Run Differentials

Okay, so I'm bored this afternoon, so sue me (no, not you Shyster). Anyway, I was looking at the standings and playing around with it. I see the run differential column, so I find the date switcher-thingy and turn the clock back to last year. Here's what I found:

Tampa Bay Devil Rays --> -169
Tampa Bay Rays --> + 54
Uh, what?!? I guess dissociating yourself from Satan tends to turn things around.

Arizona (2007) --> -30
Arizona (2008) --> +25
And they're worse now.

St. Louis (2007) --> -103
St. Louis (2008) --> +31
And that's with a no-name pitching staff and Pujols missing a few weeks.

San Diego (2007) --> +52
San Diego (2008) --> -111
Going the wrong way. Make a U-turn at SigningguyslikeEdmonds and go straight towards GettingBurrell.

Chi Sox (2007) --> -93
Chi Sox (2008) --> +66
Oh, that's what happens when John Danks pitches like a former top prospect. Now I get it.

LA Angels (2007) --> +68
LA Angels (2008) --> +49
And they're better now?

Chi Cubs (2007) --> +44
Chi Cubs (2008) --> +143
Now, that's impressive.

Boston (2007) --> +129
Boston (2008) --> +107
They're worse because Manny left.

Oakland (2007) --> + 11
Oakland (2008) --> +15
Damn, that's consistency for you. Too bad they don't have a better record.

San Fran (2007) --> -7
San Fran (2008) --> -90
Ladies and Gentlemen, this is what happens when we take you off steroids.

Toronto (2007) --> + 39
Toronto (2008) --> + 41
Sorry Oakland, you lose the contest by two runs.

The Yankees almost have identical records (63-51 to this year's 63-52).

Most of this just shows us how things change in a year. Younger players get better. Older ones get worse. Injuries suck.

Braves fans hold out hope. We can be next year's Rays. Now to remove the Devil from Devil Braves.

Rafael Soriano to See Andrews

He can't do this anymore, for several reasons.

Over the past few days (especially with The Joba Situation), Dr. Andrews continues to get his infamous ... fame. After the Braves have already sent a slew of their team to see him, Rafael Soriano was sent to see him today. Yippee! He's battled elbow problems all season, so this isn't a surprise. Actually, I'm surprised to see that it hadn't happened yet. Well, now that he's gone, we can look forward to try to find a suitable replacement next year for the set-up man. Sounds like we just need to keep Ohman and plug him in there. He's been fantastic anyway. Honestly, the Braves should just hire Andrews to be the team trainer just to cut out the middle man. So who's next? Ooo, ooo, Jeff Francoeur! Maybe that would explain his dismal (to put it lightly) performance this season. Blaine Boyer will probably need him next season after already throwing his 62nd game of the season last night. If you didn't watch the game, Mark Grace and the other broadcaster were absolutely hilarious when talking about that. Anyone else?

Poor Man

Roger Clemens has asked the court to make sure the defamation suit against Brian McNamee stays in Texas instead of New York, where the incident may or may not have occurred. Personally, I don't care where this takes place and whether or not he's found guilty. I feel for the man judging the case. At the bottom of the article on Yahoo!'s website, it states that US District Judge Keith P. Ellison is the judge for the case. Sorry, Mr. Ellison but your email box is going to be a bit full over the next little bit with hate mail, threats, and the occasional blessing. Not that people couldn't necessarily find the information anyway but still.

On a sort of related note, should people start questioning Mike Mussina and his use of steroids after his 15th win last night? I mean, the main evidence against Clemens is how his performance held up through his career into his forties. At age 39, Mike Mussina is still putting up ace numbers (15-7, 3.27 ERA, 96 K) after last season's dismal 11-10 record with a 5.15 ERA and 91 K. Hmm, seems a bit odd doesn't it? Maybe not, but in the world in which we live, we ask these types of questions.

Again, Am I Missing Something?

After reading Rob Neyer's article on Jacoby Ellsbury, I started looking through his stats. What do I see? A really weird anomaly with his walks. In April, he had 13. In May, he had 14. Since, he's had 5. Wow. How do you explain that? Is he all the sudden much more aggressive? In his 60 AB's since the break, he's had a whopping zero walks. ZERO! Hmm. Anyone?

Am I Missing Something?

