A Day of Intrigue...And More Intrigue

The last 24 hours really have Sip's juices flowing.

To me, Trade Deadlines and Draft Days are like those giant sunglasses that cover the entire face of girls, all over New York City. They are my vice. I just love the action. I love the buzz. I love Rumor Mills. I remember sitting at my dad's radio in February, 1992 listening to the FAN, praying that the Knicks would make a deadline move.

15 years later, not a lot has changed.

Monday was very, very exciting. It was intriguing, it was scary, it was exciting. It was a new beginning. All of a sudden the NL East is an offensive powerhouse. This is definition "shocking." Somewhere, Butch Huskey is shaking his head.

Today, we have a countdown to the deadline and three milestones in our reach, with Tommy's chase of 300 at the forefront.

And that was just baseball.

Insert the Kevin Garnett trade and we have one of the best sports days in memory. Here's a look at what has gone down so far.


Mark Teixiera to the Braves

For this one, just read Cheddar Ben's column from Monday. Yeah, I like the kid but I have no reason to compliment him.

But what he wrote on the Teixiera deal was really quality sports writing. See, I'm capable of rambling, talking some sports and maybe throwing in some jokes. But Ched's piece was just a genuinely good sports column.



My take: You never like to see the Braves get better and they just did.

Salt...alamechia

Intrigue: 9


Kyle Lohse to the Phils

This one kind of screams Adam Eaton. Lohse has always been a guy with decent stuff who has never really materialized. His numbers are bad (6-12, 4.58 ERA), pitching in a hitter friendly park.

But he has looked pretty decent of late (2-2, 3.81 ERA in July).

These guys just don't scare me. The Phils didn't give up much (P Matt Maloney- the team's #9 prospect) and they didn't get much.

But the Phils need guys to get their offense back on the field a little faster. Lohse can certainly get some guys out.

Intrigue: 4


Luis Castillo to the Mets

Really, really like this. I love defense and I love speed. Castillo has both (He used to have a lot more). This is an obvious upgrade that I can only describe as "charming" or "quaint." Castillo is going to make all the plays a normal 2b should and do all the things a #2 hitter should. But he is going to go first to third on a play that LoDuca couldn't or make a play in the field that Gotay would not make and you are going to really appreciate the guy we are getting.



I love him in the #2 spot. Another switch hitter with speed. He'll make productive outs, sacrifice bunt and add even more speed to a freakishly fast top of the order.

But I love him more at 2B. He's a former gold glover. Remember when Jose Valentin manned the position. Whenever he made a play, I was shocked. This is good.

Intrigue:7.5


Kevin Garnett to the Celtics for Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Bassy Telfair, draft picks, Theo Ratliff's contract

What a trade.

Love this deal for both teams.

The Celtics for obvious reasons. Add another team to the list of Atlantic division foes that will be much better than the Knicks in 2007-2008(List already included Raptors, Nets, Sixers). The Celtics are all of a sudden the sexiest team in the NBA.



I've said it before and will say it again. KG is at his best when he doesn't have to score. He's the best rebounder in the game and one of its finest passers. In Boston, he will be the third scorer. He is going to be a monster at the high post. If teams double he will pick them apart. If teams don't double (something he has never seen)he will score with ease. Pick your poison.

Really like the deal for the Wolves, too.

The Celtics showed us a succesful way to rebuild. Stock up tons of assets and then trade them for the big parts. They traded away 5 huge assets over the last month to get Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett:

1. #5 Pick
2. Al Jefferson
3. Expiring Contract Theo Ratliff
4. Telfair and Green= 1 Asset
5. 2 future 1st round picks

These are all assets. The Knicks don't have these. They have David Lee, one. And then a bunch of shit pieces who are overhyped because they play in New York.

Now look at the TWolves.

They have Corey Brewer, Randy Foye, Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair, a bunch of draft picks to work with and what will be a ton of cap space in a couple of years.

Yes, this team will suck for a couple of years, but so what. They'll stock up more top picks (assets) and still have cap space to acquire top flight talent. Three years and this team could be really good.

The Knicks will not be good in 3 years. Oh and they have sucked for 5 years, too.

Intrigue: 10

We'll be back tomorrow and maybe even later tonight to cover what goes down today. For those of you as psychotic as I am when it comes to this junk, enjoy.



Vaya,
Sip

(Pics courtesy of Dallasnews.com, mlb.com, nba.com)