HiAndTight

He's 20 years old and we payed well over slot to pick him in the 5th round last year. I'm sure he has thinks to work on, but I don't see how it's a "given." Not to mention, how many OF'ers did we just draft? Just seems that with the total lack of OF prospects in Wisconsin, his small success in a pitchers league and a slew of early OF'ers drafted and or coming back it's possible he'll be a T-Rattler. Either way, he's gonna be a fun one to watch.

Right, yet you're the one who cited that he has struck out 8 times and that he doesn't have an extra base hit. So you're using sample size to argue against him moving aggressively and dismissing the numbers for moving him aggressively. He's obviously not a .400 hitter, but if the guy can at least hold his own in a big time pitchers park/league, and he continues to perform well, why drop him TWO levels? Because it was part of some plan? I'm sure the plan at one point was to have Thornburg be a reliever when they drafted him. Although at this point, it is kinda silly to argue what level he should go to. 7 BB, 8 K's in 8 games, hitting .400/.548...not a lot you can measure from that. I guess the only way you can truly evaluate if he should be up there(Wisconsin, not BC per say) is by trying to evaluate how he's looked. Has he just gotten some hits to fall in, is he squaring up, is he overmatched, but has a hyper-inflated BABIP? You can't really tell from so few games. All I know is the Brewers plan moves guys extremely slow at times and if he's playing at BC, he's working the counts, facing advanced pitchers and has a good idea of the strike zone and hitting the ball hard....why slow him down in rookie league?

Why? He's hitting .400/.538 OBP(almost walking once per game as well, so you're ignoring the almost 1-1 BB/K ratio) in an extremely difficult hitters league. I think that fact is being lost. Why send him to a league if you believe that he's just going to do down there and dominate it as you clearly seem to? He's playing well. Very short sample size, but the walk to strikeout ratio is encouraging, the walks in general are, and he's hitting. The only reason I could see doing that is for defensive reasons, but from what I've heard about Reed, that shouldn't be much of an issue for him. So if you think he can hold his own at A ball in Appleton, that'll certainly help his progression more than going down another level. I think it'd be nice if the Brewers rewarded a player with an aggressive promotion when they show they deserve them rather than hold their hands all the way though the system.

And people also like to forget that Suppan was pretty damn good the 4 years prior to the year we signed him. 57-37, 4.01 ERA averaged 194 Innings a season. For Lilly, Meche and there was a fourth signing that turned out pretty ugly that year that I forget, but whatever. People got it stuck in his head that he was signed because of what he did in the post-season...which I find ridiculous. He was an very quality inning eater which we very much needed and who given the time in which he put up those numbers made him a very solid #3 and a average deal for market value. I didn't like the signing, but I'd have preferred they spent to sign Jason Schmidt instead and look how that turned out. He went from Cy Young runner up to Ben Sheets just totally falling off the map. But he at the time would have been a signing I'm guessing most everyone would have loved. So it ended up being a TERRIBLE signing, but I don't blame Melvin. First of all, it was pretty widly known that Mark Attanasio was the one who truly wanted to sign him..and as I said, it was a market deal for a pitcher who'd been very good the past 4 years and who just pitched his team to the WS as an added bonus.

If anything send him to Wisconsin if you absolutely must demote him, but if he doesn't look over his head, why put him in the rookie league just to blow everyone else out of the water?

Yeah, i'd agree. I think Freidman and Daniels are the two most respected GM's in the game right now. The man love for Freidman has certainly surpassed Beane or Theo in recent years in most of the publications I read. If you want to go by ESPN or who was in a movie, then I suppose those two get it, but any respected baseball website...Freeidman is plenty popular. I don't know how "cool," he is, nor do I think he cares. He's built an obscene amount of pitching prospects...

