The Brooklyn Moabs got two stalwarts back to their rotation as the league approached Game Day 100 (!)....with two-thirds of the season officially in the books, and management rumored to be ready to pull the trigger on a MAJOR deal with the (who else?) Lexington Rebels, how would the club respond to the return of Fausto Carmona and (especially) club ace Roy Oswalt in a doubleheader with the visiting Oakeyland Ballers?
Unfortunately, not too well! Carmona (5.2 IP, 2 ER) left in the sixth inning of the opener with a 4-2 lead, and a wild (5 BB) Oswalt managed to leave with a one-run lead in his start, as well. But the bullpen (which has been so good, if heavily-worked over the last month) faltered terribly. In Carmona's start, Ryan Sweeney delivered a go-ahead single in a four-run ninth off Francisco Rodriguez (1-3, 1.97) in a nightmare inning triggered by a Troy Tulowitzki error. Oakeyland would win the opener 6-4, with Aaron Fultz (5-3, 1.86) picking up the win and Brad Lidge earning the save.
In the nightcap, the game went into the ninth tied at 3-3, as well, where Jim Thome hit his team-leading 21st HR of the year off Rodriguez to make a winner of Bobby Howry and save #15 for Lidge. How demoralizing! With management having already moved Damaso Marte to Yuma amid well-documented injury woes, and the expected return of two strong starters a bust, small wonder that the Brooklyn organization would then make SWEEPING changes in their roster with a pair of blockbuster deals, essentially closing the door on any shot at a playoff spot this season.
In the first deal, the Moabs sent OF Jason Bay, RHP Adam Wainwright and LHP Scott Olsen to division (and sibling) rival Worcester. In return, Brooklyn receives Chris Marrero and Mark Teahen along with two players to be named later. As Eliminators GM Matt Caskey remarked on his blog, the Eliminators remain committed to winning now and are attempting to address injury woes of their own. You can read Matt's take on this deal here.
But Brooklyn wasn't done, no, not by a long shot. In the most shocking deal of the season, the Moabs essentially sent much of their bench strength to the Lexington Rebels, swapping LHP Mike Gonzalez, OF Curtis Granderson, C Bengie Molina, and SS Jhonny Peralta for the stretch run, while receiving C Jarrod Saltalamacchia, OF Lastings Milledge, RHP Anthony Reyes and two players to be named later!
In a word, wow. Lexington, as you might imagine, feels that they have obtained the usual 'final piece of the puzzle' but many observers were stunned by another Rebels move. As GM Ronald Melkonian exulted about 'doomsday in the West', he also announced the club's decision to cut 2B and leadoff hitter Luis Castillo as well as LHP George Sherrill. A shocking move, given that both were likely to be sidelined with injuries and will see the club 'eat' $3.2 million in salary.
But, really, is it more shocking than the jigsawing of Brooklyn's roster? A club that was 52-45 just a few days ago, just two-and-a-half games out of the wild card, has apparently packed it in on the 2008 season and is making moves entirely with an eye to next year . . .
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Well all that is the beauty of a league that determines which owners are taking expansion teams before the deadline. Brooklyn management, on one hand, is not taking an expansion team and is firmly implanted in the league and organization's future. On the other hand, the other set of brothers and another league official (although has been very silent to his credit) are taking expansion teams next season. What does this mean?
It means that Yuma and Lexawhatchacallits can sacrifice the future for the present. SO, a team like Brooklyn, who is invested beyond the year must make a decision to compete in the Arm's Race or acquire future talents that will be unestablished and dangerous next season.
The latter is exactly what Brooklyn management decided was necessary for livelihood. "Could we have competed and traded the like of Cameron (Maybin), CHris (Coghlan), Volstad, Ross (Detwiler), and Elvis (Andrus)? Yes. Instead we decided to pack it in, since we need to jump three teams for the East lead and 3 teams for the Wild Card (hint: the WC is not coming from the Central!!!)," said GM Eric Caskey. "So now while others are rebuilding with current, and need-to-be protected talent, Brooklyn can look to the future and realize that for next season, the East will look up at Brooklyn and so will the rest of the league, duh."
