Ah, who can forget 1991? A little start-up network named Comedy Central was born, while the Warsaw Pact was officially dissolved. Youngsters Jeff Bagwell and Chuck Knoblauch, NL and AL Rookie of the Year, respectively, served notice that they'd be forces for years to come. And Cubs' shortstop Starlin Castro celebrated his first birthday.
Meanwhile, the hot stove produced some interesting moments as well. Let's think back to the time we furiously refreshed MLBTradeRumors.com using our 300 baud modems…
- The Toronto Blue Jays got a jump on the trading season on June 27th by dealing Glenallen Hill, Mark Whiten and Denis Boucher to the Cleveland Indians for Tom Candiotti and Turner Ward. Candiotti had been a hard-luck pitcher with Cleveland- his 2.24 ERA had produced a 7-6 record- but his trade to a contender didn't help, as his 2.98 ERA in Toronto produced a 6-7 record. Just another lesson in the perils of won-loss record. Meanwhile, Hill and Whiten went on to similar careers-both bounced around the major leagues, hitting home runs. And Boucher, a Montreal native, eventually made a triumphant homecoming, pitching to a 1.91 ERA for the 1993 Expos.
- On July 15th, the New York Mets, still in the race at 49-36, 4.5 games out of first, traded Ron Darling and Mike Thomas to the Expos for Tim Burke in an attempt to shore up their bullpen. Burke certainly did that, pitching 55.2 innings of 2.75 ERA baseball, but it didn't stop the Mets from a freefall that left them at 77-84 for the season. Darling, meanwhile, was a disaster in Montreal, posting a 7.41 ERA in three starts before being shipped just 16 days later to Oakland for Russell Cormier and Matt Grott. Back on American soil, Darling found his rhythm again, pitching to a 4.08 ERA over 75 innings for the Athletics.
- Oil Can Boyd fared only a bit better than Darling, post-trade, after being dealt from the Expos to the Rangers on July 21 for Joey Eischen, Jonathan Hurst and Travis Buckley. Boyd had a 3.52 ERA in 120.1 innings with Montreal, but collapsed to a 6.68 ERA in what turned out to be the final 62 innings of his major league career for Bobby Valentine's Rangers. Not that Boyd was finished pitching, of course- he had several more seasons in independent league baseball, including a 3.83 ERA stint in 110.1 innings for the 2005 Brockton Rox of the Can-Am League, at age 45.
- And in an indication of just how much the past 19 years has inflated the cost of deadline-deal closers, the Phillies traded Roger McDowell to the Dodgers for Mike Hartley and Braulio Castillo. Hartley was a veteran middle reliever, while Castillo was a fringe prospect at best. McDowell was just what the Dodgers needed, saving seven games and pitching to a 2.55 ERA in 42.1 innings. The Dodgers, however, finished one game behind Atlanta, meaning that a 93-69 season earned Los Angeles… nothing.
The Sox are potentially faceing needing A catcher, corner infielder and a DH this offseason, doubt they resign Beltre, Ortiz’s option is a gamble, and V-mart wants to catch but the sox think he’s best suited at 1B-DH. So Papelbons name’s going to be trade rumors soon. So here’s a few basic trades that make sense to me.
1. Papelbon For Kurt Suzuki. Sox rumored to like Suzuki and he’s entering Arb years, They have a high rated catching prospect waiting in the wing’s, oakland has a new closer every year, And Paps fits that Billy Bean trade and flip montra.
2.Miguel Montero, Sox had interest in him 2 years ago when he was a back up, arizona is close to selling mode with Upton probally being the only untouchable. they could expand the deal to include Reynolds or maybe even Drew to fill a 3B void.
3.Josh Hamilton, Should be a full time DH, could spot start OF, Texas won’t want to pay him, and the sox have plenty of arms that nolan ryan would like.
4.Mike Napoli, just sound like a fair trade, Angels have mathis and need a closer next year.
5.Mat Gamel or Casey McGehee, Brewers will trade one if they extend Prince
6.Prince Fielder or A-Gone, sox will have to throw in prospect, alot of prospects, doubt Padre’s will want to pay Paps 12 mil though.
1) Beane will say not a chance, he’s not giving up Suzuki. Besides the fact they don’t often give out large contracts and they have several other young cheap arms that can close.2) Possible, but I don’t see it happening. I’m betting for catcher it’s Martinez and Tek again or a stopgap while waiting on Exposito and maybe Ibarra for 2012.3) Yes the Sox farm has plenty of arms but most of them are deep works in progress and I doubt Kelly gets traded. That said I don’t see major sells in the Texas future.4) I’m pretty sure the Sox tried this route before and were soundly rejected.5) My bet is Prince gets traded but again I don’t see the Sox going all in on him.6) With the way the Pads have played, don’t bet on Gonzalez leaving soon. And if that trade involves Paps, it will have to be a 3way deal.
All trade would require more moveing parts then Paps, i agree some are long shots but it’s a short list of teams that plan to be in contention next year that need a closer.Any way the only one i think that has a legit shot is 2, 4 and maybe 5 depending on what the brewers would recieve in any fielder deal.
I think more of us remember Knoblauch for his suddenly hilarious inability to throw to first.
And I have to ask… how the hell does one get the nickname Oil Can???
how does one throw a Beardiversary?
Questions for the universe my friend.
Oh dear god… I’m actually going to ask the question. What is a beardiversary?
It’s only the MOST manly thing you can throw. It symbolizes you can chop wood with your bare hands, wrestle with a bear, and shoot a mean slapshot.
Can’t you just have a shot of whiskey and watch a sporting match?
“a shot of whiskey”? what’s manly about having 1 shot. ;)
“a shot of whiskey”? what’s manly about having 1 shot. ;)
Can’t you just have a shot of whiskey and watch a sporting match?
Boyd said an “oil can” was the term they used for cans of beer. So he was on the alcoholic track early.
How do you cuff a one-armed man ? :)
How do you cuff a one-armed man ? :)
McDowell yakked up 3 inherited plus one of his own on Oct 2 to lose the lead in the NL West, and the Dodgers never recovered. Thanks again Rog!
McDowell spit on me.
Hello Newman.
Hello Newman.
You mentioned the Mets trading for a pitcher in July but you forgot about those very same Mets trading the great Alejandro Pena (15 games: 2 wins & 11 saves) to Atlanta the very next month that pushed the Braves past Roger McDowell and the Dodgers
You mentioned the Mets trading for a pitcher in July but you forgot about those very same Mets trading the great Alejandro Pena (15 games: 2 wins & 11 saves) to Atlanta the very next month that pushed the Braves past Roger McDowell and the Dodgers
This was a long time ago as it is 2017 wow a lot happened since then