The Boston Red Sox claimed Brian Giles off waivers from the Padres. While it remains to be seen if a deal can be worked out and if Giles will waive his no-trade clause, it is a very real possibility that he could be a Red Sox tomorrow. My question is why. You already have a glut of outfielders and no real place to put Giles. He is going to make $9 million next season, and they would be on the hook for the remainder of his salary for this season. $9 million isn't a lot for the Red Sox, but it is a lot for a bench warmer. With Bay, Ellsbury, and Drew, Giles is just an insurance option and pinch hitter who gives you a good average and OBP. Is this to keep the Rays from getting him? Probably not as Giles really isn't the "right-handed power bat" that the Rays wanted as he is left-handed and a contact hitter at this point in his career. So I doubt that scenario. Did the Angels want him? Again, I don't think so with their already old and sort of useless outfield (which I guess could be a reason that the Angels could claim him, but I still doubt that the Red Sox "fear" Brian Giles in any way), and Giles wouldn't add much more than OBP and walks. It has to be that the Red Sox really want him, but I can't figure out why. Would they trade him this offseason to get the prospect back? That seems pointless. You can talk about Lowell and Ortiz and their injury concerns, but it doesn't really matter much. Okay, so Giles would take over the DH spot in those situations, but isn't Sean Casey the same type of player (.354/.414/.444 as opposed to Giles' .295/.390/.423)? Or are one of the outfielders (maybe Drew) hiding an injury that the Red Sox are slightly concerned about? This just doesn't seem to make much sense.

The Future of the Braves

It seems as though everyone is jumping on the "hate the Braves and watch them burn" bandwagon. After 14 years of success, it was bound to happen. Now, John Donovan is reminding everyone that the Braves are not only bad this year, but most likely, they will be bad next year and a few years after that as well. Fair enough. I could see his point, but I like to argue. Therefore, I'll give you a different point of view that is as unbiased a Braves' perspective as possible (which means that it will be fairly unbiased, but I can't promise complete lack of bias). The Braves can indeed contend next season.

Let's start with the lineup because at least that's less muddled than the pitching staff. I'll go around the diamond. Behind the plate, Brian McCann is a three-time All-Star and the future leader of this team, and he won't be going anywhere for a very long time. He'll most likely hit fifth next year unless the Braves fail to grab a power-hitter this offseason, and in that case, he'll probably hit fourth. At first, the Braves have Casey Kotchman who is a downgrade from Teixeira, but when you figure in salary, it isn't too bad. Kotchman has a bright future, but he won't make many All-Star teams. He'll likely hit .290 with around 20 HR next season and top out around 25 by the time he leaves after 2011. He'll likely hit sixth. At second, Kelly Johnson continues to get better offensively but struggle defensively. As he begins to enter his prime, one can look for a .280 average with 15-20 HR for next season. Pretty good for a second baseman, and he'll hit eighth. Yunel Escobar will play short, and he has the brightest future outside of McCann. However, he'll need a bit more power to be an All-Star unless his BA rises, but he's still going to be good. He'll continue to hit second in the order and do it well. Chipper again will be playing third, but the question becomes for how many games. If he can play 140 games, he'll be very effective. The outfield brings questions. In left, no one knows who will be there, but with Pat Burrell and Adam Dunn available, the Braves can make a significant offensive upgrade but lose defense. They would hit fourth. If it ends up not being either of those and the Braves need an in-house option, Brandon Jones could be an answer, but he doesn't exactly scream power. In Mississippi, Reid Gorecki is having a decent year, but at age 28, he hardly inspires confidence. The Braves need outside help on this one. In center, Gregor Blanco has earned the nod in center and in the leadoff spot. Plus, he adds much needed speed to the lineup. There's no reason to go outside for a center-fielder, but in-house guys such as Josh Anderson and Jordan Schafer could steal the job. In right, they'll have Jeff Francoeur. There are two possible directions for him. Either he'll snap out of it and rediscover '07 with the help of McCann this offseason, or he'll be stubborn and continue his collapse. I'll be optimistic, but he still doesn't inspire thoughts of .270 with 20 HR, although I think it's definitely possible. He has the talent, and as most scouts say, if he could do it once, he can do it again. This offseason, he needs to forget the weight room and enter the batting cage. Overall, this lineup isn't terrible. If they can add Wren's "one piece" in a power-hitter for the four spot, the lineup will look a lot like this year, which should have been good but we all know how that turned out. Essentially, the four spot (LF) would equal Tex, but Kotchman brings an upgrade to our left field situation. A better Frenchy would be the final key. Again, it doesn't inspire too much confidence, but I can see what Wren means by being a piece away here. The problem becomes what type of offense we are. Right now, the Braves are a power-hitting mentality in a semi-power body. Either they need to add power or add speed. One thought would be to trade Johnson and a throw in like Chuck James for a good young power-hitter or a young pitcher (either a really good reliever type or a pretty good starter), and then bring up Lillibridge to add speed and a better glove (he supposedly has good pop, but the average may be worse; still, it would be worth a chance). The future power is unfortunately in Single A right now in Freddy Freeman and Jason Heyward, so they won't be here for at least two more years (AA next year and AAA the year after if they don't hide them too long in High A next year). Tyler Flowers could bring power, but as a catcher/first baseman, he doesn't seem to have a spot unless he can play LF (they'll suffer the defense for the offense he could generate).

