A BJ is a Hard Thing to Replicate
Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 9:04 am
I just saw a blurb about Michael Bourn possibly getting close to signing with a team. In a fantasy sense, I get a chucle out of Scott Boras holding on to Bourn and Kyle Lohse as if teams will be clamoring for them. In the fantasy community, they are a judy and a pitcher who's statistics are team and ball park driven. Other GM's know this. They know, and they'll wait till they either get a one year deal or until Boras gives and realizes his clients are not material that can impact a team greatly.
One team really could use Bourn. In fact, they can use ANY hitter. And they have a GM that is smart enough not to pay full price for Bourn.
That team is the Tampa Rays. The Rays will miss BJ Upton's production a lot. He wasn't a obp guy that Tampa prefers, but he was a game changer for them. Now, their lineup is among the worst in baseball.
Here is their projected lineup for now...
1. Jennings
2. Y Escobar
3. Longoria
4. Zobrist
5. Loney
6. Myers
7. Joyce
8. Roberts
9. Fuld/Guyer
If Longoria goes down, there is not a scary hitter in the lineup. I'm also assuming Myers to be starting with the Big Club, if not, the lineup looks even punier.
Zobrist is not a 4th hitter, but the Rays best form of protection for Longoria.
If signing Bourn, they replace a nine hole hitter with a leadoff hitter and Escobar tumbles down the lineup where he belongs.
With the additions of Myers and Bourn, Tampa would be using two players to replace the departed Upton.
They still have other options. They could trade another arm to get another hitter. They could shock the world and put together a package good enough to get BJ's brother, Justin. But, it's a longshot.
Other teams in the AL East have improved themselves for this year. While Tampa may have helped their future with the Myers- Shields, Davis trade, they lessened their team a bit for this year.
I love Friedman as a General Manager and respect Maddon as a field boss. But, if they don't sign Bourn or make a trade, their starters will be throwing a lot of stress filled innings this year and may sue their offense for lack of support.
One team really could use Bourn. In fact, they can use ANY hitter. And they have a GM that is smart enough not to pay full price for Bourn.
That team is the Tampa Rays. The Rays will miss BJ Upton's production a lot. He wasn't a obp guy that Tampa prefers, but he was a game changer for them. Now, their lineup is among the worst in baseball.
Here is their projected lineup for now...
1. Jennings
2. Y Escobar
3. Longoria
4. Zobrist
5. Loney
6. Myers
7. Joyce
8. Roberts
9. Fuld/Guyer
If Longoria goes down, there is not a scary hitter in the lineup. I'm also assuming Myers to be starting with the Big Club, if not, the lineup looks even punier.
Zobrist is not a 4th hitter, but the Rays best form of protection for Longoria.
If signing Bourn, they replace a nine hole hitter with a leadoff hitter and Escobar tumbles down the lineup where he belongs.
With the additions of Myers and Bourn, Tampa would be using two players to replace the departed Upton.
They still have other options. They could trade another arm to get another hitter. They could shock the world and put together a package good enough to get BJ's brother, Justin. But, it's a longshot.
Other teams in the AL East have improved themselves for this year. While Tampa may have helped their future with the Myers- Shields, Davis trade, they lessened their team a bit for this year.
I love Friedman as a General Manager and respect Maddon as a field boss. But, if they don't sign Bourn or make a trade, their starters will be throwing a lot of stress filled innings this year and may sue their offense for lack of support.
