Trade Analysis: Ted Williams for...Erv Palica?

[KG Erwin]

So, I made this deal last night, and the Red Sox' response was: "We'd love to make this trade!"

Now, before you think the AI GM had completely gone bonkers, I looked at it a bit closer. The Sox' disposition is: "Looking to get younger". Needs: pitching.

In July 1947, Ted Williams is .276/10/42. He's 29 years old, has a POT of 11, and has a one year contract. 19 year old Erv Palica has a POT of 60, and is 2-2 with a 2.45 ERA and 4 saves. Plus, he has a 4-yr contract @ $28,458.

The Red Sox are in 7th place, and are already in a rebuilding mode. Apparently they were thinking of letting Ted go to free agency at the end of the season, getting nothing in return. Instead, they get a good young pitcher who still has maybe ten years ahead of him.

My Dodgers, in contrast, are in first place and are determined to make a pennant run. I signed Ted to a 2 year extension @ $68,551. I have adopted a "Just win, baby" attitude.

I thought about it carefully, and decided that I was NOT taking advantage of the AI in this case.

What do you guys think? Will Ted return to form playing in Ebbets Field? Could he be the final piece needed to get us to the Series and beat the damn Yankees? One more thing: did the inclusion of financials make all the difference?

[Silverbullet]

I reply as a long suffering original Brooklyn Dodgers fan (since 1947, my hero was Jackie Robinson the most exciting player ever to play the game.)
I would make that trade in a heartbeat!!!!
Erv Palica was a very good pitcher BUT there was only one Ted Williams.
I saw them both play.
He should make a very positive difference for your beloved Bums.
Good Luck and win it all now ( I always had to wait until next year.)[:(]

[KG Erwin]

Thanks for posting, Silverbullet. It's an honor to hear from someone who actually got to see my historical idols play. [&o]

I was born in 1957, so apart from books & videos, I only have the vicarious thrill of managing these guys in Pure Sim. Hope you'll check out my ongoing Locker reports.

[Nukester]

What are Ted's current ratings ? Since the game doesnt know Ted Williams from Joe Blow, maybe THIS Ted Williams is not going to develop like the real Ted did. That 11 in potential is kind of bad for a 29 year old, unless his ratings are already through the roof

[KG Erwin]

Apart from his lack of speed and average defensive abilities, he's not shabby at all:

[Frozen Stiffer]

Not being very familiar or experienced with running historical associations or replays, I would likely view players from an abstract perspective, not modified by their past peformance or what I know they did. I'm going to side with Nukester on this one, the 11 potential (and the neutral progress indicator) suggest that Ted has little-to-no advancement on the horizon. However, with his offensive capabilities what they are at present, you're still sure to extract a fair number of productive years out of him, as they will surely decline, but not necessarily drop 50-points in two or three years.
 
There's no question that his legs will start to give way to the point where he will struggle in a footrace against a 120-year old tortoise. At the same time, his fielding reaction (RANGE/HANDS) will become sloppier and sloppier, even if he can still gun the ball to first. However, it's his offensive capabilities that I think will ensure he remains relevant for the next 3-5 years. That would be my guess.
 
As far as answering "is this a good trade?", well... it depends who you ask. If the Red Sox needed a pitcher, it was a good trade for them. If you needed an offensive powerhouse, it was a good trade for you. If some other team wished they had received the services of Mr. Williams, then it was a bad trade to them. Regardless of who changes hands, as long as each team receives what they NEED and WANT, it's a good trade in my book.

[Nukester]

Thats pretty much what I was thinking Stiffer. While we all know Ted had a tremendous RL career, in this league the Red Sox may see him as a player that is past his prime (or at the peak of it), that doesnt have much future potential, and will cost them alot of money to resign (and maybe they have a another decent OF'r to fill his spot ?), and they see Palica as a very young moldable pitcher whom is effective right now at the age of only 19, has great future potential to be even better, and is going to be pretty cheap for the next 4 years (and they might have a pressing need for starters ?)

Although Ted's current ratings are fantastic, from a Red Sox rebuilding point of view, I wouldnt say you got one over on the AI, although if I was the AI I might have asked for an addition lesser prospect also [;)] (though as a human I limit myself to 1 for 1 or 2 for 2 trades only)

[Frozen Stiffer]

You know, I can almost imagine that the AI in some alternate dimension, posting in its own version of a Puresim board asking other members if he pulled one over on KG...
 

[KG Erwin]

ORIGINAL: Frozen Stiffer

You know, I can almost imagine that the AI in some alternate dimension, posting in its own version of a Puresim board asking other members if he pulled one over on KG...

I dunno, FS, but is there now a "curse of the Kid?". Dang, two of MY pitchers went out injured in one game after I traded for Mr. Williams. There are things that happen in Pure Sim that border on the metaphysical, and sometimes I just shake my head and think, "No, this can't be happening, but I just saw it with my own eyes." [X(]

On the positive side, I (in my overactive imagination) posit that Ted is offering up tidbits on the science of hitting to the younger guys on the team.

[Frozen Stiffer]

I feel you, KG.
 
Just today my starting pitcher went down in the top of the 4th with an injury- his head exploded or something. Until then the opposing pitcher was working a no-hitter against us. I had to call in a reliever who (in my pretend-world) was cold and taken by surprise that he got the call. What did the offense do? That's right- they blew up for 7 runs in the bottom of the 4th, three more runs in EACH of the next two innings. We won the game 15-2. The reliever needed someone to back him up and the offense came through.
 
Sorry, but I don't think you can program that- it's good energy and karma. I know it.
 
     Can someone say... Divine Intervention?     

[KG Erwin]

Hmmph, of course not.... it is all due to brilliant management. [:D]

[Frozen Stiffer]

Ooooooo.... I like your thinking! I want you close by when I'm renegotiating my contract!

[Bustoff]

ORIGINAL: KG Erwin

I dunno, FS, but is there now a "curse of the Kid?". Dang, two of MY pitchers went out injured in one game after I traded for Mr. Williams. There are things that happen in Pure Sim that border on the metaphysical, and sometimes I just shake my head and think, "No, this can't be happening, but I just saw it with my own eyes." [X(]

My most recent metaphysically absurd moment occurred early in the 1947 season for my New Bedford Devils. LF Pedro Cerrano--my star hitter--went down with a leg injury in the seventh game of the season. The AI decided it was serious enough to keep him sidelined for eight months, which prompted me to scream, "What the hell happened? Did your leg fall off???" Where was JoeBoo when Pedro really needed him? [8|]

BTW, Frozen Stiffer, if you're reading this, add this one to your list of "interesting" fictional player names--Ulysses Fiorentino. Now that's really metaphysical.