2035/3 In Hindsight....

[nerfHerder]

Earlier in the year the Hawaii Tropics made a trade with division mate San Fernando that raised a few eyebrows. Mario Mendez was sent to the Bears for Rahmat Subadio, and instantly there were comments that it was a bad trade. It may have been, but the way it has worked out shows what each GM had in mind. The Tropics were looking for a cheap, young-ish arm to eat innings while they work through a rebuild. Subadio offered a cheap arm that could be like catching lightning in a bottle due to his arm strength and control. With Hawaii being in a pitchers park, his lack of movement wasn't a deal breaker. Don't forget they'll be rolling the dice on another pitcher with similar "qualities", 22 year old Juan Trujillo. The Bears we're looking for a veteran pitcher to not only throw well, but to provide a fan boost and a little leadership. If you look back at it now, I think both teams received what they wanted.

Subadio had a rough start to his Tropics career. He was lit up almost immediately, with an ERA over 8.00. He struggled throwing strikes, which isn't his make-up. When he did throw strikes, he strained his neck watching them fly out of the park. Management sent him down to AAA Death Valley and had second thoughts on the deal, even though they had no intention of keeping Mendez past the current season. Rahmat continued to get lit up in his first few starts, and then, something clicked. He starting striking guys out, even though he was still giving up a few too many home runs. At least they were solo shots. He got the call back up and has responded. In the month of August he made four starts and had a 3.77 ERA. In two starts in September he has a 1.35 ERA. That lightning in a bottle stuff is starting to show. Can he keep it going? THe beauty is that the Tropics have time to give him a long look and see.

Mario Mendez has brought in fans, and has provided the veteran presence. He had a rough start to his time right after the trade. Got a little better in July, and had a great August. I think if you ask San Fernando management they'd say they're pretty happy with him. For that matter if you asked both teams I think they' say they're happy with it. No clear winner, which is always good for the game. In Hawaii, fans are having fun watching their wild flamethrower progress. Where he goes is anybody's guess.

[usnspecialist]

san Fernando concurs with virtually everything relevant to us in the above news story.

[ae37jr]

Subadio will eventually come back home to Brooklyn and become Juan Hernandez 2.0. I can make him halfway decent.

[nerfHerder]

san Fernando concurs with virtually everything relevant to us in the above news story.

Good. I don’t typically like to speak for other people, but I think we do somewhat think alike.

[nerfHerder]

Subadio will eventually come back home to Brooklyn and become Juan Hernandez 2.0. I can make him halfway decent.

Once he’s too expensive for me. That will be soon I’m sure.

[usnspecialist]

Subadio will eventually come back home to Brooklyn and become Juan Hernandez 2.0. I can make him halfway decent.

he would have been fine in my old park (which is what I had in mind when I made the moreno deal), but in my new park that movement just wouldnt have worked long term. He can definitely be a useful player.

[Joshua Biddle]

Interested to see how Trujillo fares when his time comes.

[RonCo]

It's not completely too late for Subadio to bump movement, either. At 24, he should get a little better either way, but if he does bump MOV even one notch, he'll be a solid pitcher.

[nerfHerder]

Interested to see how Trujillo fares when his time comes.

Me too. Would’ve been this year if not for injury. I typically don’t trust someone with less than 7 movement, but he’s making me try something different.

[usnspecialist]

If I was still in my old (perfectly neutral) park instead of my new (homer happy) park I would gobble up guys like Trujillo and subadio all day.