The Sports Beat

• The Rich Harden trade could be a coup for the Cubs.  They got the guy with the best gas in baseball for a B pitching prospect (from Boston, MA!) who projects as a number four starter in the AL, a quality corner outfielder in Matt Murton, and some spare pieces with C potential.  There’s plenty of risk involved, but I like the move by Jim Hendry, and Billy Beane made a nice move for the long-term, one that won’t hurt much this season either.
• The precursor to the Harden deal, CC Sabathia’s arrival in Mikwaukee, was a solid move for both clubs.  Keith Law thinks the Indians could have done better, and when it comes to opinions Law usually has the best, but I’m not so sure in this case.  I like getting a potential power bat in Matt LaPorta and the rest is too far and too to be named later to really know about at this point.  With Sabathia most likely bolting to a big market team (perhaps the Steinbrothers will make a splash with loads of money coming off the payroll after this season) I believe the Poorly Named Clevelanders did well for themselves.
• Terry Francona has disappointed a bit lately.  His hit-and-run down one with Mike Lowell on first and Jason Varitek at bat against the Rays the other day was inexplicable.  Tek has trouble making contact at all at this point, and to ask him to execute repeatedly with a slow runner on in the 9th was silly.  Furthermore, his handling of Jon Lester tonight against Minnesota was poorly planned.  Francona left Lester in to start the 8th when the young southernpaw had already thrown 101 pitches in seven innings, and only removed his Schilling replacement as personal personnel favorite after he allowed the first two batters to reach, then struck out Craig Monroe.  Bringing in David Aardsma earlier would have been the logical move.  This doesn’t mean I want Tito’s head or anything, but he should get back on his game.  The Sox bats have covered for him tonight, though, meaning most won’t notice any of this.

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