Letters to the Editor
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The Reds Kept Dunn And Griffey
Boy, that formula has worked well the last 8 years.
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The biggest trade of the year
King,
You missed the biggest trade yesterday. Kevin Garnett for half the Celtics team!
I don't blame you for not mentioning that, though. I doubt anyone outside of diehard Celtics fans know who half those guys are that the Timberwolves got in return.
That trade is likely to be more important than any of the trades that were made in baseball in the last week. The Celtics should make it far in the playoffs the next couple of years at least. Unless Ainge really ate McHale's lunch (which I wouldn't bet against consider recent history), the 'wolves should be back in the playoffs in a couple of years.
It would be an interesting case to run against your theory though King, since it is a trade of a superstar for a bunch role players.
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Jamesian writing
I do not know Bill James, Bill James is not a friend of mine, but still, King, you are no Bill James.
You almost got this one right. Yes, the bottom of the roster is important, but you missed the reason why. The further down the roster you go the more choices you have amongst players of approximately equal ability. It is correct decisions amongst available options that defines successful general managers.
Earl Weaver understood that, he said the toughest personnel decision to make was the last guy on the team.
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Base 9 Math
Actually if we had 9 fingers we would be anticipating homerun number 600.
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Julio Mateo
The Phillies gave up a no-name minor leaguer yesterday for the troubled Julio Mateo from Seattle.
I'm not exactly thrilled that my team's pitching is so bad that they have to pick guys like Mateo up, but he was a big part of Seattle's pen and has a good ERA over the past several years. It speaks volumes about the Phillies pitching woes that they have picked him up, but it could also be the low-level move that changes the NL East race.
The Phils have promised to give the guy the counseling that he appears to need as well, so perhaps it will be a win-win.
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Forgotten trade
The Mets traded for Luis Castillo for a couple of prospects. He's a free agent after this year so the Mets bought a 2-month tryout. Castillo usually has as many walks as strikeouts; career OBP is .368; career AVG is .294. If he can plug the No. 2 spot in the Mets' lineup, Reyes should see better pitches. He's not a great player but solid.
Willie Randolph has tried everybody in the No. 2 spot this year with no luck. Catcher LoDuca was terrific in 2006 in that spot; patient, allowing Reyes to run, and hitting well with 2 strikes. So far in 2007, no one has been able to handle the job. Reyes is not providing the spark he did last year because pitchers can go after him knowing the next guy isn't that dangerous.
Castillo was 1 for 5 last night with a sacrifice.
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The usual Braves brilliance, the next Buckner
Getting Texiera is huge. He's an intense gamer with 40/125 potential every year. And Schurholz knows pitching won't determine the NL this year (nor did it last year) with the Mets, Cubs, Phillies, Padres, BrewCrew all having mediocre pitching at best. Say for the Dodgers, whoever swats the most dongs will dominate the NL in October.
What will be remembered and celebrated in a few years are the deals Texas made. Saltalamaccia plays (and actually looks like) Johnny Bench. And the gaggle of talent they got for Gagne is unbelievable. Years from now Boston fans will be cursing Gagne's name as the only potential this noodle-arm has is to become a Canadian version of Buckner. Look for his non-existant fast ball and motionlees change to be launched repeatedly over the Monster in October. Then look for Texas to win the AL Central in 09.
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Texas won't win the Central
They're in the West.
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The next Buckner?
What, Gagne's going to play first? I know the Bo Sox pen is loaded but that seems like a tremendous waste of talent to play him in the infield. Maybe right field..
Seriously, though. With the return of Jon Lester and Schilling, Okajima eating up innings and Papelbon only blowing 4 saves all year, Gagne might have to get use to only pitching every 3rd game. Does wonders for the noodle arm. I'm thinking that this move also doubles as a contingency plan for Schillings eventual departure in the offseason (with either Okajima, Tavarez or possibly Papelbon taking over the 5th spot). Even the Red Sox aren't stupid enough to get into a bidding war for a 42-year-old pitcher, no matter how much the RSN digs him!
As to the Braves brillance, Texiera (sp?) might make a difference this year but with the Jones' in the afternoon of their careers (one late, one early) and a pitching staff that looks closer to retirement than a WS ring, I wouldn't start planning the parade just yet. They've had a pretty good team forever and '95 was the only year they managed to pull it together...
I'll take that bet on the 2009 Texans any day. They're gonna have that Bush-stink on them for along time...
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Deadline?
Isn't there always more movement to come? Regarding Castillo, his defense will also be a major improvement, already turning in a nice play last night.
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Some replies
crumley You missed the biggest trade yesterday. Kevin Garnett for half the Celtics team!
Mentioned it Monday, and I'll talk about it some more at some point, but you can't make me really care about the NBA in August. It's hard enough from October to March.
jrootham You almost got this one right. Yes, the bottom of the roster is important, but you missed the reason why. The further down the roster you go the more choices you have amongst players of approximately equal ability. It is correct decisions amongst available options that defines successful general managers.
Yes, except for the fact that you said the exact same thing I did, I can see why you think I got it wrong.
junior413 Actually if we had 9 fingers we would be anticipating homerun number 600.
Really? Why?
pageiger If he [Luis Castillo] can plug the No. 2 spot in the Mets' lineup, Reyes should see better pitches.
Really? You think anybody's going to give in to Jose Reyes out of fear of Luis Castillo? Are we talking about the same Luis Castillo? I'd love to see the math on run expectancy when facing Reyes with the bases empty and Castillo with a runner on first, with the same number of outs.
mattmclain What will be remembered and celebrated in a few years are the deals Texas made.
That statement has a good chance of being right, though it's also possible the prospects will all turn to dust.
tomG76 Isn't there always more movement to come?
Yes, teams can still make trades, but any player on the 40-man roster must clear waivers before he can be dealt. That makes it much more difficult to trade players who have some value, because teams lower in the standings than the team your trading with might claim them, either because they want them, or to scuttle the deal. Deals do still happen, though, and anyone acquired before Sept. 1 is eligible for inclusion on the playoff roster.