Yeah, but again, you don't really know that. Anything could happen with Yaz and make the next man up an everyday fixture...we've seen that exact episode happen before with Yaz and this time they're better prepared if the situation arises. Depth has been upgraded and even if say Yaz just falls on hard times with a terribly timed slump, now, they have an experienced guy that isn't atrocious. It's just a forward thinking luxury move. The reach I was speaking to was just in terms of saying that Chooch won't play much. None of us have any way of proving that because who knows what happens from here on out.
I think the PR side needs to be taken into consideration in any deal. Most of the time the PR consideration will be extremely minor - but it should always be there. It's why we didn't trade for Chapman. You don't have to sell me on the trade from a baseball perspective. I get it. But I also see players and fans emotionally upset about this, and that was extremely predictable. When you can predict a reaction like this you look for other ways to make the deal happen, ways to lessen the emotional impact. That's the main point. Like BZ said, whether or not the reaction should be what it is, that doesn't change the reality of the reaction.
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/why-tr...saddened-the-dodgers-clubhouse-044256678.html Good article. Just hope this does not screw the team chemistry and send this team in a giantesque spiral. Lets all remember MGT traded Uribe and Puig started heading south.....just sayin.
So any players who are going to dwell on AJ being shipped off should just be traded as well? No room for that girly stuff? There's no crying in baseball? That's all well and good until one of those players is Clayton Kershaw.
I agree, but " all in " on the PR side? Solution? Because if it's really that bad I don't see how you trade for Ruiz while keeping Ellis and " his backers " happy if his spot is basically taken and they throw him a line for sentimental reasons. There's just too many variables to consider when strolling down this path and most of them have already been mentioned..like Ellis' own aspirations here. As in, would he want to basically be turned into a coach? Does he fill like he can play beyond this year, would he rather go elsewhere ala Uribe and perhaps show that he can at least make someone's roster next year? All of the above is why I'm picky about the PR sandwiches that I eat. I know 1 thing for sure, Ruiz>>>Ellis
One of his nicknames is Mr. Octubre. He is clutch. You guys are buying the media spin. If grandal gets hurt the offense takes a huge hit. With Ruiz it stays afloat. AJ as a starting everyday Catcher... Let that sink in. They probably need to start resting Grandal for the playoffs too. Expect to see a lot of Ruiz. Plus its great that your backup Catcher is skilled enough to also have value as a pinch hitter. His OBP against lefties is sky high. Getting Ruiz is like getting an Utley at catcher.
I'd hope they'd man up before allowing AJ's departure be their own downfall. I'll tell you like this, and I love me some Kershaw..more than any other player since '88..but if Kershaw can't perform without AJ he can GTFO too. That'd be the gayest shit I've ever seen. I would legit be embarrassed to call myself a Kershaw fan if he can't pitch without AJ Ellis. He can dwell all he wants, but perform.
This idea that Ruiz will barely play so the trade was only a small upgrade is folly. Ruiz will play a lot. We need him more than y'all think.
There's one thing I remember about the Dodgers when shit like this happens, and I' ve been a fan for a long, long time...and it's sobering, but a stark and cold reality... They traded Jackie Robinson to the Giants. He refused to go, but they made the deal. O'Malley, and his ilk, are alive and well. Everywhere.
Even with the nickname of Chooch ? What is the genesis of that name? Isn't Puig already a chooch by himself?
Aj should refuse to report then sign with the dodgers a minor league deal and start coaching up Barnes.
Aj should refuse to report then sign with the dodgers a minor league deal and start coaching up Barnes.
Possibly the worst trade in baseball history from the human perspective. An embarrassment to have on the books. The AJ trade feels like it's in that ilk. Not nearly to the degree. But I guess the modern era of baseball started with the greatest player in the sport being traded to a rival team for a bucket of balls, and almost 100 years later the spirit is still the same.
Happens on both the player's and team's behalf and in all sports. Favre walked his ass to Minnesota, Rice moved from the Niners to the Raiders, etc. Lakers eventually traded Derek Fisher ( who actually has multiple championships unlike Ellis) If it's any kind of spirit is a universal one and businesslike from both team and player aspects. Mind you, I probably should've used better examples, as in guys on Ellis' level..too many of them to count.