Author Topic: Carlos Lee? (Read 8998 times)

pravata · « **on:** September 15, 2006, 11:40:09 am »

By Paul Hagen Philadelphia Daily News
Buyer beware: Lee has hit only eight homers for the Rangers since the All-Star break and some Texas officials reportedly believe it's because he's badly out of shape.
The Link

Anybody watched this guy lately?

mihoba · « **Reply #1 on:** September 15, 2006, 11:54:40 am »

Quote:

Lee has hit only eight homers for the Rangers since the All-Star break and some Texas officials reportedly believe it's because he's badly out of shape.

That must also be the reason he has hit for 50 points higher in batting average with the Rangers, too.

David in Jackson · « **Reply #2 on:** September 15, 2006, 03:06:43 pm »

He's hit 8 homers since the break (NL and AL), has a SLG over .500, and is hitting .333. Looks like nothing to worry about.

The Link

S.P. Rodriguez · « **Reply #3 on:** September 15, 2006, 03:30:28 pm »

The first thing that jumps out at me is that he hits lhp and rhp almost equally well.

ValpoCory · « **Reply #6 on:** September 15, 2006, 07:35:14 pm »

The fact that he batted .545 with a 2.006 OPS at MMPUS this year might help him.

toddthebod · « **Reply #9 on:** September 18, 2006, 10:48:20 am »

The only problem that I have with getting Carlos Lee is that it seems to me that the outfield isn't the Astros biggest problem from an offensive standpoint.

I think that Luke Scott deserves a chance to start every day next season. I think that the same can be said for Wily Taveras. So that's two outfield spots. And I wouldn't mind seeing the Astros give the third spot in the outfield to either Hunter Pence or Josh Anderson before the Astros go and spend a bizzilion dollars on a free agent, locking out those players. And if the Astros didn't want to start one of their two AA outfielders next season, I wouldn't mind seeing Berkman back in the outfield and giving the 1st base job to J.R. House who will hit.

The Astros need a thirdbaseman and a secondbaseman who can hit. The problem is that Biggio is going to take up a lot of at bats next season at second (so you aren't going to spend free agent money there) and there aren't really any top notch free agent thirdbasemen this year.

I think that next season is a transition season for the Astros. If I were the team, I would not spend any real money on free agents, including Clemens, Pettitte or Huff. I would see if there are a couple of quality starters middle relievers out of Hirsch/Patton/Albers/Nieve/Buchholtz/Astacio/Rodriguez and look to spend money in 2008.

mihoba · « **Reply #10 on:** September 18, 2006, 11:01:44 am »

I agree that Scott has earned a full-time job. Anderson? Wouldn't that give the Astrros two punch and judy outfielders? Pence would be interesting...

Would Pettitte sign for a reduced amount for a couple more years? I still like Gil Meche, otherwise give the young guys a shot.

WulawHorn · « **Reply #12 on:** September 18, 2006, 11:22:58 am »

Adam Dunn? Is he available (it seems about right service time wise) and is he an upgrade (maybe though I'm not absolutely sure about that).

pravata · « **Reply #13 on:** September 18, 2006, 11:23:41 am »

Alyson Footer answers this very question in her mail bag

Why don't the Astros take a break for the next two or three years and rebuild the team and the farm system?

You might be OK with not seeing the Astros in the playoffs, but Astros owner Drayton McLane would not. ... He's a win-now type of owner, and the Astros are not in rebuilding mode as much as they're focused on re-tooling.
The Link

I believe she is correct. As much advice as the Astros are likely to get about next years roster, (let the kids play, they must resign Biggio, etc) or even next years marketing, (remove signs, reduce decibels, elect a demicraaattt!) they're as likely to field a bunch of rookies as they are to get rid of that Rainforest Cafe monkey scaring 2 year olds behind the Crawford Boxes.

toddthebod · « **Reply #15 on:** September 18, 2006, 11:24:29 am »

Greg. I am assuming that you are talking about Soriano as an outfielder, which raises the question of whether he is going to accept a free agent offer where he is not going to play second base. I like the House/Lamb combo at first. But that assumes that Pence isn't ready for prime time.

Does Scott have trade value that is greater than his potential value as a starting outfielder for the Astros?

I wouldn't sign Pettitte or Clemens next season. Which means that I don't think that the Astros have the starting pitching to win next year. In light of that fact, I wouldn't spend the money on free agents.

I have not analyzed who might be available in 2008.

pravata · « **Reply #36 on:** September 18, 2006, 03:21:29 pm »

Second time I've seen this. This time from the Milwaukee Sentinel. Of course, they could have an agenda,

The Texas Rangers have become increasingly skeptical about the benefit of keeping outfielder Carlos Lee, acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers on July 28.

Lee socked two homers in a rout of Detroit on Wednesday. Before that, he had only four homers in 174 at-bats with the Rangers. And his defense in left has been poor, to say the least.

The Rangers believe Lee, at about 275 pounds, is badly out of shape. He was thrown out twice on the bases Tuesday night, lumbering into easy outs at second base and the plate.

Club officials believe Lee's lack of conditioning has contributed to a second-half brownout for the second consecutive season. He had 20 homers and 73 RBI, with a .563 slugging percentage, at the all-star break. Since then, he had eight homers and 32 RBI, with a .502 slugging percentage, entering the weekend.

It will be interesting to see if Lee gets a deal in free agency as lucrative as the one he turned down from the Brewers before the trade - four years for nearly $50 million. He is believed to be seeking a five-year deal for at least $65 million.

