MLB Trading Deadline

[Jason Harris 31]

does anyone else agree that the red sox now officially lost the division?

Why didnt they make a trade?

No, I don't agree. The Sox have had the same run of bad luck with injuries the past month that the Yankees had earlier, but their offense has been slightly better than the Yanks while their pitching has been slightly worse.

As a couple of the pitchers return, I think it should be very close to the else, regardless whether Wells pitched T-Ball tonight.

[stix04 0]

All is well in Boston as long as we have Superpapi B) The man is the greatest clutch hitter in Major League Baseball, and he will continue to carry the Sox through the rest of the season AND the playoffs.

[Thockey17 1]

All is well in Boston as long as we have Superpapi B) The man is the greatest clutch hitter in Major League Baseball, and he will continue to carry the Sox through the rest of the season AND the playoffs.

Ducktales.

[mik3 1]

does anyone else agree that the red sox now officially lost the division?

Why didnt they make a trade?

No, I don't agree. The Sox have had the same run of bad luck with injuries the past month that the Yankees had earlier, but their offense has been slightly better than the Yanks while their pitching has been slightly worse.

As a couple of the pitchers return, I think it should be very close to the else, regardless whether Wells pitched T-Ball tonight.

There's nobody left to return.

Wells is done, Beckett is Vazquez2, Schilling has looked bad his past few starts. They needed to move someone for a starter, they didn't, insteady they tried to move that other bad trade they made (Crisp) with Hansen for Andruw Jones.

[ponty 0]

Being friends with several Yankees fans I know big Papi makes you all "shart" in your pants.

The last Sox / Yankees series should be fun as all hell!

[mik3 1]

People still think they're capable of winning?  Awww, that's cutetastic.

They were already the best team in the division over the last month, best team in the league over the last two weeks, and then they get the OBP machine and a new #4 starter not named Jaret Wright.

You're right, they suck. They'll win the division by 4.5+

Cupcake, no one said they suck but they're not the same kind of Yankees that knew how to win like their past teams. They're going to make the playoffs, whether it be by eeking in or winning the division, but they won't get anything out of it.

Who's better than them in the AL in about two and a half/three weeks when the team is....

LF Melky

CF Damon

RF Abreu

3b ARod

SS Jeter

2b Cano

1b Giambi

C Posada

DH Matsui

SP Mussina

SP Wang

SP Johnson

SP Lidle

SP Wright

RP Myers

RP Villone

RP Proctor

RP Dotel

RP Farnsworth

RP God

[mik3 1]

lol the Mets station is talking about how the Yankees buy players.

Beltran

Pedro

Wagner

Trading the farm for

Delgado

Sanchez

LoDuca

[mack 44]

I honestly couldn't tell you who'd beat them on paper, but since when are World Series won on that? There are always teams that come out and shit on everyone's Cheerios.

[Cavs019 710]

I'm a Met fan, but what Mack is saying is true. Outside of Jeter, the Yankees have no more guys that play with a sack and some piss and vinegar ala Paul O'Neill and Tino.

Mik: thats four players vs your entire roster. Sanchez and LoDuca don't count.

As far as homegrown talent goes right now I'll take Wright and Reyes over Jeter and um.......Melky Cabrera?

[trucks 0]

I think pitching is what will kille them come playoff time. They dont have any pitchers players fear any more besides The Moose. Johnsons old and just doesnt have the stuff any more. Pitching always wins in the playoffs and if those pitchers go up against the likes of the Red Sox lineup I dont see them winning a 7 game series. I think the Mets actually have a better chance to win the World Series out of the New York teams because they should be able to walk through the NL playoffs with relative ease if they play to their potential and will be well rested while it looks like these could be some of the deepest AL playoffs in recent years. Its a shame they dont take away the Wests birth and give it to a second, more competitive wild card team. With all the disparity in baseball these days Id love to see them change the playoff format to go to something hockey or basketball style, something to include more teams.

[Jason Harris 31]

There's nobody left to return.

Wells is done, Beckett is Vazquez2, Schilling has looked bad his past few starts. They needed to move someone for a starter, they didn't, insteady they tried to move that other bad trade they made (Crisp) with Hansen for Andruw Jones.

We have to make a rule that you're our expert on the Yankees....but not necessarily the Sox. ;)

Two of Wells' innings last night were 1-2-3 in about 12 pitches, and he almost escaped the fifth inning without giving up any runs. That was his third start of the year, including rehab starts. He did the same thing last year -- refused to go on rehab and was tagged -- then went on a solid winning run. I don't think he's done.

I understand why you might say Beckett is Vazquez2, but I saw a stat that if four games are removed from his record, his ERA drops to about 3.2. He is 13-5 after all.

Schilling got TAGGED by the Angels, but in his previous start he gave up a couple of later runs in a blowout against the A's. He gave up three runs early against the Rangers, then settled in for the win. He looked terrible against the Angels, but I wouldn't say he's been bad in the other starts, just not ace-like.

So who's left to return?

Wakefield - Take away his last start, after which they discovered he had a fractured rib, and he had been something like 6-3 since Mirabelli's return. More importantly, he eats up innings.

Clement - That guy is hot and cold and most likely is too mentally soft for Northeast cities. However, I've read that some in the organization have suggested putting him in long relief because he's been fine early in his starts, then has been tagged the third time around. It makes a lot of sense, but others say that he's earning too much to go to the bullpen. Who cares? We're here to win.

[Jason Harris 31]

Who's better than them in the AL in about two and a half/three weeks when the team is....

LF Melky

CF Damon

RF Abreu

3b ARod

SS Jeter

2b Cano

1b Giambi

C Posada

DH Matsui

SP Mussina

SP Wang

SP Johnson

SP Lidle

SP Wright

RP Myers

RP Villone

RP Proctor

RP Dotel

RP Farnsworth

RP God

If Abreu rediscovers his power stroke, the Yankees' lineup becomes better than the Sox. Then again, if Varitek or Crisp break out of their slumps, the Sox become better, so I think it's fair to say the two lineups are a toss up.

I think most people would agree that the Sox's pitching is better, especially when measured over the last six weeks when Francona finally went to the kids in the bullpen. That said, the Sox have been plugging in two number 5's for the past month because of injuries.

The Sox's defense is obviously better this season.

Still, one can't discount the Yankees' mystique.

[Thockey17 1]

If Abreu rediscovers his power stroke, the Yankees' lineup becomes better than the Sox.

Abreu is going to paint the right side of the Bronx with round-trippers.

All they need is ARod and Randy Johnson to do something.

As far as homegrown talent goes right now I'll take Wright and Reyes over Jeter and um.......Melky Cabrera?

Cano and Jeter over Reyes and Wright any day of the week and on sunday

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

Is is just me or is Wright really overrated? Seems that he's getting all of this hype because he's the token on Team Latino.

[Thockey17 1]

Is is just me or is Wright really overrated?  Seems that he's getting all of this hype because he's the token on Team Latino.

.315 with 22hr and 81RBI sure isnt bad, but everyone is hopping on the kid like he's warm apple pie. It sure doesnt hurt that they're in a relatively weak divison.

In Mets land, i dont know who's more overated, Wright or Floyd.

Cant wait for the World Series to be over, so i can laugh at all the Mets fans that think this year is "the year."

[willc7786 0]

that short porch is going to be a dream to Bobby, just ask Giambi. Plus they're not asking him to hit home runs. A double, single, and a walk a game is way more then enough in that lineup.

Plus for all the yankee haters; if you don't like us now, just wait till this offseason when they sign Zito and Bonds B)

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

I can see you haven't been a Yankees fan for long.

We're gone down this road before...the mid 80s...when we gave away the farm system for these "superstar" FAs who weren't a good fit. The reason why we won in the late 90s was because of homegrown talent and FAs that were a good fit.

[Cavs019 710]

What the Hell does Wright have to do? He's 23, and the guy has hit a crapload of clutch homeruns this year with rock solid numbers. If anything however, Beltran is the man this year.

