Saturday, July 31, 2004: Today marks the Major League Baseball trade deadline, or at least the deadline where teams can make trades without squeezing guys through the waiver wire, a complicated and difficult situation that means it is almost impossible for truly substantial deals to happen. Thus far across baseball there have been a few big trades, but none have involved Randy Johnson, and closer to my heart, none have involved the Red Sox. There are still rumors that we are negotiating with the Cubs, with Nomar and possibly Matt Clement at the center, but I would not want Clement straight up, and if our goal is to get better for this year, prospects, unless they are out of this world, simply will not do. The other main rumors seem to involve Derek Lowe, and I suppose tonight’s scheduled starter is still on the block, but I am not certain what sort of matchup there is that is still possible and that makes sense. I might be a blind optimist, but if we don’t find a fit with which we are comfortable, I see no need to trade him just to make a trade. I think he will continue to show improvement, and can be a suitable #4/5 for the playoffs, or a swing man, wo can start or relieve, much as we envisioned that Arroyo or Kim would do earlier, before Kim crapped out and Arroyo became one of our top 3 pitchers.

Arroyo had another wonderful start last night. On the road this year he has the second lowest ERA in the league. His hoe silts are not so good, but hopefully he will settle down at Fenway by the time September rolls around. In any case, we were on the road in Minnesota last night, which was good news for us and bad news for Twins hitters. Over 7 1/3 innings he gave up two runs, eight hits, and struck out eight while not walking anyone. His overall numbers are not that impressive, as he is 4-7, though his 4.08 ERA now is lower that Pedro’s. In any case, right now he is on fire, he obviously recovered from last week’s fiasco against the Yankees (A-Fraud and ‘Tek were given 4 games each, Sturtze, Kaplar, and Nixon were given three games - I disagree profoundly with Nixon’s and especially Kaplar’s suspension - and they were all fined, as were Schill, Ortiz, and Lofton - one can quibble with some of these, but none of it is really surprising.)
We won 8-2 last night, which would indicate that we were running on all cylinders, but in fact we lefty loads of guys on base and as much as the final score makes it look like a really great win, we should have scored several more runs. Nonetheless, in what must be some of his last games before he has to serve the suspension for the Angels game a while back that he is appealing, Ortiz went 3 for 5 with 2 rbi, bringing him to 93 on the season. Kaplar also had a great game at the plate, getting three hits and driving in three key runs, but also in the field - in the seventh he made a throw from deep in right field that nailed Justin Morneau, the super-prospect who is making the Twins willing to trade Doug Mantkiewitz, possibly to Boston, that reminded some observers of Jesse Barfield, Dave Parker, or Roberto Clemente. If Kaplar can get it done in the field as well as at the plate, and if he can provide the spark this year that Millar seemed to offer a year ago, I am not so certain that it is a vital to get someone to replace him in right as some are suggesting.
There is a potential downer, beyond the fact that some likeable guys might be traded. Not only do the rumors about Nomar persist, but after an off day, and after a week when another games was shortened and postponed because of rain, he sat last night and is probably going to sit tonight. Some speculate that this is because of the trade rumors - he is about to be dealt, thus in good faith they do not want to play him. Others - and this is the official line - simply say they are being cautious, that they have several games in a row on turf, and that since Nomar is experiencing tightness in his Achilles, it is best to play it on the safe side. But the other speculation is that the injury is worse than we all had been led to believe, and that this is being done less out of caution than of necessity. Obviously we won’t know until we have some sort of confirmation, but losing Nomar to injury rather than trade for the last half of the year would be the worst-case scenario.
They play the Twins again tonight. As I said, our scheduled starter is D-Lowe. But it is 12:30 Central Standard Time, The trade deadline falls in two and a half hours. There may well be a need to update a bit later, as a lot can happen in that time. I just hope that if Theo does execute a trade it is for smart baseball reasons for this year. I do not think anything else - fear of losing our free agents, trading just to trade, shaking things up, saving money, or getting prospects - would justify making a move. I guess we’ll know in 2:28:42.