NFL Ticketing Scheme is Ugly
July 21, 2009While We’re Waiting… Wedge’s Record, Paging Matt Jones, and Comparing Rich-Rod/Cooper
July 22, 2009In part two, we examine the end move from contender to seller. John Hart goes for it all on his way out and leaves his replacement holding the bag. The changing of the guard at the GM spot would soon follow with Hart handing over the reins to his protege Mark Shapiro.
July 28, 2000 – Indians acquire RHP Bob Wickman, RHP Jason Bere, and RHP Steve Woodard from Milwaukee for 1B Richie Sexson, RHP Kane Davis, RHP Paul Rigdon, and IF Marco Scutaro – The 2000 Indians were busier than any other team at the deadline.
In the first of three deals, the closer spot was solidified with the acquisition of Bob Wickman. In 1999, Wicky saved 37 games for the Brewers and had 16 when the Tribe got him. Their current closer, Steve Karsay, was much better suited for the set-up role. The rest of the way, Wickman helped the Indians go on a late-season run, which saw them fall short of the playoffs by one game. They finished with 90 wins. Wickman saved 14.
Bere was exactly what we all thought he would be, a finished fifth starter at best and a salary dump, going 6-3 with a 6.66 ERA in 11 starts. Woodard will best be remembered for out-dueling Pedro Martinez in Fenway in a must win game during the last week of the season in a day/night doubleheader. Other than that, he did nothing. Neither player was on the team the following year.
As with many of the trades in the late-90’s, the Indians dealt a ready for the majors prospect to get the man they needed for the now. In this case, it was Sexson. The 6’6 first basemen went to Milwaukee and became an all-star. He hit 45 homers twice in three seasons before cashing in on a big deal. He spent less than a season in Arizona and struggled mightily before making a big time comeback in Seattle where he continued his power stroke.
In Cleveland, Sexson was stuck behind Jim Thome at first base and the organization was trying to rebuild and contend at the same time. Wickman was a mainstay in the bullpen for six seasons (missing the 2003 and half of ’04 with an injured shoulder). He saved 32 in 2002 on a rebuilding Tribe team and in ’05 he led the AL in saves with 45. Yes, his saves were sometimes a roller coaster ride, but Wickman was an all around solid acquisition.
Indians acquire IF Wil Cordero from Pittsburgh for OF Alex Ramirez and IF Enrique Wilson –That 2000 team had the look of going for broke. John Hart, clearly knowing this was his last hurrah (though we didn’t know it), threw all of his chips in. He re-acquired “Wifebeater Wil” after the Pirates gave him an at the time ridiculous three year, $9 million deal. Hart always loved Cordero’s bat. He stung fastballs and was a true line-drive hitter who would be a good mix to the bench, playing some left field, first base, and DH. He hit .264 with 17 RBI’s in 38 games. His stay in Cleveland last another year plus, with unspectacular numbers. Still to this day, I can’t believe Hart assumed that bad contract.
At the time, Alex Ramirez was a hot OF prospect and Enrique Wilson was one of the better utility men in the game. In the end, the trade did nothing for either team. Ramirez flamed out within a year and Wilson bounced around the league, never becoming an everyday player. However, he play in two World Series with the Yankees in 2001 and 2003.
Indians acquire 1B David Segui from Texas for OF Ricky Ledee –The last of Hart’s three big deadline deals was to snag the switch-hitting stick from the Rangers. David Segui could flat out rake. We now know he was on HGH (as he has admitted to), but you couldn’t deny that he was the perfect addition.
Segui came in carrying a .336 batting average and hit .332 with the Tribe in 57 games as a DH/1B. Combined he drove in 103 runs with 19 home runs. Segui would have been the perfect October hitter too. Unfortunately, his team failed to get to the postseason.
Interestingly, Segui played 150 games in 2000. After cashing in with a big money, four year contract with Baltimore in the winter, he never played more than 82 games in a season again.
As for Ricky Ledee, he bounced around as a fourth outfielder for the next seven years, never fully reaching the massive potential the Yankees p.r. machine had built for him.
July 31, 2001 – Indians acquire OF Milton Bradley from Montreal RHP Zach Day –This was truly the Indians last veteran laden team. Juan Gonzalez was on a one year deal playing right field. A 34 year old Kenny Lofton was on the last year of his deal in center field. One year wonder Marty Cordova was in left field. Essentially, the Indians desperately needed to groom a young prospect outfielder for 2002.
