Award Time

Best catch all year, bar none, Carlos Gonzalez leaps and face plants on the warning track against the Giants ( on a sure triple hit by Aaron Rowand ) to the deepest part of Pac Bell Park, He slid easily 10 feet, scraping his arms and chin. Saved 2 runs, and the Rockies stopped Linecum, a statement play in a statement game.

Best ejection....This was close, but Jim Leyland edged out Bobby Cox. Leyland's team was getting the backsides clobbered by the A's and a ball ( he was right ) clearly hit Miggy Cabrera, who was beside himself in anger, lifted his jersey to show a red mark he claimed was where the ball hit him. To no avail, the umps feeling upstaged by this striptease, tossed Leyland, who tossed his hat down, and had a spray of spittle going like a lawn sprinkler. As I said, it was close, I saw Cox get into it, with the 1st base ump on what was a close play at first, Cox contended the then 1st baseman Casy Kotchman touched 1st before the ball reached there. The replay shows he was wrong, the ball was there first, but he should have argued that James Loney's foot was a foot off the bag. Dodger broadcaster Vin Scully remarked, " Cox was right and wrong on the same play".

Best double play ...The Texas Rangers were smart enough to decide they would be better served with Micheal Young ( a Gold Glove shortstop moving to 3rd base ) and they were right for a change. Young Elvis Andrus dove for hot grounder and threw out Ichiro, and knew he had no play at 2nd base, but runner Rob Johnson thought that he could go 1st to 3rd. The play at 1st by Chris Davis seemed improbable, and the M's were down by 3 runs, so why not.

Easy reason, So Chris Davis after checking with the umpire to confirm the out at 1st saw Johnson passing Andrus and tossed it wildly to Michael Young who had to leap in the air , come down and tag Johnson out at 3rd. Both infielders made sparkly plays, best DP I have seen all year. 6-3-6 on your scorecards.

Best bench clearing brawl..... Tampa & RedSox in pre season was a doozie, but i will give the honours to Jays Yanks, Brian Burke should scout some of these guys, no hand slapping and hair pulling here. This was rock'em sock'em action. Jessy "the Body" Carlson vs Jorge "the Animal" Posada. Cage match fortcoming. The pre season scrimmage had about 50 - 60 bodies from both sides, it was more of a school yard rumble, hard to make anything out.

Best Baseball Quote ( not by Yogi Berra ) ..... Pete Rose when asked about the Cubs , "God said, don't win until I get back " must have influenced Milton Bradley who when he was benched for lax play said, " Now I know why the Cubs have not won for 100 years ", Never realized that Milton was such a historian.

Real awards come this weekend, but something to wet your whistle for now.

Cinderella Twins and Braves try to avoid final bell

The clock has not yet struck midnight on the Twinkies, or the Braves, as they are putting the "most" in my "almost" predictions to the test.

A day night Twin Bill with Tigers hosting Minnesota, Twin Bill or Twin Killing, the result

of Game # 1 was a tense pitchers duel and a 3-2 ( in 10 innings ) win by the Twins, so the lead slips to 1, but the Tigers were here a week ago but a Sunday special by Ryan Rayburn pushed the stripped ones back to the 3 game lead.

As for Hot Lanta , the Bravos have rattled off 7 straight in the W column and have whittled the Rockies lead to 2 games for the NL wild card. This was largely over until Atlanta's rotation of Vazquez, Lowe, Jurrjens & Co. refused to lose a game, and the Rox were just pure mortals.

I am sure the Rocky Mountain Boys thought they had dusted the SF Giants, and could ease into the post season. Wrongo Jimmy, the Braves with their swan song for Bobby Cox (who will retire from managing after this season) are gelling like orange Jello with fruit inside. Nicely.

The schedule favours the Braves, who get Nats and the Fish, while Colorado must face Prince Fielder and the Brew Crew, and the Dodgers.

Sometimes Id' rather face good teams who have something to play for, rather than also rans, but we'll see whether the schedule works against either club.

