We’re in the homestretch of the MLB season; can’t believe we’re already here. By my calculations there are still 19 teams with a legit shot at the playoffs. No parity my ass!

So it’s “Yanks and Sox Week” right? The majority of the post is… because that’s where most the news came from this week. Get this… it’s NOT the most important series in the AL this week though. Nope, not at all. You see chances are both these teams are getting to the playoffs IF…

Boston can finish off the Rays… A two game series wraps up tonight. Boston already blew the first game, but a win tonight keeps the Rays six games back for the Wild Card.  Tampa would have to go Oakland A’s or Colorado Rockies streak-happy to get in.  If the Sox manage to lose both, they’re 3 back in the AL East with the tough Yankees series ahead in the Bronx. No pressure.  D Note: Awful, inexcusable loss last night.  Just stupid.  I’m not even ready to talk about it.

Hard to believe… but is there anyone more under the radar than Melky Cabrera? It seemed like Yankee fans were on their last leg with this guy, and now he’s not only playing out of his mind, but hit for the cycle! Sure makes the inevitable rebuilding the project the Yankees are facing easier when he’s playing as well as he is.  D Note: I would have to agree, though I can think of a couple guys on lesser performing teams that are just as unheralded.  Adam Lind comes to mind just in the AL East.

Not hard to believe… David Ortiz testing positive. Listen, many of these Dominican guys are very trusting and don’t know what they are taking when their seedy scouts or friends from home give them new “protein shakes” or “Vitamin injections.” There is a reason most the 50 game suspensions in the minors have been given to guys from that area…that being said, Papi should know better.  D Note: Just another sad chapter.  I’ve said it before – until you show me the actual test results of every player tested, I prefer to believe that more than a majority of players were/are using.  It’s just easier.

And what about the trade deadline… it came and went. Instead of overrated/underrated I thought we’d weigh in on the weeks moves. Two trades really meant something, Victor Martinez to the Red Sox the and Jake Peavy to the White Sox.  D Note: I kinda think Cliff Lee to Philly will end up as the most important deal of the deadline, but whatever. Trey’s got his American League blinders on again…

Martinez to the Sox -
Trey: Huge deal for the Red Sox that gives them the bat that was lacking with Papi, Drew, and Bay (see last week’s TWTW overrated) in the crapper. The Sox knew what they needed and went out and got it. I like this deal for them.

D: Love it.  Love the trade.  Love the aggression.  Love that the Sox gave up nothing of immediate importance, and kept enough pieces to make a run at Halladay in the offseason.  Still don’t know if it’s going to be enough though – can Victor throw a good splitter?

Jake Peavy to the White Sox -
Trey: The “other” Sox already solid pitching staff gets even better. Listen, this should have happened back in May, but for whatever reason Peavy didn’t seem too amped about it (think 75 and sunny). Now, the ‘dres are 20 games below .500 and the White Sox are right there in the Central…he gone.

D: The only reason this didn’t happen in May is because nobody is realistically eliminated in May.  I think Peavy took a look around, remembered he was in the National League, and thought “Hell, anybody can win the Wild Card out here”.  Then the Padres imploded, Jake got hurt, and suddenly he was willing to move to a contender for the chance to make four starts in the stretch run that actually mean something.  I don’t think he’s going to be the difference maker, but Chicago has some scary-good arms if they sneak into the postseason.

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