What was Littlefield thinking,or was he?? - RedsZone.com - Cincinnati Reds Fans' Home for Baseball Discussion

WVPacman · 04-18-2006, 01:08 AM

Pirates | Littlefield admits letting Shelton go was a mistake

Jason Beck, of Tigers.MLB.com, reports Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield admitted to MLB.com's Ed Eagle that letting go of former Pirates 1B Chris Shelton, now with the Detroit Tigers, was a mistake. The Pirates left Shelton off the 40-man roster in 2003, exposing him to the Rule 5 draft. Littlefield said the team liked his bat, but was not confident in his defense and where he would be able to play. Littlefield added, "In retrospect, it was a mistake. If I had it to do overall again we certainly wouldn't have [left Shelton unprotected]. As we are now seeing, the power is obviously there. I tip my cap to Chris. He's obviously performing well and I hear he's improved his defense as well."

Pirates need to get rid of this GM if they ever want the Pirates to start winning again!!!!

OnBaseMachine · 04-18-2006, 06:38 AM

Nobody ever said Littlefield was a smart man...

It was a dumb move back then and it looks worse now. Shelton was coming off a year in which he hit .359/.478/.641 with 21 homeruns in 390 plate appearances with the Pirates High-A squad. He was then subsequently left exposed in the Rule-5 draft where the Tigers scooped him up...and the rest is history. Another in the long line of dumb moves by Littlefield.

Imagine if the Pirates still had Shelton and Aramis Ramirez, or if he had actually gotten something decent in return for Ramirez.

traderumor · 04-18-2006, 07:11 AM

Yet they just gave him an extension. Longest current string of losing seasons and vying for a major league record and they tell him "good job, keep up the good work."

Deepred05 · 04-18-2006, 07:20 AM

Tough job, one mistake like this one will kill ya.

Ravenlord · 04-18-2006, 08:23 AM

and don't forget the huge extension for Jack Wilson, the doing the best you can to not play Craig Wilson...the resigning of Randall Simon...the contract extension given to Lloyd McClendon only to later on that year have ownership fire him for you...

Jaycint · 04-18-2006, 08:36 AM

Could be worse, he could have let Johan Santana go in the rule 5 like the Astros did.

OnBaseMachine · 04-18-2006, 08:36 AM

Oh, btw, here are some of the players the Pirates protected over Chris Shelton: Carlos Rivera, Chris Stynes, Randall Simon, Abraham Nunez, Tike Redmond and Mike Lincoln. What a crew.

flyer85 · 04-18-2006, 09:51 AM

The really amazing thing was the Pirates had only 37 players on the 40 man roster going into the draft.

Hooligan · 04-18-2006, 10:03 AM

I heard Shelton was a catcher at the time but wasn't very good. The Pirates planned on moving him to another position and didn't think anyone would take him in the draft.

MWM · 04-18-2006, 10:17 AM

"Davey, you're doing a heck of a job."

westofyou · 04-18-2006, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Nobody ever said Littlefield was a smart man...

Chili did.... but then again he's his MLB contact.

M2 · 04-18-2006, 10:35 AM

IIRC, BA identified Shelton as the top available prospect in that Rule 5 draft and was amazed Pittsburgh didn't protect him.

westofyou · 04-18-2006, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M2

IIRC, BA identified Shelton as the top available prospect in that Rule 5 draft and was amazed Pittsburgh didn't protect him.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today...0rulefive.html

Quote:

Three of the first four players drafted last year were Pirates, and Pittsburgh lost Chris Shelton (Tigers) and righthander Jeff Bennett (Brewers) but got everyone else back. While they didn't want to lose those players, farm director Brian Graham said that's what happens to a club committed to rebuilding from within.

"I don't think what happened last year changed our philosophy in putting our 40-man roster together," he said. "When you're an organization like ours or like the Indians for that matter that is player-development oriented, you realize you valuable young players are, and you realize you have a lot of players that you'd like to protect.

"The number of Rule 5 failures far outweighs the successes. But you'll take those failures to hit on a big success."

savafan · 04-18-2006, 11:47 AM

Ah, Brian Graham. The guy who was almost manager of the Reds.

KronoRed · 04-18-2006, 02:03 PM

Thank goodness for Littlefield, we will never finish 6th.

