27
2012
Mets Sign Aaron Laffey To Minor League Contract
An article by 
The Mets have announced the signing of Aaron Laffey to a minor league deal.
The 27-year old left-hander pitched to a 4.56 ERA with 4.3 K/9 and 3.3 BB/9 in 16 starts and six relief appearances for Toronto last season. He also spent time pitching in Triple-A Las Vegas, which is where the Mets’ Triple-A team will call home in 2013. Laffey posted a 4.52 ERA with 5.4 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9 in eleven starts while pitching in Las Vegas.
Over a six-year big league career with the Indians, Mariners, Yankees and Blue Jays, Laffey has produced a 4.38 ERA in 148 appearances, including 65 starts. He could compete for the vacant fifth slot in New York’s starting rotation, though general manager Sandy Alderson has said he will take a hard look at more expensive free-agent candidates who would command a guaranteed job.
Nothing earth shattering here. Just some depth to add bodies in case of injury.
Merry Christmas Mets fans, here is your gift from Mr. Alderson.
About the Author: Dan Valis
I am a staff writer for Mets Merized Online. I am a Mets team analyst with a focus on the minor league system, as well as the major league club. I am a lifelong New Yorker who was born and raised to be a Mets fan. The ups and downs of being a Mets fan is what makes following this team so much fun, but at times so frustrating. You can follow me on Twitter @BgAppleMetsTalk.
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Nothing earth shattering here. Just some depth to add bodies in case of injury”
REALLY???? Isn’t this type of move the same ones we’ve done for the past 3 offseasons?? I thought someone in this blog said it was too early in november, now with the mets being the only team that hasn’t signed ONE single major leaguer you must wonder if this is just for some depth or an actual player to be in the 25 man roster… My goodness, People cannot be so freaking blind….
Ohhhhhh, and BTW, anybody else had notice the trend the mets have of signing and acquiring bums and rejects from the padres, oakland and the blue jays? This is just getting sadder and sadder by the minute..
But hey, it must be part of the stoic genius plan Sandy Alderson has to create a winner…
STOIC GENIUS….LMAO….
Im glad you noticed that as well Alex……
How many Genius GM’s does it take to have a losing season with no hope for improvement????
Answer: 3—–Sandman, Google Boy, and Mr. “All I know is the person I talked to said it was Adam Dunn. LMAO….
Mets fans cant be mad when they find out this Front office lied to them….Alderson is a lying lawyer….and JP Ricciardi is a blatant liar,
Ricciardi is the same guy who made up some story about Adam Dunn not caring about baseball when a fan called into a radio show and told him he should go after Dunn…Which he later apologized for saying and lied and said Adam Dunn had called him and he apologized to Dunn…Adam Dunn was later interviewed and stated that NEVER HAPPENED!
Which Ricciardi replied,”All I know is the person I talked to said it was Adam Dunn. That’s quite a prank to pull.”
LMAO! Prank my A_ _….lol…LIARS….Pair those 2 liars with the Wilponzi’s and youve created an EVIL EMPIRE lol….Google boy just stays quiet and crunches numbers all day lol….
LIARS!
See what these bozo’s try to do with Dickeys reputation but failed….
LIARS!!!
Hi Alex,
I noticed that connection too.
Just another minor cog in the re-building process. A “stop gap” measure till the kids all start coming through.
Now I lived through 1969 and know that could happen. When the season started in 1967, few fans knew about Seaver (a rookie), Koozman, Ryan and Gentry, we had Ken Boyer at third and Jerry Beuchek at second instead of Garrett/Charles and Boswell/Weis and Don Bosh was the future center fielder instead of Tommie Agee.
And that 1967 squad also set record for most players on the roster so there were many more stop gap players then we see today.
But the difference is that Mrs. Payson had no financial troubles and could concentrate on the goal of building a club and thus the services of a lawyer with control over the entire organization was not necessary.
But as we can see, that re-building consisted of young talent through the system and trades.
But that is why 1969 is called a miracle.
Forgot to add that despite 1969 being a miracle, it came about a well thought out plan not filled with wishful thinking for besides the kids, we got by trades of course Agee and Weis but also obtained Clendenon, Shamsky, Taylor, Grote, Cardwell, Koonce and Charles. We also traded away Bill Denehy, our top pitching prospect, to Washington in order to sign Gil Hodges as manager. Denehy never achieved the greatness that was expected of him. Gil led us to a world’s championship.
