[plubbr]

7/10 A small resurgence, but our offense seems to be terrible as always. Brooks Conrad looks like the real deal so far. He has the 2nd best AVG as well as the 2nd best OBP, behind Mike Lamb. We go into the All Star break with a record of 43-45.

Not a single All Star from my team, why am I not surprised. The AL won the game 7-4.

7/16 Maybe it is time to cash in on the biggest trading chip we have: Lance Berkman. I really hate to think about parting with someone of his abilities, but he is demanding over $18M per year, which is just too high for me. I need to spread my money around more wisely if I want to win.

7/30 OK, I made a couple of blockbusters.

To TB
3B Morgan Ensberg

To HOU
RF Delmon Young

I am hoping Delmon Young will be a long-term replacement for Lance Berkman. Lofty standards to be sure, but I can hope for the best.

Next, pulled of an even bigger trade

To CLE
LF Lance Berkman
SP Andy Pettitte
$4,000,000 Cash

To HOU
SP Jeremy Sowers
SP C.C. Sabbathia
C Wyatt Toregas
RF Grady Sizemore
RF Ryan Ludwick

I hate to give up Lance Berkman, but I am unwilling to sign someone for over $18M, regardless of his abilities. Now I am just curious to see what he will get in Free Agency. In return, I am getting a younger starting pitcher in C.C. Sabathia, who has virtually the same ratings and stats as Pettitte, but is 8 years younger than Pettitte. He also is a groundball pitcher, which is important in a ballpark like mine. I am also getting two excellent outfielders, with Grady ready for the Majors now and Ryan starting in AAA. Also, Jeremy Sowers will start in AA. He is young, but has potential to develop into an ace type pitcher. His groundball/flyball ratio is bad, He is a player that I might develop in my minors, and then pedal him to another team for a pitcher with a better gb/fb ratio. Wyatt is a wildcard in this trade, he has decent potential to be a solid if unspectacular Major Leaguer.


Around the League

Awards:
AL Pitcher of the Month: Randy Johnson (NYY), 5-1, 0.75 ERA
NL Pitcher of the Month: Mark Prior (CHC), 3-2, 1.87 ERA

AL Batter of the Month: Eric Byrnes (OAK), .400 AVG, 23 RBI
NL Batter of the Month: Todd Helton (COL), .398 AVG, 11 HR, 23 RBI

Performances:
7/16 Matt Morris (STL) shuts out Houston on 2 hits
7/20 Brad Radke (MIN) shuts out Baltimore on 2 hits
7/26 Tim Hudson (ATL) shuts out Philadelphia on 2 hits
7/29 Jeff Kent (LA) collects 2000th hit against St. Louis

Injuries:
7/3 Gil Meche (SEA), Pulled Tricep Muscle, Out 5 Weeks
7/8 Hideki Matsui (NYY), Fractured Knee, Out 7 Weeks
7/15 Scott Kazmir (SEA), Ruptured Elbow Ligament, Out 5 Weeks

Transactions:
Some of the more notable deadline trades

Anaheim gets :
1B Craig Wilson
Pittsburgh gets :
2B Adam Kennedy, P Bob Zimmerman, 1B Clifton Remole

Kansas City gets :
P Vicente Padilla, 2B Elder Tostado
Philadelphia gets :
P Dennis Tankersley

Cincinnati gets :
P John Thomson
Atlanta gets :
RF Austin Kearns

New York (N) gets :
P Russ Ortiz, $2,200,000 cash.
Arizona gets :
3B David Wright

Pittsburgh gets :
P A.J. Burnett, 1B Zachary Billiot
Florida gets :
LF Jason Bay

New York (N) gets :
3B Chipper Jones
Atlanta gets :
LF Cliff Floyd

Arizona gets :
1B Mike Sweeney, C Adam Donachie, LF Cory Aldridge, $2,500,000 cash.
Kansas City gets :
P Brandon Webb

Atlanta gets :
1B Ryan Shealy
Colorado gets :
P Mike Hampton

Kansas City gets :
RF Nick Swisher
Oakland gets :
1B Justin Huber

Cincinnati gets :
P Kris Benson, RF Bobby Malek, $2,100,000 cash.
New York (N) gets :
LF Adam Dunn