The Rangers may not be making a big splash with a centerfield this off-season.
The price for a centerfielder may be too cost prohibative.
So, the Rangers are looking for the next best thing.
Trade.
That's looking a little off-kilter as well, but we'll see what happens.
Here's a few of the trade candidates that are out there that could be reasonable expectations to start for Texas next season, via trade:
Coco Crisp (Boston) - This is the sexy pick, as Crisp is not only a proven defender, but he's also under contract for three years. He's also now been surpassed by Jacoby Ellsbury and will likely needs to be traded before Spring Training starts. However, Boston won't let him go for a pittance and they would probably like a pair of prospects in exchange. There have been talks about Gerald Laird, which I would totally do, especially if I were to decide to include a player to be named later option on the deal, though for the moment, we'll just have to wait and see.
Ryan Sweeney (White Sox) - A former Number One pick, Sweeney has had a hard go of it with the White Sox, with many wondering if he's still has a future with the franchise, especially since Kenny Williams has been shopping him aggressively for a reliever. Sweeney seems like a decent reclaimation project and would be a reasonable centerfield option for a few years as a stopgap, and if he's ever able to tap into the batting practice power he shows, this could be a steal. One problem: White Sox GM Kenny Williams is notorious for overvaluing his own players and will demand someone like Joaquin Benoit or C.J. Wilson in return, which he won't get.
Joey Gathright/David DeJesus (Royals) - It seems to flip flop each week on which one is getting placed on the table. Of the pair, I would gladly take DeJesus, who's still young and plays a good centerfield, over Gathright, who is quick, but very mistake prone. RIght now there were rumors of a trade for Gathright centered around Joaquin Arias, a shortstop prospect made expendable by current Rangers' prospects Elvis Andrus and Marcus Lemon. I'd see what the interest is for Arias, and would also throw in a player to be named later option to see if that wouldn't hurry things along for a deal.
Rocco Baldelli (Rays) - Baldelli is definately being shopped, but right now the Rays are hoping to get pitching back, something Texas doesn't have an abundance of near the big league level. Another potential deal breaker is the fact that Baldelli is very injury prone, which could result in the Rangers taking a pass on this.
Long Term Deal For Kinsler Likely To Be Explored Again
With the emeregence off Ian Kinsler as a leadoff man, the Rangers are likely to try and see if they could possibly sign Kinsler to a five year deal, buying out one year of free agency, while also providing Kinsler with some financial stability in the process. My guess is that something gets done. With the $21 million from A-Rod now available, why would you not spend it on something as logical as locking up your OWN players!!!!
Why has there not been any public talk about signing Kinsler this year? He has shown that he has what it takes to be a solid player in the league and was one of only a few success stories this year. Why not lock him up right now? The Rangers will meet with Kinsler's agents at some point this offseason and discuss a long-term contract that will lock him up for several years. Count on it.
Upgrading The Bench
One thing that caught my eye was that the Padres declined Rob Mackowiak's $3.25 million option for 2008. Mackowiak has some history of being a decent bat, but didn’t do much with the Padres and was hurt. I would be all about bringing him in as the utilityman. He’d be a solid upgrade over Raul Vasquez and could platoon with Cat at first against lefties. Another thought would be to offer Rod Barajas another shot in Texas, where he’d be the backup to Salty and possibly mentor him.
Having to scrap the additions to the 40 man for now, but I’ve instead need to work on something else.
September Call Ups.
Here’s who we could see up for the Rangers after September 1st.
Armando Galarraga (RHP) – The big fish of the group, Galarraga was the third prospect traded in the Alfonso Soriano trade, Galarraga had a poor 2006 season, mostly after trying to recover from heavy workloads as well as being fresh of Tommy John. He’s since become beastly for both the Frisco Roughriders and the Oklahoma Redhawks and was even considered to be named the starter on Saturday until it was decided Jamey Wright would play. He’ll likely be a part of the odd six man rotation idea that the Rangers have going.
A.J. Murray (RHP) – The Bullpen can use another lefty and Murray is showing signs of improvement. There’s also the possibility that he could begin to get work as a starter, as that’s how the organization views him long term.
Edinson Volquez (RHP) – Simply put, Volquez has had a excellent season and deserves a shot to prove that he’s ready to finally be a viable rotation option and not simply just a intriguing arm that can’t get it done.