It was a strategic move to sacrifice this season. "We apologize to the fans and beg for their support. After all we can still score runs, we haven't traded starting pitching that has contributed this season, nor have we mortgaged the future, while strengthening it," exalted Caskey. "It will come down to the bullpen and our ability to catch the ball. And I guarantee if we fall out of it, we will be dreaded to play against down the stretch for others searching playoff spots."
Dude, anyone can sacrifice future talent to win now. You could, anyone could. Just taking an expansion team helped me realize just how overvalued prosepects are in the league and I showed just how much I can get for them. I mean Matt (LOL) traded his ACE for prospects. That hurt his playoff chance. You could have worked certain deals that could help you win now and later.
And the league didn't decide who was going to take an expansion. Anyone could. 1st come, 1st serve.
Besides, Chris, Hatifeld, and I have made the biggest sacrifice in ALL OF BARB: giving up our current team consisting of all-star talent and future for a team of SHIT! We have nothing, everybody, EVEN JEFF, has more than us.
ALL we have are outcasts for next season. Why did we take them...
1. For the challenge
2. To help bring in new owners for expanding the league.
3. Cause this is the only way we can bring in new owners cause nobody wants to start fresh and do a whole new draft.
I mean why do you think it is hard to bring in new owners. Cause most all the good and future talent is arleady taken. Really, we can only keep drafting like we do in the past for maybe 2 more years, then afterwards, things are going to have to change. You can't keep doing this forever.
Personally, I believe we should (start fresh). It would spark more people intrest in joining the league.
But everyone is too attached to their teams.. winers...! They don't want to lose some of their "babies" like Lincum (andrew) and Mauer or Sizemore (Matt) when heck some people have had that team for like 4 years. I'm willing to give it up, shit I have 2 of my fav players on my team in Webb and Wright... Get over it poeple!
It does get boring after sometime.
Doing a new draft would spark a new intrest in new and current owners. Bring new life and competition to the league. Really, it would liven everything up and more poeple would have more intrest in the league if this were to happpen.
TOO bad to many are just too attached.
SO expansion and owners who have the balls to quit their teams it the only way to bring new owners into a league where too many are (well only Andrew, Matt, maybe you) don't want to leave the past and move towards the future.
Eventually this is going to have to happen. Too bad it hasn't happen already. It would be something fun I tell you!
i haven't sacrificed much future. there is still plenty left in the system!
you talk about challenge? You search for new challenge? Has Lexawhatchamacallits ever made the playoffs? I don't think so.
The real challenge is maintaining a competitive team from one year to the next while consistently building. THis league is special because of the keeper mentality. A fresh start each year is a regular espn.com or cbssportsline.com league. Boring.
Challenge, I still question if you will make the playoffs... And the way you and chris have dealt does not reflect real baseball or fantasy but Xbox and Playstation.
I just wanted to clarify that I DID not want to compete. I made it very clear in my statement that I COULD have if I wanted to, but chose to compete next year and the year after. Good luck in the playoffs and for your sake, I hope Lexawhatchamacallits don't have to beat Brooklyn on the last day to make the playoffs.
Despite all the deals I made, Brooklyn has not lost any ground. I am still the 6th best team in BARB. Could I have improved? Yes. Was it worth it? Probably not with so many teams in the way to reaching the post-season...
Chris-
Yuma only has stuff left in the tank because the front office accidentally cheated. The deal was nullified. I love kharma in that instance especially if it hurts some less than participatory members.
Eric's logic is strong. Indeed, ball clubs do face a challenge to get in or get out of the arms race. In fact, once it became known that Brooklyn was shopping left-handed relievers, experienced owners realized he was probably thinking about 2009 rather than this year.
