Title says it all. Dave just wrote a post on Langerhans the other day, which at this point is required reading. What it comes down to is that the M's have dealt a worthless player - worthless to them, at least - in exchange for an awesome outfield gloveman with a career batting line of .233/.335/.378. It's like bringing in another Endy Chavez, except this one comes with more upside, given that Langerhans has a good idea of the zone, decent lefty power, and a track record of producing in AAA. He probably won't be quite as good as Chavez in the field, but few people are, and he swings a better bat.
Langerhans is exactly the sort of player we needed to add once Chavez went down, and as Dave suggested, he was for all intents and purposes freely available. And, sure enough, we got him for nothing. I'm not yet sure what his role is going to be, but I'd imagine he'll do what Chavez did, which means we'll get to see an awful lot of him. Which is great news, for us, for the team, and for Michael Saunders' stress management.
This is how you add now without subtracting from the future. What an excellent, excellent trade.
1 recs | 123 comments
!
Poochie - June 28, 2009
U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!
Wilder. - June 28, 2009
YES YES YES
gregrabble - June 28, 2009
I don't know anything about Langerhans past what Dave wrote.
Does his glove compare that favorably to Endy’s?
JLProck - June 28, 2009
Endy might be 5 runs better
but honestly, I’m not sure. All the evidence we have suggests that Langerhans is magnificent.
Jeff Sullivan - June 28, 2009
I watched nearly every game Langerhans played defensively over the last few seasons with Washington.
And he really is that good. It often doesn’t show up to the naked eye (perhaps one of the reasons Washington buried him so deep on their depth chart, although his age and lack of serious upside — sorry Jeff — is another), because he’s one of those guys who combines flawless instincts with great speed in the OF. Usually he’s a corner guy — I presume he slots into LF — but I suspect he would acquit himself well enough in CF as well.
Without referring to the numbers to refresh (or revise!) my memory, I say: + glove, + speed, ++ instincts, but mediocre throwing arm.
As a batter, well, he knows how to draw a walk, and USED to have power.
A good acquisition for the M’s, another confirmation that Jack Z knows WTF he’s doing, but not a franchise-builder, obvious. And old. But for a team on the cusp of contention? A smart move.
esoteric - June 28, 2009
Old? He's only 29
I’ll grant he’s not a young prospect anymore, but “old” seems to be putting it rather too harshly; yeah, he’s past peak age, but not by much.
The Ancient Mariner - June 28, 2009
He's at least 15 runs better than his replacements
who would be Wlad or Griffey.
philosofool - June 28, 2009
Hey guys, I’m from True Blue LA, and I’m sitting in the press box at Dodger Stadium today covering the game. I just wanted to point out what I overheard from one of the Seattle beat writers about this trade:
He noted, "I’d hate to think the front office is listening to Dave Cameron [of U.S.S. Mariner]."
I thought that was kind of funny.
Eric Stephen - June 28, 2009
I can imagine who said that
Jeff Sullivan - June 28, 2009
Seriously.
If any blogger/beat writer, it should be Geoff Baker that Z and Co. should be asking advice for.
Fin - June 28, 2009
Geoff isn't with the team in LA
Jeff Sullivan - June 28, 2009
Oops.
Who could it be then?
Fin - June 28, 2009
Stone?
Poochie - June 28, 2009
It could be alot of people - Divish, LaRue, Stone, someone on the radio. I don't really feel like speculating.
Decatur - June 28, 2009
Don't forget Street, Greg Johns, etc etc
msb - June 28, 2009
I doubt it was Divish.
He seems pretty cool.
JY - June 28, 2009
Divish and Stone are good people
Jeff Sullivan - June 28, 2009
Do you not like Larry LaRue?
Or was that omission inadvertent?
The Ancient Mariner - June 28, 2009
Larry LaRue is not Ryan Divish or Larry Stone
I’ll leave it at that.
Jeff Sullivan - June 28, 2009
Are you Sancho?
Larry LaRue is not Sancho.
Nor is Scott Baio Sancho.
Only I am Sancho.
Jordan of Boise - June 28, 2009
I simply meant that there were many potential people who could qualify as "M's beat writer" at the M's-Dodgers game.
Decatur - June 28, 2009
Stone and USSM seem to be BFFs, though.
katal - June 28, 2009
Stone making a joke would be my guess
Zack - June 28, 2009
Because they certainly wouldn't want to make improvements to the team.
God forbid.
Not that Jack and Co. can’t make improvements on their own, but listening to Dave certainly woudn’t hurt.
JLProck - June 28, 2009
Maybe they were listening to Dave Cameron of the WSJ?
or that Fangraphs guy.
msb - June 28, 2009
He must be jealous the front office isn't listening to him.
Wilder. - June 28, 2009
Because it worked so well when the FO listened to the local beat writers and traded for Bedard.
katal - June 28, 2009
I'm glad that this particular person does not have control over personel moves.
I don’t want more relievers.
