The names Guillermo Moscoso and Carlos Melo aren't names you're familiar with, but you may in a couple short seasons.  The Rangers and Tigers made the trade as expected would happen with a surplus of catchers to trade at will.  This move is a good move for both clubs.  Guillermo Moscoso and Carlos Melo have strong upside and their bodies were built to be pitchers.  Moscoso has the potential to be a young Pedro Martinez and he may be the first one of the two to make the 40-man roster. Melo, on the other hand, has good upside; his fastball can reach up to 100 MPH, but his control is an issue. 

This move doesn't mean the Rangers are done dealing at the Winter Meetings.  The Meetings end on Thursday and the Rangers may have more catchers to deal.  Taylor Teagarden looks set, but Max Ramirez and Jarrod Saltalamacchia are still valuable assets on the trade market. Boston, Kansas City, and Atlanta (the team Saltalamacchia came from) have expressed interest in trading for him, but are unwilling to deal any starting arms.  Many things can happen in a short time, especially at the Winter Meetings.  

Continue reading "Rangers make early move in the Winter Meetings, deal Gerald Laird for two pitchers"

The Atlanta Falcons have to be the surprise team of the 2008 season and Mike Smith deserves to be Coach of the Year whether the Falcons make the playoffs or not.  However, their reality will come crashing down on them in the final three games of the season.

Atlanta will play Tampa Bay this week and then play Minnesota and St. Louis to close out the season.  The Falcons have already played Tampa Bay once this season and lost 9-24.  Atlanta's youth and inexperience will unravel with the remaining schedule.  The Dallas Cowboys are right behind the Falcons in the playoff hunt, but I project the Falcons to lost two of the next three.  

That's not to take anything away from the incredible season they've had.  Matt Ryan should be in the running for Rookie of the Year.  With the NFC being so good this season a 10-6 or 9-7 team may not make it.  I attribute the youth and inexperience of the Falcons to be the contributing factor.  They haven't made the playoffs since 2004 and the current squad has only a handful of players on both sides of the ball that were on that team, one of the reasons for the 8-5 record thus far.  

Continue reading "Surprise Falcons 8-5, on cusp of playoffs, but not to be this season"