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.
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