Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil Or Could That Best Describe The AL East ?

Well it goes without saying that with the trade deadline beckoning. The movers and the shakers will be looking to make the deals that they think’ll put them over the top. They’ll either become contenders or pretenders. So far we’ve seen in the AL East only rumblings as to there being some sort of move that might be imminent.

Joba Chamberlain of the New York Yankees pitching in a game against the Tampa Bays at Tropicana Field , St Petersburg, Florida. The Yankees would go on to defeat the Rays 6-2 and win their three game series 2-1. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Mike Carlson ....................

However, it’s not said to be from one the big two teams within the division. Neither the Boston Red Sox or the New York Yankees are said to be players as of yet. But that’s not to say that things aren’t about to change between now and the 4 pm deadline tomorrow afternoon. Whereas , it’s now being rumored that the Sox may well show some interest in the Toronto Blue Jays’ Roy Halladay . It’s far from definite that Red Sox GM Theo Esptein is prepared to go that route. The price that Jays’ GM J P Ricciardi is asking is said to be aksing is a very steep one. And if anything , many purists in and outside of the game believe that he’s overstepping his reach in that endeavor.

Rays' shortstop Jason Bartlett throws to first after making the play against the Yankees' Robinson Cano. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Mike Carlson .......................

But as we know someone , somewhere along the line may well be bold and brave enough to meet the Blue Jays’ asking price , for one of the most desired pitchers that’s said to be on the market. The Philadelphia Phillies made sure of that when they were rebuffed by the Jays. They went out instead and obtained Ciff Lee from the Cleveland Indians , without having to really give up all that much. And it’d appear that the Indians may well be in the midst of cleaning house as it’s been said that they’re also prepared to listen to offers for their All Star catcher , Victor Martinez .

Mark Teixeira watches his home run in the ninth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Mike Carlson ........

At this time of the year one would expect that they New York Yankees would be major players as it comes down to the trade deadline. But such has been the play and form of the team. That having gone 8-2 in their last 10 games and then seeing their most heated rival the Red Sox seemingly in something of a splutter. It has to be said that they may well be feeling very good about the way things are now turning out. The Yankees’ hitters are hitting with effortless ease and perhaps most surprisingly their pitching is finally beginning to look more ominous. The same however, can’t be said of the Boston Red Sox. They’ve struggled to find some semblance of offense and their closer , Jonathan Papelbon all of a sudden seems to be unable to close out games even when nothing more than three outs is required.

Rays' pitcher Matt Garza reacts after giving up a run last night in the team's 6-2 loss to the New York Yankees at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg, Florida. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Mike Carlson .................

And while the two predominantly most talked about teams within the division seemingly go on their merry way. Left , looking up at both within the divsion , are last year’s pennant and division winner , the Tampa Bay Rays (55-47). They’re 7 1/2 games out of first place , the spot now held by the New York Yankees (62-39) . And they are a mere 4 games behind the Boston Red Sox (58-42). Herein lies the dilemma for the Rays at present. It has been their inconsistency to win not only games with resonance but also their lack of taking series as and when it matters most. It now makes their task of even gaining a wild-card berth all the more formidable. Not only has the Rays’ pitching of late, been inconsistent . But so too has been the unearthly silence of their bats.

Yahkees' second baseman Robinson Cano tags the Rays' Jason Bartlett as he tries to steal a base in the third inning of the game. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Mike Carlson ............................

The Tampa Bay Rays now face a four game series against the Kansas City Royals . Before they take on the Boston Red Sox in a 2 game series , that’ll have a great deal of meaning for both teams in more ways than one. A loss of the series and it could well spell an end for the Rays’ aspirations in obtaining a wild-card berth. A win and it gives them the added confidence of trying to pursue that goal with even more zeal.

Evan Longoria of the Rays is congratulated by teammate Ben Zobrist after his home run against the New York Yankees in the fifth inning of the game. The Rays would go on to lose 6-2 and fall futher behind both the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox in the AL East division. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Mike Carlson ..................

Coming off a series’ loss to the New York Yankees merely added to the woes of the team. And there’s now even more growing uncertainty as to the ownership’s overall ambitions as to the remainder of the season for the Tampa Bay Rays. There’s already speculation that the team may well be prepared to make one or two trades that’ll ease their salary burden. Atop of of the list of the players said to be rumored to be departing is their pitcher Scott Kazmir . In spite of this all, for the moment all we can do is wait to see what will transpire over the ensuing 24 hours to the trade deadline. If nothing else , any decisions that are forthcoming will be made in conjunction with the team’s management structure and that of its executives in the form of Joe Maddon , the team’s GM Andrew Friedman and principal owner Stuart Sternberg . Cost cutting once was the norm for the team. But if they’re to go down this road once again, whatever goodwill that they built up within the community , by way of the support shown. It may well count for nothing at the end of the day. There’s only so much that the fanbase can withstand. And at the same time there’s only so much that ownership may well be prepared to do , in order to facilitate the perceived semblance of success.

