Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Grady Sizemore and why I think the Padres should cough up the money and sign him

We all know the Padres do not have the money to spend on any player that they want and after the events of the last off-season they proved they can't and or won't cough up enough money to afford their best player. So why should they go after Grady Sizemore?? Any baseball fan knows that Grady has been plagued with injuries the past few seasons turning him into a high-risk player. However, baseball fans also know the ability he has when he is healthy, making him a high-reward player as well. The question is, is the reward worth the risk?? If you ask me, yes. Sure, I am slightly bias... ok a lot bias, since he is one of my favorite players but, look at it this way... He played in only 71 games last season and his average (.224) was still better than about 75% of the entire Padres team, he had 38 RBI which is again better than about 75% of the Padres and he had more home runs (10) than everyone with the exception of Ryan Ludwick (11), who in 30 more games only had one more. Sure last season he didn't have any stolen bases but credit that to his knee injuries. His strikeout per plate appearances has gone up and down throughout his career with his highest percentage coming last season, most likely due to having to adjust his swing after having elbow issues, we can all agree that the Padres do not need anymore strikeouts.

I know that there is a very good possibility that he will never be the same Grady that he was from '06 - '08 but if he lets himself completely heal before going all out he can be a big help to the Padres. For one, he is a lefty and we can use more of those in our lineup. Two, he has played the majority of his career as a lead-off man and we would for once be able to see some consistency in our lineup, cue the Bud Bot hashtag. Three, he is willing to play a corner outfield position in order to prove himself again, “He wants to have an opportunity that will allow him to show he’s still the elite player he’s been,” Urbon said. “In a perfect world, he’d love to play center field. You can’t ignore the fact that’s where he won two Gold Gloves, where he’s been a three-time all star. When healthy, he’s one of the best players in the game. But if he feels the best opportunity is for him play in a corner spot, then he has the ability to do that.”. As his agent mentioned, he is a three-time All Star and a two-time Gold Glove winner. He is also a Silver Slugger winner, has placed four times in the MVP voting and is still relatively young. What team wouldn't want a player like that?! Four, his presence will add attractiveness which just might bring in more female fans and hopefully boost attendance... at this point I don't care how the seats get filled as long as they do. With all this said, it is highly unlikely that the Padres will cough up the nine million that he was looking to get from the Indians this coming season therefore crushing my hopes and dreams of seeing Grady in a Padres uni. Instead the Padres will get Mark Kotsay pending physical which means I will be keeping my fingers crossed that this acquisition doesn't turn out to be another Jim Edmonds or Brad Hawpe situation.

3 comments:

  1. Here's the problem, where are we going to put him? We're up to your boobs in outfielders and now you want us to sign yet another outfielder especially in a position where we don't need it (CF). Unless you want to shop Cameron Maybin out (bad idea). If you can convince him to play LF or RF then maaaaaaaaybe since corner OF is a position of need but something tells me he won't. Because he's been injury plagued I'm sure he won't be fetching a high price and it would something we could afford but he plays a position where we have plenty.

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  2. Well I thought by selecting "Google Account" it would...you know..use my Google account and replace "unknown" with "Brandon Cline"

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  3. Haha good job google. I don't expect us to lose Cam but I would much rather play Grady in a corner spot over Venable and Blanks... and now Kotsay. From what I have read the cheapest Grady will probably end up signing for is 5 million for a season, I think, which is still on the pricey side for the Padres. Unless something happens with Heath and have more money to spend that way. I just trust Grady's abilities over most of our players. Plus you put a healthy Grady with Cam and we might not even need a third outfielder haha.

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