ROTOWIRE.COM NFL MLB / Minors NBA NHL GOLF RACING    COMMUNITY FORUMS PODCASTS MYROTOWIRE ASK AN EXPERT GAMES

What I Heard And Saw At The Ballgame Last Night-Trade Rumors And Inept Play

Scouts I spoke with at the Diamondbacks game last night were not very optimistic about the amount of trade action we'll see at the end of this month.  Finances and teams still being in contention are major factors for potentially minor activity at the trade deadline.

But such prognostications have been wrong in the past.  Trades can materialize quickly if all the financial pieces fall in place.  Contracts are scrutinized, medical records are evaluated and future projections are completed before the deal gets done.

The two teams I heard that were most interested in Roy Halladay were the Angels and the Brewers.

They both make sense.  Both team owners are driven to win.

What names did I hear discussed?  Howie Kendrick, Peter Bourjos,Chris Pettit, Brandon Wood and virtually every prospect in the Angels system.  Same with Milwaukee.  Prospects head the wish list.  Names like Jeremy Jeffress, Lorenzo Cain, Angel Salome, Jonathan Lucroy and more may all be being discussed.  But talk doesn't get the deal done.  What is important is that the Halladay talk is real.  The Angels and the Brewers both make sense.  That's why I listened.

Doug Davis to Milwaukee might be dead because of what the DBacks feel Davis can command.

What I saw on the field with my own eyes defies description.  The Diamondbacks were ahead 5-0 when a tiring Yusmeiro Petit gave up two very big flies and looked spent.  A.J. Hinch went to his bullpen.  Kiss the lead goodbye.  The bullpen gave up 12 runs.  I saw something I had never seen before; three pinch hitters each batted twice in the same inning.

Why do I write this?  Because we are learning again and again that bullpens are crucial to victories.  Ask any General Manager what the toughest piece of his roster is to put together and he will likely say the bullpen.

It sounds so simple-build a good bullpen and you'll win.  That's why teams are scouring through every known resource to shore up their pens.  The names mentioned above in talks for Halladay are all good players.  But throw some bullpen guys in the mix and things could happen.

Comments

By: Dave Regan
On: 7/13/2009 8:48:00 AM		 Don't see Jeremy Jeffress having much trade value until he gives up the chronic...
 
By: Bernie Pleskoff
On: 7/13/2009 11:51:00 AM		 People have a tendency to throw names around at this time of year. His was among the names. The next two weeks will bring a number of ridiculous suggestions, rumors, etc. I will post what I hear from scouts. Bernie
 

Leave a comment

Commenting is restricted to registered users only. Please register or login now to submit a comment.

Tell Someone

  • Digg it
  • submit to reddit reddit
  • Add to Mixx!

Recent Favorites

Week 8 Observations
  • The Giants are broken right now, and it's unclear how long they will take to fix. Eli Manning insists his foot isn't bothering him, but the entire team on both sides of the ball is out of sync. The home game against the Chargers next week might be just what the doctor ordered for the offense, but unless the Giants generate a bigger pass rush, find a solution at free safety and get linebacker Michael Boley back to help out in coverage, Philip Rivers will light them up. No one on the team except Corey Webster (and occasionally Terrell Thomas) can cover anyone right now.
    • Pay Attention to Opposing Defenses? Or just the Celtics
    In my last Hoops Lab I suggested paying attention to the opposing defenses when setting your starting line-ups.  Specifically, I suggested keeping an eye on the Celtics, Cavs and Spurs.  Five days into the season, how is that philosophy panning out?
    Ranting
    The following is nothing more than me getting random thoughts off my chest, some about sports, some not:
    Why Fantasy Basketball is Better Than Fantasy Football
    It's just more fun.
    The year with no Heisman favorite
    This was supposed to be the year of the "Big 3" in regards to the Heisman Trophy. Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy, and reigning Heisman winner Sam Bradford. They were considered by most far and away the favorites. Now, Bradford is done, and Tebow and McCoy are struggling mightily. Additionally, nobody has really stepped into the void. This year, we're over half of the way through the season and nobody has stepped up as a solid, definitive Heisman favorite.

    RSS Feeds