BigbadB

I'd be game for that as well. Afterall, Blalock on the DL is still better than Marquis in the rotation. True! He's on the DL, what for BbB? Blalock on the DL is a shocker to you? Wrist surgery this time.

Certainly can't call it "buying low" with that salary. Yeesh.

I'd be game for that as well. Afterall, Blalock on the DL is still better than Marquis in the rotation.

I keep reading about going to the local bar for games I can't see at home. Am I missing something? Why does a bar get games that I don't? I believe businesses that allow their customers to watch pay a higher fee to be able to show just about any game. Basically, the business is profiting off of the viewers. I understand that they pay a higher fee, but by paying the higher fee they aren't subject to blackout rules?

Padilla just went on the DL and Millwood has been hurt (not sure if he still is). Now is as good a time as any to let Texas know they have options. Expensive options, but options nonetheless. Heck, if Texas would pick up most of Marquis' contract, that's all I'd ask in return. Then we can read in the transactions page tomorrow that: Cubs trade Marquis to Texas for nobody. Wouldn't that be fun?

I'd rather have Theriot for a very good reason. I'd like A-Rod and Jeter to still be teammates after C-Rod's prenuptial divorce goes through, because I can totally see Jeter adding C-Rod to his list of accomplishments, if you know what I mean. It will create a really fun human interest story.

The only pitchers he had left was Harang, Volquez, and Cueto. I don't blame him for using Harang, but the problem I have with it is pitching him 3 days later. Should have called somebody up and skipped his start. Smart teams have forced position players to pitch rather than hurt their ace. One game, especially to the reds who aren't in the race, is not worth losing Harang for any period of time. Exactly. However, everyone who visits NSBB is quite aware that Dusty isn't smart. Heck, I would have put the big boy (Harang) at 1b and let whoever was playing 1st have a crack at the rotation. When a game gets to the point where you have zero bench left other than your other starters, it's time to let anyone who isn't a rotation guy pitch if they want to pitch. The outcome of one game should never take precedence over the outcome of a career.

I keep reading about going to the local bar for games I can't see at home. Am I missing something? Why does a bar get games that I don't?

Vance is correct. EI hasn't shown a game on Saturday earlier than 4pm PST all year long. Fox will be showing a heaping pile of crap tv show prior to the start of their game of the week. I, for one, will not be able to watch this game. But, I won't be watching the Fox game, either, so we'll call it even.

Anytime Soto scores, it's earned. Well, I'm happy that Soto scored, but why is Cueto charged with an ER on an obvious error on the SS? It wasn't earned. ESPN and CBS both showing it as earned. I suppose it will get adjusted later.

Anytime Soto scores, it's earned. Well, I'm happy that Soto scored, but why is Cueto charged with an ER on an obvious error on the SS?

Why is Cueto charged with an ER in that inning?

I agree with the second to last quote. Not only did Beane not get a strong package in return for Harden and Gaudin, but he basically packed in the season while he's sitting in 2nd place in the AL West, with a much better run differential than the team in front of him. Granted, the A's offense is a mess right now, and LAA looks solid offensively and defensively, but I'm going to stay baffled as to why Beane made this move so quickly, no matter how much Goony attempts to reason with me that the deal was the best Beane could hope to get.