Back to the AL Central, and while it's admirable what the Twins are doing, it's largely going to boost ratings for TV in both cities, and nothing else. The winner is fodder for the Red Sox.

Home field will mean nothing to Boston, unless John Lester cannot start Game 2.

Night game update, Tigers eke out the 6-5 win, lead back to 2 games, 5 games left, and Fish are tight against the Braves, so maybe these races will be back to the land of "almost " once again.

Maybe Cinderella will still get to the dance, but the clock is beginning to strike 12, and in the distance the choir of hefty ladies is beginning to clear their throats.

Final 11:30 PM update, Marlins edge the Braves and the Rox win over the Brewers in extras, Braves now 3 back. "Start speading the news", the girls can start warbling their tunes. "Turn out the lights, the parties over"................Oooh Baby, the clock has begun striking midnight.

Let's put the Wild back in Wild Card

Oh we are so excited about the great playoff races as we wind down the 2009 season.

AL East - done

AL West - done

NL East - done

AL Central - done

NL West - done

AL Wild Card - done

NL Wild card - almost done

AL Central - almost done

Okay, so the races are a little dry this year, like the Sahara Desert maybe.

Last year there were 8 teams at least that still had legit shots, with 10 games left, some better than others, but we have more magic numbers on the board than attendance.

Much has been written , and as always, it's written at this time of the year because it's relevant about expanding the playoff format to bring in 2 more teams in each league.

As much of a purist, I know see it as inevitable that baseball has to seriously look at this, not pay it lip service.

The trouble is how ?

Cut Spring Training down, and start the season earlier, I am all for that, but watch for Florida and Arizona governors to plead with Congress to resist that idea, as it fuels their winter tourist industries.

Shorten the regular season, take it back to 154 game mark. Oh, I am sure we'll hear from the Players Union on that one, unless they don't take a pay cut. Plus the weaker teams will see 4 less gates, so there's a chance they want that revenue from the 15,000 die hard fans still going in the last 2 weeks.

How about play in games, like the NCAA basketball, they have their March Madness begin with one showdown to become the 64th seeded team. Have the extra 2 teams play other, and then the winner plays a 2 out of 3

to stay in as thee Wild card team. Still scratcing your head, you're not alone.

How do you the best solution, compromise that's how. Players and management and Spring training all have to shrink equally, creating another week and a half, condense the travel, and have short best of 3 series ( all in the same city as the teams with best records ) to reduce travel issues. That way you get a compressed additional round in. Top 2 teams get a bye, the remaining 4 teams play in home city of the team with better record and play best of 3. Winners move on to play the normal best of 5, then a best of 7 AL and NLDS.

Probably means starting the year in the last week of March, so be prepared for the early season to be played more in domes, or in regions where the weather is warmer and dryer. Also, sorry Players, the season just shrunk by 4 games to 158, so 2 less home dates.

I don't care what Kansas City, Pittsburgh, or other cellar dwellers say about the loss of revenue. They all get an equal share of TV revenue from the additional rounds. That makes up for some loss, but it probably costs those weaker teams considerable coin to play the last few games when they are eliminated anyhow, so how much harm will it do.

Here is hoping that what is causes is heightened playoff races, better TV packages, more gate revenue from teams that stay in their races longer.

You see this wok in the NFL, as most years there are multiple combinations of potential playoff opportunities still available. Rarely are their races over early in December.

I think it's time, someone nudge Bud and ask him to respond.

Another act worn thin

Isn't it about time that baseball decided to stop handing out good jobs, starting salaries to some of these bonehead players.......Milton Bradley.....someone punch this guys ticket, and let him ride the buses on the Independent League. Let Mr. Goodness and Joy ride the bus to Portage La Prairie, or Sioux Falls, or Walla Walla , Washington. Let the currently suspended Mr. Bradley make ends meet on a $ 100 per Diem meal budget. Honest to Rudy, I am so glad Jim Hendry decided that enough was enough, as Popeye used to say, and I can't stands no more !

