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I think things just got more interesting. Bill loses arguably his best starter (CC), and nice piece of his line-up (Kotchman) and now one of his best outfielders.

Everyone else essentially lost nothing. If anything can make it a real race, the MLB trading deadline certainly tried.

Happy Trade Deadline Day

For some reason, it's one of my favorite days of the year. I'll be checking SOSH & ESPN every 3 minutes until dinner time.

Sorry, Bill

Looks like Kotchman's heading to the NL for Teixeira.

In the non-fantasy baseball realm, I think this makes the Angels the best team in the AL.

Lester?!

Who IS this Jon Lester? I have to admit, after last-season and the beginning of this one, I never thought this guy would have front of the rotation ability. Now he's pitching circles around Buccholz and the stopper in the rotation. The pitcher I watched last night has no relation to the guy I saw last year with control problems who would never get through 5 innings. For every pitcher the Sox organization seems to have screwed up (See Hansen, Craig and Del Carmen, Manny) they somehow got this one right. Incredible turn-around in a year and making the lack of a move on Johan look a whole lot better.

Daisuke for Cy Young

Most of the criticism directed at Daisuke seems to be centered around the fact that people think he is insanely lucky and otherwise is a mediocre pitcher. Certainly, certain metrics indicate he is indeed lucky. He has a low BABIP, strands a lot of runners, high WHIP, and has a fielding independent ERA much higher than his actual ERA.

However, I really believe that Daisuke pitches is pitching better/smarter/more effectively this season even though he is still pitching himself into jams. The main difference between this season and last is Daisuke's home run rate. Last year 25 HR were hit against him at a rate of 1.10 per 9 innings (10th worst among AL starters). This season, he has only given up 5 home runs at a rate of 0.48 per 9 innings (4th best among AL starters w/ 90 IP). Without the homeruns, the ERA has improved considerably.

I looked over his game logs to find the 12PA in which the bases were loaded against him. In 9 of the 12 situations it was with 2 outs. In all 9 of those situations he got the third out.

I believe that with runners on, Daisuke doesn't mind loading the bases knowing that he can make the next out. The batters that he has faced with two outs and the bases loaded have not been very good either, so that plays into his approach too.

Last year Daisuke's OPS+ with RISP was 79 compared with an overall OPS+ of 93
This year Daisuke's OPS+ with RISP is 54 compared with an overall OPS+ of 72

At some point you might have to consider that his so-called "luck" could be a function of the way he believes he can be most effective (nibbling, walking a lot of guys, i.e. not giving up extra base hits) and a higher degree of focus/determination that comes when he has runners on base. All reasons why he will be a Cy Young candidate by the end of the season.

Caleb did make a good point about K-Rod. If he breaks the Saves record, he definitely should get the Cy Young. You got to think he's the front runner right now.

This is Awesome

"The laughter, the celebrations; I’m still going to get fined and still going to have Cincinnati on the edge of its seat," Johnson said. "I am going to mature in some way, I just don’t know how it will be."

Could it be?

Just in case nobody checks the standings page today, I want to preserve this sure to be fleeting moment.

Slow discussion these days...

...what's a matter? Everyone given up? Bill is only 2 measely points ahead of MZ right now! Show some fight people!

New Pete Rose Legacy Goal - 20 points by end of season.

Derby Results

Team	Home Runs
Don't Trade Roberts	66
Berkeley Hoboes	0
Dusty's Base Cloggers	0
Mandrew & the Vorpies	0
Yooouuuk!	0
Pete Rose Legacy	0

Over?

Entering the all star break I have 5 players on the DL, my best pitcher is now playing for the Cubs, I have received a whole 7 saves from my premier closer, and my pitching rotation would only make the Texas Rangers jealous.

Over?

Another one bites the dust...

Another AL pitcher goes down, with McGowan now out for the season with a torn rotator cuff. In the last week we've lost two aces: CC Sabathia (he doesn't like the periods in his first name anymore) and Rich Hardin, the guy who would have replaced Hardin in the rotation (Gaudin), and McGowan, a guy who I thought would turn it around based on his second half last year, and his underlying numbers. Pitching just got even thinner, and could continue to do so, if the Jays decide to dump any more pitchers.

The Market is Open

At long last, the Pete Rose Legacy has given up on their season. It was an embarrassing fall from the top, but no need to prolong the agony. The time to dump is upon us.

Anyone and everyone on my team is available. Although I will likely not trade A-Rod, everyone else, including prospective keepers, are available. I will obviously be looking for 2-3 high quality keepers in return.

Potential value-adds to YOUR fantasy roster include Paul Konerko, Howie Kendrick, Chone Figgins, Carlos Gomez, Gary Sheffield, Jim Thome, Magglio Ordonez, AND the incredible Travis Hafner.

On the pitching side, where you guys really need help battling the big bill machine, I have Verlander (lights out over the past month), Ducshererererere (leading the league in ERA), Dice-K (worst fantasty pitcher to watch..ever), Joba, Buccholz, and Liriano.

Available closers include Huston Street, Troy Percival, and Masa Kobayashi.

Least likely for me to give up are A-Rod, Buccholz, and Chamberlain. Everyone else including Maggs are very available.

Let's see some offers.

Harden to Cubs

It looks like Harden and Gaudin are heading to the Cubs for 4 players. I suppose this helps Bill's chances with Mark losing a key SP, and it also makes me wish I had sat on my SPs a little longer. I think the market just went straight through the roof.

LaPorta and the Like

LaPorta, Bryson, and Zach Johnson will not be available as roster additions once the trade for CC goes through. I'll try to stay on top of the trades from AL-NL and post a list either on the blog or the yahoo site of the blacklisted players.

The first blow to Bill's juggernaut?

ESPN reporting CC to the NL.

Daisuke

Not to be all SOSH reactionary on this blog, but I'm beginning to be very concerned about Daisuke. Simply put, he's walking way, way too many batters, and this is something that dates back to last year. Post ASB, he walked 4.5/9. This year, he's walking 5.7/9 innings, which isn't anywhere close to a reasonable number, and doesn't include the 4 walks he has had in under 2 innings tonight. I haven't had a chance to watch many of his starts lately, none since he came back from injury, so I can't comment on whether or not it is a matter of trusting his stuff, but unless he can start throwing strikes he's hurting the team by being unable to work deep into games. Hopefully this is simply rust from being on the DL, but the walk rate and K:BB ratio say that he's headed for boatloads of trouble.

My boys all grown up...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVwHtJ8Tq6g

I wonder what Fire Joe Morgan would have to say about this...

Another kick in the pants...

Hey mzpanther, Sorry, but the waiver request you made in Durham Plays for Keeps has been denied. Player Dropped: Crosby, Bobby Player Added : Davis, Chris This happened for the following reason: There was another manager with a higher waiver priority requesting the player.

When I read this I didn't even have to guess who that other manager was... It could only be one.