Because it's a franchise that can afford to spend 150+ and they're paying him 30 million over 9 years. And fine, he opts for arbitration if he's good. Well then obviously it'd be a great deal for him, and if it's NOT, they can decline and let him go and not pay him. Seems pretty simple to me unless I'm missing something. A 19 year old potential start RF'er. Seems like the perfect, ideal risk for a team like the Cubs who are in a long term rebuilding plan.

I don't see how this contract illustrates any such thing. We're in the top 10 in payroll, have a lot of money coming in, and it's LA.

Teams have always overpaid for players and they've always overpaid for their own players. I don't see this as a sign of this significant inflation nor do I think this impact Greinke at all other than the Dodgers have less money to sign him. People seem to forget 5-10 years ago and the Kevin Brown, Mo Vaugn, Driefort, Bagwell, Helton, Soriano, Park, Barry Zito, Tori Hunter, Vernon Wells, Kevin Millwood, Juan Guanzalez, Jason Giambi, AJ Burnett, Richie Sexson, Juilo Lugo, Gary Matthews Jr., Denny Neagle, Anduw Jones, and OF COURSE Mike Hampton and his 7 year 128 million dollar deal, and I could go on and on from the last 90's to the early 2000's before contracts for the top talents leveled out and may well have actually declined a touch relative to performance. I think this concern over this newfound hyperinflation in baseball has been overstated for the last 15 years. You'll almost always see some inflation, but this has been a unique period. Pujols may be the greaetest hitter of the last 50 years and a top 5 of all time. Prince was an overpay, BUT was just 28 years old and the Tigers seemed to realize he was an over pay and their owner Illitch is just that desperate to sign win that world series. Weaver signed a below market deal, Cain signed a deal that I hardly think qualifies as alarming. So what you have, as ALWAYS is some isolated stupid signings. Now as a Dodger fan I could see why they'd be so high on Ethier. He's off to a huge year, he's a fan favorite when they need the fans back, and he is a pretty good player. Overpaid, absolutely. Much like Aaron Rowand. But in the end, I'm not see all this inflation. I do suspect we'll see some big salaries this off-season if several players aren't re-signed. You have a Cy Young pitcher on the market who MIGHT be the 3rd most sought after, an MVP and HUGE Media draw in Hamilton Brian McCann, arguably the best catcher in the game(though he may have a team option year..), David Wright(he DOES have a team option, but a very large one), and just an abnormally high number of quality pitchers. So there have always been bad contracts handed out, especially to fan favorites for players to get overpaid. Either again was and is overpaid, but the Dodger sare trying to build around he and Kemp, Kershaw and Bills, and Ethier has been a guy who has routinely put up up very solid numbers, has an .844 OPS, and as much as anything, is having a BIG year leading the league in RBI's and helping to carry the Dodgers the alst month with Kemp out. So that's my opinion. I don't believe we're seeing the start of this out of control absurd spending and it seems like ever 3-4 years this prediction is made and sometimes even does for a short time, and then it comes back to Earth. We've seen it time and time again. And I of course left out a ton of examples. Heck, Bobby Bonilla is getting payed about 1.25 million until he's like 60 years old(not sure exactly, but it was for like 25 years.

