August 7, 2000

Making the Grade

It's a rare occasion when a hyped-up event actually meets expectations, but I dare say the recent BDBL get-together was every bit as enjoyable as we all expected.  It was encouraging to see such a great turnout, and it was fun putting faces to names.  When you communicate with people over the internet you tend to get a little disconnected, so it was nice to make that human connection.  Thanks to all who attended - especially those who flew in from great distances.  And a special thanks to Phil Geisel.  Even though he put me in a seat that was just slightly more comfortable than sitting on the face of the sun (with a view of the field only slightly better), I appreciate the effort he put into this event, from buying the tickets to sending memos to cooking dogs and burgers for twelve people to providing his usual luxurious accommodations at the Hotel Geisel, complete with the usual Geisel limo service (and non-stop this time!)  The man is a one-stop travel agency.  The guy can't organize a ballclub, but he can sure organize a get-together.  I had my doubts, but Geisel actually pulled it all off without a hitch.  I know he doesn't read this page, so if you see him, tell him I said thanks.

Now that the big trading deadline has passed, I know that you all have been lying awake at night anxiously awaiting my opinion on the trades you made this year.  For those of you who have been in this league for a while, you know that whenever a topic such as this arises where my opinion may get me in trouble, I hand this column over to my friend Peter Gammons.  But after Gammons' latest ridiculous comments about big and small markets, we're no longer on speaking terms.  So instead, I've asked Peter's ESPN colleague, Buck Martinez, to pinch hit for him.  The only caveat is that he is not allowed to use the phrase "sure is."  It's a major challenge for him, but I think he's up to it.  I think you'll find his commentary just as insightful and entertaining as the man on the $20 bill - if not more so.   Remember: I am not responsible for any comments made my Mr. Martinez.  Any and all criticism should be directed toward Mr. Martinez and not me.  So without further ado, here now is Buck Martinez.

I sure am.  Thanks, Mike.  The passing of the trading deadline shut the door on the 2000 trading season.  So right now, I'm going to take a look at all the trades that have been made for each team since Opening Day.   Some teams have really helped themselves for this year's pennant race.  Others have added some key players for the future.  And then there's the Massillon Tigerstrikes.  In all, I handed out five grades in the "A" range, five "B's", five "C's", six "D's", one "F" and two "incompletes."  No matter what grade you received, though, you can rest comfortably knowing that you did a better job at the trading table this year than the Baltimore Orioles.

AKRON RYCHE

Gave: Harold Baines, Scott Sauerbeck, Dan Naulty, Damian Easley, Robin Ventura, Ugueth Urbina, Charles Nagy, Homer Bush, Chad Durbin and Livan Hernandez.
Got: Tomo Ohka, Justin Speier, Mark Quinn, Ryan Klesko, Adrian Beltre, Alex Escobar, Wil Guerrero, Latroy Hawkins, a #3 pick  and a #16 pick.
Analysis: For the second year in a row, the Akron Ryche find themselves hovering around the .500 mark.  And for the second year in a row, Akron GM DJ Sheppard has entered rebuilding mode by the end of the third chapter.  Last year, Sheppard was able to acquire two players for the future in Darin Erstad (who turned out to be a dud in 2000 and a stud in 2001) and Homer Bush (a stud in 2000, a dud in 2001.)  This year, with the Ryche a little further out of contention, Sheppard completely pulled the plug and put up the "For Sale" sign in the Ryche's front yard.  Like the Baltimore Orioles, Akron dealt four aging starters.  But unlike the Orioles, Akron actually got something valuable in return.  The key acquisition in this humble scribe's opinion is Ryan Klesko.  Klesko, who will earn just $4 million in 2001 (the final year of his contract), is - finally - having a career year at the plate (.318/.404/.598).  With Erstad and Quinn beside him, Akron will have a very formidable outfield next season.  Beltre still hasn't put it all together, but give the guy a break - he's just a baby for crying out loud!  By the time Beltre's contract ends (in 2002), he'll be well worth his $5 million salary.  Speier is a solid, cheap addition to the bullpen.  And Ohka, Escobar, Quinn and Beltre make this Akron team a whole lot younger.  If all goes as planned, Akron won't be in rebuilding mode at this time next year.
Final Grade: B+

BOARDWALK VULGARIANS

Gave: Chuck Knoblauch, Tony Clark, Darryl Kile and a #21 pick.
Got: Xavier Nady, Russ Johnson, Rico Brogna and Scott Erickson.
Analysis: With pitching at an all-time premium, the exchange of Kile (4.10 ERA at $3m in 2001) for Scott Erickson (7.87 ERA at $4m in 2001) may turn out to be the worst trade of the year.  One GM was quoted as saying, "Kile would be a $10 million pitcher easily if he were available in next season's draft...Erickson, you'd have to pay me $10 million just to take him."  If he ever signs, Nady (who was generally considered a top-five prospect in this year's amateur draft, but fell to the second round due to his representation) has the chance to become the best prospect on the Vulgarians roster.  "He's Troy Glaus all over again," said one renowned Ozzie League talent scout.  Tony Clark for Rico Brogna?  Well, it least it saved the Vulgarians some money if nothing else.
Grade: D-

