Holliday dealt to Oakland A's (in principle)

I know this isn't pertinent to our team, but it is a big move for Colorado. The 3 players rumored to be going to the Rockies are Huston Street, Carlos Gonzalez, and Greg Smith. If true, that is a huge package and really shores up the pitching for Colorado. Apparently they're still waiting on physicals.

over 3 years ago snakecharmer 10 comments 0 recs |

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Weren't two of them from us?

CarGon and Greg Smith too, IIRC?

by Jim McLennan on Nov 10, 2008 5:07 PM EST reply actions

Yes to both

Interesting to note that Smith tied the major league record for pickoffs last season with 16.

"I'm here to advise you on dispensing horror in this modern military climate. I understand you're a demigod, that's fantastic!"

by kishi on Nov 10, 2008 5:37 PM EST up reply actions

Holliday = not as good as advertised

Very much a Coors product.
At home: .357/.423/.645 = 1.068 OPS
On road: .280/.348/.455 .803 OPS

His BABIP at Coors is an unsustainable .382. The Rockies look to have pulled one over the A’s, big-time.

by Jim McLennan on Nov 10, 2008 5:15 PM EST reply actions

I disagree, Jim.

They either keep Holliday with a long-term deal and have a marquee player in his prime to open up their new stadium with, or they get a year of Holliday and two first round picks next year. Or, should they struggle out of the gate, they can flip him to someone else at the deadline for more prospects. The move leaves Billy B with a lot of options, in my opinion.

But yes, I do agree that Holliday has inflated numbers due to Coors. Coors light I mean, not Coors Field. I shared a few with him, Podsednik and Spilbourghs one night on Sunset Boulevard this summer (the most random night of my life, let me tell you).

Never give up. Never give in.

by pepperdinedevil on Nov 10, 2008 5:54 PM EST up reply actions

However

I have heard/read that the Rockies are possibly interested in flipping Street (odd given they need a closer), which would basically give them a greater return for Holliday. We shall see how it plays out, I guess.

Never give up. Never give in.

by pepperdinedevil on Nov 10, 2008 5:58 PM EST up reply actions

Street & Smith

(not to be confused with the publication) should help Colorado’s staff some, but swapping out the division’s best hitter for CarGo ( 2008 ops+ 72) appears to signal Rocky Mountain Rebuilding at the expense of genuinely competing in 2009. I guess they can start Spilborghs and put CarGo in CF for Taveras, but it’s still hard for me to picture Colorado as a better team without Holliday. Maybe a couple years down the road, but not next year, not assuming the various pieces play anywhere near expectations.

Holliday’s .382 home BABIP is a little high, but after 1500 PAs I’m not sure I’d declare it “unsustainable” either. Helton, Galarraga and Burks all hovered around .360 BABIP at Coors, and Larry Walker was .385 over 2500 PAs.

Is Holliday as good as “advertised”? I dont know what ads you’re referring to, but seeing as there’s thirty teams, with three starting OFers each, I’d say he wasnt half bad:

Top 10 OF Win Shares (2006-2008)
Beltran 98
Sizemore 84
Vladdy 80
Manny 78
Ichiro 77
Holliday 75
Ordonez 73
Soriano 69
Cameron 69
Granderson 67

by Diamondhacks on Nov 11, 2008 2:32 AM EST up reply actions

Just to clarify

“Unsustainable” as in unsustainable now he’ll no longer be playing any significant number of games at Coors. BABIP on the road = .324, and that’s what I’d expect from him. I’d bet a beer or two that he’ll hit below .300 with 25 or less home-runs this year. Oakland is not where you want to play as a hitter, in your free-agent year.

by Jim McLennan on Nov 11, 2008 2:13 PM EST up reply actions

Oh, OK

When you said he was ‘very much a Coors product’, I thought you were denying his underlying value , as unusually tied to the park. I think everyone (incl Billy Beane) expects his counting numbers, BA, BABIP will likely decline in Oakland, so I cant take your bet there, denying you yet another Coors product ;-)

by Diamondhacks on Nov 11, 2008 4:07 PM EST up reply actions