Comments on: The Prestige of Small Payroll Baseball – Minnesota Twins 2008-09

By: Kevin_Creagh

Kevin_Creagh — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 18:05:00 +0000

You sort of talked yourself out of your own proposal. The D-Backs get nothing from Dempster when he leaves after the end of this season. Lahair’s best position is 1B, occupied by their own slugger Goldschmidt, so Lahair would have to go to the OF — to say nothing of the fact that Lahair isn’t that good. Baez is very good, but he’s not blocked by Castro. Castro (or Baez) could shift off of SS, plus Baez is probably 3 years away.
Arizona wouldn’t get a lot of value in this proposal.

By: Thom Kay

Thom Kay — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 15:14:00 +0000

Why not the Cubs? Ryan Dempster, Bryan LaHair, and Javier Baez for Upton.

The D-backs would get short term and long term help, and the Cubs would get a star player for the long term rebuilding. Baez is a SS and top 30 prospect, blocked by Starlin Castro. LaHair is good and has six years of control, but he’s 29 and no Upton. Dempster is a free agent and on the trading block.

Both teams win. No?

By: Andrew Smalley

Andrew Smalley — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 13:01:00 +0000

There is absolutely no chance the Rangers trade Jurickson Profar. None.

By: jfredland

jfredland — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 23:31:00 +0000

I like writing about the ’71 games–compared with the ’60 and ’79 teams, I don’t think they’re as well remembered, but they seem like they must have been a joy to follow. Unfortunately, the Press and Post-Gazette were on strike for much of the season–kinda like ’92–so source material is harder to come by.

By: jfredland

jfredland — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 23:26:00 +0000

Look for something on that extra-inning game with the Padres in about a month or so…

By: Marco Rincones

Marco Rincones — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 15:26:00 +0000

I remember this game, listening to most of it on KDKA and it obviously went late into the night. It was my 19th birthday. The Stargell HR in the 13th was a game-saver for sure. He was on a power tear much of ’71. Too bad he lost his batting eye for the WS but it only gave more of a chance for Roberto to steal the spotlight and Pops did score the winning run in WS 7th game on Pagan’s double. What a wonderful year that was as a Pirate fan!

By: HamburgBucco

HamburgBucco — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 15:30:00 +0000

Hi Tim,
any chance we will find a team willing to trade us a decent hitter for a closer like Hanrahan ? And when will we see the return of the weekly chat ?

By: Tim Williams

Tim Williams — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 15:05:00 +0000

That’s one thing I don’t understand. Right now Bryan Morris is used to going 2-3 innings per relief appearance. But when he comes to the majors he’ll only throw one inning. 2-3 innings at a time would lead to high innings counts, but as a former starter, that’s something Morris is used to.
I don’t think relievers should go multiple innings every time out. But I don’t understand why some don’t do it more often. You see it when a team is losing, but you rarely see it when a team is ahead.

By: Jeffrey Bobeck

Jeffrey Bobeck — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 13:48:00 +0000

The all-time example of this was Rollie Fingers, who routinely threw two innings and often didn’t “close” the game. In perhaps his best season (1974) he made 75 appearances, finished 59, and was credited with a “save” for only 24. To the point of “defined roles”: Maybe there’s a middle ground. You could keep the “closer” role for the classic 9th inning save situations, but additionally annoint a fireman like Lincoln who, when brought in in the 7th, would be EXPECTED to go at least two, and finish if possible. 162 games is a long season, there are enough situations to created enough defined roles to keep people happy (and win games).

By: John Lease

John Lease — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 23:09:00 +0000

Eventually a manager will go back to using guys the way they used to, when they needed them. Anyone should be able to mop up a 4 run lead.