Jason Stark's Take on All The Deadline Deals

[SlumpBustR]

thought you would find this of interest

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=2956465

1.) a big *gulp.....oh sh!t* maybe on Gagne :blink:

and

2.) a big *ROFLMAO* on Morris to Pittsburgh for SteelerFan87 :icon_hang

[Mikiemo83]

thought you would find this of interest

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=2956465

1.) a big *gulp.....oh sh!t* maybe on Gagne :blink:

and

2.) a big *ROFLMAO* on Morris to Pittsburgh for SteelerFan87 :icon_hang
big market teams like the Pirates can take Morris' money on, the Sox settled for 1/2 cost that with Gagne

[ghostofdouggriffin]

big market teams like the Pirates can take Morris' money on, the Sox settled for 1/2 cost that with Gagne

Jason Stark is full of shit and a big time yankee knob polisher. He's basically the John Clayton of Major League Baseball. I'd take any negative comments he makes towards any Sox moves with a huge grain of Salt.

Gagne is fine.

[SamBam39]

Did someone piss in his cornflakes?

[EverettsTheoryOfEvolution]

FWIW, John Heyman of SI.com gives the move an "A" :D

[nomars_girl]

Getting a pitcher of Gagne's caliber is a no-brainer -- especially since we didn't really give up much. I think we sold high on Gabbard and Murphy was never really going to get PT in Boston. Don't know anything about the kid, but he's a kid. Can't worry about him.

Still wish we had picked up a bat though.

[Bases Loaded]

We still can trade for some offense - don't forget about the waiver deals.

[luso2kx]

Listen to one scout's assessment of Gagne, and see if he's everything you remember him being:

"His stuff isn't nearly what people think it is. He's got the experience, and he's got the aura, but the quality of his pitches right now is very ordinary. His changeup is elevated. The mistake velocity he used to have on his fastball, he no longer has. So he has to rely on that changeup, and it just doesn't have the stop and dive it used to have. For me, he's not a difference-maker. Mark Teixeira is a difference-maker. This guy -- not anymore."

Of course, in typical Stark clowntard fashion, he doesn't reveal who this "mystery scout" is.

John Clayton? Another article or 2 like this and he'll enter Borges territory.

[SamBam39]

Sox still talking to Bobby Kielty who was recently released by the A's!

[luso2kx]

Sox still talking to Bobby Kielty who was recently released by the A's!Kielty would be an offensive downgrade to anyone we have on our bench.

Now, Piazza did clear waivers...

[SamBam39]

Piazza would be an interesting pick up also. But the Sox are interested in getting someone to play CF. Kielty is mostly a corner outfielder, but has played some CF!

[southcarolina]

Now, Piazza did clear waivers...

Piazza is at this point in his career strictly a DH, and we have that position absolutely cornered.

[SteelerFan87]

2.) a big *ROFLMAO* on Morris to Pittsburgh for SteelerFan87 :icon_hang

Personally, I like the Morris trade, and this guy who wrote that article is a moron. First of all, I've heard numerous reports that the Mariners and Cardinals were trying to get Morris, but wouldn't take his whole contract. The Pirates would, and so we got him. Secondly, NO, Rajai Davis is NOT a promising prospect. He is a borderline major leaguer. He has the speed of a leadoff man, but he doesn't bunt, doesn't get on base enough, strikes out too much, and has had WAY too many baserunning blunders. Basically, he's a classic example of a Pirates center fielder. In the mold of a Tike Redman or a Chris Duffy, but without the occasional hot streak those guys would have sometimes. And not as good on defense.

So, the Pirates really didn't give up anything, and got a guy who fills a need we were unable to fill in the offseason when the Brewers outbid us for Jeff Suppan. As for Morris's horrible 2nd half with the Giants, I blame that on the circus that is the San Francisco Giants, and how unhappy he was. I mean, clearly he wanted out, and that could have affected how he pitched, in addition to the defense behind him being terrible. Did the Pirates overspend for Morris? Yes. But that's how much we would have had to pay anyway, if not more, for an established veteran pitcher on the free agent market.

Also, this showed a surprising willingness by the Pirates to spend money. The biggest complaint I've heard from the local media is that they're spending money stupidly. But from what I've seen of the Nuttings, there are 2 possibilities: A) they're cheap and don't care about winning. B) they care about winning and are willing to spend money but are just too stupid. I'm MUCH more happy with the latter option, because it leaves the possibility that with a new CEO who actually knows something about baseball, we could spend some money and improve the team. This Morris deal seems to suggest option B is the case, and if so, I love it.

Plus, in his first start, Morris pitched 6 solid innings and hit a home run. :)

[EverettsTheoryOfEvolution]

Oh man, he was second choice after Suppan? I'm sorry. :(

[SteelerFan87]

Oh man, he was second choice after Suppan? I'm sorry. :(

No, actually Tony Armas was the second choice after Suppan. :(

Morris is a dependable veteran pitcher. That's what the Pirates needed. Suppan would have filled that role wonderfully, but the Brewers spent WAY too much for him, based on the fact he pitched well for last year's WS champs. The Pirates are overspending for Morris, but not nearly as much as the Brewers overspent on Suppan. Morris will be a fine alternative to Suppan, I think. We don't need him to be an ace. Just a dependable 3rd or 4th starter.