Read From The Top

From: Buckos (in response to Commish's e-mail)

That’s fine. If you want everyone to vote on this though you should send it to them…this only went to me and Wolfe. Two other items. First, I don’t believe the Constitution makes any provisions for a secret ballot, therefore I suggest you announce how each team voted as the votes occur. Not just the results at the end which is nearly the same as a secret ballot. Second, I would still like to have my rebuttal posted on both CARP blogs. You guys are the editors of the blogs and both posted complaints against my trade. I should get a chance to reply in the same exact forum.

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From: Bees

It would honestly make me sick to post that response. Use the comment feature.

Let’s take a quick look at some of your outrageousness:


Player Rating G AVG R HR RBI SB
David Murphy, TEX 83.05 70 .282 40 10 47 5
Carlos Quentin, CHW 83.98 66 .269 42 16 54 4
Billy Butler, KC 37.41 53 .263 12 1 18 0
Manny Ramirez, BOS 87.81 67 .296 44 15 49 1

So one of my offers, which you ridicule, without response, is that Billy Butler & David Murphy for Manny Ramirez. First, it was an initial offer, never countered. Second, I submit to you that it was a better offer than what your received from the Creepers. You can see from the numbers that Murphy and Quentin are pretty much similar players. A little more power with Quentin, but less avg. Across the board using sportsline rating’s systems, a wash. Quentin is one next year, Murphy 3. Quentin is one year younger, but I don’t believe Murphy has an injury history. So then you go to the prospects. Billy Butler, let’s call him a prospect because he’s in the minors. Vs. Hellickson & Austin Jackson. “Nobody can guarantee that their minor leaguers are more of a sure thing than anybody else can, so let's stop the whining here and now.” Well, actually, you can hedge your bets very well by drafting people on the verge of the majors. Butler is only 22 and has 500 ML at bats, hitting .282 w/70 RBI (on the Royals). They sent him back to the minors to work on his power stroke. How’s he doing? Off the charts sick:

Omaha (PCL) AAA .403 13 3 10 0 .481 .642 1.123 (OPS)

What’s roadblocking him in KC? 32 year old Ross Gload w/ zero home runs. Gload has as many hits in June game as he did in the entire month of May (six). That is not something to brag about. Gload, who started at the everyday first baseman, is losing a lot of PT because of an ineffective bat. He is nothing more than a risky AL-only Fantasy option at this time.

I’ll grant you that a $10 salary next year makes him risky next year, but all signs point to him getting back on track. Your prospects, you know how I feel, but let’s just say it’s a wash. What’s the difference between the two deals? YOU GET TO KEEP VLADY AND YOUR PICK. From what I understand from the Cheesesteaks, he has examples of this as well. Have you seen the stats on the players I offered you:

Justin Masterson, BOS
In 5 starts, he has 27 Ks in 31 IPs, 3 wins, 4 quality starts, 2.90 ERA and 1.09 WHIP a/g. He’s only $1 and farm eligible next year.

Jered Weaver, ANA
Weaver’s had a rough month, but in spite of that has 6 wins, 1.31 WHIP & 65 Ks. He’s $7 Next year and has career numbers in 3 seasons that are just friggin great:

3 Seasons ERA 3.59, WHIP 1.25

Slowey, Twins minor league player of the year last year. This year, boasts a 1.14 WHIP!!!! If you subtract one game where he gave up 8 runs in 3 IP, his ERA is 3.51.

Kendrick, yes injured for most of first half of the season, but dear God, he’s batting over 300 lifetime. You build teams with players like this.

Shit, Garko is only $7 next year, He’s had a slow start, yes, but he alone has the potential to better than Quentin. Garko is a 27-year-old breakout candidate who has gotten off to a slow start. He's batting .417 (15-for-36) in June, though, so think about getting him active in mixed leagues.

So I told you one offer that was better than the Creepers. I don’t have the time, but I’m quite confident I could make just as strong case for the others.

When I read this, “Really, those are the actual offers.” It actually makes my blood boil. If you ever actually counter my offers, who knows how much better you could have done. I can post your response, but it would make me vomit.

