Capping up Holes.

Hard to believe that 2010 is now seven months in the books. Now as football nears, the holidays will be here before you know it. Today was the deadline in Major League Baseball for deals to be completed. July 10th most of the thunder was taken when Cliff Lee came to Arlington. As for what transpired by today's deadline:

1. Kerry Wood coming to the Yankees.

2. Ted Lilly to the Dodgers.

3. Roy Oswalt to the Phillies.

4. Christian Guzman to the Rangers.

5. Ryan Ludwick and Miguel Tejada to the Padres.

6. Alex Gonzalez, Kyle Farnsworth, and Rick Ankiel to the Braves.

7. Jake Westbrook to the Padres.

and a few others that I won't get into at this time.

I find it interesting that even though big market did their usual routine of getting available talent in a 'Rent a player' form for six weeks, I found it curious just how certain clubs got into the game and had some success. Namely, I tip my cap to the Texas Rangers and San Diego Padres.

How does a team that's bankrupt manage to trade for talent AND get paid while attaining it? Regardless of what happens, the Texas Rangers are the runaway Academy Award winner with Best Team, Best Script, Worst Owner to go, Most Curious Owners to be, Best GM, and Best manager along with a possible Triple Crown candidate. Did I forget anything? Simply amazing!

Year after year in the last decade I have watched Texas trade away bona fide talent for a resin bag and a baseball bat figuratively. Anything that could go wrong, would go wrong. Save for 2004 the Y2K decade was an absolute embarrassment to the fans of the Rangers. Many a wasted night watching opponents homers in 100 degree heat. Lines of lines of pitchers who couldn't hack the jet stream.

What you are now noticing up close and personal is the stamp of Nolan Ryan and Jon Daniels striking success with what they do. I liken it to a person who has been fat all his life trying diet after diet. He finally find success, and lo and behold, his supposed old friends are resentful of his success because the person did it on his own volition. 

How many Ranger fans are there right now who want to hop aboard the bandwagon-a popular Dallas trend-and root the Rangers on? Wait, if you cheer, are you applauding Nolan Ryan or are you enabling Tom Hicks?

Prior to this year, I was the lone voice talking baseball to my coworkers and friends to deaf ears. Now I say nothing, and everybody else comes running to me to get an opinion. Mine doesn't matter.

Dallas is a football town and that will never change. Baseball is like an alternative appetizer. You can take it or leave it. Currently, the lead appears insurmountable in the A.L. West. A lot can happen and crazy things can pop up from left field.

This time of year, the start of the Augusts Dog Days commences what should be six exciting races that will carry us to October and the play-offs. In between exhibition football and the X Games and 'Shark Week', fans will keep an eye tuned toward the radio, the television, the computer, the Iphone, for constant baseball updates.

What percentage of trades turn out to be successful? Over the last 25, relatively few. What will usually transpire as a season comes to an end is a ride along the free-agent trade. The trick is to get as much value as you can to sustain a payroll or the minors.

Unlike the oil spill in the Gulf Coast, some nice cappage in the big leagues this day!

Enjoy the final sprint to the finish.

Over and out in Big D

Mr. Will