[Rotoworld.Com] Jose Cruz Jr. designated outfielder assignment again

[rikesh316]

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?leaguenum=&sport=MLB&id=5786

Is a bad clubhouse guy or something? Why the Sox cut so soon? Would the Stros be interested?

[plee]

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?leaguenum=&sport=MLB&id=5786

Is a bad clubhouse guy or something? Why the Sox cut so soon? Would the Stros be interested?

Just wasn't doing too much for the sox...

[The Cat]

Just wasn't doing too much for the sox...

Wasn't doing much? He went 3-12... way, way too small of a sample size. As much as we talk about Luke Scott not being a given a chance, Cruz had less than one-third of Scott's ABs. I really doubt the Sox made any judgments on him that quickly. It was just a case of Boston's third baseman Bill Muellar being banged up and they needed a roster spot for Youkilis (who they called up for Cruz).

His OPS is above .800 against righties. I don't think there's any question he's an upgrade in left. But we'll have to see if Purpura will pull the trigger... I have my doubts considering he didn't do it just 10 days ago.

[rikesh316]

Purpura needs to do something. I am tired off him saying we were "close" to making a trade. We can get Cruz Jr. for a low level scrub or two, thats what the Sox got him for. Purpura only move so far as GM has been getting Qunitero for Redding. Cruz Jr. is a gold glover outfielder with a cannon for a arm. He strikeouts a lot but he also walks a lot.

[rikesh316]

I can't believe Purpura was willing to give up Fernando Nieve for Jamie Moyer.

[BigCountry132]

I wouldnt mind having him, he has a good on base percentage (.347), has potential for power, and can be a low risk high reward guy. We also have had recent success with hometown guys (Petitte, Clemens, Berkman).

[Major]

I can't believe Purpura was willing to give up Fernando Nieve for Jamie Moyer.

That would be because that wasn't the deal.

[thewaterox]

Purpura needs to do something. I am tired off him saying we were "close" to making a trade. We can get Cruz Jr. for a low level scrub or two, thats what the Sox got him for. Purpura only move so far as GM has been getting Qunitero for Redding. Cruz Jr. is a gold glover outfielder with a cannon for a arm. He strikeouts a lot but he also walks a lot.

I know our current team has great chemistry and they have been winning, but we still need a bat and Cruz Jr fits the bill. Purpura has to take advantage of this opportunity to upgrade the team and if he just sits on his hands again then he's not the man for the job.

I like Burke's defense but he doesn't have the power that Cruz Jr has. :cool:

[Major]

Purpura needs to do something. I am tired off him saying we were "close" to making a trade. We can get Cruz Jr. for a low level scrub or two, thats what the Sox got him for. Purpura only move so far as GM has been getting Qunitero for Redding. Cruz Jr. is a gold glover outfielder with a cannon for a arm. He strikeouts a lot but he also walks a lot.

The fact that Arizona, who needs all the help they can get, dropped him for nothing should tell you something. The fact that Boston dumped him for a guy who hasn't been in the majors for 7 years and is a career 0.225 hitter with a 0.710 OPS should tell you something (Petagine).

I'd rather put out a mix of Burke, Lamb (shifting Berkman to the OF), and Palmeiro in the lineup than Cruz, honestly.

[Fegwu]

That would be because that wasn't the deal.


I think so too. That said Fernando is not necessarily having a lights out year year at RoundRock but his lasts start was/is commendable.

I would have been okay with moving him for Dunn though.

For some weird reason I am not so comfortable with Purpura .....at least not yet. I understand he is a great grass roots and details guy but I remain sketical and very fearful that he one of those wacko GMs that would move Oswalt for Corey Patterson of the Cubs.

[thewaterox]

I wouldnt mind having him, he has a good on base percentage (.347), has potential for power, and can be a low risk high reward guy. We also have had recent success with hometown guys (Petitte, Clemens, Berkman).

I think you're right on the money: he is a hometown guy and he could play great in MMP. At this point in his career we could pick him up for super cheap. The risk vs reward here says get Cruz Jr to Houston A.S.A.P. :cool:

[rikesh316]

Fernando Nieve was one of the two prospects in the Moyer trade according to Will Carroll of Baseball Prospectus and Rotoworld.

