One thing that has not been stressed enough about the deadline is what the positive possibilities for the Rays are. The most obvious positives involve what can happen with our own players that we kept and can call up.

 Niemann could be called up to be another arm out of the BP, and I think he'd be very effective in that role. He induces a fair amount of groundballs (over 40% of balls in play which is around Kaz's career high, but lower than the 50%+ that Halladay has year in and year out) and only walks batters about once every three innings. I think he could be a very effective swing-type reliever opposite JP Howell.

Brignac won't help the big club until at least next year, but some of the other young pitchers (Davis, Price, or Talbot) or Salas could be a nice shot to the arm in the BP, as well.

Where will we find a bat? There isn't a big impact bat in the minors that could come up and transform the offense like Dunn or Bay could have. However, there are a number of solid bats that could help to spark a stagnant offense. Ruggiano could be a serviceable RH bat to play RF against LHPs. Rocco may come up and hit like he before he became the bubble boy. CC, BJ, and Pena could turn around there seeming down years.

The idea that the players might feel "let down" by management is a bit of an overstatement, and any effect that might exist should be mitigated by the triumphant return of Rocco Baldelli. Imagine the fanfare and excitement around him starting Saturday night in front of a sold out crowd to face (Bay area moy himself) LHP Kenny Rogers. That could be a huge boost in morale.

While the team did not get the big bat that some of us were salivating about, help could come from within. The other thing that few are mentioning is the change in dynamic in BOS.

Jason Bay has only been involved in about 10 meaningful trips to the batters box. They all came in his All-Star game HR Derby appearance in which he hit as many homers as I would have, 0. Who knows how he will react down the stretch as the bright lights in BOS burn down on him. We do know one thing, though, there is no way he can match the results that Manny has provided to the Sawx down the stretch in years past. So at best, Jason Bay is a wash with Manny.

The two throw-ins in the deal could have HUGELY negative repercussions for the MassHoles.   Brandon Moss, while not much more than a fourth OF, is just that. If the oft-injured JD Drew goes down, the Sawx will be throwing out the offensive juggernaut in the OF that is Crisp, Dellsburry, and Bay. Talk about a punchless lineup. They would have 2 legit 30 homer threats. That lineup looks about as threatening as ours (maybe less). Throw in the fact that an already taxed BP lossed another arm, and Daisuke's inability to pitch 7 strong innings, and we may have a recipe for a late season slide.

I guess the point of this post is to bring up the positive possibilities of what could happen from here on out. I mean the bats can't get any worse than they have been, can they? Cheers to finishing strong and hoping to be in St. Pete for the first ever game in October!

*edited because I don't even know anything about our own players