I live in Pittsburgh, and it is bad. This is a pure salary dump. Ramirez makes 6 million next year. The pirates will trade B. Giles for mediocre prospects if they can throw Kendall's 10mil into the deal. They'll trade Benson for anyone who will take his 4.5 million salary. Mike Williams and Sauerbeck made around 5 million combined. The worst part about it is that the Bucs aren't getting any good prospects back. This guy Bruback is a middle-of-the road prospect at best. I know you guys might not think highly of Ramirez, but he is on pace for his second 100+RBI season and he is only 25. He was hitting .200 in May, and now is up to .280, with 70 RBI. His defense sucks, but he is a promising young hitter. The pirates deal him for nothing. In 3 years, no Pirates and no Penguins. Oh well, GO STEELERS!
There was no reason for the Astros to pick up Lofton. They will not sit Biggio. Lofton's is fast but is not a good defesnsive outfielder anymore. Biggio's OBP is a bit better than Lofton's while his slugging is a bit lower.
Is there any better example of why the NFL is the best league, in terms of both watchability and financial stability? Its most evident when teams in the SAME city can't be competitive, but the NFL counterpart is a perrenial Superbowl contender. (Also see Tampa Bay, Milwaukee/Green Bay, San Diego) Hey... their system is basically socialism, but it works... in SPORTS ONLY.
Exactly. I'm not worried about the Cubs at all, after all they *are* the Cubs, but the Co-ards scare the hell outta me, especially if they make a deal or 2 for pitching.
I agree. When I first looked at it, I was thinking some sort of righty/lefty platoon. Once I looked at the numbers, they both bat better against right handers. No need, but I am still suprised how little the Cubs gave up.
I agree, unless the player to be named later is a monster prospect, the Cubs gave up next to nothing for two starters.
Don't worry this year, but this deal has a swing of power potential (down the road) to it. With A-RAM, Patterson, Prior, Wood...that's a strong young nucleus. They have stud prospects too. I'm not worried about them this year, but man, they just landed a .300, 30, 100+, 25 year-old corner man for virtually nothing. Our nucleus is strong as well, but it just blows my mind that A-Ram could be had for middle-of-the-roaders.
Poor guys!! As much as we all b**** about the Rox/'Stros it's so nice to have those two organizations instead of the pirates and those like it. p.s. I didn't mention the Texans because it's obvious they're one of the top organizations in Pro Sports right now... first class all the way.
wow, that Cubs team is going to be horrible defensively. And by that I mean they're going to have an epically bad defense. Maybe the worst defensive outfield of all time. Worst defensive third baseman in the league. Absolutely horrid. also, Engsberg is better than Aramis.
