These are dark times.

Exactly what question are you asking if the answer is Jeromy Burnitz?

From today's Chronicle:

"[Burnitz] may not be as good in center field as some of the pure center fielders, but everybody who's seen him patrol center field in Coors is convinced he does at least, if not better than, an adequate job."

Well, you can't argue with that sort of ringing endorsement, really.

...

Aside from my own personal commitment not to root for any more players who don't know that their first names should be spelled J-E-R-E-M-Y, the Astros have not got enough offense in their present lineup to support another light-hitting defensive player. With Everett, Ausmus and the pitcher's spot coming up 7-8-9, you really can't put a career .254/.351/.491 hitter in the sixth spot.

By that same argument, I am not really intrigued by the reports that Mike Cameron wants out of the Mets if he can't play CF. Cameron batted .231/.319/.479 last year, and a quick glance at his numbers indicate that's not really that steep a decline from his career numbers. The shocking thing is that Cameron will be paid $14 million for the next two seasons. This for a player whose best season, in 2001 as a Mariner, is .267/.353/.480.

If that sort of performance is worth $7 million a season in New York, it's no wonder they outbid Houston on Carlos Beltran.

...

Here's my favorite tidbit from Drayton McLane's account of his dealings with Scott Boras.

Several weeks ago, Boras told the Astros they were no longer in contention for Beltran. He said they had failed to reach the seven-year, $112 million threshold that would have gotten them to the next level of bidding.

Boras told McLane at least five teams had reached the magical $112 million mark. McLane's five-year, $75 million offer didn't come close.

"I told Scott we weren't prepared to go past that," McLane recalled.

He suggested the two sides release a joint statement announcing Beltran would be playing elsewhere next season.

Boras didn't seem eager to announce the Astros were out of the running.

...

Boras disputes this version of events, of course, but it's so similar to every other account of the patented Boras negotiating technique that I'm inclined to take it at face value.

Bitter as it is losing Beltran, what stings just as much is that the Astros were willing to be strung along to the very last minute.

 

Comments

[systemerror]

One of the leading sports talk stations here in Dallas has dubbed Scott Boras "The Baseball Antichrist" With the Rangers still stinging from the A-Rod mess, I think they are purging their ranks of Boras clients. Texieria's contract is up after next season, and I don't think the Rangers will play the game of trying to outbid themselves.

[Jack]

I'm much higher on Mike Cameron than you are; he played half his games in Shea Stadium, a pitcher's park, had a sprained thumb for some of the year, and still slugged .512 on the road. I've got a post up about it at www.thejuicebox.com, if you're interested.

[Hirsch]

Thanks, Jack! I only took the most cursory look at Cameron's stats, so I imagined he was much better than the numbers would indicate.

[StroMan]

Cameron had offseason wrist surgery and won't be ready for spring training. In the past 8 seasons, playing for 4 different teams, he has never hit better than .267 and never had an OPS above .835 (Jason Lane is .877 in his brief career). He does have speed, and is an excellent defensive CF, but the Mets aren't going to give him up for dog food. They would probably want a couple of our top prospects. I'd rather we passed on both Cameron and Burnitz, but if we are going to acquire one of them, at least Burnitz wouldn't cost us any players, just cash. And he has been a consistent run producer with the glaring exception of 2002.