BOISE BASTARDS

Gave: Tom Lampkin, John Vanderwal, John Johnstone, Rico Brogna and Travis Lee.
Got: Jay Buhner, A.J. Hinch, Lee Stevens, Odalis Perez, Billy Taylor, Darren Bragg and a #3 pick.
Analysis: It's been a tumultuous year for the Bastards - one of only two teams in the league to switch management mid-year.  Replacement owner Marc Welby made a big splash upon taking over the team, releasing several high-profile yet overpriced players.  He then acquired a premium power hitter, Buhner, in exchange for two backup bench players.  Just before the deadline, Welby made another, more controversial, deal when he traded Johnstone (who is suspended for the rest of this season) for a #3 pick that will be difficult to use next season.  Aside from those two deals, however, all was quiet on the Boise front.  Instead of cutting additional salary in preparation for next season, or acquiring young talent for departing veterans like Kirk Reuter or Jerry Spradlin, Welby stood pat.  "The problem," said one GM, "is all those high-priced salaries.  Even after cutting the guys they did, some of those guys are simply untradeable because they're tied down for so many years."
Grade: C+

BOWLING GREEN

Gave: John Smoltz and Chad Curtis.
Got: Mike Cameron, John Halama and a #11 pick.
Analysis: Ah yes, another controversial Stamford trade...but is there any other kind?  When Smoltz went down with a season-ending injury before the major league season began, speculation began immediately on where Smoltz would end up.  An all-star pitcher who guarantees a solid effort every time he takes the mound (something that can be said of only about five non-Stamford pitchers in the league), the suitors all came calling one by one.  But for several months, the response was the same: Smoltz was not for sale. Several offers were fielded, although not as many as anticipated due to Smoltz's hefty contract which is scheduled to pay him $6.5 million next season and a total of $34 million over the next four years.  Finally, after Bowling Green lost several key series in Chapter Four, falling more than 10 games behind the Cowtippers in the Benes Division, Spoilers GM Mark Ross reluctantly put Smoltz on the block.  Unfortunately (for everyone), by that time only one team could afford to pick up that much salary: the evil Stamford Zoots.  Stamford offered only Mike Cameron (.265/.360/.446) and John Halama (4.86 ERA, 138 H in 113 IP), and the Spoilers had no choice but to accept.  Said one GM: "Cameron and Halama are both below-average players in nearly every category, and they're making a combined $3.1 million next season.  If anything, the Spoilers did the Zoots a favor just by taking that salary off their hands - never mind adding an all-star pitcher to an already dominating staff the rest of this season."
Grade: C-

CHICAGO BLACK SOX

Gave: Kelvim Escobar, Donnie Sadler, Raul Mondesi, Doug Johns, Rick Ankiel and Eric Munson.
Got: Al Leiter, Manny Ramirez and a #6 pick.
Analysis: The Chicago Black Sox made their big deadline deal back in Chapter One when they acquired the powerful Ramirez.  By that time, the Chicago lineup already featured a powerhouse lineup thanks to several off-season acquisitions.  "It was unnecessary," said one Eck League GM.  "If you're going to trade a prospect like Ankiel, why not get a stud pitcher in return instead of adding to something that is already your team's strength?"  In Chapter Four, the Black Sox did add a pitcher (Leiter) in exchange for Escobar and Sadler.  Leiter, who managed to sandwich an off-season between two brilliant seasons, is just 3-2 in six starts so far for the Black Sox.  Meanwhile, two-time 1999 free agent Todd Ritchie (10-7, 3.98) has emerged as the ace of the Chicago staff.  Despite a lack of a rotation, the Black Sox have put together the best record in the BDBL so far.   "With an offense like that," said another GM, "who needs pitching?"  The big question, though, is whether the all-offense/no-pitching strategy holds up in a short playoff series.  Rest assured, we'll find out soon.
Grade: C

