A little over the quarter mark of the season, let’s take a look at how general managers used the offseason to improve their teams’ outlook:
No one in their right mind decides that 40 games into a season is the right time for job performance reviews. No one would judge the offseason, a time when multi-year deals are handed out and trades of prospects are made, in 40 days.
Right?
Right…
Oh, then there is Nick Cafardo.
Thumbs up
1. Indians— A terrific all-around job by Chris Antonetti, who not only identified the right manager — Terry Francona — but brought in free agents Mark Reynolds, Jason Giambi, Michael Bourn, Nick Swisher, and Rich Hill, and traded for Yan Gomes and Mike Aviles. Didn’t hit on Brett Myers. Result: around the top of the AL Central.
We knew the Indians had done a good job before the season, and how hard is it to recognize that Francona is a good manager?
2. Yankees — Nobody got more bang for his buck than Brian Cashman. He brought in Lyle Overbay to replace the injuredMark Teixeira, signed Kevin Youkilis to a one-year, $12 million deal, traded for Vernon Wells, using $7 million of the insurance money the team received when Teixeira got hurt at the World Baseball Classic, and signed Travis Hafner to a one-year, $5 million deal. Result: first place in the AL East.
MVP! MVP! MV… I just can’t…
Pic credit LoftonBaseball via flickr
Will they not die?
3. Red Sox — Ben Cherington scores high grades on character improvement and good performances so far from Mike Napoli, who may be hit or miss. But Napoli has hit more than missed with a major league-high 18 doubles and 34 RBIs. Shane Victorino, a back injury notwithstanding, has done a good job defensively, offensively, and on the basepaths. David Ross has stabilized the catcher defense. Shortstop Stephen Drewhas come on after a slow start with big hits. Ryan Dempster has had mostly good outings as Boston’s third starter. Reliever Koji Uehara has been excellent. Mike Carp, acquired from Seattle, had a nice run. The team hasn’t quite hit yet on Jonny Gomes, and the Joel Hanrahan deal yielded nothing. Result: near the top of the AL East.
I remember a lot of crap being talked about Cherington during the offseason. Seems like some junk was talked about not signing Josh Hamilton. Do I remember that correctly? Seems a reasoned long term approach with short, yet expensive veteran stop gaps with Sabrmetric type skills makes some sense.
4. Braves — After losing Chipper Jones, Frank Wren replaced the bat with Justin Upton in a big deal with Arizona. So far, it’s worked. They also signed B.J. Upton, who has started slowly. Result: first place in the NL East.
Fourth best because of Justin Upton? B.J. Upton has been terrible, there is no solution at third, and this team is in first place because of a long term approach that included a play off appearance LAST YEAR! Their offseason is not why they are in first. (Not that Justin Upton isn’t helping, but that is more about Arizona stupidity than Atlanta genius…unless you credit Frank Wren’s jedi mind tricks that kept Arizona from demanding good players, like Andrelton Simmons, in return.
5. Royals — Dayton Moore decided to pick this season to go for it. He brought inJames [sic] Shields to stabilize his staff, adding a bona fide No. 1 starter even if it meant dealing prospect Wil Myers to the Rays. He revamped the rest of the pitching staff with Jeremy Guthrie, Ervin Santana, and Wade Davis. Result: in contention in the AL Central.
Does Nick still not have an editor?
BTWs – Wil Myers hasn’t played in the majors, therefore the jury is still very much out on this deal. Plus – any chance the Rays would be better off, still, with Myers being a reasonable replacement for the already benched Francouer?
6. Diamondbacks — Amazing how things work out. The D-Backs felt they needed to get rid of Justin Upton in the name of team chemistry and they seem better off for it, while the Braves have benefited from his production. Kevin Towers also added Brandon McCarthy to the rotation and acquired Heath Bell for the bullpen. Bell has now become the closer in place of J.J. Putz, who went on the DL. Result: in contention in the NL West.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! This is the grittiest analysis I have ever seen.
7. Rangers — Jon Daniels took some heat for a quiet offseason, but perhaps it was addition by subtraction by eliminatingJosh [sic] Hamilton and bringing in Lance Berkman to be the DH. Daniels also added A.J. Pierzynski, who has been an effective player for Texas both offensively and defensively. Result: first place in the AL West.