Chris Stewart (C) – Stewart will be the third catcher and will be auditioning for the backup role next year.
Victor Diaz (RF) – Diaz is also on the hot seat and needs to prove that he’s ready to mash at the big league level. He could make life difficult to Nelson Cruz in the coming days, especially if he really tears it up.
Freddy Guzman (CF) – Another guy fighting for his job, Guzman needs to prove he’s worth his 40 Man spot, otherwise he’ll be DFA’d and tried to pass through waivers.
Centerfield In Texas
Though the Rangers have had some good work in centerfield from Marlon Byrd, the Rangers could use an upgrade in centerfield. I’m not sure Byrd can sustain this rate and he’s a much worse player outside of Rangers Ballpark.
So, is there any available options out there to help improve?
One route is externally. The Rangers could try to acquire one of the free agent centerfielders in the market this off-season, with Andruw Jones, Mike Cameron, Aaron Rowand, and Corey Patterson, with Japanese import Kosuke Fukudome behind them all. Signing any of them except for Fukudome would result in the loss of a second round pick (as the Rangers’ 1st rounder is all but assured to be a Top 5.)
A better option would be to pursue a trade option, with three options available in the East in Boston’s Coco Crisp, New York’s Johnny Damon and Tampa’s Rocco Baldelli.
Crisp is one year away from free agency and he has prospect Jacoby Ellsbury breathing down his neck for the job. Boston could look at unloading Crisp to make room for Ellsbury and use the savings to improve other parts of the offense or bullpen if they so desire. I’m not sure why type of trade could be reached, but maybe the Rangers could make a deal if the parts are unable to match. The price shouldn’t be exorbant because Crisp only has one more year left on his deal. Then again, this deal could backfire, considering that the Rangers would be in the same boat next year.
Damon is also an option, as he can play center to a certain extent and could be rested by Byrd or Murphy if need be. He’s locked in for two more years and by the time he’s ready, centerfield prospect Julio Borbon could be ready to take over. The problem here is that New York would seek to cash in on Damon similar to how they cashed in on Sheffield last year. I’m not sure that Texas is willing to give up some of their lower level prospects, and certainly not Chris Davis, a slugging third baseman that may be moved to first that is near ready, and would be someone New York would covet. Plus, Damon could veto the deal and he’s beginning to decline.
Baldelli is another option, as he has an affordable contract and can hit in the middle of the order. He’s a strong defender as well. The problem with the Baldelli hasn’t played much over the last five years and has more injury issues than Damon. And while he might not cost as much as Damon (thanks to the Devil Rays now having a set outfield of Young, Upton and Crawford), there isn’t any proof that the Baldelli can stay healthy.
The Rangers could try to work some type of four man outfield, depending on who stays. The Rangers currently need to figure out what to do with the mass amount of outfielders they have on the roster right now. Frank Catalonotto, Victor Diaz, Byrd, Murphy, and Nelson Cruz all need playing time and if the Rangers are to acquire Baldelli or another centerfielder, they need to move one or both of Diaz or Cruz to allow regular time for Catalonotto, Byrd and Murphy along with the assumed acquisition of Baldelli.
Washington Wants A “Natural” First Baseman
Texas needs a regular first baseman. Right now, Texas has a #### combination of Frank Catalanotto, Brad Wilkerson and Saltalamacchia sharing time, but the Rangers want a regular first baseman, one that has experience as the position. And of those three, Cat can’t play the infield anymore, Salty’s catching full time next year and Wiffy is likely history. Washington has made it clear however, that he wants a natural first baseman for next season.
Which leaves the trade market?
Anyone available that the Rangers could pursue?
Some. Here are the best options right now:
Nomar Garciaparra (Trade – Dodgers). The Dodgers appear to have bitten off more than they could chew by bringing Garciaparra back this season instead of simply allowing him to leave this off-season. While the financial commitment to Nomar isn’t big, he’s blocking James Loney, who should be playing first from now on, and is blocking Andy LaRoche, who should be playing third. Nomar could put up big numbers in Arlington and may accept a trade to Texas (his wife, Mia, is from here) and could be guaranteed a place to play. It would be a worthwhile gamble for one year, after which the Rangers could promote Chris Davis to play first for one more year.