CLEVELAND ROCKS

Gave: Ryan Klesko, Adrian Beltre, Juan Guzman, Chris Carpenter, Antonio Alfonseca, Carlos Beltran and Jermaine Dye and a #16 pick.
Got: Robin Ventura, Ugueth Urbina, Charles Nagy, Armando Reynoso, Roger Clemens, David Weathers, Ben Grieve, Steve Finley and a #7 pick.
Analysis: Cleveland and Akron are separated by just four games in the Hrbek Division and just 37 miles on the map.  But they are two teams heading in opposite directions.  It's unusual, to say the least, to see a team that is 15 games out of first with two chapters to go make several trades to boost their club at the expense of the team's future.  But welcome to wild card mania!  The Rocks are just six games behind the Kings in the Eck League wild card race, which somewhat explains the method behind their madness.  But are the players they acquired enough to make up seven games in just two chapters?  At first glance, it's hard to see why Cleveland would give up Klesko (.297/.376/.532) for Ventura (.301/.379/.529), especially when Klesko is $2 million cheaper.  But when you consider Klesko only hits .102/.179/.163 against lefties, and Ventura hits .271/.351/.486, it starts to make more sense.  Frank Thomas now plays full-time, giving Cleveland an improved offensive attack.  Beltran and Dye for Grieve and Finley is pretty much a wash in terms of this year, although Grieve is only a platoon player at this point.  With Grieve, Finley and Ventura from the left hand side, and Thomas, Vladimir Guerrero and Ivan Rodriguez from the right, Cleveland now features a balanced attack.  And the addition of Urbina in the pen gives Cleveland a decent one-two punch (along with Bobby Howry.)  Again, is this enough to make up seven games in the standings in just two chapters?  I don't know, but it will sure be fun finding out.  
Grade: B

GILLETTE SWAMP RATS

Gave: Nothing.
Got: Nothing.
Analysis: John Bochicchio has made just one trade during his two year term as GM of the Gillette Swamp Rats: Mike Jackson for Johnny Damon.  That trade worked out pretty well for the Swamp Rats, but for some reason Bochicchio seems reluctant to step back up to the trading table.  One possible reason could be the fact that nearly every player signed to a contract this off-season was signed for at least two years.  As we've seen, players in their free agency year are more marketable than players under multi-year deals.  The only player on the Swamp Rats roster who signed a one-year deal was Greg Swindell, who probably could have fetched a decent player in trade this year as a good left-handed setup man.  Of the players picked up in this year's draft, none of them (John Burkett, Jason Grimsley, Chris Haney, ESPN analyst Mike MacFarlane, Mike Lansing, etc.) are all that marketable.  And on the farm, the two most marketable players the Swamp Rats own - Rafael Furcal and Adrian Hernandez - aren't going anywhere.  That leaves anonymous players like Ben Norris, Jake Westbrook, Luke Prokopec, Steve Rain, Brian Reith, Brandon Kolb and Tom Wilson.  Like the Litchfield Lightning, the Swamp Rats prefer to stay away from the trade table and let their drafting do the talking.  But unlike the Lightning, the Rats haven't been all that successful as of yet.
Grade: Incomplete

HUDSON HAMMERHEADS

Gave: Brian Anderson and Ron Villone.
Got: Jason Romano, Scott Sauerbeck and a #12 pick.
Analysis: Hudson GM Ken Kaminski was once known as "The Shark" for the voracious way he used to tear apart his team year after year.  In his younger days, Kaminski would stroll up and down the aisles of the A.M. Best Company with his front pocket crammed full of stats and only his dorsal fin visible above the cubicle walls.  Today, Kaminski is but a shell of that man.  He is no longer a "Shark."  He is a "Guppy."  After half a year in the BDBL last season and four chapters this season, Kaminski finally pulled the trigger on his first pair of trades.  Instead of the blockbuster deals we've grown accustomed to, Hammerheads fans will have to settle for the excitement generated by newcomers Romano and Sauerbeck.  Hudson talk shows buzzed about megawatt deals involving the likes of Sammy Sosa and Mike Mussina, but Kaminski - who was once so bold and spontaneous that he consummated trades while yelling out the window of his car on the highway - just couldn't pull the trigger.  Fortunately for Hudson fans, the interim owner of this franchise made several major deals during his brief stay, and those deals have kept this franchise afloat.  One looks at these two deals and wonders why Kaminski bothered at all.
Grade: D+

