tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2893512317902577458.post1154940433453443132..comments2024-01-06T02:22:33.000-05:00Comments on Camden Depot: Manny Machado: From A Defensive PerspectiveJon Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03521809778977098687noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2893512317902577458.post-32219955967317955402012-10-06T22:22:01.443-04:002012-10-06T22:22:01.443-04:00Very well said, and I completely agree. There are ...Very well said, and I completely agree. There are two schools of thought right now, the ones that would like to trade Hardy since he could probably bring back a nice piece going forward, and the ones that would like to see Hardy here for as long as he will stay. <br /><br />I personally am in the latter group, I love Hardy's defense and usually with a guy that good defensively you get low average and no homeruns, at least you get some power with JJ ;)<br /><br />I think Manny's best position is 3B honestly, mostly because of that issue when he ranges left and right, so I'd love to see him stay there. Like you said, 3B has a big premium on it right now, as there is always ebb and flow depending on where the talent shortages are. Having a long term solution there is a great help for the future, and Manny has the potential to be an all-star 3B. Jeremy Strainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15328957000625143010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2893512317902577458.post-7431013302353823422012-09-29T22:44:44.298-04:002012-09-29T22:44:44.298-04:00Hardy is signed though 2014, one of our best playe...Hardy is signed though 2014, one of our best players, and a huge bargain considering his service time. He is one of Buck's favorites, a fan favorite and has a limited no trade clause in his contract. Assuming he experiences a likely offensive resurgence in 2013, and doesn't regress further, he looks to be here to stay. <br /><br />Could you see Machado sticking at 3B full time, and just never making the shift "back" to SS? If Hardy stays through 2014, he'd already have over 2 years of ML experience at the hot corner and likely be even more over-sized as a SS. Moreover, there are other potential middle infielders in the pipeline but nobody who looks to be able to hit and play defense at third. <br /><br />Third base is now a premium defensive position and we are lucky to have one of the top all-rounders in the league, not to mention one who's 20 years old. Liamnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2893512317902577458.post-86340444107437807682012-09-28T09:28:00.312-04:002012-09-28T09:28:00.312-04:00Schoop isn't as good defensively as Manny, but...Schoop isn't as good defensively as Manny, but he's not a butcher out there either. I've seen him quite a bit at 2B, and he's played it pretty well. I would give him every chance to win the 2B job in spring training as of right now. <br /><br />I think that I would lean towards keeping Hardy and Manny because I think resigning Hardy is a better allocation of assets than overpaying for a 3B in a trade. There is a serious shortage around the league at 3B, so there is a big premium on the position. I think Headley is a solid defender, I'm not sure I'd call him an upgrade over Manny, and it's a step down overall if you lose Hardy's defense at SS in the move, but the cost to get him is insane. <br /><br />At the deadline, you mentioned some of the rumored deals, I heard various combinations of those players, but I also heard Manny and Bundy being demanded for a while. Now that he's had the year he has, the asking price has gone up, and I wouldn't pay that price, I think keeping the depth and talent flowing in the minors is really important for keeping this team contending, especially when Manny is perfectly capable at 3B and you already have him, and gold glove level defense at SS with Hardy. Some people will say that they are only prospects, but the cost controlled savings of hitting on even ONE of those guys gives you payroll flexibility to go out and sign a Grienke or another big name when they hit the market, and SP is our biggest area of need in the offseason. <br /><br />Jeremy Strainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15328957000625143010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2893512317902577458.post-5966622102127573262012-09-28T08:40:47.060-04:002012-09-28T08:40:47.060-04:00Good point about the defense. How will this impact...Good point about the defense. How will this impact Schoop going forward? Can he play 2B? Does this mean you think that the Os should try and sign Hardy to an extension next year and keep Machado at third? <br /><br />Do you think that Headley is a bad defender? If not and while I haven't watched him, his stats indicate he's reasonably good then why wouldn't he be an upgrade over Machado at least for this year? <br /><br />If the rumors were right that the Padres were asking for Arrieta, Delmonico, Bridwell and Rodriguez or even Arrieta, Schoop, Rodriguez and Wright do you think that's overpaying? I feel like we would have won either of those trades. <br />Matt Pnoreply@blogger.com