Fantasy Football is back baby.............here are your tips

Okay, I am a fantasy football God. I have been running my own league for the last four years and I have won two championships and been to the final game one other time. I have a unique ability to understand football better than most people, because I'm just that good. Don't believe me? I don't give a shit. I am a God and will remain a God.

So, for all of you none-fantasy football God's out there, take some tips from me about your upcoming season. Here are a few tried and tested tools to help you dominate your group of friends, alienating them forever for a meaningless trophy that only shows up when you check your fantasy sports profile. And you know what? It is freakin worth it. Friends come and go. Fantasy Glory is priceless.

Tip 1: Reggie, Reggie, Reggie.

I'm telling you, by the end of this season we will be talking about Reggie Bush as a potential 2 or 3 pick next year. He is gonna be that good. Why? Because he has the most talent at the position since Marshal Faulk and as good a back as Deuce McAllister is, Bush's explosive speed, his ability to receive and play wide receiver, and his ever growing comfort level with running the ball as a straight running back in the NFL make it impossible for The Saints not to utilize him as much as humanly possible. Think about it this way: Bush, by the end of the season last year, had already established himself as a viable number 2 back on almost all fantasy rosters. He was good for a decent amount of rushing yards, a decent amount of receiving yards, and, at the end, you could tell he would find his way into the endzone enough to bring home the points. So, right now, Bush is a viable #2 and a legit contender to be taken in the second round. That's if Reggie Bush doesn't improve from last year AT ALL and his involvement in the offense doesn't improve At ALL. Think that's a possibility? Look at Reggie's numbers last year from week 10 on: week 10 at Pit, 90 total yards, 1 TD, week 11 home to Cinci, 109 total yards, no scores, week 12 at Atlanta, 45 total yards, no scores, week 13 against San Fran, 168 total yards, 4 scores, week 14 at Dallas, 162 total yards, 1 score, week 15 against Wash., 33 total yards, no score, week 16 at NYG, 149 total yards, 1 score, week 17 against Carlolina, 33 total yards and 1 score, playoff game against Phillie, 74 total yards and 1 score, playoff game against Chicago, 151 total yards, 1 score.

Look at those lines. Except for the game against Atlanta and the game against Washington, from week 10 on Bush was a top line running back putting up outstanding numbers. His rushing number are well below his receiving numbers, but if anything those rushing numbers look to go up this year rather than down, with his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield remaining the same. Think of Bush this year, more comfortable in the offense, more relaxed in who he is what he does, and more plays bein run for him. His 160+, 1 to 2 score games should become the norm for him in that offense. If that's the case, he becomes a legit stud fantasy performer that will go, more than likely, anywhere between the second and third rounds. If he's there for you, pick his ass up.

Tip 2: Beware the Gore

Everyone loves confidence. Women flock to it. Men envy it. In athletes, it becomes essential. Lack of confidence can be devastating. Frank Gore doesn't have that problem. This year, he set his sights high for anyone, saying he wants to break Eric Dickerson's single season rushing record. Okay, nice goal. Problem is this; what Frank Gore says he wants to do, and what Frank Gore will actually do may very well be two completely different things.

Gore has the explosiveness to be one of the best backs in the league, and every fantasy book you read has him ranked WAY up there. I'm calling bullshit on him. He's gonna be a fine back, but I'll bet you anything, come the end of the season, the guy I just talked about, Reggie Bush, will vastly superior numbers to Gore. Here's a couple of reasons why: Gore broke his hand in the offseason and still has not recovered. More than likely he will be ready to go for the opener, but this is a broken hand we're talking about, There aint no guarantee that Gore is gonna feel completely healthy when he starts the season, and if he is babying the hand, it might affect how he carries the ball. The broken hand leads into the other reason, the main reason, why Gore seems to be overrated. The fuc*er can't hang onto the ball. Last year he had 6 lost fumbles. He began to correct that problem towards the end of the season, but a broken hand could restablish old, bad habits. Plus, as good as Gore can be I am not completely sold on San Fran's offense line. I believe Alex Smith will be better, I believe Darrel Jackson will be good, but the 9ers won't be sneaking up on anyone this year. Gore is a worthy first round pick, but some people are suggesting him as the choice over Larry Johnson or Shaun Alexander. Ummm.................that would be stupid. Gore is a very, very good back, but he isn't an elite just yet.

Tip 3: Call me crazy for Campbell.

Okay, this is a weird one, but I'm telling you, sleeper QB for this year is going to be Jason Campbell for the Redskins. Who? That's right, his name is Jason Campbell and though you maye have never heard of him, I'm telling you he's gonna be pretty good. Why? Because the Skins offense is pretty good. Because Campbell has a big arm and one of the best deep threats in the game, Santana Moss. Because the team's running game is stellar this year with a healthy Clinton Portis and an emerging Ladell Betts. Because Campbell has one of the best tight endin Chris Cooley to throw to once he gets down to the Red Zone. Because Joe Gibbs makes it a point to max protect his QB's as much as possible, giving them time to throw the ball. And because Jason Campbell went from throwing pick after pick in his first few games at starting QB to throwing none in his last 4.

No, I'm not telling you this kid is gonna surpass any of the big QB's. He isn't your third option behind Peyton and Brady. What he is, however, is a really good option for someone who will be looking to load up on RB's early in the draft and may be scrambling for his QB's at the end. Campbell has the chance to rake up a decent amount of points this year, should have plenty of opportunities to put the ball in the endzone, especially with the deep threat of Moss. The Redskins promise to be better this year, both offensively and defensively, and while Campbell won't put up huge numbers, there's a good chance he will end up being a decent number 2 QB for any team. Joe Gibbs QB's usually protect the ball very well and it appears the one thing Campbell needed to correct was his decision making ability. If he has, Campbell could be steal for yah.

Tip 4: This is gonna hurt me more than you

I am a Giants fan. I drafted Eli Manning on my most recent fantasy team. Still, I think Eli could be in for a very difficult season. Now, that's not saying that Eli won't put up good numbers. Think of him as a John Kitna type. Eli has too many weapons and will be asked to throw way too much for him NOT to put up numbers. Plus, there is no chance of him losing his job, unless he is injured, and even over the last few years, when Eli has become a favorite whipping boy of the NY media and fans, his numbers have made him a viable option at QB. Here is the problem. Eli will be looked at as a possible #1 QB, he will be expected to BE that #1 QB for the Giants, and I just don't see it happening. The loss of Tiki Barber is going to be more extreme than anyone could imagine, and while that means ELi will be asked to throw a lot more, it also means Eli will be asked to do the one thing that makes him such a shaky NFL QB to this point; it will force him to make consistent good throws, with tight spirals, and it will force him to make good decisions with the ball. Teams are gonna make Eli beat them. They are gonna come after him as much as possible and put the Giants O-line and running backs to the test. Eli, to this point, has not shown the ability to be a consistent QB. The touchdowns will be there but so will the mistakes and so will the killer games where Eli single handedly destroys your team.

Now, here is the one caveat. Eli has the talent to be a very good QB. He doesn't have the talent to be what the Giants drafted him to be, or what the Mannings advertised him to be, namely one of the top, elite QB's around, but he certainly has the talent to be in that second tier of field generals. If it is ever gonna happen for Eli, this might be the year. He is gonna be asked to throw and throw often. He has the weapons he needs to succeed all over the field. The season will be put in his hands. If he takes the next step he will easily be a #1 QB. If he isn't, he could bring your fantasy team down. It's your choice. High risk, High reward.

Tip 5: Not Calvin time yet

Calvin Johnson was so damn good for Georgia Tech and then in his combine workouts that some projected him as a can't miss combo of Jerry Rice meets T.O. Not too freakin bad. But beware of drafting Johnson as a number 1 WR. Rookies, as we know, tend to take a while to get into the swing of things. Johnson is going to be utilized right off the bat but remember this; the QB for the Detroit Lions is going to be John Kitna. Kitna certainly isn't a bad QB but you have to go a long way on the leap-of-faith trail to convince yourself he's an elite QB. The Lions' O-line isn't special, the team will start their season with Tatum Bell as the starting RB while they await the return of Kevin Jones by the middle of the season, and the Lions already have a Superstar receiver in Roy Williams who will probably be the main beneficiary of Johnson this year. So while Johnson's talent, and his promise are very tantalizing, I think it might be a good idea to skip the rookie this year. Go for the more established receivers, the guys you KNOW will put up their team's big numbers, and if you have a chance to pick up Roy Williams, do it.

755..........just another number

Here is my take on Barry Bonds' recent tieing of Hank Aaron for the all time home run record. I don't want to spend a lot of time on it because so many people have spent so much time screaming about it.

The question that seems to constantly come up is "what do we do now?" As if we, collectively, could save this record, restore it to Aaron no matter what, and just find a way to wipe these records away permanently. The truth is that will never happen and we all know it. Chances are no asterik will be placed next to whatever number Bonds ends up with. No one is gonna wipe the slate clean, expunging Bonds and his steroid era cohorts from the record books. What is simply going to happen is that the NEW number, whatever number that is, will become as meaningless in the sports world as almost all others are.

Quick quiz, name me the record for most points scored all time in the NBA? How about the most touchdowns scored ever in the NFL? Chances are you know who holds the record but I would bet yah anything you have no idea what the number is.

Okay, how about this one: what is the single season record for home runs? Is it 70, 71, 72, 73, or 74 homers in one season? Alright, you might know that one, but just a few short years ago asking that question to good sports fans would be like slapping their sister on the ass at the bar; it would be a huge insult. Now, you might have to think about it for a second.

And even if you came up with the number, knew it by heart, there's no question that 73 has very little meaning to the baseball world now, nothing compared to what 61 was to the sports landscape. A-Rod was (and still is) putting on a virtuoso performance this year and was ahead of EVERYONE'S record pacing for a solid 3 months. Yet, no one talked about him challenging Bonds' record. No one was giddy about the idea of 74. No one was tracking his progression. Why? Because 73 just isn't that important to us. It doesn't role off the tongue. It doesn't intrigue us the way 61 did. And the name holding it makes most of us squirm now instead of admire the talent it took to accomplish such a record.

