Time to Trade Ponson

by jsolo on Apr 26, 2009 7:19 PM EDT Comment 17 comments

Fangraphs hasn't updated the advanced statistics yet for today, so I'm going to use some less sophisticated measures below. Still, I think my point will be apparent.

After today's nicely pitched game (8 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 7 K) Ponson now has a moderately respectable line of 23.1 IP, 26 H, 15 ER, 10 BB, 17 K. This line includes the 3.1 IP in Cleveland where he gave up 6 ER, 8 H, and 4 BB. His 3 other starts equate to 20 IP, 18 H, 9 ER, 6 BB, 15 K which looks quite a bit more enticing.

Here are 4 other interesting lines for your amusement:

19.1 IP, 23 H, 20 ER, 15 BB, 18 SO

16 IP, 22 H, 13 ER, 4 BB, 7 SO

15.2 IP, 16 H, 13 ER, 9 BB, 11 SO

15.2 IP, 19 H, 11 ER, 9 BB, 6 SO

Any guesses what those are? Yep - those are the other 4 non-Santana starters for the Mets. Think they could use a guy like Ponson about now in their spacious new ballpark? I certainly do.

While Ponson could improve his overall numbers due to the poor Cleveland showing, his value will not likely be much higher after today's nicely pitched game.

Trade him. Call up Hochevar. If there is an injury or someone becomes ineffective you still have HoRam in the pen who can start and Duckworth and Phillips/Dinardo in the minors.

Go after the team in desperate need of pitching help - you may actually get a B level prospect.

1 recs | Comment 17 comments

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Why is Brian Bannister that much of a proven commodity

that KC can toss away someone that has pitched decently for 3 out of 4 games? I’m in favor of trading anytime KC can add value but with Ponson’s track record I doubt he would return anything worth trading for considering KC can use him currently.

I don't know how to put this but I'm kind of a big deal.

by kcscoliny on Apr 26, 2009 7:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

maybe we should trade Banni BACK to the Mets? :)

For someone other than Burgos of course…

The 2009 Official You Got Rocked by the Royals and Sent to the Minors List
1. Josh Rupe TEX April 17

by 306008 on Apr 26, 2009 10:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I can't decide between Reyes and Wright

through HoRam in and get them both

I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.

by devil_fingers on Apr 26, 2009 11:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

or even "throw" him in

I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.

by devil_fingers on Apr 26, 2009 11:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Ponson has any trade value at all

..then we should trade him immediately. His track record suggests that he will revert back to Sucksville and soon. I’d rather have a career Minor Leaguer than his sub-replacement caliber performance (even at the low pricetag). Replace him with the number of AAA arms who can replicate his performance at the same cost, if not (ever so) slightly less.

Get treated. Royally.

by Royals Nation on Apr 26, 2009 7:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I doubt if Ponson has any trade value

I just don’t see many teams beating down KC’s doors for the knight. Are they that desperate to call the Royals and ask for a guy that could have been claimed off the scrap heap. I have actually been surprised by Ponson’s pitching so far. For a 4th/5th starter, he has kept the team in the games he has pitched (except one).

by daveyork on Apr 26, 2009 9:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Admittedly a grade B prospect is a stretch

But if the Royals can trade HoRam last year – as a middle reliever – for a fringe prospect, then a moderately respectable starter with an okay K rate (who would also be moving to the NL and a huge home ballpark in my case above) has got to be worth something.

I think this is particularly true for a desperate team like the Mets, who are getting grilled by their fan base, where Ponson would literally be the 2nd or 3rd best starter on the team given current statistics.

by jsolo on Apr 26, 2009 9:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is always possible

But the trade last year was a deadline deal… can we do something predeadline? I’d rather hold him until July 30th when he’s pitched like this all year and we are in the pennant race and we actually KEEP him…. but of course, if we aren’t, someone will take a prospect out of their system to place in ours…

The 2009 Official You Got Rocked by the Royals and Sent to the Minors List
1. Josh Rupe TEX April 17

by 306008 on Apr 26, 2009 10:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If we do trade Ponson...

I think the most we can expect back in return is a C+ level prospect. And I don’t think we’d be able to trade him right now. If he is still this good in a month, maybe then.

by DarthYoshi on Apr 26, 2009 10:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

How about we keep him?

Even if Banny decides he’s going to party like it’s 2007 and Hochevar is everything we think he could be, I’d like to keep Ponson around.

Who is our next option when, not if, someone goes down with an injury? Horacio? Anyone excited to see Ducky or Bruce Chen starting a crucial game in KC?

So, let’s keep him around for roster depth just like we all thought he would be when he was signed.

by sterlingice on Apr 27, 2009 12:28 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't think we can get anything

for Ponson right now. If he pitches decently for another month or two, then somebody is going to be interested and we can get an OK prospect. Whatever, there’s no way Sir Sid ought to be on the Royals after the All-Star break. Package him with TPJ, Farnsy, and HoRam and trade him to St. Louis for Pujols. You know they’ll jump all over that one.

It's pronounced Poo-ZHOLS in Catalan.

by Juancho on Apr 27, 2009 2:47 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs