Opinion

Imagine for a minute you're staring into a boxing ring somewhere between Anaheim, California and Arlington, Texas.

The Los Angeles (don't call me Anaheim) Angels just watched as the Texas Rangers stole left-hander Cliff Lee right out from under the New York Yankees. It was like a stunning left cross that the Angels never saw coming.

While they stare off into space, stunned that the once lowly Texas Rangers just threw their biggest punch in years, and while the stars they're seeing start to wear off, owner Artie Moreno has to be hatching a plan on how the team responds.

Alex Anthopoulos is continuing his revamping of the Toronto Blue Jays by trading star shortstop Alex Gonzalez to the Braves along with Tim Collins and Tyler Pastornicky in exchange for Jo-Jo Reyes and Yunel Escobar.

This is a great deal for the Blue Jays, as they get a player who is steadily improving defensively in Yunel Escobar while is very solid at the plate (somewhat rare for a SS). Anthopoulos thinks he's a great player and took the risk of acquiring him because great players are impossible to acquire if they're playing well (I wonder if Matt Cain is available).

You're a general manager with a team in the thick of a pennant race, trying to make it back to the playoffs for the first time since 2005. Your shortstop has not yet produced at the plate, but has performed well in the field (sixth in the league in fielding average, and first in the league in double-plays turned). Shopping for a replacement, you come up with two choices:

Shortstop 1: .299 batting average, .837 OPS, 14 homers.

Shortstop 2: .238 batting average, .635 OPS, 8 homers.

You want shortstop No. 1, right?

When news broke out that Yankees' owner George Steinbrenner had passed Tuesday morning, I predictably got a few texts from friends asking if I was planning on writing about “The Boss.”

At first I hesitated; too much had happened before I was even born. I had never met him in person. What perspective could I possibly give, that a million other writers couldn’t?

What a roller-coaster ride it has been.

From 9.5 games out and nine games under .500 to sole possession of first place thanks to a 25-5 record to close out the first half.

At 49-38, the White Sox are where many predicted the team to be before the season began, but no one could have predicted the road the team would take.

The White Sox have lost one series since June 1 with winning streaks of 11 and currently eight during this 30-game stretch.

The Toronto Blue Jays showed their first decisive sign that they're starting to look beyond 2010 and gear up for the future with a five-player trade with the Atlanta Braves in which the Jays received shortstop Yunel Escobar and left-handed pitcher Jo-Jo Reyes.

One of life’s simple pleasures during the summer, especially for a sports fan, is the joy of listening to a baseball game on the radio.

Whether it’s at the lake, in the yard, on the deck, or in the car, a baseball broadcast is like sharing a sports bar conversation with a good friend, reminiscing about past times, current events, and debating which team or player is better.

Baseball is the perfect summer companion…the game has a rhythm that mirrors summer—the pace is gradual, sometimes slow, and often laidback.

The baseball world has lost a legend.

George Steinbrenner, though he never played a game in a Yankees' uniform, was by far, one of the sport world's most influential persons. 

Arguably, outside of Manchester United, the New York Yankees are the most recognizable franchise on the planet.

He did it by re-establishing the Yankees glory by winning championships.

When he purchased the team in 1973, it had been 15 years since their last world championship.

Ironically enough, I was in the Yankees Clubhouse Store in New York City when I heard about the passing of Yankees owner George Steinbrenner.

As I browsed player t-shirts while watching ESPN, I began to realize what an impact Steinbrenner had on the Yankees.

Love him or hate him, he is a legend. Period.

Steinbrenner knew what he wanted, and he was not afraid to go after it.

The MLB trade deadline is just weeks away, and the Toronto Blue Jays new GM, Alex Anthopoulos, is expected to continue putting his stamp on the team.

With that in mind, here are the players Anthopoulos should consider trading:

John Buck

He was not meant to be much more than a stopgap catcher until a prospect (like JP Arencibia) comes up through the system.