News From The Sports Desk: 7/30/2012: MLB Trade Deadline Eve Edition
Here we are just ahead of the MLB waver deadline to make a trade. I'm with my man Paul Lebowitz and I think a lot of the chatter you hear is totally BS, but some of it is actually, probably, relevant.
Having said that, here is what I've seen on the day and week or so before the trade deadline.
First off, you see a lot of the big name guys talking about the Red Sox trading Josh Beckett. Here's the thing, you don't have to be a brain surgeon to know that the Red Sox should be trying to trade Beckett and that they should have been trying to trade him every day since the end of last season.
So I don't put a lot of credence into these reports, but I won't be at all surprised if the Red Sox do trade Beckett.
Where I think you can test the merit of these rumors and what is going to go down is when the idea of what the compensation for getting Beckett will be.
If I were the GM of the Red Sox, I'd be looking to dump the salary and the player. If I could get someone to pay him for the rest of his contract, I'd take a wet mop and some ammonia.
Much like the Marlins did with Hanley Ramirez, its better to be rid of a guy that is a killer to the clubhouse.
In 2008, I really loved the Olympics. I thought the drama and everything about it was fascinating. Plus, it was fun to see what inappropriate thing George W Bush would do on any given day.
So far the 2012 Olympics haven't left the same taste in my mouth.
Yesterday I had to search all over to find the USA Basketball game.
I've found the tape delay policy a little absurd.
I get that NBC knows what they are doing.
Unfortunately the stories that the network is telling have no impact on me emotionally. The only story that seems to be getting to me is the one that will get Michael Phelps' mom off of the stage.
While I am on the subject of NBC and the Olympics, I'm also completely over Matt Lauer and the entire Today show.
I didn't like the handling of Ann Curry. Savannah Guthrie is terrible. And, the way that they package the news is just terribly vapid.
If you haven't been watching the Showtime show The Franchise, you are missing out. If you haven't been watching, you have been watching a team coming apart at the seems. And, now that they have basically blown up the season, its only going to become more fascinating.
So you should get Showtime immediately and catch up before Wednesday's episode.
On that note, I am going to head back to MLB for just a moment and give you a quick rundown of what I think may or may not happen before the deadline.
* Look for the Marlins to dump Zambrano and Lee. I doubt that Josh Johnson is going anywhere and I really doubt that anyone will take Heath Bell.
* I'll be surprised if the Yankees make a trade for a 3rd baseman of any consequence. The NY media gets their panties in a bunch any time they think that they Yankees should make a trade because they are the NY media. But I don't think giving up a ton of players is worth it at this point for a third baseman.
* If the Phillies are smart, they will look to sell, sell, sell.
* I hope to see the Pirates make a big move.
* The big player I'd like to see moved is Felix Hernandez. I think the Mariners are still so far away from being relevant that they need to fast track their rebuilding and I don't like the idea that they are going to sign him to a long term extension at the end of his current contract.
* One other big move I'd love to see is the Nationals make a move for another pitcher to help ease the shutting down of Stephen Strasburg. Whether you believe that the Nats are making a wise decision or not is besides the point. What you need to know is that the Nationals are in need of a big play to push forward at a really great opportunity to make the World Series.
After the Grienke trade, one of the big targets is gone. But, I am concerned that a lot of the good targets would not be able to come to the Nationals because I don't think Cliff Lee would get traded in the division.
Since it would be irresponsible of me not to post at some point tomorrow, look for some news from the sports desk during the day when its appropriate.