Having said that, despite being offered a shot at Perahlta etc. the Finches really weren't in a position to sacrifice the future for the present. Partly because we don't have the cap room, and partly because we don't have that much of a future! Darwin long ago concluded that it was playing for now, not 2009, and so we have already moved quite a bit of talent to be in position to earn another playoff spot. If we had held back on moving guys like Saltalamacchia or Milledge we wouldn't be in the position we are now.
Though it should be pointed out, of course, that there are no guarantees. If I had experienced the continual run of injuries to my rotation that Brooklyn and Worcester have dealt with, I would probably be in last place and pondering the same options that Eric outlined. So I agree with him there 100 percent.
I also agree (sadly) that I Brooklyn will likely play the spoiler in the final weeks of league play. Eastern clubs play 24 consecutive games in the last three weeks, all against divisional foes. If Darwin doesn't at least play .500 against two of its three divisional rivals in the final month, we'll probably lose the division no matter what our record is to that point.
And finally, I personally disagree with Ronald's statement about sacrifice. I've had fun with Darwin, but win or lose this year, I'm ready for a new challenge. I consider expansion the most fun, and that's why I'm doing it.
Thank you SH, I thought this decision to sell was one of my better decisions in BARB. As for the comment about Ron's success, you haven't achieved anything yet, so give respect where it's due.
Why is it SO shocking I cut Castillo and Sherrill? But are hurt perhaps for the season, and a BIG deal if I eat 3.2 mil in salary cause I have about 20 more!?
Uh, how many trades have the Nomads completed this month? It has to be more than three. Also, SH, when is my deal going to be done?
I can definitely see Yuma passing Lexington in the division and Ron's team not being close to the wild card.
Ron, how are Matt and I (and possibly Eric, you say) not willing to leave the past and come to the future? Do you see the future as something like an ESPN league (like Eric mentioned) where we re-draft every single year? If we drafted again, you would still make tons of trades and not make the playoffs (unless you were in the Central) and call for another re-draft after a few years! It will be just like the past (and current)!
It is shocking that you cut George Sherrill. ALthough he is on the DL this season (likely the rest of season), he is still a bargaining chip next season and in Winter Meetings! I realize that next year doesn't matter if you are not first come first serve, as you claim!
Ron, what Eric said states it very well. Do you know what Chris is doing? He's holding onto some of his top prospects instead of dealing them for top talent. Why is he doing that? To give the next owner of his team a good base of prospects. George Sherrill has value for next season. But do you think about that? Nope. It's all about you. Who cares about the next owner, right?
since when is brandon morrow and joba chamberlein just prospects ronald?
Ok, first who is the owner of the Lexington Rebels... ME! Thus, I could care less about a pool of prospects for an incoming owner, for next season. Instead of prospects, last I checked he has stars, and can choose to contend or get prospects for STARS! Also, I thought Stars have more value than anyone cause there just that. DUH!!! Again, shows that the league mis-values prospects. The point of prospects is hoping they become stars. BUT if you have stars already, why go backwards!?
For example... Matt traded Haren basically for Joba. Who's better? Well Haren is now. Haren is a Star. Can Joba become like Haren... maybe.. maybe not. Time will tell, and not a month. But what is a fact right now: Joba isn't Haren and Haren helps you now, especially if your trying to win now... like Matt is. NOW, when one brings up future... who has more value? How can one say Joba? Haren isn't expensive, already star status, and is only getting better each year. So why get a righty prospect for a righty star? In hopes that he becomes a star? Really, you just lost now to gain later, then what you had now already helps you later as well. And remember, Haren is old either.