KANSAS LAW DOGS

Gave: Greg Maddux, Mike Stanton, Alex Escobar, Wil Guerrero, Latroy Hawkins, Rey Ordonez, Todd Walker, Bernard Gilkey, Manny Ramirez, Lee Stevens, Odalis Perez, Carl Pavano, Robbie Bell, Wayne Gomes, Scott Erickson, Ben Grieve, Steve Finley, Jason Schmidt and a #6 farm pick.
Got: Chuck Finley, Jose Rosado, Matt Mantei, Homer Bush, Chad Durbin, Livan Hernandez, Jose Hernandez, Tony Womack, Doug Johns, Rick Ankiel, Eric Munson, J.D. Drew, Roy Halladay, Braden Looper, Antonio Alfonseca, Tony Clark, Darryl Kile, Carlos Beltran, Jermaine Dye, Luis Gonzalez and Calvin Pickering.
Analysis: Wow, huh?  Hard to believe in this day and age of salary caps and restrictive contracts that any team could make this many deals.  You have to hand it to Kansas GM Chris Luhning for giving his maximum effort this season.  And that effort seems to have paid off.  "Luhning deserves serious consideration for 'GM of the Year' for what he has done this year," said one of Luhning's peers.   "He's made trades that have improved his team this year AND next year, AND cut payroll in the process.  That's not an easy feat."  The Law Dogs, who are seven games behind the Southern California Slyme in the Higuera Division race and four games behind the Queensboro Kings in the EL wild card race, pulled off a major coup by getting three high-quality arms for the Blazers in exchange for former Cy Young winner Maddux.  No other team has helped themselves as much on the mound as the Law Dogs - Stamford included.  It should be noted, however, that Mantei is ineligible to pitch the remainder of this season, and can only be used in the Division Series if the Law Dogs cough up a $500,000 fee.  In addition to helping his team this season, Luhning has also shed millions of dollars in salary while stockpiling good young talent for the future.   Ramirez was sacrificed for pitching phenom Rick Ankiel and (by way of Raul Mondesi) hitting phenom J.D. Drew.  "Ankiel and Drew are arguably two of the highest-ceiling prospects in all of baseball right now," said one GM.  "And Ankiel will still be making minimum wage next year.  Hell, four years from now he'll be a $10 million pitcher making only $3.1 million."  In addition, Kansas picked up hometown heroes Beltran and Dye - though they came at the cost of Grieve and Finley.   While the latter two will be far more valuable next season, the first two are making only $1.1 million combined and should be around much longer.  Early in the season, Kansas shed $23 million in unnecessary salary by dumping Ordonez, Walker and Gilkey.  They didn't get much in return (Jose Hernandez and Womack), but that trade allowed them the flexibility to make as many trades as they did.  But by far, the best deal made all year by Luhning (and perhaps anyone) was the acquisition of Kile (and Clark) for Brogna and Erickson.  When you're able to shed three runs off your ERA AND $2 million off your payroll all at once, you know you've made a great trade.
Grade: A+

KENTUCKY FOX

Gave: Mike Sweeney, Paul Konerko, Christian Guzman and a #16 pick.
Got: Chris Widger, Kent Bottenfield, Billy Koch, Sean Casey and Kevin Barker.
Analysis: In his first full season as a GM, twelve year old Bobby Sylvester has demonstrated that he can hang with the big boys.  His Kentucky Fox currently own the second-best record in the Eck League, thanks to moves made by Sylvester during the off-season.  Since Opening Day, Sylvester has tweaked the Fox roster, adding a quality reliever and more left-handed depth.  Some would say too much left-handed depth.  "When the Fox traded Konerko for Casey, that left them with just two pure right-handers in the lineup," said one GM.  "Now, with Sweeney gone, they're done to one: Joe Randa.  If I'm the opposition, I'm throwing lefties at them every chance I get."  Prior to the deadline, the Fox actually did make a deal for a good hitter against left-handed pitchers: Dmitri Young.  But the deal fell through when the deal put them over their 2001 salary cap.   Now the deal will have to wait until the off-season.  The biggest weakness of the Kentucky team this season has been finding reliable bullpen help beyond Doug Brocail and Mark Petkovsek.  The addition of Koch should help the team immensely - especially at playoff time.
Grade: B-

LITCHFIELD LIGHTNING

Gave: Armando Reynoso.
Got: Juan Guzman.
Analysis: For two and a half years, Litchfield Lightning fans begged their favorite team's management to do something - anything - to help out the team.  Finally, their prayers were answered in the form of Guzman - a solid #4 pitcher to add to a solid Lightning rotation.   But like the accounting error that cost the Lightning half of their roster in last year's Division Series, the Litchfield front office's apathy toward league rules and blindness toward their own roster ended up costing them once again.  Because the Guzman trade put them over the cap in 2001, and because team GM Phil Geisel was unable to make a trade within the 24 hour window granted by the Commissioner, the Lightning must now cut at least $1.8 million in salary through releasing contracted players.  That means that Jeremy Powell's ($1.1m next season) and Damian Jackson's (also $1.1m) days are most likely numbered unless Geisel can pull off a waiver deal.  "You see what happens when you make trades?," said one inside source in the Litchfield front office.   "That's the last trade we'll be making.  It's too hard keeping track of all this stuff.  All we want to do is play games."
Grade: D