Just shows that trades not meant to be “stop gap” measures are vital to building (the Mets were never in a position at that time to “re” build LOL) and that trading away prospects not only for Hodges but in 1969 for a 34 year old Don Clendenon (in exchange for our prospects including Steve Renko who went on to have a long career way after Don had retired and except for one horrendous year, pitched quite well for the fledgling Montreal Expos).
Don’t see another miracle in the making with the planning of this front office.
“Don’t see another miracle in the making with the planning of this front office.” It wasn’t seen in 1969 either, hence it was a miracle.
Sorry, but there was no great planning to make that 69 team, no one saw it coming. Hindsight is a great thing, isn’t it.
dont act like getting a MAJOR LEAGUER would be the secret magic . You look like a fool . I mean where is your baseball IQ right now ? covered by the hate for SA ? I mean anybody with just a little brain knows we could have had a MAJOR LEAGUER with EASE for RA . But , it probably would have been a 26-30 year old MAJOR LEAGUER with a heavy contract . So getting a HIGH prospect , a CATCHER , with a much lower contract, is a way better move , especially if your plan doesnt include a “go for it all ” in 2013 . i cannot understand why you still point your finger into that “we need a MAJOR LEAGUER ” wound. We will not get anyone for 2013 , and NO ONE EVER SAID SO . Let the kids play, see what you have , give em a real amount of AB´s . And i do believe the mets will add the missing pieces with MAJOR LEAGUERS for 2014 . But please dont act like such a signing RIGHT NOW would have been a better move especially with the CLEAR goal of rebuilding and the really thin 2012 FA market.
How much do you get paid Angelo for be a stooge?
well, your crap comes for free thats for sure
Angelo youre the same one who always crys all the time about people here like Alex bothering you and calling you names???
And you have the nerve to reply to his comment a say he sounds like a FOOL???
Do you even read all the crap that you write???lol…
So why not trade David Wright ?
…one would think he had some trade value….
Alex, let me say one thing about this signing: It’s no Laffey matter.
Oh, boo. Just……boo.
Lifetime WHIP over 1.5…
Sounds like a serviceable lefty who specializes in boosting opponent morale.
Or the next RA Dickey. Kidding. #1) Yeah, probably a serviceable lefty. 2) It is difficult to watch the F/A signings of other 2ndary teams like the Indians, Pirates, D-Backs, and not be frustrated as a fan, BUT we were NOT going to contend in ’13 unless we did a combo Blue Hays / Dodgers tableau. In that context, signings these low-end guys to minor league contracts and waiting for the market value of 1 – 2 of the remaining F/As to decline isn’t bad baseball management. And 3) you never do know about some of these retreads. i recall the wailing on this Site 4 yrs ago when we did sign RA. Maybe Laffey revives his career as a NY Met and becomes a useful Lefty. That would be a good thing.
Yeah – what are the chances we have the first lefty to develop a knuckle ball in recent history? Well, here’s his lifetime pro stats anyway, courtesy of The Baseball Cube:
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/profile.asp?P=Aaron-Laffey
His SO/K ratio is noticeably poor. And when combined with a WHIP that allows more than one runner per inning, Mr. Laffey needs to develop a new pitch or two.
Or three…
Not arguing, Tommy. Laffey, as a lefty, does present options for us. Hopefully, he produces.
I need a baseball glossary or directory to keep up with our signings. Rekker, Cowgill, Laffey? Who are these guys?
I so want to quote Major League right now, but my comments would rightfully be moderated.
I don’t think quoting Bob Uecker should ever be moderated, four-letter words be darned.
Oooh!!!
A 4.56 career era.
Looks like Alderson found us an ace.
Cant wait to see him pitch that must game in late September against Strasburg
Meaningful games in September? Ha! That’s a joke right? We all know Sandy will trade anyone who’s doing well by June so he can cut payroll more…so we’ll probably see Murph and/or Santana traded (and possibly Hariston if he resigns) around the All Star Break. Pretty soon 1/2 of the MLB budget will be payed to Wright.
Has Sandy added and MLB player to the roster yet?
It is just a minor league signing,lol, all teams make these types of signings to provide depth
This was probably to distract us from the Dickey trade.
What Dickey trade?
I don’t know. I’m just completely enamored with Cowgill and Laffey.
Because, you know, those deals would totally make me forget about a Cy Young winner being dealt. According to some around here, anyway.
