Odds And Ends: Gammons, Stark, Giles, Royals

I just read that Sanchez, McClouth, and Bay were removed from the lineup for the Pirates in the middle of the 5th.

I sense a 3 way.

No, I just think you hate that you got worked by Brian Cashman and are lashing out at innocent bystanders. ;)

Man, I love this time of year when people speculate as to the meaning of certain things. I guess one would have to be a complete moron to speculate that a slugger highly rumored to be traded getting pulled in the fifth inning of a 9-3 game a week before the trading deadline would mean a trade?

I agree that McLouth is untouchable, I mean, if I were running a team he'd be untouchable.
Still, its fun to speculate.

If there was a three way in the works, I would expect Beane to be involved. Maybe Street to the Mets, Bay to the A's, and four prospects to the Pirates, possibly Cardenas and Buck plus whatever pitching prospects the Mets would offer.

Then again, if there was a three way in the works, I would probably vote for the Olson Twins.

I've got another trade idea? How about the umpires association trades that bonehead umpire today at the Cubs game to the minor leagues for one of their kid umpires? This series has been one of the worst umpiring (besides the Sox series) that I have ever seen. Same umpiring crew for both. What a coincidence...

What's the big deal about Washburn anyway? He's given up over 130 hits in like 100 innings and right handers are hitting .315 against him. Oh, and he has almost a 5 ERA. Can't they find anything better in the minors?

TheGrinch is having a rough day.

Point 1: The umpires called consistently flawless games for the Cubs up until June 16th. On that date the Cubs had a 643 winning % and were 8.5 games up on the Brewers. Boy how times have changed. Since that point the Brewers have caught up the Cubs. While the Cubs have gone 15-19 and the Brewers have played at a 24-11 pace. Don't fret Cub fans. I still have you slotted for the Wild Card and you will be tough in a short series. I'm just so happy they have finally come back down to earth. BTW - I hate it when people blame the umps.

Point 2: It's funny to hear you talk about Washburn being a non-factor when you have signed a guy who had posted an OPS of under 500. A guy who was cut from the lightest hitting team in baseball. Edmonds has performed amazingly well (recent injury aside). And while I agree that counting on Washburn to be anything other than a marginal upgrade over Rasner is foolish, you have to acknowledge that a change of scenary just might do him some good. He might pull an Edmonds and actually perform better than expected.

Bud Black says that Brain Giles would rather stay with the Padres! What else would a manager say? That is perhaps the worst thing I have ever heard on here.

Interesting stuff from the Kansas City Star via Pete Abraham... http://www.kansascity.com/sports/royals/story/722113.html

I'd prefer taking a chance on Brian Bannister - a 27 year old pitcher who had a 3.87 ERA on a bad team last year (+ has NY experience). Washburn screams disaster.

Thoughts?

Seriously?! There's no DOUBT that the Rockies were asking WAAAAY too much for Fuentes before, but they've dropped the price to Anibal Sanchez...and got denied?! Wow. Does not bode well for Sherrill or Street deals...or Fuentes, of course.

Seems like the bottom just fell out of the market and the A's, O's, and Rox got left holding the bag. On another note...I just don't know why any team would ever talk to the Marlins about a deal. They're stingy with their prospects to a fault. I get protecting your Volstads, Maybins, and Dominguez's, but c'mon...Anibal Sanchez?!!! Weak. And I ain't even a Rox fan.