How is one related to the other? Because one failed, that inherently means another regime is going to fail? I think most of us would agree that Jed Hoyer is a pretty damn good GM, Theo has proven he knows how to build the right way, and someone can help me as his name escapes me, but their scouting director has a great history as well. But forget all that. Forget what they've done prior to coming to Chicago. Look at what they're DOING in Chicago? If Henry was still there, he'd probably have looked to spend to improve the team in the off-season. Theo and Jed are building totally from within. They're taking their lumps, should end up with 2 maybe 3 top 5-10 picks if not higher along with the international market which they're aggressive in(hence the thread) and they've been extremely economically savvy. The Rizzo trade was a GREAT trade for them, but I suspect the Dempster and even moreso Garza are going to bring back one helluva haul to an already vastly improved farm system. Soto, Marmol should/could bring back strong lower level prospects simply for their upsides. And if-IF they do go ahead and trade Castro with FOUR YEARS left, I suspect that'll bring back a bigger haul than any trade made in the past 10 years(with regard to the opinions of the prospects received at the time. Imagine a team like LA, Boston, St Louis(Shelby Miller, Carlos Martinez though unlikely within the division and the rivalry) Kansas City, Cleveland...hell, even Tampa Bay who cold certainly use him for the next 4 years and have the arms to make such a deal. The Rays IMO have FIVE PITCHERS who would be at worst our #3, and possibly a few more such as Wade Davis, McGee and then they're pretty loaded in AAA with Archer who throws in the mid 90's with great stuff, Alex Torres another flame thrower with huge upside as their #6 prospect, Alex Colome with a plus hammer and another guy in the mid 90's, all of whom are big league ready, or near big league ready, and THEN there is Taylor Guerrieri an elite arm touching 98 with a possible 70 curve, 60 change and slider and 60 command, PLUS they have an elite SS prospect who like Archer was traded for Garza in Hak-Ju Lee. I could see a team like the Rays who of all the pitchers I mentioned, StartersMatt Moore the 22 year old rookie phenom with the FB that can touch 100, Hellickson(25) last years rookie of the year who's pitching just as well this year, Cy Young runner up David Price(26), then the "old guys," Jeff Nieman and Shields to go with 3-4 very good pitching prospects deciding that after getting something like 12 of the first 38 draft picks, and a LOADED farm system and a loaded young staff with 4 legit 1/2's under the age of 26 to go after a guy like Castro by offering up Ju-Lee, Colome, Taylor Guerrieri and another lower level guy, OR a guy like Wade Davis who's wasting away in the bullpen IMO. Anyway, veered way off topic there, just got to thinking about even how Castro was available, thought of a team that he'd possibly push over the edge and then the most logical given he's still got 4 years left after this one? I believe with Rizzo, any haul they may get for Dempster, Garza, Casto, Marmol or soto they'll have an ELITE system in short order. Imagine if they could throw Castro into that lineup at SS by the way. Desmond Jennings CF/RF Castro SS Longo 3B Zobrist 2B Joyce RF Upton CF Pena 1B Scott DH Molina C I might bump them over the Rangers as WS favorites if they made a move like that. Anyway, way off topic. The point is, they're building the right way.

God I hate Hoyer and Theo...and I suspect in 3-4 years everyone else here will as well. Brilliant move for the Cubs...lets him develop for 2-3 years without feeling the pressure to rush him up, and if he's a good player, 30 million through the first 6 years is hardly outrageous. They don't spend foolishly(ignoring Lackey and maybe one or two other signings). Seems like a huge upside contract and with almost downside.

It is kinda baffling to me that he hasn't been picked up or wasn't picked up coming into the year and then locks on with the one team that has almost no use for him(well, not THE one, but they're pretty set offensively). But looking at his numbers, he had a huge 2010 season, and then came back and hit .290 last year though saw a drop off in power. Clearly he can still hit though. As for the Brewers, I really am liking Corey Hart at 1st, Aoki in RF and Gogo and Morgan in CF. So I don't think it'd make much sense. But I was admittedly pretty shocked at how well he's played the last several years consistently with the stick. Anyone goes down...yeah, sign him up. If he wants to play for league minimum and be a bench player/spot starter, sign him up. But not to play 1st just so we can move Hart back to RF because I'd prefer Aoki to Vlad at this point on this team right now.

