Red Sox Make Big Trade

 

So the Sox made a great deal to ship Iglesias out and bring Peavy in.  Naturally, there were plenty of malcontents convinced we either got too little or gave away too much.

 

I can't wait to hear them talk when Iglesias becomes an established utility player, instead of the next Ozzie Smith.

 

It's been well document on this blog and many others that Jose's hot start this year was a fantastic display of luck squished into a small sample size.  But the Sox have been watching - and paying - Jose for years, and they know the truth.  He can't hit.  I hoped things would change, but did warn of an Epic slump - and it came to pass.

 

I heard on the radio with some of the fellas that Jose was a lock to bat .300 this year, as long as he batted .225 for the remaining season (his average was still North of .350 at that time.).  That, of course, is the problem.  I'm not sure he can hit .225 in MLB.  Call me a hater, call me what you will.  But let's look at Jose's numbers for July.  .205 / .247 / .217 / .464.  Now you ask yourself.  If Iglesias had that kind of month to start out this year, are we having this discussion about how great he is?  No we are not.  It's only a month, you say, and you'd be right.  But you'd be hard pressed to find an every day player with a month that bad.  I don't think you would.  And that is why he got traded.  Hooray, Cherrington.

 

Yankees Fade From Contention

Watching the A-rod saga has truly been a Yankee haters candy cane.  But really, they have been a cornucopia of delights all season. I think it was fantastic to see them hang in there

August promises Lots of Entertainment

from the Local 9

till the All-Star break only to fade down the stretch.  They are an awful, awful team - with few bright spots or rays of hope.

 

And next year looks worse.

 

No Mariano.  Jeter at best half the player he used to be - and perhaps not on the field as much.  No A-Rod (forgone conclusion at this point).  No more Andy Petitte, (even if he doesn't retire, he's a number 5 at best at this point).  No catching.  Granderson's lightning in a bottle looks to have come out.  Texeria has steadily declined and perhaps can only be counted on for an .800 OPS from here on out, and with that wrist, maybe a lot less.

 

In short, the Yanks have problems from top to bottom, and no farm system that I can see (the replacements have been truly dreadful), and we can officially say the league has gotten smarter about trades and free agents, making it much harder for Cashman to fix things that way.  His big two deals this year - for Vernon Wells and Soriano  - show how desperate at all levels they are.  Getting under the luxury tax has been a brutal exercise for Cashman - who is over the moon at the looming A-Rod suspension, as that will make things $25 million easier - but I don't think he'll be able to buy his way out the next go around.  No, they will have to draft - and grow - the next set of stars, and they aren't set up for that.  It should be fun to watch, although I will miss the opportunity to close the door on them in October.

 

Can the Sox Win the Pennant?

Yes, if Buckholz comes back healthy.  Extra Bonus if Will Middlebrooks commits to fixing the hole in his swing.  Don't think for a second the Sox have given up on him.  Not a chance.

 

No, if Ortiz gets hurt, or Napoli does (think he's a minor factor at this point?  You won't if he's not in that lineup).

 

So, 50/50 chance there.  Baltimore and the Rays both have a chance, but I think the Rays are just too good and will beat out the Orioles at the end.

 

Can the Sox beat the Rays?  Let's see where we're at in September, shall we?  Lots of time left before we get to that.  And either way, it'll be close.  The best four teams in the AL have very little separation between them.