As for the bench, things look good. Sammons will be the backup, and he should be an upgrade to Corky Miller. Infante needs to stay and continue to be the utility guy. Nitram Odarp will also be an excellent backup infielder. Greg Norton will then be a good guy to keep and add power off the bench as well as his defensive versatility. Next, Josh Anderson would be a great guy to bring up to utilize his speed and defense in the outfield to handcuff with Dunn or Burrell.

In the rotation, the Braves need serious help. With Hudson out for all of next year (I'm being pessimistic here), they need an ace. Luckily, a few will be available in the offseason in Sabathia, Sheets, and Burnett. I'll cross Burnett out now. One of Sabathia and Sheets would be a great start. That would leave Sabathia/Sheets, Jurrjens, Campillo, Morton, and Reyes/Tommy Hanson (a really good AA guy having an outstanding year; with the Braves pushing pitchers, he could very well be here next year). I'd be more comfortable adding a decent guy like Derek Lowe, who has pitched extremely well and with his age he won't command more than 3 years, to help the rotation. At that point, the rotation would be Sabathia/Sheets, Lowe, Jurrjens, Campillo, and Morton/Hanson. That would be pretty good, but it still has its problems. Sheets (or Sabathia because of workload) could get hurt, but all pitchers could get hurt. Lowe could become 36 and stink up the joint. Jurrjens may not be ready for the responsibility, but I have complete faith in him. Campillo could realize he's a Mexican leaguer, and the rest of the NL could kill him. Yet, I like his chances with that changeup and his determination (I love Campy). Morton hasn't been terribly impressive, but he's had signs of brilliance. Hanson is young and inexperienced, but if he's the best you got, he's the best you got. Overall, the rotation could be pretty good, but we're all out of depth.

As for the bullpen, oh God. Gonzalez could be a very good closer, and at a year and months after TJ, his arm should be healthy. Soriano needs to be shut down, but he still may not be completely healthy with his history. Moylan may not be back until May, but he may not be effective until probably June or July, if then. Boyer has been durable this year, but we all know when guys make a jump in innings in one year (Injuries!). Bennett has been great for the Braves and should be the long reliever again. After that, the Braves have a few options. They could bring back Ohman, but I doubt they'll do that. Another is Jorge Julio, who has been great but still has control problems, but he wouldn't be bad for middle relief. Phil Stockman and Zach Schreiber could also come in with their great stints in Richmond. Don't forget about Acosta (or maybe we should). The question becomes a left-handed reliever other than Gonzalez. Would Reyes be a thought? Could the bullpen increase his productivity? Is it too early to change him? The bullpen could very well be a strength next year, especially if the rotation can pitch more innings, which if the rotation looks as described above, it very well could.

Is Wren being too optimistic with his "few pieces" approach? Maybe. The Braves are only a few "pieces" away, but unfortunately, those pieces are more like chunks. They need a power-hitting LF, ace SP, and a reliable and good SP. The problem will be the competition to get these pieces as they won't be the only ones after them. Yet, the Braves will have about $40 mil to play with, so there won't be any excuses. If Wren is willing to spend, this team can contend (like the rhyme).

Blanco CF
Escobar SS
Jones 3B
Dunn/Burrell/trade guy LF
McCann C
Kotchman 1B
Francoeur RF
Johnson/Lillibridge 2B

Sheets/Sabathia
Lowe ?
Jurrjens
Campillo
Morton/Reyes/Hanson/trade guy

Gonzalez CP
Soriano SU
Moylan SU
Boyer
Bennett
Ohman?
Julio/Schreiber/Stockman/Acosta/random pickup(s)/Reyes?

Trade Bait --> Johnson/Lillibridge, James/Reyes/Morton, Anderson/Blanco, Francoeur (although they'd be selling really low)

Remember Fernando Tatis?

