Birthdays, trades, and finals

1. Well, it worked when they traded Nomar, so maybe this will work, too. The strange thing is, the other day, I finally admitted that it might be time for him to go. Power, strength, speed, skill, and size, yet he never seemed to be going full bore. Seriously, a guy that big shouldn't play like a 105-lb anorexic waif on anti-depressants in front of the crease. Still, I was shocked to see the headline. See you in San Jose, Joe.

2. Fletcher is hitting the quarter century mark this weekend. Fun fun. Swing by the apartment Friday night and bring booze and appetizers, cause we are raging for a while then heading out on the town.

3. And I am swamped in homeworks this week, then finals next week. The posting drought will likely continue. My apologies.

4. Oh, yeah, and the Beckett, Lowell, and Mota deal? Fantastic. Unloaded Hanley when his value was a bit high for a guy that just spent a year not developing, a pitcher who was on the way up but was still a few years away, and some low minors guys for a decent relief guy, a good defensive 3B who very well might find his bat again, and a bona fide stud for the rotation who just happens to be less than a year older than me. How do you not make that trade?

5. And keep Manny. No way do you get value back for him. Manny is the stagflation of baseball; usually you are trying to unload a crippling contract or trading a great player to get several good ones/prospects back. Somehow, Manny is both, and that means he is untradable for good value. The Sox will never get back his production or any decent prospects because no team will give that stuff up with that contract. He is actually performing about as well as possible (name 5 right-handed sluggers better than him), yet he is weighing on the money side (is any player worth $20mm a year?). So keep him as protection for Ortiz. The devil you know, you know?