His act wore thin in LA, Oakland, well just about everyone place he hung his hat. Oh sure, the guy displays talent, he walks, he scores runs, his on base is nice, he is a liability on turf, he hates it, his knees are not good, so sometimes he has to replaced in late innings, and fans largely think he's a big pain in the ass.

Opposing fans dislike him more, they throw things at him, which I do not condone, but kind of understand, he does not sign autographs, and at times seems disinterested in the game. These are his attributes, his faults are endless. He fights with umpires, managers, team mates, fans, vendors, parking lot attendants and reporters. Did I miss anyone, thank God the clergy do not go to Cubs games, otherwise you'd have to add them to the list.

It got bad enough after his latest escapade that life long Cubs fan, actor Bill Murray suggested he be sent to work in the soup kitchens on the South Side of Chicago. "let him serve up coffee and soup to the White Sox fans for awhile, then send him to NASA, perhaps they can launch him into outer space ". Now Bill I am sure wouldn't go that far, but the sentiment is, you have blown up another bridge, buddy boy.

There have been other losers in the game, but they linger around because they always seem to have enough talent to stay employed. It's as worse in football, Michael Vick, Ray Lewis, Terrell Owens, Chris Henry, just to name some. If you seemingly have talent, who cares about your character. GM's in these sports tend to see the talent, and think it will be different in Green Bay, Pittsburgh, other cities, other coaches, other team mates, "we can deal with so and so, it work differently here". Never does, and so these bozos wear out their welcome and pack up and move onto another bridge, eager to set the charges. Funny but they repeat all the mistakes they have already committed, and commit new ones.

It's always the same 3 act play. Player gets wooed, fans greatly excited, comes in with fanfare, performs well in the beginning, then either an injury, or calls out the coach for bad calls, not using him properly, and whammo, the fans turn, and then eventually so does management. I meant it literally " whammo " and this dolt is yesterdays newspaper, and hey look, is being wooed by the next dumb ass General Manager.

At some point the carousel ends , age, injuries, movie deals, talk shows, or just having enough money to walk away and these guys finally leave. rarely do they get shut out at the window, it is mostly they real the end of the natural line. Maybe that will be the case with "Board Game" ...Milton Bradley, but don't be surprised if he ends up DH'ing in the AL next year. I hear KC is in the market, perhaps even Toronto, maybe the frozen tundra fans of the Jays aren't hip to his act. Hey Milton, we get the internet, and youtube, so here's hoping whomever replaces the current GM is not dazzled by OBA, or other such stats, and takes a pass.

Maybe the Winnipeg Goldeyes need a reserve outfielder/dh / pain the ass type player, who can descend upon the good citizens of the Peg' and insult the local populace to the point the only job he can get is a greeter at a Atlantic City casino.

Enough venom already........

Guess what, 2 of my 3 fantasy teams are looking like they will make the playoffs, and the 3rd is a .500 club, so the glass is definitely half full. Maybe if I had just drafted Milton Bradley instead of Xavier Nady....heck I would rather a guy on the 60 day DL, than that walking time bomb.

Jim out.

Friday's with Jimmy

Grab your coffee, or hot beverage, and sit back while I recount what's pissing me off these days.

# 1

The Yankees and their tradition can get a bit to bombastic for my taste, case in point the well publicized ascent of Lou Gehrig's team record for hits as a NY'er. Was finally reached and surpassed by Derek Jeter, like it was the breaking of the sound barrier, the 4 minute mile, reaching the summit of Mount Everest, or the first heart transplant all rolled into one. Enough already YES Network, and Yankees Incorporated. I was speaking to one of best friends and fellow Yankee hater and we had both seen the list of famous pinstripped players Jeter had passed, and one name struck me, because of what I know about the man, and his time. That would the kid from Oklahoma, Mickey Mantle. The greatest switch hitter ever.

If the Mick had not suffered a devastating knee injury in 51', and in those days, no arthroscopic surgeries were done. He either limped on and off the field, or waited 3 months to play again.

