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Post by KC Royals Nation on Dec 9, 2007 20:40:53 GMT -6
All of this talk about the Devil Rays shipping in expensive bullpen arms (Mahay?) has me questioning Friedman. Also, considering how questionable their bullpen was last year....and given that bullpens are likely the easiest things to assemble. The Wigginton-for-Wheeler trade made little sense, and given how many 1st round overall picks they've had. Keep Pena? I'll give him some more time, but I can't say I'm impressed thus far.
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Post by dejesus9 on Dec 9, 2007 20:46:32 GMT -6
Friedman
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Post by mtroyals on Dec 9, 2007 21:18:20 GMT -6
Yeah, but they're much improved over the time that Friedman has lead the charge. They should get some credit for Pena, as we did for Byrd and Ibanez--but not a whole lot. It took them being in a bad situation for them to be able to afford a chance to someone like Pena, same as us with the players I mentioned. And he's building the expensive part of the pitching staff on the relative cheap--Kazmir, Shields, Garza is a nice 1-2-3 and they don't cost much, so he can allocate a bit more to the bullpen. The money is excessive, as are the years, but Mahay will more likely better the pen than it was last year. And I think (from memory) it was pretty solid last year, though that took a fluke-ish year from Reyes.
From what I've read, the Wigginton/Wheeler trade didn't make sense on the Astros' part.
And he hasn't had that many 1/1. He only got the job in the 2005/2006 offseason. He only has six months more experience than Dayton Moore. So it's not like he drafted Hamilton and Upton or guys like that. He's only drafted Longoria/Price and you can't argue with those selections.
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Post by KC Royals Nation on Dec 10, 2007 0:40:38 GMT -6
I'm nitpicking a little, and it may have been questionable for the Astros, but I think it was one of those trades that didn't benefit either side. Although their system is loaded, I would think Tampa would need more young players, and instead they got a declining middle reliever. Houston was never in the race to begin with (<<<----I think) so acquiring a .280/.340/.440 third baseman was just blahhh.
Tampa's always been that team experts say, with all their young talent, will emerge. It has never really come to fruition. Granted, it's tough playing the Red Sox and Yankees 36 games a year, but instead they are no better than they have ever been - 61-101 and 66-96. Suckdom. When that changes, then I may hold Friedman among the better MLB G.M.'s. Right now, he's certainly no Daniels, Dombrowski, Epstein, or Beane.
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Post by KC Royals Nation on Dec 10, 2007 0:43:43 GMT -6
Dayton Moore took an untalented, league-worst pitching staff and made it tolerable to good in less than one year. Tampa's team ERA last year was 5.53. Where were they on Joakim Soria? Where's Gil Meche? David Riske? Not claiming they should have spent 5/$55 like we did, but I'm claiming that we were far more aggressive on the pitching market and it showed. We took a lesser farm system and made it a 69-93 (74-88?) ballclub in one year. They still have a bonafide farm system but it has never once translated into real results. 66-96 last year. 67-93 pythagorean. But the jury is probably still on on Friedman. Small-sample size alert, I guess.
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Post by mtroyals on Dec 10, 2007 1:52:52 GMT -6
Yeah, but surely he's better than the new GMs. I just think he's made a few more positive moves than negatives. And he really hasn't been there that long. Also, Ty Wigginton just recently turned 30, so he's not really young anymore. 30 is pretty old for a .780 third baseman, right? Wheeler's market was supposed to be pretty good and it was thought he'd be spun again at the deadline or this offseason. Of course, he gets negative points for holding him too long if that's happened.
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Post by skillset on Dec 10, 2007 10:36:11 GMT -6
Michael Hill
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Post by ror1fan on Dec 10, 2007 12:31:07 GMT -6
Neal Huntington
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Post by skillset on Dec 11, 2007 9:22:24 GMT -6
OK, I am changing my vote to Friedman so we can move on.
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Post by skillset on Dec 11, 2007 9:22:51 GMT -6
Next Round
Michael Hill
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Post by mtroyals on Dec 11, 2007 11:36:18 GMT -6
Michael Hill
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Post by dejesus9 on Dec 11, 2007 12:04:32 GMT -6
Michael Hill!
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Post by mtroyals on Dec 11, 2007 12:41:55 GMT -6
John Mozeliak
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Post by KC Royals Nation on Dec 11, 2007 13:57:50 GMT -6
G.M.'s remaining:
Epstein, Dombrowski, Shapiro, Beane, Byrnes, O'Dowd, Melvin, Gillick, Huntington, Towers
mtroyals, Mozeliak has already been eliminated.
Cast my vote for Doug Melvin this round.
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Post by skillset on Dec 11, 2007 15:30:31 GMT -6
Billy Beane - he didn't acquire Tejada or Chavez. Mulder and Zito were top 10 picks who several teams coveted and Giambi was a marginal prospect who made it with roids. The Billy Beane philosophy has not gained the A's much at all. The best player he has aquired would be Nick Swisher and Beane thought he would be a center fielder when he drafted him. He makes good trades but his drafting record and general baseball approach philosophies are marginal at best. It is time for him to go.
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