Such have been the vagaries of the game. That even in these uncertain economic times . Within the game of baseball it is still about the haves and have nots. It’s not necessarily about competition on the field of play. But how much one can afford to spend in order to attain a championship and then to be viewed as a champion.

Think Long And Hard You Fool ! Oh What It Is To Be The Blue Jays’ GM J P Ricciardi …..

One has to look long and hard when considering the mindset of the Toronto Blue Jays’ GM J P Ricciardi . I know that competing with the likes of the Baltimore Orioles , Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and now the upstarts within the division the Tampa Bay Rays has got to be considerably painful. Never mind the fact that the AL East division , apart from being the glamor division in all of baseball. It’s also the most competitive and contentious bar none !

Toronto Blue Jays' GM J. P. Ricciardi . The franchise faces an ever tightening budget in light of the severe economic crisis that now affects all of the four major sports. Financially constraints notwithstanding Ricciardi is now said to be contemplating trading their starting ace, pitcher Roy Halladay. picture appears courtesy of afp/ Neil MacLaughlin ...................

In the mind’s eye what happens within the confines of the Blue Jays’ organization may seem minuscule when compared to the resources of both the Yankees and Red Sox. But I find it somewhat disheartening , even though I know what it is that many of the franchises within baseball are said to be going through financially. There are but a handful of clubs in all of major league baseball that actually make an actual operating profit when you don’t take into account the tax sharing revenues shared amongst the small and mid-tier market teams. But such are the ways of the hierarchy of baseball. That within this economic meltdown they’re still unprepared to address the issue of a salary cap across the board when it comes to baseball.

Commissioner Bud Selig appears to think that it’s not within the best interests of baseball to initiate such a policy. Albeit, that with what can now be deemed small but noticeable incremental decreases in revenues. The game has found itself laying off staff. But at the same time in some markets either general admission prices have been lowered, yet concession prices are on the rise. This has to be baseball’s answer to ‘robbing Peter to pay Paul’. In this case however it’s been the consumer being held up at gunpoint in order that baseball’s coffers somehow remain intact.

Blue Jays' pitcher Roy Halladay fields questions about the recent trade speculations concerning his status as a player. The Blue Jays were set to take on the Tampa Bay Rays in a series of games to be played at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg, Florida. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Brian Blanco ..........

Sooner or later the game’s hierarchy will have to meet and address this issue head on. But unfortunately for the owners and that of Major League Baseball itself the power of the Players’ Union (MLBPA) is so great. That they’ll be hard pressed to find the union acquiescing to any of their demands, unless the league itself is willing to make concessions of their own.

While much of what’s said to be happening can be on only summarized as mere speculation. Gordon Edes of Yahoo Sports offers an opinion on the matter. Yahoo Sports:

Compiled by Gordon Edes: Trading Halladay made sense a year ago

News item Toronto Blue Jays’ General Manager J P Ricciardi says he would listen to offers for Roy Halladay.

Comment: What if Ricciardi is a year too late ?

I know what you’re thinking : Who wouldn’t want a former Cy Young Award winner who finished in the top five in voting three other times, the pitcher who set the standard for excellence in the American League for the first half of the 21st century ?

But that’s not the issue . These are .

1) The economic landscape has changed.
Through July6, 20 big league teams were down in attendance. Six of those teams were down by 200,000 or more, including the Mets (a dip of 365,000) and the Yankees (292,558). The box office hit absorbed by the New York teams is mitigated by huge price increases at their stadiums , but nonetheless it is a trend that cannot be ignored, especially by the Mets, who also have the Bernie Madoff factor to consider.

Could the Yankees still afford Halladay ? Of course. They potentially have $38million coming off their books in four salaries: Johnny Damon ($13millon),Hideki Matsui ($13million), Xavier Nady ($6.5million), Andy Pettite ($5.5million).

But the Yankees spent $243.5 million on pitchers C C Sabathia and A J Burnett. Is it really in their best interest to sacrifice their best young prospects- and if I were J P Ricciardi my conversation with the Yankees would begin with Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes and catcher Jesus Montero – for another top of the rotation guy, especially at a time when the Yanks must begin making plans to extend shortstop Derek Jeter or think about how to replace him.

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As to Ricciardi’s alleged wish to entertain offers for his ace starter. One can only surmise that the economic effects are taking its toll on the baseball franchise. And for Halliday who has a no trade clause written into his contract. The feeling must be that he’s far outlived his usefulness to the team. Wherein they’re now prepared to listen to the right offer as far they’re concerned. The final say will be his as to his ultimate destination.But much of that will also be predicated upon the offers received by the Blue Jays for their former Cy Young award winner.

Halladay removes his cap whilst on the mound pitching for the Blue Jays against the New York Yankees in a game played at Yankee Stadium, in the Bronx, New York. picture appears courtesy of getty images/ Nick Laham .......................

Pitchers of Halladay’s pedigree don’t come along all that often. And the price to be paid will be steep for any team whose wish it is to acquire his services. As to the teams wishing to acquire his services. It may not be a long list . But I can assure you that the usual suspects will have already used due diligence when making their enquiries to what it’ll take to lure the player away.

