Huff and Puff and Blow the Deadline Down

It's a big weekend for people who love hot air. It's the end of July, meaning the sun is hot, the trade rumors are absurd, and the spin machine from the Hall of Fame is in full swing for Induction Weekend. Yet since 2004 (burned into my mind for eternity, I guess) I can't remember a trade deadline for the Sox that has been of any consequence. It probably has something to do with not being able to ignore the shipment of your favorite franchise bitch, piss and moan shortstop to Chicago for a couple of .250 hitters and infield hoovers. Yea, that was a big one. Especially with the World Series..

But everyone around here has got the right idea this summer. Other than the reported swaps of Alex Cora for assorted backup shortstops, nothing big has been cooking. I don't personally put much stock in the reports that Brian Fuentes and Damaso Marte are topping the FO's list of targets for two reasons: 1) they'll each cost an arm and a leg, but Fuentes especially and 2) once burned, twice wise, or something like that. We all remember Eric Gagné. Sometimes those relievers from the NL get a tad nervous in the big, bad AL.

Other than that, it's Sox-Yankees at Fenway, and it feels much more sane around here.