A West Coast View of the Heillman Trade

I thought this was interesting, more a view on the thought processes of the GMs than the trade itself, but it makes a couple of good points.

about 3 years ago snowyman28 16 comments 0 recs |

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Thanks for this link.

That really is interesting to see how a GM thinks through a trade. Shows you how much more there is to these things than just moving bodies around.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Feb 10, 2009 1:36 PM CST reply actions

The key paragraph in this article for me?

This one:

Since acquiring Heilman, Zduriencik and Hendry had gone back and forth on a trade because Hendry had a key slot for a guy who wanted out of the bullpen job that had befallen and befuddled him with the Mets — No. 5 starting pitcher.

This jibes with my ongoing belief that Hendry signed Fully Krausened with a wink-wink, nudge-nudge, shake-shake that Aaron would get first dibs at the No. 5 spot. Now that’s a damn shame for Sean Marshall, whom I’d still like to see get a spot in the rotation someday, but Sean did work out well as a swingman last season.

I also love the image of Hendry standing outside the Vatican on his cellphone dealing away Cedeno. Something tells me he went and got some gelatto afterward.

In addition, the article backs up what I heard from Mariners fans over at Lookout Landing – that is, as much as we like to rip on Cedeno for his lunkheaded play, he could still easily stand head and shoulders above their current middle infielders defensively.

We are a fever ... we are a fever ... we ain't born typical.

by daver on Feb 10, 2009 1:57 PM CST reply actions

While I think Marshall is a better pitcher than Heilman...

… he might be more valuable as a swingman out of the bullpen, starting occasionally.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Feb 10, 2009 2:04 PM CST up reply actions

+1

I agree, and love him in that role. Terry Mulholland made a career doing it, and I can see Marshall following in that model.

"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic

by Cubbie-Tim on Feb 10, 2009 2:15 PM CST up reply actions

That's an apt comparison

And if Marshall can match some of Mulholland’s success, that’d be great.

I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg

by Bill Potter on Feb 10, 2009 3:30 PM CST up reply actions

Mulholland

played 1986 – 2006 in 685 with 332 starts. I would love to see Marshall produce 50-60% of that. he was nothing fancy, will never be confused with a HOF pitcher, but was consistant

http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/mulhote01.shtml

"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic

by Cubbie-Tim on Feb 10, 2009 7:10 PM CST up reply actions

Trader Jim made the move

while cruising down across the Tiber River in his Vespa on the way from St. Peter’s to a tour of the Coliseum – that’s what I heard at least.

I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg

by Bill Potter on Feb 10, 2009 3:38 PM CST up reply actions

Jim Hendry on a Vespa.

Now there’s a picture I’d like to see.

We are a fever ... we are a fever ... we ain't born typical.

by daver on Feb 10, 2009 4:12 PM CST up reply actions

with a

Born to Ride jacket, and a helmet with a Spike sticking out of it

"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic

by Cubbie-Tim on Feb 10, 2009 4:24 PM CST up reply actions

Sounds like a job for SWL.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Feb 10, 2009 7:23 PM CST up reply actions

Marshall will very likely get his shot

when Harden goes down – although he could end up too valuable as a late-inning reliever.

The author of this post is not a certified scout, doctor, agent, statistician, manager, or journalist, nor was he ever a very good player, though he tried very hard to be like Ryne Sandberg and was about as scrappy as it gets (in T-ball). Any opinion expressed above should in no way be confused with fact, truth, or reality and is hereby qualified in the following ways: 1) The author does not know as much about baseball as Lou Piniella. 2) The author does not know as much about baseball as Jim Hendry. 3) The author does not know as much about baseball as either Dusty or Darren Baker.

by DGU on Feb 10, 2009 7:49 PM CST up reply actions

possible pitcher injuries

is what makes him most valuable as a swingman IMO

"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic

by Cubbie-Tim on Feb 10, 2009 8:33 PM CST up reply actions

Aaron Heilman is the 5th starter barring an awful spring or injury

Cubs clearly like Sean Marshall operating out of the bullpen. And I think they also want Jeff Samardzija starting the year at Triple A.

by BLou on Feb 10, 2009 2:23 PM CST reply actions

this is just my opinion

but I dont think marshall has the velocity nor the stamina to be a full time starter. Spot starting and long/situational relief is his best role IMO. I think he gets pounded in a regular starting role but again thats just my opinion.

I dont care who the new owner is as long as he/she/them come equipped with a Jake Peavy and a Joe Beimel!!!

by cubsluver22 on Feb 10, 2009 6:39 PM CST reply actions

Agreed

by BLou on Feb 11, 2009 8:28 AM CST up reply actions

Disagreed.

I don’t recall reading or hearing any complaints about Sean’s velocity. I mean, he’s obviously not Nolan Ryan, but the speed of his pitches falls well within the typical range of a major league pitcher. And he’s never really gotten the chance to prove his stamina one way or the other. He pitched over 125 innings in ’06 – the season he was essentially brought up from DOUBLE A ball.

Granted, he’s had some injury concerns but who hasn’t. He’s pitched mostly out of the pen for the last two years because there simply hasn’t been room for him in the starting rotation. In any case, his ERA+ has been well above league average both years.

I think Heilman’s going to get the nod for the fifth spot simply because he “outranks” Marshall in terms of major league playing time and Hendry likes him. But Marshall could fill that role just as well.

We are a fever ... we are a fever ... we ain't born typical.

by daver on Feb 11, 2009 10:04 AM CST up reply actions