Trade Deadline Disaster ?

You don't come in last place in two consecutive years because you are the unluckiest player in the league. Roster management is the reason, and this is why Stonehenge will end up in the basement again this season. There is no doubt Marv is a fantasy baseball veteran playing back when they lifted box scores from the newspaper and tallied it up the old fashion way, but clearly the dynasty aspect has threw him for a curve ball he just can't seem to hit.

Lets take a look at his end of the year projected keepers in no particular order.

1. Dan Uggla - actually having a very good year.
2. Jimmy Rollins - older and playing like shit, but have to keep for 2011
3. Nick Markakis - solid OF, not spectacular
4. Marlon Byrd - his #2 OF
5. Ike Davis - really like him
6. Aramis Ramirez - see Rollins
7. Kurt Suzuki - young catcher
8. Adam Laroche - good numbers
9. Shin Soo-Choo - his #1 OF

10. Justin Verlander - obviously his ace
11. Fransisco Cordero - obviously his only closer with value
12. Dice K - almost have to
13. Brandon Webb - will he ever pitch again?
14. Bronson Arroyo - not flashy but decent
15. Joe Saunders - in NL now
16. Ryan Franklin - hope he back as STL closer

Now sure you can argue some of these guys for others including Marvs man crush Cody Ross, but this is still an about list of what 2011 team is looking at.

Trade deadline deals he should have made.

1. Bye-Bye closers. Jon Rauch & Ryan Franklin both should have been traded weeks ago. Saves are at a premium this year and could of netted some solid young pitching which he needs more then anything. Rauch was never going to stick as Minnesota closer in 2011. If Nathan gets healthy, the job is his. Not trading Rauch throughout the year was a mistake. Same really with Franklin although with Franklin he does have a shot that he returns to closer in 2011, but with so much closer turn around and the fact that not everyone is going to keep their closers means he could have loaded up on closer in next year draft. Lets say for argument sakes, drop Ryan Franklin from keeper list and add Madison Bumgarner.

2. Jimmy Rollins - Bill & I both were hot for Rollins. Don't really tell me why considering he has been awful and hurt all year. Not sure if anyone else made him offers for Rollins, but a couple of mine that I did, I am glad they were not accepted looking back at it now. Marvs main beef was not having a quality SS in return for him. Kind of a lame excuse if you ask me. So you don't have a great SS in return who cares, draft one next year.

3. Russell Martin - Not sure if others had offered him anything for him after his hot start in the beginning of the year, but I know I did. Should have jumped all over that one with having Suzuki locked in. Now Martin is garbage and might not even be drafted next year. (this really not deadline disaster, but move he should have made)

4. RA Dickey - Dude is 35, and yes he is a knuckle baller so he may be able to stick around until he is 50 like Tim Wakefield, but he should have been on the market. 2.36 ERA 1.18 WHIP is pretty solid, and I know there was a market for him because plenty of teams up top could have used Dickey for playoff run.

5. Verlander - HUGE difference to me in a team like Marv who is in weak in pitching to a team like J-Fraud who has a few good pitching keepers. Verlander & Cordero are the only 2 pitchers on this entire roster that would warrant a roster spot from the playoff teams as a keeper. maybe someone takes a flier on Webb, who knows. Generally I don't like to be the guy who loses out on the best player in a deal, but sometimes you have to do it if you are in a bad position like this. Bumgarner,Wood & Richard would instantly become 3 keepers, or Gio/Kennedy/SLowey or something like that. I know i would have jumped on a chance to get Verlander because i am deep enough to do so, Jamie being the same way. Don't sell him off short since he is your #1 pitcher, but make a bidding war. The deals never went through last year, but Marc posted he was taking offers for hanley and jamie and I bombarded him with offers. each one getting increasingly better. Obviously they didn't work, but Marc wasn't really in a need position to do it either.

Maybe Marv will be back strong in 2011 and be a contender, maybe he will surpass Haller in the standings and not finish in last. Playing spoiler is sometimes almost as fun as winning, and Marv has the opportunity to do just that down the stretch. Either way, was another fun season and glad you were a lot more active then in years past when you just gave up after the all-star break. with an exceptional draft you could be a contender for the playoffs next season.