Sorry, no argument there. How about this, lets take a look what the next season's owners will have available to them:
C Bengie Molina (4.00)
C A.J. Pierzynski (1.38)
C Miguel Montero (1.20)
1B Carlos Delgado (7.25)
1B Adrian Gonzalez (0.50)
3B David Wright (0.80)
2B Brandon Phillips (0.41)
SS David Eckstein (2.25)
SS Johnny Peralta (0.75)
SS J.J. Hardy (0.32)
OF Carlos Lee (8.80)
OF Curtis Granderson (0.41)
OF Jeremy Hermida (0.38)
OF Michael Bourn (0.25)
RHP Josh Beckett (4.80)
RHP Derek Lowe (4.75)
RHP Brandon Webb (3.60)
RHP Dan Haren (2.20)
RHP Rich Harden (2.20)
RHP Francisco Cordero (5.00)
RHP David Riske (2.00)
RHP Ryan Madson (1.10)
RHP Juan Cruz (0.72)
RHP Huston Street (0.30)
RHP Mike Pelfrey (1.20)
RHP Shawn Hill (1.20)
RHP Brandon Backe (0.25)
RHP Joey Devine (1.20)
RHP Jensen Lewis (1.20)
RHP Dustin Nippert (1.20)
RHP Tom Gordon (1.75)
RHP Nick Blackburn (1.20) #56
LHP Mike Gonzalez (1.18)
LHP J.C. Romero (1.20)
WOW... loaded with stars, and hey a few yongesters in the mix. The new owner will be a contender right away.
Furthermore, why hasn't chris dealt his current prospects, say like LHP David Price...
LET ME MAKE THIS CLEAR:
CAUSE NOBODY HAS OFFERED A FAIR DEAL FOR HIS PROSPECTS
With the exception of Eric.
Heck last I heard, Andrew offered such a crappy deal for Price; tried to undermine his true value. Really, why hasn't chris done what I have already; cause not many teams have good talent for those prospects and not many teams are able to trade; due to either salary, roster limit, horrible talent, contending right now, or can't be contacted (like Oakleyland or Black Mesa who has talent to aid anyone)...
Also, he isn't holding back prospects for a new owner. He is trying to win now. If a offer is placed to help him win now, he will do it to win now. Furthermore, he agrees that prospects are overvalued to many owners. If you have a change to win now for prospects, you do that to win now. Otherwise, you'll never win.
Second, I will do what I must to win now. If I have to get rid of dead weight, then so be it. I'm not holding anything back cause I'm in a win now mode and well thats what you do.
Third, Matt, get smarter. Joba is a prospect. He got his feet wet last year. This is his first full season... Morrow isn't anymore, but this is either is first full year or second... can't remember if he started last year with Seattle. I think he did, but yeah he isn't. Really the argument of our deal was Joba and Haren. You gave me 2 relievers for 1... Devine stat wise is dominating like Morrow, so they cancel out and both are young by the way... and Sherrill is one of few good lefites, so really 2 is better than 1.
Whoa now. I "offered a crappy deal for Price"? Are you kidding me? maybe it wouldn't have been a fair trade, but I DIDN'T MAKE THE OFFER!!! Chris made the offer. Get your facts straight, Ron.
WOW. So Ronald, when you argue, you must keep in mind your original argument. Ronald's thesis is that prospects are OVER-valued and that he should deal them for more than they are worth if offered such amount. The main piece of evidence is a situation involving David Price. Albeit Price's MINOR league numbers are impressive, he has yet to throw a major league pitch. No one made a fair offer for Price and were undermining his true value. So now we have learned that prospects are valuable (contrary to thesis) and since no one can match a fair deal for a guy who hasn't thrown a pitch in the majors, then why make the deal. HOrrible argument.
Ronald has the right to do what he wants and when he wants to do it. He wants to win. Great, he should. But be careful Ronald, prospects play a very valuable part in this league ala Jay Bruce and Joe Mauer before him. The year Mauer was a rookie, I seem to recall 30-40 homerun power in BARB despite no where even remotely close power in real life. Furthermore, Lexington would not have the talent it has without a deal to Brooklyn for unestablished talent (also known as prospects).
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