I have never seen a group of GMs make less significant signings or players that few people have heard of in MLB…Do they see something in players that nobody else sees? Recker? who? Cowgill? who? Laffey? They are a lot of players that are out there and would accept minor league deals, can we sign few?
about Laffey, nothing mindblowing here indeed , but lets see what he can , we could need some lefty RP help .
27 Year Old Lefty w 65 Starts….he was COMPETITIVE—take a look at his 2012 game log.
He war arbitration eligible and the Jays would have been on the hook for 5-6 million—they made a business decision!
Laffey probably had his choice of places—he gets to go to Citi Field—Big Opportunity for him to Make the opening Roster as a Starter/Bullpen Lefty…he gets to pitch in a big park(LHP LOVE Citi’s LF!)….
He’s a 50/50 shot to open as the 5th starter–frankly, a very astute move by the player and the team, given everyone’s motivations.
Here is his 2012 Game Log— http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?id=laffeaa01&t=p&year=
A 4.56 era versus his pitching Log is NOT BAD!
Great post. Thanks for some dispassionate Stat Review.
Paul DePodesta: All we do is CRUNCH NUMBERS!!!
Pass me my calculator.
Maybe it produces ‘results’ one of these days!
Yeah when baseball becomes a Math problem and we no longer need stinkin humans to play it…
Baseball will be played with robots and google boys like DePodesta who was too much of a panzy to play sports as a kid can program them with number codes…and scout new robots with his secret draft Computer FORMULA….LMAO
Boy, Sandy is gonna love it….you wont even have to pay them anything
Hi BBLB,
Be careful – I’ve had a lot of harsh words thrown at me because I contended the same thing about Sandy Aldeson and friends thinking they understand PROFESSIONAL baseball due to mathematical calculations. And I hope that they at least had the good sense not to use those principles to include draft selections for Bill James said saber stats don’t apply to raw talent. I’m not sure if he included single-A ball along with that.
Be careful Joey D.
BJ….aka B_ LL J_mes is there God and you are saying his name in vein…..Everymorning I use Bill James Sabr stats to calculate how many steps it will take me to get to the bathroom in the dark without stubbing my toe…..Im batting .750
Hi BBLB,
Consider yourself lucky about the odds of not stubbing yourself – I’ve got hammer toes!
Boy am I upset. Why can’t we be like the Angels and Yankees and Marlins of 2012. They spent the big bucks and all went 162-0. They hit home runs in every at bat. Their pitchers not only had ERAs of 0.00, but they pitched no hitters in every start. 162 complete games from the starters and a 162 saves from the BP.
What? They didn’t do that? You mean the A’s made the playoffs.
Can we just play baseball, not fantasy. (Not that I think the Mets will do that well this year, but the Dodgers and Angels, again, will be the disappointments).
Very intelligent Andy B. You are obviously the leader of “WE LOVE TO LOSE INC.” People like you don’t even want your team to try to win. Pitiful.. You just want to play with your little stats and pretend Fred Wilpon’s bank account is yours. You are pitiful. But you damn well be go to all the games in the morgue, cause this is what you love.
Wow. I think you misread my intent. You could have left out the “pitiful,” this isn’t personal. As for games in a morgue — my father was an undertaker, so I’ve been to a morgue (Belleview) more than once. Never saw a game there.
I don’t play stats and I do want the team to win. My point (please try to understand) is that sometimes spending big bucks on players (e.g., Puhols) dosen’t often pay off. Look at the money the Wilpons spent on Castillo, Bay and that lazy fat slob Ollie Perez.
It’s called sarcasm.
What about the big bucks spent on Wright?
“Why can’t we be like the Angels and Yankees and Marlins of 2012. They spent the big bucks and all went 162-0.”
Or we can be like the Pirates, Royals, Padres, Mariners, Indians, Orioles, Nats(pre 2011),Bluejays(pre-2012 off-season) how successful have those teams beenin recent years????????
I know the Angels and Yanks and Marlins have more success than them ALL combined.
With that said no one is asking this team to spend like either of those teams….Mets fans whom care about winning are asking for them to invest some money back into the team not continue to cut and cut major league talent without replenishing it.
Hi Andy,
It’s not the amount of money one spends that produces a post-season club, it’s the knowledge of those who are running the show.
Most of us are not arguing to spend like Omar did, but rather to spend wisely, let it be just $1 million or $25 million. It’s not the amount of money that impresses the true baseball fan as it the players obtained and how they can possibly blend in and resolve a team’s holes.