LOS ALTOS UNDERTAKERS

Gave: Ramon Martinez, Aaron Myette, Mike Cuddyer, Brian Hunter, Kevin Barker, Tino Martinez, a #6 pick and a #18 pick.
Got: Alex Fernandez, Jeff Barry, Cliff Floyd, Paul Konerko, Christian Guzman, a #16 pick and a #28 pick.
Analysis: Last year, Los Altos GM Jeff Paulson added a solid starting pitcher (Ismael Valdes) and a slugging first baseman (Mo Vaughn), both of whom helped the Undertakers pull away from the pack and share the best record in the Ozzie League.  This season, Paulson added a solid starting pitcher (Fernandez) and a slugging first baseman (Konerko) and shares the best record in the Ozzie League.  Los Altos actually traded for two slugging first basemen this season, and have had three different slugging first basemen since the acquisition of Vaughn.  Konerko was swapped for Sean Casey, a free agent who was dealt in order to balance the Los Altos lineup.  But more important than acquiring a right-handed bat was the fact that Los Altos was able to shed $9 million over the next two years by trading Tino Martinez for Casey back in Chapter One.  "Martinez is rated as the least productive first baseman in baseball by nearly every rating system I've seen," said one of Paulson's fellow Ozzie League GM.  "Dumping that salary helped the Los Altos franchise more than any other trade they've made this year."  Fernandez, like Valdes the year before, may become the ace of the Los Altos staff.  And Floyd adds valuable left-handed depth to the bench, though he is severely limited during the regular season.  Of the players traded by Los Altos this year, none of them will be missed that much next season.  And only Cuddyer has an ever-so-slight chance of becoming a Bagwellian mistake.
Grade: A

MADISON FIGHTING MIMES

Gave: Jason Romano, Steve Parris and Kevin Millar.
Got: Brian Andersen, Jose Vidro and a #4 farm pick.
Analysis: When the Parris-for-Vidro trade was made early this season, before the big league season even began, many owners wondered why Madison GM Brian Hicks would sacrifice the team's third-best pitcher for another hitter - especially when they already had Jeff Kent at second base.  But that deal turned out to be one of the best deals made this season.  Vidro is having an Alfonzo-like career year at the major league level beyond anyone's expectations (.346/.388/.548), while Parris (5.41 ERA, 142 H in 123 IP) is having a forgetful season.  The Mimes don't seem to miss Parris in this year's rotation, as they are third in the OL in ERA.  And Vidro gives them yet another big bat in the middle of a mind-boggling 2001 lineup that includes Gary Sheffield (.342/.457/.685), Mark McGwire (.303/.483/.747), Kent (.327/.408/.608) and Brian Giles (.312/.418/.601).
Grade: A

MANCHESTER IRISH REBELS

Gave: Al Leiter.
Got: Kelvim Escobar and Donnie Sadler.
Analysis: The Irish Rebels are currently 21st out of 24 teams in the BDBL in runs scored.   So to remedy that, the Rebs traded their best pitcher and most marketable commodity for...another pitcher and a guy currently hitting .168 at Triple-A??  In all fairness, the suitors weren't exactly lining up double file at the door for Leiter, who is currently sporting a 3-2 record and 5.89 ERA for his new team.  But this trade leaves Manchester fans wondering whether they'll be stuck in the shadow of the state rival Cowtippers for yet another season.
Grade: D

MASSILLON TIGERSTRIKES

Gave: Jose Hernandez, Tony Womack, Roger Clemens and a #7 pick.
Got: Rey Ordonez, Todd Walker, Bernard Gilkey and Chris Carpenter.
Analysis: They say that the best trade you make is often the one you don't make.  If only the Massillon Tigerstrikes had followed that advice.  It's not as if they gave up a whole lot of talent.  Hernandez is a passable utility infielder, Womack has some value as a pinch runner and Clemens is a fine $10 million #4 starter.  But they would have been better off simply keeping those players than adding the players they did.   Ordonez, who hits about as well as your average pitcher (a twelve-year-old female pitcher, that is), was scheduled to make $2 million next season.  However, because that trade put the Tigerstrikes over the cap in 2001, Massillon was forced to cut him, sacrificing $1 million in 2001 salary cap in the process.  Walker, believe it or not, was given a four-year, $26 million contract before this season by the Kansas Law Dogs.  After a month of poor performance (and even poorer attitude), he was given a one-way ticket to Salt Lake City earlier this year.  He was later traded to Hitter's Heaven (a.k.a. Coors Field) and is now hitting .273/.308/.418 on the year.   Needless to say, it will be tough for him to earn his $6 million salary next year.  Gilkey has given the Tigerstrikes all of 37 quality at-bats this year, and becomes a free agent at the end of the year.  And Carpenter, who will be making $4 million next year and $9 million over the next two years, is sporting an ugly 6.02 ERA for the Tigerstrikes this year and an uglier 6.99 ERA for the Jays.  Said one GM: "It's trades like these that make you wonder whether the Gillette Swamp Rats have the right idea."
Grade: F

