Zrebiec/Roch: O's looking at Eckstein

Seeking to fill what has become the team's most glaring deficiency, the Orioles have engaged in talks with the Toronto Blue Jays regarding shortstop David Eckstein, according to industry sources.

Eckstein, 33, is hitting .273 with one home run and 18 RBIs in 198 at-bats. However, he has become expendable on a roster that includes infielders Marco Scutaro, John McDonald and Joe Inglett, who has seen his role increase with regular second baseman Aaron Hill injured.

Because of the glut of middle infielders, the Blue Jays' asking price for Eckstein isn't expected to be too high.

I WILL FIGHT YOU IN PUBLIC, ANDY MACPHAIL

about 1 year ago SC Comment 31 comments 0 recs |

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I saw that on Roch's blog earlier...

WHAT A TERRIBLE IDEA! SWEET MOTHER OF GOD!!!

http://blogs.themiamihurricane.com/

by MiamiMagic on Jul 4, 2008 4:07 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Why not wait 10 days and see

if Cintron can come back? Because if Cintron can, he’s probably the best option we have, including Eckstein.

But if Cintron’s out for substantial time, you gotta admit that Eckstein helps more than Uribe, Lopez, and the in-house options of Luis Luis, Fahey and Bynum. Our options are that bad.

Cal Ripken ain’t walking through that door. Miguel Tejada ain’t walking through that door…

"I wasn't here for the losing years. But it feels a little like the days with Earl in charge and John Lowenstein smashing birthday cakes in the middle of the clubhouse with a bat." - John "T-Bone" Shelby

by duck on Jul 4, 2008 8:18 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm against this move because we have to trade for him.

I don’t think we should give up anyone on our farm system for Eckstein. Even the crappy players. It just doesn’t make any sense…

It’ll make even less sense after July 31st, when we’ve probably traded away a few more guys and the season will become irrelevant at that point anyway.

by Y Not on Jul 4, 2008 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I guess my angle is...

why not wait 10 days and see if our best in-house option is available? If Cintron is good to go, he’ll produce at least as much offense as Eck.

by duck on Jul 4, 2008 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't love him

But I just looked at his contract and it’s only for this year. So if they didn’t have to give up much and the O’s didn’t try to extend him, it might make it a little less painful for the rest of this year.

Although it might make my ears bleed if I have to listen to Jim and Gary talk about Eckstein the scrappy gamer for the rest of the year.

"We’re not concerned about what other teams think. I know teams come in here thinking we’re playing the Orioles. And then 9 innings later, they got the loss, they know what we’re about." ~Adam Jones

by Stacey on Jul 4, 2008 8:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

which you will

And Trembley.
And Millar.
And Huff.
And everyone but Mora, who will hate Eckstein for getting any attention—also, Eckstein is a legitimate playoff hero, so Mora will be piiiiiissed.

"Yesterday I was lying, today I am telling the truth." -- Bob Arum

Camden Chat
Bad Left Hook

by SC on Jul 4, 2008 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i just played the jays on PS3

and i threw at his head 3 times. and now i hear this. he DID get right back up and run to first every time though. he’s a gamer.

really, though, he’s like fahey with a little bit more of an arm and a decent batting average. i wouldnt hate him if espn didnt turn him into everyone’s favorite underdog. as long as its just for the time being, i’m down.

"I’m sure glad he didn’t try to bunt." - DD on Melmo's game winning double, 6/17

by daveh873 on Jul 4, 2008 9:52 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I plunked the FUCK out of Ronnie Belliard last night. It was just. I had just made a two-run error with Cintron and I had Cabrera on the mound. I try to keep it real.

"Yesterday I was lying, today I am telling the truth." -- Bob Arum

Camden Chat
Bad Left Hook

by SC on Jul 4, 2008 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

FUCK FUCK FUCK

FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK

MY LEAST FAVORITE FUCKING PLAYER. FUCK.

If they get him I’m gonna go to the yard and boo him.

I won’t do this. But jesus.

by pipkin on Jul 4, 2008 10:28 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

C'mon...

who dislike him more than LaTroy Hawkins? More than Dustin Pedroia? More than Josh Beckett? More than Ross Gload? More than Sidney Ponson?

by duck on Jul 4, 2008 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yes.

He’s the most overrated player in the majors today.

He’s been a below-average hitter his entire career except his second year (OPS+ of 101). He’s average at best in the field (PECOTA suggests he’s slipping). He gets caught stealing too much.

His OBP has value. But he deserves not a single iota of the sportswriter slobber that he gets. And I think I might have an aneurysm if I have to listen to Jim Hunter wax poetic about him. I think Palmer might be able to see through the BS, but no one else will.

Fuck.

It’s not his fault he’s small and white and sportswriters identify with him. But he grates all the same.

by pipkin on Jul 4, 2008 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think Palmer sees through him because...

Palmer’s 6’ 3”. I’ll admit, as a short guy, I root for guys like Eckstein. But Pedroia’s “elite status” is just a creation of the Boston-centric media.

