AJC > Sports > Braves > Blog > Archives > 2006 > July > 20
Thursday, July 20, 2006
A trade that Luke the Drifter (or Hank) would approve
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Here it is, unprecedented special edition 8 p.m. (or so) blog for the loyal contributors to this space.
As I’ve obviously been a bit busy since 6 a.m. wakeup call in St. Louis until filing rewrite of trade story a while ago, I’ve not had time for discourse, or any course (I mean meals, etc.)
Felt bad when I tried to reply to Robert’s absurd Crawford-for-Jurries proposal on other blog just now, and the damn thing took about 3 minutes to download it was so bogged down. A bogged-down blog is not good for anyone, so I figured I’d post another to provide a proper forum following today’s big trade.
See, I care, people. I care.
And make no mistake, it was big. The trade, that is. To get Bob Wickman, arguably the best available bullpen arm, for an A-ball catching prospect who still needs a lot of work defensively and who never would have caught in Atlanta with McCann ahead of him … well, it’s really as much as could be asked.
At least for today.
I’m of the opinion, same as a few of you, that Braves need to make one more move, and I also believe they will. John S. (Schuerholz, not Smoltz) was non-commital when I asked him if he thought he’d make another deal, but I know he’s trying. Scott Willamson or one of the old lefties like Ray King, would be another big addition.
Why stop now? If you don’t have to mortgage the future to any great degree, and you’ve got about $4 mill to spend, which the Braves do, then go get another arm. They need another arm more than a bat, as the past few weeks have reminded us.
Sure, they could use a leadoff guy, but what are the chances you’re going to get a good one on the market right now, affordable and all? Not likely.
So add to the ‘pen with another legit contributor, then you’d have Wickman, fill-in-the-blank, Ray, Paronto, Yates, McBride and perhaps Thomson after Davies gets back and moves into the rotation. Potentially solid.
Today was big. Around baseball, folks are wondering how the Braves got Wickman for merely the 20th-rated prospect in their organization, and a still-raw defensive catcher at that. Max Ramirez won’t be in the majors for at least two years, maybe longer.
So tip the cap to the dapper old G.M., who simply does not get fleeced in trades. Sure, you wish he’d done it earlier, but Cleveland wasn’t ready to deal Wickman earlier, and wanted to try to drive up the price before they moved him.
This isn’t simply a salary dump. He’s still a solid closer. Not Mariano Rivera, but seriously, I’m not so sure I wouldn’t prefer Wickman to, say, Lidge right now. In fact, I know I’d prefer him.
Wickman’s ERA is over 4.00, but that’s from a few bad outings. And every time he has a bad one, he bounces back, shrugs it off, like a real closer’s supposed to. He ain’t Smoltz, but he’ll do. He’s certainly a huge upgrade over what we’ve seen the past two years, other than Reitsma’s great month and Farnsworth pre-playoff immolation.
Wickman pitched in 29 games this season, and allowed no earned runs in 23 of them. Five of his 13 earned runs (and his only homer) allowed this season came in one ugly appearance at Cincy’s Great American Small Park on June 30, and in four scoreless appearances since then he’s allowed two hits and one walk in four innings, including a save Wednesday on the road against the surging Angels.
During crunch time, and should the Braves make the playoffs, I know damn well I’d rather have him than Lidge or or any of the other guys who seem to come unglued when the temperature hits boil.
And besides, Wickman’s only given up one homer all year. One. After watching Sosa and Reitsma, et al, that’s gotta be a welcome relief for Braves players and coaches and Bobby.
I like the deal so much, I’m gonna bring back the ode to excellent hitting for one day, and make it an ode to the G.M., who stands his ground and doesn’t let us impatient media folks _ or you guys _ sway his personnel moves.
So to the stubborn, supremely confident, some-might-even-say arrogant, but really, really good G.M., we present another admittedly random ode to general excellence in the form of exemplary songwriting:
LOST HIGHWAY, by Leon Payne (cover version sung by Hank Williams)
I’m a rolling stone, all alone and lost,
For a life of sin, I have paid the cost.
When I pass by, all the people say
“Just another guy on the lost highway.”
Just a deck of cards and a jug of wine
And a woman’s lies make a life like mine.
Oh, the day we met, I went astray,
I started rollin’ down that lost highway.
I was just a lad, nearly twenty-two,
Neither good nor bad, just a kid like you,
And now I’m lost, too late to pray,
Lord, I’ve paid the cost on the lost highway.
Now, boys, don’t start your ramblin’ round,
On this road of sin or you’re sorrow bound.
Take my advice or you’ll curse the day
You started rollin’ down that lost highway
