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.