Kudos to Mr. Jocketty

by sdangler on Jul 31, 2005 11:42 PM EDT

...for not panicking and making a Yankee-esque rash trade that would pare down an already thin system. Even with a lineup that featured only 2 Opening Day Starters (for any team), he didn't overpay for Lawton, Huff, Winn, or any other mid-level outfielder. He also didn't panic and try his luck w/ some re-tread middle reliever. We can only hope that he is being honest about the health issues plagueing this team.

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kudos indeed

Jockety meant it when he said he would deal only for a "high impact" outfielder.

That said, I still think Huff would fit that bill. The D-Rays got nothing this week, as most of the news outlets are saying their asking prices were too high. If their prices come down, and if the Redbirds are still interested in Huff (who can play OF and 3B), and if he can clear waivers, maybe Jock will deal. Lotsa if's, though ...

matty fred is a weblog.

by matty fred on Aug 1, 2005 12:41 AM EDT reply actions

Devil Rays

Overplayed their hand, easy.

Just getting rid of Huff's contract would have been a smart thing to do.

by SirVLCIV on Aug 1, 2005 1:36 AM EDT reply actions

the running joke

is that d-rays gm chuck lamar has a no-trade clause in his contract because "he makes no trades".
the biggest problem is that the cards waiver position is 29th, so chances of getting someone like huff in august are not going to be easy.

by cardsrul on Aug 1, 2005 2:05 AM EDT reply actions

and they still need

a lefty in the pen . . . . .

by lboros on Aug 1, 2005 7:26 AM EDT reply actions

agreed

Did we really need another outfielder with Rodriguez, So, Mabry, and Gall as viable bench players? Heck, isn't Cedano even still available if needed? It seems like adding another outfielder would have been overkill, unless it were a big impact player who could take over, without missing a step, for Walker and/or Sanders next year.

I'm not very knowlegeable on baseball, but if another outfielder were needed, why not bring up Reyes or Wainwright and let Marquis play in the outfield? Wouldn't he have the arm, speed, and hitting abilities needed to be a great outfielder? And like Edmonds, I could see Marquis hustling to make catches. I know it's different having to hit everyday in MLB, but I think Marquis could do it. Is this a silly idea?

by rob is back on Aug 1, 2005 11:53 PM EDT reply actions

It's an Idea

that will get short shrift in this day and age, sad to say... Heck, even Stan the Man started his baseball career as a pitcher! It's Just Not Done anymore, and hasn't really been since the 1920s. Pitchers get turned into hitters only if they can't pitch anymore.

Having said that, I don't disagree with you at all. I also think Marquis is a good enough athlete to play the outfield. Whether he would hit as he has this season on an everyday basis is open to question, and I kinda doubt he'd be willing to try unless his pitching career was coming to an end. It's a fun idea to play with, but I don't ever expect to see it happen.

by The Ol Goaler on Aug 2, 2005 1:04 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah

I don't like that - pretty much just because Marquis, despite his good hitting, is much more valuable as a pitcher. You could trade a pitcher of Marquis's ability for much more than a hitter of his ability, and while he IS a good hitter, he'd most definitely drop off.

by SirVLCIV on Aug 2, 2005 1:05 AM EDT reply actions

Nice point

That makes perfect sense. I'd still love to see him give it a try, but I guess I'll just have to keep wishing. He seems like a more natural fit in the outfield than Ankiel, but then what do I know?

by rob is back on Aug 2, 2005 4:49 AM EDT up reply actions

However

In the same thoughts I had of a possible two armed pitcher (throwing righty AND lefty), I had the idea: why didn't Babe Ruth pitch AND hit? Pitch every 5th game (or whatever their rotations were back then) and play left field the next 4, etc.?

by SirVLCIV on Aug 2, 2005 1:06 AM EDT reply actions

He did, briefly...

while still with the Red Sox. But the Babe put too many fans in the seats with his bat (even back in the day, chicks dug the long ball...) Why "waste" your meal ticket on the mound once every four days (again, back in the day) when you can play him EVERY day in the outfield?

"Smokey" Joe Wood also made the switch from pitcher to hitter, but that happened after he hurt his arm.

These days, you're more likely to see a guy who was a position player in the amatuer ranks turn to pitching, a la Woody Williams. Sometimes it works the other way 'round... Mark McGwire started his USC career as a pitcher.

by The Ol Goaler on Aug 2, 2005 1:54 AM EDT up reply actions