aboz56 Posted January 13, 2004 Share Posted January 13, 2004 Thought this was interesting: Aaron Miles, 2B, Colorado: Acquired in an off-season trade from the White Sox, Miles is projected to be the Rockies' starting second baseman heading into spring training. Miles was impressive at Triple-A last year, batting .304-11-50 in 133 games, earning MVP honors in the International League in the process. The Rockies like his hard-nosed approach to the game and playing half his games at Coors Field certainly makes him worth a look in 2004. Also found this in another article: And finally, most of you probably missed the Rockies sending Juan Uribe to the White Sox for Aaron Miles. The Rockies might make Miles the starter, and if you look at his minor league numbers, you can see a breakout player, especially now that he goes to Coors Field. As for Uribe, if he couldn't hit in Colorado, it's not gonna happen anywhere else. Many of you got burned by Uribe in 2003. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Honda Civic Posted January 13, 2004 Share Posted January 13, 2004 Prediction: KW will initially look really stupid for trading this guy away for Uribe. Miles will put up some solid number in the thin air in Denver. Uribe may struggle at first away from the friendly air. But long term, Uribe has more upside, and should prove to be a good trade-off for Miles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Hudler Posted January 13, 2004 Share Posted January 13, 2004 Miles could hit 35 doubles and 10 triples in Coors Field with its spacious outfield. I tend to think Aaron will play reasonably well for a couple of years, but that is it. I don't see him as a long time big leaguer. I hope I am wrong, because I like Aaron, but that is my best guess. Two to three years in the Majors tops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winninguglyin83 Posted January 13, 2004 Share Posted January 13, 2004 knowing our luck in recent years, I fully expect Miles to bust outta the block blasting the ball. People will immediately ask: How could the Sox get rid of THAT guy? But over time, I agree with Rex: He's not a long-time blg-league regular, especially with the glove. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baggio202 Posted January 13, 2004 Share Posted January 13, 2004 knowing our luck in recent years, I fully expect Miles to bust outta the block blasting the ball. People will immediately ask: How could the Sox get rid of THAT guy? But over time, I agree with Rex: He's not a long-time blg-league regular, especially with the glove. same things were said about craig counsell , david eckstein...its not miles fault he never got a chance..he's been winning mvp's in the minors for 3 (?) years now???... i know uribe is young but..he doesnt steal many bases...never had an OBP over 300..doesnt hit for alot of power..in his only full season he struck out 120 times... defensively his only full season he made 27 errors but he does carry a range factor over 5...guess ill have to watch himeveryday for awhile to see what his value is but from what ive seen of miles his hard nose gutsy attitude was exactly what the sox seem to be lacking...we dont have anyone on this team thats a real hard ass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elrockinMT Posted January 13, 2004 Share Posted January 13, 2004 Mixed feelings about this trade. I liked Miles and what was said about him being a hard nosed player and getting the most out of what he had. Rep. wasn't to good though as far as his glove. But, he was the MVP of his league so others must have seen something good. Uribe has the reputation of no hit-good field, but possibly with a lackadaisical style in line with what we saw with D Jimenez. KW was all smiles about Jimenez when he was brought to the Sox and we see the same thing about Uribe. I just hope we don't take another bite in the rear end. Miles would seem to fit in with the "grinder" mentality that Ozzie ssays he wants, but we won't know and since we now have Uribe let's just hope it pays off. Don't want to jump to negative conclussions before the guy gets a chance, but it's hard when you got bit once before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Hudler Posted January 13, 2004 Share Posted January 13, 2004 same things were said about craig counsell , david eckstein...its not miles fault he never got a chance..he's been winning mvp's in the minors for 3 (?) years now???... i know uribe is young but..he doesnt steal many bases...never had an OBP over 300..doesnt hit for alot of power..in his only full season he struck out 120 times... defensively his only full season he made 27 errors but he does carry a range factor over 5...guess ill have to watch himeveryday for awhile to see what his value is but from what ive seen of miles his hard nose gutsy attitude was exactly what the sox seem to be lacking...we dont have anyone on this team thats a real hard ass Baggs, I would have liked to have kept Miles too. But KW needed to make a choice and he did, choosing Harris over Miles. Counsell has been solid, but not a great starter. He has only been a true full-time player one year and only played over 100 games three times. He has developed into a nice role player who can step into the lineup sometimes, but that's about it. Eckstein has been a starter for three years and his production declined last year big time and was so-so his first year. Some guys hang on a little longer than others if they are in the right situation. I hope Aaron can be one of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperSteve Posted January 14, 2004 Share Posted January 14, 2004 I perfer Uribe over Miles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winninguglyin83 Posted January 14, 2004 Share Posted January 14, 2004 Uribe has more upside -- and downside. to me, the most curious thing about this trade is simply this: At the press conference when KW sacked Jerry Manuel he talked endlessly about wanting a team with GRINDERS. Miles sure seems to be a Grinder Deluxe. I wouldn't classify Uribe as a grinder. And, coincidentally, what other grinders have the Sox added? Jason Grilli? Robert Person? Cliff Politte? Herm Schneider is going to have a full plate this season -- a season that is certainly shaping up as a -- cough -- grind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBAHO Posted January 14, 2004 Share Posted January 14, 2004 Miles has no speed on the basepaths. Definitely not favourable with Ozzie, and Aaron mite not even start up at Colorado with Denny Hocking and Clayton up there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aboz56 Posted January 14, 2004 Author Share Posted January 14, 2004 Personally I saw the trade as a wash as I don't expect much of a major league career out of either player. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YASNY Posted January 14, 2004 Share Posted January 14, 2004 Rex. You said KW had to make a choice between Miles and Harris. Why? Ozzie could have made that choice after 6 weeks of spring training. I liked Miles a lot. I like the "grinder" type and that seemed to fit Miles to a T. I hope KW knows what he's doing with this Uribe guy, but I think we will regret this trade ever happened. I understand the upside aspect that keeps getting mentioned, but then again, I also know that sometimes a guy comes to a team and just provides a spark that gets a team rolling. I think Miles had the potential to be that type of player. Even if we only got 2 good years out of him, if he turned into the spark that starts a team on a streak to a division title, then we screwed the pooch with this deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Hudler Posted January 14, 2004 Share Posted January 14, 2004 Rex. You said KW had to make a choice between Miles and Harris. Why? Ozzie could have made that choice after 6 weeks of spring training. I liked Miles a lot. I like the "grinder" type and that seemed to fit Miles to a T. I hope KW knows what he's doing with this Uribe guy, but I think we will regret this trade ever happened. I understand the upside aspect that keeps getting mentioned, but then again, I also know that sometimes a guy comes to a team and just provides a spark that gets a team rolling. I think Miles had the potential to be that type of player. Even if we only got 2 good years out of him, if he turned into the spark that starts a team on a streak to a division title, then we screwed the pooch with this deal. Yas I agree with you completely on Miles. He certainly could hve provided a spark, he is just that type of player. I think KW needed to make a choice out of respect to both Harris and Miles. I don't think it would be fair to either of them to put one in a position that they could go back to AAA if they had other options. Clearing one of them also let's the other one know they are in the "driver's seat" so to speak and would allow them to work toward getting ready without having to worry about being "perfect" in ST. In essence, it eases the pressure a player may put on himself. With certain players, that is the key to them performing at a higher level. Lastly, I think Uribe is a Plan B type player. He can and most likely will be a utility guy this year and he gives you more flexibility than Miles would in that role. He also could become the starting SS next year if all goes well. He would at least give the Sox an option there next year when deciding to re-sign Jose or find someone else, whereas this year, the Sox had no Plan B for SS at all. All that said, it is up to Willie to prove himself and until then, I would have rather seen Miles get the shot, because he is indeed the perfect grinder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YASNY Posted January 15, 2004 Share Posted January 15, 2004 Yas I agree with you completely on Miles. He certainly could hve provided a spark, he is just that type of player. I think KW needed to make a choice out of respect to both Harris and Miles. I don't think it would be fair to either of them to put one in a position that they could go back to AAA if they had other options. Clearing one of them also let's the other one know they are in the "driver's seat" so to speak and would allow them to work toward getting ready without having to worry about being "perfect" in ST. In essence, it eases the pressure a player may put on himself. With certain players, that is the key to them performing at a higher level. Lastly, I think Uribe is a Plan B type player. He can and most likely will be a utility guy this year and he gives you more flexibility than Miles would in that role. He also could become the starting SS next year if all goes well. He would at least give the Sox an option there next year when deciding to re-sign Jose or find someone else, whereas this year, the Sox had no Plan B for SS at all. All that said, it is up to Willie to prove himself and until then, I would have rather seen Miles get the shot, because he is indeed the perfect grinder. OK. Good answer. Though, I disagree with that thought process when deciding between two unproven players. Put them on the field and may the best man win. Getting Uribe as a utility guy and future starting SS also makes sense to me. However, and this is a big however, I suspect that with Harris being one of the guys that KW acquired in a trade, that he wants to give him every chance to succeed. Miles, if you recall, had made the big club last season as per JM. KW overruled him and Miles was sent down. At least, that was the scuttlebut last season. I think KW was not ever going to give Miles the chance to beat out Harris in a head to head competetion for the job. Just my opinion, but I think it has merit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Hudler Posted January 15, 2004 Share Posted January 15, 2004 Though, I disagree with that thought process when deciding between two unproven players. Put them on the field and may the best man win.Sometimes that is the best way, sometimes the other way works best. A lot depends on the personalities you are dealing with. I suspect that with Harris being one of the guys that KW acquired in a trade, that he wants to give him every chance to succeed. Miles, if you recall, had made the big club last season as per JM. KW overruled him and Miles was sent down.I definitely agree with that statement and may play more of a part than anything I said. KW is not known to have a small ego. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mathew Posted January 15, 2004 Share Posted January 15, 2004 Miles walks about as often as Mike Caruso, what the hell would any team want him starting for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Hudler Posted January 15, 2004 Share Posted January 15, 2004 Miles walks about as often as Mike Caruso, what the hell would any team want him starting for? Because he hits .300 and walks 5 times as much as Caruso?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mathew Posted January 15, 2004 Share Posted January 15, 2004 Because he hits .300 and walks 5 times as much as Caruso?? Miles AA 40BB 531 AB AAA 40 BB 546 AB Caruso A 38BB 441AB AAA 22BB 387AB Fairly similar and unimpressive. I like Miles but he is at best a slightly better Mike Caruso. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Hudler Posted January 16, 2004 Share Posted January 16, 2004 I'll give you that there isn't as big a disparity in walks as I thought. I was surprised that Caruso walked as much as he did. But they are nowhere near the same player. Caruso had no pop and could barely get the ball out of the infield. Miles could be a doubles machine in Colorado and has the pop to add 10 HR's. Maybe their walk totals were similar, but they are far from different players. There is more to baseball than just walks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mathew Posted January 16, 2004 Share Posted January 16, 2004 There is more to baseball than just walks. Certainly that goes without saying, but a defensively average at best player who doesn't walk, probably shouldn't start, which is why I begged the question. I hope the best for him 'cause I don't care what Colorado does but this tread is certainly easily defendable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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