Rumors and Jones speculation
Nothing’s happened today so far (wooo!). I don’t know what that means. Jones being pulled from winter ball (a fine reminder, btw, that their management of him this season was ridiculous) and particularly the account of his conversation with Bavasi seem to indicate that a Bedard deal was so close the Orioles could ask for Jones to stop playing and have it happen — and then at least that deal fell apart. Of course, I don’t know for sure.
In situations like this, I’ve increasingly become reluctant to speculate on rumors and try and figure out what happened, and when. I don’t know who told who what, and why some sources reported one deal and others another. We have limited information, and sometimes that means you wait.
During last season, I heard repeatedly that Broussard was going to be traded. Three of those times it was enough that I thought about running the rumor, and other times it was “I know Broussard’s business manager, and he’s trying to find Ben a place in New York to stay after he’s traded”-type stuff.
You don’t remember me writing about it because I didn’t write any of it up. And it didn’t happen. After a long stretch of getting burned, from hearing Hargrove was going to get fired to other stuff, I decided to set the bar for writing anything up at, essentially, “trade announced.” It’s just not worth it. If a major media outlet runs something, or the Times/PI mentions talks are ongoing, well, if nothing else it’s a current topic of discussion and potentially worth commenting on it.
I’ve learned though that to some extent people are going to believe weird stuff. I’ve read online that USSM spread rumors that we refuted, that we supported things we opposed, and the other way around. At some point, you have to say “well, I’m trying as best I can” and shrug.
So back to Jones. Churchill‘s reported that he heard a deal would be announced today, and it wasn’t. And yet, I don’t doubt he heard that — and Jones being pulled certainly does seem to point to the team being perilously close to a deal. If all of this means that for whatever reason the team’s stepped back from a huge mistake, I’m happy to accept that.
I’d really like to see some rumors of “talks have broken off” though, maybe with some strong public statements to go with it. Let me know if you see any.
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The sentiment that their management of Jones this season was ridiculous – isn’t some of that also based on the same kind of rumor mill stuff? We were constantly hearing about how he’d be called up on X date, and then it wouldn’t happen.
Discard all the rumors for a minute. Calling up Jones to not play him was silly. That whole thing was a debacle.
Huh. The only things I can find on the front page on Jones are a story posted on the 14th and a sidebar that quotes a source as saying the M’s aren’t so sure they want to give up Jones in a deal…
Was there something else up there about a deal today that’s since been removed?
Is there another reason, besides being traded, that he would have been pulled from winter ball for?
You hit it on the head, Derek.
The killer part is the suspense, and no new news. Not even ESPN has reported a word on this. You’d think that if the indications of a trade being close were true, they would have written something. Right?
I’m ready to read about something else. I just wish, one way or the other, this would come to an end.
I keep hoping the near unanimous chorus to keep Jones in local and national media might have some effect.
#3
On Monday, per Churchill’s top story (still there, just checked):
“a former front office member of one of the teams involved…predicts the Mariners will introduce Bedard at a press conference Thursday, “if not well before†and that the Mariners will certainly have vastly overpaid in the deal.”
There’s even a pretty good article in the times about how keeping Jones is the best move:
http://tinyurl.com/2c7flq
no rumors here … just the list of ST invitees, including young Mr Aumont.
Discard all the rumors for a minute. Calling up Jones to not play him was silly.
Okay, you have a case with that.
I just saw that sidebar on the Prospect Insider website. That is the best news I’ve heard during this entire ordeal.
#9
Tug Hulett is about to blow our minds. Broussard who?
I’ve come to think that this deal or non-deal would not be tragic either way (as opposed to my adamant support for the deal last week).
I’m not as sold on Jones’ upside as most of you here, but one thing that is great about him is the energy he brings to the team. One of my favorite things about Betancourt is that when you’re watching him you can tell he’s thrilled to be playing and there’s no place he’d rather be than playing SS in MLB and for the Mariners (as opposed to his oft-sulking counterpart at 2B). Watching ballplayers playing with passion and enjoyment is good for the team and good for fans — think about the young kids on the Braves and Rockies and the way they play.
I think Bedard is probably one of the top 5-7 pitchers in the AL, but unless we have him locked up to a short extension there will be immediate speculation about his status and that brings the wrong mindset and conversation into the clubhouse.
