Is It Better To Be Lucky Than Good?

I was listening to an interview about how the Cubs were built on MLB Radio a few days ago and heard a story about how Kyle Hendricks was acquired.  First of all, I have the greatest respect for Theo Epstein and do not want to denigrate him in any way, but the story shows how sometimes it’s better to be lucky that good.  As the Cubs were being blown up, Theo was trying to trade Ryan Dempster, and in fact had reached an agreement with the Braves for Randall Delgado.  Well, Ryan Dempster did not want to go to Atlanta, so as a 5/10 player, he vetoed the deal. Next, Theo tried to trade him to LA, but according the the announcer, the Dodgers had no interest.  Finally, Dempster approved a deal to the Rangers for Hendricks.

Hendricks was not even rated as one of the Texas Rangers top 30 prospects.  In fact, Epstein really wanted Christian Villanueva (Texas #9 Prospect at the time) and Hendricks was just a throw-in on the deal.  Villanueva has since been released and signed with the Padres where he is still a low level prospect.  I have heard Cub fans or Theo fans gloat about what a good deal that was – AND IT WAS!  However, Theo readily admits he had “no idea” Hendricks would be so good and be a vital part of a World Series Championship.  The point is: Theo was true to the process.  They blew up the team, intent on accumulating all the prospects they could.  Not every deal you do works out.  Villanueva was a huge disappointment, but Hendricks wasn’t.

The point is, you keep pulling the trigger.  Andrew Friedman has built the Dodgers differently, as ownership would not afford him the luxury of blowing up the team.  But, he has stayed true to the process.  That process is to build the farm, acquire fresh blood, plug in a few vets by free agency and trading from surplus, while  finding value on the bonepile, like Dayton, Fields, Taylor, Toles, Eibner and several others.

The point is that you never know in baseball what might happen with players you acquire.  The Dodgers traded Zach Lee for Chris Taylor who looked like a prototypical AAAA Utilityman last year, but who remade his swing and has shown Justin Turneresque propensities.  Brett Eibner and Andrew Toles were acquired by Andrew Friedman for nothing or next to nothing and fans openly mocked him.  When asked if he knew how good  Kyle Hendricks would become, Theo said he had no clue.  I’m sure that Andrew Friedman had no clue either as to how good Taylor, Toles or Eibner might be… and I’m not saying they are all that, but they have potential.

You just keep trying and sometimes you just get lucky!  I have no idea if Chris Taylor is just a flash in the pan or not.  Well, actually, I do:  His swing looks to be the real thing.  He swings that bat with such authority like a buggy whip that I think he is the real deal.  Maybe FAZ got lucky on Toles and Taylor and maybe even Eibner, but that’s why you keep churning the players.  You have to kiss a lot of frogs to find the princes.

Has FAZ traded away a player who they would love to have back?

• Kemp?  No!
• Kendrick?  No!
• Gordon?  Hell, No!
• Heaney?  The jury is out!
• Cotton? We have the #1 pen in the league.  When can he pitch?
• Montas?  Doubtful!
• Holmes?  Sorry!
• Lee?  What?
• De Leon?  Does he still play?
• Peraza?  Are you crazy?
• Schebler?  Another 5th OF?
• Chris Reed?  Please Stop!
• Olivera?  Get out!

Rants & Raves

• When was the last time Clayton  Kershaw had a counterpart as good as Alex Wood (5-0, 1.88 ERA, 1.01 WHIP)?  Greinke?
• It was an ugly lineup last night – maybe that’s what it takes to win!
• Ross Stripling has my utmost respect after trying to drill Stanton.
• Donnie Baseball should go back to Indiana.
• Chris Hatcher is maddening.  Smokes Stanton and implodes!

Minor League Overview

• It was one of those nights at El Paso as OKC lost 16-8.  Everyone got bombed.  Dayton’s ERA is 40.50. Willie Calhoun did hit his 8th HR and Verdugo was 3-5.  Thompson was 2-4 and is creeping up.  As advertised, Calhoun is hitting.
• Tulsa was rained out.
• Rancho won 5-3 as Logan Forsythe was 1-1 with 3 walks, while playing 3B.  Smith played 2B and was 2-4.  Maeda went 4, allowed 6 hits and have up 1 ER.
• GL won 17-8 and 2-1 at Ft. Wayne.  Lux was 3-5 in game 1 as the Loons had 25 hits.  Sheffield went 4.2 with 7 hits and 4 runs.