Erikkk KKK-O'ed, As Planned

Probably subconsciously not wanting to be traded.  /half joking

I wouldn't be completely shocked if, in his 2021 book, he chuckled about consciously missing on half-a-dozen of the pitches. :- )  Much more egregious things have happened in sports, starting with teammates giving hitters the pitches...

Anyway.  Proceeding from the assumption that Erikkk just had a poor game, nothing more insidious than that:

 

***

Do ... WE ... now think less of Erik Bedard overall?  ... no, so why would scouts?  Scouts and GM's aren't P-I Forum posters.

The postgame reports will read, "WAS NOT SHARP AFTER LAYOFF, BUT EXCELLENT VELO, BREAKING BALL, THREW FREE AND EASY"

Bedard hit 93-94 mph and that might actually be the dominating factor.  You are aware of the following, as are the scouts:

  • Erik Bedard was the best pitcher in baseball, starting with his 5th start this year
  • Erikkk fans 9 men per game
  • He loves beating the Yankees
  • His DL stint was the knee
  • His stuff was great (as emphasized by Lou Brock in the radio booth) so the rust is irrelevant
  • Erikkk, given another start or two, will be back as a Game 7 starter

One! Mo! Time! ... if you are well aware of that, why would Theo Epstein and Bill James not be aware of that?

***

Granted.  It woulda been nice if he'd dazzled, just to add to the curb appeal a bit.  There's a certain amount of "sex appeal" that plays into July 31 a bit.

Let's say this were Bedard's 4th start of 2011, and there was some debate about where Bedard was headed?  Supposing that SSI was screaming that Erikkk was fine, but that other sources were screaming we just don't know that yet?  

Then Erikkk's start might have hurt his value.  But that's not the case.  He re-established himself in May and June.  This was a tweaked knee, not a comeback attempt.

***

But.  Let's suppose that SSI was completely wrong about all this, and teams pulled off Erikkk --- > that's great by me.  I want him here.  

Shut him down after 140 innings this year, and then in 2012 he will really be tanned, rested and ready to go.

***

I thought before the game that it was a very odd situation -- go out and throw for 300 yards, Matt, and we'll cut you after the game.  Go get 'em kid!

Nice to know that Erikkk doesn't want to go anywhere :- )

.

Cheerio, 

Dr D

Comments

1
Taro's picture

Scouts are very impressionable though. Stocks change drastically depending on what they see in a couple looks.
I hope it didn't hurt his stock too much.. We need young talent here.
What kind of deal would we be looking at with Bedard if he were to re-sign? I really wouldn't be comfortable with anything that wasn't loaded with incentives..

2

The problem with the performance is it reinforces the clear message from the start of the year; Bedard needs a couple starts to get into a groove.  This would be fine if he weren't fragile...  For me, I saw the velocity and the break on the curveball and it is clear healthy Bedard is about as good a bet on a shut-down six innings as any pitcher in the game.  On a team with that has an excellent set-up man for the 7th, as well as the 8th, he's a real asset.
The Red Sox have a deep farm system and an excellent MLB team.  They are in the ideal situation to overpay for Bedard (or whoever else they covet) without really hurting their future.  The only question is how much they really want him.  I think it's funny, Bedard is the classical Yankee pick-up given the importance of LH pitching in Yankee stadium (at least traditionally, I haven't kept up with the new Yankee stadium), but it's the Sox hot on Bedard's heels even though Fenway is traditionally killer of lefties.

3

Who can drop 10 slots based on one performance :- )
Unknown quantities are one thing.  I can see, for example, Michael Pineda having three bad starts at the wire, and some of the scouts/GM's getting skittish.
*** 
Where they feel they have a bead on an 'old friend' it's a little different...
I well remember in 1998, Randy Johnson coming (sort of) off a back injury, with an ERA over 4.00, and the scouts making excuses for his bad performances.  "He's pitching with a complete lack of interest," one guy reported at the time, and the Unit's trade value was sky-high despite the weak performances.
Sure enough, he changed scenery, ran a 1+ ERA, energized the entire city of Houston, yada yada yada...
 

