Tuesday, July 26th
NFL Free Agency and the MLB Trade deadline deals are just getting started, as rumors are starting to fly and handshake deals are starting to be announced. The Baltimore Raves and Carolina Panthers announced that they are going to be able to retain their prized free agents, OT Marshal Yamba for the Ravens and DE Charles Johnson for the Panthers. These were moves that each team needed to make, so well done. Also, our beloved San Francisco 49ers also announced that they are not going to be able to retain team and emotional leader, Takeo Spikes, as he leaves to join the San Diego Chargers. This was a surprise, as people felt that despite his age, Spike would be retained by the 49ers for his other attributes. Also the Nnamdi Asomugha watch begins as details emerge about the New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, and San Francisco 49ers making contact with his agent.
In baseball, trade talks heat up involving Carlos Beltran as the Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves, Texas Rangers, and San Francisco Giants are all in the hunt to land him. In a minor deal, the Cincinnati Reds traded Mrs. Loveseat’s hometown hero Jonny Gomes, of Petaluma fame, to the Washington Nationals for a couple of minor leaguers. Not significant, but her and Jonny are high school alumnus of the Casa Grande High School.
Wednesday, July 27th
Things are rolling now. In the NFL, Buffalo Bills star ILB Paul Posluszny has agreed to a deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Posluszny is a very good young linebacker and a great grab by the Jaguars. He will definitely help sure up their linebacking core and overall defense. Other teams continued to re-sign their own in the Indianapolis Colts re-upping K Adam Vinatieri, New Orleans Saints keep WR Lance Moore, and the San Diego Chargers sign their starting FS Eric Weddle. All three players played key roles on their teams and were good keeps by them.
The first major trade in MLB is pulled off as the St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays, and Chicago White Sox pulled off a three-team trade. The Jays trade RP Jason Frasor and pitching prospect Zach Stewart to the White Sox for SP Edwin Jackson and utility player Mark Teahen. They then spun Jackson, RP Octavio Dotel, RP Marc Rzepczynski, OF Corey Patterson, and three players to be named or cash to the Cards for CF Colby Rasmus and three prospects. This is a great trade for the Jays, as Rasmus is a five-tool player and potential star in this league. From what I read about the prospects involved, the pitching prospect Stewart that the White Sox received in the deal should project out to be a mid-rotation starter, which works out for them, as the well-traveled Edwin Jackson carries that title with him for a reason. Why the Cards felts they needed to add his services at the cost of a player of the talent as Rasmus I can’t understand. I understand Rasmus fell out of favor with manager Tony LaRussa, but you could have received more for him.
Thursday, July 28th
And the Dominoes are starting to fall. In the NFL, first-round draft picks and other picks are starting to sign with their teams, cap casualties, and we actually have three big trades down go in the NFL and MLB. First-round picks Julio Jones (WR, Atlanta Falcons), A.J. Green (WR, Cincinnati Bengals), Tyron Smith (OT, Dallas Cowboys), Von Miller (OLB, Denver Broncos), Nick Fairley (DT, Detroit Lions), Blaine Gabbert (QB, Jacksonville Jaguars), and Aldon Smith (OLB, San Francisco 49ers), all signed with their respective teams. We also saw the start of cap casualties, players getting released from teams because their team of origin is over the salary cap. The Dallas Cowboys release a hole host of contributing players such as Tackle Marc Colombo, Guard Leonard Davis, Receiver Roy Williams, and Running Back Marion Barber, to name a few. A couple of QB's were casted off, as Jake Delhomme was released by the Cleveland Browns and Vince Young will have plenty of time to visit and beat club strip club bouncers as he was finally released by the Tennessee Titans. We also had the long -talked about trade between the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizone Cardinals, as the Eagles traded QB Kevin Kolb to the Cards for CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a 2nd-round pick. This is a lot to give up for a QB that hasn't even started a full season combined in his career, so they better hope that he is the second coming of Kurt Warner. The Bears also made a surprising trade by trading TE Greg Olsen to the Carolina Panthers for a 2012 draft pick. This is a great trade for the Panthers, as it gives the Panthers and new starting QB Cam Newton (yes, he will be the starting QB) a solid safety outlet for him. What the Bears were thinking, I don't know. This only adds salt to the open wound that is the Kristin Cavallari-less Jay Culter.
