Odds & Ends: Swisher, La Russa, Twins

swisher is a beast, i hope girrardi realises to start him instead of nady soon

kw thinks he won cause 3 is more then 2

"Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star did some number crunching and determined that forking over major cash for a free agent pitcher is often far too risky."

Outstanding. It is this type of groundbreaking research and insight that advances understanding of the game for everyone.

KW kind of had to trade Swisher. All 3 positions he could play were taken by superior players, and he was making too much to be a bench player. KW's hands were kind of tied with how much he could get for him because he had such an aweful year the previous year. If Betimit does anything it's better than Swisher did last year. If Maquez can be a serviceable pitcher, it's a win in my book. Swisher was a player without a position on the Sox.

When Swisher is whining due to hitting around the .220 mark by the end of the year and benched we will see who wins the trade. Making these crazy statements after a few good games and one week into the year are ridiculous. In my mind, we saved quite a bit on money on a baby.

It's amazing how often the media and fans keep rehashing this move. It is by far, one of if not the dumbest draft day blunders in the history of sports. But the horse isn't only beaten to death on this subject. The glue has dried and the third generation horse is ready to win the Derby. Where was the media on calling out Littlefield when he was drawing a paycheck from the Pirates? When he was drafting Van Benschoten as a pitcher when everyone declared him a power hitting outfielder. Or Bullington as the first pick of the draft and declaring him a solid 4th starter? Had the media murdered Littlefield earlier and often, maybe he wouldn't have got the chance to draft Moskos instead of Wieters.

That's the real story. Not that the bonehead made that pick, but that he lasted long enough to make that pick.

You needed McLouth winning to show how obsolete the award is? The gold glove has never been about the best defense at any particular position. It's all about the offense, always has been.

"When Swisher is whining due to hitting around the .220 mark by the end of the year and benched we will see who wins the trade. Making these crazy statements after a few good games and one week into the year are ridiculous. In my mind, we saved quite a bit on money on a baby."

Crazy statements after a few good games?

Before coming to Chicago, Swisher had just had consecutive seasons with OBP's over .370 and OPS+'s over 125, with 57 home runs in that two year span. And that was all done in a very poor hitting environment in Oakland. Everything on Swisher's track record indicates that he was a much better player than he had performed in Chicago, and Kenny Williams went right ahead and sold about as low on Swisher as he could.

"You needed McLouth winning to show how obsolete the award is? The gold glove has never been about the best defense at any particular position. It's all about the offense, always has been."

I wouldn't say that the award is about offense, but it's definitely moreso about reputation than actual performance.

It's never good when you award a Gold Glove to a guy that posted a -13.8 UZR.

Then again, Derek Jeter won it in 2005 despite posting a -14.3 UZR..

"Had the media murdered Littlefield earlier and often, maybe he wouldn't have got the chance to draft Moskos instead of Wieters.

That's the real story. Not that the bonehead made that pick, but that he lasted long enough to make that pick."

COMPLETELY agree with this. Littlefield being allowed to hold a job for that long is the only big story.

And, about the Yankees the only team who can afford to have a "bench player" making what Swisher makes. Swish makes 5.3MM in 2009.

Other "bench" type guys making more: Bobby Crosby (benched b/c the A's signed Orlando Cabrera), Geoff Jenkins (DFA'd but bench guy on Phillies), Julio Lugo (Lowrie will displace Lugo), etc.

I take that back about Swisher, his average is on its way back to Mendoza but he did pitch for the juggernaut Yankees. What does that say about them? What a great job they do over there.....LOL