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Ramon Vazquez optioned

After the game, utility infielder Ramon Vazquez was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo. Lou Merloni was called up, I'm not sure that I understand the move, but it sure makes you wonder why we kept him over Brandon Phillips 290 25 RBI and 8 steals. Lou Merloni is not that good of a def infielder and bats Right Handed so I'm not sure where and when we are going to play him, unless there is more moves coming.  

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Re: Ramon Vazquez optioned
This was reported in the Akron paper but I can not find it anywhere else.
Fan in Texas

by fanintexas on May 17, 2006 9:53 AM EDT   0 recs

Re: Ramon Vazquez optioned
You mean Brandon ".208/.250/.229 in May" Phillips?  Maybe you mean Brandon ".213/.210/.393 away from the Great American Bandbox" Phillips.  

I'm sure we will play Merloni where we played Vazquez - as a utility infielder.  Even if Vazquez was 10x better in the field than Lou is (and he isn't) his bat was so bad we couldn't keep him around.  I like the move.

P.S.  Jason "Part-Time" Michaels is at .333/.404/.471 in May.  Perhaps those who criticize Michaels and praise Phillips should reconsider.

by mkwng on May 17, 2006 10:56 AM EDT   0 recs

Re: Ramon Vazquez optioned
208 in May is still better than 179 with 4 RBI in 16 games by Vazquez.
Fan in Texas

by fanintexas on May 17, 2006 11:32 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Ramon Vazquez optioned
And at this point we're arguing over which oil spill was prettier.  Vazquez sucks.  But Phillips sucks too, and continuing to treat his trade as some colossal, unforgiveable blunder by Shapiro when there are more pressing things wrong with the team than the utility infielder position is pointless and exhausting, and I can't believe I got sucked into this argument again.

by mkwng on May 17, 2006 11:54 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Ramon Vazquez optioned
didn't ask you to.
Fan in Texas

by fanintexas on May 17, 2006 12:02 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Ramon Vazquez optioned
I was a surprised at the move.

Merloni is a veteran who gives 100% and is comfortable with his role as a bench player.  I don't expect him to hit over .260 but that's a lot better than Vazquez.
 

by LeftyCatcher on May 17, 2006 12:12 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Ramon Vazquez optioned
I like Merloni also, just do not see how he fits in.
Fan in Texas

by fanintexas on May 17, 2006 12:27 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Ramon Vazquez optioned
Me either.

I saw Vazquez as a late inning defensive replacement, especially for Belliard.  This is something he did well.

Since Eric rarely sits his regulars, who needs another good bat?  Merloni is hitting .316, with a .398 OBP and .496 slg, but he has 5 errors already.  We already have an excellent right handed pinch hitter in Perez.

What we need is defense, not another hitter.  Granted, Merloni is a very good team player, so I'm not too upset at the move.

by LeftyCatcher on May 17, 2006 12:57 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Ramon Vazquez optioned
See my other reply. I think interleague play was a factor in the decision.

by talonk on May 17, 2006 1:13 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Ramon Vazquez optioned
I expect him to hit about .260 over his next 500 at bats.  As for the 80 at bats he'll get this season, it's anybody's guess.

by Jay on May 18, 2006 12:43 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Ramon Vazquez optioned
Merloni will be a much better option during interleague play when we have to hit for the pitcher (CC excepted). Somehow sending up Vazquez to hit for a pitcher wouldn't make sense since he hits about as well as a pitcher anyway. Merloni actually has a chance to hit it where they ain't.

by talonk on May 17, 2006 12:55 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Ramon Vazquez optioned
Didn't think of interleague play, that's real good point, if he gets us a couple of hits he has earned his pay.
Fan in Texas

by fanintexas on May 17, 2006 1:19 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Ramon Vazquez optioned
Granted, we don't have a game in an NL park for about a month, but maybe they want him to get some work in now against ML pitching rather than AAA/AAAA guys before then . Just a thought.

by talonk on May 17, 2006 1:42 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Ramon Vazquez optioned
Is it possible the Tribe actually had this in mind?  Or did they just luck out and make the same move that talonk would have?

