Love the Deadline

Eleven days ago, we posted an article about how the Indians and the Phillies had some weaknesses that needed to be addressed if they were going to improve and contend the rest of the season. Well, everyone in baseball seemed to know that. The blogs were a buzz and many rumors were flying. A lot has happened since then and I believe Phillies fans and Indians fans should be happy.

Indians fans will have a very good starting pitcher, Ubaldo Jimenez, from the Rockies. He gives them a starting pitcher very capable of winning every start he attempts. Hopefully, he'll turn his year around and help push the Tribe to the top of the AL Central standings. They also obtained an outfielder earlier in the week. Kosuke Fukudome was obtained from the Chicago Cubs. He will patrol right field until Choo comes back.

The Phillies, on the other hand, needed a right-handed hitting outfielder. Beltran, Willingham, and others were filling the rumor mill. Hunter Pence, an all-star from Houston, got the nod. The Phillies worked with their old GM, Ed Wade, and obtained a player with very good talent, and is not just a rental. They'll have Pence the next couple years as well. And even better, they keep both Domonic Brown and Vance Worley. Brown will probably move over to left-field next year, when Ibanez can be let go.

What a nice couple of days for our teams. Our teams have done a nice job of improving. It gives the fan the message that they are serious about making a push for the playoffs and in the Phillies case, they are serious about winning it all. The push to October should be fun for all of us this year.