Lots to talk about here and so little time (as usual). There was a reason when I jokingly took on the Silentpadna (silent partner) moniker 12 or so years ago. Since Jeff and I look at baseball and life so similarly it kinda only made sense. At that time the extent of my online experience was chatting baseball on the old AOL STATS board with the (affectionately called) OFT'ers.
As usual, I agree very much with Jeff, but especially with Sandy and his post of the year IMO. As much as we want baseball (and all sports for that matter) to fit within our mathematical paradigms and want for it to be as simple as it would seem, it is very much a relational and 'people' business - on every single front.
If I was running a Hardball Dynasty franchise on WhatIfSports (which I do and enjoy tremendously), this is absolutely a decision I do not make. However, baseball doesn't run like that. How you treat people matters. It affects other people. Is there a case to be made against this trade? Sure. Is there a case for? Of course. I find a game where Josh Wilson is starting at 1B to be virtually unwatchable. I frankly don't care what the mathematical chances are of winning this year. The quality of the product to me includes the effort to make the guys you currently have on the roster better. The Branyan deal has a good chance to do just that. It also goes a long way in the 'people' department in several ways. 1. It lets the fans know that the near term still matters. 2. It lets Branyan, and players like him, know that they matter. 3. And perhaps most importantly, it lets those in the clubhouse, who are busting their tails to win, know that they matter too.
And lastly, when your stoploss isn't, it's time to do something. Branyan is your stoploss for that position in 2011. And those that know what we have waiting on the farm know that.
I'm as intrigued as anyone at what a 26-year-old Wilson might do at the MLB level. But he probably has a 50-50 chance to be as bad or worse than Kotchman at the plate next year even if he did have the rest of this year to 'audition'. Branyan has about a 5% chance. After what this franchise has had to endure at the plate, I'll take the 5%.
Lots more to say, but I just don't see the downside. The guys they gave up are replaceable. As is Carp, Poythress, etc.
My .02 (or less).
R
Add new comment
1