Trade Deadline Deals

Although APBA officially allows trades until August 31st, the MLB trade deadline has motivated a few teams to make some moves.

Texas, leading the west with a 68-44 record, has the strongest offense in the league but shaky pitching. They upgraded the rotation in a big (as in 6 foot 11) way by trading for Boston's Rufus Anderson. Boston receives minor league 1B/OF Chip Atkinson. Anderson, 34, has a 7-6 record and 3.85 ERA through 21 starts. He's a free agent after the season.

Phoenix, in second place and also battling for the wild card, adds Johnny DeMario to the rotation in exchange for minor league catcher John Gourdin and pitcher Steve Jacobson. In 21 starts for Cleveland, the 37 year old DeMario is 6-8 with a 3.94 ERA.

In the biggest deal of all, the LA Shockers finally get their man by trading for Baltimore's Kobe Jones. The Shockers have been trying to get Kobe for more than a decade now, going back to his days with the Florida Penguins. Kobe and OF Gabe Kotter are going to Los Angeles, with SS Oswipe Cabrera and OF Steve Freeman going to the Shockers. In the off-season Kobe resigned with Baltimore for 4 years and 72 million, but has found life without Joe Young and Gehrig Bear to be not so fun. Steve Freeman has 16 million left on his contract over the next 2 years, so the Shockers get some salary relief by moving him in the deal. Kobe is hitting .243 with 19 homers and 61 RBI through 109 games.

The New York Knights are rumored to be interested in a shortstop upgrade as well, with inquiries made on Portland's Luciano Cedeno and Toronto's Michael Garciajawa, but no deal has yet been made.

Miami trades for Tugwell

The Stars acquire Jerry Tugwell from Las Vegas in exchange for minor league pitcher Jason Bowman. Las Vegas realizes that there is no need to have 6 DHs on the roster when you can only bat one at a time. Tugwell will fill in for the injured Joe Young and then provide the team with a solid bat off the bench.

In the meantime, Joe Young's recovery is going remarkably well, and he thinks he may be back in as little as 2 weeks.

Fett Changes Approach

Boba Fett decided that Las Vegas will try to win games with defense instead of a lineup of designated hitters. Jeff LaForest has been one of the team's best hitters playing left field, will see more time as the designated hitter or playing first base. Kirk Ennis, Ron Moon, Alex Young, and Mickey Tinsley all have speed and will get most of the outfield playing time. With Alvaro Samuel remaining at first base, this leaves little time for Moose Stinson, Gene Traxler, and Jerry Tugwell. All could become trade bait, although the latter two are on the disabled list. Miguel Delgado, who does not hit or field well, has been sent to the minors.

Joe Callahan, Charlie Harrell, and Darin Makowsky endorsed the plan, and have won the last three games for Las Vegas in a series against Baltimore. Las Vegas has a 42-52 record, last place in the west.

Joe Young breaks wrist, out indefinitely

Joe Young was hit on the wrist by a pitch from Cleveland's Hector Ojeda. Young had to leave the game, and X-Rays revealed a break. He was immediately placed on the disabled list. The HBP happened in the 8th inning of a tie game. Miami lost in the 9th when Bob Belardi served up a grand slam to Ramon Gallia.

After the game Miami held the best record in the league at 56-35, but faces a tough stretch without their best hitter. Young had played 87 games and was hitting .349 with 18 homeruns, 63 RBI, and 69 walks for a .467 On base percentage.

Miami called up Richie Head from AAA Star City, and he will get some of Young's playing time, although manager RJ Duke said that infielders Brandon Cohen, Richie Almanzar, Greg Cardonia, as well as catcher Bud McNamara could also see time at first base.

No-hitter

Jo-Jo Lewis threw a no hit game against the Utah Utes, as Charlotte won 5-0. Lewis walked 6 and struck out 9 in the complete game. At age 41, it is believed that he is the oldest pitcher in league history to ever throw a no-hitter.

Our crack statisticians were found to have been smoking crack, and were not able to research whether this was Jo-Jo's second or third no-hitter. A complete accounting of no-hitters is a project currently in the works.