by Jay on May 18, 2006 12:44 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Ramon Vazquez optioned
Wow, Thanks Jay, I actually made a good point before someone else (for once) lol ....

by talonk on May 18, 2006 3:42 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Ramon Vazquez optioned
I also wonder if this isn't a "clubhouse" move.  Merloni has always been a positive factor in every clubhouse he's ever set foot in.  That's not to say that Vasquez was a clubhouse cancer in any way.  But Grady admitted to the guys pressing a little bit in order to end the losing streak.  It may be that the front office viewed Vasquez and Merloni as a wash, but felt that Merloni might provide a solid veteran presence ON the bench

by drerikbrady on May 17, 2006 2:42 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Ramon Vazquez optioned
Am I correct that Merloni was not on the 40?  And he takes the place of Graves on the 40?

That would fill the 40 back up, correct?

by IndyDave on May 17, 2006 2:53 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Ramon Vazquez optioned
I'm a bit confused, actually. Who plays short?  

Boone had 54 ABs as a SS in 2002, 13 in 2003, 0 in 2004 (obviously), and 0 in 2005.

Merloni had 7 ABs as a SS in 2002, 59 in 2003, and that's that.  Granted, he may have played a few games in the minors, but I would doubt much.

Regardless, we have two of the most groundballingest pitchers in the majors. What gives?

My two observations -

  1. This is a short term move, for some reason, until Inglett takes up residence for the rest of the season.  What reason, I simply don't know.

  2. This clearly shows what the front office thinks about Peralta's defensive abilities.  Wasn't it just the start of last year he was on a short leash supported by a Proven Veteran Backup?

Anyway, it may be an inconsequential move, or maybe I think it is b/c we didn't bring up Mr. Inglett.  The way i see it he has an equal, if not better bat, and better matched defensive abilities to meet our team's needs.  Maybe he has taken up the long time Indian veteran presence spot on the roster required by the FO since Graves was released.  

by Thommy on May 17, 2006 4:01 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Ramon Vazquez optioned
Wow, remind me to reread my posts for ambigious pronoun references.  (Sorry, Mrs. Barker, I'll try to do better in the future.)

Anyway, it may be an inconsequential move, or maybe I think it is b/c we didn't bring up Mr. Inglett.  The way i see it JOE INGLETT has an equal, if not better bat, and better matched defensive abilities to meet our team's needs.  Maybe LOU MERLONI has taken up the long time Indian veteran presence spot on the roster required by the FO since Graves was released.

by Thommy on May 17, 2006 4:04 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Ramon Vazquez optioned
The Team VP Guy is Boone, not Graves or Merloni.

by Jay on May 18, 2006 12:46 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Ramon Vazquez optioned
As Ryan pointed out a few days ago, Peralta actually stands out as the one guy still putting up superior overall defensive numbers in our infield.

by Jay on May 18, 2006 12:45 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Ramon Vazquez optioned
My point exactly - are you comfy with Boone or Lou playing SS more than a few times a year?  I'm not.

by Thommy on May 18, 2006 9:16 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Ramon Vazquez optioned
I'm not, based on my limited knowledge.  But I don't think they see any reason to start anyone but Peralta more than once a month, and obviously you're not going to pinch-hit for him much.

by Jay on May 18, 2006 10:57 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Ramon Vazquez optioned
Agreed.  I guess I'm nitpicking.  It's a good move to bring Lou up, but I think Inglett may be our future utilitiy player, and he's not getting any hotter than he is right now.  If I think about Lou's good guy veteran presence thing, though, I guess that's why the decision was made.  Not a big deal either way.

by Thommy on May 18, 2006 12:17 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Ramon Vazquez optioned
Is the purpose of the minor leagues to cook a prospect until he's "hot" enough?  Or is it the development of disciplined, repeatable skills?

by Jay on May 18, 2006 5:54 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Ramon Vazquez optioned
i think we're all forgetting how much more satisfying it is to yell "Loouuuuuuuuuuuu" at the top of our lungs than it is to yell "Ramooonnnnnnnn"

by drerikbrady on May 18, 2006 8:28 AM EDT   0 recs

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