Red Sox-Twins (July 30, 2005)

The Red Sox won in a wierd fasion -- Damon's "3-run home run" -- but the bottom line is that they won. The Sox now hold a 2.5-game lead over the Yankees in the A.L. East with the Blue Jays (5-games back) and Orioles (6-games) also in the rear view mirror. Tonight the Sox have David Wells (8-5, 4.57) throwing against Minnesota's Kyle Lohse (7-9, 4.45). NESN and WEEI have the game at 7:05 p.m. For those of you lucky enough to have WGN out of Chicago, tune in this afternoon at 4:05 p.m. to see the Cubs play the Diamondbacks with Milton's Rich Hill pitching for the Cubs. Instead of thought's on Friday's game (Arroyo was great in a pinch for the sore Wade Miller -- does Papelbon start Sunday?), I would like to discuss some trade rumors. First off, the three-way deal that would send Manny to the Mets for Mike Cameron and bring Aubrey Huff to Fenway from Tampa Bay is ridiculous. I understand Manny's contract is an albatross and that his attitude is a detriment more often than it should be but bringing back Cameron and Huff is not enough. Cameron is a great defensive outfielder but he's a hack at the plate and Huff is an ogre in the field and has shown signs in '05 of a slow bat. If you must trade him than do so, just bring back something in return that is of some value. The Manny trade may just be a smoke screen anyways. The Providence Journal is reporting that the Sox are on the cusp of acquiring Larry Bigbie from Colorado for Kelly Shoppach and Adam Stern. Bigbie was dealt by Baltimore to the Rockies for Eric Byrnes last night and it is expected the Rockies will flip him to Boston for Shoppach and Stern.