Dear Fan Base:
“We finished in last place with you. We can finish in last place without you.”
Adam Frazier, right? Another giveaway, right? Just like when Joe Musgrove went to the same damn team, the San Diego Padres … right?
Honestly, though, time will tell if acquiring Tucupita Maracano, Michell Miliano, and Jack Suwinski will pay off in exchange for the infielder who was leading the majors in hits at the time of the transaction. Maracano is just 21 years old and has already climbed to the big leagues, but the prospect is still learning his MLB strike zone and has experienced a roller-coaster season to this point.
Miliano is 21 and was in Class A at the time of the trade took place, and his high total of whiffs has been accompanied by far too many free passes. That’s why the right-hander’s progress will be closely observed for the remainder of the 2021 season.
Suwinski is 23 years old and his power numbers at the plate were impressive with Double-A San Antonio prior to becoming a member of the Pittsburgh organization.
Meanwhile, Frazier is 29 and having his best season at the plate. The second baseman had 125 hits and a .324 average with the Pirates and was the ballclub No. 1 trading chip. In his first game with San Diego, Frazier went 2-for-5 and scored twice.
Here’s the big difference, however. At the time the trade took place, Pittsburgh was 25 games below .500 and in last place in the National League Central Division. The Padres, however, are competing this season in the NL West with a win-loss record that is 15 games above.500
That fact makes us recall what Pirates GM Branch Rickey said after trading away home run slugger Ralph Kiner to the Cubs in 1953 in a 10-player deal that reduced the team payroll by $67,000. The blockbuster transaction took place on June 4, 1953, with the Pirates in last place in the NL with a 15-28 record. The year before Pittsburgh was 50-104 and was the worst team in baseball.
That’s why, at the time, Rickey said, “We finished in last place with you. We can finish in last place without you.”
Gotta wonder if that’s what Ben Cherington mumbled, too, because if the general manager builds it, we just may come back.
Sincerely,
The Basement Haters
