In truth, it was more than not hustling. There was a feeling that he would completely sit out if he wasn't traded. He would have left after the season anyway, so it was time for him to go. The actual trade isn't that bad; Bay has very similar numbers to Manny this year and they have him for at least next year too, freeing up money to go after one of the big name pitchers available. Obviously Bay is no Manny, but he is a very good player, and the dropoff at the plate should be balanced somewhat by the improved defense and baserunning. What I don't like is that they gave up way too much and completely ignored the bullpen.
Past success like Renteria? Or Lugo? Or Gagne? Or Pena? Or then giving up on Pena for nothing? Or his failure to build a reliable bullpen every other year? Or Crisp? And don't forget that he wouldn't have made the Beckett deal. I'm not saying he's never had a good move, but his record with trades and free agents is 50-50 at best. The team has an excellent amateur scouting department and has done a great job with the draft, but the moves at the Major League level have been hit or miss. The Nomar trade was a horrible deal, and if the team didn't happen to get hot in '04, he likely would have been out of a job. As for Duquette, he built the core of the '04 team. Manny, Lowe, Pedro, Damon, Varitek, Wakefield, Nixon... all Duquette guys. Yes, Epstein brought in Schilling and Foulke, but it was a championship caliber team in '03 without them as well.
At the time of the deals, the Crisp and Ganges moves were both very good moves. Given the information at the time, each made sense and each should have worked out, and most agreed at the time that they were good moves. It's possible to make a good trade that ends up not panning out, but you have to realize that a sound process is clearly there when other deals are being made such as the signings of Ortiz, and extension of Beckett early in '06, etc. If the playoffs began today, the Red Sox would be in the post-season for the 5th time in 6 years. They have won 2 out of the last 4 world series, and Epstein has built the $100 M player development machine he envisioned in '03, and believe it or not they are still very good this year and lead the AL in run differential. Boston fans have an excellent GM in Epstein, I don't get why you hate him so much.
Manny's slapping the hell out of the ball so far. Not used to this--these runs things you guys speak of. :up:
