Hello Fans,
Well things are heating up with the trade deadline looming in the next six days. With the new playoff system providing extra Wild Card teams in both leagues, everyone thinks they have a chance. Thus, they are all “buyers” when it comes to the trade deadline. Somewhere, there has to be some “sellers” though. I would think Miami, Philadelphia, Seattle, and Minnesota as worthy (they’re not going anywhere). Not only do the Wild Card chasers have to be buyers, but so too do the division leaders. Why? Because there is now more incentive than ever to win the division rather than be ‘content’ with 95 wins as the Wild Card team. Teams want to do everything they can to avoid the one game play-off that the 4th and 5th best teams will hang their seasons on, which makes sense. So to all those who thought an extra playoff team in each league would ‘water down’ the importance of the regular season, it looks as though you are incorrect. Here’s what’s happening with some important rosters heading down the stretch:
Ichiro Suzuki got shipped back to Seattle the other day, but as the Mariners returned from a road trip in Tampa Bay (where he went oh-for-four), he was assigned to the New York Yankees in exchange for two minor leaguers. The Yanks were in Seattle for a series starting on Monday and Ichiro was in the visitor’s dugout of Safeco Field for his first game out of a Mariner uniform. He bowed to the crowd’s tribute prior to his first at-bat and promptly singled up the middle and stole second base too. Ichiro will help New York even though he isn’t the player he once was (.262 ave., .290 OBP), but he’s still a great athlete and his focus will be maximized. Some fans are speculating that he wanted out so he could chase a title as his career enters its twilight rather than his stated recognition that he is old and the team is young and rebuilding. I can see some truth in both sides. I’ll give credit to Ichiro’s discretion and professionalism of remaining quiet on any personal agenda. And I can’t blame him for wanting to be in a pennant race with a chance to play on the biggest stage in October.
The uber-rich Los Angeles Dodgers have acquired lefty setup man Randy Choate and the much needed heavy bat of Hanley Ramirez from the Miami Marlins for Nathan Eovaldi and minor leaguer Scott McGough. Choate’s 2.34 ERA and sparkling 0.98 WHIP will be a big help in the pen and Ramirez should be refreshed after moving on from Miami. Ironcially, Ramirez was the key catch for the then Florida Marlins in an ’05 trade that included Josh Beckett and ‘throw-in’ ’07 Series MVP Mike Lowell. The Dodgers look a whole lot tougher already. Magic says, “Giants, it’s your move.” Whataya got?
And this is perhaps my favorite trade of the year to this point. And that’s because it involves the Pittsburgh Pirates loading UP (rather than unloading like the past 20 years) at the deadline. They got Wandy Rodriguez and cash from Houston for prospects Rudy Owens, Colton Cain, and Robbie Grossman. Rodriguez is a talented lefty starter capable of dominating. He’s another guy who should benefit from the excitement and pressure of every pitch and game counting in a playoff chase. He has a very respectable 3.79 ERA, eats up innings as he is at 130+ now, and should benefit from an upgrade with Pitt’s defense. The other reason I like this trade is because little known first-sacker/right fielder Garrett Jones (.263/13 HR/43 RBI) of the Pirates was at one time a Rochester Red Wing in Triple-A ball as a Twins’ prospect. I saw the lefty smash a bomb off of the top of the picnic area roof beyond the right field fence at Frontier Field. Dude’s got pop! Now he gets a shot at the playoffs too. Come on Pirates!!
Later Fans.