OT: Brewers a dream come true for Marcum

Post #1 » by **LittleOzzy** » Wed Dec 15, 2010 5:49 pm

When Milwaukee Brewers general manager Doug Melvin began talking about trading top prospect Brett Lawrie to the Toronto Blue Jays, he didn't envision coming away with an established major-league pitcher.

"They wanted to give us prospects for Lawrie," Melvin recalled. "This came as a little bit of a surprise to us to be able to acquire someone of Shaun Marcum's ability.

"We felt if we could get someone of his caliber, we were willing to do that."

On his 29th birthday, Marcum was introduced Tuesday afternoon at a media session at Miller Park. After nearly five years in Toronto, the Kansas City native said it was "a dream come true" to be dealt to a team in the Midwest at the outset of the winter meetings.

"I'm going to go out there and battle and compete and give this organization a chance to win," said Marcum, who went 13-8 with a 3.64 earned run average in 31 starts for Toronto last season.

"You come here and see the atmosphere, the fan support, the players here. It's an opportunity I'm looking forward to."

Marcum was asked how it felt to escape the American League East Division.

"A lot better now that Boston went out and did what they did," said Marcum, referring to the acquisitions of Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford. "That division is a tough division, day in and day out.

"When you're in a division like that, you can't go out there and just throw. You've got to learn how to pitch. That's one thing I was able to do there."

With the free-agent market both pricey and thin, Melvin said he figured it would take a trade to get an established starting pitcher.

"We feel he can fit in at the top of our rotation," Melvin said. "It's something we really needed. We haven't been able to fill the spots of Ben Sheets and CC (Sabathia) since they left (after 2008).

"I've heard nothing but great things after we made the trade, from former (teammates) and general managers, about the competitive spirit he has when he steps out on the mound. He was one of the top pitchers in the American League last year with an ERA in the 3s, and that's something we haven't had.

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/brewers/111896124.html

torontoaces04 · Post #2 » by **torontoaces04** » Wed Dec 15, 2010 9:21 pm

Truly a workhouse for the Jays last season. Not overpowering by any means, but extremely effective. Reminded me of a poor-mans Greg Maddux.

kelso · Post #3 » by **kelso** » Wed Dec 15, 2010 9:27 pm

Awesome pitcher and seems like a great gut to have around. He will be missed in Toronto and I wish him all the best in the National League.

Ducksplatt · Post #4 » by **Ducksplatt** » Wed Dec 15, 2010 10:06 pm

kelso wrote:Awesome pitcher and seems like a great gut to have around. He will be missed in Toronto and I wish him all the best in the National League.

Yeah, I am going to miss that gut too :lol:

But seriously, I hope Lawrie is all what AA thinks he is as Marcum could definitely eat some innings in a decent fashion.

evilRyu · Post #5 » by **evilRyu** » Thu Dec 16, 2010 2:36 am

guts ftw....!!!

hyper316 · Post #6 » by **hyper316** » Thu Dec 16, 2010 2:52 am

those are empty words from marcum. i bet he would rather stay in toronto or go to a big market team. who would want to go to milwaukee? and the team is not making the playoffs. i guess he just want to get locked up on a long contract. dont get me wrong, i like marcum, but he went over the top by saying that

Chevy Chase · Post #7 » by **Chevy Chase** » Thu Dec 16, 2010 11:03 am

I was never sold on Marcum. I just didn't feel he had the stuff to be a 1 or a 2. Now he did post decent numbers last year, but it seems to me he got a lot of run support (too lazy to look it up). We would have had to pay him big money because we had made him our opening day starter meanwhile I think RR is as good a pitcher and we just locked him up at end of the rotation money. Good move AA (as long as Lawrie isnt a bust).

J-Roc · Post #8 » by **J-Roc** » Thu Dec 16, 2010 4:19 pm

Rich Griffin thinks AA shrewdly gave Marcum to the Brewers, for Lawrie, to get the Brewers out of any possible Greinke sweepstakes. Bewers get the starter they were looking for. And they give up the one main piece they might have shopped for Greinke.

