By Low/Sell High August 2nd (Brandon Inge, Gil Meche)

Buy Low: Brandon Inge

Key Stats:

Pitcher:	BABIP	K/BB	PTO%	qERA	ERA Dif	P/IP	FIP
Hitter:	BABIP	P/PA	BB/SO	GB/FB	HR/FB
2008	0.200	4.08	0.46	1.204	18.37%
2007	0.231	4.24	0.31	1.281	12.28%
2006	0.235	4.13	0.34	1.250	19.29%

Now that Pudge is out of town, Inge is going to take over catching duties full time. He’s probably better than several options that many owners have out there. Even though his historical BABIP is low, it’s lower than normal but all of the other peripherals are normal. I think he’s better than many options out there but I definitely wouldn’t give up too much for him.

Inge, Brandon 3B DET for Span, Denard OF MIN

Inge, Brandon 3B DET for Aurilia, Rich 1B SF

Inge, Brandon 3B DET for Blanton, Joe SP PHI

Sell High: Gil Meche

Key Stats: 

Pitcher:	BABIP	K/BB	PTO%	qERA	ERA Dif	P/IP	FIP
Hitter:	BABIP	P/PA	BB/SO	GB/FB	HR/FB
2008	0.296	2.300	26.5%	4.52	-0.299	16.99	3.97
2007	0.301	2.520	26.83%	4.23	-0.556	16.56	3.96
2006	0.298	1.86	26.44%	4.58	-0.100	17.67	4.57

Gil’s peripherals across the board are bad and it’s only time before everything will collapse. His latest string of good starts came at a time when all of the teams he was facing were struggling. Even though the BABIP is normal, all of the others are worse than last year. Again, not likely to get a kings ransom but you could easily get something to help you down the stretch run.

Meche, Gil SP KC for Pena, Carlos 1B TB

Drew, J.D. RF BOS and Meche, Gil SP KC for Webb, Brandon SP ARI

Meche, Gil SP KC and Pierzynski, A.J. C CHW for Shields, James SP TB

What to do with your trading deadline looming?

I already covered what to focus on for next year if you are in keeper leagues here, but what if you want or need to focus on this year. Your trading deadline is probably looming within the next week or two and you have to decide who will help you and who won't.

I mentioned before that at this point in the game counting stats are what matters. The rate stats are too hard to make up at this point in the game, even if you get a great rate hitter or pitcher from here on out. You likely have close to 3200-3600 AB so far so even 200-230 better AB isn't going to make a huge difference. Also, 100IP the rest of the way, isn't likely to effect your ERA and WHIP.

So we need to focus on HR,R,SB,RBI and K,S, and W.

I'll attack the pitching first. My league has a GS limit, so I try to pick up 2-3 long middle relievers (Chad Durbin and Chad Gaudin) who can help me with Ks and an occasional win while not effecting your limit. Gaudin and Durbin has gotten me 3 W, 38K, in a little over 40 IP. This hasn't cost me anything towards my limits and has actually helped me out in the rate stats too. I always have as many of these kind of guys in the lineup.

The other option for pitching is making a blockbuster and throwing away all your saves to get a stud pitcher, if saves can't really help that much. You have to look at how many points you'll gain from getting a guy that does well in Ks and Wins, than a guy who will help you with Saves. Try trading away your 3rd closer for a #3SP. Jair Jurrjens, Ervin Santana, Ricky Nolasco all are in this group. If the other team needs saves or SB, this is a prime time to grab a couple of these guys.

For hitting, it's obviously a little bit easier. You have to find someone playing everyday and if he is better than what you have currently, you plug him in. The problem comes in that there aren't many players out there (at least on the wire) who are probably better than what you have. This is where trading your SP or a 3rd OF or both for an upgrade on the hitting side. If you need just power, Chris Davis, isn't too shaby a pickup, despite my worries about a little less HR/FB than what he's doing. The best guys to look for at this point are the 20/20 kind of guy. They are always undervalued by everyone because they don't have any 1 particular stat that they excel in. Another set to focus on are those that just got starting gigs because of trades. Guys like Corey Hart, Mike Cameron, Brandon Inge, Jayson Werth, Elijah Dukes, or even Brandon Moss if you are in a really deep league.

These are just a couple of options on this year. There are always other trades that could be made, but at this point it's not very feasible to pull of a major blockbuster. Everyone who thinks they have a shot will hold their binkies close to their chest. I would be willing to trade anyone who I think will make my team better and you should do the same. There are always trades to be made.

Buy Low Sell High August 1st (Andy LaRoche/Andre Ethier)

Buy Low: Andy LaRoche

Key Stats:

Pitcher:	BABIP	K/BB	PTO%	qERA	ERA Dif	P/IP	FIP
Hitter:	BABIP	P/PA	BB/SO	GB/FB	HR/FB
2008	0.182	3.75	1.43	2.071	14.29%
2007	0.235	3.85	0.83	1.500	5.00%
2006	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A

Andy can flat out hit as he’s doing in the minors this year and the trade to Pitt will finally get him away from an organization that has been screwing him around. He has the hitting pedigree and I fully expect him to turn it around.

LaRoche, Andy 3B PIT for Lowrie, Jed SS BOS

LaRoche, Andy 3B PIT for Taveras, Willy CF COL

LaRoche, Andy 3B PIT for Wigginton, Ty 3B HOU

(These trades were done before the many trade most likely so you may have to trade a little more to get him. These were the most up to date trades I had on hand though.)

Sell High: Andre Ethier

Key Stats: 

Pitcher:	BABIP	K/BB	PTO%	qERA	ERA Dif	P/IP	FIP
Hitter:	BABIP	P/PA	BB/SO	GB/FB	HR/FB
2008	0.261	4.18	0.54	1.220	11.00%
2007	0.272	3.68	0.68	1.553	11.40%
2006	0.295	3.59	0.44	1.294	10.09%

Joe Torre isn’t known for playing his rookies or youngsters and I don’t think it’ll change now. Most likely it’s going to be Manny, Kemp, and Pierre playing most of the time which means that Ethier’s playing time is going to be dramatically reduced. It’s a shame because Ethier took some really good strides this year but it doesn’t matter if you can’t get on the field. I think he’ll have value next year so for those in keeper leagues you may want to get a little more in return.

Ethier, Andre LF LA and Perez, Chris RP STL for Lowe, Derek SP LA

Ethier, Andre LF LA for Abreu, Bobby RF NYY

Ethier, Andre LF LA and Kotchman, Casey 1B ATL for Granderson, Curtis CF DET