Roy Halladay & Matt Morris swap leagues 06-10-03 10:19 PM Shark Marlboro ships Roy Halladay, Mark Redman and Dan Plesac to Nashville for Matt Morris & Javier Vazquez. 06-10-03 10:45 PM Shark Marlboro took another step today to add more depth to its starting staff in acquiring Matt Morris & Javier Vazquez. In giving up our ace Roy Halladay and taking a chance on Nashville's ace Matt Morris we are taking a small gamble. Overall Halladay had an OPS of .630 while Morris wasn't too far behind at .687. Obvioulsy Halladay is the better starter and has proven it so far in this BDBL season, but in Morris we get a legit #1 starter for 2 more years after this one at a very good price while Halladay is a free agent after next season. The gamble will be well worth it if he can perform up to his stats in Marlboro for the rest of this season. An added plus is based on ther MLB performance so far, Morris will be even better next season, while Halladay has taken a little step back. We were also able to acquire a solid #3 starter in Javier Vazquez who will slide into our rotation between #2 Kevin Appier and #4 Andy Ashby. We gave up Mark Redman, who is off to a very good MLB season, and lefty specialist Dan Plesac but feel it was worth it to acquire Morris for 2 more seasons after this one and also acquire a solid #3 starter for our playoff push. 06-10-03 10:48 PM Shark Nashville Overhauls Pitching Staff. As the All-Star Break moves closer, the Funkadelic made 2 big deals, giving their pitching staff a completely different look heading into the second half. Nashville sent Buddy Groom to Kansas for outfielder Reggie Taylor and pitcher Joe Nathan. Then, in the big one, the Funk Mob sent starting pitchers Matt Morris and Javier Vazquez to Marlboro for pitchers Roy Halladay, Mark Redman, and Dan Plesac. Groom had pitched brilliantly for Nashville this season, with a 2-0 record, 12 holds and 1 save, compiling a 0.28 ERA in over 32 innings. “He’s simply one of the best setup men in the league”, commented Funk Pitching Coach Mike Marshall, “I hate to lose Buddy. About the only fault I could find with his effort this season is that he can’t throw 2 or 3 innings every day”. Groom, 37 was finishing a 1 year contract, and was not likely to return to Nashville in 2004. In return, Kansas sent Reggie Taylor, a 26-year-old center-fielder, and Joe Nathan, a 28- year-old rh reliever. Taylor (.169-2-8) has seen limited action with Stamford and Kansas this year, and Nathan has spent the entire season in the minors. In the major announcement of the day, the Funk sent 2 of their top 3 starting pitchers packing. Matt Morris (4-8, 6.56) has been a major disappointment this season, with batters hitting a robust .321 against him. He also struggled in 2002, going 13-14 (4.96) on a team that won 100 games. Vazquez (7-9, 4.40) was hot and cold this year, after a strong showing in 2002 (12-2, 3.01) after Nashville (then New York) acquired him from Kentucky. Vazquez was a combined 19-6 (3.32) in 2002, with New York, Kentucky and Marlboro. Vazquez is in the final season of a 3-year deal, while Morris is in year 2 of a 4-year contract. In Halladay, just 26, Nashville replaces Morris with legitimate ace (10-2, 2.06), 2nd in the Ozzie League in wins and 3rd in ERA. Halladay is signed through 2004. Left-handed starter Redman (1-3, 6.99) is expected to step into the #3 spot in the rotation, and is signed through 2005. Plesac will attempt to replace Groom’s innings. The 41-year-old veteran is 2-0 (1.42) with 3 holds in 13 games. 06-11-03 09:28 AM BDBLcommish I'm having a hard time reconciling all these Nashville trades. Does this mean Nashville is giving up? Even though they're three games behind a very mediocre Wapakonetakakaka team? If not, why swap two aces for one? And why trade a decent reliever for players that can't help until next year? I just don't get it. But hey - thanks for helping out Sharky, Steve. 06-11-03 09:51 AM Undertakers The transaction info at the top of this page has been updated through this trade. 06-11-03 10:27 AM BDBLcommish Okay, so Plesac replaces Groom? I'd rather have Groom. And Halladay and Redman replace Morris and Vazquez? I'd rather have Morris and Vazquez. Seriously - am I missing something here? Have the Funk closed up the shop? 06-11-03 10:40 AM novamustangs Well I'm going to guess that Steve potentially is looking at BDBL stats from this year as both Morris and Vazquez have been disappointing. Halladay has done very well this year while Redman hasn't been too good, so maybe that has something to do with it? 06-11-03 11:04 AM fmimes All I can say about Sharky is that after he and I end our negotiations, people will refer to Marlboro as "The Ridgebacks of the Ozzie League." 