I was fully prepared to come in here and argue with you...until looking at his numbers. Hell, he's not even as good as Corey Hart. He's consistently a very solid player. Roughly a 3 war type player, but I don't know why, call it my ignorance, but you hear so often about these absurd hot streaks he goes on and the hitting streaks and you just simply expect more out of him. So...yeah, terrible deal. And I don't think the Dodgers CAN afford these deals. Yeah, maybe some of those who initially thought the ownership group overpaid by about 1 billion, especially without exclusive parking rights may end up being wrong, but they're really extended right now, and a bad deal is a bad deal. They're either going to be that ownership group who's going to way overspend early and then have to cut back until everything straightens out, or maybe they just like their guys that much they want to keep them together. I thought Greinke was a strong possibility in LA. Not for the trade deadline per say as I don't see that elite prospect(Evoldi..Lee..Webster..meh, not for Greinke IMO). But I wonder just how much they'll spend. They'll have a LOT of money tied up with Kemp, Bills, Ethier, and Kershaw, they're financial issues prior to buying the team and now all the ownership group has put into the team. By the way, is it just me, or does anyone else think Corey Hart's value just keeps going up with these players who are at WORST slightly better than him get massive deals?

I don't think Wolf loves Kottaras, I think he doesn't like Lucroy catching him. At least from what I've picked up upon. But seriously, Lucroy's a pretty athletic catcher. Is there any reason he has to move to RF or 1st base? What about a move to 2nd base? He'd certainly be above average offensively there. Lucroy catches for a couple more years and we try him out at 2nd from time to time in ST'ing, have him work at it for a couple weeks at instructional and see if there is any chance. Otherwise I'd go with Lucroy and Maldonado. I think he can be a guy who catches 45 games with great defense, and hit .230/.300 as he has a good eye, and pop 8-9 HR's(along with his PH'ing). Pretty valuable catching combo.

You watch Weeks and you already know what is going to happen as he steps up to the plate. 90-95 MPH right down the middle. Doesn't swing. 2nd pitch, slider low and away, strike 2. 3rd pitch, pop up lunging at the slider, or strike 3. For the love of God, please someone tell him just to go up there and swing at the first pitch for the next 15 AB's and just see if he can finally hit a couple bomb's and get going. But I've never seen anything like Weeks. Anyone so talented, so erratic who DOESN'T have attitude problems and works as hard and cares as much and plays tougher than anyone. Another option is to just put him on the DL for 15 days and go with Ransom/Green/Conrad playing 2nd. Just send him home to Florida. His WAR would be better there than it is now....and I love the guy.

I both respect and feel bad for the Crime Dog. If he hangs on for a couple more months, he gets 500 and is a HOF'er, but he retired when he didn't think he could play and ended up 7 HR's short. I'll be honest, I look at Dunn and even at 600 HR's(which I think is about 30/70 right now since he's only 32 and 25 per year puts him over until he's 40) I don't see a HOF'er. His defensive WAR ISN'T all his fault as he never should have played in LF, but he did. And he did go on that run of 46/40/40/40/38/30 run in a HR hitters park for the most part. But it at about 50/50 he gets in if he hits 500.

Yeah....I'm curious as to how this person from the event staff was suppose to know what the situation was. What would you expect if they saw someone pushing(perhaps not pushing, but working your way)to the front of the line without any idea of what was going on? With all due respect and I won't say that I wouldn't have done the same things at some point after a few too many drinks. But I gotta say, this doesn't sound like A-It's on the entire Brewers organization. That's just flat out ridiculous, and B-that it's really more their fault than yours. No disrespect intended.