From what I understand, the deal hinged around Gally, not Murton and/or EPatt. I wouldn't discount Gallagher like some others seem to. He's very young yet, doesn't have an injury history, and has shown some signs of being a solid rotation guy. Beane's not going to be able to rape our entire minor league system for a pitcher who has done 9 DL stints in the past 6 years. He knows that. Whether or not he's an ace when he's healthy is mitigated by the injury history. Tell me this. You are in sell mode, and there is only a small handful of top tier starters who will be available at the deadline. Would you take a package of Sean Gallagher, Eric Patterson, Matt Murton and Josh Donaldson for Harden and Gaudin? Please remember that teams like the Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox and Angels might be bidding on Harden's services, also. To me, gambling on Harden's health is the other team's problem, not Beane's. It's Beane's job to get the best possible return for dealing Harden, and I don't think he did that. I'm thankful he didn't, but this is most definitely not a shining moment for Beane. Heck, I think the Cardinals could have thrown together a better package than the Cubs gave up. Essentially, the Cubs gave up a guy who has yet to define a defensive position and his major league bat is suspect (Patterson), a guy who the Cubs have basically shown no need and probably wouldn't land a starting OF job on any major league team (Murton), a guy who has the potential to be a major league catcher some day, but he's not a top tier prospect (Donaldson), and a young pitcher who will likely fill the back end of their rotation for the next several years (Gallagher). Granted, Gallagher has value, but not the kind of value I would expect Rich Harden to command during a pennant race and with lots of big market teams hot after him. Essentially, Harden was dealt before most teams were even aware he was available. This deal was done quickly, quietly and apparently somewhat privately. Kudos to Hendry. I don't give him those very often, but it's warranted here.

Analyzing this deal, Beane really baffles me on this deal. For Harden and Gaudin, I would have imagined he'd want something along the lines of Gallagher, Colvin and/or Donaldson, Veal and Ascanio. I'm confused by the value of Murton and Patterson, especially with the depth of their outfield (Cust, Buck, Brown, Gonzalez, Sweeney, Davis, DeNorfia, etc...) At least with guys like Colvin, Donaldson and Veal, they could develop these guys while their option clocks haven't kicked in. Also, I'd be interested in a guy like Ascanio for the pen, especially if I'm a small market team needing cheap bullpen help.

That his name is pronounced Go Dan. Not to steal Vance's thunder, but I think it's pronounced Geaux Dan.

Its only like 2.2M for this year. Yeah, 2.2m this year and 7m next year? Someone has to sign off on this budget increase. I'm just glad that someone is doing it.

Agreed. However, some of these players they are after aren't very scare worthy, and are arguably not as good as the players they would be trading, IMO.

Color me ecstatic about this deal. I'm trying to figure out who is absorbing this hit to the wallet and I'm thankful they are willing to make it happen. The Cubs are in a position to go for it, and I'm thrilled they have the door open to do everything necessary to increase the chances of making to the postseason and beyond. =D>

And haven't these same yahoos guaranteed that the Yankees would win every World Series since 2000?

Pitching starts are very unpredictable. You had a 3 to 1 pitching advantage against me on Sunday, and I ended up with more pitching points on the day. Every team has at least 5 starters and most have closer to 6. Only 5th starters will likely miss starts next week, so I think it will be fun to have a middle of the season dash for the cash. I'd rather have the week than not have it, and I have a pretty tough opponent in Raisin. I'd rather see a 5 start limit placed on teams than skip the week altogether.

I thought he was going to be in perfect position to start the ASG. This pretty much puts both Lincecum and Demp out of the ASG. I don't think it will take anyone out of the All Star Game. Pitchers will likely only be going an inning a piece, so consider their all star appearances to be nothing more than the equvilent of a side session between starts. The list of pitchers who would not be pitching in the All Star game would be much more lengthy then Lincecum and Demp if you took out every pitcher who pitches on Sunday. Brandon Webb is pitching Sunday and he's the All Star Game starter. If anything, pitchers who will be pitching in the All Star game who also pitch on Sunday will likely get pulled early from their Sunday starts, which is a good thing when you are scheduled to face Lincecum.

Oakland would be stupid to deal right now. They have a much better run differential than the Angels, which means the Angels have been much luckier than the A's to date winning games.

I was happy to read that Brandon Webb is being bumped up to Tuesday for a 2 start week, but you have to figure that the second start will be a fairly short one considering he'll be pitching in the All Star game and they'll want to give him an early start to kick off the second half.

I'm sorry, but that's ridiculous.