LaRussa on Doug and Wolf

[Dback Jon]

Outfield is set.

Infield is up in the air, players will have to earn their positions (other than 1B, obviously)

September will be auditions for infield, as well as spring training.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Outfield is set.

Infield is up in the air, players will have to earn their positions (other than 1B, obviously)

September will be auditions for infield, as well as spring training.

Sounds about right... Now, about the starting pitching....

 

[Iceman]

Sounds about right... Now, about the starting pitching....

Tons of money to be spent on pitching next year

 

[overseascardfan]

Tons of money to be spent on pitching next year

I HOPE SO!!!!!!!! Our SP's are so inconsistent it's down right maddening. We also need to address the closer position long term as Ziegler is old and is a FA after next year plus he's is more of a set up man anyway.

 

[GatorAZ]

Our 4th best outfielder is the highest paid player on the team. OF is not set.

 

[Phrazbit]

Our 4th best outfielder is the highest paid player on the team. OF is not set.

Its not as though that is a serious problem. And, despite the current negativity, Tomas is having a pretty decent rookie season. I think the power numbers will come in time.

We have 4 solid outfielders.

 

[GatorAZ]

Its not as though that is a serious problem. And, despite the current negativity, Tomas is having a pretty decent rookie season. I think the power numbers will come in time.

We have 4 solid outfielders.

It's not a problem until his contract rises and AJ hits arbitration. Right now you can deal with a non power hitting corner OF who's a horrible defender making 5m.

 

[Phrazbit]

It's not a problem until his contract rises and AJ hits arbitration. Right now you can deal with a non power hitting corner OF who's a horrible defender making 5m.

I think the power numbers will eventually come for him, probably at the expense of his unexpectedly high batting average.

 

[Matt L]

It's not a problem until his contract rises and AJ hits arbitration. Right now you can deal with a non power hitting corner OF who's a horrible defender making 5m.

They should sign him to a longterm contract to buy out his arbitration years.

 

[GatorAZ]

I think the power numbers will eventually come for him, probably at the expense of his unexpectedly high batting average.

Batting average is an overrated stat if you're not walking. When you swing as much as he does you're bound to get hits but he has 15 walks/98 strikeouts and a .319 OBP. His high average and low OBP reminds me of Johnny Estrada when he was here. I didn't consider him good either.

bWar and fWAR both have him negatively rated. The other three OF's are 2-3-4 behind Goldy.

 

[GatorAZ]

They should sign him to a longterm contract to buy out his arbitration years.

Hopefully they do.

 

[Phrazbit]

Batting average is an overrated stat if you're not walking. When you swing as much as he does you're bound to get hits but he has 15 walks/98 strikeouts and a .319 OBP. His high average and low OBP reminds me of Johnny Estrada when he was here. I didn't consider him good either.

bWar and fWAR both have him negatively rated. The other three OF's are 2-3-4 behind Goldy.

Look, I'm not saying the guy is killing it, or that he is outproducing the other OFs, but he is a rookie who played in the minors for mere weeks. I think his current situation is hardly the disaster people are making it out to be. I expect him to improve.

 

[BC867]

I think the D-backs have come to realize that a great fielder vs. a good fielder is not worth the drop-off at bat between a good hitter and a weak hitter.

In other words, I don't expect Tuffy or Ahmed to be our starting Catcher or Shortstop next season.

Beef Wellington is a threat at bat every time he comes up and has done a solid job behind the plate.

And Owings has come to life now that he is back at his natural position of SS, opening up 2B for players who are better hitters than Ahmed.

 

[82CardsGrad]

It's not a problem until his contract rises and AJ hits arbitration. Right now you can deal with a non power hitting corner OF who's a horrible defender making 5m.

I would be surprised if the Dbacks allow AJ to reach arbitration. There have been suggestions floating around for well over a month now, that the team and AJ are very interested in reaching a long term deal.

 

[AZ Native]

I would be surprised if the Dbacks allow AJ to reach arbitration. There have been suggestions floating around for well over a month now, that the team and AJ are very interested in reaching a long term deal.

I can certainly see that happening, ala Goldy's prior extension.

 

[DWKB]

I'm not sure what the team will do, but AJ is the exact kind of player you ride through arb and then let go once they hit FA at the age of 32

 

[82CardsGrad]

I'm not sure what the team will do, but AJ is the exact kind of player you ride through arb and then let go once they hit FA at the age of 32

That's one way of dealing with him... Though I believe he's arb eligible next season.
If it were me, and I had a guy as multi-faceted & talented as AJ is, and as young as he is (turns 28 in December), and one who has consistently & publicly expressed his desire to remain a Dback for years to come... I would attempt to reach a 5-6 year deal.

