While We’re Waiting… The Sabathia Trade, a Korean Choo Jersey and Thoughts on 2010
Written By: Scott | Category: Best of the Web | Comments: 8While We’re Waiting serves as the early morning gathering of WFNY-esque information for your pleasurable viewing. Have something you think we should see and read about tomorrow? Send it to our tips email in the sidebar.
Analyzing the Sabathia trade, one year later: “LaPorta and Brantley were obviously the keys to the deal, from the Tribe’s perspective, and they both appear to have a high ceiling. On the day of the trade, GM Mark Shapiro said the Indians targeted outfield bats as the center piece of the deal. I remember him saying there was at least one offer on the table that centered on a pitcher. This got me thinking: Did the Indians seek out the right return for the reigning Cy Young winner? Knowing what we know now about this organization’s outlook (and what we knew then, especially given the injuries to Jake Westbrook and Adam Miller and the injuries and ineffectiveness of Fausto Carmona in the first half of ‘08), should the Tribe have been targeting pitching, not outfield bats?” [Anthony Castrovince/CastroTurf]
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A different angle on the Braylon/Stallworth details from yesterday: “I find the Red Bull purchase highly entertaining. As many readers of Cleveland Reboot have pointed out in the past weeks, Braylon’s 2008 history of dropped passes could be a direct result of getting the shakes from chugging a pre-game Five Hour Energy. For Browns fans who support this theory, it looks you are in for another long season. And for Braylon’s sake, let’s hope he isn’t about to lose an endorsement deal.” [Cleveland Reboot]
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Now this is something that it worthy of an investment: A Shin-Soo Choo WBC jersey! [eBay via '64 and Counting]
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A little diddy about selective belief: “You’re not allowed to ignore every report that has LeBron leaving Cleveland in 2010, then embrace the one story that confirms he will stay. And if you’re one of those people who is sure James is leaving after next season, well, you’re not allowed to ignore this story and embrace the others.” [Michael Curry/Cavs HQ]
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Are the Cavs following suit? “But if the Raptors miss with this concoction, not only will they miss out on Bosh, but they will have locked themselves into lengthy, pricey contracts with one player who’ll be swan-diving into his mid-thirties and another who hasn’t proven he can be a reliable big man. Still, while most teams are simply clearing room in the house for the expensive china cabinet they have their eye on for next summer, at least the Raptors seem to be aware of the dire circumstances surrounding what’s necessary to keep their superstar in house.” [Matt Moore/NBA FanHouse]


Can anyone tell me why the Indians would TRADE for a pitcher who’s career consists of 15 minor league seasons for 10 organizations? Does Mark Shapiro REALLY think he’s that much smarter than anyone else?
Who’s the next washed out bum that Shapiro will trade/sign for the bullpen?
Why the heck not just bring up Meloan rather than ship him out for a grade a sausage?
I love it how people talk about the Raptors losing Bosh like it would be the apocalypse for that franchise . . . because they’ve been so wildly successful with him as their centerpiece. I understand that it’s difficult to build a team when you’re letting 20-something all-star core players walk, but if at the same time, in order to keep said player, you have to blow out your cap with a bunch of guys who, collectively, have no shot of winning anything, how exactly is that advancing the goal of your franchise? Instead of locking your organization into a situation that provides no real hope of winning a title for the foreseeable future, wouldn’t it be better to trade Bosh for two or three nice young pieces that you could build around? Wouldn’t that be smarter than puting all of your eggs into one basket with Bosh, who, unlike Lebron, just isn’t good enough to carry a mediocre team deep into the playoffs?
To the Raptors, Bosh has more value as a trade chip than he does as a player. Their 33 wins last year exemplify that fact (as does the fact that they’re handing out idiot contracts just to give the appearance that they’re trying to challenge for something this year). Instead of just doing what everyone says they’re “supposed” to do, the Raptors should trade Bosh now and start building something that has a higher upside than a 50-win team.
Why the hell did the the dodgers trade him for Casey Blake … maybe they knew something we didn’t
(though when looking at Carlos Santana that looks really unlikely)
biff–if they trade bosh the seats will be EMPTY, and the fans will call for the GM’s head.
damned if you do, damned if you don’t.
I totally agree, Isis! Why hasn’t Shapiro been thrown under the bus for trading one of the hottest commodities this season (DeRosa was on pace for 50 HRs, 100 RBI) so a no-talent joke that is Chris Perez!
Oh, that’s right. The infamous “player to be named” will save the season.
Pa-thetic.
@Michael Curry, You’re not my real dad. You can’t tell me how to live my life.
Come on, all the stories about LeBron leaving are SPECULATION. Yes, we’re allowed to get excited when LeBron SAYS he’s staying and ignore the speculation. If LeBron said “Don’t come here if you’re expecting to play with me in 2010″ we would get excited (in a negative way) because it would be the first REAL tidbit that indicated he might leave.
It’s a pre-emptive move. The seats are going to be empty anyway when 1) Bosh walks away, or 2) He’s been the centerpiece of a first round punching bag for a decade. The only surefire way to attract fans is by winning. The losses you suffer in terms of attendance when rebuilding might be tough to swallow but you can more than make up for it by creating a title window of 5 or so years like smart teams have done in the past.
I maintain I like the cavs roster as is. Add a couple bit players to 1 year contracts..and keep you cap space for next year. If we screw oruselfs by offering a MLE thats too long to a partial player (aka Parker, even Ariza wopuld have fit this mold) I will not be happy. The cavs need to make sure they have the cap space for the unhappy bosh or wade.
As this roster is now I feel we can still win it. The NBA season is long. Boston woun’t make it the whole season with out injuries( They are all really old!), Orlando has gotten much worse with their trades. As for the Lakers…I’m calling it now Artest and Kobe have a blow up and then the Spurs beat them in the west finals.
Sure I want a shooter/wing defender, but I don’t think you need one ..you just need Mike Brown to learn to play a Zone D and go over screens. Oh and stop Double teaming guys who you don’t need to double team. Howards gonna get his no matter how many guys are on him..it was the others that killed us, and Mike Brown’s shoddy D was to blame. There was no reason to put West on Lewis..none…
I can’t forget that West is a GOOD shooter, how doesn’t take enough shots. perhaps he’ll get more opportunity and be the key this year. Along with Gibson seemign to get his touch back in th eplayoffs I think we are just fine…don’t kill the future for 1 year when you alreadsy have a great chance.