Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 exptools 1/6/84; site ihuxk.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxj!houxm!ihnp4!ihuxk!rs55611 From: rs55611@ihuxk.UUCP (Robert E. Schleicher) Newsgroups: net.sport.baseball Subject: Re: RE:the magic is back Message-ID: <828@ihuxk.UUCP> Date: Wed, 12-Dec-84 14:23:06 EST Article-I.D.: ihuxk.828 Posted: Wed Dec 12 14:23:06 1984 Date-Received: Thu, 13-Dec-84 03:30:16 EST References: <986@ihuxe.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL Lines: 24 I was in Canada when the Carter trade news broke (in Toronto and Ottawa, though, not Montreal), and the fan opinion there appears to be basically against the trade, as you'd expect. However, interviews with other Expos were not all that negative. Steve Rogers (who would also appear to be up for near-future trades) had some nice things to say about the incoming players, and pointed out that Carter's total performance over the past two years has been slightly erratic. In 83 Carter had a very good defensive year, but slipped markedly on offense. After criticism from the Montreal management, Carter vowed to improve his offensive performance. He certainly did this in 1984, with a very fine offensive year. According to Rogers, though, his play behind the plate was merely average last year, with big increases in passed balls, and very marginal performance in throwing out people stealing 2nd. I got the impression that many of the Expos were secretly liking the trade, possibly because without Carter around, media and fan attention would increase for the rest of the team. Bob Schleicher ihuxk!rs55611 PS - The Toronto paper (or was it Ottawa) had a big headline about Carter leaving, and then a much smaller article about the arriving Mets players. The headline of this smaller article was "Who are these guys, anyway?" (although fans up there are presumably at least familiar with Hubie Brooks).