I would love if Sandy Alderson would sign “CARLOS ZAMBRANO” he would fill one of our needs as a…………………………………………………………………Right Handed POWER Hitting Outfielder LMAO….
lol…If we signed Zambrano he’d probably be our best hitting Outfielder…..How sad but true
Eh, whatever. I guess they have to do something to restock the minors. Afterall, it isn’t every organization that gets shown the door in Buffalo because of neglect. Maybe the Mets are trying to look better to get a better minor league affiliate in the future. You know, one a located a little more closely to NY. Or maybe one that lacks a negative reputation. At this rate, the minor leagues will be restocked by 2075. Only the Mets….
2 Mets Affiliates will be playing in a desert next year…
1. Las Vegas 51′s in Cashman Field(Lol at Cash man mets are broke, right SRT *wink wink* lol)
2. New York Mets in Citi Field
ENTER SANDMAN
get it Desert—and Sandman lol cant make this stuff up
Most of you guys need to get your head OUT of your arse!
The mets are not trying to build a winner in 2013!!
Trading RA SHOULD have been the first clue.
Stop expecting things that obviously aren’t going to happen. It’s a rebuild year. They are waiting out bad contracts. Wow!!! This is why it’s so hard to rebuild in NY. Because Even though everyone says ny has the best, smartest fans, they still flip out during the actual rebuild process.
Actually DePo played college baseball AND football. That panzy would probably kick your ass. He was probably a better athlete then anyone commenting here and yes, he uses stats as a way to judge players. Next time, don’t judge the book by the cover…look it up, there’s info out there, just like what DePo does.
LMAO
and Paul was still able to leave SD’s minor league system in shambles ….after getting run out of LA quicker than Marian Barry in a crackhouse
Let me guess, you saw the movie which had him being played by a fat guy and assumed that’s exactly how he is?
Well, that’s probably why he didn’t want his name associated with the movie, the image of Jonah Hill doesn’t scream Harvard Two way athlete. DePo got two years to be a GM. The first year the dodgers made the playoffs. The second, injuries played a huge part in their demise. LA journalists, who disliked his sabermetric tendencies, called for his head and Frank McCort caved to the pressure and fired him.
If you look at his track record, it’s not bad at all. He had a lot of success with the A’s and did a good job with the Dodgers before being ousted. He’s definately been stereotyped as a geek with a laptop and that’s certainly not the case.
So lets IGNORE his record with San Diego….
Great stuff, ‘Truths’. We’ve got to realize ‘where’ we are in the rebuild process. It takes 3 – 5 years to rebuild in any scenario. Ours is more difficult because 1) it’s NY; and 2) we had aging Stars / key players (Castillo, Delgado, Beltran, Perez, Bay, Maine, Trachsel, Santana,Benitez, Wagner, Sanchez, etc.) burden the team with either injuries, bad contracts, or eroding skills, and an Ownership, baseball intelligence suspect in the best of times, hit with major financial losses and debt.
Despite all this, i think we’ll begin to be relevant again, to contend again, in 2014. That’d be the 4th year of Alderson’s tenure. Right smack in the middle of the timeframe. IF we’re not derailed by injuries to key guys and / or our top prospects perform and don’t become suspects, i think the 2014 Season will be our time to at least once again, enjoy our team. Not bad.
Thats BS he lost the Dodgers job because he STUNK…He got fired because the Dodgers finished with its 2nd worst record since moving to LA and for moves like Hee Sop Choi and letting the Seattle Mariners outbid him by only $4Mil dollars on a 5yr deal for a young Adrian Beltre coming off of a 48Homer season….
And he was terrible in San Diego with Sandman….and new ownership gave Sandman the boot…and coincidentally years later he resurfaced here with the Mets and he brought his minions DePo and Ricciardi from his Oakland A’s days…YES MEN! They all think and say what Sandy tells them to think and say.
Thats BS he lost the Dodgers job because he STUNK…He got fired because the Dodgers finished with its 2nd worst record since moving to LA and for moves like Hee Sop Choi and letting the Seattle Mariners outbid him by only $4Mil dollars on a 5yr deal for a young Adrian Beltre coming off of a 48Homer season….And if you ask any Dodger fan DePodesta left there farm system in shambles….he did the same to the Padres farm system as well and guess what he is in charge of our farm
And he was terrible in San Diego with Sandman….and new ownership gave Sandman the boot…and coincidentally years later he resurfaced here with the Mets and he brought his minions DePo and Ricciardi from his Oakland A’s days…YES MEN! They all think and say what Sandy tells them to think and say.