Post #9 » by **YogiStewart** » Thu Dec 16, 2010 5:01 pm

hyper316 wrote:those are empty words from marcum. i bet he would rather stay in toronto or go to a big market team. who would want to go to milwaukee?

no, i really believe the dude is sincerely happy to be going to Milwaukee.
you don't hear that often.

hyper316 · Post #10 » by **hyper316** » Thu Dec 16, 2010 5:05 pm

YogiStewart wrote:
hyper316 wrote:those are empty words from marcum. i bet he would rather stay in toronto or go to a big market team. who would want to go to milwaukee?

no, i really believe the dude is sincerely happy to be going to Milwaukee.
you don't hear that often.

Marcum is always about winning in his interviews. I can't help but say he is taking a step back going to Brewers, especially Fielder leaving soon and Brewers going into rebuilding mode that will take longer than the Jays.

J-Roc · Post #11 » by **J-Roc** » Thu Dec 16, 2010 6:33 pm

Speaking of long rebuilding processes, this quote from Carmelo Anthony made me laugh....

"Me and Masai and Josh are all on the same page right now,'' Anthony said. "If anything was to happen (with a trade), I don't think that they would ship me to the Kansas City Royals or anything like that. That's just my take on it. I don't know. They might be thinking something different.''

Like honestly, that's harsh when your organization is referred to in that manner, and by someone from a different sport!

evilRyu · Post #12 » by **evilRyu** » Thu Dec 16, 2010 6:45 pm

J-Roc wrote:Speaking of long rebuilding processes, this quote from Carmelo Anthony made me laugh....
"Me and Masai and Josh are all on the same page right now,'' Anthony said. "If anything was to happen (with a trade), I don't think that they would ship me to the Kansas City Royals or anything like that. That's just my take on it. I don't know. They might be thinking something different.''

Like honestly, that's harsh when your organization is referred to in that manner, and by someone from a different sport!

lol that's hilarious.. the Royals are a punchline now

Hoopstarr · Post #13 » by **Hoopstarr** » Thu Dec 16, 2010 6:58 pm

Harsh. Melo is a baseball fan though. In the last ESPN Mag, he said he's 50/50 on his decision to play hoops over baseball and "I would have been a good pitcher". So it's not a completely random jab.

Msgrv32 · Post #14 » by **Msgrv32** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 6:24 am

torontoaces04 wrote:Truly a workhouse for the Jays last season. Not overpowering by any means, but extremely effective. Reminded me of a poor-mans Greg Maddux.

Yeah I concur.

Msgrv32 · Post #15 » by **Msgrv32** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 6:34 am

sci96krusty wrote:I was never sold on Marcum. I just didn't feel he had the stuff to be a 1 or a 2. Now he did post decent numbers last year, but it seems to me he got a lot of run support (too lazy to look it up). We would have had to pay him big money because we had made him our opening day starter meanwhile I think RR is as good a pitcher and we just locked him up at end of the rotation money. Good move AA (as long as Lawrie isnt a bust).

Well I believe you are wrong about Marcum and here is why:

1) He may not have the overpowering stuff of an Ace but Marcum has the potential to win 17-20 games. He's going to consistently throw about 200 innings so you want him near the top of the rotation. He has pin point control and can strike guys out with his stuff... even though he pitches to contact.

2) You are too lazy to look it up, but his ERA alone over his Jays career should set your mind at ease. Here we have a guy consistenly under 4 with his era and all you can say is 'well he got run support'

3) You think we would have ended up paying Marcum 10 million a season? I doubt it, in fact we'd likely pay him somewhere around what we are paying Ricky Romero. It would be a shorter deal as well because he's older. Marcum wouldn't have broken the bank. Opening day starter means almost nothing... possibly less than nothing. Just look our Opening Day starter from this last season is now pitching in..... wait for it....... WAIT FOR IT!!!!!

