Braves get Scalped...

I know we're all about to put a bullet in our head if we hear the words "Trade Deadline" or "Brett Favre" one more time, but bear with me!

I have to talk about the PRISON RAPE the Angels dished out on the Atlanta Braves yesterday. First the details:

The Angels get Mark Teixeira (.283 BA, 20 HR's and 78 RBI) and in turn send the Braves Casey Kotchman (.287 BA 12 HR's and 54 RBI) and a Double A middle reliever named Steven Marek who coincidentally was drafted in the 40th round in 2004 (it doesn't exactly scream "upside" does it?).

How did that conversation go?

"Hey Braves...yeah...this is the Angels...we're prepared to give you NOTHING and in return we want your stud first baseman."

"Sounds good...where do we sign?"

How stupid do the Diamondbacks, Rays, Dodgers and everybody else in the Teixeira sweepstakes feel right now? You mean we could have given them a role player and a minor leaguer with no future for THE trade deadline acquisition of 2008...BAFFLING!!!

You might say...sure Coop...but he's only a rental.

If you want to look at it in those terms, it would be like me walking into a Ferrari dealership to pick out a "rental" for three months...and when the guy starts to talk financing, I just drive off the lot.

Compound that with the fact that Atlanta gave Texas their entire farm system one year ago in order to have Teixeira's services for what has amounted to 1 season...you have the proverbial salt in the proverbial wound:

The Braves parted with:

Jarrod Saltalamacchia - A former first round draft pick (36th overall) currently playing catcher for the Rangers.

Elvis Andrus - Touted as the #2 prospect in the Braves farm system behind Saltalamacchia, a 19 year old short stop, has speed on the base paths and potential gold glove talent in the field...and still has tons of upside.

Neftali Feliz - This right hander is going to be ranked the best pitching prospect in all of baseball going into 2009.

Left Handed Pitchers Matt Harrison (former third round draft pick currently playing AAA) and Beau Jones (first round pick in 2005) were also thrown into the deal.

So let's add it all up...

The Braves got...Casey Kotchman and some Double A middle reliever who will be asking me "Do I want fries with that" in a couple months.

The Braves lost...Mark Teixeira, a blue chip prospect at catcher, another blue chip prospect at short stop, another blue chip pitching prospect and two more high draft pick pitching prospects.

Somewhere Bobby Cox is beating his wife...HARD!

-Coop