Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee

The race to the bottom of the National League Central is going to be fun this year. In the last couple of days we've received two reminders as to why Dave Littlefield and Wayne Krivsky are who they are.

First, Roberto Hernandez signed with the Indians (OK, this happened Friday, I know, this has been in the queue since then and I haven't gotten it posted, sorry). This seems innocuous at first, but then realize that the Mets offered Hernandez arbitration before he signed. And that Roberto Hernandez is a Type A free agent (link via BBTF), which means that compensation for him is steep (Rotoworld says that because their first rounder is protected and because they owe a pick for Dellucci that it becomes a supplementary first rounder and a second rounder). Which means that had we offered him arbitration, we'd have those picks. Which means that in reality, we traded a supplementary first round pick, a second round pick, and Oliver Perez for Xavier Nady, a guy that can't hit right handed pitching and can't hit at PNC Park. Brilliant

Meanwhile, in Cincinnati, Wayne Krivsky has decided to file a grievance against the Nationals for the much maligned Austin Kearns and Felipe Lopez for Gary Majewski and Royce Clayton trade, claiming that the Nationals didn't tell him that Majewski was hurt. I had two immediate reactions to this news. First I thought to myself, "Admitting you've been duped by Jim Bowden is a very embarrassing thing for anyone to do." Then I thought about it a bit longer, and remembered that Majewski was injured practically at the same time he showed up in Cincy. And somehow this grievance is getting filed now? Remember how quickly Dave Littlefield (DAVE LITTLEFIELD!) acted when he thought Theo Epstein screwed him on the Sauerbeck and Gonzo for Lyon and Martinez trade? Anyways, Charlie has done the leg work on this one, digging up ample proof that anyone with a computer that cared to look could've know Majewski was hurt before the Reds traded for him. I don't think Krivsky's grievance is going to have much leg power.

If all else fails, it's going to be amazing watching these two match dull wits on the way to the bottom this summer.