4

Because every team in baseball will be free to offer Erik Bedard the money he deserves.
Bedard is as good as CC Sabathia, Jon Lester, etc., merely not as durable.
$10M x 3 years will be a huge hometown discount, is my guess.  One reason Zduriencik may have an imperative to trade him.

5

Boston has always liked having high-K lefties in their rotation, despite the Green Monster, and if there were ever a LHP to throw at the Yankees in Fenway, Erikkk's the man... very few fly balls against him...
***
Great point about teams with lockdown setup men behind Bedard.  Seattle hasn't had that.  A team with Daniel Bard warming up right behind Erikkk would look pretty imposing.

6
mazimoto's picture

I just don't agree with jettisoning Bedard for more of GMZ' "prospects" (see: Smoak)
Believe it or not, Bedard has upside and you don't just snag a Bedard caliber starter out of thin air. He's only thirty two and hasn't pitched much as we all know in his Ms career. Well rested. Keep him. Sign him for two-three.
Of course, I thought they should have kept Cliff Lee as well.

8
ghost's picture

Tigers steal Fister and Pauley from the Ms for...
A 20 y/o third baseman who's never shown any signs of having power or being able to take a walk without fanning four times first...a 26 year odl journeyman fourth outfielder wiht just as many swing holes as Michael frakkin' Saunders...and a left handed pitcher who doens't profile any more favorably than Luke French.
What the heck is the reasoning behind this deal...someone please explain it to me, because I'm not seeing it.

10

Of course they are trying to drive down the price of Bedard.
Not every team interested in Bedard is willing to throw prospect after prospect into the deal.

12
Taro's picture

The Red Sox nab Harden for Lars Anderson. Had a feeling they were going to do that after Bedard's start..
Bedard/Harden are similar guys (great when healthy but never healthy) with Harden healthier of late.

13
Taro's picture

Hopefully we can nab something.. We're not going to land any premium guys, but maybe someone interesting.

14

It looks like the Harden trade has fallen through. That means the BoSox are still looking for an impact starter for the playoffs and there isn't anyone left who is comparable to Bedard. I don't want Lars Anderson, especially not after getting Wells, but the M's may still be able to pry something good from Boston. Although, considering all the pieces coming back from the Fister deal the list of things Jack would consider would be shorter now. A catcher or shortstop are probably the only things that would be appealing right now.

16
ghost's picture

Bedard goes to the Red Sox for...
Baron's evil twin.
Tim Federowicz.  Another prospect who can't hit, because is known to be a good "catch and throw" guy.  Yippee.

17
ghost's picture

mea culpa...never trust the first word on the deal.
As it turns out...we get...Travyon Robinson and Cheech and Chong (that is his official nickname, in case anyone wants to know...I have deemed it thus)...that is a HAUL in my opinion.  THIS...is a great trade for Seattle.  NICELY done, Jack Z!

18
okdan's picture

Three-way deal between Seattle - Red Sox - Dodgers
We give: Bedard, Josh FieldsWe get: Trayvon Robinson, Chih-Hsien Chiang
Red Sox get Fields and Bedard, while Dodgers get several prospects.

19
Taro's picture

I think Z did reasonably well here.
Robinson you can probably forget (another spec in the long list of guys with terrible eyes that Z seems too fond of), but Chiang may have leaped a plateau here. He increased his power drastically this season. Could be a Mike Carp type with better D if everything pans out.
I don't really believe in Wells, but now we have a bunch of spaghetti to throw in the OF for the rest of the this year and next year.

20

Erik Bedard is traded to the Boston Red Sox in a three-team trade. The Red Sox also get Josh Fields. The Dodgers get Tim Federowicz, Juan Rodriguez, Stephen Fife and the Mariners get Trayvon Robinson, Chih-Hsien Chiang.
Robinson 23-year-old RH CF
Chaing 23-year-old LH OF
 

21
Taro's picture

Tons of spaghetti to throw in the OF over the next couple years. 2012 doesn't look great after these deals, but now we have hope that we may solve the OF internally over the next couple seasons.
I like this deal. Bedard's stock was dropping, so I think Z did well.

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