Huge Trading Deadline

After what feels like forever, I'm getting a chance to post again. It's largely my fault for not making the time, but I have to now because of all that's happening: baseball is seriously heating up, the presidential race is driving me up a wall, and the country is slowly, in places, falling to pieces. Today's post is going to be stolen almost entirely from an email I wrote this morning (for some context, it was to a good friend in Boston who is a true fan of not only his team the Red Sox but also of the great, all-encompassing game of baseball, two very different things. He was at Lackey's almost no-hitter at Fenway the other night and called me yesterday evening to proclaim that his Red Sox will miss the postseason.) Here goes:

Secondly, I know several people both real (myself, one of my attorneys who is a big, big Cubs fan) and fake (ESPN talking heads) who agree with you that the Red Sox may miss the postseason. Honestly, a foreign thought after the past couple years. If the Yankees overcome and win the wild card, you're looking at the World Series champions finishing third in their division and the NL champs lucky to finish second in their division, which will be won by a team hovering around .500. What a crazy game.

Thirdly, you must tell me what the reaction in Boston to The Trade is like, primarily because you'll be talking to people and listening to the radio so you'll get a better feel, and secondarily, and probably more importantly, because I refuse to read any of it myself; I prefer having you as a filter! I am very interested to see how ultra-laid back Joe Torre deals with Manny. I feel like you must be glad to some extent that he's gone, despite the fact that his absence may seriously cut the Sox' playoff chances. As Schilling said on ESPN (quoting Schilling? What??!!), it's disheartening to play with a guy who you know doesn't want to be there (or is at least acting like it, as Manny was).

What a huge trading deadline. Allow me a small indulgence here to say that all three major AL East trades went the Yankees' way: getting Nady and Marte, a much needed bat and a much needed lefty specialist, getting Pudge, whose value needs no explanation, and of course Manny being shipped to the senior circuit, because, and I'm sure you don't need to be told, he just eats Yankee pitching for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Ortiz-Bay doesn't come within 100 miles of Ortiz-Ramirez. Although, I don't think Bay will be hitting 4, anyway; who will? Drew? Lowell? Guess we'll find out tonight.

Did you see the highlights of the near-no-no? I noticed what you did also, that Lackey seemed nearly emotionless. After he gave up the homer, you could see him yelling to his catcher, "Just give me the fucking ball!" clearly wanting to finish the game. Very cool.

I thought the Angels hammered the Red Sox so badly because Boston was tired and distracted by the whole Manny saga. Then they absolutely pounded the Yankees last night. Scary looking team, although no one seems to think they're going to last in the postseason. Interesting; assuming that's true and they're "not built to last" and the Rays are "too young and inexperienced", that leaves the three of the Twins/Sox/Tigers/Yankees in the AL. That's making the big assumption, of course, that the Red Sox completely fall apart and the Yankees overtake them. It is going to be a great last couple months, to say the least.

This year is shaping up to be one of the more exciting in recent memory. And no, I don't think that every year.