I do, I think. He's the guy who hit two Grand Slams in the same inning for the Cardinals a couple years ago right? He's only had one good season (1999) in which he hit .298/.404/.553 with 34 HR and 107 RBI. Other than that, he's never topped .276/.379/.491, 18 HR, and 64 RBI (most of which occurred in 2000). In other words, he was a one-hit wonder who didn't even play last season. Yet, he's back and kickin' in a Mets uniform with a .316/.361/.531 line and 9 HR and 33 RBI in 61 games. Last night, he hit two home runs and bailed the Mets out again. Maybe, just maybe, he's the power-hitting corner outfielder the Mets needed. Then again, you'll probably have go find the steroids he was probably using in 1999.

On Behalf of the Closer

Jim Caple wrote an interesting and well-written article today about how saves are overrated and so are the closers who garner them. In a half-devil's advocate mood, here's my response in favor of closers.

First off, the save is an overrated statistic. At least in that it equates "saving" a three-run lead with a one-run lead, it is overrated and false. If you want a "save", they should change it to coming in with a one-run lead and leaving with that one-run lead, but it shouldn't matter what inning one comes in during. Maybe have the hold mean from innings 1-8 and the save for the ninth because I still think closers are not overrated. However, that saving a game means coming in at the beginning of the ninth inning with a three-run lead is a bit ludicrous. I could probably come in and do that. No, I want to see the guys who buckle down and don't allow that run to cross in those close-and-late situations. Give me the guy who can stand up when the pressure's on and shut down the other team. Because according to saves, Francisco Rodriguez is better than Joe Nathan even though Nathan's ERA is half of K-Rod's. Which would you rather have? I'll take Nathan. Add in that Nathan has walked almost three times fewer hitters and has almost as many K's in fewer innings, and Nathan seems the better choice. No, show me the guy who can come in with a one-run lead in the ninth and shut the door. Is the save statistic overrated? Yes, but not the closer.

Why can I say this when the save and the closer are inextricably linked? Because they don't have to be. Just because they represent the statistic doesn't mean they are the statistic. It would be like saying that peanut butter is bad because a PB&J sandwich is bad. It's not the peanut butter's fault. It's the jelly's, but the two are always linked.

So why is the closer not overrated? Why do we want to save that one guy for the ninth inning? The seventh inning and the ninth inning both have 3 outs, and if the 3-4-5 batters are up in the 7th, shouldn't the closer pitch then than against the 9-1-2 hitters of the ninth? If you have bases loaded and one out in the seventh inning, wouldn't you want your best pitcher out there finishing that situation instead of coming in with no one out in the ninth? My answer is simply no.

Well, the seventh and ninth innings do have 3 outs each, but my point is the timing of the inning. In the back of the hitter's mind in the seventh inning is, "I'll still have one more chance if I screw this up." They may have another chance given that it is unlikely the next two innings will go by 1-2-3. In the ninth inning, the hitter knows this is his last shot. If they are down, he has to come through. The adrenaline pumps, the focus level goes up, and the determination goes up. You can't tell me the hitter isn't more focused in the ninth inning. Now, whether or not he succumbs to the pressure is another story. I want my best pitcher facing that pressure, that focus, and that determination. I want the guy with the biggest fastball, the nastiest slider to take them out. You need the high cheese or the low and off the corner slider to counter the adrenaline. You need the better stuff to counter the focus. You need the pitcher's determination to equal the hitter's. Some can handle it. Others can't. Should he only pitch the ninth? Maybe not. Maybe he should pitch the seventh or eighth along with the ninth, but he should be there with the game on the line in the ninth. Closers in college go longer times than professionals do, and granted, the seasons are shorter. Yet, if you're team needs the victory, shouldn't you (as the closer) pitch an extra inning. Sure, but that's not necessarily what we're talking about. You need the guy in the ninth. The guy who hungers for the chance, who hungers for the opportunity, whose competitive drive may make him crazy one day. If you want to win, you need that guy. There's no worse feeling in baseball than leading after eight, long innings to all the sudden lose it in the ninth. It kills the series. It kills any momentum. It causes doubt to creep into the players' minds the next time they lead after eight. They begin to doubt themselves. The closer is the guy to end that. The guy who inspires faith and fear. He's the guy you don't want to face. Is he going to throw the 96 mph heater or the devasting 88 mph slider? You don't know, but both scare the hell out of you.

Leave the set-up guys for the other situations. The ones willing to accept that they can fail because someone can bail them out next inning. Sorry, the closer is not overrated.

Joba Hurt

Joba hurt his shoulder last night against the Texas Rangers in the fifth inning. I watched it happen, and it didn't seem too bad. He wasn't freaked out or anything, but what the hell do I know? Tim Hudson wasn't worried about his elbow either. This could make things interesting for the Yankees as Wang isn't back yet, and no one is really sure if he'll be back. I predicted yesterday that a key Yankee would get hurt, but I didn't think it would be him. Just goes to show you how baseball works. At one moment, you're fine and cruising along, and the next, you give up a three-run homer and hurt your shoulder a batter later.