 

[DWKB]

That's one way of dealing with him... Though I believe he's arb eligible next season.
If it were me, and I had a guy as multi-faceted & talented as AJ is, and as young as he is (turns 28 in December), and one who has consistently & publicly expressed his desire to remain a Dback for years to come... I would attempt to reach a 5-6 year deal.

1. 28 isn't really young for a ball player. The peak production age is still 27 over all.
2. He hasn't proven he can stay healthy
3. His Arb numbers don't show his full value. He'd be under paid through arb
4. He won't be a FA until 2019. Why a 5-6 year deal?

As a small market team, sucking all the cheap production out of an AJ Pollock is exactly how the DBacks should function. It's what OAK would do.

 

[82CardsGrad]

1. 28 isn't really young for a ball player. The peak production age is still 27 over all.
2. He hasn't proven he can stay healthy
3. His Arb numbers don't show his full value. He'd be under paid through arb
4. He won't be a FA until 2019. Why a 5-6 year deal?

As a small market team, sucking all the cheap production out of an AJ Pollock is exactly how the DBacks should function. It's what OAK would do.

He's been healthy this season. He's essentially had 3 full seasons in the bigs, and had a serious injury in one of them (last year).
I think, given the progression of health and overall care of the body, MLB players are performing at high levels well past the age of 28.
For me, giving him a 5 year deal is similar in ways to why I am in favor of giving Goldy a new, long-term deal - NOW. I think it demonstrates a strong commitment to building a sustained winning team. I think it illustrates to others that if you come to AZ and perform, you will be rewarded.

Curious - if AJ goes to Arb next season, what do you see as the most likely outcome?

 

[DWKB]

He's been healthy this season. He's essentially had 3 full seasons in the bigs, and had a serious injury in one of them (last year).
I think, given the progression of health and overall care of the body, MLB players are performing at high levels well past the age of 28.
For me, giving him a 5 year deal is similar in ways to why I am in favor of giving Goldy a new, long-term deal - NOW. I think it demonstrates a strong commitment to building a sustained winning team. I think it illustrates to others that if you come to AZ and perform, you will be rewarded.

Curious - if AJ goes to Arb next season, what do you see as the most likely outcome?

I don't want this to turn into a discussion about the quality of play Pollock provides because I think he's a good player too.

If I'm an owner/GM, I look at his total history, including minors, and see injury issues. I don't try to white wash those away. That would be unprofessional. I look at his age as well and see that comparable players with injury questions don't put up the kind of production at age 32 that they do at age 27. I look at my team budget and see that my limited money can be better used to build a winning team than PR salary deals. If I'm the owner/GM, I don't get as personally invested as a fan does, I keep level headed. That is the basis of my argument against an extension.

You've strongly advocated for a salary cap in the past. How do you reconcile that with this PR rewarding of players? At some point those two ideas clash.

 

[82CardsGrad]

You've strongly advocated for a salary cap in the past. How do you reconcile that with this PR rewarding of players? At some point those two ideas clash.

No doubt... I wouldn't take the position I've taken if we were dealing with a salary cap.

Also, I'm curious... what do you think the outcome would be if/when AJ goes to Arb??

 

[Matt L]

I don't want this to turn into a discussion about the quality of play Pollock provides because I think he's a good player too.

If I'm an owner/GM, I look at his total history, including minors, and see injury issues. I don't try to white wash those away. That would be unprofessional. I look at his age as well and see that comparable players with injury questions don't put up the kind of production at age 32 that they do at age 27. I look at my team budget and see that my limited money can be better used to build a winning team than PR salary deals. If I'm the owner/GM, I don't get as personally invested as a fan does, I keep level headed. That is the basis of my argument against an extension.

You've strongly advocated for a salary cap in the past. How do you reconcile that with this PR rewarding of players? At some point those two ideas clash.

The question remains, what would his arbitration figure be? As a GM i think i would prefer to have those figures set for 3-5 years rather than have it determined by arbitration. I think you have a good point that AJ's skill set is typically not awarded as much in arbitration as other types of players but that may be different in the coming years.

 

[DWKB]

The question remains, what would his arbitration figure be? As a GM i think i would prefer to have those figures set for 3-5 years rather than have it determined by arbitration. I think you have a good point that AJ's skill set is typically not awarded as much in arbitration as other types of players but that may be different in the coming years.

Assuming he's as productive and healthy, sure.

I think you could get him for just under $4M next year.

 

[Avondale Red Rage]

I heard the interview as I was crossing the valley. I thought it was interesting hearing how much LaRussa was looking forward to the Dbacks playing in the charged up atmosphere in Chicago this weekend.

I am as well, and am curious to see who performs, and for signs of a nucleus that's ready for prime time sooner, rather than later.