve to his arm. I may be completely wrong, but that's stuck in my head for some reason. But if he did only have a rib removed, it's much less of an injury risk.

What if it grows back and has to be removed again?

[Dmiles23]

What if it grows back and has to be removed again?

Then he is one unlucky dude!!

[mothershipconnection]

What if it grows back and has to be removed again?

 

What if it grows into a woman and disproves the theory of evolution?

[bretsky07]

On MLBTradeRumors, they mentioned the Haudricourt comment about Blalock, and one poster suggested Sheets for Blalock and Teagarden, a 23 year old catcher who hit .310/.426/.586/1.012 between High A and AA in 394 ABs last year. He struck out 128 times, but walked an impressive 75 times, while hitting 27 homers.

 

The writer at MLBTR suggested Dave Bush and a pitching prospect for Blalock.

 

The Bush trade seems decent if we don't give up more than Derek Miller or Steve Hammond or someone like that.

 

The Sheets trade, I don't know, I think we need to get pitching back for Sheets, but if Teagarden is a potential stud, I might be pretty interested.

[trwi7]

If they threw in a pitching prospect as well I'd do the Sheets trade with us throwing something back their way.

[valpocrewsader]

How about signing Cirillo to play 3B when facing lefties? Just a thought. It all still feels like nonsense when we have a mis-cast outfielder on our roster who would be just fine playing 3B.....

[hauser42]

Blalock would be a nice addition at 3B. Not sure what Brewers would give up for him. If the Rangers really do have interest in Gwynn I would make sure he is in the deal so that you can get something of value for him before it is too late.

[Patrick425]

Just because he's not great doesn't mean he's not much better than Braun. Ryan was catastrophically bad in 2007.

Everyone acts like a trained monkey could play the OF. I have visions of misjudged fly balls and other awkward looking plays..not only by Braun, but by Hall, who, contrary to what others believe, I don't think made "great" progress in CF (he made some progress, but not great progress). I would like to see an outstanding defensive player take Braun's place at third if the plan is to move him to the OF.

[bklynbrewcrew]

Keep Braun at third and forget Blalock who is way overrated and hits lefties about as well as Jenkins.

[Fatter than Joey]

The wave of anti-Braun (at third) sentiment has certainly been rising over the last several months.

 

Scouts have been squawking about Braun playing 3b since he was in the minors -- It's not as if Braun playing poorly is a novel idea. Blalock struggled last year, but he was hurt -- If you look at his career he has a fielding pct of about .960. I also agree that defensive stats are problematic, just like ERA is for relief pitchers -- but you don't need finely developed metrics to tell you Elmer dessens sucks.

 

Yep, Blalock did have a rib removed last season.

 

They should call this "Adam Surgery" -- Like Tommy John.

 

That said -- I am lukewarm on Blalock, I think he will get interest from the Phillies and others.

[naivin]

If they were to make this move of say BUsh/Cappuano + for Blalock, I would feel very good going into this season. They'll score runs, rotation looks good - very good if Sheets can manage to get through a season, defense should be a bit better, and there looks like enough bodies in the bullpen to provide the needed answers. If Gagne can return to form, the ripple effect could give them one of the best bullpens in baseball. Even if he doesn't have a great year, they should have enough to get by. (BTW, I think getting Rolen would have teh same effect.) GO Doug! Make it happen.

[JohnBriggs12]

Blalock in a lineup that includes Weeks, Hall, Braun, Hart, Kendall, and Hardy, isn't going to hurt you that much against the occasional lefty batting down in the order where he'd get at most 3 and quite often 2 plate appearences. His overall numbers vs. lefties are .230/.285/.354. Not good but it's not like he can't get a hit now and then and then be there later in games to face right handed relievers.

 

The NL Central's best pitchers are predominantly right handed. Having a lefthanded bat to compliment Fielder is a plus.

[statman0007]

I would still rather have Rolen, but I feel like a Blaylock/Rottino combination at third would be effective. Rottino wouldn't complain like Mench did about a platoon as well. But as already established, the chances of Yost sticking to a platoon are slim to none. Sigh.