Give Mickey the benefit of better outfield grass, and better doctors, and he plays almost 2 full seasons more, so tell me that the New Great One would not be still scaling the heights of Yankee stats to reach Mantle. Plus, I found it repugnant that they are celebrating this individual team record like he just reached 3000 hits, or 500 home runs.

# 2

Some very bad news came from Tigerland in that long time Tiger broadcaster Ernie Harwell has inoperable cancer, and we shall too soon lose another piece of the past. Like Tom Cheek and Don Chevrier, and others, Harwell was in a class with only the best. He ranks there with the current dean of baseball announcers, Vin Scully, still doing Dodger games ( and solo to boot ) , the late Jack Buck , long time Cardinal voice, and guys like Mel Allen, and Tony Kubek, and Red Barber.

Barber mentored Scully as the voice of the Brooklyn Dodgers, "sitting in the tall cotton", "ducks on the pond", and many other expressions that gave fans the feel they were at the park. Harwell is like Scully, every play reminds him of a good story, and baseball lends itself to discuss it's past, and it's future at the same time.

# 3

Cy Young in the AL. Guys and gals, this is a no brainer, it has to KC right hander Zach Greinke, not CC, not Verlander, apologies Doc Halladay, and nice try Felix Hernandez, maybe next year. forget about wins, look at the innings, look at the batting average against, the low amount of walks, the strikeouts, and oh the best ERA in the majors. It is not Greinke's fault he plays for an offensively challenged team in Kansas City, he has been thee most consistent pitcher all year long. End of story, move along, nothing to discuss.

The NL Cy is a bit tougher but wunderkid Lincecum is heavily favoured, but there are always those that don't like to see the same pitcher every year. Unless his name was Greg Maddux of course. I will handicap the MVP, ROY in each league this weekend, because there is not much left to follow, except the Giants - Rockies race.

Enjoy

Famous Battles

Well there have been some real famous battles over the years, seen here is John Roseboro taking in hand after Juan Marichal.

Robert Fick apparently biting Mike Sweeney, Sweeney produced teeth marks, though Fick denies ever biting him.

Billy Martin and Reggie Jackson got into it at least once or twice.

Jays and Yankees last evening had quit the get together, over some hit batters, and purpose pitches, and brush backs.

The culmination was in the 8th inning after a pitch by Jessy Carlson sailed over Jorge Posada's noggin, Mr. Posada taking offense to that, this after 2 Jays had been plunked already.

Posada, and his posse began jawing, benches cleared, calmer heads prevailed ( or so they thought ). Then after Posada reached base and Cano and Gardner followed, a base hit scored the Yankee catcher. He strode home but as he reached home decided a little fore arm bump to Carlson was required. A model citizen he.

So that brought the ire of Jays catcher Rod the Bod Barajas, who challenged Posada to maybe arm wrestle or tiddleywinks, and that brought Jorge to begin some fisticuffs with Carlson and Barajas.

Afterwards, Carlson's wound was a welt the size of an Egg McMuffin on his forehead. I don't think Jessy ever got a legit swing either. That again rustled everyone , all the benches, the bullpen, the coaches, hell I think the grounds crew was there, and the hot dog vendors into this sea of humanity, or insanity.

The gist of it was this unwritten code to uphold, you hit my guy, we get you back, same in hockey happens all the time. With the teams having expanded rosters, let me tell you folks, there was enough people on the field to equal....well... a Phoenix Coyote home game, somewhere under a 1000, I guess. I may exaggerate to make a point.

The image of a Yankee with a warm up jacket yanking the straps of Rod the Bod's catching gear from behind, trying to drag him through the dirt was truthfully hilarious. This until Cito Gaston, the Jays Godfather stepped in to save Barajas from being roped and branded by the unknown Yankee wrangler.

Richard Griffin wrote in the Star today that this experience was somewhat a bonding for the poor Jays. I disagree, but it must have allowed them to vent much of the frustration pent up all year.

