Major League Baseball's Trade Deadline—Must See TV

During the summer we are tortured with watching television shows that even the networks don't think are good enough for us to watch during the primetime seasons.

But we have two things to look forward to—Discovery Channel's Shark Week and ESPN's coverage of trade deadline.

As much as my fans would like me to focus on Shark Week, I can't, sorry.

But the trade deadline for Major League Baseball is just as enjoyable.  For nearly a month ESPN's Baseball Tonight experts give us more and more watercooler talk at work. 

The coverage gets even more detailed once we get into final week, with the biggest highlight being the coverage of the final three hours before the trade deadline.

ESPN throws out the big guns for their broadcasts, including Buster Olney, Tim Kurkjian, Steve Phillips, Peter Gammons (from the confines of his home), and Jayson Stark.

Granted that most will say that the final day of the MLB Trade Deadline was kinda of slow, but we did see Manny Ramirez and Ken Griffey Jr. dealt on the same day.

I know, I know that the show seemed to stick with mostly talking about Manny and his problems or the Brewers-Cubs series, but I'm glad to get a break from Brett Favre talks.

Manny had it right—trade him for Favre.

The highlight for me during this entire week has got to be talking amongst my friends of the tons and tons of trade rumors or where teams should trade a certain player.

I have had to spent about $100 worth of text messages and phone calls with my fellow baseball know-it-alls, Jason, Christian, and Casey.

I truly, honestly have enjoyed talking about the possibilities of a Manny-Pat Burrell trade, or the Mets working out a deal for Manny, the Yankees signing more and more star power (minus Richie Sexson).

The possibilities are endless, and yet now that the deadline has past we are stuck with some big name trades.  Manny Ramirez, Ken Griffey Jr., Mark Teixiera, Pudge Rodriguez, Xavier Nady, CC Sabathia, Rich Harden, Joe Blanton, and Damaso Marte have all changed addresses this season.

Had you told me or any baseball fanatic that half of these players were going to be trading by the deadline, I would have raised an eyebrow.

Now beginnings the fun part of seeing which GMs made "championship-caliber" decisions or which might have ruined the team's future.

Will Manny start playing like a superstar again for the Dodgers?  Who will he be playing for next year?  Can David Ortiz continue to dominate without Manny? 

Have the Yankees done enough to win the division? A World Series? 

Were the Rays smart by staying mute during the trade deadline? 

What will all these prospects hold for the Pirates future?

Is Mark Teixiera a two-month rental for the Angels or will he stay? 

CC or Harden: which move wins the NL Central? 

These are all questions that will answered over the next two months and the upcoming baseball offseason.  Debate them as you wish.