And that's the fate of 756, or 775, or whatever number Bonds lands on. It will become virtually meaningless. In 5 years or 10 years, when someone asks who holds the record everyone will know it was that bastard cheater Bonds. When you ask what the number is, chances are you'll have to think about it for a second. It won't roll off the tongue. It won't fascinate us as a fan base and it won't tantalize the super star looking to add his name to the greats of all time. It will just be another number.

And some people ask how anyone could not vote for Bonds for the Hall of Fame?

If From the Free Seats had a vote, this would be our answer; because Barry Bonds has made sacred records meaningless. Because he has put his own permanent asterik next to those numbers. He has wiped clean all the special meaning those records had to us as sports fans and have made them simply another number.

If and when A-Rod breaks the all time record the cheering will be less about the number and more about the man. A-Rod will be looked upon as being a clean player who did things the right way and restored the all time record back to respectability. But the number will never acheive the greatness, the importance it once had. It will never capture the hearts of young fans fascinated by the history of America's pass time. And that's why Bonds should never be inducted into the Hall of Fame, because his legacy is one of cheating and cheaters. What he did on the field before steroids was play at the highest level possible, but his importance to the game overall was minimal. He would have simply gone down as a great player, one of many who have had the chance to play professionally. Now, however, Bonds has seperated himself from the pack and injured the game immeasureably. How can one ignore that before casting a vote?

Catch NBA fever baby, it's fantastic..................

A few months ago, as the NBA season was coming to a close, I made myself a promise. I was gonna catch the NBA fever next year. I didn't know how I was gonna do that. Maybe I would just watch every NBA classic game I could find on NBA TV to try and catch a cold at first. Maybe I would go to youtube and look up some spectacular dunks to try and raise my temperature. Maybe I would sleep with a New York Knick cheerleader to try and contract the disease (I still consider this my best option by the way).

However it had to happen, though, I wanted the fever.

Then, the NBA finals hit and I, like the rest of the nation, couldn't find it within me to watch even a moment of that disaster. Then, the NBA draft took place and the two best prospects to come out of college in the last 20 years went to Seattle and Portland, meaning that, for the next 15 years the only time I will get to see Kevin Durant and Greg Oden will be on ESPN highlight reels and a possible playoff game I can actually keep my eyes open for. Then, we got the Tim Donaghy scandal and the allegations that many NBA games ref'd by Donaghy may not have been on the complete up and up. So, sufficit to say, I got a good dose of antibiotics for my NBA fever before I even felt the symptoms.

So the idea of watching the NBA kinda went by the wayside for me. I am an East Coast kinda guy and there isn't much for me to cheer for on that side of the seaboard.

Enter Danny Ainge, Kevin McHale and the saving of basketball in Boston.

Now, I hate the Red Sox, but as a kid I LOVED the Celtics. I was a fan right around the time when Bird, McHale, and Parrish were all coming into their own. I loved watching their games and the way they played their games. And the competition night in and night out was incredible. The Bad Boy Pistons, the Jordan Bulls, the Barkley 76ers, the greatest show on earth with Magic, Worthy and Kareem, Clyde the Glide on Portland, Dominique and his high wire act on Atlanta. There was always someone or something to watch in those days.

Then, Bird, McHale and Parrish retired one by one, Len Bias, the heir apparent, OD'd on cocaine celebrating being drafted by the Celts, Reggie Lewis, my new favorite player in the early 90's, died of a heart condition, and Celtics basketball meant nothing to me anymore.

Little by little I have stopped watching the NBA.

But now, as Kevin Garnett gets ready to join the Celts, i am ready to start watching all over again.

Why?

Well, a few reasons. One, I LOVE Ray Allen.

As a Uconn alum Ray Ray was one of my all time favorite players. He is a silky smooth player with a dream jump shot who rises to the big occassions and plays the game the right way. The fact that Ray has always wallowed on Western Conference teams has always upset me. Had Allen been traded East years ago I would have started watching basketball again.

Now, Ray Ray is getting towards the end of his career, but as long as he keeps himself in relatively good shape (a very big if considering his injury history) there is no reason why the 32 year old couldn't be a productive player well into his late 30's. Could the Celts get 4 or 5 more really productive years out of him? Why not? With fitness training, supplements and the like players in all sports are playing longer and better. Ray Ray could be playing for another 6 or 7 seasons, and unless something goes terribly wrong with those wrists, that jump shot should be as potent as ever.

Secondly, I LOVE Kevin Garnett. Garnett, to me, is everything you want in an athlete. Think about him this way; Garnett has been stuck on a team going no where now for several years. He is hitting his prime, meaning he wouldn't want to be stuck in a rebuilding situation where 3 or 4 of those prime years would be lost to young teams. He has given his all to Minnesota and the Timberwolves are only on the sport's map because of him. Yet, even up to the moment he was traded to Boston, you never heard Garnett demanding a trade. You never heard him screaming about the direction of the team or the franchise. You never heard him killing players or coaches for not being up to snuff. He just went about his business and, any feelings like that were obviously kept in house, away from the cameras and microphones.

Michael Strahan is threatening to retire bcause the football Giants, who gave him $21 mill up front in his last contract, don't want to play the oft injured 36 year old even more money. Johan Santana was rightfully annoyed with the Twins decision to SELL at the trade deadline rather than bolster their roster and he made it known through the media, even threatening to leave if things didn't get better. Garnett?

Stuck in much worse situation than those other two guys, you never heard a peep from him. What a class act. What an amazing person and player. He is the type of guy you can root for and feel real good rooting for every day.

Oh, did I mention he is one of the greatest players to ever put on an NBA uniform? Did I mention that he plays hard night in a night out? Did I mention that he is still only 30 years old, has never had a major injury in his life, and is destined to be a Karl Malone, chugging along at All Star levels until he is 40? Did I mention that watching him, Allen and Paul Pierce walk off one another is gonna be an absolute thrill? Did I mention that Garnett is the single best player to walk through the Celtic's doors since Larry Bird? Did I mention I'll be able to watch his ass almost every game now?

Finally, the last reason I am in on the NBA is because, with the Garnett trade, the east is, to me, again viable. The Celtics have got to be looked at as a real, legit contender for the title as early as next year. The Pistons are still gonna be in it, the Nets should be much better next year, and a fun team to watch night in and night out, the Magic made a HUGE acquisition for Rashad Lewis who, combined with Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson will make them a big time contender, the Bobcats are gonna be a really fun team to watch now with high flying Jason Richardson and Gerald Wallace, up and coming point guard Ray Felton, and major big man Emeka Okafor holding down the middle, and the Bulls have one of the youngest, most exciting teams in basketball and could be even better if Joahkim Noah provides the big man presence they think he can for them.

Then, don't forget about Lebron and his Cavs (who, with one move this offseason could be right back in the hunt for a title) and Dwayne and Shaq and The Heat, who also are one move away from being right in the hunt.

Oh, and how about The Knicks? There would be nothing greater for me than to see the Knicks pull off a trade for Ron Artest. I still believe that could happen. If they do, the Knicks will be the perfect villian, compiling problem children, all with talent. As it is, getting Zach Randolph was, to me, a very good move and should improve the team. With bat shit crazy Marbury, underrated Jamal Crawford, super sub David Lee, Zach attack Randolph and Eddie Curry, that will be a team that could be fun and dynamic one night and a train wreck the next. If they could only add Artest, I would so be on board with the Knicks right now, and what a perfect foil they would make to The Celtics, who will throw three of the classiest, team first guys on the floor every night. PLEASE Isiah, please get Artest in here now. By the way, the nut job would actually make the team better because he is not just bat shit crazy like Marbury, but an exceptional player. I am holding out hope. Get it done.

So, by my calculations, next year the Celtics, Bulls, Pistons and possibly the Magic all have a legit chance of knocking out a Western Conference team and winning a title. If Shaq is healthy and the Heat get one more legit player they would be in the mix as well, and, if nothing else, Lebron and the Cavs, the big three in New Jersey (Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, Richard Jefferson), the young guns in Charlotte, and the wack jobs in New York will all be interesting teams battling it out for a playoff spot. That, to me, is pretty damn good for one season. I look for the east to make a huge comeback next year.

So that means that From the Free Seats will be spending a lot more time watching the NBA next year than in years past. My team? The Big Ticket and The Celtics. My prediction? At least an NBA Finals appearance for the Celtics. My belief? The East is worth watching again. My hope? I get to sleep with a Knick's cheerleader before the year is out.

The NBA baby, it's fantastic.

Bye bye Michael

I am a huge Giants fan, have been ever since I was a kid. One of the fondest memories I have is of the 1990 team, against all odds, playing in argueably the greatest Super Bowl ever, beating a juggernaut of a team in the Bills on the famous Scott Norwood wide right. That was 17 years ago. Almost nothing has gone right since.

We had the Ray Handley years. We had the Dan Reeve years. We had the "all in" Jim Fassel years that produced one Super Bowl appearance and a lot of embarrassing episodes. Now, we have the Tom Coughlin era, that hopefully will include one more bad year (this year) so we can move on to another era, perhaps the Charlie Weis era or the Rex Ryan era.

Through all of these era's, however, one constant has seemed to be Michael Strahan.

There is no doubting Strahan's ability. He is, and has been, a GREAT defensive end. He has been one of the best defensive players in the league almost from his very day in the league and he has been indispenable to the New York Football Giants.

However, Strahan's opinion of himself has always been higher than the actual results on the field. Strahan has captained a Giants defense that was always better in reputation than in actual play. They ROUTINELY give up the big lead. They ROUTINELY get beaten down by the better offense. They almost ALWAYS get scored on in the fourth quarter like Britney Spears at a Monster Truck rally. And Strahan is as much to blame as anyone.

Can you name me the one moment, the HUGE defensive stand Strahan has made in the last 10 years where he won the game? Where's the big sack? Where's the stuff of the run? Where's the caused fumble or the interception he got on a tight end who never expected him to drop back into coverage?

