Ballyard Dreams Shattered

I once owned a Keith Hernandez model, two-tone Louisville Slugger. I begged my mom to buy it for me with the intention of using it during my senior season of high school ball. Man, I loved that bat -- it was a thing of beauty. And, as the only player with a wood bat, I would be the awe of all my teammates.

First time up with it, in a meaningless Winter League game, I cracked a double the opposite way. I discovered minutes later that I also cracked my precious lumber. Needless to say, I was devastated and my baseball career was never the same.

Trading places. Lots of action on Trade Deadline Day, too much really to go into any detail. Let's just sum it up by saying the Red Sox (C/1B Victor Martinez from Cleveland), Tigers (LHP Jarrod Washburn from Seattle) and White Sox (RHP Jake Peavy from San Diego) did OK for themselves for the stretch run. And that's what it's all about, right?

There were many more deals but none that had any significant impact for their clubs this season (I'm still trying to figure out what the Reds were thinking in going after Toronto's Scott Rolen and the same goes for the Yankees' acquisition of Jerry Hairston Jr.).

Still, with all the activity, the most anticipated trade of 2009 didn't get done -- Roy "Doc" Halladay remains a Blue Jay.

Tip of the Cup. To new Phillies ace Cliff "Lefty" Lee, whose complete-game four-hit victory over the Giants conjured memories of another great Phillies left-hander, Steve Carlton. Lee also had a couple of hits and scored a run.

Run-of-the-mill BS. Eleven save situations and only three blown -- a disappointing turnout: Kerry Wood, Indians (5); Matt Guerrier, Twins (2); Alberto Arias, Astros (2).