Hinske to Red Sox

[Sabermetrician]

I've just been told this...sorry I don't have a link or anything.

[Laura]

The Boston Herald[/url]"] The Red Sox traded for slugger Eric Hinske earlier tonight, according to a major league source, a move that should immediately impact the club’s lefty-lacking offense.

It was not immediately known what the Red Sox sent the Toronto Blue Jays in return for the left-handed-hitting Hinske, who has played the corner positions in both the infield and outfield.

 

Also, from the link above:

 

Hinske may be joined in the dugout by another lefty hitter. The Sox also reportedly signed first baseman Carlos Pena away from the New York Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate.

[NorthsideAvenger]

I've just been told this...sorry I don't have a link or anything.

 

I can't find a source (maybe somebody can help me), but I remember BBTN saying the Red Sox also pick Carlos Pena up off waivers from the Yankees. Don't know how the Red Sox are going to find time for Hinske/Pena when they have Wily Mo/Greek God of Walks/Lowell/Ramirez/Ortiz at the corner positions/DH.

[texascub]

I've just been told this...sorry I don't have a link or anything.

 

I can't find a source (maybe somebody can help me), but I remember BBTN saying the Red Sox also pick Carlos Pena up off waivers from the Yankees. Don't know how the Red Sox are going to find time for Hinske/Pena when they have Wily Mo/Greek God of Walks/Lowell/Ramirez/Ortiz at the corner positions/DH.

 

They'll be situational players, and for depth. Kapler backs up both LF and RF according to Yahoo, so Hinkse is a definite upgrade over him. They can also use Pena (who wasn't doing too great at AAA) to backup Youkilis, since his listed backup is Loretta. As previously stated, the only lefty hitters Boston has are Ortiz, Crisp (a switch hitter), and Alex Cora so now they can throw a few more lefties in the lineup if they need to.

[Cubzfan64]

Supposedly the Hinske deal is for a low to mid level prospect from Boston. It's not a bad move for Boston really since Hinske can play alot of positions and still has potential upside.

 

Carlos Pena actually had reasonable AAA stats, .260BA, ~.350OBP, 19 HR's - he strikes out alot (~90 so far), but isn't a bad pickup either. He's reporting to Pawtucket, so I don't know if he's so much in the plan for this year (although I'm sure he'll be up in September), but possibly for next.

 

It doesn't address the Red Sox problems in the pitching department, but they're reasonably moves.

[CuseCubFan69]

Hinske is the kind of player the Cubs need to man the corner postions and pinch hit. Mabry has done a decent job though....not as well as I would have like but ok.

[abuck1220]

mabry's actually been quite terrible.

[Sammy Sofa]

mabry's actually been quite terrible.

 

Too true. He's slid down to becoming another Neifi...you can count him for solid to great defense, but you're lucky if he does anything with the bat.

[CuseCubFan69]

mabry's actually been quite terrible.

 

I'm trying to be nice. I'm to the point where I'm sick of bashing this team and ready to find another way to spend my time. This negative crap is getting me in too bad of a mood too often.

[RynoRules]

mabry's actually been quite terrible.

 

I'm trying to be nice. I'm to the point where I'm sick of bashing this team and ready to find another way to spend my time. This negative crap is getting me in too bad of a mood too often.

 

Here here. I don't see the point in bashing Mabry. He's been starting a lot of the time and shouldn't be, but that isn't his fault.

[goonys evil twin]

mabry's actually been quite terrible.

 

I'm trying to be nice. I'm to the point where I'm sick of bashing this team and ready to find another way to spend my time. This negative crap is getting me in too bad of a mood too often.

 

Here here. I don't see the point in bashing Mabry. He's been starting a lot of the time and shouldn't be, but that isn't his fault.

 

I don't see how that is a defense of Mabry. The guy has been brutal all year, starting or not. He had a sub 600 OPS for a while. Just because he's started more than expected doesn't change the fact that he's been awful, a terrible signing and a waste of roster space.

[RynoRules]

mabry's actually been quite terrible.

 

I'm trying to be nice. I'm to the point where I'm sick of bashing this team and ready to find another way to spend my time. This negative crap is getting me in too bad of a mood too often.

 

Here here. I don't see the point in bashing Mabry. He's been starting a lot of the time and shouldn't be, but that isn't his fault.

 

I don't see how that is a defense of Mabry. The guy has been brutal all year, starting or not. He had a sub 600 OPS for a while. Just because he's started more than expected doesn't change the fact that he's been awful, a terrible signing and a waste of roster space.

 

I think he has value if utilized correctly (i.e., as pinch hitter), but that Dusty hasn't done that. Its not really a defense of Mabry so much as its a criticism of Dusty.

[goonys evil twin]

I think he has value if utilized correctly (i.e., as pinch hitter), but that Dusty hasn't done that. Its not really a defense of Mabry so much as its a criticism of Dusty.

 

Dusty had no choice. Regardless, a bench player has to be able to add something to the team. Mabry didn't do that before he became a semi-regular player, and he hasn't done it since. He was awful in 2003, good in 2004, awful in 2005, and even worse now. He's almost 36 now. He probably doesn't have any value. It's not a matter of misuse, he's just not good, although he's had his moments over his career.

[goonys evil twin]

FYI, Mabry has the most pinch hitting appearances*, by far, on the team, and has put up a line of .206/.317/.382. That is no value.

 

 

*Bynum would probably have the title if he wasn't hurt.

 

 

 

Back to the original point, Hinske is a guy that I wanted them to target as a backup 3B/1B for the past year. I believe that once he was demoted last year he became available for pretty cheap by any team willing to take his full contract, which is a bit steap for a bench player, but hardly back breaking. Hinske is probably what Mabry could have been if he was younger, and better.

[Jehrico]

mabry's actually been quite terrible.

 

I'm trying to be nice. I'm to the point where I'm sick of bashing this team and ready to find another way to spend my time. This negative crap is getting me in too bad of a mood too often.

 

Here here. I don't see the point in bashing Mabry. He's been starting a lot of the time and shouldn't be, but that isn't his fault.

 

I don't see how that is a defense of Mabry. The guy has been brutal all year, starting or not. He had a sub 600 OPS for a while. Just because he's started more than expected doesn't change the fact that he's been awful, a terrible signing and a waste of roster space.

 

I think he has value if utilized correctly (i.e., as pinch hitter), but that Dusty hasn't done that. Its not really a defense of Mabry so much as its a criticism of Dusty.

 

I don't buy that either. Every bench player needs to be able to perform if thrown into a starting role if a starter gets hurt. It's part of the game. I don't think anyone has a clause in their paragraph that says that they're only getting paid for a max of 250 or 300 at bats. You should step up whenever the team needs it.

 

Now, if the manager isn't playing a player correctly, while that doesn't alleviate any blame from the player, it doesn't mean the manager is free from criticism either.

[biittner77]

FYI, Mabry has the most pinch hitting appearances*, by far, on the team, and has put up a line of .206/.317/.382. That is no value.

 

 

 

 

How can you say that when every 5th time he comes to the plate it's Katie Bar the Door. :D

 

I thought someone might point out that his OBP is so much higher than his avg.