Happy Trade Deadline Day!

Depending on which team you're rooting for, anyway.

Some big names are switching colors as we speak. And the Yankees, in the middle of all this commotion, have made the grand trade of ... Scott Proctor for Wilson Betemit.

It's official as of around noon today. Pending a review of medical records, Proctor will be sent to the Dodgers for Betemit. ESPN reports are trying to sell this as an insurance policy if A-Rod decides to opt out of his contract at the end of the season. Trading Rodriguez for Betemit at third base is somewhat laughable, but who knows? The guy is only twenty-five. As of right now, I have no clue what they do with him. Granted, the Dodgers aren't exactly a team I perk up about watching. Reports are saying that Betemit has little-to-no experience at first base, so it seems that Andy Phillips should get through today without sweating. My guess would be that Chris Basak (who I didn't even realize was back on the major league roster) catches a shuttle down to S/WB and Betemit becomes a source of power on the bench.

I guess. Do they pinch-hit him for Phillips? Or use him at first and bring in Phillips as a late-innings replacement? I guess he provides a late-inning power option, but that will mean carrying Betemit, Cairo, and Duncan on the roster for the time being. Betemit has played third base for much of his major league career, but it isn't like A-Rod is going to need to be spelled much this year unless there's a blowout.

This all seems like overkill, and it's only going to become more convoluted when Giambi and Mientkiewicz are ready to go. But for now, I guess we'll wait and see how the cards fall.

Proctor, on the other hand, finds his career on a loop. He began in the Dodgers organization, was traded to the Yankees in the deal for Robin Ventura, and now has been traded back to the West Coast. Rough timing, given that his wife just gave birth to their third child one week ago. But there's no emotion in the business of baseball. Still, Proctor was one of the most fan-friendly guys on the team. Don't let the bonfires and near-brawls fool you. He was out on the right field wall before just about every game at the Stadium signing autographs for fans. His recent trend of control issues and giving up homeruns won't be missed, but he as a person will be. Best of luck from here on out.

As for today, there's baseball to be played!

RHP Mike Mussina (5-7, 4.77 ERA) vs. RHP Jose Contreras (5-13, 6.22 ERA)

The Yankees try to rebound from a series loss (or split, if you want to count that suspended game) against the Orioles with a series at the Stadium against the White Sox. Mussina is coming off of a decent outing in Kansas City on July 25th. He allowed one earned run and six hits over 5.2 innings to pick up the win.

Contreras, on the other hand, is coming off a rough outing against Detroit. He lasted 4.2 innings and gave up 9 earned runs on 12 hits, including two homeruns. Contreras has faced the Yankees twice this season. Both of those outings have been losses, though he didn't pitch particularly badly. In the first outing, May 16th, he lasted 6.2 innings and allowed two earned runs on five hits. In the second, June 7th, Contreras allowed 3 runs in 7.1 innings.

Other match-ups this evening:

LHP Erik Bedard (10-4, 3.05 ERA) and the Orioles travel to Fenway park to take on Josh Beckett and the Red Sox. No matter what you think of these two teams, this is going to be an outstanding pitching match-up.

LHP Matt Chico (4-6, 4.78 ERA) and the Nationals host lefty Bobby Livingston and the Reds at RFK. Right now, the Nationals are .5 games ahead of the Reds in the standings. It's a battle for pride in DC for this series.

LHP Tom Glavine (9-6, 4.51 ERA) goes for his 300th win tonight in Milwaukee as the Mets take on Jeff Suppan and the Brewers. Both teams are targetted at the top of their divisions. This series could do a lot to determine new leaders in the NL East or Central.

RHP Justin Germano (6-5, 4.20 ERA) and the Padres attempt to rebound in the NL West as they face last year's NL Cy Young winner Brandon Webb and the Diamondbacks.