Tejada or Crede? Pros and Cons

by Stacey on Jan 19, 2010 3:00 PM EST in Hot Stove Comment 71 comments

As indicated in a story in the Baltimore Sun, the Orioles are currently looking at both Joe Crede and Miguel Tejada to play third base in 2010 with the intention of moving Garrett Atkins to 1B. Forgetting the fact that there are about 4 bazillion reasons that putting Atkins at 1B instead of oh, say, Luke Scott is a bad idea, let's say the Orioles are going to get one of these guys to play 3B. Who would you choose?

Let's make a list! Lists always help me decide.

Miguel Tejada
Pros	Cons
- He doesn't get hurt - He can backup SS in a pinch, especially if Izzy is out for a few days - He might be declining, but he can still hit, especially when compared to Crede - Even with a UZR/150 of -12.4 last year he still ended up with a WAR of 2.6, and 3B is easier than SS. - When he's playing well and happy he really is fun to watch. - Brian Roberts would be happy to have him back	- Will be at least 36 years old in 2010. Could possibly be as old as 47. - 3B is a new position for him - Sometimes he's a giant baby - We already broke up with him once, has he really changed enough that we want him back? - Last year he walked even less then Cesar Izturis. Seriously, you can look it up. Izzy: 4.4%; Miggi: 2.9% - If Bell is ready to be promoted mid-season, moving Miggi could get ugly to say the least.

Joe Crede
Pros	Cons
- Dude can pick it at third. That's nice. Having him and Izzy on the left side of the infield would make for a gem of a defense. - He is anywhere between 4 and 8 years younger than Miggi. - If Bell is ready to be promoted mid-season he'll be easy to get rid of.	-Seriously, have you seen him hit? Having Izzy on the left side of the infield as an offensive black hole isn't enough for you people? - Once, Paul Konerko looked at Joe Crede the wrong way and he had to go on the DL for 45 days.

Decision? I choose neither. Stick Atkins at 3B and let Luke play 1B until you find a real first baseman. Yeah, that doesn't really go with what I wrote above about assuming they sign one of them, but seriously. Neither one of these guys is a good decision, so, much like Kelly Taylor being forced to pick between Dylan McKay and Brandon Walsh, I choose me.

0 recs | Comment 71 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Luke wasn't very good at 1B, no?

I’ve been saying this for months: I hope we pick up Crede for his elite defense. But if we don’t, I won’t cry.

I hope we don’t pick up Tejada, he really doesn’t fit in with this team. If we’re looking at a reunion, let it be Bedard.

by CoachOfEarl on Jan 19, 2010 3:26 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

- Will be at least 36 years old in 2010. Could possibly be as old as 47.
- He is anywhere between 4 and 8 years younger than Miggi.

Those made me laugh. I don’t think I particularly like either guy for this team’s future.

Optimism. Positivity. Win.

by Johnny_S on Jan 19, 2010 3:43 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I don't care that much....

…but what does bother me is the constant refrain from the O’s that they don’t want to use Scott at first or Atkins at third.

Way to give these guys leverage. Sure would have sucked if we had gotten them for peanuts.

by James F on Jan 19, 2010 3:44 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

pass on luke at 1b

by twistedlogic on Jan 19, 2010 3:50 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

answer

just eliminate the 1B position. play 4 outfielders (Pie in L-C). Any single will just count as a 2 bagger.

by Philly O's on Jan 19, 2010 3:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Option

let Jones and Markakis cover the entire outfield and move Reimold and Pie to first.

"I like baseball, movies, good clothes, whiskey, fast cars ... and you. What else you need to know?"

by Andrew @ TLC on Jan 19, 2010 4:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Option

Nick Markakis joins the pitcher and they throw two balls at once to the plate.

Whatever gives us an edge.