All that being said, I’d welcome Bedard’s presence at the top of the rotation as well as the increased odds of the M’s contending in 2008 and 2009.
Churchill’s saying the M’s might be wavering on trading Jones. Please let this be true.
With Bronson Sardinha aboard, who needs Jones?
Well, Churchill only reports it as speculation of his source that it is Jones that is the sticking point, but if that’s true then it makes me feel a lot better about Bavasi. And it makes more sense why the deal has gone down yet, as the Orioles would be foolish not to take any of the reported deals that involved Jones.
That Brewer column was actually pretty good.
I was looking up images of Adam Jones on Yahoo! and came across a picture of Erik Bedard. ):
When will it be reasonable to assume the Bedard talks are off? This tension can conceivably go on for months can’t it?
Re: # 20 – Tug Hulett is about to blow our minds.
Twenty years ago, that chapel leader might have blown Dick Wiliams’ mind. (And helped imprison Ozzie Vergil.)
I keep hearing Geoff Baker insinuate that the M’s have money and can spend without being overly concerned about overpaying. Many of us have thought that should have been the case for many years now. But, instead of spending money to acquire good pitching (or otherwise developing young pitching talent), the M’s are now forced to consider trading Adam Jones in order to get what they should already have. I fear that the loss of Adam Jones will be just the latest consequence of the M’s past failures.
#13 – his oft-sulking counterpart at 2B
I think Lopez was entitled to some sulking after his brother died. In 2006 (at least when he was hitting in the first half) he played with energy and enthusiasm — and he hit. If he hits next year I don’t really care how much he smiles.
EXT, SAFECO FIELD MAIN GATE, DAY
BAVASI: Okay Mac, we have an offer for Bedard. They want Jones, Clement, Morrow, Sherrill, Triunfel, Niehaus, the Moose, and two out of the three panels from the roof. What do you think?
MAC: Boy, that’s a steep price. But I like Bedard. A great arm. Wow, hard call. What do you think?
BAVASI: I’m torn. I want Bedard, but they’re asking a lot.
MAC: Yep. A lot.
…pause…
MAC: So, whadda ya gonna do?
BAVASI: I was hoping you’d decide.
MAC: I can’t make up my mind on this one.
BAVASI: Let’s flip a coin. Heads we do the deal, tails we don’t.
MAC: Great idea! Here’s a quarter.
BAVASI: No, this is too big a decision for a regular old quarter. I’ve got this rare Roman coin my dad gave me. Worth about twenty grand. Here, we’ll use that.
MAC: Okay, you flip.
BAVASI: (flips coin)
(coin lands on ground)
MAC: What is it? What did it land on?
BAVASI: It landed on it’s side! Now it’s rolling. Crap, it’s rolling towards the sewer grate! Get it!
(mad scramble, followed by the clink of a coin dropping through a sewer grate)
MAC: Huh.
BAVASI: $%#&*$#@!!!!
… pause …
MAC: So, ya gonna make the trade or not?
There’s no grate there…
22- That wasn’t as funny as the comment about Garza and Delmon Young. Good try, though.
Who posted that anyway?
And who in the heck is Bronson Sardinha?
Trade!
No wait?!!!
I don’t think the Ms dynasty is in jeopardy one way or the other.
[exceedingly not contributing to the discussion]
[you’ve clearly established you didn’t get the joke, thanks]
[So lit up, lit up, lit up allright/I’ll try to untie Manhattan]
I wonder if Dave has seen my request for a farm system post. if not, I’m asking for one right now.
26 – that was a joke, right?
I feel like trading Jones would be the equivalent of trading Mike Cameron – it doesn’t make any sense given the circumstances. They seem to be equal in terms of being four tool players.
from an Oriole blog:
Never underestimate the stupidity of Bill Bavasi. If there is a GM out there dumb enough to part with Jones, Triunfel, Tillman and Sherrill, its him.
There is no deal. The press in Baltimore says that the Mariners will not give what the O’s want…everything. The M’s won’t give up the farm…good! No deal, and let’s keep it that way.
Man and that’s coming from someone who has to put up with a team ran by Peter Angelos. I wonder if every other teams’ fans look down on the Mariners’ Management like that. I wouldn’t be surprised.
[ot]
Sorry!
M’s would be solid with Bedard this year. But if your gonna get Bedard I dont understand why they dont throw in a couple more prospects and get Johan who is a healthier more proven pitcher