Thursday, August 02, 2007 |
Pickoff Moves
Bill Plaschke May Be Teachable
I saw Times blowhard Bill Plaschke and Jay Mariotti of the Chicago Sun-Times on some awful TV program, and thought to myself, why, it's a race to the bottom. These are, quite possibly, America's two worst sports columnists. Imagine my shock, then, to read this piece in which he recants his usual trade-'em-now-trade-'em-all "philosophy" that has eroded the Dodgers for eons. He rolls over and admits his incessant cries in the past were nothing but gas:Chances are, if you are desperate enough to trade top prospects for one big name, you are not good enough to win with him.Not that I'm changing my mind about the quality of Plaschke's work, mind you; that he could be wrong for so incredibly long points out his uselessness. It's more an example of the stopped clock or the blind squirrel, with the door left open for more....
Today's titles are not won by instant roster changes, they are won by slow organizational upheavals, restocking and reworking and resisting every impulse to scream.
For the first time in a decade, they are no longer the kind of team that needs to do calisthenics every July to be strong for many Octobers.
They have a nucleus. They have a surplus. They have a clue.
What they may not eventually have this season is a spot in the playoffs, but -- and I can't believe I'm writing this -- maybe that can wait.
Maybe they have to sacrifice a September for James Loney, Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier to learn how to play in the heat.
Maybe they have to lose a division for Jonathon Broxton to learn how to pitch under the glare.
Roster Notes
- Neither of Juan Rivera or Dallas McPherson are looking like they'll play with the team this year, Rivera more because his rehab is taking so long and he's running out of minor league season to play in.
- The Angels might end up opening in Japan next year. Lame.
- Sammy Sosa was given the option of an outright release but opted to stay with the Rangers in a reduced role.
- The Mariners have called up top prospect Adam Jones. Jones, a centerfielder with AAA Tacoma, was hitting .314/.382/.586 with 25 home runs in 420 AB. Jose Guillen must feel threatened by the move, because he said he's "pissed off". Welcome to the bigs, kid.
- The Diamondbacks are expected to call up one of their top prospects as well, Justin Upton.
Labels: angels, dodgers, injuries, mariners, times
Of course, his next original thought will be his first. Ultimately, I concluded that the reason he changed his tune is because he likes Ned Colletti. So, if Ned Coletti doesn't make a trade, then trades are bad. If Colletti makes a trade, then trades are good.
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