Hello RML Managers!
A few Monday morning musings on the things that amuse, bemuse and confuse a man in the wonderful world of RML....Let me start off by making this point VERY clear. Last weeks Scott Elarton-Ray Lankford swap between Houston and Los Angeles was THE most lopsided trade in the entire history of RML. Now the Creature isn't one to make charges of collusion (and I won't here) but deals like this make me wonder. I wouldn't want Lankford for free given his age, salary and defence. But I sure as hell wouldn't give away arguably the best pitcher in the game for him.....Keeping with the Dodgers though, this trade gives them one of the best pitching trios in the game with Brown-Elarton-Shine.....Now comes the time of the year when the stakes are high and everyone either has to ante up or get out. It appears the Mets, Padres and Astros have already cashed in their chips.....Looks like a good AL East race between Baltimore and Toronto. Don't be fooled, that will be a tight race and don't be surprised if one of them makes a big move to outdo the other.....In the NL East, the Phillies are up to their old tricks: playing dead and then stealing the division. Too bad Chris Johnson isn't around to see it.....In the AL West, the surprising A's continue to delight. But the truly believes Seattle will beat them out. Especially with the recent acquisitions of Tatis, Wood and Hermanson....With the deadline fast approaching, the Creature thought it best to take a look at the deadline moves from past years. Here are the TOP 4 DEADLINE MOVES IN RML HISTORY:
1) PEDRO MARTINEZ to ATLANTA (July 31, 2002)- The Braves did give up an assortment of prospects including Kevin McGlinchy and $7 million, but Pedro's pitching down the stretch propelled them into the playoffs. Then his NLCS 'perfect' game propelled them to a World Series triumph.
2) SCOTT ROLEN to MONTREAL (July 31, 2001)- Facing a stiff challenge from the defending champ Phillies, the Expos acquired Rolen from Colorado for an assortment of second tier prospects Tom Evans and Kevin L. Brown. Rolen would hit almost 30 homers in the final two months and Montreal would win the World Series
3) REGGIE SANDERS to PHILLY (July 31, 1999)- The Phillies were ten games behind the Cubs when the trade was made, but Sanders' clutch home-runs would help them steal the division on the final weekend and come back from a 3-1 defecit to improbably win the World Series. In one of Chris Johnson's finest moves, all he gave to the Padres was Kevin Jordan, who has since played for several teams
4) NOMAR GARCIAPARRA to TORONTO (July 26, 2002)- En route to an 111 win season, the Jays acted boldly in picking up Nomar from the Brewers in exchange for young Vernon Wells and Cordell Portnoy. The quintessential deadline swap is overshadowed by Toronto's World Series loss in seven games
HEROES: OAKLAND ATHLETICS- The Creature still maintains the demise of this team, but the mere fact they are still in it deserves congratulations.....ZEROES: NEW YORK METS- The Creature officially crowns them "The Worst Team Money Can Buy". Tell me baseball fans, where have you seen this before? |
