From: niepornt@fish.Princeton.EDU (David Marc Nieporent)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
Subject: Re: RG's 1992 Tribe Front Office Report Card
Date: 6 Oct 92 00:10:39 GMT
Organization: Princeton University
Originator: news@nimaster

In article <1992Oct5.215315.12884@cs.cornell.edu> tedward@cs.cornell.edu (Edward [Ted] Fischer) writes:
>In article <5OCT199215344050@ariel.lerc.nasa.gov> ecaxron@ariel.lerc.nasa.gov (Ron Graham) writes:

>>o	Allowing RP Doug Jones to leave as a free agent - D

>>I thought this was bad when it happened.  The Astros were smart to 
>>sign him - it probably took some of the sting out of losing Kenny
>>Lofton ;-).

>I disagree on this one.  Doug Jones, while he pitched pretty well this
>year, is no spring chicken.  The Indians are aiming for 1994, and I
>can't see him fitting into their long-term plans.  Meanwhile, he would
>be costing them a moderate amount of money.  Besides, Olin and
>Lilliquist were both better than Jones this year.

Doug Jones -- 11-8, 1.86 ERA.  106.6 IP.  34 Sv, 4 BS.  34 IR, 9 Scored.

Steve Olin --  8-5, 2.47 ERA.   83.6 IP.  28 Sv, 7 BS.  48 IR, 10 Scored.
Lilliquist --  5-3  1.62 ERA.   61 IP.    6 Sv, 4 BS, 13 Holds.  51-10 IR/Sc.

Hmm.  I wasn't sure I believed it, but I guess it's sort of true.
They might have been better, but not *much* better.  But it's true; Doug
Jones just isn't worth that much to the Indians at this point.  At the
time they'll be good enough to need a closer, he will be washed up.
(He'll be 36 next year.)

>>o	Allowing IF Jerry Browne to leave as a free agent - C-

>See Doug Jones.  If the Indians are truly serious about rebuilding,
>the *last* thing they want to do is load up on mediocre, expensive,
>old guys.

Well, Valentine, I admit he's older than Ken Griffey Jr., but I find it
hard to call a 26 year old player *old.*

He also managed to put up a 287/366/364 in Oakland, while playing
second, third, short, left, center, and right.  In short, he's a poor
man's Tony Phillips. 

>>o	Aftermath of Swindell trade, year one - C-

>I think you mean that they shouldn't have traded him.  I think they
>had to trade him, but they should have been able to get more.  It
>looked like they took the first deal they were offered.

>Do you have the starting/relief breakdown for Armstrong?  Has he
>really been good in relief?  Or has it simply been a small sample set?
>Is he even up to 50 relief innings yet?

>>o	Trade of minor-league IF Jason Hardtke to San Diego for OF Thomas
>>	Howard - B+

>>Howard was very good as a fourth OF for the Indians this year.  So good,
>>in fact, that Alex Cole became expendable.

>If the Indians are interested in trading him to the Red Sox, I'm sure
>they can get more than Jason Hardtke (who?) now.  And the Sox could
>use a speedy player *with* an OBP.  Of course, I thought they should
>get Cole.  Did the Indians get anything for him?

I don't understand why anyone thinks Howard was any good.  Yes, he hit
better than Billy Hatcher.  But then again, who doesn't?  Howard hit
284/315/350.  He had 15 SB, 8 CS.   He fits in well with Glenallen "Real
men don't walk" Hill, though.

Alex Cole, meanwhile, did a 286/348/375.  He had 7 SB, 4 CS.  (BTW: What
happened to him?  He came up in 1990 and stole like crazy.  Since then,
he's been awful at SB.  Why?  I don't buy the "pitchers figured him out"
theory, either.  That might reduce him from great to average.  Not great
to zero.)

(Hardtke, btw, is a SS who hit .304/8/47 in the Midwest (A) League.
that's all I know.)

>>o	Signing of RPs Derek Lilliquist, Eric Plunk, and Ted Power - A

>>Who could predict how well these three guys would do this season?  And 
>>having them made Steve Olin more effective.  I Predict [tm] that Lilliquist
>>will be protected in the Expansion Draft.

>I'd have to agree.  Lilliquist looks like he has turned his career
>around.  Not that he didn't always have potential, but he has never
>dominated before like this!

Yes, and he didn't cost the Indians much, did he?  That's what's good
about acquisitions like this -- as opposed to, say, Keith Hernandez.

>>o	Trade of minor-league OF Kyle Washington to Baltimore for SP
>>	Jose Mesa - C+

>Is Kyle Washington worth anything?  If not, this is a lot like the
>Bolton/Hatcher deal.  Essentially nothing for nothing.

Yes, but it was much better than that for the Orioles.  It removed the
temptation from Oates and all the rest to try and pitch him.  It removed
the temptation from them to claim that a guy who strikes out 3.5 per 9
innings has "great stuff" and just needs to learn to concentrate.

Kyle Washington doesn't *look* like much, but it's hard to tell from
McWeekly.  He hit .281 with little power (.340 SLG) and 16 SB in AA.  Unless
he walks a whole lot (which McWeekly doesn't say) he isn't worth anything.

>>o	Trade of OF Alex Cole to Pittsburgh for minor-league OF Antonio
>>	Mitchell and SP John Carter - C-

>Who are these two guys?

I don't *really* know, but Mitchell hit .295/23/83 in A ball.

>>o	OVERALL FRONT OFFICE GRADE - A-

>They have made some good moves recently.  A lot more than the Red Sox
>have.  (The Big Moves for the Sox this year were sending Plantier and
>Vaughn to the minors, and trading Bolton for Hatcher.  Great.)

Don't forget letting Rivera play all year over Valentin.  And giving
Herm Winningham 200+ ABs.  Or do you blame those on the manager?

-- 
David M. Nieporent   | Orioles 1993 World Series Champions
niepornt@phoenix.    | Mike Mussina 1992 AL Cy Young Winner
   princeton.edu     | Roland Hemond: SIGN BARRY BONDS!!!!!!!!
Vote Clinton/Gore '92.   Four more weeks!!!