Ethier needs to be hitting in front of these guys, not behind. I'm a firm believer Ethier excels when he's protected in the batting order. He was dominate when he had Manny hitting behind him. I would switch him and Ellis in the order, but that's just my opinion.
also .. .i will never get the rules of the "TRADE DEADLINE" in baseball.
There are actually two: the non-waiver trade deadline, which occurred July 31, and is more traditionally thought of as a hard trade deadline, as in other sports.
Then comes the waiver trade deadline, which is at the end of this month.
Here is a pretty good summary of the waiver trade rules in baseball (Aug. 1 through Aug. 31):
Hope this means a position change for Gordon. I'd move him to 2nd next year if he can adjust to that side of the diamond. That assumes Hanley prefers SS over 3B.
My proposed lineup:
Victorino - S
Ellis - R
Gonzalez - L
Kemp - R
Ethier - L
Ramirez - R
Cruz/Uribe
Ellis
P
Crazy year for LA sports. Richards, Carter, Gagne, Cup, Paul, Howard, Nash, Jamison, Pujols, Wilson, Grienke, plus the Galaxy, now this trade. Notice how the Ducks are absent from the trend. Just need a football team now...
Hope this means a position change for Gordon. I'd move him to 2nd next year if he can adjust to that side of the diamond. That assumes Hanley prefers SS over 3B.
My proposed lineup:
Victorino - S
Ellis - R
Gonzalez - L
Kemp - R
Ethier - L
Ramirez - R
Cruz/Uribe
Ellis
P
Crazy year for LA sports. Richards, Carter, Gagne, Cup, Paul, Howard, Nash, Jamison, Pujols, Wilson, Grienke, plus the Galaxy, now this trade. Notice how the Ducks are absent from the trend. Just need a football team now...
You don't think Crawford will make it back from his injury for next season?
- Not really fair to lump Gonzalez into the "bums" category with Crawford and Beckett like the Boston herald did. Gonzalez is a great player and a model citizen. And his contract is more than fair for what he contributes. Poor journalism there.
- Curt Schilling says the Dodgers are the odds on favorites to win the WS. I don't know about that. I think Schilling might be remembering the Josh Beckett he pitched with 5 years ago, rather than the current Josh Beckett. That being said, I think the Dodgers could now beat the Reds in a 5 or 7 game series, something I don't think they could have done with their lineup before the trade.
- Theo Epstein won two championships in Boston, that will make him a hero in that town, but wow did he leave that team in the dumps. And certain people who support the Northsiders here in Chicago should cool their expectations about this guy being destined to win with the Cubs. Crawford's contract is one of the worst in the majors, Lackey's may be worse, Matsuzaka's posting fee in addition to his salary was a disaster. Extensions to Josh Beckett and Kevin Youkilis more for what they did in past years than what they were going to do in the present or the future. That doesn't even include JD Drew. He seriously drove that team into the ground and was allowed to because he won championships 4 and 7 years before, it was worth it, but man did he set them back possibly a decade, and now because of his unchecked spending and awful signings, the one good guy he has brought in during recent years, and a potential Triple Crown type guy is traded for next to nothing because they found someone willing to eat two horrendous contracts handed out by the Wonderkid.
- Carl Crawford could be the worst contract in LA since Ryan Smyth, but there is no cap in MLB. And the Kings didn't get Paul Stastny in the deal just for taking it on. And still, it's not as bad as Vernon Wells contract.
- Crawford's situation in Boston was just more that he stopped producing as a baseball player, which happens.He was a good, though drastically overrated player in TB. He was never worth anything close to the money Boston paid him in their bidding war for his services with the Angels when two awful GM's who are no longer with their teams tried to outdue each other. Crawford even with his beat days behind him, will still be able to contribute with his speed and defense. If he can get his OBP somewhat close to his career number of .333 he will score a ton of runs playing with Kemp and Gonzalez. So all hope is not lost here, drastically overpaid? yes, but so was Brian Campbell and he helped the Hawks win a Cup. Beckett on the other hand, I don't know, I think it's the biggest problem I have with this deal. Here is a guy who in his mind is still an ace, he has the past to back it up, yet choked last September. He and Lackey are everything that is wrong with baseball players, and their antics last September was as unprofessional as it gets. I realize the Dodgers needed to add Gonzalez, and with hos cheap he came they had to take on Beckett and everything he "brings" to the team. Lets just say, if I were Coletti and Mattingly, I would keep Beckett and his baggage as far away from Clayton Kershaw as I could.
- How stoked are you guys to have Gonzalez and Kemp for the next 7 years? Holy crap. I just had an argument with my buddy on the phone about who will be better the next decade. Kemp and Gonzalez or Pujols and Trout. I obviously had to side with my boys, but it's pretty damn close, and who would have thought at this time last week we would be having this argument.
As a Red Sox fan I kind of like this deal. Beckett had to go, plain and simple. Crawford, I really wanted to succeed in Boston but I truly think injuries have really broken him down. Giving Gonzalez up was tough but you had to do it. Unfortunately he just does not have the kind of personality that can succeed in this pressure cooker called Red Sox Nation. Punto? Meh.
I'm guessing that Loney will be allowed to walk at the end of the season, although it's not like there are ton of options out there this year at 1B. Hopefully one or two of these kids pan out.
The important thing is that none of this matters because WE HAVE THE STANLEY CUP!