No response on Depo’s track record in San Diego huh….
“We’re certainly not punting on 2013.”
-Sandy Alderson
Time is running out for the above statement to be true.
check the Loopholes Petey Sandman is a lawyer….He said we’re not punting in 2013…He NEVER said they wouldnt take a KNEE
and run the clock out lol….
Or Spike the ball !!!
What are we becoming- Blue Jay Way South? If so, how about Jose Bautista for RF next? I can’t see this guy as a SP- just a 86 fb, good curve and decent change. Maybe Warthen drops this guy down like Peterson did to Pedro Feliciano and he becomes a slurve LOOGY out of the pen. TC wants his 2 short lefties out of the pen.
Signing Laffey for AAA means that it will be easier for LV when Wheeler gets called up in a month. Remember, Buffalo wasn’t happy because the Mets didn’t leave them with much, continuing to raid the decent players away from the team.
Much ado about nothing as usual.
Trying to take a reasonable approach here – which seems hardly possible these days:
1.
Laffey is a fringe finesse lefty. Someone who can be used as a mop-up reliever or # 6 starter or be stashed at AAA. Some competition for Jeremy Hefner for that exaxt role. Or possibly a “LOOGY”, though Laffey doesn´t have pronounced splits and is decent against lefties while being utterly mediocre / subpar vs. righties. He´s basically a slightly better version of Pat Misch. For now, he´s in the mix with Mejia, Hefner and McHugh for the 5th spot in the Mets rotation out of spring training, though I still expect Chris Young to be resigned.
2.
The 2013 Mets have already punted. When you trade the reigning NL Cy Young award winning staff ace for three high upside prospects – of which only one is likely to appear in the majors in 2013, that pretty much is punting.
Obviously Alderson cannot state “we´re punting 2013″ for PR & ticket sales reasons – but his actions speak for themselves pretty obviously.
Sure, if Matt Harvey and Zach Wheeler are even better than the biggest optimists would expect them to be right away and Jeurys Familia suddenly emerges as a lights out closer while the team stays healthy otherwise, sure, the Mets could be a lot better than people think and contend. However, odds are, there´ll be growing pains and setbacks and 2013 will be about getting young players accustomed to the faster and higher level pace of major league Baseball before hopefully being able to take off in 2014 and beyond.
3.
For that reason, do not expect any “meaningful” signings of free agents that go beyond 1-year-deals to very flawed players. Even mediocre stopgaps like Cody Ross or Jeremy Guthrie have been getting 3-year deals in the 25+ million $ range. Would the Mets be any better off by spending money ?
Instead, I expect multiple signings of cheap & flawed leftovers in late January. Chris Young for the rotation, maybe a formerly good reliever coming off a subpar season or injury. Maybe even a “name” reliever like “Papa Grande” Jose Valverde if the price is low enough, though I expect a contender to swoop in on him. Maybe bring back Pedro Feliciano on a minor league deal. Maybe bring in someone like Austin Kearns as a RHH OF body or indeed be “big spenders” on Scott Hairston and give him a 2-year, 10 million $ sort of deal, begrudgingly. But that´s probably the maximum to expect for the rest of this winter as we prepare for yet another 75ish win sort of season.
4.
And for the reasons stated above, don´t expect any meaningful trade. Why trade promising prospects for major leaguers when you´re not even close to having a legit contender yet ? You can still do so next winter when you´re closer and have a better idea about your needs and have had yet another year to nurture the farm system.
5.
For 2014, the projected payroll is below 60 million $ as of today – even including arbitration and whatever money Jason Bay deferred to next year. Which means even with the very modest 90 or 95 million $ budget of this off-season (we´re currently at 80 million with the rest likely to be spent on the Chris Youngs or Austin Kearns of the world), there´s 30+ million to spend next winter to turn things around. Which´ll lead to higher expectations, higher revenue and quite probably higher payrolls in the future…
Good call on Kearns. I dropped his name in a mailbag article scheduled for publish tomorrow.
And when you punting 2013 and the Mets finish in the bottom 10, perhaps even 5, the Mets have the chance of drafting a real impact player. And the Mets can sign FAs without loosing that pick. Dont know anything about the 2014 draft class but perhaps somebody does and can tell anything about it.
