Sometimes Your Best Moves are the Ones You Don't Make

[Babypowder]

So you're saying that Q's better defense and average to below average offense is less valuable then Headley or Machado's offense at second but most likely below average defense?

I guess that's your opinion. I don't agree with it. Machado is not quick enough to play second base. Q has gotten to many balls in the holes that Machado would not get close to.

Quintanilla has a career OPS of .591, that isn't "average to below average", it is abysmal.

Also, why would Machado's defense be below average? He is a natural shortstop, just as Quintanilla or Andino are. He is quick enough to play short but not second? That doesn't make sense.

[Brendan25]

Quintanilla has a career OPS of .591, that isn't "average to below average", it is abysmal.

Also, why would Machado's defense be below average? He is a natural shortstop, just as Quintanilla or Andino are. He is quick enough to play short but not second? That doesn't make sense.

I don't care what his career OPS is. It's .791 this year with the Orioles.

Jason Hammel's career hadn't gone very good until this year either. I'm not going to look to replace him just because he was below average before this year.

[Babypowder]

I don't care what his career OPS is. It's .791 this year with the Orioles.

Jason Hammel's career hadn't gone very good until this year either. I'm not going to look to replace him just because he was below average before this year.

1. No, it isn't. It's .719.

2. ...and that is where reasonable conversation ends. I choose a 30 year old's entire career over a few weeks every single time.

[Dipper9]

...and that is where reasonable conversation ends. I choose a 30 year old's entire career over a few weeks every single time.

You need to deal with facts and not speculation. DD and Buck have both said NUMEROUS times that Manny was brought up to fill a need at third because of how bad our third base DEFENSE has been. Had we acquired Headley, there would be no need for Manny on this team.

Unless of course, you're playing Fantasy Baseball where you put guys anywhere as long as they hit well. Hell, lets put Davis back in left and when Thome returns, maybe HE can play second!

[Babypowder]

You need to deal with facts and not speculation. DD and Buck have both said NUMEROUS times that Manny was brought up to fill a need at third because of how bad our third base DEFENSE has been. Had we acquired Headley, there would be no need for Manny on this team.

Unless of course, you're playing Fantasy Baseball where you put guys anywhere as long as they hit well. Hell, lets put Davis back in left and when Thome returns, maybe HE can play second!

So if Quintanilla goes back to being a sub .600 bat (it's already begun), you don't think they would be looking to upgrade? Why is he so much more suited to play second than Machado? Both guys we are playing at second are also shortstops. Comparing playing Machado at second base to Thome playing second is beyond ridiculous.

[Brendan25]

So if Quintanilla goes back to being a sub .600 bat (it's already begun), you don't think they would be looking to upgrade? Why is he so much more suited to play second than Machado? Both guys we are playing at second are also shortstops. Comparing playing Machado at second base to Thome playing second is beyond ridiculous.

No I don't think they would be looking to upgrade. I think they acquired him for his defense (Andino had not played a great defense this year). He is hitting 9th for a reason. They don't need him to be a great hitter down there. Have a decent OBP, and play great defense. I think that's all they want out of Q.

[Dipper9]

So if Quintanilla goes back to being a sub .600 bat (it's already begun), you don't think they would be looking to upgrade? Why is he so much more suited to play second than Machado? Both guys we are playing at second are also shortstops. Comparing playing Machado at second base to Thome playing second is beyond ridiculous.

No, you guys assuming that Manny would come up no matter what and play any position if what is ridiculous. (obviously the Thome thing was hyperbole) Had we traded for Headley, and Manny AND Andino continued to struggle, then I'd assume next in line would be Flaherty or Tolleson (is he coming back this year?). Remember, Manny had been taking practice at third base for a while down in the minors. He had not been practicing at second base.

Also, this entire conversation is kinda ridiculous, as I believe the Padres would have needed to be blown away to trade Headley at all. He's under team control for a couple more years, thus there was no need on their part to trade him.