BrettJMiller - June 28, 2009
This also makes me wonder.
Could J/M/G potentially get press box access? I mean, I know Jeff doesn’t live in Seattle, but Matthew and Graham do.
Fin - June 28, 2009
We probably could but I don't think we want it
Jeff Sullivan - June 28, 2009
Afraid you'll learn by osmosis?
JLProck - June 28, 2009
Access corrupts
Jeff Sullivan - June 28, 2009
This is very true.
But would you have limitations on what you can write if you are just given access to the press box?
Fin - June 28, 2009
The M's won't try to tell you what you can and can't write.
Not to speak for Jeff, but the worry is that all the free food and access to players and other personnel corrupts one’s ability to be 100 percent objective when writing about the organization. You make friends, you get delicious sandwiches, etc.
Teej - June 28, 2009
I would seriously consider taking the sandwiches.
The payoff is much better.
Wilder. - June 28, 2009
Having spent a game in the press box, I can tell you
there is nothing in the dining room except old hot dogs and flat soda.
shinallsrevenge - June 28, 2009
Nibs.
msb - June 28, 2009
I think Jeff would be afraid of soaking up all the bullshit that I'm sure is constantly spouted out in the press box.
JLProck - June 28, 2009
I want interviews with players
Edgar for Pres - June 28, 2009
Neither Matthew nor Graham have the people skills to pull those off and I'm nowhere close
Jeff Sullivan - June 28, 2009
You guys seem like such people-persons(?) though!
JLProck - June 28, 2009
There are some Mariners I would pay to see Graham interview.
katal - June 28, 2009
Graham: So we're here in the clubhouse with Rob Johnson
Rob: Good to be here
Graham: So I hear you’re a gigantic faggot. Confirm/deny?
Rob: Excuse me?
Graham: Also you’re such a huge clubhouse cancer that you somehow killed Jose Lopez’s sister. Shame on you
Rob: What the fuck?
Graham: Let’s take a brief moment to ponder which side of Mr. Johnson’s ancestry involves the Atlantic Cod. As you can see from his appearance and demeano…
Rob: You son of a bitch.
Rob Johnson swings wildly at our intrepid hero, misses
etc.
Graham MacAree - June 28, 2009
Yeah, you need to do interviews.
Wilder. - June 28, 2009
So much comedy to be had from fake conversations.
JLProck - June 28, 2009
See
Jeff Sullivan - June 28, 2009
If pissing flks off is a people skill I have that in spades
Graham MacAree - June 28, 2009
Use an old school Larry King philosophy
Introduce the guest, let the guest talk. Ask an open ended question. Let the guest ramble on as long as they want.
The secret is the open ended question, then patience. It’s amazing how much people will continue to ramble on if you just sit back and let them. They literally interview themselves.
The Typical Idiot Fan - June 28, 2009
The other thing is don't interrupt them or rush the time they have.
If you just sit there and look at them, they’ll start adding things because they think they’re supposed to keep talking. It’s amazing. I do it in all my employee interviews. It’s how you can figure out who they are.
The Typical Idiot Fan - June 28, 2009
I have zero interest in listening to athletes ramble on about stupid shit
Graham MacAree - June 28, 2009
You don't want to hear about how they went out there...
and gave 100%, day in, day out?
JY - June 28, 2009
Why didn't they add an extra 10%?
joof - June 28, 2009
You could have just said interview skills :(
Matthew - June 28, 2009
You are perfectly amiable when drunk
Graham MacAree - June 28, 2009
I could have said a lot of things
Jeff Sullivan - June 28, 2009
Wait till September!
Robert - June 28, 2009
I want to interview Langerhans :(
Jeff Sullivan - June 28, 2009
So then he'll leave?
Or is that only when Devin interviews them?
Mariner John - June 28, 2009
Hmmm....
That’s SOOOO 2005!
PositivePaul - June 28, 2009
I'm an engineer, Matthew's a software developer, and Jeff is a chemist
We’re not journalists and I don’t think I’m overstating things when I say none of us want to be journalists.
Graham MacAree - June 28, 2009
No wonder you guys are so great at figuring things out.
You guys basically could do all the R&D involved in an entrepreneurial venture.
Fin - June 29, 2009
But the beauty is
this was a zero cost trade. You can listen to me when it cost you nothing!
philosofool - June 28, 2009
NOW DO THE SAME BUT WITH ROB JOHNSON!
Slurvey - June 28, 2009
Awesome
abender20 - June 28, 2009
Is he a good platoon match with Balentien?
waldo rojas - June 28, 2009
He's a lefty, so yes
Jeff Sullivan - June 28, 2009
MIKE MORSE IS FINALLY DEAD!
Robert - June 28, 2009
GRIFFEY!!!
Kirk - June 28, 2009
I love Johjima!!!
Spoomeister - June 28, 2009
.
PositivePaul - June 28, 2009
300 pixels __AT MOST__ please.