We also had the first real, huge, trade in baseball, and it involved my beloved Giants. They finally broke down and cracked at the deadline pressure, and dealt highly-touted pitching prospect Zach Wheeler for Mets OF Carlos Beltran, arguably the best available bat. All I have to say is, Wheeler better not turn out to be Cy Young, because we just paid a steep price to get Beltran. I know flags fly forever, and I'm a hopefully man, but I can't help but second guess here. Baseball also saw two minor deals made as the Chicago Cubs dealt OF Kosuke Fukudome to the Cleveland Indians for two prospects that will be lucky to make it to the bigs for a DL relief stint, and the Tampa Bay Rays traded infielder Felipe Lope to the Milawaukee Brewers for straight cash homie. The only reason I wanted to mention the Cubs / Indians trade is because has any really looked at Kosuke Fukudome's last name? Let's phonetically break this down: Fuk-u-do-me. Need I say more.
Friday, July 29th
The storm is just starting to pick up. We have tons of action in the NFL, as more first-round and other draft picks are getting signed, as well as free agents. We also see more trades in the NFL, as trades are normally far and few between during the offseason, and we are starting to see major free agent movement, included the prized free agent signing. Of the first-round picks who signed, DT Marcel Dareus (Buffalo Bills), T Gabe Carimi (Chicago Bears), WR Jonathan Baldwin (Kansas City Chiefs), DT Cameron Heyward (Pittsburgh Steelers), QB Jake Locker (Tennessee Titans), OT James Carpenter (Seattle Seahawks), and DE Ryan Kerrigan (Washington Redskins). We also see two major trades go down. The Washington Redskins pulled off a couple of trades, trading starting QB Donovan McNabb to the Minnesota Vikings for a couple of draft picks, and the disgruntled DT Fat Albert Haynesworth to the New England Patroits for a draft pick. And the prized of the free agency class, CB Namdi Asomugha, finally picked a horse in the race. The winning stud was thought to be the New York Jets, with the Dallas Cowboys finishing a distant second. But out of the far came the Philadelphia Eagles to win by a nose, and were able to sign Nnamdi. This signing puts the Eagles as the clear-cut favorite to win the NFC Championship, as they now have their own triple-threat of corners, with Nnamdi, Asante Samuels, and Rodgers-Cromartie. We'll see them in February in my early opinion. In minor deals, the Seahawks nab a couple of quality signings in WR Sidney Rice and OG Robert Gallery. They also show their stupidity by signing QB Tavaris Jackson to compete for the starting job. The Jacksonville Jaguars sign safety Dawan Landry from the Baltimore Ravens to add to their improving defense. The Oakland Raiders sign OT Jared Gaither to sure up the O-line. And our beloved 49ers keep their own by signing DE Ray McDonald and QB Custer Alex Smith.
In the MLB, another major trade goes down as the Houston Astros trade their young promising outfielder Hunter Pence to the Philadelphia Phillies for four prospects, two of which are rated as the best in the Phillies farm system. The trade greatly helps the Phillies as Pence is a quality bat in the outfield. He hits for a great average and has some pop and good speed. Plus, he is young and under team control for a couple of years. Why the Astros felt they had to deal him is beyond me. I understand you are in last place and he isn't helping your team, but you have to rebuild around some players and he should have been one of them. It wasn't like he was a veteran nearing his prime. You can argue that he was just coming into it. It's a dump move from the Astros' stance and looking at their roster now, even if the two top-rated prospect show their faces in the big leagues within the next couple of years, they are still going to be bad.
Saturday, July 30th
Things calm down a little in the NFL, but it only heats up in the MLB. First football, as more first-round picks finalize deals and more free agents sign. CB Patrick Peterson (Arizona Cardinals), OT Derrek Sherrod (Green Bay Packers), C Mike Pouncey (Miami Dolphins), RB Mark Ingram (New Orleans Saints), DE Muhammad Wilkerson (New York Jets), and Robert Quinn (St. Louis Rams) all sign. As expected, Peyton Manning signs his mega-deal with the Indianapolis Colts, and WR Santonio Holmes re-ups with the Jets. The big move though that needs to be highlighted again involves the Philadelphia Eagles, as they sign free agent DT Cullen Jenkins away from the Green Bay Packers. Are you kidding me? Talk about the rich getting richer. First Nnamdi, now Jenkins! Jenkins is a beast in the middle of the d-line and will provide added pressure on the QB. He is also a run-stuffer in the middle, and he will clog running lanes. Another great signing by the Eagles.