[Brendan25]

No, you guys assuming that Manny would come up no matter what and play any position if what is ridiculous. (obviously the Thome thing was hyperbole) Had we traded for Headley, and Manny AND Andino continued to struggle, then I'd assume next in line would be Flaherty or Tolleson (is he coming back this year?). Remember, Many had been taking practice at third base for a while down in the minors. He had not been practicing at second base.

Also, this entire conversation is kinda ridiculous, as I believe the Padres would have needed to be blown away to trade Headley at all. He's under team control for a couple more years, thus there was no need on their part to trade him.

I agree. I think they wanted Matusz & Arrieta +

[Babypowder]

No I don't think they would be looking to upgrade. I think they acquired him for his defense (Andino had not played a great defense this year). He is hitting 9th for a reason. They don't need him to be a great hitter down there. Have a decent OBP, and play great defense. I think that's all they want out of Q.

Andino was supplanted because of his bat.

[Dipper9]

Andino was supplanted because of his bat.

Not really. Q was brought in when both Roberts and Andino were on the DL. Q's defense and bat were good enough to keep him in the lineup. Look at the team's D since Manny, Q, and McClouth have become regulars. This is a different team.

[Babypowder]

No, you guys assuming that Manny would come up no matter what and play any position if what is ridiculous. (obviously the Thome thing was hyperbole) Had we traded for Headley, and Manny AND Andino continued to struggle, then I'd assume next in line would be Flaherty or Tolleson (is he coming back this year?). Remember, Manny had been taking practice at third base for a while down in the minors. He had not been practicing at second base.

Also, this entire conversation is kinda ridiculous, as I believe the Padres would have needed to be blown away to trade Headley at all. He's under team control for a couple more years, thus there was no need on their part to trade him.

There is still plenty of need for them to trade Headley. He is getting expensive for them, their team is terrible, and he won't be around in any reasonable amount of time for them to turn it around. He gets traded before next season, I'd bet. We are going off of the rumor that Roch said, which was Arrieta and Matusz. Roch said the Orioles thought those two were too much. I think we should have pulled the trigger if that indeed was the deal, and that is the only solid rumor we have.

[Brendan25]

There is still plenty of need for them to trade Headley. He is getting expensive for them, their team is terrible, and he won't be around in any reasonable amount of time for them to turn it around. He gets traded before next season, I'd bet. We are going off of the rumor that Roch said, which was Arrieta and Matusz. Roch said the Orioles thought those two were too much. I think we should have pulled the trigger if that indeed was the deal, and that is the only solid rumor we have.

Their record is awful, but they have Alonso, Headley, Quentin, Richard, Volquez, and new ownership that is ready to spend some money to help the team win.

[Babypowder]

Not really. Q was brought in when both Roberts and Andino were on the DL. Q's defense and bat were good enough to keep him in the lineup. Look at the team's D since Manny, Q, and McClouth have become regulars. This is a different team.

Small samples are enough to convince a few of you I guess. Quintanilla is not good, and you guys are right, we should not look to improve on a guy with a career line of .224/.283/.308. Remember Luis Hernandez? Everyone loved him and couldn't wait to play him everyday too.

[Brendan25]

Small samples are enough to convince a few of you I guess. Quintanilla is not good, and you guys are right, we should not look to improve on a guy with a career line of .224/.283/.308. Remember Luis Hernandez? Everyone loved him and couldn't wait to play him everyday too.

I know that this is a WHOLE different conversation then what we are having and would enter a whole different topic, but do you feel like team chemistry has any effect on a teams success during a season?

[Dipper9]

Small samples are enough to convince a few of you I guess. Quintanilla is not good, and you guys are right, we should not look to improve on a guy with a career line of .224/.283/.308. Remember Luis Hernandez? Everyone loved him and couldn't wait to play him everyday too.

I'm DYING to improve at second base....

...with a second baseman!

If you really think Headley will be traded in the offseason, then I would try to get him, move Manny to his regular position at short, and move Hardy to second. But that's another story for another day!