I dunno... Furcal and Andrus come to mind. Profar might have a little more power potential (sounds like he could end up as a 20 HR guy or so). For what it's worth, I haven't read anything that rates him as plus-plus defense. I'm not saying that's wrong but I haven't seen it. For what it's worth, here is a pre-season scouting report on him that assesses his tools on a 20-80 scale. http://baseballprospectnation.com/2012/02/03/scouting-report-jurickson-profar-ss/ By the way, even if Profar would "just" turn into a .360/.420 SS with good defense, I'd gladly trade Greinke for that (assuming we're sellers) Well, in your scouting report, he's graded as a 60/70 defense. That's 60 right now with the potential to be a 70. A potential 70 hit tool, 60 arm.... Some interesting quotes, and mind you, this is all BEFORE he started to dominate AA having turned 19 year old just at the start of ST'ing. Has everything necessary to be a face of the franchise player, on and off the field. Makeup: Off the charts. Calm, cool and collected on the field. Exceptional work ethic before and after games and during the off-season. Extremely confident player. Very personable and outgoing. High maturation level for his age. Will be a doubles machine no matter what and could end up with at least 15 home runs easily Again, this all before his AA performance in which he's currently hitting near .300/.370/.494 with an OPS of .863. Again, mind you, he'd just turned 19 before the start of the season. The way K-rod and Axford have pitched this year....I'm feeling less and less apprehension with throwing in either to get this guy. Long way away, but this is a guy who could be a 6-8 WAR player in his prime...possibly even higher. Anyway, Furcal and Andrus and even Reyes are similar players, but I think are all lacking significantly in one area or another as compared to Profar's upside. Derek Jeter with his OBP, power, hitting ability could be close if Profar reaches his potential, but he was never a great defender(and I do seriously doubt he has a Jeter type offensive career). Pretty high praise for the guy though.

Meh, why? Does starting hurt his progression as a reliever at all? And if reports are true and his defense killed him in the 3rd inning...well, we all know how numbers can be skewed in the minors. And it was the first time he hasn't gone 5 innings. I'm sure he'll end up there. But that doesn't mean we need to change anything right now. Unless you DO believe his pitching as a reliever is stunted by pitching out of the rotation.

I don't see why Andersen's line would trump Jungman's thus far. Obviously I'd love to see Barnes like numbers(IIRC it was Barnes and Grey and not in that order that everyone wanted at 12 and 15), but in a minor league pitchers first year in the system teams often will try to reign in a pitcher. Have them throw their best pitch less and have them try to develop a 3rd or 4th pitch by throwing those in big spots. I don't know, just throwing that out there. If we had it to do over again, I'm sure Fernandez and Barnes would have been our picks, but we don't get them over, we get the two we've got, and I still think they should be pretty good.

I wonder if the Yankees would. I mean, my feeling is with is performances in Yankee stadium, he may not be their first choice. The Phillies being out of it or struggling might be the best for the Yankees. Texas is OBVIOUS. They have been so aggressive signing latin american players that I think it MIGHT almost make more sense to perhaps try and trade for a guy that Paul mentioned in Olt and either Leonys Martin(both of whom could start for us next year if we needed or wanted them to) or with all the depth they've got, and the young power arms, maybe a guy centered around Olt and then take 2-3 guys with great tools who haven't performed well yet? Detroit-I think they MIGHT even be the most likely. Their owner is getting so old they're SO desperate to win now, I could see them overpaying. They could use some help in the pen...so maybe Greinke and K-Rod again for Castenellos and Jacob Turner? Might as well aim high. I think Washington's a pretty bad fit. They just sold out to get Gio Gonzalez and have the best staff in the game at the moment with Strausburg, Zimmerman, Gio, Edwin Jackson and Ross Detwiler. Detwiler has the worst ERA at 3.75 and the other 4 are under 3.11(Jackson), Gio(2.35), SS(2.41) and Zimm(2.81). They really don't seem to match up to well. The two LA teams however would seem like REALLY strong fits. The Dodgers have something going right now, and with their offense being above average, if they could put Kershaw/Greinke/Bills and hope Cappy and Harang could keep it up, that could be enough to get Magic into the WS. Not sure who we could get. Maybe Lee and Eovoldi? The Angels with Weaver, Wilson and Haren are pretty tough. Like someone else mentioned, it depends on Weaver. I think it ends up being the Rangers, the Tigers, MAYBE a team like Baltimore/Toronto/Boston..all three of whom could re-sign him after the season. Just see who's still hanging around in another month. Another team that'd be interesting would be the Reds. God knows he'd be huge in their park with his ability to strike people out, WE wouldn't have to really worry he'd re-sign there long term as I think they're chalk full of long term commitments and they do have a couple of nice pieces we could get back. Billy Hamilton would be a HELLUVA lotta fun to watch. Hamilton has 70 SB's and 14 CS's in just 50 games so far this year, has a .400 OBP this year in HighA and has done well adjusting to every level he's played at so far. I know very little about anyone else they have. One darkhorse might be the White Sox....they always seem to do the unexpected. But I don't like both of their top rated pitchers are relievers or projected to be. Sale before the start of the year woulda been nice, and I'd definitely want Beckham thrown in just because I think he's still got the talent.