Again, it isn't saying Strahan hasn't been a GREAT player, it is saying Strahan has never had a great moment in an important game and has never stepped up the most when his team needed it.

So now, Michael is threatening retirement. He is doing this as training camp begins. He is doing this only a few months removed from asking new GM Jerry Reese for a substantial contract extension in both money and years. He is doing this as defensive ends around the league have taken advantage of the new salary cap in football and cashed in.

Yet, we are suppose to believe that Strahan is truly having second thoughts about whether he would want to play again or not? Come on, only the most naive idiot would believe this is about retirement and not about money.

But, you know what I say to Michael Strahan?

I say bye bye.

The Giants don't need Strahan anymore. First, he is 36 years old, meaning his body and his abilities are natually going to be way down from where they were. Second, in the course of the last 4 years he has missed 17 games. In other words Strahan, due to injuries, has missed more than an entire year of football. Third, he is a loud mouth asshole who continues to show his ultimate unability to lead anyone but his attorney to the court room for his divorce proceedings. And he wants more money?

Simeon Rice who, at his best was and is every bit the player Strahan was, is a free agent right now, is not injury prone, is younger and is somewhat less of a talker (even though he has a tendency to open his flap as well). If I were the Giants, right now, I would sign Rice and tell Strahan to have fun trying to find the type of money he is trying to extort from the Giants someplace else. If nothing else it gets one more loud mouth asshole out of that locker room and away from a team that seems willing to turn any moment into a performance hampering distraction.

And how would the fans react? All you need to know about Strahan, who has spent his entire career with the Giants, is that not one single fan would care if Michael walked away as long as the Giants had a decent replacement set in place. Think about that for a second. Think about a person's legacy when looked at through the prism of the fans.

Strahan has never known another team and another city. He has played every one of his professional games with The Giants. He has established himself, stat wise, as one of the great defensive players this game has seen. He has been the best player on the Giants for well over a decade now.

A resume like that should earn one beloved status here in NY. When Derek Jeter retires people are gonna cry. When Willis Reed left NY mourned. When Mark Messier was traded there was outrage. When Lawrence Taylor decided to call it quits, people celebrated the career and cheered the player. With Strahan? There would barely be a sound if he left. No one would care. There airwaves wouldn't be filled with despondent Giant's fans demanding the team pay him whatever he wants to keep him. Privately, many would be relieved.

Why?

Because stats don't tell the entire tale of ones career. Giant's fans appreciate the skill of a Michael Strahan but they also remember that Strahan was on the field, many a game, where the Giants defense was invisible when it counted most and Mike was just as transparent during those times. There was little joy during Strahan's career in Giant land. Far more defeats made up those years than victories. Far more collapses than courageous stands. And because of that, whenever it is that Strahan walks away, or is carted away, or driven away, or traded away, or released away from Giants Stadium, nothing will be said.

In fact, this may be the perfect time to cut ties with Strahan as the Giants need to change the attitude of their clubhouse, and need to do it now. Some guys are gonna be who they are gonna be. Jeremy Shockey never met a shit head, moronic comment he didn't like and didn't think of first. Plaxico Burress never met an excuse for poor play he couldn't use. And there are so many "anonymous" players slamming each other, the coaches, the organization you would think it is a CIA effort in that locker room. But Strahan has been the biggest abuser of those rules, creating controversy wherever and whenever he can. The Giants need to beging to change that, and while you aren't getting rid of your star tight end and best wide receiver, you sure as hell can get rid of your surly defensive end who is a bad influence on the team already.

Either way, what this episode has shown is what everyone already knew to be true..........Michael Strahan has always been, and will always be about Michael Strahan. And the act, no matter what, is tiring.

And the winners are...........

The trade deadline has come and gone.

Who are the big winners, the big losers, and the big "wait and see" teams?

Big winners:

Atlanta Braves - One of the smartest organizations in baseball did the best job in improving their team. I can't say enough about the Mark Teixeira trade. He fits almost any team looking for a first baseman, but he is even more of a perfect fit for the Braves. Look at that lineup now: Willie Harris, Edgar Rentaria, Mark Teixeira, Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones, Brian McCann, Jeff Fronceour, Kelly Johnson. That, right there, is automatically the best lineup in the NL and one of the best in the major leagues. It is an AL lineup. Potentially, there isn't a hole in it. It is stacked and it is even. Plus, because of Teixeira's stellar defense, the Braves don't lose anything in that regard and they stregthen their bench.

Then, the Braves went and added Octavio Dotel to the mix, giving them a quality eighth inning guy to back up veteran closer Bob Wickman. If there was any doubt the Braves were making a move this year, you can put those doubts to rest. Depending on how well the Mets play in the second half, the Braves may have just made themselves the favorites to win the NL East. Add in the fact that the Braves have either given themselves some major insurance if Andruw Jones walks away after this year with Tex or have added another component to a 1-2 punch that could be formidable for years to come, the Braves made a trade that sacrificed little for the future.