I will lead these Peoples to the promised land, also known as "Slightly Ahead of the Blue Jays." ~WietersRunDry

by Stacey on Jan 19, 2010 4:05 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Let Nick play backup SS

and we can sneak Pie into the outfield as long as he is standing sideways in the corner.

by CoachOfEarl on Jan 19, 2010 4:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well

Tejada would just block Bell. I love Crede’s killer glove. Just keep Atkins at third and have Aubrey, Hughes, and Snyder duke it out at first.

by LoveForTheGame13 on Jan 19, 2010 4:16 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Im fine with signing anyone as long as it doesnt block Bell

Plus we can flip Tejada or Crede at the deadline possibly.

www.oriolesprospects.com | twitter @orioleprospects

by ravensfan3 on Jan 19, 2010 4:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

the Pro’s and Con’s helped me figure out the O’s thinking in all this – Bell will be the 3B of the O’s by mid-season, if not sooner. Now I know we’ve all been saying this but when you weight the two names above as options, the only reason we would sign either is to flip mid-season. I always thought the O’s would sign a 1B because when they call up Bell they could slide Atkins to 1B and then the 1B to DH. HOWEVER, the O’s have zero intention of going after one of the 1B because they see Atkins entrenched there. The DH slot will be a rotation of the 4th and 5th OF + Wiggy (yes, i still consider Scott the 5th OF as long as he’s on the team). [Krusty the Klown sigh] My hopes of signing Delgado and/or Blalock just got smashed with the very underwhelming idea that we really might sign Crede or Tejada – I was hoping all along that was just a smoke screen. But i’ll do my best to stick to the motto, “in mcphail i trust” ‘cause he’s worked wonders with every move yet. ….

by bigity b on Jan 19, 2010 4:25 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I vote Tejada

Chances are Josh Bell is going to need a full year at 3B in AAA before he’s ready for the O’s. Tejada had 199 hits last year. Yes, he’s almost as old as me, but 199 hits? I’ll take a one year chance laden with incentives. His output may fall, but I don’t think it will fall off a cliff.

"The moment you stop thinking you're the best, it's time for you to get out the game." -'King' Mo Lawal

by duck on Jan 19, 2010 4:25 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

i thought you were closer to 30 than 50, unlike Tejada…

by bigity b on Jan 19, 2010 4:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Nope, closer to 50 than 30

but not by much, just like Tejada. :)

"The moment you stop thinking you're the best, it's time for you to get out the game." -'King' Mo Lawal

by duck on Jan 19, 2010 4:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Dar God, that was a depressing sentence to type.

Really, I’m only 41. And a young 41 at that!

"The moment you stop thinking you're the best, it's time for you to get out the game." -'King' Mo Lawal

by duck on Jan 19, 2010 4:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hee-hee, remember the Reds’ rationale for trading Frank Robinson to us?

"Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning." Churchill,1942-- a rebuilding year.

by Titov on Jan 20, 2010 4:24 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not getting all the "Let's not block Josh Bell" talk.

I’ll be convinced he’s the answer at 3rd base after I’ve seen him start an entire season in the big leagues. Even if he lights it up in Norfolk, it won’t be the end of the world if he doesn’t get a call until September.

Clarence, It's better to have a gun and not need it, then need a gun and not have it.

by timg56 on Jan 21, 2010 7:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

signing miggy is a step back

BUT, it would be kind of awesome to have MIGGY and WIGGY!

i say pass on crede too, WIGS is a serviceable hitter, did a decent enough job sitting behind the god awful memlo last year. i say let him play 1b, fuck it.

"you know what the orioles could use right now? a day off." - joe angel

by swilhelmross on Jan 19, 2010 4:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Just curious, not picking an argument...

Forgetting the fact that there are about 4 bazillion reasons that putting Atkins at 1B instead of oh, say, Luke Scott is a bad idea

How is it a bad idea? Atkins came up through the farm systems as a 1st baseman but was moved over becase, well, nobody was wresting 1st base from Todd Helton. Didn’t we try Luke Scott at 1st last year and it was so bad that Trembely had to delay the debut a week or so because Scott was so uncomfortable?

by OldBay83 on Jan 19, 2010 4:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I agree

I don’t see these bazillion reasons not to put Atkins at 1B. He played there last year, and did a passable job, and as you said, he has played there quite a bit before. He’s no Carlos Pena at the plate, but he’ll bat the same no matter what glove he wears.

by CoachOfEarl on Jan 19, 2010 5:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Mostly because he can't hit

I mean, yeah, maybe he’ll pick it up.