Ok, it looks like the last poster is right. I will have to explain myself again. Because not one person can name me a shortstop who projects to be a GG caliber defender who can hit for power, who projects to carry a .high .300's OBP(.380/.390) while hitting .300 as well as stealing bases. I asked several times when was the last time a SS like that came up an I got Castro who does NOT draw walks and who is most certainly NOT a GG caliber defender at SS and has major questions about him being able to stay at SS. And you're asking ME about why I think he is a once in a generation type player. Don't then attribute other players labels as once in a generation type player label to ME? I never said those guys were "once in a generation." I never said either way, though Harper is. But does it make you feel better to know that he's now the #2 prospect in all the minors behind ONLY Dylan Bundy? And I'm sick of rattling off how impressive a debut he has to push Profar to #2, so if you don't know, look him up. Still though, I've had several people call me out on that comment and yet have been unable to find one single player to compare him to in the last decade or so. Easy killer. You are calling everyone out for not reading your posts, but if you'd read mine you'd know that I like Profar and have been touting him and Machado as the "dream scenarios" for trading Greinke. I've just heard a lot of players being called "once in a generation" lately, and it just seemed that there should only be one "once in a generation" every generation. Nothing more. As I said, it was just a matter of semantics. No need to get upset, and comments like "so if you don't know, look him up" are the reason so many of your back-and-forths with other posters seem to get pretty vitriolic. It implies the poster to whom you disagree is stupid, uninformed or both, and that's not often the case on this board. Well, I disagree that my posts with "many other," posters have been "bitterly scathing," but how's about we just worry about dealing with each other and not play that card, hmm? Lets others work it out with me if they have an issue as none have expressed one hereto now other than TCO7 which I'm fine with. Just seems a juvenile way of arguing to me. With regard to the comment about Bundy, it MAY imply that you don't know anything about him...if I didn't qualify it by saying that I've already stated his outrageous start and stats so many times and am not going to do it again, so if you don't know, you should check it out. Now if you want to cherry pick my words then they can mean a lot of things. If you take them for what they actually said, I pointed out that I'd mentioned Bundy's extremely rare start(now at a 1.00 ERA with 58 K's in 45 IP and 6 walks). Something I only point out to qualify why Profar is rated second. And there is a reason you've heard a lot of players called once in a generation type players recently. Though you're listing additional players who I've never heard called that and whom I have never myself called that to make your point. I'd limit it to Harper, Trout and Profar. Strausburg might be GREAT, but I don't see him being that much better than Verlander who's pretty incredible. Though really...who you've heard called once in a generation is totally besides the point. You're questioning ME for calling Profar for being one by citing what others have said. If I'D called 10 players in this class once in a generation type player, you'd have some point. I didn't. I used that for ONE player. And I stand by it. Seems like an awfully arbitrary issue to take issue with though. And if you'd be so thrilled to get Profar, why the argument? Really the epitome of arguing semantics about him being a "once in a generation type player." Anyway, STILL haven't heard a single player though in baseball that has the same skill set as Profar? Extraordinary plate awareness for a 19 year old, a plus hit tool, plus-plus defense, plus arm, plus speed....

