Baseball Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous baseball thoughts and observation.

Last night I 'm leaving the airport in Philadelphia and just getting on route 476 North in Pennsylvania and somehow I pick up the Red Sox game on AM 1080 just in time to hear Youkilis walk, Loretta pop-up and David Ortiz hit a walk-off HR. That was cool... I'm not surprised that the Nationals did not trade Raphael Soriano but I am surprised that Livan Hernandez or Tony Armas Jr. weren't traded. Everyone was looking for a starter and the Nationals had two to trade and yet Jim Bowden couldn't get anything done. I think it makes Bowden look rather foolish given all the interviews he did last week about all the wheeling and dealing he was doing... One final note on the Bobby Abreu deal - if Abreu was a free agent and you were a GM - would you give him a $15 million contract for 2007 with a $16 million option for 2008? Neither would I... The Cubs traded Greg Maddux to the Dodgers for Ceasar Izturis. I like this deal for both sides. It gives the Dodgers an extra arm (with lots of playoff race experience) and they really had no room for Iztuzis (and his contract). The Cubs meanwhile finally get a decent shortstop... Shedding Izturis' $4 million contract also allowed the Dodgers to take on Julio Lugo. I don't think Ned Colletti is a very good GM but at least he's trying... For those excited by the Yankees getting Craig Wilson - here are his road numbers this year:

Craig Wilson road 2006 - .227 BA / .306 OBP / .681 OPS

With the Padres trading for Todd Walker - the question has to be asked; what were they thinking in trading Mark Loretta this spring?... Of all the trades yesterday - it was the Rockies / Royals deal that has the potential to be the on most remembered. Either Jeremy Affeldt or Danny "Pedro's cousin" Bautista can blossom into a frontline starter and Ryan Shealy could be a star (but not in Colorado where he'd always be stuck behind Todd Helton). I'm not saying that these players will blossom into all-stars but of all the trades - this one has the potential to be the most remembered - that's all...