Which Seattle Star's departure hurt you the most?

Fishpo31 said:

dnc said:

Fishpo31 said:

I was in Seattle the day the Randy Johnson trade went down. Mom was in Virginia Mason, I was holed-up with my dad in the little hotel across the street (trigger FRANNY comps)...walked across to the bar in the Sorrento Hotel for a beer, they announce it on the game broadcast, and 15-20 minutes later, in come Woody Woodward and Chuck Armstrong. I was the only one in the bar, and I had some interaction with both of them previously. Woody made eye contact, and asked "How you doing?", to which I replied, "probably better than you guys right now"...they laughed, sat down, and started buying me beers.

At one point, Woody looked at me and said, "I just traded a guy with a bad back that didn't want to be here for THREE big leaguers (Freddie, Guillen, Halama), and everyone in Seattle thinks I'm a fucking idiot"...In the business, this trade is known as a draw...csb

I see similarities with Russ, in that it became obvious that he didn't want to be here, a big star traded for guy(s) that no one knows or cares about, and everyone loses their shit...time will tell.

The Randy trade turned out terribly for the M's.

Guillen was far more fragile than RJ.

On the surface, absolutely, I agree. But, at the time of the trade, RJ was 9-10 with a 4-plus ERA. Post-trade, he was 10-1, 1.28. (Yes, I googled it, I'm not THAT much of a nerd, LOL!). He was pissed since before spring training that they didn't make an offer to extend, and he bitched out. Medicals played a big role in that, and you win some and lose some. IIRC, they never would have gotten Sele in 2000, because he signed with Baltimore, and their doctors wouldn't sign off on it.

I researched this in depth years ago and this is mostly a myth. His strikeout and walk rates were just as strong pro trade as post trade. He had a lot of balls randomly fall in for hits before the deal that evened back out after the deal.

The haul for him was semi-decent but it's inarguably a terrible deal. They would have been much better off with RJ than with Armstrong/Woodward plus the return.

dnc said:

Fishpo31 said:

dnc said:

Fishpo31 said:

I was in Seattle the day the Randy Johnson trade went down. Mom was in Virginia Mason, I was holed-up with my dad in the little hotel across the street (trigger FRANNY comps)...walked across to the bar in the Sorrento Hotel for a beer, they announce it on the game broadcast, and 15-20 minutes later, in come Woody Woodward and Chuck Armstrong. I was the only one in the bar, and I had some interaction with both of them previously. Woody made eye contact, and asked "How you doing?", to which I replied, "probably better than you guys right now"...they laughed, sat down, and started buying me beers.

At one point, Woody looked at me and said, "I just traded a guy with a bad back that didn't want to be here for THREE big leaguers (Freddie, Guillen, Halama), and everyone in Seattle thinks I'm a fucking idiot"...In the business, this trade is known as a draw...csb

I see similarities with Russ, in that it became obvious that he didn't want to be here, a big star traded for guy(s) that no one knows or cares about, and everyone loses their shit...time will tell.

The Randy trade turned out terribly for the M's.

Guillen was far more fragile than RJ.

On the surface, absolutely, I agree. But, at the time of the trade, RJ was 9-10 with a 4-plus ERA. Post-trade, he was 10-1, 1.28. (Yes, I googled it, I'm not THAT much of a nerd, LOL!). He was pissed since before spring training that they didn't make an offer to extend, and he bitched out. Medicals played a big role in that, and you win some and lose some. IIRC, they never would have gotten Sele in 2000, because he signed with Baltimore, and their doctors wouldn't sign off on it.

I researched this in depth years ago and this is mostly a myth. His strikeout and walk rates were just as strong pro trade as post trade. He had a lot of balls randomly fall in for hits before the deal that evened back out after the deal.

The haul for him was semi-decent but it's inarguably a terrible deal. They would have been much better off with RJ than with Armstrong/Woodward plus the return.

I concur, again, externally. Knew some guys on the inside that told me that RJ, prickly in the best of times, had pissed off a lot of people (teammates), to the point that he forced them to make a decision (probably some Russ comps there)... Having been a (small) part of similar discussions, risk management is first and foremost at the top of the list. Top end guy, back injury documented, big $$$ for an extension, poor recent performance and attitude...tough decisions. They could have re-signed him for $MM, he doesn't get cut on and blows out (back OR arm), or he gets cut on and it doesn't work, and they are on the hook for it, or he signs (doubtful at the time) and is pissed off in perpetuity, affecting his performance, and the guys that did it are looking for jobs (which is a part of every decision ever made in MLB)...Good stuff, DNC!

Durrant - because they took the whole fucking team with him.

Screw you, Howard Schultz. And fuck you, too, Steve Balmer.