7th Inning Stretch with Scott Fragale - Not So Deep Thoughts: Crystal Ball Time

Not So Deep Thoughts: Crystal Ball Time
Posted by Tuff Stuff

Over the past few months, I've unveiled some fearless predictions in this column. Some have come to fruition, others not so much. But the great thing about having a blog is that you can write almost anything you want and still have a space to write some more the next day. With that said, I decided to toss out a few more predictions with the new approach being, we'll revisit the predictions in the future and see exactly how things played out.

MLB
With the Trade Deadline just 10 days away, expect a flurry of activity as teams try and find that one/two pieces to the puzzle that will put them

over the top. The biggest name available is Roy Halladay. While every team would love to acquire a top-of-the-rotation, innings hound ace like Halladay, only a few teams have the necessary resources to actually make the deal. My Brewers are one such team with several strong minor league gems in their system, but according to Milwaukee GM Doug Melvin, the Brewers aren't willing to part with SS of the future Alcides Escobar or 3B Matt Gamel, the two players the Blue Jays apparently covet. One possible deal that hasn't gotten much attention is Gamel and former All-Star shortstop J.J. Hardy in exchange for Halladay.

If the Blue Jays view Hardy as the hard-hitting defensive wizard he was last year the deal would make a lot of sense for both sides. Toronto would get a new, young left side of its infield and the Brewers would get an ace who could consistently take them deep into ballgames and allow young pitcher Yovani Gallardo to return to his role as the team's No. 2 starter because he has yet to display the consistency needed from a staff ace. I was leaning toward Halladay going to Philadelphia but the Phils are rolling and should have plenty of in-house talent to win the East. The slumping Hardy is slowly falling out of favor in Milwaukee and Escobar being the heir at short for the Brewers, I think Melvin rolls the dice one more time and pulls the trigger on the Halladay deal, calls up Escobar and hopes he can make a smooth transition to the bigs.

While I admit I'm a Brewers fan and would love to see Halladay come to Milwaukee, I'm not sure he would be enough to get the Crew into the postseason but the window of opportunity is wide open right now so why not take another shot. Besides, throughout Hardy's minor league career he was known as a defensive-minded shortstop that would have to learn how to hit major league pitching. He appeared to do that in 2007 and last season when he hit 24 HRs, knocked in 74 and batted .283, but perhaps this year's .226 average with 61 strikeouts is a better indication of what to expect from him?

Other players that will be relocated before the trade deadline will be Matt Holliday, Victor Martinez, Freddy Sanchez and left-handed reliever Scott Downs.

NFL
Former Pro Bowl QB Michael Vick has finished paying his 23-month sentence for dogfighting charges but the next question is how will commisioner Roger Goodell handle his possible reinstatement. My prediction is that Goodell will come down with an iron fist and stays true to his past. He's been tough on players convicted before and let's not forget Vick straight up lied to his face before the trial when Goodell asked him point blank, "Did you do what they are accusing you of?" My guess is Roger hasn't fogetten that day and will make Vick pay a little more before he gets to take the field again. Prediction: Vick remains suspended for the first eight games of the season then signs with a playoff-contending team who needs an established veteran to make their postseason push, perhaps Carolina.

Let me hear what you think about these predictions and feel free to post some of your own. Then we'll check back and see who's crystal ball works and who's is cracked.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009 3:31:33 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)

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