In baseball however, the trades are starting to come down the wire as the deadline moves closer. Their were some nice minor deals made of note. The Arizona Diamondbacks acquired SP Jason Marquis from the Washington Nationals for a prospect; team Wonder the Pittsburgh Pirates made a show move to acquire IB Derrek Lee from the Baltimore Orioles for a prospect; Detroit sure up their rotation by getting SP Doug Fister and RP David Pauley from the Seattle Mariners for high rated prospects; and the Texas Rangers got a solid bullpen arm in RP Koji Uehara from the Baltimore Orioles for prospects. Oh, and let's not forgot our beloved Giants adding another aging veteran who is primrose ready in SS Orlando Cabrera from the Cleveland Indians for outfield prospect Thomas Neal. There is one major trade of note, with the Colorado Rockies trading away their ace, SP Ubaldo Jimenez, to the Cleveland Indians for a boatload of top-notch prospects. From what I read on these prospects, the Rockies did very well for themselves. All four should see time in the big leagues and be contributors. From the Indians prospective, I'm not sure if Jimenez will be enough to get them to the playoffs. I'm still wondering where their run production will come from, as the Indians have been calling up prospect after prospect to provide a punch to the offense. Plus, scouts have said that Jimenez's fastball is loosing gas. While he is affordable and under team control for a couple of years, the Indians gave up a lot of their future to get him. I hope for their sake he finds his pitch again.
Sunday Funday, July 31st
The NFL takes a break for the sabbath with minor moves, and gives way to MLB, as it's their trade deadline. Only one first-round pick in DE J.J. Watts (Houston Texans) signs with his team. A splash is made though, when jail-time WR Plaxico Burress signs with the New York Jets. I'm all about people getting second chances, and for Plaxico, this is a good situation that he is coming into. He gets to stay home in NY, and he gets to play for a coach that will be able to guide him through his transition, yet also be light-heart with him. It will be interested to see what his production will be this year.
The MLB trade deadline is finally here, and I sure the phone line are blowing up their magic jacks. Two major moves of note that I really like are what the Atlanta Braves and Texas Rangers did. The Atlanta Braves trades mid-tier prospects to the Houston Astros for CF Michael Bourne. This is a great move. Boure is a plus defender and has blazing speed. He is a good leadoff hitter that can get on base. I'm of the baseball mind that your team will only go as far as your leadoff hitter will take you. Atlanta got a solid leadoff hitter without having to give up their top 4 pitching prospects as well. Another highway robbery trade pulled on the Houston Astros. I'm so glad I'm not a fan of that organization. They are going to be bad for a while. I also really like what the Texas Rangers did by trading two prospect to the San Diego Padres for RP Mike Adams. This is a great move to sure up the bullpen. Talk was that the Rangers were going after Padres' closer Heath Bell, but in reality, Adams is the better pitcher. And why trade for a closer to only turn him into a set-up man, when you can trade for a great set-up man? Adams still pitches in the same role that he had with the Padres, expect he will be doing it for a winning team, and pitching with a lead late in games. Excellent move by the Rangers. The other minor deadline deals, Boston Red Sox picking up SP Erik Bedard from the Seattle Mariners in a three-team trade, St. Louis getting Rafael Furcal from the Dodgers for a prospect, and the Oakland A's trading Brad Ziegler to the Arizona Diamondbacks for a couple of prospect, are worth noting in this sentence, but that's about it.
All in all, it was a great week in sports. The constant iphone dinging from the ESPN Alerts drove Mrs. Loveseat to almost chuck my phone into the wall because it was driving her crazy. But for us sports enthusiast, it can best be described by three words: BEST WEEK EVER!!!
Mr. Armchair Speaking
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