Yeah, I mentioned Olt earlier. He looks like he could be a stud, they've got Andrus who is a SS already and Kinsler, so with Profar coming up, they could either play Olt at 1st base(most likely if not traded as he's got a big bat and no big league 1st basemen at the big league level..at least not a very good one) with Beltre at 3rd. But for Greinke, I doubt they'd think twice about giving him up. And he could be a real impact bat in the very near future for us. I'd hold up for Leonys Martin also though. Oswalt is a question mark with his back, Yu's a question with his 1st year pitching on a difference schedule, and while they've got good arms, Greinke would give them an ace. I think they'd be more likely to give us those two than Profar....though I continue to hope very seriously that I'm wrong.

I disagree that he's a better hitter. He's a far more patient hitter, but Braun has been a better hitter (AVG and power) throughout his career. Votto had one monster power year and he won the MVP because of it. Braun better (AVG and power)? Votto has a better career average .316 to .312. Braun has slight edge slugging .565 to .556. OBP isnt' close. Braun's great, but Votto is a little better and is just a little tougher to pitch to. And plays in an absolute sandbox. And you talk about even a "marginal difference," being worth a ton at that level...those words literally contradict themselves. A marginal difference is a marginal difference. And the ridiculous contract they signed Votto to is just absurd. That's NOT a marginal difference. 13 years for 263 million through 2024 when he'll be 40 years old vs 13 years and 155 with an option year that comes up when he's 26. 108 million is almost Zach Greinke. Hardly marginal. And like I said, you're also ignoring several things. I can't even fathom what Braun's #'s would be playing half his games at GABP. And they're the same age. Plus, while Braun is certainly no superstar defensively, it's also a lot easier to find a 1B than an MVP 1B. So, I'll take the 110 million dollars(PLUS the deferred money, which is also significant while we're trying to win in his prime years. Basically you have two equal offensive players, one a LF'er who's gradually improving and developing into a average defender in the OF and who could presumably move over to 1st and with his background at 3rd and likely become a very good defensive 1B who has speed and can steal 30+in a season vs another really good offensive player, playing on a little league field who lacks the speed and costs 26 million from ages 34 to 39. Seems like a no-brainer that Tulo who plays a premium position at the highest level andcoss the same as Braun is far more obvious.

It's really hard to project him but I was thinking more in that .340 range? If he can sit in the .360s OBPing like he did in Japan with an OBP 75 points higher than his BA that makes the discussion much more interesting, but I'd still prefer him in CF long-term. I'm pretty happy the Brewers accidentally ended up with him. I think it's getting easier to the more we see of him. In Japan he was such a great hitter, his carer .330 BA suggests he was a more aggressive hitter. In the states however, we've seen a guy who has as good of AB's as anyone on the team, fouling off tough pitch after tough pitch time and time again, and has become a guy who walks a lot more while still hitting .300. And while I think he's extremely valuable offensively, I don't think he is defensively. There are too many of these positional rules. Do you really need Jay Buhner in RF? Does it matter how the runs are scored? I'll take a .300/.375/.400 RF'er who plays exceptional RF defense anyday. Especially when we've got a catcher who's a VERY good offensive catcher and a 2nd basemen who HAS been and should be an excptional hitter for his position. So so what if your RF'er doesn't put up prototypical "RF'er," type stats? As long as he's creating runs, and Aoki is more definitely doing that, I'm happy. Now next year with Morgan almost certainly gone and Gomez very possibly gone(though I think they bring him back for his defense as it's such a luxury to have a guy on the bench who can pinch run, steal a bag almost at will and play GG caliber defense for late inning replacements) then maybe playing Aoki in CF exclusively becomes a more viable conversation with Gamel back at 1st and Hart back in RF. But the last thing this team needs to do right now is add an injury prone RF'er who's absolutely TERRIBLE in the OF. Anyway, I think this positional production is highly overrated obviously. We're 3rd in the league in HR's despite Weeks atrocious stat, Aram's usual slow start, Gonzalez getting hurt and Gamel likewise.