MINNEAPOLIS HAYMAKERS

Gave: Cliff Floyd, Steve Sparks, Armando Rios, a #28 pick and #2, #3 and #4 farm picks.
Got: Brian Hunter, Sean Runyan, Michael Tejera, Felipe Lopez, a #6 pick, a #18 pick and #2, #3 and #4 farm picks.
Analysis: The Haymakers traded two good left-handed pinch hitters, a bad knuckleballer and four draft picks and received four draft picks and four players who can best be defined as "throw-ins."  Of the four players received, only Lopez has a chance of being kept on Minneapolis' 45-man roster next season.  He's currently batting .245 at Double-A, with a .290 OBP, a .348 SLG and 35 errors in 97 games.  He's also struck out 86 times and has been caught 9 out of 20 times on the base paths.
Grade: D

NEW MILFORD BLAZERS

Gave: Chuck Finley, Jose Rosado, Matt Mantei, Alex Fernandez and Jeff Barry.
Got: Greg Maddux, Mike Stanton, Ramon Martinez, Aaron Myette and Mike Cuddyer.
Analysis: As with most things in life, timing is always of the essence.  The Blazers drafted two players in the first round last winter with the sole purpose of exchanging those two for players who will help this team finally escape from the BDBL cellar in 2001.   But by the time Blazers GM Billy "Baseball" Romaniello finally got around to trading Fernandez and Mantei, the market had run dry thanks in part to the high innings totals of the two.  "I didn't see Fernandez as an ace," said one GM.   "He's a decent #3 pitcher and is valuable more because he's not under contract than anything else about him.  But once those innings started piling up, he became less and less attractive."  As for Mantei, New Milford had already used up all of Mantei's innings - and then some - by the time he was dealt.  In exchange for three quality arms, the Blazers landed former #3 overall pick Maddux, who should provide this team with their first sure-thing ace since Randy Johnson.  And speaking of Johnson, the only thing the Blazers now have to show for the two-time Cy Young award winner is Darryl Ward, currently batting .237/.278/.490 in the Hitter's Haven of Enron Field.  Cuddyer has seemingly taken a step backward at Double-A this season, but he has the tools to become this team's third baseman of the decade.  Martinez, now sporting an ERA of 6.14, is unlikely to earn his $4 million salary next season.  Stanton would be an excellent addition to the team if only he weren't a free agent at year's end.  Myette could join Brad Penny, Ed Yarnall and C.C. Sabathia in the 2003 Blazers rotation.
Grade: C

PHOENIX PREDATORS

Gave: David Weathers, J.D. Drew, Roy Halladay, Braden Looper, Heath Murray and Sean Casey.
Got: Dustin Hermanson, Freddy Garcia,  Raul Mondesi, Robbie Bell, Wayne Gomes, Steve Cox and Tino Martinez.
Analysis: The Phoenix Predators have spent most of this season waffling between whether to contend this season or begin building for the future.  As I write, they are at .500, seven games behind the division leader and four games behind the wild card leader.   Early this season, Predators GM Scot Zook made an unusual swap of youth-for-youth with the division rival Kansas Law Dogs.  It's hard to tell who got the better of that deal at this point.  Pavano and Bell have posted solid numbers in injury-limited time as starters, while Looper and Alfonseca have also posted solid numbers in relief.   Gomes has clearly out-pitched Halladay, but is a free agent at year's end.   That leaves Drew and Mondesi.  Mondesi is having a typical year (low OBP, high SLG) while Drew is having an impressive sophomore campaign.  Clearly, Drew's future is brighter, and with a salary $2 million less than Mondesi, it seems as though Kansas has gotten the better of the deal so far.  But only time will tell.  Martinez, who was acquired in a panic move because Phoenix did not want to be without a first baseman next season, has been a disappointment at the big league level, but has excelled for the Predators this season.  But the biggest surprise has been Cox, who is hitting .286/.409/.468 in 154 at-bats in the big leagues this year.  The Salem Cowtippers sacrificed Cox to get innings-eater Murray.  "We just wanted an arm," explained Salem GM Mike Glander.  "We didn't care how bad he was.  We notified the entire league, and Phoenix - to their credit - were the only team that got back to us.  They basically gave up a disposable spare part and got a very good prospect in return."
Grade: B-