By the way, Hank Steinbrenner criticizes the MLB for continuing with a stupid, ancient rule made up in the 1800's that they have to play 9 innings. "If we didn't have to play nine innings, then my pitcher wouldn't have gotten hurt. It's a dumb rule made up in the 1800's, and it needs to stop. We should end the game after 4 innings."

You Know You Have Had a Bad Season When ...

I see a headline on SI.com that says "CF Jones to have CAT scan on foot", and I think of Adam (not "Pacman") Jones of the Orioles instead of Andruw Jones. Now, there's an O's news next to that link, but it wasn't there when I first saw it. Therefore, it was Adam Jones who is hurt, but that's beside the point. I'm not sure what this tells me. Maybe it's just how far Andruw has fallen in the past year and a half. Before 2007, we figured he'd get 7 years/$140 million, but he ended up getting 2/36. Now, he could be on the way to the minors. It makes me wonder if he'll be a Hall of Famer. His Gold Gloves and HR's should be impressive, but his fall from grace could spell the end of that thought. Is he such an afterthought to everyone else?

Around the Turn ...

I'm bored and decided I would handicap the playoff push for each division and the Wild Card races.

NL EAST --> Philadelphia Phillies

When I look at the New York Mets and the Florida Marlins, I begin to wonder how they're still around. Florida has the third worst ERA in the NL. However, they still have that very good offense (who needs Cabrera right?). The Mets are 7th in the NL in ERA, which isn't terrible but not division-winning either. Yet, they have a good offense, too. Actually, the Mets and Marlins are 6th and 7th respectively in runs scored while Philadelphia is 4th in team ERA and 2nd in runs scored. It seems like a no-brainer. Yet, I somehow wonder if this is the real Brett Myers. My heart tells me this is just one of those three game stretches that even Kyle Davies has, but I'm not sure. Still, Philadelphia is the best of the three remaining. They have the better offense and much better bullpen. The question comes in the starting rotation, which with Florida should be getting better with Josh Johnson and Anibal Sanchez coming back. Will they make that big of a difference? I hope so, but I doubt it.

NL CENTRAL --> Chicago Cubs

As much as I hate to say it, the Cubs are the best team in the NL. When they get Wood back from his DL stint, they'll be even better, and Wood will have had a nice rest. The Brewers tried to make things interesting with Sabathia, but Harden has been just as impressive. The Cardinals are somehow sticking around, and with Pujols, they always have a shot. But, 6 games back is a lot to overcome in the final two months. They'll need a big boost from Chris Carpenter to get there. If he can get back to close to his normal self in two weeks, the Cards might be worth watching out for. However, the Cubs have the best offense and 2nd best ERA in the NL. Hard to beat.

NL WEST --> Los Angeles Dodgers

Who here thinks Jason Bay would've looked really good in a D-Backs uni, especially because that would've meant that Manny wouldn't hav ended up in LA? That one player, even as much as I dislike him, is enough to push the Dodgers over the top. If anything, they at least have more confidence. Now, all they need to do is demote Andruw and stop playing Pierre, and their problems are solved. Not so fast, Arizona has a slightly higher ERA and a few more runs scored than the Dodgers (I realize that runs scored isn't the best way to look at offense, but bear with me anyway). If Justin Upton can heat up like he did in April, look out. However, the Dodgers seem to be the better team as their pitching shouldn't decline, but Manny will help the offense.

NL WILD CARD --> Milwaukee Brewers

It's really between the Brewers and the Cardinals. One of them made an important move, and the other stayed put. Yet, the Cardinals are getting Carpenter back. So who do you take? A healthy but heavily (no pun intended) used Sabathia or a recently healthy but rusty Carpenter? I'll take Sabathia. The offenses are pretty similar and both have their bullpen issues, but Sabathia makes a big (pun intended) difference. Then again, if Wainwright comes back healthy, the Cardinals will make this interesting.

AL EAST --> Tampa Bay Rays

Call this a hunch. I say the Rays stick it out through the rest of the season as their team holds up better than the Yankees physically and the Red Sox can't quite make up the difference. I don't know why. Everything points to the Red Sox coming back and winning, but I have this feeling that Longoria gets a big hit late in September to keep them afloat. Maybe Rocco Baldelli comes back and contributes as well. The Red Sox get close, but the Yankees have an injury or two to the older guys and fall from the race, just barely.

