Fantasy Gm's v. MLB Gm's
I know that most fantasy leagues consist of 8 - 12 teams, and most do not have minor league rosters to handle...however, I honestly believe some Gm's are bumbling idiots.
I have never begun to understand why Gm's are willing to trade away top prospects for players in a contract year...The recent trade that has me perplexed is the Brew Crew going after C.C. Sabathia...for 4 big time prospects! The Brewers definitly do have some issues with their pitching staff, however they have even bigger problems than pitching...First problem, is the fact that they have absolutely ZERO offense from the catcher position! Second problem, until recently the Brewers were getting nothing out of J.J. Hardy! Third problem, the Brewers are definitly in love with Bill Hall like a 16 year old girl is with her crush in the 11th grade! The fourth and final problem, is the Mike Cameron experiment has to be coming to an end very very soon! The pitching really hasn't been the problem for the Brewers...Sheets, Capuano, Gallardo, Parra, and McClung...with Bush and Suppan on deck is a top end staff in the national league...but the injury bug has taken its toll on the Brewers...so their GM jumps the gun and goes after the big name pitcher and gives up the next right fielder and a huge bat to put in the line up with Corey Hart, Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, and J.J. Hardy! Gives up the Player of the Year in the Minor Leagues last year...what position was it at 3rd base...definitly a the second weakest position the Brewers have!
I personally believe hitting wins fantasy championships...however, if I am going to trade a pitcher or for a pitcher I am going to go after value and upgrade my team to the max...I believe the Indians believe they just have done this...Laporta in the outfield with Sizemore, Gutierrez, and Francisco is pretty sweet!!! Casey blake is getting old...well now there is the thirdbaseman they just got...and two of the top arms the Brewers have will definitly help!
Im not going to get started on the Yankees, Red Sox, Mets, Dodgers, Rangers, and Tigers...yes they may be decent teams...but many of them get their talent from other peoples systems, while other teams use the teams above farm systems to beat them...
The best fantasy gm's are ones that understand the keeper league mentality! I made the three craziest trades ever to teams in the playoff hunt so they would have depth...In the process I aqcuired David Wright, Chase Utley, Grady Sizemore, and Brandon Phillips...all the while I had Ryan Howard, and a year later saved my number 1 waiver priority to make sure i would get Ryan Braun! Yes I have all those guys on one team...and the other positions are pretty nasty as well...So the Keeper League Gm's without having to manage a farm system I believe can rival baseball Gm's...beat me up now its okay I can take it!
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Risk vs. Job Security...
I think the debate of Fantasy GMs vs. MLB GMs lies heavily on the risk vs. job security argument. As fantasy owners, we only have at risk our pride, our league entrance fees, and potential prize money. As a real GM, you have to worry about feeding the family. We (as fantasy GMs) can make more estute baseball moves because if we're wrong, we can throw back a player and start over in the draft next year. MLB GMs don't have that luxury, and often times they're in a win now or find a new job situation. That being said, there are some moves out there that just don't make sense. You did a good job pointing out the analysis that a fantasy GM would make w/ regard to their team in the Brewers' case, and how picking up CC gives them a good arm, but doesn't really address the REAL problems of the team. I can only imagine that they think the 1-2 punch of Sheets and CC will help compensate for some other weaknesses, and help drive them into the playoffs and possibly a world series championship...after all, isn't that why they made that deal?
Job Security...
I would love an opportunity to run a MLB franchise for two years...risk free that is!!! Well I wouldn't want to run the Royals, Nationals, Giants, Mariners, or the Rockies! I don't personally think that being a GM should be that difficult. However, you have to hope you have good people around you...if your scouts don't do a good job by looking at poor to marginal quality players you can have horrible drafts.
Case and point the Phillies have a weak farm system! Since 2000 the Phillies farm system has only placed 6 players in the show, and 2 of which are no longer with the team! What did the Phillies get for the 2 that got away(Gavin Floyd, and Micheal Bourn)...Aaron Rowand who is now gone to play for the putrid San Francisco Giants, and Brad Lidge who I was 100% weary of until now! I bet the Phils are wishing they would have held onto Floyd now...a 10 game winner with a 3.22 era and 80 k's...I bet that would be really nice to have pitch in between Hamels and Kendrick...Micheal Bourn, although he doesn't hit for a very high average has shown that if he gets a single or walks it pretty much means he is going to be getting a double out of it...32 stolen bases before the All Star break!
I am not saying that the job is easy, becuase these guys are in charge of MILLIONS os dollars every day of the year, however I just fell that some of these GM's are the biggest bumbling idiots in the world with the moves they make and ones they didn't! Give me a shot guys!
JDuff23
Phils win the East in 2007, looking to reapeat in 2008
Pink Slips...
One of the biggest rumors in Major League baseball circles right now is that Erik Bedard of the Seattle Mariners is on the market...if Seattle trades Erik Bedard they will be trading the guy that they sent their #1 prospect in their entire farm system Adam Jones, to the Baltimore Orioles away for what? Some minor leaguers that may take years to develop! Seattle's Gm might be an idiot...and then again he may be getting his pink slip soon!
JDuff23
Phils win the East in 2007, looking to reapeat in 2008