And As The Clock Struck 4, Silence.

So, the Red Sox took my advice and stood pat. They didn't send Lester, Hansen, Delcarmen, Crisp, and a box of brand new baseballs to the Orioles for Jon Lieber, and it's a good thing. The Yankees got their man, too be sure, and in doing so they undoubtedly pushed the needle in the right direction as far as making the postseason and winning the AL East. Add to that tidbit the fact that Varitek is likely out of a few days (minimum) with a knee injury, and it all amounts to good reason for concern for Sox fans. But regardless, they made the right decision.

The WEEI phone lines are full of fans clamoring about how "we couldah had Roy Oswahlt oah Miguel Tejadar," but in reality, we know no such thing. The baseball media, both local and national, turns the trade deadline into Christmas in July. What gifts will we find waiting for us under the tree at 4 pm? The Hype would have you believe that World Series glory is simply a few middling prospects away, just around the corner, where you superstar and saviour is waiting to bring home the gold. Unfortunately, that's rarely the case. 2004 was an exception, a situation where people managed to gel as a team in a very rare way, to the point where it allowed them postseason swagger. Otherwise, the deadline is just another day and another chance to tweak the team.

Will Lester be the next Santana? Probably not, and he probably won't ever win a Cy Young. He will, however, keep the Sox out of the free agent market by being a young, talented arm under Sox control.

The point of the matter is, as I struggle not to fall asleep on my keyboard, that the Sox refused to mortgage the future. When Bobby Abreu collects his first base hit tonight, try not to have an anheurism. Sit back, relax, and go watch some highlights of Lester working out of a jam or Papelbon striking out the side. That'll remind you why we did what we did.