Comments on: Three Team Deal: Mets, Indians and Mariners – Putz to New York http://umpbump.com/press/2008/12/11/three-team-deal-mets-indians-and-mariners-putz-to-new-york/ In-your-face baseball commentary Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:44:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Matt B http://umpbump.com/press/2008/12/11/three-team-deal-mets-indians-and-mariners-putz-to-new-york/comment-page-1/#comment-57774 Matt B Fri, 19 Dec 2008 18:44:20 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=4076#comment-57774 Little late on this...but the reason the Indians were involved was to get bullpen help and a middle infielder. Smith will be the perfect situational 1-2 batter guy in the 7th or 8th inning for the Tribe. He's bad against lefties sure....but you can easily just not pitch him againt them. And consider the best lineup in the AL, the Tigers. Middle of that lineup consists of Cabrera, Ordonez, and Sheffield.....all righties. As far as Valbuena....he was voted as having the best plate discipline in the Mariners farm system. He's a lefty and could make the team out of ST and platoon with Carroll at 2B. Kinda reminds be a bit of a Ronnie Belliard type player. Will probably hit 8-12 HRs a year, play 'ok' D, and hit around .280. Not bad for a 2B. Tribe also has a lack of young talent up the middle on the infield. They still have Barfield.....then the cupboard is pretty bare (Rivero and Chisenhall are some SS's but were both in A-ball last year). So the Tribe traded one of their #4 outfielders (though I think Gut should have been starting, but that's beside the point) for a solid situational reliever and potential starting 2B.....both who are cheap (for the Indians that's important). We're not likely to sign Hudson because of price, nor Crede nor Orlando Cabrera. Cheap options will be needed for the infield, and Valbuena could be it. Little late on this…but the reason the Indians were involved was to get bullpen help and a middle infielder. Smith will be the perfect situational 1-2 batter guy in the 7th or 8th inning for the Tribe. He’s bad against lefties sure….but you can easily just not pitch him againt them. And consider the best lineup in the AL, the Tigers. Middle of that lineup consists of Cabrera, Ordonez, and Sheffield…..all righties.

As far as Valbuena….he was voted as having the best plate discipline in the Mariners farm system. He’s a lefty and could make the team out of ST and platoon with Carroll at 2B. Kinda reminds be a bit of a Ronnie Belliard type player. Will probably hit 8-12 HRs a year, play ‘ok’ D, and hit around .280. Not bad for a 2B. Tribe also has a lack of young talent up the middle on the infield. They still have Barfield…..then the cupboard is pretty bare (Rivero and Chisenhall are some SS’s but were both in A-ball last year).

So the Tribe traded one of their #4 outfielders (though I think Gut should have been starting, but that’s beside the point) for a solid situational reliever and potential starting 2B…..both who are cheap (for the Indians that’s important). We’re not likely to sign Hudson because of price, nor Crede nor Orlando Cabrera. Cheap options will be needed for the infield, and Valbuena could be it.

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]]> By: Ben L http://umpbump.com/press/2008/12/11/three-team-deal-mets-indians-and-mariners-putz-to-new-york/comment-page-1/#comment-57741 Ben L Sun, 14 Dec 2008 04:22:01 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=4076#comment-57741 whoops, misread the line of his career WHIP against lefties... over 2, damn. Yes, sucky versus lefties. But still pretty good against righties... this isn't a huge deal for the Indians but they still get a glove prospect and a young cheap decent reliever for a 4th outfielder. But yes, this deal could have easily been made without the Indians. whoops, misread the line of his career WHIP against lefties… over 2, damn. Yes, sucky versus lefties. But still pretty good against righties… this isn’t a huge deal for the Indians but they still get a glove prospect and a young cheap decent reliever for a 4th outfielder. But yes, this deal could have easily been made without the Indians.

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]]> By: Paul Moro http://umpbump.com/press/2008/12/11/three-team-deal-mets-indians-and-mariners-putz-to-new-york/comment-page-1/#comment-57727 Paul Moro Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:10:05 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=4076#comment-57727 Ben - regarding Reed, whoops. And Joe Smith is terrible against lefties. All sidearmers are worse against opposite-handed batters than those with more traditional deliveries. Ben – regarding Reed, whoops.

And Joe Smith is terrible against lefties. All sidearmers are worse against opposite-handed batters than those with more traditional deliveries.

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]]> By: Ben L http://umpbump.com/press/2008/12/11/three-team-deal-mets-indians-and-mariners-putz-to-new-york/comment-page-1/#comment-57726 Ben L Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:25:59 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=4076#comment-57726 On the why Cleveland: First of all Reed wasn't their guy, he was Seattle's... not that it matters since he's a glorified bench player. And Smith isn't really ineffective against lefty's more than he's just very rarely used against them, maybe Shapiro's team said they could make him better. Regardless, the Indians gave up a 4th outfielder, received a bench glove and and a young reliever. I kinda like the deal from them. On the trade as a whole: Wow. Quantity over quality. Mets win this one... hands down. Of course I would advise Mets fans to not claim the NL East title yet... after Santana the rotation is a bit of a crap shoot. Pelfry made some leaps forward but he needs to show he can sustain that. Maine is coming off injury and has yet to have a good post all star break. Then there's Niese... don't tell me you expect 200 innings out of a rookie. Mets still need a starter... or 3. On the why Cleveland: First of all Reed wasn’t their guy, he was Seattle’s… not that it matters since he’s a glorified bench player. And Smith isn’t really ineffective against lefty’s more than he’s just very rarely used against them, maybe Shapiro’s team said they could make him better. Regardless, the Indians gave up a 4th outfielder, received a bench glove and and a young reliever. I kinda like the deal from them.

On the trade as a whole: Wow. Quantity over quality. Mets win this one… hands down. Of course I would advise Mets fans to not claim the NL East title yet… after Santana the rotation is a bit of a crap shoot. Pelfry made some leaps forward but he needs to show he can sustain that. Maine is coming off injury and has yet to have a good post all star break. Then there’s Niese… don’t tell me you expect 200 innings out of a rookie. Mets still need a starter… or 3.

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