Cano is set to be, though I don’t see how the Yanks don’t lock him up. Martin Prado, Michael Morse (will likely be extended), Curtis Granderson, Jacoby Ellsbury (probably extended), Hunter Pence, Corey Hart and Shin Soo Choo are outfielders all up for FA. Maybe half those guys get there. Too many interesting pitchers to name, but most impact guys get extended before they get to FA.
Whether or not the Yanks lock him, Sandy in no universe is going to compete with the rest of the league in signing Cano ( who is looking for over 200 mil )
If Cano has another good year, I say Cano settles for somewhere around 140 mil for 7 years with 1 or 2 team options for 25 mil a pop and a nice size buyout
If I were the Yankees, I would trade Cano , in a sign/trade with Texas.
David Adams I hear is a great 2B, they have no answer at SS if Jeter gets hurt or retires
Also I would trade Granderson too…but then again, I never would’ve traded Austin Jackson to get him in the first place
but thats just me…
Doekie: Please explain your love of losing. Is it that you live near Binghamtonand want a prospect there? Is it because you have bought into the success of the Pirates and want it in Queens? Is it that you are just a staffer for Alderson and spread the pathetic propoganda hoping somebody buys a tixket to a game next year. Please tell us how exciting a top 10 draft pick over contending.
Heard all this before dude and is not gotten us anywhere in the last few years. Bottom line no out feilders/ no bullpen/ no bench /no fifth starter translates into a false sense optimisum and is sure not going to make me go the ball park any time soon or watch them on cable in 2013.Tell you what when Hairston signs elswhere because of Alderson penny ways come back and give us your stale analysis on that.
In today’s game, free agency isn’t a good way to build a good team anymore. You either have to develop players or get them via trades. For both of that you need a strong & deep farm system.
Trade targets for the OF a year from now could be Carlos Gonzalez, Dexter Fowler, Justin Upton (if not moved before), obviously Giancarlo Stanton or Cespedes.
there is a big difference between BUILDING your team via free-agency and supplementing.
Sandy is doing neither.
Maybe they’ll teach Laffey to throw a knuckleball …
I dont think this is a bad acquisition at all.
BUT, whats it going to cost??
Laffey might be inspired, and gain some confidence, by pitching in the softer batting line-up National League for the first time.
Could be the long man in the bullpen or situational lefty.
The same people pissing a moaning about the mets now will be the ones jumping for joy in two years when the mets have one of the youngest, cheapest, and competitive teams. Their pitching will be phenomenal and stacked with power arms. Their bullpen will be just as dominant.
They will have so many arms that offense will be easily attainable through trades and even though they’ll have cash to spend, it won’t be needed due to how many great pitchers they’ll be able to shop.
But, it takes time. It has taken time. It’s nearly over though and instead of just being smart and letting this team become a strong and youthful powerhouse, people scream about players like laffy who are simply signed to fill a need for cheap. I don’t understand all the screaming. If it pisses you off so much than stop rooting for this team. If you hate the front office so much, then root for a team with a GM you think is qualified.
Otherwise, shut up and let this team build itself into a sustainable winner that’s fed from within. Built around young quality pitching and not by overpaid free agents that either breakdown or don’t perform.
” If you hate the front office so much, then root for a team with a GM you think is qualified.”
LMAOOO
where was this when Omar Minaya was GM !
Hi Truths,
Nobody can predict with certainty which new players might do well or be a flop down the road and that’s the point about rebuilding being a plan that should go hand in hand without shortchanging the present for one never knows when the opportunity to really achieve something might really come. It doesn’t mean stripping a minor league system and giving multi-year contracts to players on the way down (I mean, Alou injuries himself just by standing?) but it doesn’t also mean trading one’s top hitter and closer for a highly rated pitching prospect when one has been playing .575 ball over a span of 85 games and do nothing to improve a team’s weakness when tied for the wildcard at the all-star break.
Many of us feel frustrated asking “what if” had we not discarded our star players and went after additional ones based on talent and not the bargain price tag. Sure, we could have still flopped in the second half of both 2011 and 2012, but at least we would know we gave it our best shot. We understand the economic reality but cannot agree with justifying those moves for any type reason.
That’s all it comes down to really, a combination of looking ahead and trying to win at the same time, without one shortchanging the other.
Hope you and yours had a happy holiday and Santa was nice to everyone!