The Great Trade For Second Place

We're Back. I had a long and elaborate intro to this blog about the return of Matt and Joe but honestly - We're All About Business. So here we go....

In the past 48 hours, the most interesting in season trade in the last few seasons has been finalized. CC (note the lack of periods between the C's, you're welcome CC) Sabathia is now a Milwaukee Brewer. This blog isn't to analyze the trade itself but talk about the timing of the trade. While it is impressive to see a GM go out and make a move with the trade deadline forcing him to do so (and thus maximizing the time they get to use CC and possibly negotiate with him), to me the trade was made with a team that doesn't seem to have the parts to make a run this season. The Brewers are turning things up offensively (recently, J.J. Hardy went on a 6 homer tear in a 8 game stretch) and Ben Sheets is reminding us that he is a true ace but I still see a team that isn't ready to make that push into the playoffs (or further).

Yes - The NL is WIDE OPEN. The NL West is making its yearly threat to send a sub .500 team into the playoffs (or is it a promise since one of those teams HAS to be in the playoffs?), the Brewers are currently better than the top of the NL East (Phillies only have 48 wins to the Brewers 49), and the Cubs are only 4 games ahead in the NL Central. This may seem like a great reason to go out and get yourself a stud like CC for a much lighter price than the ransom paid for Dan Haren. However, the Brewers still put Mike Cameron out in CF every day. Jason Kendall still takes batting practice with the pitchers just to boost his self confidence (that could be completely false). Gabe Kapler is the #4 outfielder and backup to all three positions. The bullpen is horrendous (better since they threw Gagne away, but still, not very good). Prince Fielder and J.J. Hardy have heated up after slow starts while Rickie Weeks and Bill Hall (who lost his starting job to Russell Branyan) continue to play poorly. Ryan Braun is hitting well but not at the pace he set for himself with his amazing rookie season.

The list goes on and on - Jeff Suppan, though injured, will be a starter when he returns just because of the money invested in him - Ben Sheets already has 118 innings under his belt and while he has remained healthy, who knows what to expect as he approaches season highs in IP and pitches thrown - etc... This is a team that has pieces but while on a hot streak now doesn't seem to me like a team that righted the ship and is now playing up to their potential. This is a team playing a bit over their head and while that might mean they slow down a bit, it doesn't mean they are the San Francisco Giants. Adding CC to this group makes them better - How can you add an ace to your rotation, not lose any every day players and not call that an improvement? That being said, I don't think CC changes them from an good team to a great time. If the Brewers make the playoffs and the hitters are clicking, CC makes them a scary first round team just because you have to face either CC or Sheets twice if it goes to 5. However, even in the soft NL, I don't think CC necessarily is the piece that helps them get to the playoffs. I believe that the NL East (yes, this is mostly my belief in the NY Mets/Phillies) will produce the wild card team because I think the Mets have yet to play their best baseball of the season. Even with my NL Central bias as a Cubs fan, I think the Mets (assuming the Phillies take the East) have a better team and should win more games than the Brewers from here on out.

Again, not to analyze the trade, but LaPorta was a blue chip prospect that could project to big power numbers in the outfield. If the NL plays out the way I think it will, the Brewers will maybe keep it interesting but again miss the playoffs. While CC could sign with the Brewers, I don't think he will. Sure, you get 2 draft picks for him, but in the end draft picks are almost meaningless. Sure, you'd love to have a ton of them but honestly, first round players bust almost as often as 20th round players turn out to be aces. Scouting reports and work outs can only take you so far and in the end you just hope to get lucky and land on a true blue chip prospect. The Brewers traded talent to get talent but I don't think it was the move they needed to make to secure a playoff berth and therefore could be a move not worth making. Again, you love to add a pitcher like CC whenever you can but if he turns out just to be a rental and you don't even get a trip to the playoffs out of it, you have to ask yourself that one question: Was he worth it?

If the Brewers make the playoffs, this post is worthless and I'll delete it no one can read it and tell me just how wrong I was. Hell the trade would also be worth something if the Brewers don't make it but CC signs long term and LaPorta busts in Cleveland. But in the here and now, a team that needed some stability in its bullpen, a bit more offense from a few positions, a bit of consistency from their starting eight, and their ace to stay healthy just added another ace to the mix. I wouldn't complain about it but I don't think this makes them a lock for the playoffs. Only time will tell if this a move that should have been made, but for now, it seems to me like it will be the greatest trade of the season for a second place team. Maybe it is just wishful thinking from a hopeful (and jealous) Cubs fan, but CC might be more Bedard than Schilling at the end of the day.

The Return - Matt and Joe Radio - Thursday Night - 10 PM - 12 AM