Comments on: On This Date in 1987 http://www.dailyfungo.com/2008/08/12/on-this-date-in-1987/ Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:56:45 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Mike McClary http://www.dailyfungo.com/2008/08/12/on-this-date-in-1987/comment-page-1/#comment-51195 Mike McClary Sun, 17 Aug 2008 00:40:35 +0000 http://www.dailyfungo.com/?p=1266#comment-51195 I didn't add my usual defense of the trade in this post, but perhaps I should have. From most accounts, John Smoltz was a middling pitcher mired in double-A. This was not Jeff Bagwell for Larry Andersen, for crying out loud. I agree with Doug and Mike -- but especially Mike's point about Smoltz's hypothetical Tigers career. With the cupboard bare, he would've been traded -- most likely by Randy Smith to the Astros or Padres. If the Tigers had won the World Series that year, the sting would've been soothed considerably, I didn’t add my usual defense of the trade in this post, but perhaps I should have. From most accounts, John Smoltz was a middling pitcher mired in double-A. This was not Jeff Bagwell for Larry Andersen, for crying out loud.

I agree with Doug and Mike — but especially Mike’s point about Smoltz’s hypothetical Tigers career. With the cupboard bare, he would’ve been traded — most likely by Randy Smith to the Astros or Padres.

If the Tigers had won the World Series that year, the sting would’ve been soothed considerably,

]]> By: Mike http://www.dailyfungo.com/2008/08/12/on-this-date-in-1987/comment-page-1/#comment-51176 Mike Sat, 16 Aug 2008 17:13:41 +0000 http://www.dailyfungo.com/?p=1266#comment-51176 Obviously Atlanta got the better end of this deal, in terms of long term payoff, but people would think completely differently about it if Doyle had helped us get a pennant and not just into the playoffs. As some columnist or blogger once pointed out, by the time Smoltz got so good, the Tigers were already so bad, having him wouldn't have made that much of a difference. Unless we traded him for other key prospects, he would have left via free agency ASAP. In other words, it wasn't as bad a move a most people say. Obviously Atlanta got the better end of this deal, in terms of long term payoff, but people would think completely differently about it if Doyle had helped us get a pennant and not just into the playoffs. As some columnist or blogger once pointed out, by the time Smoltz got so good, the Tigers were already so bad, having him wouldn’t have made that much of a difference. Unless we traded him for other key prospects, he would have left via free agency ASAP. In other words, it wasn’t as bad a move a most people say.

]]> By: Doug http://www.dailyfungo.com/2008/08/12/on-this-date-in-1987/comment-page-1/#comment-51091 Doug Wed, 13 Aug 2008 23:36:19 +0000 http://www.dailyfungo.com/?p=1266#comment-51091 I'll take the 9-0 from Doyle. Would've preferred at least a couple of post-season wins, though. I’ll take the 9-0 from Doyle. Would’ve preferred at least a couple of post-season wins, though.

]]> By: Jake http://www.dailyfungo.com/2008/08/12/on-this-date-in-1987/comment-page-1/#comment-51064 Jake Wed, 13 Aug 2008 04:19:39 +0000 http://www.dailyfungo.com/?p=1266#comment-51064 That was a dumb move as time has showed us..... That was a dumb move as time has showed us…..

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