Opinion

When the Texas Rangers slipped in and made the deal for left-hander Cliff Lee, stealing him right out from under the New York Yankees, Ranger fans and players couldn't have been more excited.

They were getting a guy that was a proven winner not only during the season, but also in the playoffs.

However, that's not what they've gotten. Through 11 starts, Lee is 2-5 with a 4.69 ERA and has been nothing short of awful over his last five starts, giving up a combined 25 runs in those starts.

Since being moved to the bullpen to work on mechanics, the performance of Javier Vazquez has improved. The Yankees are now seeing the type of pitcher they thought they were getting last offseason. His performance has improved enough for the righty to get another shot in the starting rotation.

With the New York Mets season becoming more and more dreary at the days go by, the team made a few roster moves right before the waiver wire trade deadline. The trade and a few call ups will give the Mets a chance to see some young guys play the remainder of the year.

Those who read me regularly know me as a hockey writer.  But I have another passion: baseball.  Get me out to the Oakland Coliseum, put a coke in my hand and give me an Italian sausage with peppers and onions and I'll be happy as a clam. 

I love the A's.  I love baseball.  Watching the Oakland A's take on the New York Yankees these past two days I can only lick my lips at the thought of having A-Rod, Jeter, Teixeira, etc in the A's lineup.  Oh what a dream that would be.

I compiled a list of guys who I feel really boosted their performance, or took a big step back in the month of August.  Guys not mentioned "held steady" as compared to their career norms/what they have done this year.

It's a beautiful, yet frustrating game at the same time.  As soon as one guy puts it all together, someone else is batting their inner demons.  Ah, the joys of the 162, and we are all guilty of getting caught up in the highs and lows.

Times are changing and Twitter has quickly become a great source of sports information. Everyone from sports stars to professional sports writers to Internet-famed sports bloggers are writing daily. So TheFantasyFix.com decided it was time to host a roundtable discussion with the LADIES of TWITTER!

Let's not anoint Stephen Strasburg the next Mark Prior yet. There's no need.

After the revelation that Strasburg needs Tommy John surgery, people are ready to compare him to busts just as quickly as they heaped praise upon him. When you are a pitcher of his magnitude, that is what happens.

Strasburg came into the major leagues with great fanfare. We all know that. Of course, when you have all this hype, you have the burden of living up to it. And for a short time this summer, he did.

Minus just one shaky outing, Strasburg pitched like an ace.

But now this.

Many fans have given up on the Phillies.  It's just the truth.  But there are reasons why we shouldn't give up on them.  And I'm going to tell you about them.

The San Francisco Giants are still in the playoff chase, even after Monday’s mind-bending loss.

Really, could the gem that Jonathan Sanchez pitched have been wasted any more painfully that it was against Colorado in the series opener?

Could an apparently inspiring win have been lost any more quickly?

This article can also be found on North and South of Royal Brougham