Suspensions are possible, and heck these guys go back at again tonight, so perhaps we'll get the rockets red glare, and the bombs bursting in air fireworks again.

I don't like baseball fights, but compared to basketball ones, there are some real nasty honest to goodness head banging, whereas the round ballers are wussies compared to teeth biting, cold cocking and hair pulling and body slamming that baseball players display. Sounding a lot like WWF rassling, don't it ??

Oh, and all but forgotten was a 5 home run a** kicking of the pinstripped millionaires club by your Toronto Blue Jays. Hey, give us something, it's been a long year, and it proves maybe to be a long winter of discontent.

Tonight it will probably end up a dreary return to the butt kicking we keep taking at the tail end of this season, but for one night, we rose as Blue Jays Nation, and gave them a Conn Smythe "Beat em in the alley and on ice " version , baseball style.

Enjoy !

Sunday Quick Hits

Red Sox starting to get healthy, and the Dice Man is coming back this week, watch his start with earnest, since Lester and Buchholz and Beckett look very solid.

Tigers look very flat, maybe the result of the weakest division and little competition.


How far will the Joba plan extend ?
Is it possible that limiting his innings will perhaps hurt his chances of post season success. I think the pin stripes have the bats, but they have depended on sending out Sergio Mitre, Josh Towers and Chad Gaudin lately, not gotten very good results from Burnett, leaving Sabathia & Pettitte to win in the playoffs, so I worry about their ability to advance.

The Giants despite their solid rotation have not dominated their opponents, and the Rockies continue to look very good, so I think the wild card race will be done by late next week. No magic numbers, but the two teams seem to be going in opposite directions.

The Angels look almost ready for post season, Vlad is healthier, Morales is solid, getting very good defense, and they are getting good starts from their rotation, now including Scott Kazmir.
Only weak spot they have might be closer, as Fuentes is not always a lock, and has little post season experience. The set up arms are not as reliable as yeras past, and bullpen was always an LA edge going into a short series.




Now Blue Jays fans wait out the last 3 weeks to see what the organization does to improve their situation.

Here are some Jays bullet points to think about

> Attendance against the Twins was about the same as a swap meet, 11,000 and change, and Doc was pitching. Have the fans decided enough is enough ?

> They have shut down a few of the their young pitchers, giving up, or trying to protect their assets, and finally smartening up.

> JP very quiet, and has not being on their recent road trips, Jays saving cash or just telling JP, stick around the city, until the end of the season. He made 2 trips to Boston area, but more of that was starting his kids back at school.

> Rumours abound that Paul Beeston has the semblance of financing, and an ownership group, and have perhaps made it known to Rogers their interest in buying the team in November.

> It may be that there will be starting the 2010 season, there is no JP, no Halladay, no Cito Gaston, but a new owner, new President, new GM, and a revamped budget. That at least would set a new course, depending on the names of the new Prez and GM, and what they got for Doc.

Post season is around the corner, so expect some pre playoff predictions.

Enjoy ?

Aaron's uphill battle

Aaron Hill's 2008 season was one he'd sooner forget, and there were times, he wondered how much he would even remember.
Hill collided with David Eckstein in Oakland last May on what would normally be a routine play, but Hill's head collided with Eck's knee, and that was just the start of it.
Diagnosed with a concussion, Hill spent time last year trying to focus, literally on anything, and at times he could, and then it become fuzzy once again, and bumble bees would return.

I think other than opening day, last night was a memorable night and redemption for Hill, as he returned home from the birth of his second child ( they pulled him from a game against Minnesota earlier this week as the news reached him during play, and he hustled home.
Back last night, wife and child doing well, Aaron went 4 for 6 against the Tigers, and raised his average back up to .290. That coupled with his 31 homers and 94 runs batted in, and playing a stellar 2nd base, it most seem that 2008 was a dream or a bad nightmare he has awoke from.

Adam Lind has been fabulous this year, and likely deserves many votes for Jay of the year, but my vote goes to the kid who plays 2nd base for Toronto.

