MLB Trade Deadline Edition

• The whole game got into gear on July 28th, when the Milwaukee Brewers acquired outfielders Kevin Mench and Laynce Nix and Pitchers Francisco Cordero and Julian Cordero, no relations, from the Texas Rangers for outfielders Carlos Lee and prospect Nelson Cruz. This trade confounds one, as it is unclear what Milwaukee GM Doug Melvin was thinking trading the hottest chip on the trade market and his best outfield prospect for two mediocre at best outfielders and a former closer who has pitched erratically this year. It is understandable that Milwaukee had little chance to resign Lee, and this may have been the best offer, but why include the team's best outfield prospect in the deal? [Carlos Lee]
• Atlanta soon followed suit as they shipped the suddenly hot chip infielder Wilson Betemit to Los Angeles for bullpen help in former closer Danys Baez and infield prospect Willy Aybar. This trade made perfect sense for both parties as Los Angeles received the third basemen they have been lacking since Adrian Beltre left after 2004, while Atlanta worked to fix their leaky bullpen and received Betemit's future replacement. [Wilson Betemit]
• Speaking of Los Angeles they were able to further retool with the acquisitions of both Greg Maddux and versatile Julio Lugo. Though their playoff hopes are dim, you can not fault the front office from not making one final push. [Los Angeles Dodgers]
• Oh the Yankees! Now they made the steal of the deadline, swiping Bobby Abreu from the Phillies for four marginal prospects and they did not even have to guarantee his option in 2008. Going from being the star of the team to a supporting role should help take the pressure off the back of Abreu and allow him to get back into form. Do not expect much home run power from Abreu, but plenty of walks, some solid contact and bullets to all fields. [Bobby Abreu]
• Well, not only did the Yankees grab Abreu, but they also talked the Phillies into including Cory Lidle, a rather average pitcher, but still far better than the disasters that have resided in the bottom of the Yankees rotation so far this year. Well the Yankees did not even end right there. In a deadline deal the Yanks shipped spare part Shaun Chacon to the Pirates for outfielder/first basemen Craig Wilson who should platoon and perhaps replace failed experiment Andy Phillips at first base. [New York Yankees]
• The Pirates continued to clear house, sending reliever Roberto Hernandez to the Mets to replace recently injured Duaner Sanchez, trading Sean Casey to Detroit to serve as their desperately need left-handed bat and shipping Kip Wells down to Texas to "fix" the Rangers pitching woes. [Pittsburgh Pirates]
• The Cubs sent defensively challenged second basemen Todd Walker to San Diego to relearn third base, while the Indians traded another second sacker, Ron Belliard to St. Louis. Fellow National League Central dweller, the Reds acquired Kyle Lohse from the Twins and Rheal Cormier from the Phillies. [trades]
• Several teams were inactive at the trade deadline despite constant rumors and lengthy negotiations. The Red Sox are one team that were surprisingly quiet due to their inconsistent back-end of the rotation and a few other select week areas. [Boston Red Sox]
• Alfonso Soriano and Miguel Tejada were two of the larger sluggers rumored to be traded practically everywhere, but who when all was said and done stayed right where they were. [Alfonso Soriano | Miguel Tejada]
• Dontrele Willis, Barry Zito and Jason Schmidt were the big pitching names on the market. The Mets were involved in multiple scenarios to acquire one of those three, but in the end kept their few top prospects. [New York Mets]
• In a particular surprise, Houston began shopping around ace Roy Oswalt, and dangled him in a potential deal for Miguel Tejada before the Orioles rejected the offer. The Mets then inquired as to the possibility of acquiring Oswalt, but the Astros had removed his name from the table. [Roy Oswalt]
• Oh wait, word just in claims that the Red Sox have recently worked to acquire Baltimore catcher Javy Lopez in a waiver wire deal to replace injured Jason Varitek who will be out for the next four to six weeks. The deal should be finalized Friday. [Javy Lopez]

Regular Scheduled Program

• It might be time to start questioning what exactly is in the water in Philadelphia. First Rocky and now multiple extended hitting streaks. Early this season, short stop Jimmy Rollins continued a hit streak over from last season, eventually settling at 38 consecutive games with a hit spanning the two seasons. Now Rollins double play partner Chase Utley working on his own streak that just reached 35 consecutive games with a single to center in the first inning of today's game. [streak]
• There is no way this column features coverage of an Armstrong-less Tour de France three weeks in a row, but Floyd Landis' abnormally high testosterone levels has put his name right back in the headlines. In fact he may even be getting more press now then he did for the win. His lawyer now claims that dehydration led to the test result. [Floyd Landis]
• ESPN recently did a feature on America's wealthiest athletes. Well, it's good to be a golfer. Tiger Woods leads the pack yet again, but his immediate runner up is now fellow golfer Phil Mickelson. Time to break out the clubs and head out to the driving range. [golf]
• Why is it that on the last play of the game, football movies almost always focus on the clock winding down. Once the play starts it continues regardless of the time on the clock, even if that time is zero. The remake of The Longest Yard is particularly egregious in their clock-based suspense. [clock]
• It's that time of year again and football training camps have gotten into full swing throughout the nation. Particularly worrisome is the extreme heat. Hopefully teams at all levels have learned from the Korey Stringer tragedy and ensure the safety and hydration of all players. [training camp]
• If you are a fantasy football fan, then you may want to check out the Official Newsvine Fantasy Football Leagues, where you have a chance to compete against fellow newsviners for the glory of being champions and the prize of the legendary newsvine t-shirt. [Newsvine Fantasy Football]

Sports Tags is a weekly sports column by Adam Hobson, featured on Newsvine and beloved by all. Yea, it's a bit East Coast and baseball/football biased.