From: kirsch@epx.cis.umn.edu (Dave Kirsch)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
Subject: Re: Blockbuster trade
Keywords: Canseco, Sierra, Witt, Russel
Date: 9 Sep 92 00:48:57 GMT
Organization: Paul Spoljaric mean-and-nasty club

In article <1992Sep1.161341.4693@panix.com> spira@panix.com (Greg "close
relative of Howie" Spira) writes:
>
>I suspect the A's are attempting to stockpile enough first, sandwich,
>and second round draft picks in the 1993 draft to eara a spot in the
>Guinness Book of World Records.  

  Yes. 

  I believe there were two primary reasons that motivated Sandy Alderson to 
make this trade: 

(1) He feels that this year is the team's last big 'push' before they have to
    restock the farm. I agree. They needed someone to replace Canseco's bat 
    *and* a couple of pitchers to help down the stretch and in the playoffs. 
    Sierra's no Canseco, but he's a good player. Russell will make a good 
    set-up man for Eck and give their bullpen some depth. Witt gives them 
    someone in their rotation not named Slusarski or 'Ackeresque' Campbell.
    Dave Stewart has been inconsistent and it sounds like Welch is done for 
    the year; I don't think I'd want Joe Slusarski being my #3 starter going
    into the playoffs if something goes awry. 
 
(2) He's well aware that the A's player development system has hit a snag. 
    Considering the number of free agents the As have, they probably don't 
    have 15 players that really truly merit protection in the expansion draft
    right now (IMHO of course). They have some top-line talent (Rickey, Eck, 
    etc) and then a group of mediocre players and low-level prospects. I 
    wouldn't be at all surprised to see Alderson wearing a shit-faced grin as
    other teams sign the A's free agents and donate their first (or second) 
    round draft choice. By the time the As collect the associated sandwich 
    picks, they could be in the same situation as Montreal a couple of years 
    ago. We could be talking a dozen (or more) picks in the first 2-3 rounds 
    by the time everything's done. Perfect timing, what with expansion and 
    all. 

  From that standpoint, I guess I can understand Alderson's rationale in this
trade. I still don't like the idea of trading the best power hitter in the
game. From Texas' standpoint, IMHO this is a no-brainer. Two potential
free-agents and a pitcher coming off arm surgery that's never fulfilled his
promise for a superstar locked into a cheap (by today's standards) contract? 
Gotta jump at the chance. 

  I say Texas can't lose in this deal, unless Canseco has chronic back
problems and his career fades away. Otherwise, it's a great deal for them.
Oakland, on the other hand, made a move partially for this year and partially
out of the need to rebuild. It's understandable, but it's a tough move to
make. 
 
-- 
Dave Hung Like a Jim Acker Slider Kirsch            kirsch@epx.cis.umn.edu 
"Blue Jays - break my heart again in '92"    Roberto Hernandez throws peas  
"I believe virtually everything I read, and I think that is what makes me
   MORE of a selective human" - Joe Average, baseball fan and media puppet
Xref: sparky rec.sport.baseball:26761 soc.culture.japan:7769 fj.rec.baseball:1690