Quick, who owns the Nationals? Major League Baseball, of course. How is it within the spirit of fair play for MLB's vassal team to trade a pitcher to one of the teams fighting for a division title during the season's last weekend--the team whose ownership was so carefully selected by the Commissioner himself? I know that Stanton doesn't have much left to offer, but the intention here is to provide the Red Sox with a player who will help them this win this weekend. Stanton would be ineligible for Boston's playoff roster if the Sox make the playoffs.

This move stinks to high heaven, and I'm disgusted by it.

BTW, the rain has stopped in downtown Boston. Lots of clouds still in the sky, but for now its looks like they'll be playing.

Let's go Yanks; Small will come up big once more, I feel it!

Not that Stanton is a great player, but if he makes a big difference this weekend . . . didn't they used to call such moves syndicate baseball? What a crock.

I expect to see one of Jayson Stark's classic conflict-of-interest columns, that he did so well when the Nats were still the Expos.

I guess you are right. But I hate it when people distort facts and all those morons on espn do that all the friggin time....espn becoming more like MTV every day.

It is possible for parties with potential conflicts of interest to deal at arm's length with each other, but there are reasons and even incentives for them to deal unfairly, too. That's why we strive to avoid conflicts of interest: the mere possibility of the conflict compromises the integrity of the situation. Who's that umpire whose brother is a pitcher? Randy Wolf, right? Could Randy Wolf's brother officiate fairly in one of Randy's games behind the plate? Yes, in theory, but in theory, he has a compelling reason to play favorites for Randy, too. The league has responded to this by barring the umpire brother from calling balls and strikes when Randy Wolf pitches.

And it is no kind of answer to say, "What's the difference, Randy Wolf sucks?" or "What's the difference, Randy Wolf's team has been mathematically eliminated?"
Sorry, folks, but it was bad to let owners own multiple teams in the NL in the 1890s, and it's bad for MLB's vassal team to trade a player into the heart of a pennant race in the last weekend of the season.

He'll be at a bookstore near my work on Monday - if the Sox are out of the playoffs, I think I have to go listen to him, right?

watziznehm2, you're right on with ESPN being more like MTV - the horrid MTV of today, not the fantastic MTV of 15 years ago. I remember when ESPN was so good - and now it mostly sucks.

the mvp race doesn't mean anything if the yanks don't make the playoffs. and i'll trade a world series for any number of individual awards. however, if you look up win shares through last week (http://www.hardballtimes.com/, look under stats) you'll see that not only does arod lead ortiz (even without the glove being taken into consideration) but SO DOES SHEFFIELD. are we really going to give the award to someone who's third in the league in in shares? well, don't answer that because last year vlad got it and he was fifth behind sheff, arod, matsui, and tejada.

"As for this year's AL MVP race, A-Rod backers point to impressive stats and excellent play at third, conveniently ignoring a lack of leadership and a comical tendency to turn into Roy Hobbs only during blowouts. When the Yankees are leading by 30 or more runs, A-Rod is hitting .950 with 19 HRs and 45 RBIs. All right, I made that up. But he's certainly no David Ortiz, the most dangerous clutch hitter in baseball, in addition to being the soul of Boston's clubhouse and the emotional center of the team. Without him, this year's Sox would be a .500 team, or worse. That makes him the MVP. But since he doesn't play in the field, the door will stay open until the AL East plays itself out."

Bill, Ruben is playing tonight, because he looked awesome yesterday with the bat, duh.

Jeter
A-Rod
Giambi, 1B
Sheffield, RF
Matsui, LF
Posada
Sierra, DH
Williams, CF
Cano

Nobody asked me, but... flop Mats and Giambi, scratch Sierra, start Bubba in center, Bernie DHs...

I don't think he's a very good game manager, but I also find it hard to criticize his reliever usage when most of them stick so bad.

However, he must have NOTICED they are bad. And in that case, you'd think he'd want to score so many runs that relief pitching wouldn't be an issue.

So, 4 runs up up in a crucial game, pitcher on the ropes with no outs in the second, leadoff man aboard with a double and Torre...

Has Jeter bunt. What a moron.

-Supporting Derek's multiple(!) bunt attempts with a 4 run lead in the 2nd. No explanation necessary

Atta'boy Shef! Giambi, you fat bastard!

Go run around your house 3 times or something. Go. NOW!

He doesn't want the stomach ache to leave yet

(and thanks, atc)

So, in Simmons' logic A-Rod should hit his Homeruns tonight, right? OK, I'll take a couple (with men on, if its not too much to ask).

Meanwhile, did you see Clement's face after the HR. Talk about a deer in headlights! he's soooooo spoked!