So, we are now labeling Hamilton a cancer? An ‘addition by subtraction’ type? Remember how lovable he was last year? Amazing how a slump can alter the narrative. Perhaps the lessons here are (1) an offseason changes little compared to an executed philosophy and (2) do not overpay for players in their thirties in the post-steroid/greenies/PED era.
8. Pirates — Off to a good start, the Pirates did addition by subtraction on Hanrahan and gave Jason Grilli the closer job, who in tandem with Mark Melancon (acquired in the Hanrahan deal with Boston) has been pretty solid late in
games. Catcher Russell Martin has also been a solid pickup. Result: in contention in the NL Central.
Signing a decent catcher and swapping relievers is a good offseason that makes a team in contention? I’m calling BS.
9. Nationals — Leadoff hitter Denard Span got off to a slow start, as did Dan Haren. Rafael Soriano has been pretty solid in the closer’s role, converting 12 of 13 save chances. Result: in contention in the NL East.
Two of the three offseason moves have started slow, and it is rated as a good offseason? NO! They had a good team that needed cosmetic upgrades. This contention in the NL East has precious little to do with the offseason, if anything, the case is made by Nick that the Nats are good in spite of the offseason. And also Natitude.
Thumbs down
1. Blue Jays — This hasn’t worked out, but not many among us thought it would be like this. Jose Reyes was having a nice year before he got hurt, but the rest of the acquisitions have underperformed — from Emilio Bonifacio to pitchers R.A. Dickey (though better lately), Mark Buehrle (better lately), and Josh Johnson (on the DL). Result: last place in the AL East.
It took 40 days for the unanimous winners of the offseason to be declared the losers of the offseason instead.
40 days.
Just don’t pretend that I didn’t warn you…
2. Angels — Hamilton says he has an equilibrium problem, and we believe him. He’s too good a player for the poor start he’s had. The Angels have also gotten nothing from starter Joe Blanton (0-7, 6.46 ERA) or reliever Sean Burnett. RelieverRyan [sic] Madson is still on the mend from Tommy John surgery. Jason Vargas, acquired in a deal with Seattle, hasn’t given them the stability they hope they’d get in the rotation. Result: fourth place in the AL West.
We? We believe him? Who is we? And wasn’t Hamilton just called an addition by subtraction? If so, can he be addition by addition on another team?
And, seriously, did anyone think Blanton and Vargas we solutions?
Finally – Cafardo does not mention how they paid MVP candidate Vernon Wells to leave [I will now go hang myself.]
3. Dodgers — The Dodgers’ problem has been mostly injuries. Big offseason acquisition Zack Greinke is now back after breaking his left collarbone. Brandon League signed a three-year, $22 million deal and has an ERA over 5.00. Result: last place in the NL West.
Really, injuries? If it is just injuries, how can it be considered a poor offseason? HOW?
Also – the poor play could have to do with – counting on Luis Cruz, Juan Uribe, Brandon League, Skip Schumaker, and A.J. Ellis? That did not seem like good roster construction from the start…which would be a better argument for a poor offseason than injuries, right?
4. Mariners — Deals with Washington for Michael Morse and the Angels for Kendrys Morales didn’t work out early, though both have begun to hit. Joe Saunders has a 5.51 ERA and Aaron Harang, acquired from the Dodgers, has an ERA over 7.00. Result: well back of Rangers in the AL West.
This is a bit of a funny one: the Mariners are actually in third place after finishing last last year. They were also only one game under .500 before a recent 4 game losing streak.
5. White Sox — Their big offseason acquisition, infielder Jeff Keppinger, has hit a disappointing .183. Result: last place in the AL Central.
Do nothing in the offseason, expect nothing from your offseason. Funny, innit, that Keppinger has been a huge story for having not taken a walk all season (which he just rectified), and Cafardo only mentions……..batting average.
Not sure we accomplished anything here, other than our weekly time of joining together and shaking our collective head at Nick Cafardo’s lack of basic rhetorical skills.
Have a good week.