Sidearm Pitchers Я Us
The Providence Journal’s Sean McAdam reports that Jay Payton will be traded to Oakland for right-handed pitcher Chad Bradford. Details in this link describe Payton’s questionable behavior when he was placed sixth in the lineup to replace Millar. He believed this signified lack of confidence in him as a hitter. In reality, it was because Francona didn’t want a two lefties in a row, which would have been the case if Olerud hit after Nixon, who was batting 5th. (Thanks to PTH for the link.)
Chad Bradford was a protagonist in Michael Lewis’s Moneyball, so you can ask Joe Morgan all about it as Morgan is a huge fan of all this new-fangled statistical stuff. The submariner is currently on the disabled list due to back surgery, and the trade cannot be announced until the All-Star break. The Red Sox have nearly cornered the market on underhanded pitchers. The Fenway grounds crew is upset because they will have to rebuild both sides of the mound with these two knucklescrapers.