[LegoDoom 0]

I can see you haven't been a Yankees fan for long.

We're gone down this road before...the mid 80s...when we gave away the farm system for these "superstar" FAs who weren't a good fit. The reason why we won in the late 90s was because of homegrown talent and FAs that were a good fit.

They didn't give up the farm for Bobby though. CJ Henry might not make it past AA.

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

I know - but I'm just saying that they have been reverting to those days.

[trucks 0]

that short porch is going to be a dream to Bobby, just ask Giambi. Plus they're not asking him to hit home runs. A double, single, and a walk a game is way more then enough in that lineup.

Plus for all the yankee haters; if you don't like us now, just wait till this offseason when they sign Zito and Bonds B)

You can have Bonds, no one else in the league will want him. Hes washed up and his career is over and its just a matter of time before it all comes crumbling down for him. The only reason his trainer is going to jail for him is that he is obviously covering something pretty damn huge up and it wont last forever. I cant ever imagine a situation where I would to go to prison for a friend, that whole story blows my mind.

[willc7786 0]

I've been a yankee fan since '93, probably not a "knowledgeable" fan until '96-97 though lol, and while I agree that its better to get the homegrown talent, I personally don't think theres much in the way of pitching down in the minors, which is why I mentioned Zito. Wang is amazing, but theres nothing really down there besides Hughes. And personally, I don't think Hughes is going to pan out to be that great. The yanks need a really good lefty, so I'd like to see Zito.

And Bonds? Well, I could go either way. I don't care if they get him or not, but I'm pretty sure The Boss is going to make a run at him.

So I agree with you, its time to work on the next Jeter-Rivera-Posada-Williams-etc era, but if you're a yankee fan you've gotta know that they will make runs at these guys in the offseason.

[trucks 0]

Id love to see Zito come to the Jays, hopefully Ted Rogers realizes he still didnt spend enough last year to compete and gets a solid lefty starter, preferably Zito, adds some middle relief and gets a SS. A 5 man rotation of Halladay, Burnett (healthy), Zito, Chacin and Lilly would be pretty damn strong. Im sure Rogers has the money to match any Yankees offers and I see the Jays being the team to beat in the East in 2-3 years with some minor additions because they have some amazing young talent right now.

[LegoDoom 0]

I've been a yankee fan since '93, probably not a "knowledgeable" fan until '96-97 though lol, and while I agree that its better to get the homegrown talent, I personally don't think theres much in the way of pitching down in the minors, which is why I mentioned Zito. Wang is amazing, but theres nothing really down there besides Hughes. And personally, I don't think Hughes is going to pan out to be that great. The yanks need a really good lefty, so I'd like to see Zito.

And Bonds? Well, I could go either way. I don't care if they get him or not, but I'm pretty sure The Boss is going to make a run at him.

So I agree with you, its time to work on the next Jeter-Rivera-Posada-Williams-etc era, but if you're a yankee fan you've gotta know that they will make runs at these guys in the offseason.

Clippard is decent. I badly wanted either him or Eric Duncan along with CJ Henry to be part of the trade. The Phillies have too many decent arms in AA though, so I figured it'd be Duncan if there was any possibility of him staying at 3rd.

And yeah, the Yankees farm system sucks, but it's better than your big club being terrible. The Phils won't come close to the playoffs for another 2 or 3 years and Howard isn't exactly a young guy. The only chance we have next year is if Hamels and Mathieson pitch well and Lieber stays healthy. Depending who plays 3rd, the lineup won't be too much worse without Bobby, just a lot more inconsistent.

[McCabe24 0]

I realize such moves rarely happen but an interesting argument I heard is trading Burnett and trying for Zito or someone comparable in the winter. The problem with that is you run the risk of Burnett having a comeback year ala Beltran next season while you once again overpay on a player who wasn't even ideal in the first place. The only other decent argument I have heard is maybe sending the Cat to a team like Detroit for a young arm and or solid middle infielder.