Off Topic
So, What Do We Make of Mike Cox?
September 5, 2061: Marshall Islands -- The calendar had barely turned to the offseason last year when Bikini Krill GM Ron Collins hailed down Charlotte's Nathan Garrison and inquired about the availability of one Mike Cox. A deal was quickly struck that sent the Krill's feel-good, found-money centerfielder Craig Ablett to Charlotte in return for Cox and a bit of salary retention. At the time, Collins said that if Bikini was going to contend for a position in the silly postseason exhibition tournament that everyone was so gaga about, the team needed a true centerfielder, and that Cox (who had struggled mightily in Charlotte) would fit the bill.
A quick scan of how Ablett did in Charlotte (77 PA in 36 games, .141/.260/.203) confirms that Collins was at least right that Ablett was likely untenable as a long-term starter. But what about the Bikini side of the deal? Has manager Kate Fiscus managed to wring peak performance from Cox? Has he been worth the $5.2 million of the outfielder's contract that the team is responsible for?
Well...that depends, we suppose.
Veteran CF
Making An ImpactOffensively Cox's .247/.286/.348 slash (64 wRC+) is essentially a mirror image of the line that got him run out of Charlotte, though to be fair that line comes with 7 homers, 24 doubles, 29 steals (which is a dynamic the team sorely lacks). Still, for north of $5 million, those numbers are less than satisfying. Defensively, though, Cox has held his own. His 4.2 Zone Rating (1.015 EFF) is a considerable step up from his wandering moments while with the Flyers, and somewhat reminiscent to his time in Vegas.
And the fact is that the Krill look like they are on track for an appearance in the silly postseason exhibition tournament that Collins was shooting for.
Could it have worked out better? Certainly.
Could it have worked out worse? Well ... we suppose it still could. That said, of all the issues the team has to deal with right now, centerfield seems to be down toward the bottom. Especially when one looks through the organization and sees Ramon Sanz (this seasons' draft pick) putting down interesting numbers as an 18 year-old in AA. Cox is still pricey, but if Sanz arrives early, he's strong enough and young enough that as long as he can man center, he'd be movable.
So right now (and do we fans live in anything other than the Here and Now?) we'd give the deal an 80 of 100. A solid B-.
What's your take?
September 5, 2061: Marshall Islands -- The calendar had barely turned to the offseason last year when Bikini Krill GM Ron Collins hailed down Charlotte's Nathan Garrison and inquired about the availability of one Mike Cox. A deal was quickly struck that sent the Krill's feel-good, found-money centerfielder Craig Ablett to Charlotte in return for Cox and a bit of salary retention. At the time, Collins said that if Bikini was going to contend for a position in the silly postseason exhibition tournament that everyone was so gaga about, the team needed a true centerfielder, and that Cox (who had struggled mightily in Charlotte) would fit the bill.
A quick scan of how Ablett did in Charlotte (77 PA in 36 games, .141/.260/.203) confirms that Collins was at least right that Ablett was likely untenable as a long-term starter. But what about the Bikini side of the deal? Has manager Kate Fiscus managed to wring peak performance from Cox? Has he been worth the $5.2 million of the outfielder's contract that the team is responsible for?
Well...that depends, we suppose.
Veteran CF
Making An Impact
And the fact is that the Krill look like they are on track for an appearance in the silly postseason exhibition tournament that Collins was shooting for.
Could it have worked out better? Certainly.
Could it have worked out worse? Well ... we suppose it still could. That said, of all the issues the team has to deal with right now, centerfield seems to be down toward the bottom. Especially when one looks through the organization and sees Ramon Sanz (this seasons' draft pick) putting down interesting numbers as an 18 year-old in AA. Cox is still pricey, but if Sanz arrives early, he's strong enough and young enough that as long as he can man center, he'd be movable.
So right now (and do we fans live in anything other than the Here and Now?) we'd give the deal an 80 of 100. A solid B-.
What's your take?
