Stock Up/Stock down for the week 7/30/06
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by user DRE-LO
Stock Up:
Brian Cashman- The trade deadline is a high-pressured situation for all GMs. This is where they earn their keep. So imagine carrying that boulder around and having Steinbrenner up your backside. Nevertheless, Cashman delivered for the Yanks by only dealing four minor leaguers for Bobby Abreu and Cory Lidle. Abreu had long been rumored to be a Yank but Lidle was the steal in this trade. Cory Lidle has been known to step it up in the second half of the season. Hopefully, he will solidfy the back end of the Yank's rotation. Abreu is a true #5 hitter. He has a high on-base percentage and delivers with runners in scoring position. He will thrive in a much more potent Yanks lineup. The Yankees made the biggest splash of the deadline so far, thus the credit goes to Cashman.
Chase Utley - I have been hesitant to put Joe D's record of 56 games and Chase Utley in the same sentence. However, I'm finding it increasingly difficult to keep from doing that. Utley's single today against the Marlins puts his streak at 31. With the Phillies season basically lost, the fans need a good distraction. This will fill the void. The previous high this season was 38 games by Jimmy Rollins.
Carlos Beltran- Is there any hitter more locked in right now than Carlos Beltran? 2 HRS on Saturday and then 2 more on Sunday including a grand slam. Beltran had 3 Grand Slams in July alone. He now leads all NL hitters with 94 RBI. He has reverted back to being damn near automatic just like he was in the playoffs in 2004.
Baseball HOF inductees- Congrats to Bruce Sutter for his HOF induction. His split-finger fastball earned him 300 saves, a CY Young and a World Series ring. Not to mention that it inspired pitchers such as Roger Clemens and others that followed in his footsteps. The biggest kudos go to the 17 HOF from the Negro Leagues. It was about time they received the recognition they so rightfully deserve. Jackie Robinson and Roberto Clemente notched their place in baseball history as well as American history. So one would be hard-pressed not to include pioneers such as Efra Manley and Brian Grant in the history books as well due to the barriers they broke.
Stock Down:
Floyd Landis- Alas, the sports world has been thrown for a loop once again. Even I put this guy Stock Up last week due to his super-human comeback in the Tour De France. As it turns out, he was trying to make himself exactly that. This failed drug test occurred on the same stage in which he started his "impressive" comeback. Congrats, Floyd. Now nobody and I mean NOBODY will give two pints of piss about the Tour de France. Or should I say the Tour de Farce??
Justin Gatlin- I could easily make some sort of light about Landis's failed drug test. However, Gatlin's failed drug tests is no more than a TKO to track and field. U.S Track and Field had dubbed Gatlin as the official spokesman. He made appearances in elementary schools and camps in order to promote track and field as a clean sport and to encourage kids not to use drugs. Only to find out that he wasn't practicing what he was preaching.
Michael Vick- New rule: No more dates with women that own MySpace accounts and have an IQ under 25. Michael, you're supposed to be setting an example for your younger brother Marcus Vick. This is not the way to go. Not to mention that it's an unwelcome distraction for the Falcons.
Date
Sun 07/30/06, 8:35 pm EST
