Someone help me understand.
Thursday, 28. May 2009
Over the last couple years the Rays have made tremendous strides. They have gone from the perrenial loser to a contender. They have gone from a laughing stock to a respected organization. They are looked upon to contend against the big boys in the AL East. They have been praised for smart trades and drafting. I get all of this. Some of us disagree with some of the decisions (Kapler,Burell), but these are things that could be proven wrong still. I have now been completely lost by one decision and need an explanation.
What was the thought process behind the Adam Kennedy/Joe Dillon deal? What the hell happened here? It’s easy to question a move like this after Iwamura got hurt, I know, but how does this happen? What about this deal was so appealing to the Rays? Follow what I see and tell me what I see wrong.
Adam Kennedy is in the minor leagues under team control with no pressure to move him. He is a 32 year old proven 10 year major league second baseman that could provide quality depth and experience at both the minor and major league level. He is traded. A player of this caliber would bring back at least one decent lower level prospect, right?
He gets traded for the infamous player to be named later. That player becomes Joe Dillon. Dillon is a player who is older, less experienced, a worse fielder and goes against what the Rays supposedly are. I thought the Rays were a team that played good defense, manufactured runs and didn’t live by the long-ball. Not according to this move. I don’t get it.
How do you move a guy with proven major league ability for an older guy with none? In what universe is Adam Kennedy worth Joe Dillon? I have to question management’s moves still because of these things. I know that Friedman, Maddon and company go by the new stat crap, but how does this make sense even by those standards? We all know that I hate the new stat wave of scouting and what not, but I don’t get this at all. Can someone help me find what I’m missing here?
