Four years ago today, the Pirates released Matt Morris after he allowed 31 runs in 22 1/3 innings across his first five starts of the season. Pittsburgh acquired Morris from the Giants in exchange for Rajai Davis and a player to be named later at the 2007 trade deadline, then ate $10M by releasing him. Two days after being released, Morris called it a career. Here's the latest from around the web…
- River Ave. Blues calls the Michael Pineda trade a disaster for 2012.
- Rising Apple thinks Mike Pelfrey may have thrown his last pitch for the Mets.
- The Brewers Bar comes up with some ways for the Brewers to replace Chris Narveson.
- Chicken Friars wonders if Jedd Gyorko's position change indicates an extension is coming for Chase Headley.
- Jays Journal wrote about a potential Kelly Johnson contract extension.
- Wahoo's on First analyzed the Indians' upcoming roster decision.
- Know Hitter explored Kurt Suzuki's trade value.
- Full Spectrum Baseball looked at Francisco Liriano as a trade candidate.
- The Todd Van Poppel Rookie Card Retirement Plan took a long look at Brian Fuentes.
- Southpaw Yakker wrote about the human element of Philip Humber's perfect game.
- NASORB wrote about the silver lining of Humber's perfecto.
- Camden Crazies says the Jason Hammel trade is working out well for the Orioles.
- Over The Monster wrote about Marlon Byrd's fresh start.
- Capitol Avenue Club explains what the Braves could learn from the Brewers.
- Warehouse Worthy examined the Orioles' bullpen improvement.
- Rays Colored Glasses wrote about the Rays and no-hitters.
- Call to the Pen wrote about the dangers of being a closer.
- The True Fan's Sports Blog listed some ways to fix the Angels.
- Twins Daily wrote about the Twins and college pitchers.
- MLB Reports unveiled their Tommy John Surgery Tracker.
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here’s suzuki’s trade value for you: lots defensive, just around none offensively
The whole Michael Pineda backlash is getting annoying. I live in New York (Mets fan, unfortunately), and all I’ve been hearing about and seeing on Facebook is how the Yankees should have kept Montero. I really don’t understand. It was a freak accident, and honestly he’s going to be fine. Not only is Montero over valued by Yankee fans (sure he can hit but let’s wait until he’s proven himself on a big league stage – which he hasn’t this year – before we call him the next greater) but he really has no place on the field. The Yankees also have Gary Sanchez, who is few years away but will be a better overall catcher.
The Yankees traded an over valued DH they had no need for to get a front of the rotation starter and potential ace, who is cheap and under team control for five more years (this is important because they are trying to cut payroll as everyone knows). I just do not see what there’s not to like about this trade. It’s unfortunate he got hurt but you can’t hate the trade simply because of that. If my team made a trade like this I would love it. Yankee fans continue to demonstrate to me how the majority of them know very little about baseball, are bandwagoners, and are spoiled by success. Of course that’s not all of them :P
In all fairness, the piece you’re presumably responding to labeled the Pineda trade a disaster for the 2012 season, albeit with some understandable concerns down the road regarding potential set-backs, velocity decline, and so on and so forth.
However, I do agree that too many fans are blowing this out of proportion, neglecting to display even a shred of patience and instead choosing to morph into Captain Hindsight and declare the trade a complete and utter bust, when such an assessment cannot possibly be accurately made until years down the road.
In regards to Pineda’s injury…
A labral tear is a far cry from a UCL tear. I underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn labrum a few years ago and was throwing off a mound with close to maximum velocity 4 months later. As I’m sure you can see in my picture, I wasn’t working with much going into physical therapy in regards to upper body/core strength. Pineda is exactly my height plus ~40 pounds of muscle (and to acknowledge all the spring training reports, 20 pounds of fat as well!). There’s no reason to think he won’t fully rebound.
Given the premium on pitching these days, I still believe the Yankees will emerge as the winners of this trade when it’s all said and done.
Also I have to wonder if the Mets’ history of injuries is in any way related to the training staff. Sure some teams just get the injury bug for a season every once in a while, but it seems like it happens to the Mets every.single.year. At some point you have to start pointing fingers.