This Week Shows Why We Love Baseball
Anytime your favorite team or any team for that matter makes a move by trading for or trading a player the reaction from the fans is immediate.
We all have opinions on the trade. We all want to give advice to the general manager before and after the move.
Personally I’m surprised that more general managers don’t consult with me before they send a player packing.
Baseball was the first interactive game. We all sit back and play along both before, during, and after the game, criticizing and analyzing the moves that were made or not made by the manager.
Legendary baseball owner and promoter Bill Veeck realized this phenomenon in 1952 when he was the owner of the hapless St. Louis Browns. Veeck had a “grandstand managers night” one evening. The fans behind the home dugout were given cards with a “yes” or “no” on them. They were then polled on such questions such as “should the pitcher be taken out” or “should we bunt”.
The fans loved it, the Browns won the game and for the first time the fan actually had a voice during the game.
We are all waiting for that chance today. The moment to influence the course of conduct a team takes.
Baseball has been the same since 1903. No rule changes since then. The DH isn’t a rule change, merely lets another hitter bat.
We as knowledgeable fans really do know the game, we just don’t understand the finances behind the scenes.
Hall of Famer Branch Rickey, the smartest executive ever to run a baseball team pioneered on base percentage formulas in the 1920’s, was the first to say it’s better to trade a player one year too early than one year too late.
The game has been the same for over 100 years, nothing really new. That’s the reason why we can spend a lifetime enjoying the different aspects of baseball, it never changes.
Trade your star pitcher for three players. One better be a phenom pitcher with great scouting reports. Will he make it in the majors? Who knows but we will watch every pitch along the way while he tries to replace the star.
We would have made the deal? No way, but it’s not our money, we are merely consultants after the fact.
Owners have plenty of money, more than you could ever imagine having. They will only spend it if they think it is absolutely necessary to keep the team competitive, keep the fans coming in to the park.
George Steinbrenner is the exception. He really does want to win the world series every year and will not stop spending until he thinks he has the team to do it.
I don’t feel sorry for any owner in baseball. They routinely have personal fortunes exceeding 500 million. If they want to fly to Europe for lunch, they’ll do it in a flash.
If they want to keep the star players they can do it. If they think they can keep the fans coming in by letting players go, they’ll do it.
Tim Hudson is in Atlanta. Would I have made the move now? No. Hudson was worth keeping for this season. The players the A’s received would have been available in July if the A’s were interested in moving Hudson at that time.
Now Joe Blanton is in the mix, perhaps before his time. Dan Meyer too.
So what happens now with Eric Byrnes, Chad Bradford and Bobby Kielty?
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I think Bradford is gone. The A’s have nursed Bradford’s sore back for three years. He never could field his position adequately, couldn’t get lefties out, and never really had the confidence of the front office.
No contract offer for Bradford who can arbitrate if he doesn’t like the figure, or more likely, a trade this weekend.
Bobby Kielty wasn’t a very good player last year. He can’t hit lefthanded at all. The A’s traded Ted Lilly for him and will be hesitant to just let him go. I think he stays and gets another chance.
Eric Byrnes has been a fan favorite. He hit 20 homers last season. He is Captain America. He also is due a good raise in his contract this season (arbitration eligible). The A’s have never really believed in Byrnes, he won’t use the whole field as a hitter, he wants to pull everything.
I say he’s gone one way or another. The A’s could use a young veteran starting pitcher, one who has a couple of years in the majors. I say Byrnes goes this weekend if the A’s can make a deal.
He’s be a good fit for the Giants.
Erubiel Durazo should be resigned then traded to the Yankees for Jason Giambi.
Giambi will make a comeback, the Yankees will pay his salary, and the fans will welcome him back with open arms as the A’s DH.
This might be another interesting weekend if your an Oakland fan.
I’m waiting for my phone to ring, aren’t you?
0 comments
Marty,
Schott must have pressured Beane to deal Huddy once Hudson set the deadline. We all know that owners are way too indignant for their own good. And will the A’s even compete next season? The trade doesn’t make any sense at all. Fan attendance may very well decline. Season ticket sells will be an early indication. And forget decent attendance if the A’s can’t compete on the field. I really think Schott isn’t spending money in order to justify his pleas for a new stadium. I sense a PR push coming soon. It will depend on what happens with the Expos.
-Mike E.
I would take Durazo over Giambi. Barring injury Durazo will drive in lots of runs (assuming the guys in front of him get on base: Kendall, Kotsay, Chavvy, etc. should do that). Giambi is older, has had serious physical problems (not to mention the whole drugs issue), and his most productive days are behind him, imo.
OaklandSi
marty,
can you please explain this trade to me. I am not one of those people who is ready to jump all over billy beane as soon as a deal in announced, but could you please explain the logic in trading mark mulder for more young players which of none are power hitters.
—Luis
If Mark Mulder is really being moved to St. Louis for three players two of which are Kiko Calero and Dan Haren then I think there is something terribly wrong with Mulder’s arm otherwise you’ve got to be kidding.
Marty
Marty; As I said before, Mulder is probably not the pitcher he was before last year. There doesn’t appear to be a discernible reason for his performance since August 2004 other than that there are problems with his arm. He can’t be as bad as his performance last year reflects without arm problems. The Cardinals may regret this move. The A’s may appreciate it. Let’s wait and see. A few months into the 2005 season should give some answers. Mulder may be one of the many free agents who, we quickly determine, are overpaid and underperforming.
Ed S.
Marty; As I said before, Mulder is probably not the pitcher he was before last year. There doesn’t appear to be a discernible reason for his performance since August 2004 other than that there are problems with his arm. He can’t be as bad as his performance last year reflects without arm problems. The Cardinals may regret this move. The A’s may appreciate it. Let’s wait and see. A few months into the 2005 season should give some answers. Mulder may be one of the many free agents who, we quickly determine, are overpaid and underperforming.
Ed S.
Marty; Something is going on in the Giants front office. Dustan Mohr has been turned loose by Sabean. This leaves the team with three outfielders. Right field is now the province of Tucker, all by his lonesome. The right field platoon is gone. At the same time, the word this evening, as announced on the news programs, is that the blockbuster deal bringing Johnson to the Yankees has been nixed by LA. Does this mean that J.D.Drew who was projected as a Dodger once Green was sent to the Rockies as part of the Yankee deal is a Sabean target?
Ed S.
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