http://www.sbnation.com/users/scoreboard Posts made by scoreboard on SB Nation http://www.bucsdugout.com/2008/4/27/461758/the-next-bucs-dugout-conte scoreboard Sun, 27 Apr 2008 17:19:58 -0000 <p>In honor of Matt Morris being released, is it time for a Worst Dave Littlefield Transaction poll?&nbsp; Or would that be laying the schadenfreude on a bit thick right on the heels of the Worst GM poll?&nbsp; We can at least toss out some nominees.&nbsp; The Leo Nunez for Benito Santiago trade sticks out most in my mind, because it literally almost caused Charlie's head to explode.&nbsp; Others include the Aramis Ramirez trade, the drafting of low-upside pitchers in the first round, the failure to protect Chris Shelton in the Rule 5 draft.&nbsp; Some moves were egregious at the time they were made, but did not backfire (or haven't yet) as badly as they could have; some looked okay at the time, but turned out badly.&nbsp; Which is worse?</p> <p>This could get out of hand quickly.&nbsp; Maybe a Best Dave Littlefield Transaction poll would be more managable.&nbsp; It would certainly be shorter.</p> http://www.bucsdugout.com/2007/10/10/104937/71 scoreboard Wed, 10 Oct 2007 14:49:37 -0000 <p>You know those historical practices, like bleeding or most uses of medicinal leeches, we look back on and say "what were they thinking"? &nbsp;I often wonder what current practices people will look back on a hundred years from now and ask the same question. &nbsp;One thing which is definitely on my list is managerial usage patterns of the modern closer.</p><p>Two nights ago, Cleveland manage-bot Eric Wedge removed his best reliever, who had just blown through three Yankees in the eighth inning in about five pitches, in favor of a man with an ERA above five. He happened to get away with it, as Joe Borowski allowed only a single upper-deck homerun to Bobby Abreu and an extremely long foul fly to Jorge Posada before escaping the inning. &nbsp;What a "save."</p><p>What is it going to take before managers decide that winning championships are worth the risk of bruising the egos of a few relief pitchers? &nbsp;The evening before, Joe Torre had probably ended the career of the best pitcher of the past fifty years by removing him after 2 1/3 innings because he just didn't have his stuff anymore. &nbsp;I'm sure it was a difficult move for Torre personally, but he had a series to prolong, and the move worked. &nbsp;Is it going to take the loss of a pennant or World Series clinching game before managers start using their best relief pitchers when the season is on the line? &nbsp;It might, and stay tuned because it could happen this year. &nbsp;Joe Borowski, the Indians medicinal leech, isn't done sucking.</p>