Well done Hilly !

That which we call a rose

My apologies to Bill Shakespeare.

Is it not time to make the right decision on Peter Rose, and his exclusion from the Hall of Fame.
I have for a long time felt time that MLB needs to move towards granting Rose Hall status, but by the same token, continue to bar him from organized baseball. I do think that Rose's admitted actions of gambling is guilt enough that it should keep him from the game he loves for life.

Roses' actions however understood by those with gambling addictions are actions that can never be tolerated in any sport, at any time. Neither should we ignore his achievements on the field either.

In 24 seasons, this is what he accomplished,

3562 games played
14053 at bats
2165 runs scored
4256 hits
746 doubles
135 triples
160 home runs
1314 ribbies
lifetime .303 batting average
1963 Rookie of the Year
3 time batting average leader
17 All Star appearances
.987 combined fielding percentage ( over 6 different positions )

Impressed, you should be, not many played game the way Charlie Hustle did, as well, and for as long. Rose was once quoted as saying " I'd walk through hell in a gasoline suit just to play this game ". Ever see him not run out a ground ball ? Not try and break up a double play ? Not tagged up on a fly ball, never ! Rose played the game on the field the way Cobb did, with ferocity, with passion, and with purpose.

As for his lifetime banishment, I agreed at the time, but I was more hurt that he would attack the reputation of the game. I have since then watched many pro athletes get multiple chances, and wondered if he would get one as well. Bud Selig has dropped hints, but nothing yet. Hank Aaron thinks it's time, and Hank was a contemporary of Rose, so he watched him perform up close, and never felt that Rose pulled back or held up, that on the field he game all he had.

So, if Hank Aaron thinks it's time for his entry into the HOF, that is good enough for me.

Life is just a Fantasy

Friday September 4rth, 2009

Dear Diary,

Am feeling loss today, had my # 1 shortstop go down with bad hamstring, needing MRI. Why does this happen to me ?, I planned all year, I drafted well, I traded when I needed too, I watched to make sure I sent the right pitchers against my fiercest competition. Then Michael Young of the Texas Rangers went and got injured on me.

I know, I know, he plays 3rd base now for the Rangers, young Elvis Andrus patrols short in Arlington, but Mike did last year, so in fantasy terms he still qualifies to play 2009 at shortstop. It's too hard to explain all this, I'd have to begin explaining the whole scoresheet world, and I don't have time.

Mike DC would understand, wouldn't you Michael ?

Well Diary, yet again, more injuries, well not like 2008 when I lost 3/5Th's of my rotation, Kelvim Escobar, Chin Ming Wang, Jered Weaver, then it got worse. The injury bug filtered out onto the infield, and Aaron Hill clunked his noggin and had the woozies fro 6 months. Eric Chavez was well, Eric Chavez, and had multiple ailments of back, knee and shoulder. So he was done for 08'. Then Torji Hunter, Alfonso Soriano and well, there's the ballgame.

So I consulted the mystical Gods of Fantasy, and employed a psychic, spoke to the High Llama, and read Bill James, and made some alterations before last winter's draft. Hazzah, things started to work, Mike Napoli hit better than anybody I ever drafted at catcher, Paul Konerko made me feel better about Jason Giambi's slide into oblivion. Scott Rolen hit, and Torji Hunter hit, and Aaron could see clearly, and he hit, and drafting Matt Holliday did not hurt, and he hit. So, suddenly Michael Young wasn't so alone on my team, and of course Mike hit too.

So losing Michael Young was just another reminder that I do not call the shots, that there is a higher power at work, that destiny is not designed, drafted or manipulated, it is karma, baby, karma, and I don't have it. So I dealt for Julio Lugo, and whistled down to Union Station, because Diary, I aim to cheat the Reaper, he'll not collect this soul that easily.

Final Note: BJ Upton tweaked his ankle after colliding with Carl Crawford last night, reminder to send a cheque to the guy who sold me those VooDoo Dolls of my closest competition, The Evil Empire in Thunder Bay, ah ....if you read this Glen, just kidding about the Evil Empire stuff.

