Odds & Ends: McCourt, Manny, Duncan, Blue Jays

Honestly, the fact that McCourt's wife owns 50% of the team just seems like some BS to me.

If the Dodgers have to significantly cut payroll because of the divorce, Mrs. McCourt would be best using most of that money to hire bodyguards. Lord knows she'll need them

Didn't Ricardi also turn a Vernon Wells for Lincecum deal. What could have been for the Jays.

I really don't think Duncan will be available to any team other than the Cardinals, which is basically the only team LaRussa will go if he doesn't retire. If LaRussa returns, Duncan probably will. If LaRussa retires, I think Duncan will as well.

"Who is more of an incompetent GM, Steve Phillips for making the Wright-Cruz offer or J.P. Ricciardi for turning it down?"

Well the trade offer must have came in 2002 when Cruz was coming off of a his career year (2001) but was struggling to get things started (in 2002) and Wright wasn't exactly burning up the Sally League but he was still a 19 year old power hitting prospect drafted in round 1, so plenty of time to break out. So I'd say both were crazy but Phillips was worse.

Maybe now Phillips will stop mentioning that he discovered Wright every godd@mn time he's on TV. This guy is a real piece of work.. soo sick of this trashhole

it was Rios for Lincecum, and I'm not sure who it was that hung up.

If Manny is opting out, he is retiring. No one, not Boras, not the Lord, no one will get him 20 million this offseason.

if im correct Sabean was asking for another minor leaguer and jp hung up the phone , a not yet provend pitcher for a all star centerfielder at the tim

I really don't think Duncan will be available to any team other than the Cardinals, which is basically the only team LaRussa will go if he doesn't retire. If LaRussa returns, Duncan probably will. If LaRussa retires, I think Duncan will as well."

I dont think Duncan retires if LaRussa does. He'd consider, but he can make a good amount of money for as long as he wants to with about any team he wants. Not many teams wouldnt take him, if not as pitching coach, as some other coach

"Maybe now Phillips will stop mentioning that he discovered Wright every godd@mn time he's on TV."

I don't think Steve Phillips is going to be doing much TV in the near future, thank god.

Sabean said no to the Rios swap, get your facts straight.

start_wearing_purple and joe87 hit the nail on the head. I'm sure there are a million trades that 'could have' went through and didn't for good reason.
As I use as an example all the time, Pujols went in the 13th round, we can go on forever how every team passed on him for the first 12 rounds and what 'could have been'.

that is really funny... but i have to agree with everyone here... and say larussa leaves does anyone think that duncan might try to be the manager for the cards??? jw

Posted by: cubs4life | October 22, 2009 at 11:50 PM

Would be nice, but dont really see it happening. If Tony does retire, I think Duncan moves on to another franchise, he's not going to retire if Tony retires. I think Washington would be a smart place for Duncan to become apitching coach. Reason being they have John Lannan (who reminds me of a young Chris Carpenter on Toronto) and not to forget Strasburg will be there shortly most likely. Those two would be great projects for Duncan to work on. Seen Milwaukee go out and sign Rick Peterson to bring philosphy to the Brewers staff, could it work just as well in D.C.? Comments?

It's no wonder so many baseball fans have such nonsensical opinions when it only takes a couple of years for a sizable portion of them to totally screw up a relatively simple memory - and thus base their opinions on things that never actually happened.

To wit - The Jays offered Rios for Lincecum, the Giants took most of a week thinking about it and ultimately said no.

There were unsubstantiated claims by a Toronto sports writer (one notoriously hostile to JP) that the Jays could have closed the deal if they had added another player that the Giants wanted but no one has ever confirmed this to be true.

JP made enough ACTUAL mistakes, it's surprising people feel the need to rewrite history in order to find yet something else to bash him about.

As for the Wright deal, yeah, it sucks. but EVERY GM can tell you stories about the wrong choice they made on a potential trade or draft pick sometime in their past.

There's a story going around now that while working for the Marlins Anthopolous pleaded with the GM to take Prince Fielder instead of Clint Evert, for instance.

That stuff happens.

"Mike, posting KLaw's article about what could have been for the Jays was pretty unnecessary. It's not a real trade rumor, and all it does is reinforce bad memories for fans of certain teams (in this case, the Blue Jays)."

A lot is posted on this site that isn't simply a transaction rumor, a good chuck is opinion pieces. Take for example today: A Cubs writer wants them to get Duncan, the discussion on the Dodgers future, Ryan Howard made more money, etc. As much as we like to bash those writers they do get conversations and sometimes even civil arguments going.

Actually, the JP Ricardi post was interesting. In fact, I'd like to see a post by someone who compiles every current GM's worst deal that never was. In other words, deals like the forementioned Cruz-Wright deal, Rios-Lincecum deal, etc..
I think if someone could put that together, it would:
a) be interesting
b) show just how many times this happens in baseball
c) Probably would create the longest comment thread in MLBTR's history

Tim, make it happen please!?

Everybody Hates JP. It's so easy to do this stuff in hindsight and Keith Law sure is just perfect isn't he? He NEVER made a bad decisions or suggestion while working for JP. Now Law is writing for ESPN instead of working in baseball and JP just got another job with the Red Sox. Keith, if you're so good, why aren't you in an MLB office somewhere? I thought it was just an awful experience with JP and not baseball in general? There have been many, MANY GMs worse than JP since 2001.

"Wow Keith Law does not give a damn."

Evidently you're not too familiar with his work...