Trader Jim Does It Again
Remember Endy Chavez? Sure you do! He's the guy who had a decent year last year with the then Expos, hitting enough singles to keep is numbers looking respectable. But he never walked. I mean, he NEVER walked, and he had an abysmal on base percentage.
Going into spring training, manager Frank Robinson pulled Chavez aside and said, "You're our starting center fielder and leadoff hitter. All you have to do is walk now and then and be a little more patient." So what does Chavez do? He becomes even more of a "free swinger" than he was before, as if that was possible.
With just a few weeks before the start of the regular season, Frank Robinson had enough and demoted him to AAA New Orleans. That did not go well. Endy wanted to be traded, but no one wanted him. No, Bowden told him. He's playing in New Orleans until he learns how to walk, or until he's traded.
Amazingly, Bowden found a sucker, uh, I mean, a team that wanted Endy Chavez. The Philadelphia Phillies had a similar situation. Marlon Byrd, who only two years ago, was a rising star, but 2004 was a "downer" for the young player. Both Phillies GM Ed Wade and Nats GM Jim Bowden realized that a "change of scenery" trade might be good for both of them. Hopeful, Bowden pulled the trigger.
We won.
Endy Chavez's statistics for 2005:
AVE: .189 --- HR: 0 --- RBI: 5 --- OBP: .286 --- SLG: .293
This looks very familiar, doesn't it??
Marlon Byrd's statistics for 205:
AVE: .346 --- HR: 0 --- RBI: 8 --- OBP: .410 --- SLG: 404
Endy Chavez, at the best, is a 4th or 5th outfielder. Marlon Byrd, on the other hand, has the potential to be a starting outfielder for a long time. Based on who Frank Robinson is playing and when, I think they are looking more towards Marlon Byrd then Ryan Church as the Nationals 3rd outfielder. I'd love to see a platoon of Church and Byrd in left, or Byrd full time. He has shown hustle, ability, and desire.
Endy Chavez has shown nothing.
Thanks Jim for getting this deal done. It [almost] makes up for the signing of Cristian Guzman.
# posted by Farid Rushdi @ 2:54 PM 
