The Philadelphia Phillies today made a trade with the Oakland A's acquiring innin eaters Joe Blanton for 3 prospects. As of this evening the Phillies hold a slim .5 game lead over the resurgent New York Mets. This move helps the Phillies as it shores up a starting rotation that ranks 10th in baseball in E.R.A. and quality starts. The Phillies now have an adequate pitching staff that should allow them to stay in the race in the N.L. East until the end of the season. Will this move be the move to keep the Phillies ahead of the Mets? I doubt it -- unless Steve Carlton wants to pull a Brett Favre and unretire. The Mets will pass the Phillies and win the division by at least 5 games.
Meanwhile in Detroit, a certain reliever is being told to other teams by the Tigers that he is available in deals and his initials aren't T.J.. Fernando Rodney, yes the guy who wears a crooked hat and is injury-prone, is on the block per John Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press. Does this mean that the Tigers are going to be sellers instead of buyers in the next two weeks? I personally doubt that, but Rodney is of no use to a team with an already shaky bullpen. Since he has returned from the DL his stats are more like a rookie then a seasoned veteran whom some considered could be in line to close once Todd Jones retires or leaves via free agency or a trade. Trading F. Rodney could be the first of many moves for the paper champion Tigers, a team that was destined for a thousand runs, as Gary Sheffield and Edgar Renteria could be traded in attempt to get the teams younger players more time in the field.
Meanwhile in Detroit, a certain reliever is being told to other teams by the Tigers that he is available in deals and his initials aren't T.J.. Fernando Rodney, yes the guy who wears a crooked hat and is injury-prone, is on the block per John Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press. Does this mean that the Tigers are going to be sellers instead of buyers in the next two weeks? I personally doubt that, but Rodney is of no use to a team with an already shaky bullpen. Since he has returned from the DL his stats are more like a rookie then a seasoned veteran whom some considered could be in line to close once Todd Jones retires or leaves via free agency or a trade. Trading F. Rodney could be the first of many moves for the paper champion Tigers, a team that was destined for a thousand runs, as Gary Sheffield and Edgar Renteria could be traded in attempt to get the teams younger players more time in the field.
Of the Tigers remaing games before the trade deadline, 14 to be exact, 11 of these are on the road. While they are currently 7 games out, how they perform in those 14 games will determine how the teams look on August 1st and my Chicago White Sox more then likely won't be losing any ground to the Tigers as they and the Twins battle it out for the Central title and possibly the Wild Card.
2 comments:
Koster is building a winner here. First Clark, now Paul Peirce.
I still think the Phillies are too tough, I don't see the Mets overcoming them for the division title.
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