Tuesday, March 21, 2017

#360 Dave Roberts 

What does a three year fledgling expansion franchise do with the best lefty in the league circa 1971?...trade him off of course....Roberts put together his career year in 1971 with an excellent 2.10 ERA good for second .... was picked 39th in the expansion draft..... Roberts had come a long way from being a Phi-Pit farmhand by leading the IL in wins 1968 (note top 5 league winners were all on expansion rosters)....got better despite persistent non support by Padres...Case in point his 1971 record 13-17....trade to Houston brought him to an established club...note to Padres there was another Astro second baseman on the market; Joe Morgan...Spent 4 years in Houston with his best output being a 17-8 campaign 1973...After a couple of down years as an Astros, his acquisition by Detroit resulted in 16-17 season in 1976....achievement overshadowed Mark Fidrych’s one seaon wonder year.... stuck around for four more but relegated to the typical retread fill in role.... three of those years  Dave changed clubs mid season....Finished up 1981....Ironic fact; In 1972 Padres draft third baseman Dave Roberts and instantaneously assign him to a regular spot on the big club...no relation however.


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