Certain debates in baseball do not interest me in the slightest bit. One that I find completely dis-interesting is the annual verbal and written machinations about which player should have been on the All-Star team. Then the inevitable conclusion is always, "expand the rosters and this won't be a problem any longer." Well, of course it will, it doesn't matter where you set the roster size, there will always be borderline candidates. So c'mon, leave that horse rest in peace. Besides, does anyone really care about the All-Star Game at this point?
But one comparison I do enjoy is the good ol' fashioned trade. Especially the ones where financial variables need not be considered. Yesterday's swap of Ugueth Urbina and Ramon Martinez of the Tigers for Placido Polanco of the Phillies is classic with both teams dealing from a position of strength to address a weakness.
But who got the better end of the deal seems to be a matter of debate. While I've already stated that I think the trade was a good one for the Phillies, particularly in terms of its timeliness, I think David Pinto summed it up best:
If [Polanco] can keep that up, the Tigers improve greatly at 2nd base offensively, where their hitters have a combined OBA of .271.
Urbina is doing what a relief pitcher should do, striking out lots of batters. He has 31 in 27 1/3 innings. That gives the Phillies a great 1-2 combination of Urbina and Wagner, and should help the team shorten games to seven innings. The move should also improve the Phillies 5.68 ERA from the bullpen, 14th in the NL.
Looks like a good move for both teams. The Phillies had a comparative advantage in offense at 2nd base, the Tigers had a comparative advantage in relief pitching, so interleague trade occured.
Other opinions from around the 'sphere...
...Shallow Center gives the trade his thumbs up, mainly because Chase Utley will become more comfortable in his job security (and in my mind, if he plays this well while uncomfortable...) and because Ed Wade was able to secure more than just the standard aged veteran. Mr. Durso is right, Urbina is in a different class than Steady Eddie's past in-season acquisitions.
...The Beer Leaguer also gave his endorsement to the trade, reasoning that this trade signals Ed Wade wants to win and win now.
...The 700 Level reports an interesting theory/rumor, one that states that one of the reasons Ed Wade pulled the trigger on this trade was also to keep Urbina away from other NL East teams. If there is any truth to that, I think Wade deserves even more credit. Enrico also engages in a little bit of speech therapy, instructing on the correct pronunciation of "Ugueth"...I'll just use Oogy.
...The Midway Phillies likes the trade as well, and adds a little history for perspective-sake, reminding phans that Urbina was likely available in 2003 to replace Joe Table when he imploded during the pennant race.
...Unfortunately, Tom Goodman did not have comments at "press time" ("press time" meaning, "at the time I pressed the publish button"), but I'm very curious to know his thoughts too.
...Once Minutiae got over his emotional attachment to Polanco, he liked the trade as well. Way to use your head Jeff!
...Tigers-centric bloggers aren't as enthusiastic. Brian at Tigers Blog is "baffled", but I think he's over-analyzing things. Just because the VORP numbers don't even out doesn't mean it's not a good trade. Polanco, in my opinion, is a vast improvement over Omar Infante. The Detroit Tigers Weblog, on the other hand, feels the value is adequate in return for Urbina and Martinez, but thinks that the Tigers are so far out of first place (eleven games) that young prospects are what Dave Dombrowski, the Tigers general manager, should have been seeking.
