According to Rob Neyer -- The Marlins just picked up Ron Villone from the Mariners, for a couple of Grade C pitching prospects. Good moves for both teams. Weren't we interested in him as a reliever?
Yea... his name was mentioned as a possible guy the Astros could target. But, do I think he would have "made the difference?"... no. Its becoming obvious that this team's main need is offense. Only after you have that firmly established do things like situational lefty relief get fulfilled. Aiyee! Here comes Gallo!
Its okay to say it... I have a bad feeling about Gallo or Springer vs. ANYBODY in a close game situation.
According to ESPN, The Chicago Cubs have improved their outfield by picking up Matt Lawton from the Pittsburgh Pirates.
I'm not saying that Lawton is a great pick up for them (because they got tons of other problems besides offense), but what's the deal with Pittsburgh bendin over backwards to trade every marginally good player they've got to Chicago??? I'll still never forgive them for giving up Aramis Ramierez and Kenny Lofton for virtually nothing.
Because they wanted a Lefty vs. Lefty in that situation...they brought in Gallo just to face Floyd and it didn't work out.
He's not a difference maker, but he should could have helped us. He gets on base a ton, and would have came in with the 2nd highest OBP on the team behind only Berkman.
How much of that OBP had to do with the fact that there isn't much of anybody in the Pittsburgh lineup who can hurt you (they've been worse than us this year). Lawton has also been known as a me-first guy... the type of guy who doesn't care that much about winning. Would he have helped us.. yea.... but would he have made us significantly better, no.
He's always been a good on-base guy, and his current OBP is not that much better than he did last year, and in line with his career numbers.