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.

Back from the Break

Wow. That was a bit longer of a break than I expected. I just wish I had more time to figure out everyone who has said they have banged Clemens in the last week. Maybe more on that later.

For now, just a quick line of the day and a promise, Pretenders start this week. (Any doubt that Debbie Clemens didn't do roids?)

The Good:

1. Jack Cust, Pirates, 4/4, HR, rbi, 3r. Breaks out of 0-April slump.
2. Alex Rios, Creepers, 3/5, HR, rbi, 2r, sb. Power and speed combo.

The Bad

1. Ian Kennedy, Brewers, 4.7ip, 4er, 5h, 3bb, k. The sucking continues.