Adam LaRoche (Trade – Pirates). The Pirates could be interested to trade LaRoche to the Rangers after the improvement of prospect Steven Pearce, who could provide roughly what LaRoche has given them this season at a fraction of the price. Honestly, this deal does make some sense, as not only would it allow the Pirates to get less expensive, it would also allow them to acquire a package of players in exchange. I would likely start a package built around Laird, a young catcher that could benefit in the NL, plus would allow him to split time with Robby Paulino. A package of Luis Mednoza, Laird, and maybe Joaquin Arias or Elvis Andrus might do it. Then again, it’s the Pirates, and for all I know, they would do it for Laird straight up or as a way to get rid of the carcass of Matt Morris.
Todd Helton (Trade – Rockies). This deal could be done, since the Rockies are just looking to get Helton’s contract off the books and were willing to do it for relief help last year. The Rangers again might be able to do it for a package revolving around Laird, who would love his new home, along with a package of Mendoza, Scott Feldman, and change. Maybe. The big issue would be getting Helton to waive his no trade.
Chad Tracy (Trade – Diamondbacks). Tracy was reportedly offered to the Rangers in a potential Mark Teixeira deal, but the deal didn’t progress enough beyond the “WTF? That’s It?” stage. Tracy’s stock is down enough that the Rangers would consider a deal and he wouldn’t be expensive. The only issue is whether or not the rumors are true that Tracy’s body is deteriorating and that he might not be able to play for much longer. Interestingly enough, the Rangers have a prospect of the same name. Imagine the hillarity if both players made the active roster in the same year.
Hank Blalock (Positional Move). There are some worries that Hank Blalock may not be able to throw to first anymore and may not be able to recover from his recent surgery and be able to play third base. So, there has been talk about using Travis Metcalf, a smooth defender with some offensive promise, and moving Hank to First. Hey, at least it wouldn’t be expensive…
Nick Johnson (Trade – Nationals). Nick Johnson is done for the year and doubtful for Spring Training, but with the Nationals making a commitment to Dmitri Young, the Nats’ former first baseman is now likely to be shopped in a trade. Johnson is attractive in that he’s a solid defender, makes hard contact and hits with some power and is generally regarded to be a good clubhouse guy. But how healthy is he and is he ready to play? And will Jim Bowden be crazy enough to demand two top prospects like he did for Young at the deadline and Chad Cordero?
Dan Johnson (Trade – Athletics). It’s not that farfetched that the Rangers could do a trade with their interdivision rivals. Laird came from the Athletics, as did John Rheinnecker, so obviously Beane has no problem trading in the division. Johnson is a candidate to be non-tendered, as he’s out of options and has cooled off since his hot start after returning to the big league club. I would think a deal would be done where it wouldn’t be too expensive and the deal wouldn’t bite the Rangers in the future. Then again, they could always try to get him after he’s nontendered and not have to send Oakland ####, so we’ll see.
Sean Casey (FA – Tigers). Casey isn’t coming back after this season, as the Tigers are looking for a shortstop to allow them to move to Carlos Guillen to first base in order to reduce the wear on his body. Casey is a capable defender, but offensively, he doesn’t offer much, which is a shame, as he seems to be a genuinely nice guy.
Before You Ask, No Pitching!!!
Before you go into the usual “The Rangers Need Pitching” mantra, no they don’t. Here’s the rotation coming into next year.
Kevin Millwood (RHP)
Brandon McCarthy (RHP)
Kason Gabbard (LHP)
Vicente Padilla (RHP)
Fifth Starter
That’s actually not a bad rotation. Millwood has improved greatly after a rough start to the season and McCarthy and Gabbard look like they will have bright futures. Padilla is having a rough season, but with some rest and work, he should be okay as the 4th man in the rotation. There are also a lot of potential fifth starters that could potentially knock Padilla to the 5th spot if he’s not careful. The Rangers will have Kameron Loe John Rheinecker and Edinson Volquez that can capably fill the spot, plus potentially Eric Hurley, Armando Galarraga, Luis Mendoza, Doug Mathis, and Josh Rupe waiting in Triple A for a shot.
There are enough internally options here, enough potential starting pitchers that can be 3rd or 4th guys (with Hurley capable of being a 1) that the Rangers have the luxery of building a staff from within. Hell, after the years they have had, Galarraga and Mendoza could become coveted trade chips this season after doing well in Double and Triple A.
And with the off-season’s best starters looking like a Livan Hernandez and Julian Tavarez, I’m not sold on building externally, especially if it will cost a draft pick.
Potential Trade With Detroit On The Way
The Rangers are discussing trading an outfielder to the Detroit Tigers, who are looking for bench help. The two trade targets are believed to be Brad Wilkerson or Frank Catalonotto, both of whom have cleared waivers and can be traded to anyone. Of the two, Wiffy is the one most likely to be traded, as he’s a short term commitment that wouldn’t require much of value exchanged. As for Cat, he’s next year’s starting left fielder and he’s on a tear, but the money involved would be prohibitive.
Rangers Notes (Majors)
Part of why Willie Eyre has been destroyed as of late is apparently due to injury. Eyre will be undergoing Tommy John Surgery and will be out of commission till 2009 at the earliest. The Rangers won’t be picking up the tab for him to remain on the roster and he’ll likely be non-tendered.
One of the best things John Daniels did was not to Sign Gary Matthews Jr. For 5 years, $50 million and instead sign Lofton to his one year, $6 million deal. The Matthews’ deal was stupid back then and is stupider now, as Matthews has regressed to his old form, that of a fourth outfielder that isn’t good enough to play center, but can’t hit enough to be an outfield corner. Matthews also ranks last in Zone Rating among all AL centerfielders. Meanwhile, Lofton was a excellent defender here and was flipped for a solid young catching prospect, Max Ramirez, who is regarded to be a franchise catcher. Add in the two draft picks gained for Matthews that brought in Michael Main and Evan Reed and the Rangers made out like bandits.
Next Week On The Rangers Report - Breaking Down The AFL Candidates, As Well As Naming My Minor League Players Of The Year.
Well, only one team logo left in the hat. Which means this will be the last team preview and that posting will go back to it's usual, sporatic schedule. So, you should all be able to guess who's left....
Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Tampa actually has one of the more promising farm systems in all of baseball, with a great deal of pitching and position prospects nearly ready for the big club. Unfortunately, that means #### for the current guys on the roster, also very talented and are among some of the more pined after products in all of baseball.
Starting Rotation
Scott Kazmir (LHP) – The talented young lefty that was stolen from the Mets in the Victor Zambrano trade has teased Tampa fans with his excellent stuff and his tendency for injury. Quite a lot of it has to do with his size, as he’s small. However, I do think that this year, Kazmir is able to last a full season and should set franchise highs in wins, k’s and ERA. Then again, it’s Tampa, and that might not be hard to do…
Casey Fossum (RHP) – Fossum has average stuff at best, but he’s never stayed healthy enough or consistent enough in the majors to have any sort of meaningful career. He was average last season, but didn’t play the entire season thanks to fraying in his rotation cup. Fossum has since had surgery to get the injury cleaned up and right now is Tampa’s number two starter.
James Shields (RHP) – Shields showed last season that he has the potential to become a solid middle of the rotation pitcher, when he went 6-8 with a 4.84 ERA. However, the Rays shut him down last year when he began to approach his the 200 inning mark in innings pitch, fearing that they would possibly hurt him. Shields now has had a full summer to rest up and should be in the Tampa rotation at the starter of the season.
Jae Seo (RHP) – Seo isn’t nearly as bad as his record was last year and he expressed a desire to show some improvement in his performance. I think that he’ll be a very tolerable fifth starter, but he shouldn’t be depended on to provide any more than that.
J.P. Howell (LHP) – Howell was once a highly regarded Royals prospect, but Kansas City rushed him to the majors, even though he wasn’t ready, and Howell was destroyed. Howell did well after the trade to Tampa and improved a bit, going 1-3 with a 5.10 ERA, considerably better than when he was in KC and showed some dominance at times. Howell has some decent stuff, relying mostly on deception, but his stuff is good enough that he could succeed in the middle of the rotation. Howell will likely be the fifth starter and will get more time to be worked with at the major league level, as this should have been the year he debuted.
Bullpen
Seth McClung (Closer) – Not sure what to make of McClung. He looked solid in a few spot saves last season and it’s possible that he may be able to use his above average stuff more effectively in the closer’s role. I don’t know. We’ll have to see how well he looks in Spring Training and the beginning of the season to be able to tell if he’s for real or not.
Dan Miceli (Setup Man) – This veteran right-hander will setup and spot close when necessary.
Chad Orvella (RHP) – Orvellla was rocked much of last season, but he’s not nearly as bad as the final record goes. We’ll see what happens now that he’s got a full year’s experience under his belt.
Juan Salas (RHP) – Salas was very poor last season, but it’s possible that experience could help him improve his showing.
Shawn Camp (RHP) – Average right hander is somewhat dependable out of the pen.
Ruddy Lugo (RHP) – This solid right hander gives the pen one of its more reliable weapons.
Jon Swister (LHP) – Average lefty rounds out the pen.
Starting Lineup
Rocco Baldelli (CF) – An immensely talented centerfielder, Baldelli has a slick glove, speed, range, and a strong arm. And that’s just on defense. Offensively, he’s got great bat speed, great power and outstanding plate discipline. The only flaw with Baldelli is his injury history, as he has had two major injuries and has missed an entire season due to one of them. However, he seems to have recovered and is Tampa’s biggest trade chip thanks to an extremely club-favorable contract. The Angels and White Sox both covet him, but Tampa has held off on inquiries, seeing him as a building block of success.
Akinori Iwamura (3B) – The Devil Rays got one of the bargains of the off-season by acquiring Akinori Iwamura at a cost of $7.7 million for the next three years. Iwamura will likely hit second and replaces the defensively challenged B.J. Upton at third. Iwamura won’t hit for a lot of power, but he will get on base and will provide above average defense for this squad. Plus, his speed sets up the next pair of batters very nicely.
Carl Crawford (LF) – Crawford is a budding superstar, and he continued to convert his ability into performance in 2006. He has great bat speed, power and is one of the fastest players in the majors. The only real flaw with him is that his arm is below average, though that’s only nitpicking at this point. Crawford is also a highly tradable commodity thanks to his club friendly contract, but the D-Rays have also indicated that he’s going to be their face of the franchise.
Delmon Young (RF) – Young is a five-tool player that is one of the best young talents in the game. Though he’s had some temperament issues (has asked to be traded, flung his bat at an umpire in a Triple-A game last May) but he’s made an effort to improve his reputation as of late. .Young has the perfect blend of speed and power, plus he’s got a strong arm and great instincts in the outfield, though he could also be a very good centerfielder. Young does need to learn to develop some plate discipline, but as far as the best pure talent in the game is considered, Young is at the top of the list.
Greg Norton (1B) – Norton had a solid season as part of a platoon at first with Ty Wigginton that was very much production, accounting for around 40 home runs and over 100 RBI’s. I expect them to stick with the platoon again this year, allowing the kids one more year of maturation (in particular Elijah Dukes) before both Norton and Wigginton get shopped around for bullpen help.
Jonny Gomes (DH) –Gomes remade his swing before the 2005 season, giving himself a much shorter path to the ball, resulting in a much high contact rate at the expense of some power. However, a shoulder injury slowed his bat and ultimately led to surgery. He’s expected to be 100% now in Spring Training and will be a solid presence in the lineup.
Jorge Cantu (2B) – Cantu has solid power for the position and is pretty productive, but his fielding and plate discipline are both below average, making for a rather unpleasant combination that you really don’t want in your second baseman. Cantu will likely be moved at some point this season, as Evan Longoria is capable of playing second and may be a better option, offensively, to fill the role.
Dioner Navarro (C) –I've always felt that Navarro could be a talented catcher, but he’s seemed to have had some troubles getting there. Tampa has made it known he’s the starter and he should be an average bat.
Ben Zobrist (SS) –I've liked Zobrist since he was in the Astros’ system, and felt that if he got a shot, he could make a solid major league regular. Zobrist was got his shot after Julio Lugo was traded and played solid defense, though his bat, always solid in the minors, didn’t come up with him. Zobrist had a solid AFL showing and will be the starter for this season, but I still feel that no matter how well he does, Zobrist will be demoted to utilityman once Reid Brignac is ready.
Bench
Ty Wigginton (1B) – Part of the D-Ray’s first base platoon, Wigginton was also very much productive and will share the spot in the lineup with Norton.
B.J. Upton (???) – No one seems to know where the hell Upton is going to play, as he’s pretty much been a crappy defender wherever he’s been. Upton can mash, that is true, but the deal is where he fits into the lineup.
Josh Paul (C) – A capable defender that really isnt’ all that much of a hitter, despite what the average says about his stats last year.
Elijah Dukes (1B/OF) – One of the more interesting prospects in baseball, Dukes is a solid prospect who is an outstanding athlete with skills up the wazoo. He’s got great plate discipline, power, speed, a strong arm, is an extremely good fielder and is built like a house. However, he’s also one of the most insane people you’ll ever meet. Dukes has anger issues and his desire to play comes and goes, depending on his mood. It should be noted that Dukes does enjoy playing the game, as he clearly has stuck with it and returned to play in the AFL after threatening to quit baseball permanently. Dukes may or may not make the big club, it depends on what happens with Upton, but it may be that Tampa’s best option for keeping Dukes in line may be to keep him with the big club, in order to keep a closer eye on him, as he’s really physically ready to perform now.
Down On The Farm…
The American League East is one of the worst divisions to be in, especially when you have a pair of financial superpowers in the Red Sox and Yankees at the top. However, Tampa has done well to carefully bring along their talent in the minors, especially pitching. And, as luck would have it, the Rays’ pitching staff is finally getting ready to start sending re-enforcements to the main club, starting with Jeff Niemann and Mitch Talbot, with other prospects that have been carefully developed being available as soon as next year. Plus, with the amount of position prospects that are also near ready, this team could have some viable trade chips in the coming months.
Evan Longoria (3B) – The best bat in the draft, there were concerns that Longoria wouldn’t be able to transition his excellent college stats into production. He destroyed those concerns by storming through the minors, beginning in Short Season ball and ending in Double A. He hit 18 home runs in 248 at-bats and has great natural power, plus excellent plate discipline. He can play third base, but is also a capable defender at short and second (where people think he’ll end up) as well. Longoria will likely end up in the majors by the end of the year, making Jorge Cantu a interesting piece of trade bait.
Mitch Talbot (RHP) – Talbot frustrated the Astros through much of his career, but he put it all together last year, improving his control and throwing for more strikes. Talbot has an excellent changeup and a solid fastball. He’s in the process of developing a breaking ball, but make no mistake that Talbot will be a very good middle of the rotation starter in a couple of years.
Reid Brignac (SS) – Brignac is one of the best shortstop prospects in the minors, possibly the best now that Brandon Wood is transitioning to third base. Brignac has some power, but his plate discipline is excellent. He’s also has a strong arm and is a hard worker. The problem is that many in the Devil Rays’ camp feel that Brignac, like Wood, will eventually be a third baseman, as he lacks the range to play the position. Still, he’s got to be a monster once he breaks into the majors, which could be as soon as this year.
Jeff Niemann (RHP) – I never trust Rice pitchers as a rule, because they seem to always get hurt. Niemann is no different, as he’s been hampered by groin and shoulder problems since he signed almost three years ago. That aside, Niemann does have great potential, with a fastball that sits in the low 90’s and hits 97 at times, plus a power slider and a good changeup. The problem is whether or not Neimann can continue his development. The Devil Rays are cautiously optimistic that he can, so it’s likely that he’ll begin the season in Triple A with the opportunity to force his way into the majors.
Jae-kuk Ryu (RHP) – One of the more famous bird killers in baseball (even more so because he did it intentionally), Ryu has the potential to be a solid fifth or fourth guy. Ryu has got some decent talent, with a sinking fastball that generally was sitting at 90-92 mph with touches of 94 mph. His offspeed pitches consisting of a nasty curve, a good changeup, and a average splitter, a good enough to keep him as a starter. The only problem is that his durability is in question. Regardless of that, he’ll have a job with Tampa.
In Conclusion
Tampa will likely be staying in last place for at least this year. But, once the young talent in the farm begins arriving, which it could as soon as this year, the Yankees and the Red Sox will have a new force to reckon with in their own division. And it sure as hell won’t be Toronto or Baltimore.
I'm a long time Texas Rangers fan who has come to love baseball as a whole. I recently began this blog as a way for me to showcase my opinions, provide some analysis, and hopefully entertain those who happen to stumble upon my little soapbox online. I'll toss in an NFL, College, or NBA nugget every now and then. Enjoy the posts everyone, and yes, getting a little love in a Deadspin post was probably the highlight of the year, blogwise.
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