Olney on ESPN Radio

[jjgman21]

i will take this time to point out that abreu's power numbers aren't "rapidly declining". he's never been a guy to hit a ton of home runs. what he does is hit line drives.

 

oh yeah, and he makes pitchers work hard, but we're the cubs, we just want guys who "put the ball in play" no matter what the cost.

 

I agree with sulley - I think people got the wrong idea about Abreu after he mashed in the HR derby last year.

 

He's never hit more than 31 HR's for a season (2001). And he hit only 20 HR's in both 2002 and 2003 -- despite playing in all but five games over those two seasons.

 

But the guy hits doubles like there's no tomorrow.

 

Please, Mr Hendry, figure out a way to trade for him before the Cardinals do.

 

(I get a kick out of the fact that his middle name is Kelly: Bob Kelly Abreu.)

 

just because he didn't hit as many HRs earlier in his career as many may think doesn't mean his power isn't rapidly declining. he was a 25-30 HR guy, that is true. but he hit only 6 post all-star game last year and only 8 through 2/3 of the season this year. yes, he's always been a doubles machine, but he's on pace to hit about 25 percent fewer doubles this year than his career average. all while playing his home games in one of the most homer friendly parks in baseball.

 

I mean what is so hard to understand here?

 

 

career 507

99 549

00 554

01 543

02 521

03 468

04 544 (moved to Citizens Bank from the Vet)

05 474 (526 first half, 411 second half)

06 438

 

the only argument that his power isn't rapidly declining is that it is steadily declining.

[Flames24Rulz]

Olney is 0/1 so far.

[jjgman21]

Abreu shows all the signs of a rapidly declining player. When all you do is walk, and you've stopped hitting HRs, pitchers stop walking you and then you have no value and a $15 million contract. See Willlie Mays '71-'72, Gary Matthews '84-'85, and Toby Harrah '86-'87(or '85-'86).

 

What's with this "all he does is walk" crap? He's still hitting .280, higher than all but 3 Cubs, and has 35 XBH, more than all but 2 Cubs.

 

I also don't understand what the futility of the current Cubs has to do with the quality of baseball player Abreu is.

 

those numbers are also taken way out of context. I don't think its fair to use these generalities considering the absense of Lee. if Lee were healthy, I think it fair to say Abreu would be fourth in XBH on the current Cubs. you also need to consider he is only ahead of Barrett by 3 XBH. take away the suspension, and suddenly Abreu would be fifth in XBH on the Cubs.

 

also, I know you don't believe all that much in the importance of average, but let's give what you say above some more context

 

332 Barrett

288 Jones

285 Murton

280 Abreu

279 Pierre

278 Walker

268 Aram

 

considering the way Abreu has been going and the way Aram, Walker, Pierre have been going, it's likely Abreu would be 7th on the team in average in about three days.

[goonys evil twin]

I also don't understand what the futility of the current Cubs has to do with the quality of baseball player Abreu is.

 

That's a good point.

 

I'm not trying to say he's having an amazing power year. He's down. He's not the player he was at his peak. But he's still good and it's completely asinine to say all he does is walk. Bobby Abreu would improve this team a significant amount. Cost is an issue, but when measured against other potential acquisitions, it's not that big of an obstacle.

[jjgman21]

I also don't understand what the futility of the current Cubs has to do with the quality of baseball player Abreu is.

 

That's a good point.

 

I'm not trying to say he's having an amazing power year. He's down. He's not the player he was at his peak. But he's still good and it's completely asinine to say all he does is walk. Bobby Abreu would improve this team a significant amount. Cost is an issue, but when measured against other potential acquisitions, it's not that big of an obstacle.

 

I think earlier in this thread or in another it says Abreu is demanding his option be picked up and he be given and extnesion if traded to the Yankees, with a chance to win a WS this year!

 

if that's the case, I don't see him allowing a trade to the Cubs without an extension, and if that's the case, getting Abreu would be a huge mistake, don't you agree?

[goonys evil twin]

I also don't understand what the futility of the current Cubs has to do with the quality of baseball player Abreu is.

 

That's a good point.

 

I'm not trying to say he's having an amazing power year. He's down. He's not the player he was at his peak. But he's still good and it's completely asinine to say all he does is walk. Bobby Abreu would improve this team a significant amount. Cost is an issue, but when measured against other potential acquisitions, it's not that big of an obstacle.

 

I think earlier in this thread or in another it says Abreu is demanding his option be picked up and he be given and extnesion if traded to the Yankees, with a chance to win a WS this year!

