With the trade of Chris Burke, Chad Qualls and Juan Gutierrez for D-backs closer Jose Valverde, this is now officially Ed Wade's team. The guy has guts, that's for sure. While I still think he gave up too much for Tejada (I'm not even going to get into the steroid issue this post,) it was the type of shake things up trade this franchise needed. This team was not going to win next season with some minor tweaks.
I still don't know if this team is good enough to win a weak division, I still think Wade needs to go out and get one more decent starting pitcher. The idea of going into the season with Woody Williams, Brandon Backe, Wandy Rodriguez and Chris Sampson as the guys throwing when Oswalt doesn't is a bit unsettling for me right now. Woody showed us last season he has nothing left, Backe and Sampson have had arm troubles and Wandy was erratic. I have concerns about the bullpen as well after Valverde and Brocail. However, if everyone stays relatively healthy, there's no reason this team shouldn't contend with the lineup they have in place now.
Here's my wild (and wishful) thought of the day: Roger Clemens has a Texas-sized ego, I'm almost certain the guy thinks he has something to prove following the Mitchell report. Why not extend some overtures toward him for a May/June return. Perhaps he will give the team the hometown discount circa 2004 season.
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