AL CENTRAL --> Chicago White Sox

I know the Twins just got Liriano back, but I still think the White Sox staff is better. As for offense, neither is inspiring, but I'll take the Sox and their better bullpen. Detroit won't get there as I predicted before the season. They just don't have what it takes this year.

AL WEST --> Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, of Orange County, of California, of the United States, of North America, of the Western Hemisphere, of the World, of the Milky Way Galaxy, of the Universe

I had to make that long because this division is too easy to call that it makes me think something's going to happen.

AL WILD CARD --> Boston Red Sox

For reasons stated in AL EAST

R.I.P. Skip Caray

I can't believe he's gone. This is the man who I grew up on, listening to him during the Braves games on TBS. Although sometimes I wondered what the heck he was talking about, he was a great man who will be missed. I have MLB.tv now that TBS no longer plays Braves games, and he was on Peachtree TV and FSN South doing Braves games. The other night, his son Chip and the other guy, whose name I can't remember, were jokingly yelling at Skip for stealing their pizza. It just doesn't seem possible that things happened so quickly. Although he had a major illness not too long ago, he seemed perfectly healthy. There should have been warning signs. There should have been more years of Skip Caray doing Braves games. He and Joe Simpson helped teach me baseball, although I still yell at the TV screen when they get off on random tangents. I used to wonder how people were so sad when a broadcaster died. Mostly, the problem was that I didn't know them or remember them, so it didn't matter to me. Last night, I realized how that works. It hasn't quite sunk in yet, but when I watch the Braves game tonight, it will.

Manny's First Gaffe

So, it's three days in, and Manny is already being, well, Manny. Chris Burke hit a drive through the infield, and then it made it through Manny and all the way to the wall. Now, they're in Los Angeles which has grass. How exactly does this make it to the wall? I love Chris Burke. He went to my high school, and he's kind of a legend. But seriously, Chris couldn't be that strong. Before you think that I'm criticizing Manny's effort (which may deserve to be questioned), I'm not. I'm criticizing his defense. How many of us think that Bay would have made that play and kept him to a single?

Also, I have never heard so many back-handed insults aimed at one player who definitely didn't deserve them. Everyone keeps saying, "He's [Jason Bay] good, but he's not Manny." What the heck do you mean? Do you want to compare Bay and Ramirez's stats for the season because they're almost identical? Do you want to compare defense because it's not even close? Do you want to argue over who is most likely to quit on his team because it's definitely not Bay? The only ... only ... thing Manny has on Bay is playoff experience. For all those who want to say that Manny is the guy you fear and the guy to hit 40 HR and 120 RBI, he's not that guy anymore. It's like expecting Greg Maddux to win 20 games and have a 2.18 ERA in 268 IP again. He's not that pitcher anymore, just like Manny isn't the 40 HR guy anymore. Hell, it's possible that he won't hit 30 this season. At age 36, he's only going to get worse. At age 29, Bay should be very good for the next few years and slowly decrease in about 4 years. Which do you really want? How do you know Bay won't come through in the playoffs? He's handled the pressure well so far. At some point, you have to stop thinking of Manny as what he was and start thinking of what he is. He ISN'T what he used to be. Sorry, but it's true.

Winners and Losers at the Deadline

Just because I can.

Los Angeles Dodgers (>)
They made an instant upgrade offensively in what makes them a favorite in the terrible NL West. They didn't seem to want Andy LaRoche (whether or not they should is a different story), and Bryan Morris seems like an intriguing arm. However, they gave up two prospects for Manny Ramirez and millions of dollars. Sounds like a good deal to me. Now, what are they going to do next year when they still have Juan Pierre and Andruw Jones taking up a spot in the outfield?

Boston Red Sox (-)
Anyone else think they gave up a lot for Jason Bay? Manny Ramirez, millions of dollars, aaaannnddd two prospects. Considering that Bay has the same stats as Ramirez, getting Bay isn't a bad idea, but why are you paying one of the richest teams in baseball to take Ramirez? Obviously, they were desperate. I feel sorry for Bay because no matter what he does, he's toast if they don't win the World Series. They'll say Manny could have done better. In the four games they'll play in the first round and lose, Bay can hit 6-14 with 2 HR and 5 RBI, but everyone will say that Ramirez would have hit 8-14 with 3 HR and 9 RBI even though he hit 1-12 in his series with the Dodgers. In Bay, the Red Sox solve their problems of a power bat in left field for years to come because as long as he does well, he won't be nearly as expensive as Ramirez with about the same production. As for the prospects, Moss is not considered to be more than a fourth outfielder, and Hansen has stunk in the Majors. Therefore, they got a new left fielder who will work hard and still kept all their good prospects.

