Jabroni

Another good point. If we did win the WS (*knocks on wood*) and traded our best prospects to get there, would it matter? It wouldn't matter at all because we won but it also wouldn't matter because the added revenue would allow us to just sign good free agents to replace the position players that we lost.

Why do the Twins lose in the playoffs? Because they only have 2 really good starters when it comes down to it. You need 4 really good starters in the playoffs. That's why we would have a better chance in the playoffs than them if we could only make it there. Buehrle Garcia El Duque Garland

This is EXACTLY why prospects shouldn't mean much to Sox fans. How long do you want to come in 2nd place? Being a winning team is fine but in the end, does it really mean anything if you don't even make it to the playoffs? Nope.

And they keep losing in the playoffs to the Yankees because they don't have the money to make a big move at the deadline for another starting pitcher. Their rotation doesn't get it done in the playoffs but they can't make a move because they are a small payroll organization. We have the money to make a move for what we need and I would be pissed if we didn't.

Sorry, but Billy Wagner for a 3-month rental and a chance to make it to the playoffs and possibly even the WS is far greater than Gio Gonzalez. If you can't see that, you're nuts. The year 1917 says it all.

Security = not making the playoffs, or at least not trying to make them.

Yes, you are. Do you think any team is going to take Joe Borchard at the deadline? You have to give up talent to get talent. This isn't MVP Baseball. You can't trade scrubs for good, established players.

It doesn't really matter what I would prefer but I do think he would trade Sweeney over Anderson. Anderson is closer to being MLB-ready and will probably be ready to take over in RF when Dye's contract is up after next season.

Wow, now Gio Gonzalez is untouchable? Who do you think we are going to get at the deadline if you wouldn't even be willing to trade him? You value prospects far too much.

I agree on B-Mac and Anderson. I think he would move Sweeney though.

My God, I just forced myself to watch Cantu's walkoff homer versus Shingo. It was a friggin' 81 MPH straight meatball right down the middle of the plate. Disgusting, Shingo, just disgusting. :puke Shingo knew it was a homer a second after he threw the pitch.

Well, the moral of the story is in these three quotes... 1.) "You can't have your cake and eat it too." 2.) "You have to give up talent to get talent." 3.) "Jose Mesa is a choker."

Yep, but at least you tried your best. Are the Astros morons for trading for Carlos Beltran last season and riding him all the way to the playoffs? Not in my book. It's better than sitting out and watching other teams compete in the playoffs. Are you just going to sit back, not make a move, and hope we can have another nice record like this with those untouchable prospects next season? You can't use hindsight on this one. If you fail to make the playoffs, at least you did your best to get there when you had your best chance.

Wow, just wow. See my post above.

Re-signing Wagner means little in the equation. They would be trading for Wagner to win it all THIS season, not next season.

What team knows that they are going to make the WS or even the playoffs at the trading deadline? It's a calculated risk. We traded for Freddy Garcia before the deadline and didn't make the playoffs. You can't use hindsight to say it was a stupid move. It's just a risk that a GM has to take to try to win it all. If you don't make it, oh well, at least you tried. That's one thing prospects are for.

Once again, it's easy to close for perennial cellar-dwellars like the Pirates. There's no pressure. We saw what Mesa does in the most critical of situations -- he choked. There's a reason no team has traded for him the past two seasons.

Even if he helped us get to the playoffs, the WS, or possibly even win the WS? Ridiculous. You value prospects over a WS.

If Jose Mesa was such a good closer and could be trusted in critical situations, why hasn't any team traded for him in the past couple years at the deadline? Do you really think the Pirates need to keep Mesa? They never come close to winning the division so why do they need a good closer? Because no team wants his choking ass, that's why.

Better than acquiring Jose Mesa and choking in Game 7.

Agreed. It's not hard to close out games for the Pittsburgh Pirates when the team is expected to lose 80 to 90 games. There's no pressure whatsoever.

Jose Mesa? Wow, do you really want another choke artist that badly? You have to give up talent to get talent and Billy Wagner makes Jose Mesa look like LaTroy Hawkins when it comes down to it. I wouldn't trust Jose Mesa as far as I could throw him, regardless of his stats so far this season.

I love the idea of trading for Wagner if we need him by the deadline. He would bump the rest of our relievers into a less stressful role. I don't think I could stomach it if we have to give up B-Mac or Brian Anderson though. I'd be fine giving up Sweeney and other prospects though.

Agreed. Shingo should be facing 1 or 2 right-handed batters in non-critical situations from now on. Vizcaino should be doing the same versus lefty batters. And Hermanson should be closing with Politte and Marte setting up for him. And whomever was telling me two nights ago that Marte has been great this season needs to eat some crow. The guy is always shaky and pitching in trouble like I said. He just happens to get out of it everytime.

Not every team needs to drink s***.