Friday, July 27, 2007
JUST THE FACTS
Every year around this time, most columns will say something to the affect of ABC GM doesn’t want to make a Larry Anderson for Jeff Bagwell trade. Of course, he does not want trade a possible Hall of Famer for a middle reliever. But at the time of the trade and that year, it was actually a good deal for the Sox. The Olde Towne Team won the A.L. East in 1990 with the help of Anderson’s dominating 22 innings in September. Anderson was Papelbon-esque.
As for Bagwell, he was hitting a lot like Dustin Pedroia going 333/422/457 with 73 BB / 57 SO in AA. It is impressive but it doesn’t scream 449 career home runs. Bagwell hit a total of six homer runs in 731 minor league at-bats. He projected similar to Pedroia, maybe with more power, as solid second baseman without any speed, hitting for average and doubles/10 homer power. Who, beside Peter Gammons [the HOFer said on Baseball Tonight that he was so torn up about the trade that he immediately walked home after hearing about it at Fenway], would have thought Bagwell would end up looking like Popeye having multiple 30+ home run seasons?
It was a good trade at the time. And Lou Gorman should stop getting $hit every July.
Every year around this time, most columns will say something to the affect of ABC GM doesn’t want to make a Larry Anderson for Jeff Bagwell trade. Of course, he does not want trade a possible Hall of Famer for a middle reliever. But at the time of the trade and that year, it was actually a good deal for the Sox. The Olde Towne Team won the A.L. East in 1990 with the help of Anderson’s dominating 22 innings in September. Anderson was Papelbon-esque.
As for Bagwell, he was hitting a lot like Dustin Pedroia going 333/422/457 with 73 BB / 57 SO in AA. It is impressive but it doesn’t scream 449 career home runs. Bagwell hit a total of six homer runs in 731 minor league at-bats. He projected similar to Pedroia, maybe with more power, as solid second baseman without any speed, hitting for average and doubles/10 homer power. Who, beside Peter Gammons [the HOFer said on Baseball Tonight that he was so torn up about the trade that he immediately walked home after hearing about it at Fenway], would have thought Bagwell would end up looking like Popeye having multiple 30+ home run seasons?
It was a good trade at the time. And Lou Gorman should stop getting $hit every July.