Trade Winds Blow Hot Air as Deadline Passes
by Tom Rathkamp
 ire sales and
small-market tales … Salary dumps and throw-in frumps … Desperate
teams taking desperate measures … Self-assured challengers hoping to be
pennant contenders ... Teams waving white flags serve as supply sergeants
to clubs waving pennant flags.
Ah yes, the 2000 Major League Baseball trading deadline has passed, and
everybody is evaluating the winners and lamenting the losers. Some think
this is an exciting time of year. They might be right. But to this modest
gent, the words that pop into my mind are: What a frightful sight!
This is the time of year when fans around the globe are subjected to
the following nauseating phrases:
"I want to play for a winner .."
"Is Team A committed to winning?"
"Which teams can afford the next big-named free agent?"
"Will Team B concede the season and deal some contracts?"
There was a time when teams made trades mainly to fill a need, not to
dump a player or wave the white flag. In this era of whopping free agency,
and players demanding to be traded only to contenders, we quickly
discover what’s really wrong with the sport that used to be called America’s
Pastime.
I know the background color of this page might appear purple, since I’m
tossing a bushel of sour grapes your way. But the actions of some teams
prior to the July 31st trading deadline furnish additional
proof with which to state my case. My mid-season trading deadline awards
serve as metaphors to my claims. You be the judge.
The Fire Sale (or White Flag) Award: Baltimore Orioles. They
traded half the team, it seems, by dealing away B.J. Surhoff, Charles
Johnson, Harold Baines, Will Clark, Mike Bordick and Mike Timlin. This was
the classic fire sale and an exaggerated prototype of what teams are
willing to do when they throw in the proverbial towel.
The Rich Get Richer Award: Curt Shilling to the DiamondBacks.
This one is the poster child for trades that could not - and would not –
happen if baseball had a salary cap. I sincerely hope the Giants overtake
them for the division crown. Don’t count your chickens D-Back fans.
Randy Johnson has never faired well in the post season.
The Desperation Award: Cleveland Indians. Do they really
believe that making all these moves will make up for a 10-game White Sox
lead in the AL Central? They got some decent pitching from the Brew Crew,
but they also dealt another young slugger in Richie Sexson (Remember
Jeromy Burnitz, Brian Giles and Sean Casey?).
The Replace My Injured Starters Award: A tie between the St.
Louis Cardinals and New York Mets. The Redbirds acquired firstbaseman
Will Clark as insurance for the injured Mark McGwire. The Mets coaxed the
Orioles out of shortstop Mike Bordick, who now fills in for the injured
(and overrated) Rey Ordonez. Neither of these moves will make much of a
difference come playoff time.
The Nice Try Award: Milwaukee Brewers. This is one small
market club that might have improved themselves by trading pitchers Bob
Wickman, Jason Bere, and Steve Woodard to the Tribe for the aforementioned
Sexson and a couple cups of coffee. Seriously, I think the Brewers did
well here. But what happens if Sexson blossoms as an everyday player and
holds out for big fat contract in the near future? I think we already know
the answer.
The Rent a Player Award: The jury is out until next season, but
the Bordick trade to New York and the Ashby trade to Atlanta are the early
winners. At age 36, Bordick certainly doesn’t figure into the Mets’
future. Ashby is a free agent, and the Braves won’t be willing to pay
the obnoxious sum that he might demand next season.
Well, there you have it. The trading deadline has come and gone and we
can go back to talking some serious baseball in the coming weeks. For the
most part, the teams that contended in the first half will comprise the
same list from which the division and wild-card challengers will be
plucked. Only the Shilling trade to Arizona might have a real impact on
the pennant races.
The only consolation to the trading circus is that one player rarely
makes that much difference for a baseball team. Sometimes, it has a
reverse effect, as in the Seattle Mariners losing Ken Griffey Jr. In case
you weren’t aware, the Mariners are first in the AL West.
You see? The trading deadline is Much Ado About Nothing after
all.
Sporting Briefs …
… The NBA free agent signing period has officially begun and appears
anti-climactic at best. We already knew who was to become the next
over-paid athlete a long time ago.
… Kudos to NL Pitcher of the Month for July, Milwaukee Brewers
right-hander Jeff D’Amico. Big Daddy compiled a perfect 5-0 record and
an impressive 0.76 ERA for the month. In 47-2/3 innings, he relinquished
just 30 hits while walking 12 and fanning 20. The Brewers might have a #1
starter after all.
… Dennis Miller has made his official "un-official" debut
in the Monday Night Football three-ring booth. I didn’t get the chance
to hear him this past Monday. I do wonder if Al Michaels is ever going to
acquire the sudden urge to work with another professional broadcaster
someday.
Any comments, criticisms, or condemnations on this sports column or
previous ones? Feel free to email me at andydan@milwpc.com
Any comments, criticisms, or condemnations on this sports column or
previous ones? Feel free to email me at andydan@milwpc.com
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