Heyman: Downs, Frasor AND Marcum might be on the market

[-MetA4-]

I wouldn't give up Marcum for just Lawrie...no way. Lawrie isn't a good defender in the infield. He can barely play 2B, so I'm not sure why anyone thinks he could stick at 3B. Most people have him penciled in for the outfield.

Not sure why you think this. He is said to have strong arm but only average range, meaning 3B is a much better fit for him anyway because it requires less range and more arm strength. But most importantly, his bat is so good that you don't even ask questions about defense.

If Lawrie was capable of playing 3B I'd assume the Brewers would be playing him there right now considering how much harder it is to find a 3B than it is to find a 2B. He's just not a good defensive infielder, could simply be an issue of him having poor instincts (which isn't really correctable).

His bat is good; but its not defense-doesn't-matter good. He's still more or less a tweener.

[trwi7]

If Lawrie was capable of playing 3B I'd assume the Brewers would be playing him there right now considering how much harder it is to find a 3B than it is to find a 2B. He's just not a good defensive infielder, could simply be an issue of him having poor instincts (which isn't really correctable).

His bat is good; but its not defense-doesn't-matter good. He's still more or less a tweener.

Lawrie asked to be moved to 2nd from catcher. He knew it was the easiest way to get to the bigs. Catchers move slow and at the time he was blocked by Lucroy and Salome at catcher and Gamel and Green at 3rd and then eventually McGehee. So he asked to be moved to 2nd where the only player blocking him is Weeks who is a free agent after next year.

As far as him being awful at 2nd. I've seen him play there several times. He's not great, but he's not the butcher he's made out to be there. Much like Gamel.

[satyr9]

3B isn't a position that is usually stacked in the minors. Honestly, unless you're thinking about re-claiming Gordon I dont see much near-ready talent you can acquire. Moustakas is the best 3B prospect right now but he may not even stick at 3B apparently (and KC obv. wont trade him). Matt Gamel is horrible defensively, previously hyped guys like Vitters/Dominguez are both stagnating big time (not really impressed with either). Flores is intriguing but he's a guy that needs some more time.

Current 3rd round pick Chris Hawkins is hitting really well right now and he's got quite a bit of upside. He's going to take a while being a recently drafted HS kid but him and Kellen Sweeney are both potential impact bats at 3B.

So what happens to all those HS SS that get drafted high, but people always say they're likely to end up at third? I feel like this gets said about 3-4 guys on average in the first couple rounds every year, where do they all go?

I know it's not worth pining over since it was never in the cards, but it's really too bad Wallace isn't 3B capable. He'd be looking even better if he was able to player a scarcer position.

One other thing, is MIL really going to try and improve this year? They seem pretty out of the hunt already to me. 9 games in half a season is a lot.

[Hoopstarr]

So what happens to all those HS SS that get drafted high, but people always say they're likely to end up at third? I feel like this gets said about 3-4 guys on average in the first couple rounds every year, where do they all go?

I'm guessing they don't develop the power required to stick at the position and they move to the OF. Or they turn out to blow chunks like one Kevin Ahrens.

[satyr9]

So what happens to all those HS SS that get drafted high, but people always say they're likely to end up at third? I feel like this gets said about 3-4 guys on average in the first couple rounds every year, where do they all go?

I'm guessing they don't develop the power required to stick at the position and they move to the OF. Or they turn out to blow chunks like one Kevin Ahrens.

Yeah, the question was kind of rhetorical/facetious. When met mentioned the lack of 3B prospects it just made me think of all the guys who get this tag (I'm not the only one who thinks that gets applied a lot am I?). Usually they don't project out agile enough for SS so people say they're likely to end up at 3B, but they don't usually develop the bat for that either. If I had to guess, I'd say these guys often end up as non-prospects; just not enough offense to justify making the bigs at the positions they'd be capable of defending, namely 3B, 1B, and corner OF. If anywhere, this is probably where 2nd basemen come from, not 3B, especially since most guys capable of 2B at the major league level were probably good enough athletes in HS and college to play SS.

[TheMainEvent]

I like Marcum, but the reason I have no problem with the possibility of the Jays trading him at the deadline is because he turns 29 years old this year. He's in the prime of his career right now, but the most reasonable optimists believe the Jays wont be serious contenders until another 2-3 more seasons.

The Jays have clearly begun rebuilding, and the Jays have a really talented and young pitching core, with Romero, Cecil, Morrow (who's seemingly found his groove), and guys like Drabek in the minors. Basically, the Jays have good number of young pitchers right now. Sure, you can never have too many pitchers, especially with the potential of injuries, but the best teams have a good balance of hitting and pitching, and I think the Jays could use more young position players.

I don't expect Marcum to really be a better pitcher than he is right now -- considering his pitching makeup, his ceiling has never been as high as guys like Romero, Cecil, or Morrow. He's in his prime and this has arguably been his best season in his career, and I think it's a good time to sell, as long as the Jays can get needed prospects or just younger players in return.