Needless to say, I've been a grouch all day long, and have pretty much not helped any with the fact that I'm still feeling the ill effects of a cold that some of my other co-workers passed along.
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With the MLB Trade Deadling come and gone, it's time to announce the three Big Winners and the three Big Losers from the drafting game:
THE WINNERS
They only needed one trade to set themselves as the best TEAM in baseball. Picking up 1B Mark Teixeira gave them a bigger bat and a better glove at first base. While the Braves didn't lose here in getting Casey Kotchmann, the Angels definitely improved. And more importantly, the best 1-2 punch in baseball now resides in Anaheim with Vladimir "Vlad The Impaler" Guerrero and Mark "Tex Mex" Teixeira".
Some people may question the move because they already had a big lead in their division (see the NY Mets 2007 for why you should never settle for a big lead), but they are looking ahead to competing with the rest of the best in the AL. Great move.
Although they didn't make the blockbuster deal for a superstar player, they picked important role players to fill voids. With Hideki Matsui out of action in LF, they picked up Xavier Nady from Pittsburgh, while in that same move picking up Damaso Marte to give them a solid left-handed middle reliever. And if that wasn't enough, days after C Jorge Posada was deemed inactive for the rest of the year, they made the decision to go after 14-time All-Star Ivan Rodriguez from the Tigers, getting rid of strong, yet erratic right-handed reliever Kyle Farnsworth.
I've said all along that it doesn't take an all-star lineup to win championships, which explains why the Yankees haven't won a championship in a while. But, these moves put the Yankees in the right direction.
No, I'm not making them a winner just by getting Manny, although the trade did give them a big boost. But, they also made some quality trades beforehand, picking up SS Angel Berroa, former Rookie of the Year, to help out their middle infield defense, and picking up 3B Casey Blake, which was great timing because Nomar Garciaparra is out indefinitely with injury.
With the D-Backs doing little to nothing to help their team, and the rest of the division at a stand still, look for this move to send the Dodgers to another NL West crown.
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THE LOSERS
For a team that is tied for second in their division and is in a big hunt for the Wild Card, they sure did NOTHING to help their cause. All they did was trade away a veteran middle reliever, and didn't pick up any help. Granted, they got help from within with Chris Carpenter returning the other night, and more help down the road with Adam Wainwright, but they could've helped themselves out instead of staying put.
Maybe it's because this franchise is still considered "small market" and they have never been in the position of possibily being a buyer to help improve their odds of winning a division crown, but could they have at least done something? Let's see, Arthur Rhodes, Jason Bay, all went elsewhere. Couldn't lure away Jose Guillen or Raul Ibanez from their respective teams. Great job doing nothing. Just watch the Yanks cruise right past everyone to the top.
No, they didn't get put in the losers category because they traded Manny Ramirez away. I mean, yes, their team isn't as good, and yes, the batting order isn't so fearsome now. But, don't you think with all of the trash and distractions that Manny was causing over the last week that the Red Sox were having a hard time dealing with it?
The bigger problem for Boston is this: Outside of this move, they did nothing. Their bullpen has been dicey, and instead of making a move to improve it, they traded away one of their younger talents. Yeah, offense is good, but if you can't hold on to a lead, it's worthless, just ask the Denver Nuggets and the Texas Rangers.
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"Rocket" Rod calls in from Oahu to say he is extremely excited about the trade which got his team a big time hitter in Manny Ramirez. He also makes sure to note that Bobby Brown is going to be at the Pipeline on Saturday. Yeah, THAT Bobby Brown. The drug addict who married Whitney Houston. Glenn Medeiros is opening for him.