06-11-03 11:06 AM BDBLcommish Well, then my question is: if Morris and Vazquez can't be successful in the Funk's home park (Cinergy, which is a haven for homer and doubles hitters), what makes anyone think that Halladay (or especially Redman) will be successful there? Even if this trade were made with the future in mind, I'm still not sure how it helps the Funk. Morris is signed through 2005, while Halladay's only signed through 2004. And Nashville loses the first tie-breaker on Vazquez now as well. Looking at next year alone, the two seem to be pretty even: Morris: 103 IP, 92 H, 11 HR, 22 BB, 79 K, 3.06 ERA Halladay: 98 IP, 107 H, 15 HR, 16 BB, 76 K, 4.13 ERA Halladay's given up a lot of longballs, so if anything, I might take Morris over Halladay just for that reason alone. This one's a real head-scratcher. Sharky's got my vote for GM of the Year - even after that Sosa/Clement deal! 06-11-03 11:08 AM BDBLcommish "All I can say about Sharky is that after he and I end our negotiations, people will refer to Marlboro as "The Ridgebacks of the Ozzie League."" Whatever he's paying you, I'll pay double. 06-11-03 11:15 AM BDBLcommish Brian, I just e-mailed you. Let the bidding war for A.J. Burnett begin!! 06-11-03 11:24 AM STMZoots Brian is tanking? Say it ain't so... 06-11-03 11:43 AM Undertakers I seriously doubt that Brian is making any trades. I'm sure he is kidding. If Brian was serious, he'd probably contact me...since he likes me more... 06-11-03 11:52 AM STMZoots You are probably right Jeff. Not like Glander to invite a bidding war. Plus, Brian would be kind of foolish to not CREATE a bidding war by posting this information on the board...and Brian isn't foolish, right Brian? 06-11-03 12:09 PM fmimes No comment on all of the above. 06-11-03 12:14 PM STMZoots Would it be fair to call the Marlboro/Salem arms race the "Battle of the Waffle Kings?" I'm in, I'm out. I'm in, I'm out. Keep it up boys. At the very least, is IS amusing. 06-11-03 12:18 PM Undertakers What I don't understand is Mike backs out of the race because he didn't feel like he could win it all this year, so it wasn't worth it. He trades players away, Allentown gets better...and now he trades to get back in the race. Does he all of a sudden feel like he can win it all now? 06-11-03 12:29 PM STMZoots That's an excellent question Jeff. If the season "is over" because of the Allentown trade, why is Mike back in race? Here are some possibilities: - Desire to deny the Hammerheads the division title. I think Mike might have felt that Ken was getting a little "big for his britches." What better way to shrink those britches than to knock him out of the playoffs. - Mike tanked out of sheer emotion when his team got off to a rough, though hardly insurmountable, start this year. Upon reflection, he realized this error of judgment. - Mike realizes, quite correctly I might add, that there is no dominant team in the Ozzie League. and, my personal favorite... - Mike's ego could not take falling behind me so significantly in career wins. Its scary in here (inside Mike's head that is)...I have to get out now. 06-11-03 12:29 PM BDBLcommish First, Brian is definitely talking about trading Burnett to the Dickheads, er, I mean, Hammerheads. Sharky confirmed that for me yesterday. As for "Wafflegate", I plead guilty, Your Honor. I thought I had no prayer of competing this year after my horrendous start. Then, Sharky traded away his entire team at the same time that I happened to close to within four games (now it's back to five), and I began to see a glimmer of hope. Now, Steve just graciously handed two aces to Sharky for reasons that defy all logic. Now, Sharky's apparently on the verge of adding a third ace, despite the fact that he has NOTHING OF VALUE TO TRADE. So, once again, I'm left sitting on the fence, wondering whether to go for it or call it quits. Don't get me wrong - I'm not going to trade away the farm (so to speak) just to compete this year - especially when Allentown is more unbeatable this year than they were last year. But if I can trade from depth, not hurt myself too much in the future, and get back some players that can help me knock Sharky down a peg or two, I think that would make the last three chapters of this season a helluva lot more fun. 06-11-03 12:35 PM Ridgebacks I still think Akron is the team to beat in the Eck league. Especially after being on the receiving end of "Glander's Folly" (my official name for Mike giving up so early in the 2003 season). 06-11-03 12:40 PM STMZoots See Jeff. Ask and you shall receive. 06-11-03 12:41 PM BDBLcommish "Glander's Folly?" I'd gladly make that trade 100 times over. Harden, Lidge, Broussard and Lee for Bernie and Woody. Hell, I'd make that trade right now, even if I were five games ahead instead of behind! And, by the way, Akron is NOT "the team to beat." They have a very, very good team. Good enough to win the BDBL championshiop in most years. But they're not the Barry/Manny/Randy/Roy/Curt Ridgebacks of '03. Gimme a break. 06-11-03 12:42 PM BDBLcommish Is it just me, or does it seem as though Jeff and Paul are getting a little nervous about the 'Tippers? Hmm... 06-11-03 12:45 PM trcdoc6 I would have thought that the prospect of getting Cy Young Halladay in another league would have been great news! Groom was certainly dealt for 2004, no doubt. I think my bullpen can handle the loss. 2 aces? I don't know about that. Morris has been less than stellar for us for 2 years. It's time for a change. Vazquez, I see him as a solid 2 or 3 man. Halladay is at least an even exchange for Morris, and I gamble that I have improved my #1 starter. Yeah, I lose 1 year of service. Redman - added to a rotation that needs a lefty and I pick up 2 years of service. This is a kid I have been high on for a while, and I like what he's doing this season. Tie-breaker on Vazquez? I would rather have Redman locked in for 2004. I believe we make these deals and improve our 2nd half record. 