If you HAD to choose...

[GatorAZ]

J.D. is a threat to impact 162 game each season (unless he's injured), mostly as a regular and the rest as a pinch hitter in a clutch situation.

Zach is a threat to impact approximately 32 games during the regular season, a few during the playoffs and two in the World Series (OK, a third if, like RJ, he relieves in Game 7).

And, as we've seen over the years, it is easier to come up with an ace of the staff than the guy who can make a difference hitting behind Goldy.

If the D-backs had a 1a ace like Johnson had Schilling, it would be closer. But Robby Ray (especially tonight) is nowhere near that invincibility.

That is why I use the argument of star position players having the potential to make an impact any day over the 162 game schedule. Nobody makes an impact every day as you quoted. 'Just my opinion.

Edit: Wow, what timing for J.D. to bail out our #2 starter's horrible night with a 2-run HR to tie the game after they pitched to Goldy for a sac fly (the benefits I cited about J.D.). I couldn't have composed it better.

Robbie, as an All Star pitcher, won't have the chance to redeem himself for five more games.

You keep using "games" as the deciding factor of impact. A starting pitcher's impact is every pitch in games they play. In terms of pitch-to-plate impact per season, a starter has much more effect than a position player even starting only every 5th day. When Martinez isn't at the plate he has a negative effect on the team. That's why he is 3rd in home runs and 40th in fWAR. Even Baseball Reference which puts less of an impact on defense and base running only has him 5-6 spots higher.

 

[82CardsGrad]

This club still has several holes to fill. They aren't complete yet.

2B, SS, 3B, and the bullpen all need to be addressed in the offseason.

Drury, Ahmed, Marte, Hoover, McFarland, maybe Owings, and maayyybe Lamb all need to go bye-bye.

Agree... but would be willing to stick it out with Marte for another year to see if he can develop into a more consistent hitter. He's got the defensive chops for sure.

 

[DWKB]

“He’s going to be much more attractive to teams that can offer designated hitter at-bats, but his bat should get him close to $100 million.”

This is an important point and goes back to @BC867 change in heart about the NL and the DH. JD is more valuable to an AL team than to an NL team, and we've seen the impact over and over again from Kubel to Trumbo to Tomas in the DBacks trying to stick an "all bat/no field" player into our OF because there is no DH slot.

Martinez is a MUCH better bat right now than those guys, but the principle is the same.

 

[Dude]

I would NEVER advocate trading pitching for hitting, but in this case I voted yes because I don't see the end result as simply an "A" or "B" outcome.

This is NOT a WS contending team. Their middle infield and 3B is a sucking black hole that shows no signs of improving.

My thought was that shedding Greinke's salary would allow for the signing of J.D. AND possibly shoring up one of the 3 infield spots and maybe even a reliever or two.

This club still has several holes to fill. They aren't complete yet.

2B, SS, 3B, and the bullpen all need to be addressed in the offseason.

Drury, Ahmed, Marte, Hoover, McFarland, maybe Owings, and maayyybe Lamb all need to go bye-bye.

Drury and Marte? I would not give up on them yet.

 

[Dude]

This is an important point and goes back to @BC867 change in heart about the NL and the DH. JD is more valuable to an AL team than to an NL team, and we've seen the impact over and over again from Kubel to Trumbo to Tomas in the DBacks trying to stick an "all bat/no field" player into our OF because there is no DH slot.

Martinez is a MUCH better bat right now than those guys, but the principle is the same.

He's also a gold glove player compared to Tomas.

 

[DWKB]

He's also a gold glove player compared to Tomas.

Regardless of if this is accurate or not, what's your point?

Martinez is still best suited at the position DH.

 

[Matt L]

Drury and Marte? I would not give up on them yet.

Drury is pretty average but I don't think there is anyone available that we could get to upgrade Lamb.

 

[BC867]

Regardless of if this is accurate or not, what's your point?

Martinez is still best suited at the position DH.

I have watched a lot of D-backs games this season and don't remember one instance where JD's play in the outfield cost us a game. I can't even remember one time, more than any other player, when he misplayed a ball. And that includes getting to balls, taking the correct angle, etc. I think he is getting a bum rap.

If you have some instances, I'd be curious to hear the type you mean which would override what he has meant to Goldy's performance and his own game after game.

Along with good ERA's among our starting pitchers and a dependable set-up and closer relief situation, I believe JD's contribution is the biggest reason for our success, even if his fielding numbers aren't that good.