Pittsburgh Pirates (>)
This could end very badly for Pittsburgh. They were on the verge of being good, and they trade away their best players. Granted, they got some good prospects, but what are the odds of any of them actually being good (especially good enough to lead the Pirates out of the gutter) in the Majors. Something tells me, this team was one or two good starting pitchers from a pretty good team (ok, maybe just okay). They should have traded McCutchen for a young stud starting pitcher. However, they did get a bunch of really good prospects for Nady, Marte, and Bay, so no one can really blame them. At least Huntington is trying. Who's also glad that the Pirates ownership nixed the Braves trade?

Florida Marlins (<)
You had your chance. You're in it in a division where no one really wants to win, and you did nothing except bring in Arthur Rhodes. I like Rhodes, but they gave up essentially a younger right-handed version for him. They didn't address their catching needs. They didn't get a starting pitcher. But they did keep Hermida, Volstad, and Stanton, so that's a plus. But that plus is for the future, not this season.

Atlanta Braves (-)
Got a decent young first baseman for the next three years until Freddy Freeman or Jason Heyward is ready for a guy they didn't need anymore. They also added an intriguing arm for the bullpen. The only part I really like about this trade is the Braves got a MLB-proven guy out of it.

New York Yankees (>)
They got Nady, Marte, and Pudge for four prospects and Kyle Farnsworth. What's not to like about these trades? They essentially switched Farnsworth for Marte, which can't be a bad thing. They got Pudge instead of a Molina or Chad Moeller, which unless last night was an indication shouldn't be a bad thing especially come the playoffs. And they added Nady to give them more offense which they kind of (?) needed. At least, he's a better defender than, well, everyone but Abreu. They still kept their young core of Hughes, Kennedy, and Jackson.

Los Angeles Angels (-)
They added a power bat for 2 months of kicking around the AL West for a young first baseman that they would have had for three years and a young bullpen arm they don't need. If they win the World Series, everything will be justified. Maybe. Because Tex still has to, you know, help win the World Series. He has to do something, and if his performances in Atlanta and Texas are anything, he may not show up. Otherwise, he isn't an upgrade to Kotchman. Also, re-signing him doesn't count as they could do that after the season anyway.

Tampa Bay, Arizona, St. Louis, New York Mets, Minnesota, Colorado (-)
You are all in the race, and you did nothing ... nothing. However, the races remain to be seen, and sometimes, doing nothing is the right thing to do. Yet, some of these teams really needed something. Tampa less so, but it could have used a SP and OF with power. Arizona needed some power, but they refused to part with anything at all (a good move for their future). St. Louis, NYM, and Minnesota have definite needs that they didn't address, and therefore, I don't think any of them will make the playoffs. Colorado needs to get off this "We'll win 30 games in a row again this year" kick and trade Holliday while no one knows he won't hit for power outside Denver and Fuentes before anyone realizes he isn't particularly good, but they look good for next year now.

Just Keep It in Your Stands

This is what makes me angry about sports fans. They throw things on to the field, like they did in Minnesota last night. I understand that you felt the umpire made a bad call and may have wrung up your manager pretty quickly, but seriously, why throw things? You almost made your team forfeit the game, endangered the players on the field, endangered the bat boys and security guards as well, and will probably receive some sort of punishment like not getting beer after the 6th (Did alcohol play a role; I doubt it, but they might use it as an excuse). This is the point: it's just a game. There is no need to throw things. It also makes me wonder how much stuff didn't make it onto the field. How much hit someone in the stands? Please stop taking everything so seriously and as a personal slight. There is no reason to throw crap on the field. If you are going to do things like this, throw them at home and break your own TV.

I Really Did Try But ...

It's always funny when I read post-Deadline articles that reference GM's around baseball. In this one from SI.com, several of them say, "We tried to get (insert name here), but they just wanted too much." Isn't this just another way of saying either "Our farm system sucks and couldn't afford to give up our really good ones," or "We didn't really try, but I'm saying this to get you off my freaking back." I mean, really, did they really try? Can we find out if they did? They all do it, so they aren't going to sell each other out. I don't want your excuses. I want your reasons for holding on to Will Ohman. Oh, you couldn't really get anything good for him, at least not as much as that supplemental draft pick you'll need when we re-sign those two big pitchers this offseason. Okay, that sounds fine. That's a reason. Not, we need an outfielder, so we refused to give up anything for Raúl Ibañez. That makes no sense. If it was the farm system, just admit you're a terrible GM.

