Ahead of the full recap at end May, some important news.
Things are going pretty well so far, but one position we are struggling at production-wise is 3B. I have a bit of a sniff around for options to upgrade until, in the middle of a series against the other team involved, the following big trade is formulated, canvassed and completed.
TRADE 1 OF 5 (05/18/14)
OF Vin Campbell, 2B Nap Lajoie, P Harry Harper and P Lou Fiene traded to Boston (NL) for 3B Frank Baker
I need not explain the quality of Frank "Home Run" Baker. 1912 MVP, a huge bat (career 318 / 369 / 456 slash) and reliable glove (2.5 fielding runs this season already).
That said, there’s no doubt we’ve taken a risk here trading a proven commodity like Vin, even with Elmer Smith having slotted in so well. And Harper has every chance of becoming a valuable SP down the track. (Larry Lajoie is a FA at season-end and Lou Fiene had little chance of featuring for us.)
But Frank is just 28 and should therefore have plenty of productive seasons to come. Only plays the one position which makes us somewhat inflexible at the corners with Pipp similarly one-dimensional. But I have no doubt this makes us a markedly improved ballclub moving forward.
It leaves us just a tad thin for OF backup, and I'll be on the lookout for an upgrade there. Carey moves back to CF, with Smith in left. Ingerton will continue to platoon v LHP at 1B and now backup the corners for the remainder.