06-11-03 12:49 PM Mike S./Rocks So, with Barry Bonds, Larry Walker, and Manny Ramirez all rated to play either LF or RF, where does one of them play??????? 06-11-03 12:54 PM BDBLcommish Does it matter?? The way those guys can hit, who needs defense?? Hell, Allentown had Brad Wilkerson in center before. It's tough to be poorer than Pr! As for Halladay, if Morris couldn't succeed in Nashville, what makes you think Halladay can? 06-11-03 12:55 PM STMZoots "It's tough to be poorer than Pr!" But we can HOPE, can't we? 06-11-03 01:05 PM trcdoc6 "As for Halladay, if Morris couldn't succeed in Nashville, what makes you think Halladay can?" Well, what makes one think he won't? If his numbers are equally worse, so what? I don't think I risk much for this season at all, I can only win. Morris may just have, as we used to say in Strat, a bad card. 06-11-03 01:07 PM fmimes "First, Brian is definitely talking about trading Burnett to the Dickheads, er, I mean, Hammerheads. Sharky confirmed that for me yesterday." Ooofdah, that's harsh.....after all, it's all about entertainment value. I hope he didn't tell you about the "dreaded rear admiral" incident. I started a new job this week so I don't have my usual time to stay abreast of message board activities and other sundry stretch run BDBL activities, hopefully that will change soon. 06-11-03 01:08 PM R˙che "Morris may just have, as we used to say in Strat, a bad card." Sort of like Tim Hudson! 06-11-03 01:10 PM BDBLcommish ...and Barry Zito! 06-11-03 01:16 PM Mike S./Rocks And Chris Truby! Oh wait ... 06-11-03 01:22 PM STMZoots Tim Hudson is a gentleman and a scholar! 06-11-03 01:28 PM STMZoots P.S. Hudson is doing great for Kansas in the UNfriendly confines of Coors. In fact, he is doing MUCH better than he did for me in the ultra-friendly confines of Oakland. 38.0 32 4 22 w/ 3.32 era. Just makes you go, hmmmmmm? If he pitched that well for me, he'd still be a Zoot. Can guys made up of computer bits/bytes really need a "change of scenery?" Perhaps yes. 06-11-03 01:32 PM BDBLcommish And David Wells is 5-3 with a 2.56 ERA for the Sphinx (70 IP, 66 H, 19 BB, 53 K). For the most part, with very rare exception, BDBL players eventually perform as expected, given enough time. Of course, I'm still waiting for Kearns and Ventura... 06-11-03 01:35 PM BDBLcommish By the way, this is the first I've heard of the Buddy Groom deal. I'll need confirmation from both sides before I can make that trade official. 06-11-03 01:52 PM Undertakers I can't speak for Paul, but I'm not afraid of the Cowtippers...even after these deals. Of course, I'm not afraid of anyone this year since I KNOW my team isn't going anywhere in the playoffs this year. When your offensive weapon is the stolen base, you know you are in trouble. I'm just happy to be winning my division! It's always my goal. I really thought this would be the year of the Blazers. 06-11-03 01:55 PM STMZoots I worry about everyone, all the time. I am paranoid. I drink too much coffee. I am not terribly trusting of others. I argue with Glander a lot. Is any of this really news??? 06-11-03 01:58 PM trcdoc6 The Groom deal was reported along with the other. I covered both in the press I sent you last night, and I see the same thing posted in this thread. Or at least I intended to ... it should be there. Kansas said they would confirm with you as well. 06-11-03 02:14 PM BDBLcommish Okay - you're right. I just checked, and Groom was mentioned in the press release you sent me. I still haven't received confirmation from Kansas, though. Chris - make sure you send me that before the deadline tomorrow. 06-11-03 02:41 PM LawDogs Kansas sends Joe Nathan and Reggie Taylor to Nashville for Buddy Groom. Kansas, GM Chris Luhning said, "We are very excited to add Buddy to our pen. He's a strong lefty, which we desperately needed. We wish Joe and Reggie much luck in Nashville." With the recent additions of Sammy Sosa, Steve Finley, Matt Clement and now Buddy Groom, Kansas looks like they are trying to close the gap between Allentown and Akron. In a short series Kansas hopes their big three of Hudson, Ortiz and Clement can compete with the the "A Teams" big boys. Can the foursome of Tejada, Sosa, Burrell and Kent out hit Bonds, Ramirez and Walker I'm not sure, but I do think we have the advantage over Williams, Ordonez and Rolen. The Law Dogs hope they can make it into the playoffs and knock off the two Goliath's. The only other thing that would top that, would be to win a rematch with the ultimate BDBL franchise, Stamford Zoots, in the 2003 BDBL World Series. 06-11-03 03:10 PM STMZoots Your flattery will get you nowhere Chris.