I guess just the idea of Atkins who can’t hit at 1B and Crede who can’t hit at 3B is a little too much for me.

I will lead these Peoples to the promised land, also known as "Slightly Ahead of the Blue Jays." ~WietersRunDry

by Stacey on Jan 19, 2010 5:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Because you wouldn't put someone with Crede's bat at 1B

So it matters.

I will lead these Peoples to the promised land, also known as "Slightly Ahead of the Blue Jays." ~WietersRunDry

by Stacey on Jan 19, 2010 5:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

but why does it matter anyways if there arent any other options?

by twistedlogic on Jan 19, 2010 5:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

There are other options

I know you hate Luke Scott, but Atkins plus Scott is a hell of a lot better than Atkins plus Crede. Plus, Luke is already here.

I will lead these Peoples to the promised land, also known as "Slightly Ahead of the Blue Jays." ~WietersRunDry

by Stacey on Jan 19, 2010 5:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yea but luke cant actually play first

well maybe he can. his bat IS oodles better than crede’s, but that’s an uber scary thought. and atkins plus scott means our team defense goes down the toilet.

by twistedlogic on Jan 19, 2010 5:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

We don't know that

Luke played 10 games at first last year and wasn’t bad at all. And he played first base in college. I think just saying “he can’t play” isn’t really fair.

I will lead these Peoples to the promised land, also known as "Slightly Ahead of the Blue Jays." ~WietersRunDry

by Stacey on Jan 19, 2010 5:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

im kinda giving him the felix pie treatment

and life isnt fair. he’ll get over it. i’d prefer somebody who has, you know, experience at the position.

by twistedlogic on Jan 19, 2010 5:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

scott, reimold and pie

I’m with Stacey on this…I’d much rather have Scott play 1B opening up DH for Reimold which then allows Pie to play.

Librarians are hiding something

by dfa on Jan 20, 2010 1:31 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well we don't have anyone that can hit to play there anyway

And nobody is really available that can. Delgado is 7 for 25 with 1 HR and 6 singles, and the BJs may have snapped him up. Crede hit more HR than Tejada last year with a hurt back and in half the PAs.

I’m assuming that the Luke experiment is a bust and that the Reimold experiment isn’t taking place. Which leaves two of Wiggity (terrible fielder), Aubrey (replacement level), Atkins (?), and whoever we sign, and Aubrey is limited to 1B, so is Hughes if you want to throw him in there. At that point, the question is: do you want to give up runs on offense or defense?

by CoachOfEarl on Jan 19, 2010 5:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

don't forget about Izturis, he can't hit either...

http://draftdayencyclopedia.wordpress.com/
spread the word please!

by danielreese05 on Jan 19, 2010 7:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

and yes...

i royally butchered the blockquote job there…

by OldBay83 on Jan 19, 2010 4:34 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Things that are overrated…

Garret Adkins
Avoiding blocking prospects
Garret Adkins
the difficulty of playing 1st base
Garret Adkins

I think Joe Crede makes more sense for the Orioles, but either is a fine move, and we can have Adkins play Ty Wigginton’s role and cut Wigginton if we have to suffer through Adkins being on this team.

by math_geek on Jan 19, 2010 4:38 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

hmmm maybe adkins hits better than atkins

by twistedlogic on Jan 19, 2010 5:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t like Adkins enough to spell his name correctly

by math_geek on Jan 19, 2010 5:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

hahahah

good response

by twistedlogic on Jan 19, 2010 5:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Tie Wigaton

by CoachOfEarl on Jan 19, 2010 5:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

fair enough

by math_geek on Jan 19, 2010 5:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Also, Mat Allpers