Halladay is due to be paid $14.25m this year , with $15.75m to be paid in the final year of his contract in 2010. For the Blue Jays as an organization all they can merely do is to put a product on the field in the hope that they can somehow remain competitive. But what this suggests for the teams that happen to find themselves in the same financial situation. It is has to be said in reality all that they can hope to achieve is merely produce exceptional players only to lose them to impending free agency . Or the fact that come the trade deadline teams that are in need of a missing piece to add to their roster , can come a calling in the hope acquiring a player through a trade that’ll meet their needs.

Roy Halladay . Perhaps the best pitcher in the American League if not in the entire game of baseball. It'll be interesting to see however where he'll end up should the Blue Jays take the bait and trade the player for their desired needs. As it now stands the franchise in terms of it competitiveness is merely spinning its wheels when measured against the top tiered teams in the major markets. picture appears courtey of afp/ photo/ Gyles Coulson .............

It does also suggest that many teams are merely playing for the sake of playing , but without ever any hope of having the aspiration of playing for a World Series title. Such is the chasm between the haves and have nots within the game. That the playing field itself will be never be truly level. Some might suggest that within the game of baseball there’s a great deal of balance. The balance itself now lies in the financial acumen of the big market teams. While the minnows of the game merely now watch from afar as spectators. If that doesn’t suggest you that there’s still indeed something wrong with the game. Then just take a look at the salaries of the top ten teams within the major league and that of the bottom ten teams ? If that doesn’t suggest to you that there is a major imbalance . And that the very financial security of the game is at stake. Then we might as well have the federal government now come in and run the game. Afterall they couldn’t do any worse than the game’s hierarchy has done so far now could they ?

I Am A Man, And To Question My Sense of Well Being Is To Deny Me A Right

Well the the New York Yankees (38-31) now sit a mere 4 games adrift of the Boston Red Sox (42-27) in the AL East standings. And whilst on the face of it this doesn’t seem a large margin to make up between the two teams. The situation as such couldn’t be more dire for the franchise at present. That’s unless you’d count a recurrence of the inane rants of Hank Steinbrenner as an overall cause for concern ?  

Derek Jeter (left) and teammate Nick Swisher of the Yankees wait to bat during the eighth inning of an inter-league series game against the Florida Marlins played in Maimi. The Yankees would end up losing the game 6-5 and the series also 2-1. picture appears courtesy of getty images/ Lyne Sladky .............

And with the Yankees having gone 4-6 in their last ten games. All appears to be not quite tranquil as far as ‘The Evil Empire’ goes. With the Red Sox seemingly playing baseball at their usually proficient standard. Anything that’d indeed create on appearance of a gap as to the quality in between the two team’s play would be of cause for concern. Especially when one considers the rivalry between the two teams and their faction of fans. In all of professional sports this may be the most heated and fabled rivalry of them all. In essence it adds to the reason why as baseball fans we can be transfixed by anything that merely happens between the two teams on or off the field of play.

Joe Girardi manager of the Yankees has a discussion with home plate umpire Tim Simmons (95) and his colleagues during the eighth inning of the game played against the Florida Marlins at Land Shark Stadium in Miami, Florida . picture appears courtesy of getty images /Lyne Sladky .................

The AL East as we know is most definitely the most glamorous division in all of baseball. It certainly is the most contentious in terms of the quality of the teams and their competitiveness. And with the young upstarts of last year in the Tampa Bay Rays (37-34) now being added to the mix. Let’s just say that any slip ups by either of the two more prominent teams within this division and the Rays’d be more than willing to take advantage of the situation. As the reigning AL East champions , having won the AL pennant and making it to the World Series. The thought of a return visit hasn’t escaped the thoughts of this young team. The elixir that’s success once having become accustomed to. The taste of more isn’t at all easy to give up or even overlook.

Yankees' 3rd baseman Alex Rodriguez tosses his bat in frustration having been struck out in the third inning of an inter-league game played between the Marlins and Yankees at Land Shark Stadium , Miami , Florida. picture appears courtesy of getty images/ Lyne Sladky ..............

Yankees’ manager Joe Girardi can’t be at all happy with the frailties now being shown by his team. And with a slumping Alex Rodriguez now hitting a mere .213 and adding little if any potency to the offense as of late. It can’t have gone unnoticed that the player and his off the field situation earlier on in the season may well have to an extent reared its ugly head once again. Never mind the allegations now being made as to his relationship with actress Kate Hudson. Added to the fact their ace pitcher C C Sabathia may well have some injury concerns . A visit to the DL mightn’t be out of the question should the injury prove to be of concern.

Fans in the crowd are somewhat jocular given that the game was being played on Fathers' Day in Miami between the two inter-league teams. picture appears courtesy of getty images/ Lyne Sladky .....................

For Girardi his patience will now be severely tested. Say nothing of which with Hank Steinbrenner not less than a few steps away opining on things and closely scrutinizing every move concerning this team. The calm before the storm may well be about to uncorked. And with the All Star break just around the corner . A widening gap in the margin between the two teams (Red Sox) would make the Yankees’ predicament less enticing as a fan of the organization.