As to #1, below: Irrelevant. Not sure anyone called this the worst trade ever, just recent history. The 2000 trade was approved by a vote of the league. #2: See above, yes you should have taken Murphy + and kept Vlady to trade to someone else. #3: See above. And here’s why I think the league has to step in, for reasons Pierre states below. #4: See above about hedging prospects. You didn’t even get Ian’s good ones. #5: When you acquired Galaragga, his numbers were even sickier. There is no reason why he shouldn’t have been immediately activiated. I actually made you look better by comparing his post-draft numbers, rather than using his year to date numbers. #6: If the league so votes, I will get over it. But I honestly don’t get it. You not only do a disservice to your team by not really testing the market, you’ve actually damaged the league.

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From: Buckos ….

and as for the trade offer you defended here, I didn’t like Butler’s salary or his tendency towards being a DH. And I Iiked Quentin considerably more than I liked Murphy, who is also older.

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From: Bees

It’s silly to suggest that the difference between Quentin, Jackson & Hellickson and Murphy & Butler is you throwing in Vlady and a pick. It’s indefensible and insulting. Please apologize for your last e-mail.

An Angry Bucko Responds

1. Let’s end the ridiculousness about calling this “the worst trade in CARP history.” The Brewers trot this line out every time a big trade is made that doesn’t involve his players. The post-draft trade between the Mules and Brewers, after the Tampa-robe-suite draft, which directly lead to the Mules only championship was the worst trade in CARP history. We’ve been talking about it since 2000. If we’re still talking about this one in eight years, then we can have this debate. Until then, the Brewers and Bees hold that title.
2. Here’s the preseason write-up on Carlos Quentin: “In the minors, Quentin has proven himself an OPS hog in the mold of Lance Berkman, but he laid an egg in his first full season, even getting demoted for about a month. He suffered a small tear in the labrum of his left shoulder during spring, which might have caused some of his problems -- especially since he fared well in a 166 at-bat trial in 2006. At age 25, Quentin certainly has time to rebound, especially as a full-time outfielder in a great hitter's park in Chicago. Consider Quentin an injury-risk sleeper for almost all leagues in 2008. He has .300-30-100-100 potential long term.” He goes out and delivers on that potential, and everybody craps on him. Whatever. I guess I should have taken Ryan Garko or David Murphy or whatever crap the Brewers would have peddled if they had ever made an offer.
3. Here’s the offers I received from the Bees. Somebody please (other that those from Baltimore) tell me which one was better than the one I got from the Creepers. Ryan Garko, Justin Masterson and Jered Weaver for Manny Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez and George Sherrill. Billy Butler and David Murphy for Manny Ramirez. Billy Butler, Howie Kendrick, Justin Masterson and Kevin Slowey for Vladimir Guerrero and Alex Rodriguez. Really, those are the actual offers.
4. As for the prospects – they are called prospects for a reason. Nobody knows if they will pan out -- sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t. I’ll take my chances with Hellickson and Jackson and put them on my farm roster, just like all the minor leaguers on every other CARP roster. Nobody can guarantee that their minor leaguers are more of a sure thing than anybody else can, so let’s stop the whining here and now.
5. Finally, on the attack about whether I should have been starting Gallaraga over Hernandez. Hernandez has been spotty at times, but Gallaraga has also missed a few starts. Its easy to look back now and see that Galaraga has better numbers – but hindsight is always 20-20. That was a cheap shot.
6. For all those that are bitching and whining – you sound worse than my six year old when I won’t buy her candy at the market. Get over it, you sound like a bunch of crying little babies.

What The Hell Was He Thinking?

CARP Notes has an in depth story about yesterday's trade, but what really has Albert pissed this morning is the GM Buchanan's utter failure to address his team's needs. If you don't look at Saves, here's a team with the worst pitching in CARP. 6 points in 4 categories. Albert Belle would love to tee off against these guys. What's worse, it's hard to see any of the likes of Mussina, Lee and Cabrera having a better 2nd half than their first.