Mammy Wamiwez.
Hey, this is kinda fun.

by CoachOfEarl on Jan 19, 2010 5:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

deric cheter
alec rotriques
stefe trashel

by math_geek on Jan 19, 2010 5:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

well in all fairness a-fraud was the cheater.

but anyways, look sgot

by twistedlogic on Jan 19, 2010 5:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Dare-ick Cheater

by 7Swords of Salat on Jan 19, 2010 10:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

NO ON MIGGY

We need defense at 3rd first and foremost. And I don’t want Tejada’s attitude on this team—hey, let’s teach Nolan how NOT to run out ground balls.

"I doubt he could reach [second base]...mostly cuz his fucking arm was in Aybar's nuts." – twistedlogic

by zknower on Jan 19, 2010 5:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I don't agree

Well, I do agree that Tejada would be a lame idea.

But, come on, is Nolan Reimold really sitting wide-eyed at the top of the dugout when his childhood hero Miguel Tejada comes up to bat and then says “Golly! I want to be half as good a ballplayer and a man as Miggy! I will immediately emulate him! Up to this point I have totally been full of bunk! You don’t need to run out ground balls to be a successful major leaguer! Gosh!”

Nah. He’s a smart grown-up, and isn’t prone to just emulating the nearest veteran to him.

"I like baseball, movies, good clothes, whiskey, fast cars ... and you. What else you need to know?"

by Andrew @ TLC on Jan 19, 2010 5:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

May not need his attitude

But I’d like his 200 hits

"The moment you stop thinking you're the best, it's time for you to get out the game." -'King' Mo Lawal

by duck on Jan 19, 2010 5:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed.

Tejada in the lineup for a year isn’t gonna hurt our chances of finishing 4th. And Crede’s defense is good, sure, but the 80 OPS+ and sub-300 OBP he’ll post in the AL East would make me vomit. If the choice is between offense and defense at 3B, I’ll take offense every time.

"Might as well just win this game." - Adam Jones, 4/17/2008

Adam Jones is the tits.

by KenDixonFanClub on Jan 19, 2010 9:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

KDFC, dude: we had a question for you the other day: Where is KD now?

"Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning." Churchill,1942-- a rebuilding year.

by Titov on Jan 20, 2010 4:26 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I have no idea

He’s not the Ken Dixon connected to Ken Dixon automotive, is he?

"Might as well just win this game." - Adam Jones, 4/17/2008

Adam Jones is the tits.

by KenDixonFanClub on Jan 20, 2010 8:09 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think we decided no.

"The moment you stop thinking you're the best, it's time for you to get out the game." -'King' Mo Lawal

by duck on Jan 20, 2010 10:24 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Besides, if Miggy does prove to be a problem in the clubhouse ...

… it shouldn’t be that hard to move him during the season.

Clarence, It's better to have a gun and not need it, then need a gun and not have it.

by timg56 on Jan 21, 2010 7:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Also,

2-4-6-8!
Donna Martin graduates!

"I doubt he could reach [second base]...mostly cuz his fucking arm was in Aybar's nuts." – twistedlogic

by zknower on Jan 19, 2010 5:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

when can we get Snyder and Bell?

not soon enough apparently. Snyder’s the top prospect in terms of hitting for average according to BaseballAmerica.com, Josh Bell’s our number 2 overall prospect behind only Matusz. I want him up in the bigs by the end of the season. Bell that is.

http://draftdayencyclopedia.wordpress.com/
spread the word please!

by danielreese05 on Jan 19, 2010 7:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't mind

seeing Bell start out the season in the Majors. He’s going to be up here soon anyway, better than wasting money on a pretty much less than wanted f/a.

