the "expert" analysis

[DonkeyKongerko]

in case some of you are still friends with kenny williams, just thought you might wanna see some "expert" analysis courtesy of ESPN.com.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/s/2002/0809/1416256.html

----------- AB H HR RBI SB BB AVG OBP SLG OPS
Rolen__ 375 97 17 66 5 52 .259 .358 .472 830
Durham 345 103 9 48 20 49 .299 .390 .446 836

Both players are free agents at the end of the season. Amazing. Oakland GM Billy Beane gave up a Triple-A pitcher with a 6+ ERA to get a player arguably as valuable as Rolen, yet that trade slipped completely under the radar screen. At least the Phillies got three major-league players in return in Polanco, Bud Smith and Mike Timlin. If you're a White Sox, you should realize that GM Kenny Williams got hosed by Mr. Beane.

sad :(:

[Tragg]

That comparison to Rolen is pretty incredible.
Of course, no one wanted a .390 OBP player. You can look at that list of lead-off hitters and see that, well, gee, exactly one had a better OBP than the Sox 2 hole hitter and no one else was close.

This doesn't really show that Beane is so great. This trade was so disgraceful, so one sided, it shows that Kenny Williams is incredibly dense and completely lacks the skills to trade.
Just like the Ritchie trade should indicate the same lack of skills (way overpaid on paper) PLUS either Williams' inability or the Sox' inability to evaluate talent, particularly their own.

[Jerry_Manuel]

Oakland GM Billy Beane gave up a Triple-A pitcher with a 6+ ERA to get a player arguably as valuable as Rolen.

Whatever. If he's so damn valuable why isn't he playing everyday?

I'm tired of talking about this trade. All the ESPN experts can bite me.

[dasox24]

I agree JM. Let's just hope Adkins can keep up the solid outings the rest of the year! :smile: