Debunking rumors

I received an interesting email today from someone around the game who told me Paul Maholm’s name had been coming up in discussions within the circuit lately.  I immediately fired off an email to a couple of people who might have heard the same things and one of them reported back just now saying he hadn’t heard a thing.  The second one surmised if it’s anyone, it’s the Braves.

But funny thing about that first email rumor - the Braves weren’t the team.. it was another NL club whose pitching depth made me wonder about the credibility of the rumor.  The more I got to thinking about it the more I wondered if he was hearing only one side of a possible multiple team trade.

Maybe.

After trying to evaluate front office positions and player need in the leagues, there’s no question Atlanta and Maholm are a perfect match, as one of my contacts candidly eluded to.  But as he also said, there’s no way Wren or Schuerholz pull the string for what the Pirates are going to want for Maholm, regardless of their position. 

I agree.

And there isn’t another team with as bad a position as the Braves right now so I’m going to place the Maholm rumor in the debunked file and forget about it and I think you should to.  The Braves made their play at the winter meetings for Maholm, somebody on Federal Street nixed that deal, and it’s highly unlikely they are going to return to the table. 

Nor will probably anyone else.

–

Since I’m debunking rumors I will also tell you that I found out today the rumor about another team talking about Jack Wilson isn’t valid.  That was my error – I misunderstood something told to me from an extremely solid source and then I ran with it.  I should have asked around first and that’s my bad.

I’ve taken pride in the last two years of putting to print only rumors that came from solid sources so you are kept informed of real deals, and I’ll continue to do just that the best I can.  When I’m wrong, I’ll tell you.

–

Yesterday’s post elicited some good comments from readers and one item in particular I need to address. 

It’s never easy combining the business side of this game (ownership) with the competitive nature of those in and around the game (everyone else) unless your the Yankees or Red Sox who have so many revenue streams they get dizzy just trying to keep up with them all.  Smaller market clubs have a harder time balancing the need for profits and wins and I ignore that more often than not here.

That being said, I’ll try to consider the optimists side of view a tick more as I write in 2009 because I realize that some of you will always believe the glass is half-full no matter how empty it truly is.  And that’s not a bad thing.. actually, I envy you for that. 

As fans, we always need to support the franchise regardless of our issues with ownership or the way the team seems to be heading.  Buying one ticket or a season pass for the whole family is one way we need to get involved.  And we should.  Stay involved.. even more so when things are depressing because that’s when we’re needed the most. 

–

Word has it Chuck Tanner has recovered well from surgery and is getting ready for January baseball in Bradenton.  That’s good to hear.  Unfortunately, he never did get his ring back and that stings us all.

–

I’m guessing the Pirates organizational meetings will be in a week or so and it will be interesting to hear what comes out of them.