Free Calvin Pickering

[VanCitySportsGuy]

It pains me to see Pickering is blocked by Ken Harvey at DH and Mike Sweeney at 1B.

If I was Baird I would be shopping around Sweeney right now. He's already said if he doesn't get to play at 1B then he wants out.

Pickering destroyed the PCL last season slugging .712 with 35 bombs in only 299 AB's.

Once he arrived at the majors he hit 7 bombs in 122 AB's. I know he strikes out a lot but the tradeoff for his power is worth it.

His PECOTA projection for 05 is:

AB HR AVG OBP SLG VORP
337 24 .272 .400 .543 36.6

If I'm a GM that needs a 1B or DH right now, I'm dialing up the phone to see if I could get him.

[BatsareBugs]

Re: Free Calvin Pickering

Whenever I see Ken Harvey's name I just laugh.

[BatsareBugs]

Re: Free Calvin Pickering

Whenever I see Ken Harvey's name I just laugh.

[bravosfan]

Re: Free Calvin Pickering

Pickering's AAA numbers were outstanding, but the PCL is typically a hitter's league. And his MLB numbers are probably too small a sample size to make a real judgement.

How old is Pickering anyway? Seems like he's bounced around a little bit. Reds, Orioles, Red Sox....

He deserves a shot, but I certainly wouldn't put him ahead of a guy like Mike Sweeney, who (when healthy) is one of the best hitters in baseball.

[bravosfan]

Re: Free Calvin Pickering

Pickering's AAA numbers were outstanding, but the PCL is typically a hitter's league. And his MLB numbers are probably too small a sample size to make a real judgement.

How old is Pickering anyway? Seems like he's bounced around a little bit. Reds, Orioles, Red Sox....

He deserves a shot, but I certainly wouldn't put him ahead of a guy like Mike Sweeney, who (when healthy) is one of the best hitters in baseball.

[VanCitySportsGuy]

Re: Free Calvin Pickering

Pickering's AAA numbers were outstanding, but the PCL is typically a hitter's league. And his MLB numbers are probably too small a sample size to make a real judgement.

How old is Pickering anyway? Seems like he's bounced around a little bit. Reds, Orioles, Red Sox....

He deserves a shot, but I certainly wouldn't put him ahead of a guy like Mike Sweeney, who (when healthy) is one of the best hitters in baseball.

Pickering is 28. I'm not saying he's better than Sweeney but the Royals are better off dealing Sweeney for prospect/young players and putting the savings towards ML talent.

Pickering is too good of a player (cost effective too) to ride the pine on a last place calibre club.

[VanCitySportsGuy]

Re: Free Calvin Pickering

Pickering's AAA numbers were outstanding, but the PCL is typically a hitter's league. And his MLB numbers are probably too small a sample size to make a real judgement.

How old is Pickering anyway? Seems like he's bounced around a little bit. Reds, Orioles, Red Sox....

He deserves a shot, but I certainly wouldn't put him ahead of a guy like Mike Sweeney, who (when healthy) is one of the best hitters in baseball.

Pickering is 28. I'm not saying he's better than Sweeney but the Royals are better off dealing Sweeney for prospect/young players and putting the savings towards ML talent.

Pickering is too good of a player (cost effective too) to ride the pine on a last place calibre club.

[BGarrett7]

Re: Free Calvin Pickering

Pickering is 28. I'm not saying he's better than Sweeney but the Royals are better off dealing Sweeney for prospect/young players and putting the savings towards ML talent.

Given the amount of money they have just sat on the past couple years, do you even think they would take the money freed up from not having to worry about re-signing Sweeney and actually spend it on a big-name player?

[BGarrett7]

Re: Free Calvin Pickering

Pickering is 28. I'm not saying he's better than Sweeney but the Royals are better off dealing Sweeney for prospect/young players and putting the savings towards ML talent.

Given the amount of money they have just sat on the past couple years, do you even think they would take the money freed up from not having to worry about re-signing Sweeney and actually spend it on a big-name player?

[VanCitySportsGuy]

Re: Free Calvin Pickering

Given the amount of money they have just sat on the past couple years, do you even think they would take the money freed up from not having to worry about re-signing Sweeney and actually spend it on a big-name player?

I'm not the owner so I don't know if he would reinvest it in the club. But if they dump Sweeney there be a lot of public pressure to see those dollars go back to the club whether it be signing other FA's, trades bringing back more salary, money to sign Grienke long-term, or money to put towards the draft.

[VanCitySportsGuy]

Re: Free Calvin Pickering

Given the amount of money they have just sat on the past couple years, do you even think they would take the money freed up from not having to worry about re-signing Sweeney and actually spend it on a big-name player?

I'm not the owner so I don't know if he would reinvest it in the club. But if they dump Sweeney there be a lot of public pressure to see those dollars go back to the club whether it be signing other FA's, trades bringing back more salary, money to sign Grienke long-term, or money to put towards the draft.

[BGarrett7]

Re: Free Calvin Pickering

I'm not the owner so I don't know if he would reinvest it in the club. But if they dump Sweeney there be a lot of public pressure to see those dollars go back to the club whether it be signing other FA's, trades bringing back more salary, money to sign Grienke long-term, or money to put towards the draft.

Well, I would think that would already be happening, what with Beltran being a MUCH bigger commodity than Sweeney could ever dream of.

[BGarrett7]

Re: Free Calvin Pickering

I'm not the owner so I don't know if he would reinvest it in the club. But if they dump Sweeney there be a lot of public pressure to see those dollars go back to the club whether it be signing other FA's, trades bringing back more salary, money to sign Grienke long-term, or money to put towards the draft.

Well, I would think that would already be happening, what with Beltran being a MUCH bigger commodity than Sweeney could ever dream of.

[VanCitySportsGuy]

Re: Free Calvin Pickering

Well, I would think that would already be happening, what with Beltran being a MUCH bigger commodity than Sweeney could ever dream of.

Sweeney doesn't make anywhere close to what Beltran ended up getting. Also the length of his contract is shorter.

I don't think you will see any small market team sign any player to a long-term 17 mil a year contract.

[VanCitySportsGuy]

Re: Free Calvin Pickering

Well, I would think that would already be happening, what with Beltran being a MUCH bigger commodity than Sweeney could ever dream of.

Sweeney doesn't make anywhere close to what Beltran ended up getting. Also the length of his contract is shorter.

I don't think you will see any small market team sign any player to a long-term 17 mil a year contract.