I would say there are people quicker than him. Wouldn't you? I should have said quick.

Because a taller person can cover more ground with fewer steps, fast and quick are two different things.

shortstop a nd 2B are not like the corners. The rule is 3Bman gets every ball he can reach even cutting off the shortstop...that means range.

When a guy like Callaspo has to vertically dive to snare a groundball he then has to get himself upright to make the throw...taller guys get to those balls while still on their feet...huge difference.

Aybar and Kendrick are just fine where they play; never said otherwise.

So Ozzie Smith would not have made a good 3rd basemen?

Ok.. good to know.

Well, I don't know... being shorter doesn't automatically make you quicker. Their only possible advantage is that they have less weight to move around (and a shorter distance for their nerve signals to travel, I guess... not a big factor there, though). If you could take a short guy and make an exact replica that was bigger, the bigger one would be quicker, I say, because all his movements would be magnified by his larger frame.

But, this debate is kind of pointless, because there's so much more to it than height. Still, if you want to take an exaggerated example, there's no way a skilled 4'-tall player could be as effective a fielder as an equally-skilled 6' one.

< Is your constant talk about height serious? >

Its his "go to" argument every time he can't prove that a player he prefers is better than Callaspo. So he is serious but there is no reason for anyone else to take him seriously.

Yeah. Aren't YOU the one who said Wells no longer has a no-trade?

look in the mirror!

As this debate rages on, has anyone noticed that Callaspo has a .323/.413/.523 for a .936 OPS in June, putting him four OPS points ahead of Trumbo for the month?

And the team has gone 14-3 in June games that he's started - and 3-5 in games he didn't?

And he has a respectable .818 OPS since May 1st?

Seems pretty foolish at this juncture to be picking on one of the hottest hitters on the team ...

Baseball has always been a game where talent/overachieving/underachieving finds its niche....there are rare times when an average players has a very outstanding year but the next year he is back where his talent belongs. This applies to Callaspo.

It is kind of pointless, but who is quicker... a heavy weight or a middle weight?

How tall were Rickey Henderson, Lou Brock and Wills?

Stealing bases is more about quickness than speed. It's about 27 yards to second base.

You have looked at Callaspo three of the last four year... haven't you?

Callaspo has a career OPS of .725, Headley .743 - our farm system has been pillaged and burned - we're fresh out of pitchers, with Will Smith, Tyler Skaggs, and Donn Roach all pitching for other teams now, and few near to ML-ready position players.

Just what is it you think SD will take for him? Richards? Segura + Cowart? And just how do you think that's worth .018 OPS points?

But Chase Headley is taller, therefore he's better.

Not just better, but a tier above.

Maybe. I'm not so sure they are on different tiers.

>But Chase Headley is taller, therefore he's better.<

Oh well, since you put it that way, let's empty the farm for him ...

I wonder if Andrew Bynum wants something to do in the offseason?

At 7'0", he'd be *way* better than Brooks Robinson, who was only 6'1" ...

Headley might be better, but they're not on different tiers. It's worthwhile talking to San Diego about, under the assumption that what San Diego is publicly saying they want is not necessarily what they reasonably expect.

But if they hold fast to demanding a top prospect, then walk away.

I think he improves our team. I thought Youkillis would improve our team.

Always, if the right deal is out there, do it.

Absolutely - a slight improvement here, a slight improvement there, it all adds up - but I don't think Headley represents the difference between the playoffs and sitting at home.

If they'd take Callaspo plus a fringe prospect, sure.

But like I said, we have very little in the tank in the minors anymore, and right now, if we're gonna give up something painful, it should be to shore up our starting pitching - I wouldn't want to go into the playoffs with two reliable starters, which is where we're at right now.

There's a reason Headley in 2nd among all 3B in WAR this year, and doesn't have anything to do with his height. Nobody here is taking into account how much San Diego's home ballpark suppresses offensive stats.

Before even looking at park factors though, Headley beats Callaspo easily in wOBA for their careers (.331 to .319) as well as this season (.352 to .319). Looking at the park factor, the difference becomes larger, shown in his numbers on the road (.279/.382/.481 this year, .300/.366/445 career), or more accurately in his wRC+ of 129, which puts him above Curtis Granderson, just behind Prince Fielder, and above every Angels hitter except for Trout and Trumbo. In a better home park I have little doubt he could be a 20/20 player and possibly push for a .400 OBP. Headley vs Callaspo should not even be a debate.

Being under control through 2014 and in his prime years, he's absolutely worth multiple top prospects. If the Padres undervalue him as so many others do (which I doubt), whoever ends up acquiring him could get a steal.

You're not allowed to do back flips at 3rd base. ;)