It was only a couple of days ago that most of the comments here featured “Washburn is only a back-of-the-rotation pitcher, we don’t want him” or “the M’s should thank the Yankees for taking Washburn and his salary off their hands, and they should take that B- prospect while the offer is still good”.

Obviously the M’s didn’t share that opinion, but I’m sure they would agree with your point about Washburn and other available pitchers costing more between now and August 31st.

He’s given up 199 hits and 29 walks in 139.2 IP – which computes to a 1.63 WHIP.

That very Ponson-esque – who has given up 109 hits and 28 walks in 82.1 IP and computes to a 1.66 WHIP.

No thanks. I trust Darrell Rasner and Ian Kennedy more than that.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that there are “strong indications” that Livan Hernandez will be let to go open up a spot in Minnesota’s rotation for Francisco Liriano.

Common sense prevails. Time will tell if waiting the extra month wiil end up costing the Twins a spot in the postseason.

Aug. 1 – 12:50 am et Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune
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I wouldn’t mind signing Livan on the cheap for the bottom of our rotation.

Joba Andy Mussina Hughes

We out…..

I think it is safe to say that any of Boston, Tampa, and Los Angeles will be a difficult team to play in October. I think Tampa is especially dangerous in a short series due to the top 3 of Kazmir/Shields/Garza combined with their solid bullpen. The Angels top 3 doesn’t impress me as much.

Even Chicago could cause headaches since their bats could give the Yankee mediocre pitchers some nightmares. So let’s hope Minnesota sneaks in and we meet up with them somewhere down the line, like the ALCS.

So you must do something different

The reason you bring up IPK is to see if you get something better than Ponson because Ponson showed at Balt waht he is — if you did not know it before shmae on you

– he has NO CHANCE against the Angels — and we lewarn nothing just another wasted start — another game thrown away

– maybe IPK has learned something — maybe he can understands what it was to have a Yankee uniform and lose it – maybe Pudge communicates better than Jorge and Molina —

we are not getting to October riding Ponson and Rasner —

So — if there is a better choice in the minors than IPK than pick tht guy

– heck audition them all — PONSON is a wasted start every time out – Sr Elizabeth can beat the teams he is capable of going 5 innings against and nearly the same is true of Rasner. You might as well trot the little Sisters of the Poor out there one at a time — they will give equal or better results than Ponson

“Truely I am elated that he is gone.”

Yeah it’s a good thing but i really feel like we’ve witnessed the end of an era.
Who knows, maybe many years from now we will be watching the highlights of his HOF induction speech on ESPN like we did with Goose last weekend and we’ll say to ourselves ” We really brought out the best in that guy. Those were some fun years.”
I don’t want to get all sappy but in times like today we should reflect on the big picture of baseball and on how we all have been privileged to get to see these great players day in and day out. Others have not been so lucky.

Anyway I’m hoping that Sir Sid is currently as drunk as a monkey and pulls off some David Wells magic a la 1998 (or at least 6 inn. 3 runs ) and we even this series.