Boston Red Sox - God, you have no idea how much it pains me to say this, but the Gagne trade is a major coup for the shit head nation of fuck nut losers (I'm not a big Red Sox fan). First, it gives the Sox the best 1-2-3 punch out of the bullpen in baseball. Paplebon is one of the best closer's in the game. He might not be Rivera circa 1996-2000 automatic but he is as close as anyone has come to that. Okijima, the throw in Japanese lefty who was suppose to just keep Dice K company, has been one of the best set up men in the game and will now be relegated to the seventh inning, making most Red Sox games six innings. Now, throw in Gagne for the eighth and the Sox are stacked. Their one GLARING weakness was their bullpen outside of their big two. Now, with that one addition, the problem seems to be solved.

But this move works for two other major reasons. One, the Sox got away with not having to give up any real prize possessions from their system. They kept the big pieces. They didn't have to give up a DeCarmen, a Lester or anyone of that type of ilk. They gave up good parts, but players they probably wouldn't have used anyway. The second reason that this move is great for them, and it's a reason no one else has mentioned (making me a GOD for realizing it) is that Gagne not only helps the Sox this year, but if he stays healthy and pitches well, it allows them to do what they have wanted to do for the last two years now, which is move Paplebon back into the starting rotation. The Sox wanted to do that this year, yet it became perfectly obvious that the closer situation was just too wide open. Paplebon lobbied to go back in a close, but if the Sox were to resign Gagne, there would be no reason not to move Papleboner into the rotation next year, something they may NEED to do if they decide to cut ties with the always quiet, shy Curt Schilling. Think of the Sox NEXT YEAR: A rotation of Beckett, Dice-K, Papleboner, Lester and Wakefield (until the carry his dead carcass off the field I will always assume Wake is there to fill out the rotation). Then, your bullpen could be Gagne closing, Okijima set up, DeCarmen seventh, fill in the blanks afterwards. That gives the Sox some amazing pitching, provided dipshit Paplebon could make the move back to the rotation, which one would have to assume he could. By the way, did I mention I hate this fucking team?

New York Mets - Okay, it was only one move, but the Mets snagging the Twins 2B Luis Castillo was the best, most underappreciated move of the weekend. First, Castillo is having a nice year this year batting over .300. Second, he is another speedster, stealing over 25 bases almost every year. He is a GREAT small ball type of player, moving runners over, getting bunts down, making the pitcher work to get him out. He NEVER strikes out (he has only struck out 90 times once in his career) and he is a GREAT defensive second baseman. And, he is still only 31 years old (just turned this year) and has never had an injury problem in his career.

Why is this such a great move for this team?

Because, aside from replacing Jose Valentin with an All Star caliber second baseman, the Mets get themselves the prototypical #2 hitter for a lineup, right in front of Beltran, Delgado, and Wright. It puts Lastings Milledge, who is gonna force either Shawn Green or Moises Alou to the bench, into a position in the lineup where he can drive in runs, it puts more speed on the bases for the Mets, and it gives them a double play combination in Reyes and Castillo to die for. The infield of Wright, Reyes, Castillo, Delgado (assuming Delgado is just having an off year, which I think is the extent of it for him) will be the Mets infield for a LONG time to come. And, again, the Mets did it without relinquishing any of their big bargaining chips, like a Mike Pelfrey, Phil Umber, Aaron Heilman or Lastings Miledge. Smart deals like this one by Omar Minaya is what leads to a team having a successful decade rather than just one successful year.

Texas Rangers - How do you trade away two of your best players and up winners? Because we like everyone here at From The Free Seats, except those pricks up in Beantown............and the Dutch.

But truthfully, the Rangers walked away with a bounty of prospects, all of whom seem to have some pretty good upside. I, for one, have a man crush (meaning I would have sex with him) on Jarrod Saltalamcchia. First, I love his name. It is gonna be funwatching John Kruk pronounce that name for the next 1o years. My over under for when Kruky gets it right is at about year 7, or never. But besides the name, Salty is a man child. He is huge. He has CRUSHED the ball at every level, even playing first at the big league level. He is a catcher who plays good defense, has a cannon for an arm, and is a potential 40 homer a year guy. AS A CATCHER!!!!! I love Teixeira, but Salty may end up being better than him, playing a far more important position.

The word on SS prospect Elvis Andrus is that the slick fielding short stop will be one of the GREAT defensive players this league has seen in a while. And, according to scouts, while he may not be a hitter in the vein of the great ss hitters of today (Jeter, Tejada, etc...) he is gonna hit enough to be a really, really good everyday player. Most people feel that, right now, today, Salty and Andrus could be up and playing for the big team and performing at a high level.

After that, the Rangers picked up Neftali Feliz, a young fireballer who many feel is destined to be a big time closer, an outfield prospect in David Murphy who some people feel could be another Jeff Froncouer, and two pitching prospects (Matt Harrison and Kason Gabbard) who people like as back end of the rotation types of guys.

The truth is that Texas needs to rebuild. They need new, young blood, and that seems to be what they got. Salty will probably be a perrenial all star for them at catcher and Andrus may crack a mid summer classic from time to time as well. Feliz could be their closer of the future and the Rangers are starting to add some young pitching depth to their system now that may pay off in the future. All in all, it was a good trade deadline for the Rangers.

And the losers are....................

