Recte's BR tidbit of the day- 10/24/07 (Don Money)

[recte44]

With all the talk about Don Money possibly being our third base coach, I decided to take a look at Don Money's BR page.

Some observations:

 ***Fielding Stats: 3B Year Ag Tm Lg Pos G PO A E DP FP lgFP RFg lgRFg Position Total 3B 1025 897 2061 97 224 .968 .950 2.89 2.63 His fielding percentage was significantly higher than the league average, annd his range was slightly higher. Sometimes when players get reputations as good or bad fielding players, it's just that, a reputation. In this case, Money is true to his rep. ***Best season of his career? Money was an All-Star in 1974, 1976, 1977, and 1978. But none of these was his best season when looking at OPS+. So which season was? 1982, by a long shot. Money was a completely overlooked player in the Brewers drive to the World Series. ***How'd we get him? [b]October 31, 1972[/b]: Traded by the [url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PHI/1972.shtml]Philadelphia Phillies[/url] with [url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/c/champbi01.shtml]Bill Champion[/url] and [url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/v/vukovjo01.shtml]John Vukovich[/url] to the [url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MIL/1972.shtml]Milwaukee Brewers[/url] for [url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/l/lonboji01.shtml]Jim Lonborg[/url], [url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/s/sandeke01.shtml]Ken Sanders[/url], [url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/b/brettke01.shtml]Ken Brett[/url], and [url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/s/stephea01.shtml]Earl Stephenson[/url]. Champion gave the Brewers three plus seasons of solid, if unspectacular relief work, but was released in mid-1976. Vukovich was horrific, batting .125 in 128 1973 AB's, and .188 in 80 1974 AB's. He was traded to Cincy in the offseason for a nondescript left, Pat Osburn, who pitched in 6 games for the Crew. As for those departed, Lonborg was the biggest loss, giving the Phillies 6+ seasons of very good rotation work (75 wins). Sanders was turned around almost immediately and dealt to the Twins. He was never the same as he was in Milwaukee, never again used as a full time closer, and ended up being property of seven clubs after his first stint with the Brewers (last with Milwaukee in 1977, where he signed as a free agent but didn't play). Brett had the best four years of his career after leaving the Brewers, which was supposed to be a greater career than it was. Stephenson's best season ended up being his '72 campaign with the Crew. All in all, we gained a four time All-Star, dealing away an aging starter, an aging closer, a young but frustrating starter, and a non-descript reliever. I'll take that deal every day and twice on Sundays. 

[splitterpfj]

Money was always overlooked, he was a very solid 3B, so of course the team signed Sal Bando. Money then switched to 2B, and was the team's best player in 1977, so of course, the next spring Molitor came up and became the 2B. That's just the way it went for him, he had originally come up with the Phillies, and he did his job for them too, but then they had this kid named Schmidt...

 

One thing to keep in mind when you see Don's numbers from 1982, he was platooned that year with Roy Howell as the team's DH. Sometimes a platoon situation can really help a guy maximize his abilities.

[JohnBriggs12]

recte44,

 

Since I saw all those guys, I have to correct you on some of your observations. Mainly that Bill Champion did "solid relief work". Yes he pitched some out of the pen, but he was mainly a starting pitcher from mid 1974 on and that's what the Brewers got him to do. In fact, Bill Champion was the Brewer opening day starter in 1975. Many of us will remember that game as the very, very emotional return to Milwaukee of Henry Aaron.

 

Champion had excellent stuff, but started to falter in 1975, was again relegated to the pen and developed arm problems. He tried to come back in 1976 but again was put on the shelf never to be heard from again.

 

Lonborg was a big name pitcher and very good the one year as a Brewer. He led Red Sox to World Series in 1967. Brewers got him in and George Scott for Marty Pattin, Lew Krausse and Tommy Harper in another blockbuster deal. Brewer GM in those days was Frank, "trader" Lane who was known for making a lot of huge trades.

 

Lonborg and Brett were a lot to give up even for a quality player like Money. They helped to Phillies go from last place in 1972 to contenders in a short time. Had Champion pitched to the level he did in 1974 for a few more years, I'd say the Brewers did all right, but on balance, I think the Phillies got a lot for basically one player.

 

As for Money, statistically 1982 might have been his best year, but by then he was 35 and basically a platoon player. So no, it wasn't his best year. Ironically, his best year was the year he played primarily at 2B. That was 1977. He was moved from third that year when the Brewers signed Sal Bando as a free agent. In those days, 25 HR, 83 RBI from a second baseman was unheard of.

 

Defensively Money was very very good. I recall he set or approached an errorless game streak record at one point that was something like 95 games.

[Fatter than Joey]

Lonborg and Brett were a lot to give up even for a quality player like Money. They helped to Phillies go from last place in 1972 to contenders in a short time. Had Champion pitched to the level he did in 1974 for a few more years, I'd say the Brewers did all right, but on balance, I think the Phillies got a lot for basically one player.

 

Yeah -- The Phillies didn't get screwed here by any means. They had Schmidt/Bowa coming up so Money was expendable. Longborg was a great starter, as was Brett. The Phillies flipped Brett for Dave Cash, who had 3-4 great seasons the Phillies at 2b. Longborg started a lot of games for the Phillies, and certainly was a big part in that franchise turning things around.

 

The thing I remember about Brett was that he could hit for a pitcher.

[splitterpfj]

Lonborg was simply brilliant for the Red Sox, then he had a bad knee injury from a skiing accident, which altered his career. Jim still pitched effectively, but he was no longer the monster he had been, if you'd like to know more....Lonborg

[tomwopat]

Money was always overlooked, he was a very solid 3B, so of course the team signed Sal Bando. Money then switched to 2B, and was the team's best player in 1977, so of course, the next spring Molitor came up and became the 2B. That's just the way it went for him, he had originally come up with the Phillies, and he did his job for them too, but then they had this kid named Schmidt...

Echoes of Bill Hall?

[recte44]

Nice comments and links from everyone. I may have made a few minor mistakes, but I'm going to keep doing this daily.

[mdresen]

Recte44, the Money piece is good stuff. Keep 'em coming!