Inactivity

I have returned, but my posting for the next couple of weeks will be lacking. So apologies to our readers--we wish this was all we did, but unfortunately like most of you all we're typical working people with lives (I think we both have lives). The excuses of late, for me a wedding/vacation and conference coming up for work (I am a slave to my employer right now), for Doug a continued lack of internet in the home.

But today this blog needed a post since there was the trade deadline and all the other day. This year's trading was the most anti-climatic in quite a while with the biggest trade being Mark Texiera going to the Braves. It was a solid trade for the Braves who got a slugger and reliever (Octavio Dotel) to make a return to the top of the NL East. Other than that, there were smaller but possibly significant trades. I won't review them all, but should discuss the Yankees trade and Red Sox trade.

The Red Sox got Eric Gagne for Kason Gabbard, David Murphy, and Engil Beltre. Murphy was once a solid prospect but has lost that status mulling around in the minors forever. I haven't heard of Beltre but Gabbard pitched decently in seven starts for the injured Curt Schilling. In my opinion this was a solid trade considering the Sox now have Gagne, Okajima and Papelbon to hold down the pen in the late innings. Gagne certainly isn't the Cy Young fireball pitcher he was three or four years ago, but he's done well enough as the Rangers closer this year. The Red Sox also traded away Joel Pinero to the Cardinal for a player to be named later. I can't say much other than Pinero's career has fallen apart in recent years and he was ineffective in the Red Sox pen.

For the Yankees, Scott Proctor was shipped to the Dodgers for utility infielder Wilson Betemit. Proctor was having a bad season to start with and I think the Dodgers must have seen his smoke signal when he lit up his glove and other equipment. Betemit, who I don't know much about, is young (25 years old) and small for his height (6' 2'', 155 pounds), but has some power. Last year between the Braves and Dodgers he hit 18 homeruns, but did have a knack for striking out a lot (102 times in 373 ABs). His numbers so far this year are way below last years. But he's a utility guy and perhaps he's better in the field (I have no numbers on that). If they Yankees decide to keep him after this year you can say so long to Miguel Cairo.

As the Yankee fan on here, it was good to see the Yankees hold their ground and not trade away prospects like Phil Hughes. With the way the Yankees have been playing of late, a huge blockbuster trade was not really needed--what more would another superstar type add anyway when the team is just figuring out it can win a lot of games in a short amount of time. Additionally, the Yankees had no significant injury that would hamper them for the rest of the season so the Cashman philosophy of rebuilding continues to march onward.

Back to the blog though, I will continue the Hindsight and Foresight next week, write a post on A-Rod and his contract (word to A-Rod, take a lesson from Bonds and stop trying to hit #500 every time you're up), and write something about the Red Sox.