Cue AMA describing how Pedroia is SOOOO much better than B-Rob is 5…4…3…2….

by duck on Jul 4, 2008 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pedroia was real good last year

This year not as good. But I don’t mind Pedroia because he can really play, or at least I’m giving him that benefit for now.

"Yesterday I was lying, today I am telling the truth." -- Bob Arum

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Bad Left Hook

by SC on Jul 4, 2008 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pedroia is straight up one of my favorite players.

I have a soft spot for Napoleonic motherfuckers.

"The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again."

by 2632 on Jul 4, 2008 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pedroia is also

a really good ballplayer.

by Awesome Mike Awesome on Jul 5, 2008 7:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Now see...

when you logical, defensible statements like that, you’re just not as much fun.

by duck on Jul 5, 2008 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Carry on bringing me up unprovoked in threads

I’m not involved in. Not creepy at all.

by Awesome Mike Awesome on Jul 5, 2008 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We don't have a Yankees troll

so I have to personify my argumemts somehow…

by duck on Jul 5, 2008 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

huh

I actually really like Pedroia. If he wasn’t a Red Sox, I’d be a fan.

by therobotian on Jul 4, 2008 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why sell ANYTHING for a veteran this year?

There is no point going out and getting a veteran- no matter how little we would have to give up. I mean come on, does anyone think we are going to make the playoffs this year? This year is great for a rebuilding year, but it is NOT a “reloading” year, not when we have been shooting blanks for ten years.

By the way, a new blog just opened up for Baltimore sports- they kind of have a big O’s slant to their coverage but it’s new, check it out. aroundtheharbor.blogspot.com

by bmorewolverine on Jul 4, 2008 2:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

a PLUG??

How dare you!

Nah—I’d be happy to add the site to our sidebar. Thanks for actually contributing while plugging, that’s the way to do it.

"Yesterday I was lying, today I am telling the truth." -- Bob Arum

Camden Chat
Bad Left Hook

by SC on Jul 4, 2008 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

cintron

wait for him. please. surprising i like eck… but why trade for the short homo

by semaj2989 on Jul 4, 2008 3:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

as long as the O's don't give up anything worth a damn,

I don’t care, it’ll just add to the suck.

Wolf, wolf, wolf.

by birdman on Jul 4, 2008 5:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This engraged me

I’m visiting my parents in Towson and I read it in the paper this morning. If it’s true, It’s the first conclusive proof that there might be some holes in Andy MacPhail’s game plan.

Why the Orioles would even consider trading for a crappy hitter who can’t field anymore on the wrong side of 30 is beyond me.

I flat-out refuse to listen and read about how Eckstein is gritty, hustles, has a big heart, and plays the game the right way—all things I don’t care for in my baseball players. Why can’t the Orioles trade for Adam Dunn instead? At least he clogs up the bases and hits rally-killing home runs.

by yurizanow on Jul 4, 2008 11:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It's an option because

A) H’ed be DIRT cheap
B) Contract runs out THIS year
C) Our current options at SS that aren’t on the DL have problems batting above the Mendoz line.

This is a cheap, cheap fix to get through this year, nothing else. Not saying I agree with it, but this isn’t the worst thing the FO would have done.

by duck on Jul 5, 2008 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

On paper this really sucks

Range Factor/FP/OPS+
AL Avg: 4.43/.972/100
Cintron: 5.26/.968/83 (SSS alert)
Flop: 4.74/.969/70 (Mendoza alert)
Eck:4.07/.956/95 (weak)
Lugo: 3.65/.938/94 (wow, Huff would make a better SS)
Capt. America: 4.00/.980/96 (overrated as usual)

We don’t need to rent a SS, we need to develop the ones we have. Keep Cintron. Throwing some cash at the problem would be fine, it’s not my money, but letting a worthwhile player go in a trade would be stupid.

Curt never met a buttered roll he didn't like.

by CoachOfEarl on Jul 5, 2008 1:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Well, we can’t develop the shortstops we have because none of them have the talent to start in the majors. They’d all be lucky to grow up to be David Eckstein. We do need to acquire one, but I don’t think we absolutely NEED the quick fix this year. Cintron’s a perfectly capable one-year shortstop. He’s hurt right now. He’ll be back.

"Yesterday I was lying, today I am telling the truth." -- Bob Arum

Camden Chat
Bad Left Hook

by SC on Jul 5, 2008 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

IAWTC

Curt never met a buttered roll he didn't like.

by CoachOfEarl on Jul 7, 2008 12:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Screw that

I’d rather go get Juan Uribe from the White Sox. At least he’s got some power.

Screw that little annoying insect David Eckstein.

Geaux Eaux's

by NawlinsOriole on Jul 5, 2008 1:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Uribe v. Eck

Eckstein’s strength is he DOES get on base and put the ball in play. Uribe’s strength is popping the occasional homer and having a better glove. Frankly I sort of like Eckstein’s strength a little better. We need all the baserunners we can get.

"Yesterday I was lying, today I am telling the truth." -- Bob Arum

Camden Chat
Bad Left Hook

by SC on Jul 5, 2008 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs