Quick Smack

-- Zack Greinke is an enigma, and even when he's successful he's entirely too hittable.

-- The Royals don't handle player movement very well. Mike Wood was obviously very upset that he was being sent to AAA and being converted to a starter, and it sounds like it was something they sprung on him without any warning. Where's the love?

Frankly, Mike hasn't been very good in his role in middle relief for the last 6 weeks, so perhaps a shake-up is in order.

-- Its hard not to believe in the White Sox when they keep spanking the Royals like this. Its not that the Royals are any reasonable barometer, but these games are really the only time I pay attention to the Sox. They're so vastly superior to the Royals in every aspect of the game.

Why wouldn't the White Sox be interested in Sweeney? Frank Thomas isn't able to stay off the DL (even moreso than Sweeney), and the White Sox could use a solid bat for the playoffs. Ken Williams isn't afraid to trade good prospects for players who can produce now, which would fit the Royals demands for a top talent in return.

Sounds like a good fit to me, except for whole "Don't trade in your own division" nonsense rule-of-thumb.

-- Will any team meet the Royals' asking price for their three tradable commodities - Affeldt, MacDougal or Sweeney? The deadline approacheth, and I'm guessing that one of them will be gone by Sunday. I think it will be MacDougal, but Baird will settle for lesser prospects than he originally demanded. I don't necessarily think this is a concession on the Royals' part; I agree with their strategy to ask for the moon but settle something..less....than...the...moon, whatever that may be. This is Mike MacDougal we're talking about here.

Question: Would you trust Mike MacDougal to be your closer if your team was in contention for the playoff? If not, would you trust MacDougal in any other role BESIDES closer?

I wouldn't, but a desperate team will try to make do, so I'm thinking a grade B+ and B prospect for MacDougal.

Or Affeldt.