 

if that's the case, I don't see him allowing a trade to the Cubs without an extension, and if that's the case, getting Abreu would be a huge mistake, don't you agree?

 

Signing him to the equivalent of a 5/65 would be a mistake. But picking up his option would not bother me in the least. I see very little out there that could help this team if they choose to ignore this opportunity. He's not the most cost-effective option, but he's one of the few that actually improve the team.

[soccer10k]

i will take this time to point out that abreu's power numbers aren't "rapidly declining". he's never been a guy to hit a ton of home runs. what he does is hit line drives.

 

oh yeah, and he makes pitchers work hard, but we're the cubs, we just want guys who "put the ball in play" no matter what the cost.

 

I agree with sulley - I think people got the wrong idea about Abreu after he mashed in the HR derby last year.

 

He's never hit more than 31 HR's for a season (2001). And he hit only 20 HR's in both 2002 and 2003 -- despite playing in all but five games over those two seasons.

 

But the guy hits doubles like there's no tomorrow.

 

Please, Mr Hendry, figure out a way to trade for him before the Cardinals do.

 

(I get a kick out of the fact that his middle name is Kelly: Bob Kelly Abreu.)

 

just because he didn't hit as many HRs earlier in his career as many may think doesn't mean his power isn't rapidly declining. he was a 25-30 HR guy, that is true. but he hit only 6 post all-star game last year and only 8 through 2/3 of the season this year. yes, he's always been a doubles machine, but he's on pace to hit about 25 percent fewer doubles this year than his career average. all while playing his home games in one of the most homer friendly parks in baseball.

 

I mean what is so hard to understand here?

 

 

career 507

99 549

00 554

01 543

02 521

03 468

04 544 (moved to Citizens Bank from the Vet)

05 474 (526 first half, 411 second half)

06 438

 

the only argument that his power isn't rapidly declining is that it is steadily declining.

 

You hit it right on the head.

[NorthsideAvenger]

Abreu shows all the signs of a rapidly declining player. When all you do is walk, and you've stopped hitting HRs, pitchers stop walking you and then you have no value and a $15 million contract. See Willlie Mays '71-'72, Gary Matthews '84-'85, and Toby Harrah '86-'87(or '85-'86).

 

 

I see your point, but his OBP is over .400. Even if he hits only 20 HRs a year, what's the big deal? ARam and Lee will both hit 30 every year. That sounds like enough power.

 

The point is......why trade for a great OBP with declining power for $15 mill, when you can prolly get Brian Giles for less then HALF of what Abreu is making. Giles still has a .382 OBP, and is mkaing slightly less the $8 mill this yr. And Giles plays in a tough HR hitters park. Trading for a $15 million dollar doubles hittters, is hardly consider a good move.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Abreu shows all the signs of a rapidly declining player. When all you do is walk, and you've stopped hitting HRs, pitchers stop walking you and then you have no value and a $15 million contract. See Willlie Mays '71-'72, Gary Matthews '84-'85, and Toby Harrah '86-'87(or '85-'86).

 

 

I see your point, but his OBP is over .400. Even if he hits only 20 HRs a year, what's the big deal? ARam and Lee will both hit 30 every year. That sounds like enough power.

 

The point is......why trade for a great OBP with declining power for $15 mill, when you can prolly get Brian Giles for less then HALF of what Abreu is making. Giles still has a .382 OBP, and is mkaing slightly less the $8 mill this yr. And Giles plays in a tough HR hitters park. Trading for a $15 million dollar doubles hittters, is hardly consider a good move.

 

I haven't seen any indication that the Padres want to move Giles. And even then, he's lost some power too and is even older than Abreu.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Abreu shows all the signs of a rapidly declining player. When all you do is walk, and you've stopped hitting HRs, pitchers stop walking you and then you have no value and a $15 million contract. See Willlie Mays '71-'72, Gary Matthews '84-'85, and Toby Harrah '86-'87(or '85-'86).

 

 

I see your point, but his OBP is over .400. Even if he hits only 20 HRs a year, what's the big deal? ARam and Lee will both hit 30 every year. That sounds like enough power.

 

The point is......why trade for a great OBP with declining power for $15 mill, when you can prolly get Brian Giles for less then HALF of what Abreu is making. Giles still has a .382 OBP, and is mkaing slightly less the $8 mill this yr. And Giles plays in a tough HR hitters park. Trading for a $15 million dollar doubles hittters, is hardly consider a good move.

 

Giles is under contract through 2008, and is more than likely not available (full NTC this year, limited the next 2).