Milwak...

yeah.

J Dilla · Post #16 » by **J Dilla** » Mon Dec 20, 2010 10:10 am

AA shoudlve traded Marcum AFTER getting Grienke. This one will hurt us big time.

Post #17 » by **OldNo7** » Mon Dec 20, 2010 11:27 am

Msgrv32 wrote:
sci96krusty wrote:I was never sold on Marcum. I just didn't feel he had the stuff to be a 1 or a 2. Now he did post decent numbers last year, but it seems to me he got a lot of run support (too lazy to look it up). We would have had to pay him big money because we had made him our opening day starter meanwhile I think RR is as good a pitcher and we just locked him up at end of the rotation money. Good move AA (as long as Lawrie isnt a bust).

Well I believe you are wrong about Marcum and here is why:

1) He may not have the overpowering stuff of an Ace but Marcum has the potential to win 17-20 games. He's going to consistently throw about 200 innings so you want him near the top of the rotation. He has pin point control and can strike guys out with his stuff... even though he pitches to contact.

2) You are too lazy to look it up, but his ERA alone over his Jays career should set your mind at ease. Here we have a guy consistenly under 4 with his era and all you can say is 'well he got run support'

3) You think we would have ended up paying Marcum 10 million a season? I doubt it, in fact we'd likely pay him somewhere around what we are paying Ricky Romero. It would be a shorter deal as well because he's older. Marcum wouldn't have broken the bank. Opening day starter means almost nothing... possibly less than nothing. Just look our Opening Day starter from this last season is now pitching in..... wait for it....... WAIT FOR IT!!!!!

Milwak...

yeah.

Speaking of being too lazy to look things up...

Marcum is 29 and has a career high of 13 wins. So is this potential to win 17-20 based on history, or his new division? He was never going to win 17-20 in Toronto, in the AL East.

And exactly zero times in his career has he thrown 200 IP, so I am not sure why you think he can consistently do that.

Sure, maybe he does a couple of times, but he is still a 15-win tops kind of guy in the AL. I'm not knocking Marcum because I like the guy, he's effective at what he does. But he's a #3 at best and I think you need to take off the rose-coloured glasses when arguing your points.

Avenger · Post #18 » by **Avenger** » Mon Dec 20, 2010 3:41 pm

J Dilla wrote:AA shoudlve traded Marcum AFTER getting Grienke. This one will hurt us big time.

wait what? The trade is gonna hurt us because we got the best prospect Lawrie from Milwaukee before they had a chance to trade him for Grienke?

hyper316 · Post #19 » by **hyper316** » Mon Dec 20, 2010 4:02 pm

Avenger wrote:
J Dilla wrote:AA shoudlve traded Marcum AFTER getting Grienke. This one will hurt us big time.

wait what? The trade is gonna hurt us because we got the best prospect Lawrie from Milwaukee before they had a chance to trade him for Grienke?

exactly, Lawrie is the best prospect there, I'm sure Royals would have asked for him no doubt

Michael Bradley · Post #20 » by **Michael Bradley** » Mon Dec 20, 2010 4:41 pm

Marcum's AL rank in ERA....

2010: 15th (3.64)
2009: N/A
2008: 8th (3.39)
2007: 26th (4.13 overall, 3.91 as a starter)

That is better than "#3 at best" numbers. He pitched in the AL East and had an ERA in the mid-3.00's with the ratios to back it up. That is pretty darn impressive. The only knock on him is health and durability. I don't think he will ever be a workhorse as far as innings, and maybe his delivery will catch up to him, but his lack of innings in 2007 were due to starting the year as a reliever and obviously 2008 because of TJS. Not entirely his doing or indicative of the future.

Yes, getting Milwaukee's #1 prospect for Marcum while the Royals had to take their lesser prospects does look good on AA. He went with quality over quantity, and that is a good characteristic for a GM. Whether Lawrie ends up being worth it in the long run, only time can answer that.