PLATTSBURGH CHAMPS

Gave: Mark Teixeira, Sean Runyan, Felipe Lopez and #2 and #4 farm picks.
Got: Wes Anderson, Steve Sparks and Alfonso Soriano.
Analysis: Content with their big league club, the Champs focused on the farm team at the trading table this year.  In a 180-degree turnaround in philosophy for the organization, the Champs dealt a hitter (Teixeira) for a pitcher (Anderson.)   Teixeira enjoyed a tremendous season as a college sophomore, while Anderson has battled injuries in high A-ball.  Both prospects are several years away from making an impact in the BDBL.  Lopez and Soriano are similar players in many ways.   Both are highly-touted, both are struggling with their plate discipline and fielding and both will most likely be playing a position other than shortstop by the time they reach the majors.  Unfortunately, the organizational paradigm shift came to a screeching halt after that first trade.  According to highly-placed inside sources, the Champs had an opportunity to trade a hitter (Bobby Abreu) for a pitcher (Darren Dreifort) earlier this season, but declined.  It appears the Champs will take their chances with the 2001 crop of free agent pitchers while keeping their devastating offense intact.  Since Runyan and Sparks are both non-factors, we'll call this year's trading season a wash for the Champs.
Grade: C

QUEENSBORO KINGS

Gave: Nothing.
Got: Nothing.
Analysis: Not only hasn't Queensboro GM Joe Brennan made one trade since Opening Day, he hasn't even made one MOVE since then.  Not one free agent pick-up, not one release, not one phone call to the dugout.  They say sometimes the best move you make is the one you don't make, but this is ridiculous.  Since taking over the club, Brennan has made just two trades.  He traded Corey Koskie to the Zoots for Dennis Cook (and as usual, the Zoots got the best of that deal) and Johnny Damon to the Gillette Swamp Rats for Mike Jackson.  Jackson has 23 saves for the Kings this season, but is sporting an ERA of 4.78.  Unlike the Swamp Rats, who also haven't make a trade since Opening Day, the Kings actually have some very marketable players.   Jackson and Cook are both free agents at the end of this season, and both could be valuable as setup men.  Dave Nilsson is signed through 2002, but since he's been sitting out this entire season to help Aussie win that all-important Olympic gold metal (as if anyone cares), he's eligible to be cut next season without penalty.  He would be an attractive addition to any team behind the plate (and in fact has earned at least one trade offer this season.)  Brad Radke is very reasonably priced, and could be moved easily at the right price.  Even Hideo Nomo has some value on the trade market.   But unlike Gillette, the Kings are in contention for a playoff spot - and are currently leading the EL wild card race.  Therefore, players like Radke, Jackson, Cook and Nilsson must be kept for this year's pennant drive (although Nilsson has already been suspended for the remainder of the season due to overuse.)  Still, it's not hard to imagine a swap where the Kings would get two good players for this year's race from some non-contending team in exchange for one good player.  Apparently, though, the Kings feel confident with what they've got.
Grade: Incomplete

SALEM COWTIPPERS

Gave: Jay Buhner, A.J. Hinch, Tomo Ohka, Mark Quinn, Wes Anderson, B.J. Garbe, Xavier Nady, Russ Johnson, Steve Cox, Alfonso Soriano, Michael Tejera and a #21 pick.
Got: Tom Lampkin, John Vanderwal, Harold Baines, Damian Easley, Mark Teixeira, Sean Lowe, Chuck Knoblauch, Heath Murray, Armando Rios, a #21 pick and a #2 and #4 farm pick.
Analysis: Coming into this season, the Salem Cowtippers had no idea which direction their team was heading.  The plan was to give the season a chapter or two, then decide whether to stick with the status quo or go for broke.  Going for broke meant trading hot commodities like Ellis Burks, Jeff Zimmerman and others who would have netted big time gains for the 2001 Cowtippers.  Instead, Salem got off to an 18-8 start and still sits atop the Benes Division standings to the surprise of all, including Salem management.   In order to fill some holes, Salem dealt away several good prospects, but managed to retain their best prospects for the future.  The most important acquisition for the 2000 team was Knoblauch, who instantly solidified a shaky lineup (despite his shaky defense.)  Knoblauch is batting .293/.382/.505 in the #2 spot in the Salem lineup so far this season - a vast improvement on Carlos Febles (.225/.311/.331.)  Rios, acquired prior to Chapter One, has provided tremendous pop (.358/.456/.569) off the bench.   Baines, Vanderwal and Lampkin add more left-handed pop to a lineup that was once vulnerable to good right-handed pitching.  Easley should provide more pop than Rey Sanchez (.254/.282/.323), though (like second base and left field) defense has been sacrificed for offense.  And the addition of Teixeira replaces some of the lost talent on the farm.  As usual, Salem didn't get any respect in a recent BDBL poll.  But, said one insider: "Salem hasn't made any blockbuster deals like they did last year with Salmon and Nen, but they've plugged a lot of important holes without sacrificing any of their top talent.  They've quietly improved their offense and have become stronger than ever in that regard."
Grade: A-

