Comments on: D-Backs putting even Mongol Hordes to shame when it comes pillage and plunder http://umpbump.com/press/2007/12/15/d-backs-putting-even-mongol-hordes-to-shame-when-it-comes-pillage-and-plunder/ In-your-face baseball commentary Sun, 21 Mar 2010 21:48:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Doogan http://umpbump.com/press/2007/12/15/d-backs-putting-even-mongol-hordes-to-shame-when-it-comes-pillage-and-plunder/comment-page-1/#comment-54173 Doogan Thu, 20 Dec 2007 20:53:34 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/d-backs-putting-even-mongol-hordes-to-shame-when-it-comes-pillage-and-plunder/#comment-54173 No doubt the D-Backs have to be considered the National League front-runner in '08. Webb and Haren is a lethal duo and all those young position players will be a year older, with the experience of having already won the division and a playoff series. No doubt the D-Backs have to be considered the National League front-runner in ‘08. Webb and Haren is a lethal duo and all those young position players will be a year older, with the experience of having already won the division and a playoff series.

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]]> By: Sarah Green http://umpbump.com/press/2007/12/15/d-backs-putting-even-mongol-hordes-to-shame-when-it-comes-pillage-and-plunder/comment-page-1/#comment-54177 Sarah Green Tue, 18 Dec 2007 02:25:29 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/d-backs-putting-even-mongol-hordes-to-shame-when-it-comes-pillage-and-plunder/#comment-54177 Bill B, funny you would mention Theo in connection with Byrnes, as Byrnes worked under Theo for the Red Sox through 2005! And of course, Theo and Kevin Towers of the Padres were both mentored by Larry Lucchino. That's not a bad record for Larry, considering how each of those three teams finished last year. Bill B, funny you would mention Theo in connection with Byrnes, as Byrnes worked under Theo for the Red Sox through 2005! And of course, Theo and Kevin Towers of the Padres were both mentored by Larry Lucchino. That’s not a bad record for Larry, considering how each of those three teams finished last year.

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]]> By: Nick Kapur http://umpbump.com/press/2007/12/15/d-backs-putting-even-mongol-hordes-to-shame-when-it-comes-pillage-and-plunder/comment-page-1/#comment-54176 Nick Kapur Sun, 16 Dec 2007 04:30:09 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/d-backs-putting-even-mongol-hordes-to-shame-when-it-comes-pillage-and-plunder/#comment-54176 Melissa, I understand your point about Valverde, and I agree that while Saves are overrated, it's also not possible to convert just *any* good middle reliever into a closer. However, that said, I still think this was a great trade for the D-Backs. Arbitrators love shiny stats like saves, so Valverde is due for a huge raise this offseason. Also, Valverde has a long history of shoulder troubles, and some pretty sucky seasons in his past, such as 2006, when his ERA was nearly 6.00, so I don't feel like he is necessarily a sure-bet, lock-down closer going forward. Byrnes did a good job of selling Valverde when his value was at the absolute highest it has ever been. Also, I don't think Byrnes has any intention of making Chad Qualls the closer. I think he is going to turn to one of his other young arms and give them a shot. But Qualls has great value as a reliable setup man. Melissa, I understand your point about Valverde, and I agree that while Saves are overrated, it’s also not possible to convert just *any* good middle reliever into a closer.

However, that said, I still think this was a great trade for the D-Backs. Arbitrators love shiny stats like saves, so Valverde is due for a huge raise this offseason. Also, Valverde has a long history of shoulder troubles, and some pretty sucky seasons in his past, such as 2006, when his ERA was nearly 6.00, so I don’t feel like he is necessarily a sure-bet, lock-down closer going forward.

Byrnes did a good job of selling Valverde when his value was at the absolute highest it has ever been. Also, I don’t think Byrnes has any intention of making Chad Qualls the closer. I think he is going to turn to one of his other young arms and give them a shot. But Qualls has great value as a reliable setup man.

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]]> By: melissa http://umpbump.com/press/2007/12/15/d-backs-putting-even-mongol-hordes-to-shame-when-it-comes-pillage-and-plunder/comment-page-1/#comment-54175 melissa Sat, 15 Dec 2007 20:53:52 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/d-backs-putting-even-mongol-hordes-to-shame-when-it-comes-pillage-and-plunder/#comment-54175 It's nice to finally read someone questioning Beane. This doesn't seem like a deal where equal value was exchanged. I still can't understand why he wanted to move Haren in the first place as he's locked in at a reasonable price for 3 years, this seems like the kind of guy you build your team around. I'm sure people will come to Beane's defense by saying wait until you see what these prospects turn into. The D-Backs could afford to give up the prospects for a proven starter because they already have so many good young players on their roster. I thought this was the deal that would put Arizona in the driver's seat to win the NL this season until I saw they dealt Valverde. That guy was integral to their success this past year because of the fact that they did not score a lot of runs. Many of his saves were in one run ball games. You may say the save is an overvalued stat but outs 25, 26, & 27 are the hardest to get. Rarely do you see a team win the World Series without a guy that is a lock down closer. If Qualls had been capable of closing, Houston would have moved him into that role, he wasn't able to fill that void on their team over the last 2 seasons. I don't understand bolstering your rotation and then weakening the end of your bullpen. Set-up men don't always have the same success when you move them into the closer role. It’s nice to finally read someone questioning Beane. This doesn’t seem like a deal where equal value was exchanged. I still can’t understand why he wanted to move Haren in the first place as he’s locked in at a reasonable price for 3 years, this seems like the kind of guy you build your team around. I’m sure people will come to Beane’s defense by saying wait until you see what these prospects turn into. The D-Backs could afford to give up the prospects for a proven starter because they already have so many good young players on their roster. I thought this was the deal that would put Arizona in the driver’s seat to win the NL this season until I saw they dealt Valverde. That guy was integral to their success this past year because of the fact that they did not score a lot of runs. Many of his saves were in one run ball games. You may say the save is an overvalued stat but outs 25, 26, & 27 are the hardest to get. Rarely do you see a team win the World Series without a guy that is a lock down closer. If Qualls had been capable of closing, Houston would have moved him into that role, he wasn’t able to fill that void on their team over the last 2 seasons. I don’t understand bolstering your rotation and then weakening the end of your bullpen. Set-up men don’t always have the same success when you move them into the closer role.

