Sabean speaks on lack of deadline dealing
Posted by Andrew Baggarly on July 31st, 2008 at 1:50 pm | Categorized as Uncategorized

Brian Sabean wasnt in much of a talking mood on the conference call. I'd wager he didnt use more than two sentences to answer any question put to him. He said he wasnt disappointed about not making a deal, but he sure sounded frustrated to me.

Here are the highlights:


•He's going to meet with the staff tomorrow to talk about when to start playing the kids.

•He said it won't be totally Bochy's discretion on whom to play. His words: I'll be more active in that area to take some pressure off him and make sure we're on the same page.”

•On Rich Aurilia: I'm surprised. We did all the work and there was no interest.” Makes me think Jose Castillo was the infielder the Twins wanted to see after all.

•It was a  enice thought” to try to get a controllable hitter, just to help start the lineup rebuilding effort a few months before the offseason. But he said there was a reason no young hitters got traded, implying the asking price was too high. I asked him about Jason Bay as an example; my sense is the Giants checked in on Bay with the Pirates, just for due diligence.

(Note: We were on the call before news broke that Bay went to Boston and Manny Ramirez to the Dodgers in a three-team deal. Too bad, would have liked to have heard Sabeans thoughts on the Dodgers move.)

•Sabean scoffed at the notion that it was a quiet night, saying he had many detailed conversations that lasted up to and beyond the deadline.

•He pointed out that the deadline at least for today is artificial. Now we'll see who gets through waivers and who comes to their senses. The day has come and gone, but it's not an impediment in my mind to what we need to do.”

I'll post the lineup as soon as it's up in the clubhouse Friday. I'm guessing many of you will be eager (anxious?) to see it.