Danny Graves

hoser · 12-20-2006, 09:27 AM

The Rockies are set to sign Danny Graves to a minor league deal.

Looks like O'Dowd is hoping to pull a monkey out of his arse on this one.

madness · 12-20-2006, 05:40 PM

On a minor league contract it is a no-lose situation.

Might catch lightning in a bottle and the cost and risk are both very, very low.

hoser · 12-20-2006, 06:45 PM

Lightning in a bottle... monkey out of his arse... use whatever slang phrase you want it's all the same. O'Dowd is hoping to get lucky on this one.

indianadrew · 12-20-2006, 07:59 PM

"O'Dowd is hoping to get lucky on this one"

isn't every GM trying to get lucky on every trade?

hoser · 12-20-2006, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by indianadrew

"O'Dowd is hoping to get lucky on this one"

isn't every GM trying to get lucky on every trade?

First of all this isn't a trade. To answer your question though... no. I think most quality GM's with winning track records sign players because they feel the player will help their ballclub. Based on their research, their knowledge, and scouting reports they believe the player has skills that fill a hole that the team currently has. I think the successful ones do their homework and know which players will help the ballclub and more often than not they're right.

Desperate GMs, with cheap owners, hope to pull a monkey out of their arse each year. In the Rockies' case O'Dowd continues to bring in a handful of scrap heap projects year after year hoping that he'll get lucky and one of them will make the ballclub and perform close to replacement level. I suppose it helps keep the budget down but it doesn't really improve the ballclub into a contender.

indianadrew · 12-21-2006, 05:00 PM

"First of all this isn't a trade" i get that

my bad. i know it is not a trade, but there is not a GM out there who does not want to get lucky on every deal. if there is i would like to know who it is.

hope all you guys manage to stay warm this christmas.

hoser · 12-21-2006, 07:02 PM

Of course everyone wants luck to be on their side. They want all players acquired to stay healthy and have career years.

However, there's a big difference between signing a quality player that has a track record of producing in order to fill a hole and bringing in 7 or 8 scrap heap projects and hoping that one or two of them will outperform their recent history and play up to replacement level. If you're counting on one or two scrap heap projects panning out and playing a significant role on the team each year then I say you're grasping at straws and will never field a legitimate contender.

indianadrew · 12-21-2006, 08:48 PM

"However, there's a big difference between signing a quality player that has a track record of producing in order to fill a hole and bringing in 7 or 8 scrap heap projects and hoping that one or two of them will outperform their recent history and play up to replacement level. If you're counting on one or two scrap heap projects panning out and playing a significant role on the team each year then I say you're grasping at straws and will never field a legitimate contender."

i totally agree with every word. graves was a closer in cinncinati, and if i remember correctly redsfan was not at all pleased when he parted ways. are they shopping fuentes around?

bedir than average · 12-21-2006, 08:52 PM

Fuentes is being shopped, seriously? Ahh, I dream of seeing him in a home uni again.

madness · 12-31-2006, 04:12 PM

There is nothing wrong (and a lot right) with signing someone like Graves to a minor league contract to provide organizational depth and hope for a return to past performance.

It is when O'Dowd signs washed up veteran pitchers and gives them big league contracts and counts on them to fill positions on the big league roster that fans should cringe.

12-20-2006, 09:27 AM	#1 (permalink)
hoser Rookie Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 13	Danny Graves The Rockies are set to sign Danny Graves to a minor league deal. Looks like O'Dowd is hoping to pull a monkey out of his arse on this one.

12-21-2006, 08:48 PM	#8 (permalink)
indianadrew Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: indianapolis Posts: 528	"However, there's a big difference between signing a quality player that has a track record of producing in order to fill a hole and bringing in 7 or 8 scrap heap projects and hoping that one or two of them will outperform their recent history and play up to replacement level. If you're counting on one or two scrap heap projects panning out and playing a significant role on the team each year then I say you're grasping at straws and will never field a legitimate contender." i totally agree with every word. graves was a closer in cinncinati, and if i remember correctly redsfan was not at all pleased when he parted ways. are they shopping fuentes around? Last edited by indianadrew; 12-21-2006 at 08:49 PM. Reason: clarity

12-21-2006, 08:52 PM	#9 (permalink)
bedir than average Administrator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Starbucks Posts: 8,256	Fuentes is being shopped, seriously? Ahh, I dream of seeing him in a home uni again. __________________ US Men's National Team World Cup Qualifying \| Democracy in Sports Meets My First Campaign "You're only so sure you're right because they're so sure you're wrong." Orson Scott Card in Xenocide

12-20-2006, 05:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
madness Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 20	On a minor league contract it is a no-lose situation. Might catch lightning in a bottle and the cost and risk are both very, very low.

12-20-2006, 06:45 PM	#3 (permalink)
hoser Rookie Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 13	Lightning in a bottle... monkey out of his arse... use whatever slang phrase you want it's all the same. O'Dowd is hoping to get lucky on this one.

12-20-2006, 07:59 PM	#4 (permalink)
indianadrew Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: indianapolis Posts: 528	"O'Dowd is hoping to get lucky on this one" isn't every GM trying to get lucky on every trade?

12-21-2006, 05:00 PM	#6 (permalink)
indianadrew Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: indianapolis Posts: 528	"First of all this isn't a trade" i get that my bad. i know it is not a trade, but there is not a GM out there who does not want to get lucky on every deal. if there is i would like to know who it is. hope all you guys manage to stay warm this christmas.

12-21-2006, 07:02 PM	#7 (permalink)
hoser Rookie Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 13	Of course everyone wants luck to be on their side. They want all players acquired to stay healthy and have career years. However, there's a big difference between signing a quality player that has a track record of producing in order to fill a hole and bringing in 7 or 8 scrap heap projects and hoping that one or two of them will outperform their recent history and play up to replacement level. If you're counting on one or two scrap heap projects panning out and playing a significant role on the team each year then I say you're grasping at straws and will never field a legitimate contender.

12-31-2006, 04:12 PM	#10 (permalink)
madness Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 20	There is nothing wrong (and a lot right) with signing someone like Graves to a minor league contract to provide organizational depth and hope for a return to past performance. It is when O'Dowd signs washed up veteran pitchers and gives them big league contracts and counts on them to fill positions on the big league roster that fans should cringe.