This is where Milton Bradley came in. The Expos, despite knowing of his immense talent, had enough of Milton’s attitude issues, and sent him to the Indians for Zach Day, a AAA pitcher acquired from the Yankees a year before. The 23 year old CF possessed five tools and a nasty temper, but it was a chance the Indians had to take. The system had been depleted of its OF depth in the past three years thanks to trades of Jeromy Burnitz, Brian Giles, and Ledee.
Milton’s stay last just two more years. Despite his talents, he and new manager Eric Wedge were like oil and water, and he was sent on the eve of the 2004 season to the Dodgers in exchange for Franklin Gutierrez after the infamous Spring Training “cab incident.”
July 19, 2002 – Indians Trade LHP Chuck Finley to St. Louis for IF Luis Garcia and a Player to be Named Later (OF Coco Crisp) – The Chuck Finley/Cleveland Indians 2000 marriage always seemed a tad odd. Here was a 37 year old guy who had been in California since 1985 with the Hollywood wife, heading to Cleveland for a contract too rich for the Indians blood.
While he won 16 games in his first season, the team didn’t make the playoffs. 2001 he was just 8-7 with a 5.54 ERA plus a DL stint. To make matter worse, he started two games in the ALDS loss to Seattle and lost them both, failing to make it out of the fifth inning in both starts. The fans clearly never warmed to him and his surly persona. With a 4-11 start in ’02, it was a no-brainer to deal him.
In return came a kid with a catchy name who became a fan-favorite and an everyday player for the next three seasons. Covelli “Coco” Crisp played a solid center and left field, while hitting leadoff and second from 2003-2005 He hit .297 in 04 and .300 in ’05 helping an improbable Indians team win 93 games. Coco was a hot commodity after his .300/16 HR/69 RBI/15 SB season, so naturally he was sent to Boston as a a part of the Andy Marte/Kelly Shoppach deal.
July 28, 2002 – Indians Trade RHP Paul Shuey to Los Angeles for RHP Ricardo Rodriguez, RHP Francisco Cruceta, and LHP Terry Mullholland – In the interest of full disclosure, I despised Paul Shuey when he was a member of the Tribe. The Indians took him as the #2 overall pick in the 1992 draft. My father and I always said there was two Paul Shuey’s; “Good” Shuey with a nasty splitter that was unhittable, and “Evil” Shuey who either couldn’t find the plate or left his splitter over the center of the plate to be launched into the seats (i.e. 1999 ALDS game five grand slam he gave up to Troy O’Leary – a ball that still hasn’t landed). His stuff was just tantalizing enough to get you excited, but always seemed to be a let down.
At the time of the trade, Shuey had a 2.82 ERA and was headed to a contender. Ricardo Rodriguez was supposed to be one of the top pitching prospects in the Dodger system. He had been compared to a young Pedro Martinez. The only similarity? They were both Dominicans who like to throw at people’s heads. “The Duke” spent essentially year with the Indians, showing very little control, before being sent to Texas for an outfielder named Ryan Ludwick. He was out of baseball by 2005.
July 30, 2002 – Indians Trade LHP Ricardo Rincon to Oakland for IF Marshall McDougall – Little Ricky came to Cleveland in a controversial deal during the winter of 1998. The Indians were in dire need of left-handed bullpen help. Rincon was one of the best in the business after two solid years in Pittsburgh (2.91 ERA in ’08). To get him, they sent their left-fielder Brian Giles. The deal turned out to be a huge mistake. Giles became an all-star, averaging 37 homers and 108 RBI’s between 99-02, while Rincon was still just a left-handed reliever.Ricky really struggled when pitching under pressure for the first time in his career. The Mexican league and Pittsburgh, this certainly was not. His over-four ERA and spotty control was not what the Indians were looking for when they gave up their young left fielder for him.
After three unspectacular seasons with the Wahoos, Little Ricky was sent packing to Oakland. McDougall, the prospect who came over, played in just 18 games major league games with Texas in 2005.
5 Comments
I remember that 2000 team so well. They were the hottest team in MLB and came up a game short. Just wasn’t meant to be. Woodard somehow beats Pedro in game one, but they couldn’t win the 2nd game which was winnable. Ironically, it was one year where the Yankees got in as division leaders with a worse record than the Indians who couldn’t get in as a wildcard.
I remember wanting to punch a kitten the day Giles was traded for Rincon.
Nine stories today…I DO have to work sometimes..
I clubbed a baby seal.
I think Little Ricky was in Triple A last year in New Orleans. Not sure where I saw him, but I was stunned. I miss Coco.