EXPOS - 7/08/02
July 08, 2002
LATEST TEAM INFO:
A major trade has shocked Major League Baseball as the Montreal Expos have sent Lee Stevens, minor league prospects Brandon Phillips, Cliff Lee, and Grady Sizemore to the Cleveland Indians for Bartolo Colon, Tim Drew and cash. This trade confirms that the Expos want to win right now, in what is quite possibly their final season in Montreal. The Expos also head into the all star break only 5 games out of the wild card spot in the National League. With one of the deepest pitching staffs in all of the majors, expect the Expos to be in the thick of things right till the end.
LOCAL PERSPECTIVE:
Despite the excitement surrounding the team, attendance has not increased all that much and is not showing any signs of doing so. I believe this is because there is such a great threat of this season being shortened by a strike that the fans do not want to come out to games. I personally do not blames them for this attitude but it is probably doing more harm to the team than good. If the fans would show some interest it might be enough to encourage a local investor to purchase the team and keep it in Montreal. It's probably wishful thinking on my part to suggest such a thing taking place but any success the Expos have had has pretty much been a miracle. A team that was not even supposed to be around thing season is contending for a playoff spot and is writing itself an amazing story. Keep up the good work 'Spos
RUMOR MILL:
There is a major rumour surrounding the Expos right now that would see them aquire Cliff Floyd and Ryan Dempster from the Florida Marlins for Graeme Lloyd, Masato Yoshii and minor leaguers Josh Karp, Justin Wayne, and Don Levinski or any combination thereof. The Expos are also interested in aquiring Orlando Hernandez from the New York Yankees who has become expendable since the Yankees traded for Jeff Weaver. Stay tuned to this situation.
INJURIES:
Jose Vidro is still being bothered by a couple of injuries but he will not miss any considerable time for the time being. He left a game last week but has since returned to the lineup and will start for the Nation League all star team.
ON THE FARM:
The Expos have lost some prospects lately but are still very deep in the minor leagues pitching-wise. Josh Karp, who could be traded shortly, Eric Good, Luke Lockwood, and Rich Rundles and could be good pitchers someday. The Expos have, however, traded or are on the verge of trading most of their top short term prospects like Brandon Phillips, Cliff Lee, Donnie Bridges, and Justin Wayne. The pitching will be helped in the future by Tim Drew who was one of the top pitching prospects in the Cleveland Indians' organization.
QUICK VIEW:
Add:
3B - Fernando Tatis - Has been hitting for some power lately and could be returning to his past form.
RP - Scott Stewart - Has stepped up as Montreal's closer for the time being.
Drop:
SS - Orlando Cabrera - Is not having a great season at the plate and isn't showing any signs of turning it around
Hold:
RF Vladimir Guerreo, 2B Jose Vidro, SP Bartolo Colon, SP Javier Vazquez all for obvious reasons.
Keep An Eye On:
SP - Tomo Ohka - Continues to impress
