Forgive my weak attempt at word-play in my inaugural authorial entry. Wire services are reporting that ex-Jay Billy Koch and two Grade C prospects from Oakland's minor league system have been sent to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for Keith Foulke, Mark Johnson and some cash.
Koch, who is arbitration-eligible and expected to command a salary in the 4M+ range for the next two seasons, is arguably a worse closer than Foulke, whose 6M contract concludes after this season. Predictably, Rob Neyer at ESPN (who wrote a well-researched column last year claiming that Foulke was in fact the most valuable relief pitcher in all of major-league baseball during the past three years)and Derek Zumsteg at BP have both commented negatively on Kenny Williams' acumen yet again, which inevitably leads to the further deterioration of Gord Ash's already-tattered reputation as a baseball executive. Wait, isn't he currently employed by the Selig mafia in Milwaukee?
It appears that Billy Beane has again made a shrewd transaction to earn the A's the best possible return from a deal where they gave up an expendable third baseman named Eric Hinske to the Jays. I suggest that all Jays fans should give thanks that the A's already employ the services of Mr. Chavez.
Several questions spring to mind as this trade is digested. First, might J.P. Ricciardi be able to move Kelvim Escobar to another team whose management doesn't subscribe to the theory that closers are a highly volatile and over-valued commodity? Most visitors to this site would agree that the Jays already have a viable (and much cheaper) replacement in Cliff Politte (ERA+ of 124 in 57.3 IP, with 57 Ks).
Secondly, how long will this window of opportunity remain open? A much-publicized hire by the Boston Red Sox, a man named Bill James, recently wrote of his belief that top-flight major-league relievers are not being used properly by their managers where their contributions can do the most good: in other words, when the score is tied, not in the ninth inning where a team is up by 3 runs. If a high-profile franchise like Boston begins to put this belief into practice on the field, one can only assume that the Book might get revised. Unfortunately, this means that the Jays cannot expect to take advantage of this gap between perception and reality for an indefinite period of time.
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20021203054628999