The Baseball World Is Happening

Earlier in the week, the Blue Jays and Marlins worked out a blockbuster trade, sending Jose Reyes, Mark Buerhle, Josh Johnson, Emilio Bonaficio, and John Buck, while trading away Yunel Escobar, John Mathis, and a host of minor leaguers who's names are too many to write.  Does this change anything in the AL East?  Josh Johnson should be good, and Mark Buerhle can be effective, so adding two solid pitchers to your staff certainly can't hurt your chances.  Jose Reyes should also be an upgrade as a leadoff hitter.  All things considered, the AL East got a little bit better, but with the Red Sox running out the Pawtucket Paw Sox lineup, and the Yankees trying to cut payroll, it stands to reason that the AL East will not be as competitive as it once was.  So perhaps the Blue Jays just put themselves in position to strike.

Two days ago, knuckleballer R.A. Dickey won the Cy Young, and last night Miguel Cabrera won the MVP.  Dickey, at age 38, can throw a 60 mph knuckleball, and an 80 mph version, the result of which is success at the major league level.  Miguel Cabrera overcame alcoholism and a host of related personal problems to become the best hitter in baseball this season, and win the first triple crown since Yastremski.  Some sabermatricians may have preferred Mike Trout, but Cabrera won a triple crown.  Some prefer Trout's intangibles, but Cabrera won a triple crown.  Some like Trout's hussle, but Cabrera won a triple crown.  Are you following the argument? 

Lastly, during the last off season, the Rays picked up something like 50 first and supplementary round draft picks because of free agents signing with other teams.  That means that they had they were able to draft a ton of players in the early round of the 2012 players draft.  Although this probably means nothing for this year, the Rays tend to draft and develop players well, so expect the Rays to have a host of hungry young players around the same year that we're expected to be under $189 million on our payroll.