Baseball Tri-Weekly: ATB Week 19

The biggest name to be dealt this month was one of the league's smallest players. Can Ichiro lift Quebec City into the playoff picture?







Around the Bases: Week 19
By Listen DePlayohs, Baseball Tri-Weekly

The August 1st trade deadline was one of the most active in league history, with seven teams locked into negotiations until the final hour. The last few weeks have also yielded some interesting deals, which certainly affect the standings.

Four championship contending teams made moves, and all of them look better for a 2007 run. Let’s look at what they did and how much it costs to be a champion.

Rakeville Rockets
Incoming – RP Francisco Cordero, RP Joe Borowski, SS Julio Lugo,
*Jose Tabata, *Joel Guzman, QC 1st Rd 2008 MaDP, WS 3rd Rd 2008 MaDP

Outgoing - SP A.J. Burnett, SP Randy Johnson,
*Max Scherzer,

Notable Loss - A.J. Burnett: Though injured when traded, Burnett was expected to return in time for the playoffs. With expanded rosters, his loss could be important.

Notable Add – Julio Lugo will be pressed into duty immediately, but should provide a boast once Utley returns with his speed and versatility

2007 Outlook – Rakeville’s deals weren’t blockbuster ones. They upgraded their speed and are now a lock for saves. Though they were unable to augment their outfield, the Rockets may have tinkered enough to win a championship.

2008 and beyond – Aside from Scherzer, the Rockets kept there farm system and draft picks intact, while adding more young talent. The addition of Tabata, along with 2 major league draft picks for 2008, should put them in excellent position to contend next year.

Las Vegas Doggs
Incoming – SP Mark Buehrle, SP Dave Bush, SP Gil Meche, OF Adam Dunn, SP Yovanni Gallardo
GLD 4th Rd 2008 MaDP

Outgoing – OF Ichiro Suzuki, OF Jason Bay, SP Matt Garza
*Jay Bruce, LV 1st Rd MaDP, LV 2nd Rd MaDP, LV 2nd Rd MiDP

Notable Loss – Ichiro is having another excellent year, but was deemed expendable. His stellar batting average and stolen base ability could be on display in the first round of the playoffs if Quebec City and Las Vegas meet.

Notable Add – Gallardo was having a great season in the minors, and has been unhitable since his call-up. Some are worried that the Doggs may shut him down once he reaches 175 innings pitched, though I’m sure they will make an exception if he keeps going at this clip.

2007 Outlook – The Doggs have spent all season trying to build a pitching staff, and it looks like they have finally done it by bringing in four top-notch starters. They finally has a complete staff worthy of a championship run, though they might have gotten them a little too late for a bye.

2008 and beyond – The Doggs filled a lot of holes, but they also spent a lot doing it. They are almost devoid of assets now. The loss of Bruce, Bay and Ichiro leaves their outfield diminished, plus no minor leaguers and the loss of their first and second round picks means the Doggs are going to have to rely on their core for some time.

Arlington Warriors
Incoming – SP Chuck James, SP John Maine
TIJ 3rd Rd MaDP

Outgoing – SP Daisuke Matsuzaka, SP Chad Guadin,
ARL 5th Rd MaDP

Notable Loss – Matsuzaka was to be the face of the Warriors franchise, but trade offer after trade offer must have slowly changed their mind.

Notable Add – Maine has been performing under the radar for a bad Hispanics team. Now in the playoff hunt, expect his stuff to explode onto the main stage.

2007 Outlook – The Warriors decided quantity over quality was their best bet. Maine and James deepen their already solid young staff and give them a playoff caliber rotation. They won’t, however, be enough to slip past some of the other teams and they are destined for a 1st round loss.

2008 and Beyond – Considering some of the offers floated in the off-season for Matsuzaka, the Warriors didn’t get enough for their ace. Still the deal hasn’t hurt their position and if James develops, he could fill Dice-K’s shoes in a year or two.

Quebec City Piglets
Incoming – OF Ichiro Suzuki, SP Ted Lilly, SP Derrick Lowe, SP Tim Lincecum, SP Greg Maddux

Outgoing – SP David Bush, RP Brandon Morrow, SP Andy Sonnanstine, OF Chris B. Young
*Clayton Kershaw, Adam Miller, Cameron Maybin, QC 1st Rd MiDP, QC 2nd Rd MiDP

Notable Loss – Adam Miller was the first overall draft pick in the 2005 Minor League Draft. Though he only has a half year left on his minor league contract, he was a Canadian favorite that will be deeply missed.

Notable Add – Veterans Lilly, Lowe and Maddux may not jump out at you, but they are consistent contributors who are needed to round out a top tier pitching staff.

2007 Outlook – There are still a few holes in there pitching staff, and their infield isn’t very good at all, but the Piglets are now the favorites to take the 4th spot in the standings and the Western Division crown.

2008 and beyond – How many future stars did the Piglets package into their deals? Seven future big leaguers were sent packing this month, and while they did get Lincecum, that is a lot of talent to let go, regardless of how deep their system is.


Matchups
It is all about the division, and we have two big matchups heading into Week 19.

Winston Salem is in the driver’s seat in the West, with a half-game lead over Quebec City. The Piglets struggled for the second week in a row, unable to take advantage of Golden. They are staring up at the playoffs, already committed to reaching it but waving in performance. When playing in cigarette city, you have to deal with the speed. The Piglets have Ichiro, Barfield and Furcal to combat it, though that’s like combating fire with hair spray.

Winston-Salem has won their last three games by a margin of 24-5.
Their pitching staff is still not good enough to carry a blowout against the Piglets, but the Green Monsters were built to win these games, and I expect them to pull it off. Then they may take a look at overtaking Las Vegas for third.


The Doggs couldn’t edge out the Rockets, despite a last minute surge by their bullpen. Now they head to Weymouth to defend their division crown. A win would all but clinch the title for Las Vegas, as they only have bottom-feeder Peoria left on their schedule.

This game will be another good test for their new-look rotation. Weymouth’s pitchers are not nearly as deep as they have been in past seasons, but they still have a lot of quality arms. The Doggs churned unsuccessfully against Rakeville, but won’t need to against Shaduppu. It should be a fierce duel.

Weymouth’s offense had a nice little power burst last week, and look hot heading back to the island. Their playoff lives hang in the balance with only a handful of games keeping the Piglets at bay.


League Notes

-- Kei Igawa signed with Tokyo, his fifth EHCC team this season. When asked what he expected to bring to the Omyoujis, he replied, “My luggage.”

-- Seventeen thousand Arlington fans filed a class action suit against the Warriors for Matsuzaka jerseys purchased this season. “The team signs a contract with the fans,” said noted lawyer Jesse Jokeson. “They guaranteed a jersey of certain value. Now there is no value. It is illegal.” No word on whether Virginia courts will accept the case.

-- Jeremy Hermida is still crazy.