SOUTH CAROLINA SEA CATS

Gave: Dustin Hermanson, Freddy Garcia, Chris Widger, Kent Bottenfield, Billy Koch and Sean Lowe.   
Got: Carl Pavano, Mike Sweeney, B.J. Garbe and a #21 pick.
Analysis: The Sea Cats are competing with the New Milford Blazers for the first pick in the 2001 draft, and that comes as a surprise to many GM's and pundits.  Their pitching - fourth in the EL in ERA - has been fine.  It's the hitting that's been the problem.  Believe it or not, the Sea Cats offense (featuring Barry Larkin, Ray Lankford, Jim Edmonds, Henry Rodriguez and David Segui) is currently last in the entire BDBL in runs scored.  Which is why GM Tony DeCastro went out and got Sweeney in exchange for his fine young closer Koch.  Sweeney (.342/.409/.518 in MLB) should fit nicely into the 2001 Sea Cats lineup between Edmonds (.331/.441/.658) and Bobby Higginson (.290/.371/.559).  Pavano, despite his low innings totals, will likely become the ace of the 2001 staff.  Koch will be missed, but another closer can easily be found in the draft - especially with a pick as high as the Sea Cats.  Another Sea Cats hitter, Barry Larkin, was the subject of constant trade rumors this season.  DeCastro nearly pulled the trigger on the last offer received for Larkin (Darren Dreifort, Shannon Stewart, Mark Quinn, Dee Brown and Tomo Ohka for Larkin, Bruce Aven, Gil Heredia and a #2 pick), but could not be convinced to part with his sparkplug shortstop.  With the additions of Sweeney and Pavano, and the high draft pick in a star-laced draft, the Sea Cats are in good position to reach the .500 mark next season.
Grade: B

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SLYME

Gave: Justin Speier, Jose Vidro, Billy Taylor, Darren Bragg, Luis Gonzalez, Calvin Pickering, a #3 pick, #12 pick and #4 farm pick.
Got: Dan Naulty, Ron Villone, Steve Parris, Kevin Millar, Travis Lee, Jason Schmidt and John Frascatore.
Analysis: The reigning Eck League GM of the Year, Bob Sylvester, Sr., gave up a lot of pop at the plate to restore a pitching staff that lost all three of their key pitchers on last year's championship team: Cy Young Tom Glavine (traded), #1 pick David Wells (traded) and closer Tom Gordon (injured.)  Vidro - who should be the second-best offensive second baseman in the league next year (behind Mimes teammate Jeff Kent) - was sacrificed early in the year for Parris.  So far this season, Parris has given the Slyme a 1-6 record and a 4.61 ERA over 96 innings.  In exchange for Gonzalez, who was a unanimous Eck League all-star selection this year and may get some serious consideration for league MVP and/or the Babe Ruth award, the Slyme received Schmidt.  Schmidt is 8-7 on the year, with an ERA of 4.78 over 132 innings.  The Slyme are hoping that young Lee, who will earn $3 million next season in his first season under contract, will replace some of the firepower they lost by trading Vidro and Gonzalez.  But with the years Vidro (.341/.383/.544) and Gonzalez (.316/.404/.568) are having - at a combined salary of $5.1 million - that will be a tough act to follow.
Grade: D

STAMFORD ZOOTS

Gave: Mike Cameron, John Halama, a #3 pick and a #11 pick.
Got: John Smoltz, Chad Curtis and John Johnstone.
Analysis: Paul Marazita has done it again.  The reigning Ozzie League GM of the Year has once again added an all-star pitcher at the cost of next-to-nothing, and fellow GM's are fuming over it.  "It's just not fair," whined one GM.  "I work my ass off all year to make my team a contender.  I sacrifice the future of my franchise only to see Marazita step in at the last minute and totally blow everyone out of the water.  And he does it without sacrificing anything for the future."  Cameron's (.262/.357/.442, 11 SB, 7 CS) biggest asset is his glove, which makes him a $7 million Gary Pettis over the next two years.  Halama's biggest asset is his salary ($100,000), but he's hardly a stud pitcher (4.86 ERA, 138 H in 113 IP, 62/42 K/BB ratio.)  The Zoots can't possibly draft two $5 million players next year, so the #3 pick they "sacrificed" is worthless to them.  Of all the things they parted with at the trading table this season, the only thing that may hurt them slightly is the #11 pick.  But how many players remaining at that point in the draft (especially in the Zoots' draft slot) will be worthy of a $2 million pick?  You have to hand it to Marazita for finding a way to improve his team so drastically each season while giving up none of his team's assets.  You also have to give him credit for having the foresight to leave some wiggle room in his 2001 salary cap - something almost no other team did.  And finally, you must give Marazita credit for freeing up $3.1 million in salary next season from two players who will not earn their pay.  This now makes two years in a row that Marazita has acquired an ace pitcher who will likely lead him to his second championship title.  Said one GM: "I wonder when people will finally get tired of it and stop handing it to him every year."   Looks like we'll all have to wait another year.
Grade: A+