And, as has been pointed out, if we let JD sign elsewhere and Tomas returns to the lineup, we'd have a worse defender, by far.

All of that makes up the big picture. JD has meant a lot more to the D-backs since he arrived than his shortcomings. Without him, we would not be leading the wild card race in the NL.

 

[Dude]

Drury is pretty average but I don't think there is anyone available that we could get to upgrade Lamb.

Yes but he's young yet. I would like to give him another year. I could be wrong but I think this was his first full year?

 

[Dude]

Regardless of if this is accurate or not, what's your point?

Martinez is still best suited at the position DH.

He plays outfield well enough. They're lot's of players playing outfield he would be an overall upgrade over. I think NL teams would be stupid to pass on him thinking he should just DH. What NL team would he not make better?


He's best suited to make any team a lot better. Where would we be right now without him?

 

[DWKB]

I have watched a lot of D-backs games this season and don't remember one instance where JD's play in the outfield cost us a game. I can't even remember one time, more than any other player, when he misplayed a ball. And that includes getting to balls, taking the correct angle, etc. I think he is getting a bum rap.

If you have some instances, I'd be curious to hear the type you mean which would override what he has meant to Goldy's performance and his own game after game.

Read these two links

https://www.blessyouboys.com/2017/3...oit-tigers-season-preview-jd-martinez-defense

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/210030328/jd-martinezs-defense-impacts-trade-value/

 

[Shaggy]

I would NEVER advocate trading pitching for hitting, but in this case I voted yes because I don't see the end result as simply an "A" or "B" outcome.

This is NOT a WS contending team. Their middle infield and 3B is a sucking black hole that shows no signs of improving.

My thought was that shedding Greinke's salary would allow for the signing of J.D. AND possibly shoring up one of the 3 infield spots and maybe even a reliever or two.

This club still has several holes to fill. They aren't complete yet.

2B, SS, 3B, and the bullpen all need to be addressed in the offseason.

Drury, Ahmed, Marte, Hoover, McFarland, maybe Owings, and maayyybe Lamb all need to go bye-bye.

Marte has been lights out at SS. Not sure why you think he's not. Lamb would be worth it if he just wasn't in his slump right now.

 

[DWKB]

He plays outfield well enough. They're lot's of players playing outfield he would be an overall upgrade over. I think NL teams would be stupid to pass on him thinking he should just DH. What NL team would he not make better?


He's best suited to make any team a lot better. Where would we be right now without him?

He adds MORE value to a team that can slot him in the DH position, even part time. You get the plus bat and don't have to take the minus glove.

I don't understand why this is hard to grasp.

 

[Dude]

He adds MORE value to a team that can slot him in the DH position, even part time. You get the plus bat and don't have to take the minus glove.

I don't understand why this is hard to grasp.

Because he isn't so bad playing him and adding another bat that can't play wouldn't be better for your team. Because just adding him makes any team better.

Did he mostly DH for Detroit? I don't know I'm asking?

 

[Brian]

Marte has been lights out at SS. Not sure why you think he's not. Lamb would be worth it if he just wasn't in his slump right now.

When a player shows you who he is...believe him.

Marte has shown he is a capable backup. He is a .260 hitter with an OBP of .317.

Lamb is now showing that his 2nd half slumps may be the norm. Don't know yet.

 

[overseascardfan]

When a player shows you who he is...believe him.

Marte has shown he is a capable backup. He is a .260 hitter with an OBP of .317.

Lamb is now showing that his 2nd half slumps may be the norm. Don't know yet.

Is it just LHP or is he now not able to hit RH either?

 

[Chris_Sanders]

When a player shows you who he is...believe him.

Marte has shown he is a capable backup. He is a .260 hitter with an OBP of .317.

Lamb is now showing that his 2nd half slumps may be the norm. Don't know yet.

His OBP is is .341 and his OPS is .734. At 23, he is 4 years from his spike and under team control.

What you are saying is really not understanding the value of youth on a small market team.

 

[BC867]

Read these two links

https://www.blessyouboys.com/2017/3...oit-tigers-season-preview-jd-martinez-defense

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/210030328/jd-martinezs-defense-impacts-trade-value/

That was then (2016) and hampered by a broken elbow. My point is that, since JD joined us in RF, I haven't seen any sub-par fielding.

I couldn't care less what he did for the Tigers. He's carried the D-backs -- carried them -- with no shortcomings to even come close to offsetting that.

Edit: JD walkoff to lock the home field advantage in Round 1. 'Sure is nice to have him batting behind Goldy.