Much to the chagrin of many in the TZ, the Astros remained silent on the trade front during the month of July. Meanwhile, most of the teams standing between them and a post-season berth were active. Only the Wild Card race leading Dodgers, who are on the brink of getting the Plumber back, were Hun-like and unmoved at the deadline.
Therefore, in an exercise of very premature mental masturbation, I’ve decided to see how everyone is doing with their new look rosters:
The Stinkin’ steM
In the midst of their home series vs. the Astros, the Mets engaged in a wholesale exchange of spare parts with Colorado and San Diego. Rather than detail the players involved I’ll simply say that, since the trades were made, the Mets have gone on a five game losing streak. Already dead and buried in the East, they’ve dropped to 5th in the Wild Card race, 2 games behind the Astros and 6.5 games behind the Dodgers.
Bwahahahahahahahahahaha!
The Jints
They felt the need to pick up Kenny Lofton on July 29. Don’t ask me why, I have no idea. Since the trade they’ve gone 3-3, which means they’ve kept pace with the Dodgers but have allowed the Astros and Reds to creep up on them a little. Lofton himself has carried on his .260ish hitting while picking up the occasional walk, extra-base hit and RBI.
The Dickities
Scrambling for anything with an arm and a major league record, the Dickities managed to scoop (like out of a litter tray) Ryan Dempster and Brian Moehler to shore up their woeful pitching staff. Perhaps the only other place where these two would both be upgrades is Dallas, and that is a sad indictment of Cincy’s starting pitching. Dempster needed a furious rally from his offense last time out to avoid picking up his 4th loss in a Reds uni in five starts. For the most part, he’s been walloped hard and early and has yet to post a quality start. The Dickities are 12-10 since his acquisition, and have seen the Astros inch a little closer while moving up on the Mice (more on them later).
Moehler came later, on July 24 and has pitched to a 1-1 record in his two starts. He’s needed help though, and his 6.54 ERA since coming over from the junior league will need to be trimmed if he’s going to be any real help at all. The Dickities are 6-4 since Moehler suited up in one of those ridiculous vests.
The Mice
The Co-Ards made a couple of moves to shore up their club. In true Co Russa / Jocketty style, they emptied out what little was left of their minor league system to add a couple of established major leaguers. Unfortunately for them, they have absolutely no reserves on the starting pitching front, and have since seen what they have go sour. While I, as have others here, wrote of the long term cost to the franchise, we may actually see the trouble manifest itself this season.
Chuck Finley was the first bolt-on, acquired on July 20. He’s posted a quality start each time out since the move (if you subscribe to the 6 and 3 standard) and has a 2-1 record. However, his team mates haven’t supported him and the club slipped to a 7-8 record since he came over.
The mutha of all deals done, and the one that engraves the Co-Ards name onto the NL championship until Hell freezes, over was the pick up of disgruntled Phillie Scott Rolen. Jocketty actually gave up a starting pitcher (albeit one who was pitching like crap) to get him, further thinning out his thin supply of same. After a quick start, Scott has joined his colleagues in an offensive sag and sports a .174 BA (4-23) as a Mouse. His 2 RBIs have contributed to a hilarious 1-5 slump by the Mice since he became part of the Co-Ardinal Nation. Still, I’m sure those marvelous fans in STL won’t boo him, even when he refuses to re-up with them this winter.
Conclusion?
Well, “conclusion” is a little strong seeing as there’s still quite a few games left. However, the big winners of the trading game so far is one of those teams that didn’t make any. Blessed with a spectacular farm system, the Astros have tweaked from within and ridden the journeymen while waiting for their stars to wake up. Since this annual merde-go-round started on July 12, the home nine have put on a 15-8 burst which has propelled them into the thick of the race for the Central title.
The Dodgers, in the meantime, while waiting breathlessly for the return of the Plumber, have gone the other way. An 8-14 mess over the same stretch has seen them drop out of first in the West and into the clutches of a host of teams vying for the Wild Card. San Fran, Cincy and MYM have stood still, with respective records of 11-12, 12-10 and 11-11, as have the Co-Ards with their run of 12-11. However, SFO, NYM and STL have gone cold of late and those flat records are the beneficiaries of hot streaks that have come to a deliciously ironic halt.
None of these teams have added a major piece to their puzzles. Given the return to fitness/performance levels of many Astros, I’d say advantage Orange.
The Legacy of The Great Bill Spiers
The final fall to injury and subsequent retirement of His Clutchness was met with much sorrow at the BFT. A firm favourite amongst Zone Dwellers, Legends and Fearless Hosts alike, we wondered from where those clutch left-handed hits were going to come in the future. Well, the Astros not only seem to have found the answer, but are blessed with an embarrassment of riches. Role players in the Spiers mold have not only emerged from his shadow, but have risen up and pummeled numerous opponents this year.
Orlando Merced appears to be an automatic base hit or RBI. Jose Vizcaino has shown an ability to serve the ball into all fields that almost surpasses Spiers himself. Geoff Blum has actually been so Spiers-like as to beat out the opening day starter for third base, and has the bonus of hitting for power. Even Greg Zaun, and his oh-so memorable slam against the Rangers, has shown so well that the club now carries a third catcher just so he can pinch hit!
See what I mean? It’s like a Clone Army! How does one choose?
Maybe we shouldn’t. Maybe, we should just sit back, smile, and let the residue of The Great Bill Spiers guide their left hands – and the Astros – to glorious victory. The King is dead. Long live the Kings.