Also, what's with everyone not wanting to give up prospects. If you're getting a good MLB player that has proved himself, isn't that better than a No.1 prospect that might be decent? I guess I wouldn't give up a No.1 for Joe Blanton, but if Jason Bay was hanging around, I think I'd do it.

Do You Ever Wonder ...

How crazy the trade deadline actually is? All these experts and journalists with their "sources" never get anything right. They kept talking about Teixeira almost certainly going to the D-Backs. Oops, he went to the Angels (well, the Angels were technically in the discussion, but they were considered on the fringe of the discussions). No one saw the Pudge trade coming. No one saw the Griffey trade coming. We just keep looking at websites, finding the latest rumors, worrying that are teams are screwing up/missing out, and then ultimately it doesn't matter. I can't stop looking for more information because I want to know what's going on so badly. I want the Braves to sweep in and get Bay from the Pirates before he ends up in Boston. I want Will Ohman to be traded for Brandon Moss. I want Mark Kotsay dealt to a team for anything. Will it happen? I don't know. Even if the experts say it will, Ohman and Kotsay will still be Braves on Saturday.

You Know You Have Had a Bad Season When

The headline reads "Hudson, Smoltz to Have Arms Checked", and even better, they are doing it together. How lovely! The Braves' two best pitchers going to see Dr. Andrews together, almost like a cute couple. God this makes me sick. At the beginning of the season, these two were supposed to be our 1 and 2 guys in the rotation. Hudson was supposed to be the man (which he essentially has been), and his drop-and-drive mechanics are supposed to help keep his arm healthy. Smoltz is getting older, but he hadn't had any health problems for years. He should have been healthy this season. AAAAHHHH! A lot of things should have been, but that's what happens in baseball. Nothing goes as planned. The Twins should have sucked. The Rays shouldn't have been this good. The Astros shouldn't be looking for more veterans while giving away more prospects they don't have. 'Tis the season I guess.

Teixeira to Angels

Well, I'm back after a month in England (it was very fun). I missed a lot of things going on, but I'm catching up. Anyway, on to Mark Teixeira. I was watching the game tonight, and Frank Wren said he made an "aggressive offer" to Tex before the season. Who knows what that means, but I bet Boras fielded the call, told Tex it wasn't worth it, and told the Braves no. Fair enough. With the Braves doing poorly and the injuries piling up, Wren had no choice but to trade Tex. The Angels won the bidding by offering Casey Kotchman and Stephen Marek. From first glance, it looks like a poor deal, but it actually isn't too bad. By not trading Tex, the Braves would have gotten two draft picks who would be ready in four years. The problem is they need a first baseman now. Without Tex, there are no MLB-ready first baseman in the Braves system (although Freddy Freeman and Jason Heyward might do well there in a few years). In Kotchman, the Braves found their first baseman for the next few years. I think the power will come, but he probably won't hit more than 25-30 HR in any season, but that wouldn't be terrible. In Stephen Marek, the Braves find an interesting bullpen arm. Keith Law says that Marek has a good fastball with a plus curve, and you only really need two pitches from the bullpen. In 46 IP, he has struck out 57, so he has an out pitch (I'm guessing the curve, but I'm not sure). Overall, I was a little disappointed with the trade because I felt we could get a bit more. However, most trades are done with prospects, but in Kotchman, we have a MLB-proven hitter and great defender. I think he's worth at least two good prospects, so all in all, it's not a bad trade. For the Angels, this makes them the front-runners for the World Series. They have the pitching, fielding, and hitting to keep winning, but we all know how the playoffs seem to ruin the "best teams". The problem for the Angels comes after the season. Who plays first? They may have the money to bring Tex back, but I have a feeling the Yankees will splurge on Tex to get that good first baseman they have been missing. The Angels lack a long-term prospect there, but would they move Brandon Wood there? I don't know, but they'll have a tough choice to make in the offseason. For now, they can enjoy their new teammate and a World Series trophy.

Hampton Possibly Back After All-Star Break

Mike Hampton threw 3 innings last ight in Class A without incident. Now, the chances are still remote in him getting to actually pitch in a MLB game, but you have to wonder if the Braves would rather him just stay injured. Tim Hudson has been pretty good this season. Jorge Campillo, Charlie Morton, Jose Reyes, and especially Jair jurrjens have been great so far and real surprises. With the pitching staff intact now, why bring Hampton back unless one of the young guys gets injured. That way, you don't send them down just to be promoted the next day when Hampton gets injured. With all the injuries to the lineup, they need more sticks than pitching. It has really been weird with at first all the pitchers getting hurt, and now when the Braves are starting to get that under control, the offense suddenly gets injured.