L.A. Angels of Anaheim - I don't get the Halos. They need ONE MORE BAT to be the best team in the AL, perhaps the best team in baseball, and for another trade deadline they come up empty. How in the hell did the Angels strike out getting a bat last July, get NOTHING in the offseason except Shea Hillenbrand, and strike out again this July. REALLY? Are you serious? I understand the Blue Jays may have been asking a lot for Troy Glaus but, come on, that deal made SOOO much sense it really doesn't make a lot of sense for them not to have invested in it. Glaus is only 31, won't cost much, is GREAT defensively, started his career with the Angels, and would have been a great big bat to put behind Vlady.

Or you know who would make even MORE sense? Mike Piazza. Piazza had some injuries this season that has hampered him but his bat has come around more and more. Piazza could help with catching duties and could DH, leaving the 3B spot open for super prospect Brandon Woods. Imagine this lineup: Chone Figgins, Orlando Cabrera, Vlady Guerrero, Garret Anderson, Mike Piazza, Casey Kotchman, Gary Matthews Jr., J Mathis, Howie Kendrick.

The Angels seem to always be one player, one bat, one pitcher away from seperating itself from the pack and making themselves the obvious team to beat, and they always seem to fall short of getting that player. Again, the Angels seem to be one player away. Can they pull off an August coup and perhaps get themselves a Piazza, who will more than likely be put on waivers? Possibly, but July 31 was still yet another disappointing day. And here is the question I leave the Halo's with; if the prospects they have are so good it isn't worth giving even one up for a veteran bat, how come they aren't up with the big team producing?

Philadelphia Phillies - The Braves picked up the best hitter and one of the best relievers available. The Mets picked up an all star caliber second baseman that will make their already dynamic offense even more potent. The Phillies? They did notin. They did less than notin, it doesn't even appear the Phillies were in the hunt for ANYONE. Now, the case can be made that the Phils didn't have anything to hunt anyway. They weren't gonna be in on Teixeira because they have a pretty good young first baseman themselves in Ryan Howard. They weren't gonna be in on a Castillo deal cause they have themselves the best second baseman in the league, when he is healthy, in Utley. There was no pitching of consequence, so they didn't lose out there. So, as I said, you can make the case nothing was done by the city of brotherly love because there was nothing to get done.

However, you're telling me the Phils couldn't have gotten in on the Jermain Dye discussions? Dye wouldn't look good in a Phillie uniform for the next few years? He wouldn't help that offense and possibly help the team move Pat Burrel out of the starting lineup and into the land of John Rocker, in other words anywhere but right fucking there?

Or how about a smaller deal? How about getting in on Wilson Betemit? Betemit is a 26 year old switch hitter who can play every single infield position. He was used as a role player by the Dodgers (after sucking it up as their every day third baseman early in the year) but a lot of people feel that Betemit, with a great glove, a good eye, and a lot of pop in his bat, is still an everyday player in the making. He couldn't have made a difference at third base?

While the Braves and Mets stand to battle it out in the second half one has to wonder what the real commitment is on the part of the Phillies. Are they there for the long haul? This week was not a good sign.

Cleveland Indians - I was hesitant to put any AL Central teams on this list because no one made a move, and unlike the Twinkies (who we'll get to later), they at least didn't deal anyone away. But Cleveland makes the list because they needed SOMETHING to try and seperate themselves from the pack. Detroit is still, pound for pound, a better team and they are about to get Joel Zumaya and Carlos Rodney back in their bullpen, taking care of their biggest problem. Plus the fact that the Tigers already have a World Series appearance under their belt. The Indians? Well, 1995 would be their last trip to the series and we all know when it was that they last won one...................so the Indians need to do it a little bigger and better than everyone else. Now, what do they need? They need bullpen help, no question about that. They weren't in the running for Gagne, they weren't in the running for Dotel, they don't seem to have inquired about Wheeler or even Reyes. Hell, they weren't even involved in possibly acquiring Kyle Farnsworth who, with a change of scenery, might have been a really valuable player for them.

The Indians have a lot of good young talent, and they have a great young team. They are situated to be able to compete in the most balanced division in baseball for years to come. But they have a chance to win THIS YEAR. With the Twinkies down, the White Sox out and the Tigers vulnerable (plus the wild card well within their sights) this might be their best chance. They needed to throw the long suffering Tribe fans a bone and they don't seem to have done that. They better hope to catch some lightning in a bottle.

Minnesota Twins - Okay, the Twins are only 5 games out of the wild card, 6 games out of the division. They have the best pitcher on the planet. They have one of the best catchers and first basemen on the planet. They have one of the best closers on the planet. They need one more veteran bat to really solidify the roster and give their kids some breathing room. So what do they do? They go and SELL OFF their all star second baseman. What the fuck?

I understand the Twins do this every year with smoke and mirrors, but why, oh why, would they not take a flyer on a Mike Piazza or someone like that, a rental bat that won't cost too much, to try and put them really in the hunt? If nothing else, why would they be sellers at this time of year? They have no payroll to speak of. They have a new stadium coming in a few years, one that should bring in a TON of revenue. Why not just throw a small amount of cash at another bat and try and win the central...........again?

