WSox get MacDougal; 'extremely close' to acquiring Soriano?

[noisesquared]

Todd Walker has had 5 years with at least 581 plate appearances - his OPS in those years:

1998 -.845 (buoyed by a career high .316BA, which he has never come close to duplicating)

1999 - .740

2001 - .814 (buoyed by half a year in Colorado where he posted a .497 SLG; his 2nd half in CIN posted a .418 SLG)

2002 - .785

2003 - .760

 

This tells me that if Walker was given 600PA in 05, his OPS would likely have been worse than Soriano's. Walker has only put up an OPS over .821 once in his career while playing full-time, and he was 25 when he did it.

 

I do think Walker has been a tremendous value for the Cubs, but he brings nothing special to the table. He gets on base at a respectable clip - but he's nothing special in terms of SLG or tools. Soriano at least gives you corner OF caliber SLG from second base, and has speed to steal bases and take extra bases. Given the choice at any time over the course of their careers, I'd take Soriano over Walker in a heartbeat. Even in 05.

 

Those stats tell me nothing. I don't see how they support your claim that he would have done worse in '05 if he'd played more. Nothing about his '05 stats indicate that he would have been worse if he had had another 150 PAs (esp since he was destroying LHP that year). He was just having a good year last year, for whatever reason.

 

But still, you either aren't understanding the point I'm making or you're just not fully reading my posts. I'm not arguing that someone would take Walker over Soriano ever, even in '05. I'm simply saying Walker was the better player in '05. Soriano has always had more tools and potential (and hype), he's a few years younger, and frankly GMs are enamored with what he does (homers and SBs) and undervalue the things he does poorly (OBP) so they overlook that. But if given the choice to have Soriano or Walker, you'd take Soriano - b/c Soriano has the potential to put up those near-.900 OPS's he had in NY (or to have a career year - like this year). Walker's never been a .900 OPS player. He gets on at a good clip (.350-ish) and he'll give you a little pop most years (he's 34 now, so a rapid decline is not wholly unexpected). No one is saying that at their best, Walker is better than Soriano. We're just saying that in 2005, Walker performed better. Why that's so hard to accept, I don't know.

 

I completely understand your point - I just disagree. My opinion is that Baker 'protects' Walker, be it random or not, and that has caused Walker's Cubs numbers to look good. Yes, Walker had a better OBP and OPS than Soriano in 05. He also did it in 240 less plate appearances. Could Walker have kept those numbers up if he played a full year? Sure, it's possible. But historically the stats say no, he wouldn't have. If the statement is "In 2005, Walker performed better with limited at bats than Soriano did in a full season", I'd have to go along with that.

[Burtonbell]

So, is this deal still close or what?

[Ding Dong Johnson]

So, is this deal still close or what?

 

The Washington Times is saying the reports were exaggerated and that they were nowhere close to a deal.

[Burtonbell]

So, is this deal still close or what?

 

The Washington Times is saying the reports were exaggerated and that they were nowhere close to a deal.

 

The chicago media over exaggerated? I dont believe it!

After Kenny Williams publicly stated McCarthy isnt going anywhere I figured this deal was dead...

[Ding Dong Johnson]

So, is this deal still close or what?

 

The Washington Times is saying the reports were exaggerated and that they were nowhere close to a deal.

 

The chicago media over exaggerated? I dont believe it!

After Kenny Williams publicly stated McCarthy isnt going anywhere I figured this deal was dead...

 

That Times article hinted at something I read somewhere else (don't remember where) that some of the talk was likely put out there in order to drive Soriano's price up, as if it wasn't already inflated.

[UBlink]

That Times article hinted at something I read somewhere else (don't remember where) that some of the talk was likely put out there in order to drive Soriano's price up, as if it wasn't already inflated.

 

You mean someone in a management position used leaks to inflate the value of a player they want to trade? I thought you were supposed to beat up on the players so the fans won't be upset when he's gone. Those Nats must not have a clue.

[abuck1220]

the nats just ph for soriano in the 5th inning. granted, they're losing by 10 runs, but that still seems pretty strange...

[Roast]

the nats just ph for soriano in the 5th inning. granted, they're losing by 10 runs, but that still seems pretty strange...

 

That it does... hmmm..

 

QUICK EVERYBODY SPECULATE.

[RonnieWooWooSanto]

the nats just ph for soriano in the 5th inning. granted, they're losing by 10 runs, but that still seems pretty strange...

 

That it does... hmmm..

 

QUICK EVERYBODY SPECULATE.

 

Even Vin Scully was questioning it.

[RationalSoxFan]

Soriano for Tino Martinez

[texascub]

He's probably going to Houston for a bag of balls and a can of Skoal.

[RonnieWooWooSanto]

He's probably going to Houston for a bag of balls and a can of Skoal.

 

I'd do it if they threw in a ten gallon hat.

[RationalSoxFan]

The Tigers can have him as long as Tino Martinez is kidnapped and put on a desert island. Who would ever let him speak into a camera?

[Roast]

He's going to SD for Scott Williamson.

[NCCubFan]

Nick Johnson and Austin Kearns also left the game early for the Nationals. I think it was probably just a case of giving players a little rest in a game that was out of hand anyway.