Matthew - June 28, 2009
This is freaking amazing... it still feels so weird that we are smart now
Zack - June 28, 2009
I think Dave and DMZ might crash the USSM server themselves just to celebrate.
Decatur - June 28, 2009
I'm confused why we don't have Brignac yet
abender20 - June 28, 2009
Because the Rays aren't fond of trading good young shortstops?
R.J. Anderson - June 28, 2009
That's just selfish. Bartlett, Zobrist (sort of), Brignac, Beckham
abender20 - June 28, 2009
cont.
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Omerta - June 28, 2009
It's about time.
Glad to see Langerhans will finally be on a roster.
Jack Moore - June 28, 2009
I hear he is just a placeholder,
Gonna flip him for Snelling.
hcoguy - June 28, 2009
I heard we are flipping him for Brent Lillibridge
since we need a Yuni replacement.
joof - June 28, 2009
Awesome.
Goose - June 28, 2009
I am still not used to a FO that actually makes good decisions.
wadswerth - June 28, 2009
But But But, who's going to play third?
InSpokane - June 28, 2009
I just turned on FSN and they said that we traded him for Ryan Zimmerman
I nearly went insane, but came here to find out that it was a cruel, cruel typo
tootthekazoo - June 28, 2009
Langerhans, Zimmerman tomato, tamato they ryhme so FSN could mess it up...
Slurvey - June 28, 2009
"Yeah we sent Mike Morse to the Nats for some guy named Ryan"
“We got Zimmerman? For Morse! Hoooray!”
tootthekazoo - June 28, 2009
Good
Though I can’t believe the Nationals are giving up an outfielder instead of trying to trade for another.
JLC - June 28, 2009
Well Morse has played the outfield, so...
PositivePaul - June 28, 2009
WE GOT ZIMMERMAN!!!
Oops, guess not. I nearly crapped myself when I saw that last name.
mvjournal - June 28, 2009
How could they typo Zimmerman
If I were a Nats fan and I saw that I’d be screaming bloody murder.
Omerta - June 28, 2009
Great news
OlSalty - June 28, 2009
Also thank god Mike Morse will not be playing third
OlSalty - June 28, 2009
I'm not sure the alternative is going to be that much better defensively
JLC - June 28, 2009
For sure, I just hated seeing him anywhere on the field
OlSalty - June 28, 2009
I refuse to believe this actually happened.
Aaron Campeau - June 28, 2009
MIKE MORSE IS GONE
HE’S GONE. FOR REALZ
OlSalty - June 28, 2009
I always hoped he would amount to something someday.
Kermit. - June 28, 2009
The Freddy Garcia deal lives on...
kentcheesehead - June 28, 2009
It's the Langston Deal.
JLProck - June 28, 2009
Ha, that's right. It will never end, will it?
kentcheesehead - June 28, 2009
Actually, it all goes back to Bill Stein.
The Ancient Mariner - June 28, 2009
I don't see the connection.
JLProck - June 28, 2009
We drafted Langston
with the compensation pick we got from the Rangers when they signed Bill Stein away from us as a FA.
Stein, btw, was an original M.
The Ancient Mariner - June 28, 2009
The Stein Deal it is, then.
JLProck - June 28, 2009
It's turned into two deals now.
The Putz deal last winter, and this lesser deal.
Fin - June 28, 2009
Mike Morse just went from being the blackest guy in an organization to being the whitest guy in an organization
Jeff Sullivan - June 28, 2009
Adam Dunn is about as white as it gets.
JLProck - June 28, 2009
Adam Dunn is lazy and therefore more stereotypically black than Mike Morse
Jeff Sullivan - June 28, 2009
What about Ryan Zimmerman?
Fin - June 28, 2009
Perhaps I was exaggerating
Jeff Sullivan - June 28, 2009
Strasburg.
Wilder. - June 28, 2009
Who here actually knows how to say Langerhans?
Can we write it out phonetically?
DAMellen - June 28, 2009
Lawn-grr-hawns
davidcameron - June 28, 2009
Plus just think of all the hilarious and original puns that can be made!
Nick S - June 28, 2009
Langerhans? We're free of Mike Morse?
Oh sweet zombie Jesus YES.
BrianL - June 28, 2009
Goodbye Morse! Good luck!
Also, I really like this trade!
mark sobba - June 28, 2009
Amazing!
ThundaPC - June 28, 2009
Mike Morse
good guy, bad luck last year when he got the chance to play. If only he could be an average defender other than at DH…
Scrupio - June 28, 2009
Mike Morse is a cheater so I'm not sure why anyone thinks he's a good guy
Graham MacAree - June 28, 2009
"Fire Jim Bowden" has their perspective on the trade:
Full article. Some choice quotes:
I pity Nationals fans, I really do.
Benne - June 28, 2009
Well this makes a bad day good
Corco - June 28, 2009
Tango's fingerprints on this one too?
baetown415 - June 29, 2009
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