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&leaguenum=&id=8147

[Major]

Fernando Nieve was one of the two prospects in the Moyer trade according to Will Carroll of Baseball Prospectus and Rotoworld.

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&leaguenum=&id=8147

Moyer wasn't the only Mariner involved, though.

[rikesh316]

Chris Burke is a horrible corner outfielder. No power and no arm.

[Groogrux]

Fernando Nieve was one of the two prospects in the Moyer trade according to Will Carroll of Baseball Prospectus and Rotoworld.

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.asp?sport=MLB&leaguenum=&id=8147

The Seattle paper reported it as prospect/Burke for Winn/Moyer.

[rikesh316]

Thats true Major but Randy Winn and Jamie Moyer are not that good. I would only give up Nieve for a guy like Dunn or Huff.

[rikesh316]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/baseball/234745_moyer01.html

[Major]

Thats true Major but Randy Winn and Jamie Moyer are not that good. I would only give up Nieve for a guy like Dunn or Huff.

I agree - but that was the asking price of these guys. People say we should have made a trade - that's what it would have cost. I'm glad the deal fell through, and would have been disappointed had it happened.

I just think you don't mess with the team if you get a major upgrade. Winn is better than Cruz Jr, and Burke needs to get playing time to develop. I'd rather see him develop - accepting that he is terrible for an outfielder - than dump him back in the minor leagues again.

In the playoffs, you bring out more of the power lineup with Lamb, or the OBP lineup with Palmeiro. I just don't see a role for a Cruz Jr. type on this team. It would be different if we were talking A-Level talent, but these are all scrubs, more or less. The fact that Cruz has gotten released twice and hasn't been able to stick with a team the last several years should be a big warning sign.

[rikesh316]

So far the few moves Purpura has made have been horrible. He signed John Franco and Dave Burba and they are no longer with the team. I give him credit for signing Scott Strickland to a minor league contract. Before his surgery, he has a great arm and stuff. Hopefully he gets back to that form and becomes a Sept. call-up.

[Furious Jam]

The question is... Is Cruz better than Chris Burke? At this stage of their careers, I have to say yes. Plus, we need more power, which is advantage Cruz has over Burke.

Personally, I'd like to see what he could do sandwiched between Ensberg and Lane in the batting order. He'd probably see better pitches than he did in AZ.

[Major]

I just think you don't mess with the team if you get a major upgrade.

Err, <B>unless</B> you get a major upgrade.

[Fegwu]

Thanks goodness that Moyer vetoed that deal.

I know we have discussed this over numerous pages before now but just reading that again just makes me wanna choke Purpura.

Maybe Fernando has an arthritic arm we do not know about or some sort of bad news that is unknown to us all. Again, Fernando is not smoking his peers in AAA but I'd be miffed if he was traded for Moyer (even if Digger Phelps was included in that deal).

[rikesh316]

Cruz Jr. would cost pretty much nothing. Red Sox got Remlinger for a 21 year pitcher still in rookie ball. Cubs are also paying most of his salary. The deal would cost the Stros a low-level pitcher and maybe $100,000. Man I wish Gerry was still the GM. He would always find a way to improve the team like last year getting Beltran and Wheeler. 2 years before that he got Flash Gordon and Mark Loretta. He finds a way to improve the team without giving up too much other than maybe the Big Unit Deal which I by the way still support.

[T_in_Charlotte]

already on ESPNEWS, Cruz Jr. traded to Dodgers for player to be named later.

[Aceshigh7]

Damn.

[Aceshigh7]

The Astros could claim him and block the trade if they were so inclined right?

[bobrek]

The Astros could claim him and block the trade if they were so inclined right?

"Claiming" starts with the league the player is in so every AL team essentially passed on Cruz. It then switches to the other league and the order goes from worst to best.

[bobrek]

I don't understand all of the fascination with Cruz. His lifetime average is .248 and his OBP is .336. He MAY be an upgrade over Burke, but the upgrade over Burke is already sitting on the Astros bench in the person of Palmeiro.