The owner of...... www.birdswatcher.com

by Michael18 on Jan 19, 2010 8:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I’d rather have neither, but of the two, yeah I’d take Miggy back.

by BrianS on Jan 19, 2010 9:34 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Defense is key

Atkins and Aubrey at 1B
Crede at 3B

Crede will be easy to drop or trade when Bell is ready as he can fill in as a bench guy. Tejada will cost more and be more difficult to move.

by Dr Orpheus on Jan 20, 2010 12:34 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Criminy, this is not an Afghanistan policy debate-- it's actually all very simple

Tejada: From Dominican, uncomforably close to Cuba, and has pal named “Vladimir.” Duh!

Crede: From Jefferson City, MO, did not attend some stupid left-wing college— zero chance of being a Communist.

As some famous fat guy from Massachussetts once said, “All politics is baseball.”

"Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning." Churchill,1942-- a rebuilding year.

by Titov on Jan 20, 2010 4:46 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

There are communists in baseball?

We need a Congressional committee to investigate.

(Not like they have anything better to do.)

Clarence, It's better to have a gun and not need it, then need a gun and not have it.

by timg56 on Jan 21, 2010 7:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Is there any way to put a poll in this post?

I’d like to see the numbers.

by DCO'sfan on Jan 20, 2010 11:31 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

though the more I think about it, I really would like them to try Luke at 1st to get Pie in the lineup every day. Maybe the poll could be a choice between, Tejada, Crede, Luke at 1st, or one of the other random dudes we already have at 1st/3rd.

by daveh873 on Jan 20, 2010 12:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree as well

But as other people have said, I’m not sure if Luke CAN play first. I think they tried him out in ST last year and they weren’t impressed…maybe I’m wrong though.

by DCO'sfan on Jan 21, 2010 10:09 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Luke played 10 games there in 2009

And wasn’t bad. I know that’s hardly anytime at all, but to just shut him downwithout seeing him in ST is silly in my opinion

I will lead these Peoples to the promised land, also known as "Slightly Ahead of the Blue Jays." ~WietersRunDry

by Stacey on Jan 21, 2010 12:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

As I said

I believe they did try him in ST, but I just did a search around the internet and I found no traces of the article I read, so you win.

Maybe I’m not knowledgeable enough in baseball, but how come LFs make (potentially) good first baseman?

by DCO'sfan on Jan 21, 2010 5:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Because

LF is the 2nd “easiest” defensive position. Many players could potentially handle 1st, but creating a hole in LF by moving someone from there to 1st is not a big deal, because any of your OFers should be able to handle it. At least thats my reasoning behind it.

by daveh873 on Jan 22, 2010 8:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

wiggy has definitely played 3B before...

Is that not a viable option? If we don’t get a FA 3b or 1b, I feel like that’s probably the best option. Thoughts?

Earl:"I'm going back to the dugout to check my rule-book!" Umpire:"Earl, I have one right here." Earl:"That's no good, I don't read Braille."

by kevgracie on Jan 20, 2010 3:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I think either Tejada or Crede would be more valuable than Wiggy

But Wiggy is already here so why the hell not. Except for the fact that watching Wiggy play every day would destroy a piece of my soul.

I will lead these Peoples to the promised land, also known as "Slightly Ahead of the Blue Jays." ~WietersRunDry

by Stacey on Jan 20, 2010 3:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

look at the numbers...

I don’t think Crede is a step up- and since wiggy is getting paid already, and has some decent power numbers, I really don’t see how you shouldn’t give him the opportunity to play every day…

By the way… Brian Bass is gone, but I always thought BB and Wiggy look like brothers…
Glad I could share something today

Earl:"I'm going back to the dugout to check my rule-book!" Umpire:"Earl, I have one right here." Earl:"That's no good, I don't read Braille."

by kevgracie on Jan 20, 2010 3:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

wigginton...

was TERRIBLE as a regular 3B last year during one of memlo’s infamous prolonged absences and his offense was pretty meh. i know he’s usually better, but, fuck it. i think he’s probably done as an oriole.

"If they pitch to you, make them pay."

--Diamond Dave to the Phenom

by j.q. higgins on Jan 24, 2010 10:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs