Schierholtz is a decent option. Would obviously want someone with more pop, but it's not like we're going to get Sammy Sosa in his steroid days.

It will be interesting to see the other teams that drop from the race in the next few weeks. Hopefully we're not one of them.

I don't think Schierholtz is much of an upgrade. Prior to this year, I think he pretty much was David Lough. He's slugging better this year, but that's park-driven -- he's OPSing 1.054 at Wrigley, .678 on the road.

Yeah, I overlooked the right-handed part. :doh!:

Other takeaways might be that baseball is its own worst enemy, but like a cat it has nine lives.

You know baseball is an awesome sport because if it weren't there's no way a system as ****ed-up as this would survive...

It takes a LOT of very determined self-serving lawyers working for a few self-serving owners and many self-serving players (duh!!) to justify this abortion of equality and spirit of equal competition.

But alas, baseball will survive because it's just a fun sport...

Baseball is so messed up, they need a salary cap. Paying a guy like Alex Rodriguez who cheats that much money is insanity.

The other thing about Rios is when he signed his contract. I believe it was 2008? I would have put the Royals on my no trade list too (ok maybe I wouldn't have...but I'm trying to be objective). But now that they are contending would he be willing to waive that? So it depends on his motives there.

You could go for some like Ibanez, and move him to right...but I think his defense has gotten to Frenchy levels without the arm. Twins aren't trading Willingham to the Royals, and even if they were he won't be ready before the deadline.

The fact Louis Coleman has spent the entire season so far toiling at Omaha is criminal.

What's also criminal is that they have 3 lefties in the pen and not one of them is a true lefty specialist who is lights out against LHP. I know they THINK Tim Collins is that, but it completely ignores his history.

They need to make room for Coleman and either Donnie Joseph or Buddy Baumann.

Baumann's numbers against lefties really stand out... 7 2/3 IP, 20 K, 5 H, 2 BB.

So, basically, he has recorded 23 outs vs. LHH, and 20 of them have been Ks.

Most no-trade lists are updated on a yearly basis. They typically are not set in stone based on when a contract was signed.

Did not know that. Good info. Thanks.

Coleman should of had Collin's spot a week ago.

Just noticed that Ryne Stanek from Overland Park (Blue Valley High School) signed for $1.75 million with the Rays. Good for him.

Brian Wilson, former Giants closer, should be ready about the end of July to start pitching again. It would be cool to have him come in and be a 7th/8th inning guy down the stretch. Kauffman will help his numbers and get him a deal next year.

Also the Carl Crawford is coming off the DL for the Dodgers soon and they will have too many guys for 3 spots. No way they are getting rid of Kemp or Puig but I bet a deal can be made for Ethier or maybe, most likely not tough, Crawford.

I had completely overlooked Baumann. Thanks.

Joseph's wildness still scares me. Although I haven't checked in a couple of weeks, has that improved at all?

Why? Who did he cheat? The Yankees offered him that contract, he just signed it. If anything he was smart enough to fool them out of millions but that's the Yankees fault, not his.

Besides, the Yankees owners inherited their ballclub anyway from their dad. They got a 1B gift (tax free based on the laws at the time of pops' passing) that they didn't do squat to earn themselves. If anything, they're the ones who need a "salary cap". Alex at least earned most of his $$$ over his career.

Earned it by using performance enhancing drugs to make himself better. So, Lance Armstrong deserves to have all those titles?