We'll see if my Elephants can plod along and make the post season for the first time in 8 years, maybe it's time, or maybe the I make the Gods angry.

Stay tuned.

The Midnight Hour

A look at the National League West chase is a worthy topic these days, as very team save for the Padres are in it. The latest moves by the Dodgers, cheating the midnight deadline for playoff roster status were pretty bold.

They added veteran LH bat of Jim Thome and RHP Jon Garland, and added them just prior to the MLB deadline. In San Fran, earlier on they added Brad Penny, and looked to get Trevor Hoffman, but were unsucessful. The Rockies took Jose Contreras ( who must be 100 years old ) and promoted Jason Giambi from his minor league assignment.

Lots of moves, bench strength, September push, most of these players won't have too much impact, but last year the Jays sent Matt Stairs to the Phillies, and he had many pinch hits in the playoffs and the Series, so who knows ? I don't think these are key moves, but maybe if Thome faces a right hander with runners on, and he smacks a long ball, the Dodgers will point to that as enough of a reason to have made the deal.

Jermaine Dye was dangled out there, as Scott Linebrink, as was Cub Rich Harden, but Dye, Hoffman and Harden stayed put, and for Cubs fans, they still dream of fighting for post season but are probably done like dinner. Dye, like Rich Harden is a 2010 free agent, so other than getting draft picks when signed, that is all the Sox and Cubs will get back if they let them walk. The Sox largely tossed in their "white" towel after getting their backsides whacked by what Ozzie Guillen called " the Big Boys " in Boston and NY. He called his troops out before those 7 games and tossed his offense "under the bus ", and they responded by winning 2 games of the 7, and being pushed around.

It did not help that GM Kenny Williams got news that ex Padre Jake Peavy was probably not going to be 100 % for a September run. I think Kenny decided if Peavy was not 100 %, shut him down and protect the investment, and play for next year.

I am reminded of a potential deal that Detroit and Baltimore tried to pull off back in the 80's involving Freddy Lynn. In those days, the traded player had be in the city of his new team BY 12 o'clock. Holy Cinderella Batman !!, time to get Freddy to the airport. Well he was late due to weather and arrived after 1 am. Too late, day late and a buck short as they say. He could play in September, just not in any playoffs.

The rule has been changed since then, just the trade and the paperwork need to be confirmed with the MLB HQ folk, with fax / e-mail proof.

I am not a big fan of these late moves, because usually the core of the team remains intact, and these Johnny Come Lately's have to pass through waivers, so are not considered impact players.

Thome in LA could be, but he will sit and watch James Loney play 1st base, Garland will eat up some innings, and Giambi will enjoy some Denver "rarefied air", and Contreras will likely get his brains beat in, so in truth these are great for headlines, and ESPN & the Baseball Blogs for fodder, I just think that if LA keeps hitting, and SF Giants get 80 % of their rotation blowing out the competition, it will be hard for the Rockies to say with the pack. So majority of these moves make the troops believe that management is 100 % behind them.

The Red Sox added Billy Wagner ( and boy are the Mets happy to rid themselves of his contract ), but he's just another guy at the tail end of their bullpen. If the Sox starters falter, it won't matter a bit.

The Yanks have the east all but sewn up, so the Sox are really fighting for the Wild card and the Rangers are hanging in with what I thought was marginal pitching, making me eat my words. The Texas club added Irod ( for old time sake ) and the Anaheim Angels stunned the baseball world with their trade with the Rays for Scotty Kazmir.

Kazmir was shocked despite all the rumours but finds himself on a for sure playoff bound team , and he does not have to be"the guy", with John Lackey, Jered Weaver and Ervin Santana. Plus Joe Saunders just returned and if Kazmir ( boy I am tempted to put on some Led Zepplin ) finds his groove, the Angels are going to hard to beat.

We could see a repeat of a Giants/Angels 2002 WS match up. It would not surprise me in the least.