The Cincinnati Reds finally signed the long-rumored deal with Edgar Renteria. It was for 1 year at $2.1 M with incentives worth another $900 K. Rent seems to think he's going to get a chance to start for the Reds over youngster Paul Janish. With Dusty Baker making the call, who's to say he's wrong? Given that his body seems to be falling apart before our eyes, Rent cannot be counted on as a starting shortstop any more. I would have been fine with him as a backup for the Giants. In fact, he was probably at the top of my list for that role. $2.1 M+ is a lot to pay for a backup anything. It's just for 1 season, $2 M seems like a drop in the bucket in a $120 M payroll, but it's not my team and I can certainly see why the Giants said no.
Rent didn't have many great moments as a Giant, but the ones he had sure stick out in the mind. The visual memory that seems to be enduring for me from the 2010 World Series is of Rent taking Cliff Lee deep in Game 5 and knowing right then that the Series was won, for all practical purposes. For that moment alone, Rent will be remembered as a good Giant. I'll wish him success in Cincy, but hope the Giants don't face them in the playoffs. I know it's popular among Sabermetric enthusiasts to say there is no such thing as clutch. Well, Rent was clutch!
I've already covered the Giants reserve shortstop options in a previous Hot Stove Update: What's Left? I agree with Splashing Pumpkins. The Giants have enough internal options that Sabes can afford to wait this one out and let the market come to him.
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Take the money allocated for backup SS and put it into Latin America free agency.
ReplyDeleteNow that is a good idea Dave. We need to keep refilling the cupboard and Latin America is a great place to find elite young talent
ReplyDeleteIt is not that there is no such thing as clutch, obviosly there is such things as clutch as there are situations that are more important then others.
ReplyDeleteThe question is if it is a repeatable skill. On that there has been much research but evidence of clutch skill hasn't been found. That doesn't mean it isn't there because it is possible that it cannot be seperated from the statistical noise.
There are certainly cluth hits but are certain players more skilled at being clutch that we cannot prove statistically right now.
CC,
ReplyDeleteI have no problem with that statement, but what you said is different than a blanket proclamation of "there is no such thing as clutch." Sometimes sabermetricians, both professional and amateur, take the lack of evidence for something as proof that it doesn't exist, which is a fallacy.
I could me mistaken, but I believe some more recent research suggests that there indeed are some players who hit better in "clutch" situations.
ReplyDeleteDave,
ReplyDeleteThe Giants were linked to a couple of high profile international players right up the the opening of the signing period in 2010. They bailed at the last minute. It's unclear why they bailed. It seemed to coincide with the news of widespread drug test failures among the international prospects. It could be they wanted to put the money into the pennant run, in which case it paid off big time. It's also possible they wanted to use the money to sign some additional players from the draft, also something I have no problem with. We'll see what they do in 2011 what with the increased payroll and all. I hope they don't go back to skimping on the draft and international market to maintain the higher payroll, because that becomes a vicious cycle.
the giants overpaid edgar for 2 seasons
ReplyDeletehe knows it
the chances of him making it through the season injury free are slim to none
im sure the giants would have matched the money...but that went out the door when edgar mouthed off to the press
i wish him all the best
Bacci,
ReplyDeleteI will never begrudge the money the giants paid Edgar. He earned it back and more with his performance in the WS.
I don't begrudge Edgar's pay either. What he did in the end despite all the obstacles he faced in 2010 was absolutely amazing. His 'intangibles' were also highly valued. Sorry we lost him, but he got a better offer from the Reds and probably more playing time than he would have with the Giants. Doubt the alleged remarks had anything to do with the Giants' offer not changing; they came >week after the offer was made. Agree with Edgar's assessment.
ReplyDelete