http://0rz.net/bb1r6

 Jim Bowden, The Examiner
 Apr 26, 2006 7:00 AM


 WASHINGTON - I’ve had plenty of e-mails from fans suggesting if we had an
owner we could have kept Esteban Loaiza and signed A.J. Burnett, Kevin
Millwood and/or Jarrod Washburn. So, for a mere $35 million for this year
alone, you could have had a starting pitching rotation that is a combined
2-9.


In fact, two of our signings, Billy Traber and Tony Armas, have as many wins
as those pitchers combined. Obviously, a few weeks of play is not a good
barometer. And if healthy, those pitchers will improve. However, injuries to
Burnett and Millwood have to concern the Blue Jays and Rangers, respectively,
who have committed large dollars for the next five years.

Further, I have additional e-mails suggesting that if the organization had
drafted better over the last seven years, our rotation would have been
championship caliber by now. Certainly, this is possible and improvement is
needed. However, here is an alarming reality: the Braves, Cardinals, Mets,
Red Sox and Yankees have 25 pitchers combined in their starting rotations; of
those 25, only two were drafted and developed by their organization -- Brian
Bannister, a seventh-round pick of the Mets and Kyle Davies, a fourth-round
pick of the Braves.

Trades are the best way to improve pitching. The best is the “Proven Pitcher
Trade.” For example, a year ago, the Cardinals traded for Mark Mulder and
the Braves traded for Tim Hudson. Oakland had to reduce payroll and the
Braves and Cardinals had enough talent in the minors to make the trades.
Without the best farm systems, you can’t make these deals. That’s why
scouting and player development is so important.

Also, the Red Sox acquired Josh Beckett this past November for a package that
included young rising star, shortstop Hanley Ramirez. Beckett was the only
No. 1 or 2 starter traded this past off-season.

The second type of pitcher to trade for is the prospect. The best kind is the
top prospect like when the Marlins got Yusmeiro Petit from the Mets for
Carlos Delgado last November. However, you can also get them as throw-ins in
a bigger deal like when the Brewers traded Richie Sexson for six prospects,
one of which was left-hander Chris Capuano, who won 18 games last year.

You can also acquire pitchers via waiver claims. When I was with Cincinnati,
I claimed Pete Schourek off waivers from the Mets; the next year he was
second in the National League in the Cy Young voting. After the 2004 season,
the Brewers claimed Derek Turnbow from the Angels on waivers; he saved 39
games with a 1.74 ERA. Pitching is not a sure thing. You have to take chances.

Injured players are also a way to get good pitching. The Blue Jays gave up on
Chris Carpenter after consecutive injured seasons in 2002 and ’03. The
Cardinals took a chance. Carpenter won 15 games in 2004 and 21 wins in ’05.
Cubs closer Ryan Dempster was signed after having Tommy John surgery; he’s
now one of the more effective closers.

Take a look at the pitching staffs of the division winners over the last
decade and you’ll find that none of the 30 teams found the perfect blueprint.

The bottom line? Get pitching anyway you can; pitching is how you win.