Rasmus Trade & NFL is BACK!

Hello sports fans!

Only have a few quick moments, promise a longer post later this weekend.

Colby Rasmus trade: Expected, but did not turn out the way I thought. I like that the Cards picked up some pitching, which they need desperately but not sure it was worth dealing off Rasmus. However, maybe his issues with LaRussa were bigger than we thought. Starting to make me wonder if it might be time for Tony to retire. We just gave away our biggest hitting prospect for what? Maybe a chance to win the NL Central this year. But next year? And the next? Who knows. Maybe Rasmus will do better in a different environment, maybe not. We'll just have to wait and see.

NFL is BACK! Thank goodness I don't think I could have survived without the NFL this fall. Since the lockout has ended so much movement going on it's crazy! But kind of fun to see hour by hour what happens.

I have a lot to say about what's going on but have to keep this short for now.

First, Rams just signed Mike Sims-Walker and I like this. The Rams needed a veteran wideout. We weren't going to get Rice, and I'm on the fence about Plaxico and Edwards. Sims-Walker is young and I'm interested in seeing what Josh Daniels can do with him, and how he and Bradford work together.

In Colts news, Vinateri and Bullitt have been signed. Peyton Manning...still waiting. Isray has insisted that he wants Peyton to be the highest paid athlete in the NFL. Peyton today said that he'd take less money if it means he gets a deal signed and that the team has money to sign other players. Wow. Talk about a team player. Are you listening Albert? I have always had so much respect for Manning but this is really admirable. Hell, he makes enough off of endorsements anyway!

That's my quick update for now, more later this weekend when I have time to actually write.

Are you ready for some football?

Talkin' Baseball...

The All Star Break is over, so we are more than half way through baseball season. The Cardinals are still hanging in there, right now it's a 3 way race for the NL Central between the Cardinals, the Pirates and the Brewers. However, pitching is still a major problem.

The Kyles, Lohse and McClellan have struggled lately. The last 14 games started by either Kyle? Cards are 1-13. Ouch. Bernie Miklasz has a great article about this here.

As the trade deadline looms it is clear that Mozeliak needs to focus on finding some pitching or else the Cardinals are really going to struggle down the stretch and any hope of playoff contention may be out the window.

There has been lots of talk about the possibility of trading Colby Rasmus. I have mixed feelings about this. For one, the Cards have invested a lot in him and it would be a shame to trade him only to see him succeed elsewhere. On the other hand, there is the drama of the Tonys. Tony Rasmus, Colby's dad, and Tony LaRussa, Cards manager. Colby has been struggling lately at bat, certainly not at the level that Cards staff or fans hoped. Bernie thinks that it might be wise to send him back to AAA Memphis for awhile, if the Cards decide to keep him. Perhaps that may help. They have to do something. Can't let him continue to slump and just watch him fail.

If they do trade, they can't trade low, it would have to be a great deal, and my personal opinion is unless there's some top notch pitcher out there that we can get and possibly sign at the end of the season to a longer term deal, I don't know if trading him is the best idea. I'd hate to see Colby traded for a short term fix that may or may not pan out.

Many professional players are sent back to the minors to help them focus on things they are having problems with and they come back stronger and better players. So that is my hope for Colby. If the Cards really want to keep him, then let's find a way to help him get back on track so he can be the player we all know he can be.

NFL news...the owners have come to an agreement to end the lockout. Now, the players have to come to a decision. That's going to take a lot longer, and it looks like the opening preseason game featuring the Rams and the Bears is going to be cancelled, which is a total shame. I was really looking forward to the Rams getting some high profile coverage, it being the first game of the NFL season (and televised nationally) but things were going to be postponed or cancelled, we all knew it.

I just hope a deal is put in place soon. I don't know how I would survive the fall without NFL football. I'm already reading to start planning my fantasy football teams.

At least, I know for sure, college football will be in full gear shortly.

Apparently keeping up a blog is harder than I thought. If football season was in gear I'd be posting at least once a week. I love baseball, but it's a long season and it hard for me since my team is in St. Louis and I'm in LA, so I hear a lot more about the Dodgers and Angels.

The Mavs on the NBA championship. Well deserved. Dirk is a beast. What an amazing player to watch. I would have liked to see the Lakers do a 3-peat, but they just were not on it this year. The Mavs played hard and in the end LeBron just could not lead Miami to the win. Which makes me happy, as I'm not a huge fan of LeBron. Is he talented? Most definitely. But as a person? Don't really care for him.

Speaking of the NBA, what in the world is up with my bro Ron Artest changing his name? Ron explains the name change here, but still. Metta World Peace? Ochocinco I can understand, even if it is incorrect Spanish (ocho = 8 cinco = 5. 85 = ochenta y cinco). I just...well, good luck getting people to call you that Ron.

The NHL finals came down to a grueling battle between Vancouver and Boston and in the end, the Boston Bruins pulled off the win. So what did fans in Vancouver do? Riot. The Bulls won the NBA championship in 1992 and which resulted in riots in the city. They WON. Vancouver LOSES and riots ensue. Really Vancouver? So not classy. Makes you wonder what would have happened had they won. Yikes.

Baseball, baseball. Pujols got injured, came back and the Cardinals still have no bullpen. Yet they are tied for 1st at the All Star Break. Though right now the NL Central is pretty much up for grabs among the Cards, Brewers, Reds and...the Pirates? Wow. First time in a long time I can recall them being in the running. It'll be interesting to see how the rest of the season plays out. The Cardinals organization is going to have to do something on the pitching issue, because even though they are hanging in there in the NL Central, there's no way they'll get further than a division title without some help.

Speaking of the All Star Game, for the second year in a row the NL won. I'll admit, I only watched bits and pieces of the game (although to my credit, the game started at 5pm my time. I didn't even get home until 6:30). I'm glad to see the NL dominating after so many years of the AL winning. I still hate that the All Star Game determines home field advantage. I understand why Selig did it, I just don't agree with it. Home field should go to the team with the best record, just like the NFL.

Oh yes, the NFL. Talks have resumed and today the top players said "we want a deal." Please football gods, let's end this. Players should be reporting to camp any moment now. We're a month away from preseason. Just settle it before things get even uglier than they already are.

Okay, promise to post more and resurrect this blog. More of my thoughts on the world of sports soon!