San Diego vs. Pittsburgh, 4 August 2005

by Charlie Wilmoth on Aug 4, 2005 4:24 AM EDT in News

Brian Lawrence (5-11, 4.50) vs. Mark Redman (5-11, 4.30). 12:35 PM.

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Redman

After Redman has given up at least 5 runs in 7 of his last 9 starts, the Buccos now have a different problem than they thought, and a different reason to try to trade him. No one is going to want this guy, and they're going to be on the hook for his $4+ million for 2006. They need to get anything they can for him to protect themselves for next year. His contract is going to make it even harder to deal him of course, but he's still better than, e.g., A. Leiter and some of the other candiates in NY, or I. Valdez in Florida. DL overplayed his hand again; he must scramble quickly and get anything he can. Then put Snell in the rotation where he belongs (why is Fogg still there?)

by rogero on Aug 4, 2005 5:08 PM EDT reply actions

Result

Bucs lose, 12-7. I hadn't realized that Redman and Lawrence were brothers-in-law.

Rogero, you could be right, although I don't think Redman is really this bad. I would think the Bucs still view him as a good deal at $4 million next year, and I'm not sure I disagree with them, even though I don't really think Redman is right for their situation.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Aug 4, 2005 7:02 PM EDT reply actions

redman

Redman has never done much. Seven years in the bigs; one year with an ERA under 4.00 (and he's 4.30 and rising now). At this point he's best suited as a bottom of the rotation pitcher on a contender, guy to fill in the holes when you already have a solid staff (the role Oakland had in mind for him last year, at which he failed for them ). But for the Pirates, he's in the way; he's a bad fit indeed. They need room for their young pitchers, O.Perez, Duke, Snell, Kip Wells too (at least until they solve his puzzle), possibly Sean Burnett, then Gorzelanny, and Van Benschoten, and perhaps those number 1 picks, Bullington and Maholm, to develop into a real staff that can be the foundation of winning, not more continued less-than-mediocrity. These guys are the heart of the franchise. Keep Dave Williams in the rotation (I wouldn't) if you want more stability for a while, but get rid of Redman.

He might be worth close to $5 million to an established contender with an $70 million payroll. But given the Pirates' refusal to spend even half of that, they shouldn't be giving that kind of money to Redman. Use it on more bats, and a actual 3Bman. Right now they have some promising young hitters, but their offense is still awful. They still need a lot more help there.

by rogero on Aug 4, 2005 11:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Yet More Evidence that Littlebrain Must Go

The man's career numbers indicated he wasn't going to pitch as well as he did early in the season over the entire stretch (poor sentence construction be damned!). Just for the sake of "making the team better," which Littlehead swears he's trying to do, he should have flipped Redman to any of the fifty-odd teams within striking distance of playoff contention back in June. At worst, he could have landed a decent prospect. At best, a minor bidding war would have broken out and the actual Pittsburgh Pirates would wind up better for it on the return.

The real question is: what does the no-brain trust do when Perez is healthy? A slipped season is no reason to give up on him, put him in the bullpen or whatever. He has to start and may very well completely return to last year's form. And with Ian Snell going to waste in middle relief, the problem is magnified.

Basically, Redman and Wells should both be gone, Perez and Snell taking their place. You know what you're getting out of the first two, and it isn't good; now it's time to get guys who still might be good into that rotation.

by psk984 on Aug 5, 2005 6:06 AM EDT reply actions