So we're all done, and the trading deadline turned out not to be as quiet as anticipated _ yet still nothing compared to as recent as 2004.
In today's Newsday, you'll find my Winners and Losers. I didn't take many contrarian viewpoints here _ good moves by the Braves and Red Sox, and the Yankees still have a bullpen problem, unless they start hitting eight homers every game. In that case, Kyle Farnsworth can keep pitching with 11-run leads.
In Tuesday's blog entry, I accurately predicted just one trade, Scott Proctor for Wilson Betemit (thanks for the praise, Dad...err, I mean "Steve from South Amboy"). I didn't think the Red Sox would wind up making such an aggressive bid for Eric Gagne, nor did I think the White Sox would hold strong on their Jermaine Dye demands. It sounds like Dye, who can become a free agent this winter, is open to signing an extension with the White Sox, so maybe that will happen.
Chris, you commented, "...remember that there are actually people who dream about doing what you do for a living." I absolutely appreciate that fact, and I very much enjoy my job. I just thought I'd share with you that this can be a stressful time of year, just like each job contains its peaks and valleys. The trade deadline is quite exciting for reporters, but also draining. We're like general managers, only less intelligent (well, maybe not in all cases), worse dressed and worse compensated.
There has been an increase in comments since this blog turned into "Trade Patrol," and I hope you'll hang around now that we move into the next phase of the season _ and perhaps we'll rev "Trade Patrol" back up as we approach August 31. Thanks very much for all of the support.