Topic: Front Page
JULY 10 - Three years ago, at an NYLISL All-Star Game Extravaganza in West Babylon, current Demons Owner/GM Jack Flynn had seen enough. His slugging first baseman was scuffling and, in a fit of pique after a game-ending out, was promptly traded to a league rival after the first seductive offer he was made. To this day, Flynn has regretted the deal - which sent Albert Pujols to the Mop-Ups franchise in exchange for three players.
As Winston Churchill once said, "those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it."
The Wellwood Scribes of Lindenhurst cashed in on a similar fit of exasperation tonight, acquiring closer JJ Putz from the Floral Park Flesheaters in a five-player deal that left heads shaking and established the Scribes as a legitimate playoff contender. In exchange, Floral Park brought back Joel Zumaya and Josh Beckett, a risky move that will hurt now but will hopefully pay dividends in 2008 and beyond. Eric Chavez (Floral Park) and Mike Lowell (Wellwood) rounded out the deal.
Floral Park Owner/GM Jason Varvaro had come to the end of his rope with Putz, who had already blown a number of saves on the young season and was not pitching up to his potential. The final straw came earlier in the week when Putz could not lock down a game against the suddenly not-so-hapless Oswego Lakers. With his patience completely worn away, Varvaro quietly made Putz available. Before the other league contenders could react, Baumbach had struck an extremely favorable deal.
Putz (14/13) will provide a complement to the magnificent Jonathan Papelbon (9/2), setting up the most devastating 1-2 punch in the league. When both are fully rested, they have to potential to make any game a five-inning contest. Teams that fail to score on the Scribes early will pay the price for it later.
The deal became even more favorable for Wellwood when Floral Park agreed to take back Chavez in exchange for Lowell, in a swap good-field, no-hit third basemen. Lowell (30/43) will be a free agent after this season, although Baumbach will consider re-signing him in the offseason if the length of the deal is right. Chavez (34/42) has the advantage of being left-handed, but the distinct disadvantage of being signed through 2010 with a club option for 2011.
Floral Park will have to pray that Beckett (34/27) continues his 2007 form and becomes an ace for years to come. In Zumaya (23/20), the Flesheaters have a solid replacement for Putz, but he is nowhere near as dominant as the departed closer and is an injury risk for the future.