The Rangers think Lee is best-suited for designated hitter duties, a role unlikely to get the financial commitment he is seeking.
The Link

mihoba · « **Reply #37 on:** September 18, 2006, 03:38:56 pm »

Here's a pic from yesterday.

mihoba · « **Reply #39 on:** September 18, 2006, 03:44:45 pm »

And from Saturday , out at home again.

Froback · « **Reply #41 on:** September 18, 2006, 05:26:48 pm »

batting or pitching with runners in scoring positon is a bizarre stat to try to read.

The real thing that you might look for is from a pitching perspective, does the pitcher panic and turn to mush just because they have someone in scoring position, thus making everyone bat better against them cause they become more errattic.

For batters it can be a similar thing, do they press more, thus swinging at more "bad" pitches because they are over anxious to drive in that run, that they are afraid to "waste" their chances. Or they could be the opposite of the spectrum and go too timid waiting for the perfect pitch not wanting to screw it up. Either extreme is bad, and while there are some hitters who simply hit better in the in those situations, typically it will be those who have a normally "good batting eye" thus Berkman is very good at this.

So the fact that Lee bats the same (relatively) with men on as his does any other time, then we can probably conclude he is just very consistent (which is still good to have) but is not particularly selective anytime (re-enforced by his average walk totals).

So I think he is a good hitter, who is at best a LF, at worst a DH type. Given the lack of good hitters on this team (from an RBI perspective) he would be a good addition. This does potentially block Pence, but then Scott is 28 and just now breaking in to the majors. He could either be a late-bloomer, or this is his career year and it is all down hill from here. Having Pence in your back-pocket is a nice thing to have to test that out at the start of next year.

So I expect Lee to be the #1 FA target this offseason, the real question then becomes, who else will they go after? Don't count on Soriano though he wants more lime-light than Houston can provide. Look for him to end up in NY, LA or Chicago. With Chicago being a last option, IMO.

bubba · « **Reply #42 on:** September 18, 2006, 07:32:16 pm »

The real thing that you might look for is from a pitching perspective, does the pitcher panic and turn to mush just because they have someone in scoring position, thus making everyone bat better against them cause they become more errattic.

You mean like Bradge Lidge?

Arky Vaughan · « **Reply #43 on:** September 18, 2006, 08:58:44 pm »

The constant for the National League as a whole is about the same between all at-bats and at-bats with runners in scoring position.

Year   All  RISP
----------------
2006  .264  .265
2005  .262  .261
2004  .263  .256
2003  .261  .261
2002  .259  .259

I thought the league as a whole would hit better with RISP, but I was wrong.

JackAstro · « **Reply #44 on:** September 19, 2006, 01:50:12 pm »

Lee has definitely put a few pounds on over the last few years, though he's 16 of 18 stealing bases this season. I remember he was a reasonably quick guy back when he was with the White Sox, but he was leaner then. I assume he didn't put on 30 lbs at the break and suddenly start running like he's in concrete shoes -- if he's slow, he's probably looked that way all year. So what accounts for his ability to swipe 16 of 18? Are they of the "catch them napping" variety? Great jump, bad speed? Or is he not actually as slow as he's being made out to be? I've seen very little of him this season, so I'm curious what he's actually looked like on the bases and in the OF.

WulawHorn · « **Reply #48 on:** September 20, 2006, 07:19:33 pm »

No, no, no,

he's white so that's why the Astros would be interested (chaneling JDJO and Lopez) he's not genetically bred for the heat (channeling Dusty Baker here) so that explains it, right?

Oh- he's latino- screw that then, the Astros aren't interested.

Russ99 · « **Reply #49 on:** September 21, 2006, 04:30:20 pm »

I love Carlos Lee, ever since his homer in his first MLB at-bat with the Sox, with me in attendence. I even had a "45" in my Sox cap one year.

I'd kill to see him an Astro, and I'm sure he'd do well in Houston. The only thing bad about "El Caballo" is that his fielding is suspect. I'd also like to see him sign with the Astros since those dunce sCrub fans are drooling about him and Zito, as if either are remotely possible with those penny-pinchers at Wrigley.

As for the other White Sox players on your list:

Dye: The Sox have a ridiculously cheap option on him for '07, but I'm sure they'll offer a multi-year soon, unless one of their outfield prospects busts out early next season.

Iguchi - 1 year left on his contract - but I think the Sox might move him to get someone faster (like Figgins)

Would any of you guys like to see Podsednik in the Mud 'n' Blood next year? I know he's a serious Astro killah, and has had an off season (see his pattern) but there's rumblings out of Chi-town he could be gone either as a no-arb FA or in a deal for a middle reliever (Wheeler?)

And hey, no ripping - my favorite AL team sucks right now and will miss the playoffs too.

JimR · « **Reply #51 on:** September 21, 2006, 05:03:39 pm »

you would trade Wheeler because he is a "middle reliever?"

yeah, you're a big Astros fan.

littlevisigoth · « **Reply #56 on:** September 21, 2006, 06:26:18 pm »

Didn't Podsednik play CF for the Brewers? Maybe I'm mistaken. He's no appreciable upgrade over Willy, if at all (not by $ standards), and he certainly wouldn't do much for us in a corner OF position that couldn't be accomplished by a Chris Burke. And I actually like Podsednik (well, I did until the WS last year).

And certainly Wheeler is the LAST guy we should be looking to deal out of our bullpen.

Author Topic: Carlos Lee? (Read 8998 times)

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