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]]> By: Bill B. http://umpbump.com/press/2007/12/15/d-backs-putting-even-mongol-hordes-to-shame-when-it-comes-pillage-and-plunder/comment-page-1/#comment-54174 Bill B. Sat, 15 Dec 2007 15:55:57 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/d-backs-putting-even-mongol-hordes-to-shame-when-it-comes-pillage-and-plunder/#comment-54174 It's so fun watching Ed Wade pull off these moves for another team now, after having watched him to it to the Phillies for so many years. There's something wrong with the guy, and it might be masochism. As fluky as the D-Backs were last season, Haren might be good enough to bring them right back to 90 or so wins, assuming that a few of the extra bounces in the D-Backs' favor last season even out and go to their opponents. If the D-Backs do get ridiculously lucky again, it will be fun watching them near 100 wins. They're really the only true competition I see for the Phillies in the National League. I don't buy the Rockies again, the Cubs will win the NL Central by default (because everyone else is bad), not because they're good. And the Mets and Braves will be lucky to hit 85 wins. Josh Byrnes has earned some pretty high marks in his short tenure as a GM. I wonder how much or how little he uses Sabermetrics. Is he a new-school guy like Theo Epstein (who is responsible for two World Series since hiring Bill James)? It’s so fun watching Ed Wade pull off these moves for another team now, after having watched him to it to the Phillies for so many years. There’s something wrong with the guy, and it might be masochism.

As fluky as the D-Backs were last season, Haren might be good enough to bring them right back to 90 or so wins, assuming that a few of the extra bounces in the D-Backs’ favor last season even out and go to their opponents. If the D-Backs do get ridiculously lucky again, it will be fun watching them near 100 wins.

They’re really the only true competition I see for the Phillies in the National League. I don’t buy the Rockies again, the Cubs will win the NL Central by default (because everyone else is bad), not because they’re good. And the Mets and Braves will be lucky to hit 85 wins.

Josh Byrnes has earned some pretty high marks in his short tenure as a GM. I wonder how much or how little he uses Sabermetrics. Is he a new-school guy like Theo Epstein (who is responsible for two World Series since hiring Bill James)?

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]]> By: Sarah Green http://umpbump.com/press/2007/12/15/d-backs-putting-even-mongol-hordes-to-shame-when-it-comes-pillage-and-plunder/comment-page-1/#comment-35915 Sarah Green Wed, 28 Nov 2007 18:00:43 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/d-backs-putting-even-mongol-hordes-to-shame-when-it-comes-pillage-and-plunder/#comment-35915 Coley, I hate to be an ass, but that's bated breath. Also, I fail to see any reason why Conlin would be suspended. Coley, I hate to be an ass, but that’s bated breath. Also, I fail to see any reason why Conlin would be suspended.

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]]> By: coley http://umpbump.com/press/2007/12/15/d-backs-putting-even-mongol-hordes-to-shame-when-it-comes-pillage-and-plunder/comment-page-1/#comment-35799 coley Wed, 28 Nov 2007 00:13:20 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/d-backs-putting-even-mongol-hordes-to-shame-when-it-comes-pillage-and-plunder/#comment-35799 Just in case people are waiting with baited breath to see if Conlin will be reprimanded by the DN, he's got a new column out today. So we at least know he wasn't suspended. Just in case people are waiting with baited breath to see if Conlin will be reprimanded by the DN, he’s got a new column out today. So we at least know he wasn’t suspended.

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]]> By: Paul Moro http://umpbump.com/press/2007/12/15/d-backs-putting-even-mongol-hordes-to-shame-when-it-comes-pillage-and-plunder/comment-page-1/#comment-35737 Paul Moro Tue, 27 Nov 2007 15:22:13 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/d-backs-putting-even-mongol-hordes-to-shame-when-it-comes-pillage-and-plunder/#comment-35737 Man, I can't wait to be a cranky old guy. Those will be the days when I can buy my own loveseat that no one else can enjoy - and I will make sure that no one does by constantly lounging away on it wearing only an undershirt and wool socks. By then, my gut would probably be so big that no one would know I'm not wearing any pants anyway. Man, I can’t wait to be a cranky old guy. Those will be the days when I can buy my own loveseat that no one else can enjoy – and I will make sure that no one does by constantly lounging away on it wearing only an undershirt and wool socks. By then, my gut would probably be so big that no one would know I’m not wearing any pants anyway.

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