"Oh Albert, it's not that bad," you say. Oh my little friend, it is. Buchanan has been paying zero attention to this team and then pops his head up and makes one of the worst trades in years without so much as testing the market. Case in point, what would be his 2nd or 3rd best pitcher (based on year to date stats) and a decent pitcher on anyone's staff has never pitched an active inning since being acquired in a supplemental draft. It's true, look it up. Armando Galarraga since being acquired (not including closers) ranks during the same time period (props to sportsline for letting Albert crunch these numbers) 2nd in WHIP, Tied for 3rd in Wins, 4th in Ks, & 5th in ERA on the Buckos. In other words, with Galarraga on the bench, the Buckos sent out Livan Hernandez and during this same period he racked up the following stats: 3 Wins, 3 Losses, 6.37 ERA, 1.84 WHIP & 15 Ks (in 53 2/3 IP!!). Galarraga during the same period, 3 Wins, 2 Losses, 4.69 ERA, 1.24 WHIP & 26 Ks (in 40 IP). "That's not SOOOO bad, Albert." But it is, consider during this time period, the following other players were active, Betancourt 9.00 ERA, 1.88 WHIP (17 IP); Millwood 7.07 ERA, 1.71 WHIP (28 IP). Why wasn't Galarraga activated immediately after being be drafted 2nd overall in the 1st Supplemental? Why hasn't he been activated since then? Asleep at the wheel.

But back to addressing his pitching needs. "But Albert, he got this stud minor league prospect named Hellickson." Here's what some of the scouts/pundits say, "" "As for the current projection, I think Hellickson could be an effective big leaguer right now, but the inconsistent curve (lack of feel) and flashes of inconsistency (feel and mechanical inconsistency) would make him more of a 5th starter or middle reliever for the time being. He should certainly be in the minors for a number of reasons, but should also be (and probably will be) in Double-A for some time this season." -ETA 2010, projects #3 Starter. "Still, unless he can get better and more consistent results with his breaking balls, he's likely to end up in the bullpen sooner or later." "But Albert, those reviews were probably written before the season started, before he became en fuego." Well consider this, in 3 out of his last 4 starts, has been 4.50, 5.40 & 7.20. Class A is catching up with him, my little friends. To be fair, Albert will note that his last start was a 7K, 0 H performance in 5 IP, but "Hellickson is still probably two years away and most likely will spend the bulk of his season at High Class A Vero Beach, but he is leader of the next group of arms behind the more advanced Price, McGee, Davis, Niemann, and Talbot." That's quite a group to be behind. Oh well, Buchanan still has Arod to trade, I can see it now, $2 Iwamura, $1 Chavez & Daniel Cortes for Arod and a Pick.

Lines o' the Day 5/19/08

Matt Wieters tears cure cancer.

Good job:

1. Mike Napoli, Hogs, 3/4, 2hr, 5rbi, 2r. The best C in the state of California, AL only.

2. David, "Big Poppy", Ortiz, Hogs, 3/5, 2hr, 4rbi, 2r. All Hogs, all the time? How can they be in last?

Bad dog:

1. Bobby Abreu, Pirates, 0/4, k. Why? The rest of the 1st place Pirates hit .395 with 3hr, 8rbi, 15r and a sb.

2. Cliff Lee, Buckos, L, 5.7ip, 5er, 10h, bb, 2k. You suck Lee, you suck balls, I hate you. Man, that felt good.

Prospect watch:

Matt Wieters will destroy your team and lead me to the title one day. Stats thus far in High-A Carolina league:

.338, 11hr, 29rbi, 29r, .618slg, 1.037ops. Kneel.

Schedule for the Week

Pretenders coming this week.

Tuesday, Thursday, and then over the Holiday weekend.

Go Celts.

I'm Not Dead

In the past month I have done 3 jury trials ( a mistrial, a plea and a not guilty) and welcomed my second son Matthew into the world. Things have been a little busy and obviously, ABF suffers as a result. However, lest I alienate my 3 readers, I'm not giving up and jumping right back in.

I promise daily posts from this day on, or at least until the next jury. There will be no more children.

BTW, CC fills out his uniform nicely, no? He would look good on your CARP team.

Blow It Up!

What happened? The season for the Brewers looked so promising. CC, Percival & Matsui at the draft. Kinsler in a trade. Bounce back years from Hafner and Mauer. Young guns Shields, Kennedy and Loewen to solidify the rotation.

Nothing. 5 weeks in and the Brewers were sitting in 7th with 37pts. Could I have turned things around...maybe. But there are no guarentees that CC would return to CC 2007, that Hafner, Delmon and Mauer would remember how to hit HR. When the Wolfe came calling and dangled Sizemore and McGowen I had to pull the trigger.

I guess its as much of a relief as it is painful to watch another CARP season go down the tubes. No more dying with each days stats. Just relax and begin preparing for my FF draft in 3 months.

BTW, CC on the block.