[Major]

The Astros could claim him and block the trade if they were so inclined right?

Nope. Most likely, Cruz was put on waivers, and the Dodgers claimed him (before we would have a chance to do anything). If that happens, Boston can then negotiate a trade with them, as long as all the players involved cleared waivers (he was the only major leaguer, so that's taken care of).

[MadMax]

I don't understand all of the fascination with Cruz. His lifetime average is .248 and his OBP is .336. He MAY be an upgrade over Burke, but the upgrade over Burke is already sitting on the Astros bench in the person of Palmeiro.

the only explanation for it is his father. that's it. if he had any other name, no one here would be interested in acquiring him.

[Groogrux]

the only explanation for it is his father. that's it. if he had any other name, no one here would be interested in acquiring him.

That is exactly it.

[The Cat]

I don't understand all of the fascination with Cruz. His lifetime average is .248 and his OBP is .336. He MAY be an upgrade over Burke, but the upgrade over Burke is already sitting on the Astros bench in the person of Palmeiro.

I don't think Cruz has had an OPS his entire career lower than .750. He's around .780 this year and around .830 against righties. I don't see how there's much question he's an upgrade over Burke. Yes, I agree that Palmeiro is also an upgrade... but Garner seems reluctant to start him every day, even against righties. It's clear (imo) that Garner prefers Palmeiro to be in the fourth OF role, so I wouldn't mind seeing if there's another OF to be had.

For me, it has nothing to do with his name. I was just as intrigued by the Eric Byrnes, Larry Bigbie and Randy Winn types at the deadline. As long as we're starting Chris Burke, any outfielder with a .750 OPS - and maybe even a .700 OPS - is someone I'd be thrilled to see on this team.

That said, he's already off the market again so this discussion isn't too relevant.

[plee]

Wasn't doing much? He went 3-12... way, way too small of a sample size. As much as we talk about Luke Scott not being a given a chance, Cruz had less than one-third of Scott's ABs. I really doubt the Sox made any judgments on him that quickly. It was just a case of Boston's third baseman Bill Muellar being banged up and they needed a roster spot for Youkilis (who they called up for Cruz).

His OPS is above .800 against righties. I don't think there's any question he's an upgrade in left. But we'll have to see if Purpura will pull the trigger... I have my doubts considering he didn't do it just 10 days ago.

For Boston it wasn't :rolleyes:

[Buck Turgidson]

Is a bad clubhouse guy or something
In short, the Astros have had reservations about his "makeup" for years. Hunsicker wanted no part of him, despite numerous opportunities to acquire Cheito. It seems the Astros under Purpura have not changed that thinking.

Things may have been different in Houston, and he may have made a good 4/5th OFer, but it's just not that big a deal.

[The Cat]

For Boston it wasn't :rolleyes:

The Red Sox, even missing Nixon, have arguably the best lineup in the league today and probably one of the better ones in the history of the game. No, Cruz probably wasn't good enough there... but it's a different story for the Astros and their lineup.

[msn]

The heck with Cheito, let's get his dad and that "chop-chop" swing of his back in uniform! He should still be good for a handful of RBI doubles!

[T_in_Charlotte]

The heck with Cheito, let's get his dad and that "chop-chop" swing of his back in uniform! He should still be good for a handful of RBI doubles!

Yeah, no kidding. Most definitely when the next time the Astros wear the Rainbow throwbacks!

[Joshfast]

Yeah, no kidding. Most definitely when the next time the Astros wear the Rainbow throwbacks!

Does anybody have any idea if or when the Astros will wear the throwback rainbows?

[Austin70]

I hope not this year, the last time they wore them the Rangers kicked their ass.

[Aceshigh7]

I hope not this year, the last time they wore them the Rangers kicked their ass.

Yea, but to be fair, we had Redding pitching that day.

[T_in_Charlotte]

Actually, Pettite started that game....I was there. Redding did come in after Andy and put some gas on that fire. My one time to go to Houston and catch a game at MMP, and I was treated to that abortion....UGH!