What's worse is that they seem to have pissed off all universe Johan Santana, who decided to discuss his displeasure with the media today, questioning why he would want to be a part of the team when their mindset of "win within costs" will all exist. You are gonna have to convince Santana to take a hometown discount to begin with to stay with the Twins, why would you go and piss him off? The Twinkies are always a feel good story for baseball, and they still have such a good foundation of young players I wouldn't put a second half push past them, but eventually they have to anti up and pitch in and you would hope they'd do that before moving into their new stadium.

Cincinatti Reds/Washington Nationals - I am combining these two for one reason and one reason only..................they SHOULD have sold some of their assets. The Reds have a guy in Adam Dunn whose value is only going to go down. July was the perfect time to trade him. They could have easily taken advantage of a team desperate for a bat, who would have convinced themselves that Dunn was their savior. Those 40+ homers go a long way in disguising all those strikeouts and that pathetic defense (and a rep. for not really giving a shit). Instead, the Reds seemed to have wanted to not only trade with a team but bend that team over, strip that teams pants off, and then rape that team with a Shaq dildo for about three hours. You're the Yanks and you're interested in Dunn? Sure, we'll take Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain. Halos? No problem, how about Brandon Wood, Ervin Santana, and Eric Adenhart.

What a fucking stupid tact to take. The Reds have some young outfielders coming up that they assume will be a part of their future. They need pitching. They could have gotten pitching. Maybe not the top, top, top of the line pitching everyone wanted but good pitching none the less. Why GM's continue to look at trades as if it is fantasy baseball, only wanting to move someone if they can easily rape the other team, makes no sense to me.

And The Nats fall into the same category. The rumor is that the Mets offered top pitching prospect Phil Umber for Chad Cordero. It certainly may be that the Mets have cooled towards Umber, who many felt might be a better prospect than Mike Pelfrey, but there is no doubting the kids arm and ability. Why not take a chance on a kid that COULD be a top of the line pitcher for your rotation for years to come? What the hell does a shitty team like the Nats need with a top line closer? Anyone think the Nats are gonna get good in time for a closer to matter?

Trade your assets away and get quality young players. Take advantage of some desperate teams. Most importantly, don't get so greedy that you price yourself out of the market. The Reds and the Nats screwed themselves by NOT making deals.

And the not winners, not losers are.........................

Seattle Mariners - The Mariners are in the hunt for a playoff spot and they need pitching. So, the fact that they didn't make any move may put them in the loser category. HOWEVER!!!! The only legit name the Mariners were talking about was Kei Igawa. Now, while the ENTIRE Yankee's organization would have been buying the city of Seattle roses for the next three years had they taken Igawa off their hands, it would have been the absolute worst move they could have made. Igawa is horrible. So while the Mariners did nothing to help themselves, they were smart enough to not get involved in a panic move like Igawa. That might actually help them in the long run.

New York Yankees - I LOVE the Wilson Betemit for Scott Proctor deal. Betemit is 26, he is a switch hitter, he has power, he plays almost every position on the field and plays them well, and he has a good eye. At the worst, Betemit will be a super sub for the Yanks, filling in for guys when they are hurt, need a rest or in a slump, pinch hitting when needed or playing defense late in innings when needed. At best, Betemit will fullfill the potential he has and find a permanent spot in the yanks lineup, probably as their first baseman of the future. Betemit is the type of deal the Yanks USED to make. Betemit is a guy with a lot of potential who just hasn't had it happen for him yet. It might never happen for him, but if it does they got a kid with a lot of upside for a decent albeit overused middle reliever.

That puts the Yanks in the plus side. The minus side would be the fact that the Yanks did not trade Kyle Farnsworth. Much of the attention was given to Eric Gagne and why the Yanks didn't make that move, but with the Rangers asking for one of the Yanks best pitching prospects in Ian Kennedy and essentially their everyday center fielder, it would have been foolish of them to make that deal. However, they should have shipped Farnsworth out on the first train they could find. He is a lost cause in NY. He will never amount to anything there. He hates the manager, the catcher, the city, and the feeling is mutual. Why they decided to hang on to him is beyond me, especially when they could have shipped him to Atlanta for Bob Wickman, a guy who just gets the job done, is durable, can pitch every day, and has played, and succeeded in NY before. Just a bad non move by the Yanks.

The word is that they will be bringing up phenom pitcher Joba "The Hut" Chamberlain. I don't know if I like the idea of putting him in the bullpen. First, his future has to lie in the starting rotation. He is just too good not to have him throwing 200 innings a year rather than 85 a year. Second, who knows how he is going to respond to being put in the bullpen? I am not in favor of babying kids at all, but I am also not in favor of screwing up a kid who has a chance to be DOMINANT in this league. And finally, I would rather not have The Hut subject to the bullpen whims of Joe Torre, who has ruined more than one career by pitching them out of the bullpen too much. Torre's handling of a bullpen is so bad, if I were a reliever I would refuse to go to the Yanks. However, the kid does throw 100 MPH and he has been utterly dominant, meaning that, if he did translate that into the majors he would be every bit as valueable as Gagne would have been.