As for that KP argument, I don’t know. I’m 60/40 that he’s worth a max, but I see both sides. Now THAT is a question for gamblers.

What do you think Willy’s trade value is today?

I agree, it’s near nothing. But that doesn’t mean that at that time, the situation was well-handled. It worked out, but not because it’s a good idea to take a player who made all-rookie, not play him to the point he complains, and then trade him for two picks that together have a 20% chance of bringing you a player as good as him. All while alienating his best friend on the team, who happens to be your intended franchise player.

Again, the point isn’t whether it worked out – it very well may. We may get lucky with one of those picks – it seems to be one of the few areas of strength for the Knicks, making good second round picks. But it still want well-handled. You can’t ret-con it into good decision making because it worked out.

@338 Not sure why this is hard to understand: the chance of pulling a replacement level player in the second round is SMALL. Willy, with his decent stats at 15 mpg and minimum salary, already is that. The argument isn’t that he’s great, it is that it is a positive move on the margin. The odds are literally less than 1% we pull another Mitch. I’d love to gamble with you guys. Let’s get rid of this two pair because maybe I could pull a straight flush!

If you can get two seconds for a guy who is worth nothing less than two years later, I think you’ve done a great job.

Bunge probably LOVES David Eckstein

I can’t believe you even added the “probably” caveat.

– The Willy trade was a heist

This really is wrong, for several different reasons, but it’s all worked out so it looks better. Covering your mistakes with luck, though, doesn’t make them not mistakes. The logic is simple: Willy is what you hope for from a second round pick – a decent cheap player who can contribute 15 mpg, at very low cost. Most second round picks don’t stick in the league. And while high second round picks are WAAAAY better than low first round picks, the Knicks didn’t know where those picks would land when they made the trade – given Charlotte’s history of finishing just outside the playoffs, it is reasonable to have thought they’d be mid-second round. Just because Mitch, Dray, Jokic and others have succeeded doesn’t mean we should expect anything better than Andy Rautins from those picks.

For example, pick #33 has a 10% chance of garnering a role player – and a 0% chance of anything better. Last season Willy played a bit better than a replacement player, on a salary around that of a replacement player. Even with two picks, we have a very small chance of getting a player as “good” as he is. It was a bad move, that may work out because of good luck.

I’m not BBA, but I say no one.

man, they gonna have to eat a big chunk of that nut if they wanna move him…I think the marlins might still be giving him money too…

ellsbury ain’t even off the payroll yet…

can’t think of a worse defensive outfielder on their roster…they can pick or choose 3 or 4 different guys to DH…

unless your name is mike trout, hard to get value at that kind of salary with so many other roster spots to fill…and, that’s as long as trout stays healthy…

He has the most bizarre stat line I have ever seen. He has 15.4 K/9, third highest in MLB with pitchers over 50 IP. He’s 8th among all pitchers in swinging strike rate, again minimum 50 IP.

But he also has the highest hard hit rate in baseball, highest HR/FB rate, highest BABIP allowed.

He has basically broken DIPS. You shouldn’t BOTH get tons of swings and misses and strikeouts and also allow screaming hard contact all the time.

Sounds counter-intuitive but you’re just not old enough to understand.

People just haven’t grasped the genius of Depeche Mode. Everything counts in large amounts. Minutes played, shot attempts, time spent injured.. Y’all just don’t understand economics.

i got one for you big blue – who do you sit to get stanton back in the lineup?

I’m not BBA, but I say no one.