Baseball Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous baseball thoughts and observations.

- Count me among the people who don't understand the proposed Sidney "Greenstreet" Ponson for Phil Nevin deal. Not only does Ponson have a 7.40 road ERA this year - the last time he was traded mid-season to an NL West club he went 3-6 and really wasn't much of a factor. To top it off - Nevin has Baltimore on his no-trade list and the Padres must know he'll block this deal. Something smells fishy.

- Strange split: the Cardinals team ERA for night games is an excellent 2.80 (leads MLB) but during the day the team ERA is more than a run and a half higher (4.34). What's up with that?

- Why are people talking about Nevin's limited no-trade clause anyway? Nevin is a 10/5 guy (10 years in the league with 5 with the present team) - this gives him veto rights over any trade no matter if it is on his list or not.

- I have said that I wouldn't want Bronson Arroyo traded for AJ Burnett but I would trade him for Jason Schmidt. How about Arroyo and AAA catcher Kelly Stoppach for Schmidt? I think that would get it done. Schmidt (when healthy) is one of the best in the game and it is worth the gamble because he's the type of horse you can ride to a repeat World Series Championship.

- Do you think the Orioles front office just threw this Ponson for Nevin deal out there knowing it would be squashed just to get the Florida deal off the dime?

- The Bret Boone watch: Boone is listed at 192 pounds and he is batting just .206 for the Twins. I say at some point this week, Boone's batting average will dip below his weight.