Category: Baseball

3-team trade not in Red Sox’s favor

Posted on by metbaseball

Boston’s trade of Manny Ramirez boggles the mind. Sure, they needed to get rid of Ramirez, but why did they so overpay to do that.

They sent Ramirez to the Dodgers, agreeing to pay the estimated $7 million due to Ramirez for the rest of this season.

In return, the Red Sox received Jason Bay from the Pirates.

Is a Martinez for Bay trade an even deal? No way. Bay can’t compare to Martinez. I’d have thought that the Red Sox could have gotten more for Martinez. But not only were they unable to get more, they gave up more.

As part of the 3-team deal, the Red Sox also sent reliever Craig Hansen and Triple-A outfielder Brandon Moss to the Pirates. Thus the trade boiled down to Manny Ramirez, Craig Hansen, and Brandon Moss for Jason Bay. That’s unbelievable.

The fact that the Red Sox were willing to give up so much to get rid of Martinez indicates DESPERATION.

Baseball’s begun and so has the talk

Posted on by metbaseball

Though the Phillies succeeded in winning a pennant, they could have a harder time this season. Though they’ve added new blood to their roster, none of their additions can compare with the Mets addition of Johan Santana. Despite that, some Phils haven’t shied away from predicting another first-place finish. Though the pen is mightier than the sword, those outspoken Phillies will need to prove that their bats are as mighty as their words.

Looking for a holiday gift for a baseball fan?

Posted on by metbaseball

The best baseball book I’ve read this years is Rich Westcott’s Phillies Essential. Learn why.

An update on the Thomason interview

Posted on by metbaseball

After re-reading my interview with Mac Thomason, I realized I hadn’t asked him about his comment that “It’s very disturbing when the General Manager of your favorite ball club makes fun of you in his book, even if you made fun of him first.”

Here’s Thomason’s reply:

It goes back to the Kevin Millwood for Johnny Estrada trade, which caused me to write the following, rather overheated, entry:

http://www.bravesjournal.com/?p=349

 

Fire John Schuerholz

That incredible idiot just traded Kevin Millwood. To the Phillies! A division rival! For Johnny Estrada, a 26-year old AAA catcher! That’s grounds for commitment, not just dismissal.
I still think that they could have gotten more for Millwood, though Estrada did have a good year in 2005. Anyway, in his book Built To Win , Schuerholz, or rather his ghostwriter, quoted this statement (and some comments from the entry) on page 70-71. It surprised the heck out of me when I saw it.

If you haven’t read the interview yet, you can read it here.