04-18-2006, 01:08 AM	#1
WVPacman Reds fan for life!!!! Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: West Virginia Posts: 1,889	What was Littlefield thinking,or was he?? Pirates \| Littlefield admits letting Shelton go was a mistake Jason Beck, of Tigers.MLB.com, reports Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield admitted to MLB.com's Ed Eagle that letting go of former Pirates 1B Chris Shelton, now with the Detroit Tigers, was a mistake. The Pirates left Shelton off the 40-man roster in 2003, exposing him to the Rule 5 draft. Littlefield said the team liked his bat, but was not confident in his defense and where he would be able to play. Littlefield added, "In retrospect, it was a mistake. If I had it to do overall again we certainly wouldn't have [left Shelton unprotected]. As we are now seeing, the power is obviously there. I tip my cap to Chris. He's obviously performing well and I hear he's improved his defense as well." Pirates need to get rid of this GM if they ever want the Pirates to start winning again!!!! __________________ I can spell,I just can't type!! Last edited by WVPacman; 04-18-2006 at 01:12 AM.

04-18-2006, 06:38 AM	#2
OnBaseMachine Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 34,692	Re: What was Littlefield thinking,or was he?? Nobody ever said Littlefield was a smart man... It was a dumb move back then and it looks worse now. Shelton was coming off a year in which he hit .359/.478/.641 with 21 homeruns in 390 plate appearances with the Pirates High-A squad. He was then subsequently left exposed in the Rule-5 draft where the Tigers scooped him up...and the rest is history. Another in the long line of dumb moves by Littlefield. Imagine if the Pirates still had Shelton and Aramis Ramirez, or if he had actually gotten something decent in return for Ramirez. __________________ I miss Adam Dunn.

04-18-2006, 07:11 AM	#3
traderumor Unsolicited Opinions Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Right Down Broadway Posts: 17,744	Re: What was Littlefield thinking,or was he?? Yet they just gave him an extension. Longest current string of losing seasons and vying for a major league record and they tell him "good job, keep up the good work." __________________ Can't win with 'em Can't win without 'em

04-18-2006, 07:20 AM	#4
Deepred05 Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Posts: 1,516	Re: What was Littlefield thinking,or was he?? Tough job, one mistake like this one will kill ya.

04-18-2006, 08:23 AM	#5
Ravenlord Into de Halls of Valhalla Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: mostly Williamsburg....occassionaly the rest of the several state region. Posts: 8,909	Re: What was Littlefield thinking,or was he?? and don't forget the huge extension for Jack Wilson, the doing the best you can to not play Craig Wilson...the resigning of Randall Simon...the contract extension given to Lloyd McClendon only to later on that year have ownership fire him for you... __________________ the store for all your blade, costuming (in any regard), leather (also in any regard), and steel craft needs.www.facebook.com/tdhshop yes, this really is how we make our living.

04-18-2006, 08:36 AM	#6
Jaycint The Mad Monk Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Northern Kentucky Posts: 1,283	Re: What was Littlefield thinking,or was he?? Could be worse, he could have let Johan Santana go in the rule 5 like the Astros did.

04-18-2006, 09:51 AM	#8
flyer85 He has the Evil Eye! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: south of the border Posts: 23,858	Re: What was Littlefield thinking,or was he?? The really amazing thing was the Pirates had only 37 players on the 40 man roster going into the draft. __________________ What are you, people? On dope? - Mr Hand

04-18-2006, 10:03 AM	#9
Hooligan Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Canal Winchester, OH Posts: 504	Re: What was Littlefield thinking,or was he?? I heard Shelton was a catcher at the time but wasn't very good. The Pirates planned on moving him to another position and didn't think anyone would take him in the draft. __________________ ...And this one belongs to the Reds!!

04-18-2006, 10:17 AM	#10
MWM Pre-tty, pre-tty good!! Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 12,196	Re: What was Littlefield thinking,or was he?? "Davey, you're doing a heck of a job." __________________ Grape works as a soda. Sort of as a gum. I wonder why it doesn't work as a pie. Grape pie? There's no grape pie. - Larry David

04-18-2006, 10:35 AM	#12
M2 Posting in Dynarama Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Boston Posts: 26,809	Re: What was Littlefield thinking,or was he?? IIRC, BA identified Shelton as the top available prospect in that Rule 5 draft and was amazed Pittsburgh didn't protect him. __________________ Baseball isn't a magic trick ... it doesn't get spoiled if you figure out how it works. - gonelong I'm witchcrafting everybody.

04-18-2006, 11:47 AM	#14
savafan Maple SERP Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 17,486	Re: What was Littlefield thinking,or was he?? Ah, Brian Graham. The guy who was almost manager of the Reds. __________________ This is the Cal Ripkin Jr. of typos. If you ask me to join your fantasy baseball league and I select Legolas in the first round, don't be angry at me. It's not my fault I've read up on the players and you haven't.

04-18-2006, 02:03 PM	#15
KronoRed The Lineups stink. Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: West N. Carolina Posts: 55,349	Re: What was Littlefield thinking,or was he?? Thank goodness for Littlefield, we will never finish 6th. __________________ Go Gators!

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