The MLB Trade Deadline is a difficult time for all baseball fans. Nicholas McCann and Nick Burmeister AKA Padres Haiku wrote to each other for an entire week about it. Here is part two.

PADRES HAIKU – July 28, 2017 at 2:37:28 PM PDT

So the Rays got their guy from the Mariners. This might mean that Brad Hand stays put. A last-minute deal is still possible and exciting. However, I don’t think Milwaukee has made a move yet but they’re 2 yrs early on their rebuild so parting with a prized prospect is unlikely. There might be a quantity over quality move on their part to get Hand. This weekend’s series with the Cubs will clear that up. Speaking of the Cubs, they might want the lefty but might be leaning starter. Verlander is my guess for them.

Source: Even after trading for three relievers, #Rays remain active in bullpen market. Doing background work on #Padres’ Hand, others.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 29, 2017

Hand is closing games. This is for sure an interview for him. I’ve seen articles that say that Hand has never pitched in playoffs or a pennant race. This is true but if you’re Hand and you know every contender in the majors is scrutinizing every pitch right now. that’s a lot of pressure too. Not the same but still. I guess AJ wants a Miller/Chapman type return. Does that seem reasonable? It does for Britton. Maybe not Hand. What do you think would be a good return for Hand? Do you think it still happens?

NICHOLAS MCCANN – Sat, Jul 29, 2017 at 9:14 AM

I was at the game last night. Brad Hand is our closer. It’s crazy they keep putting him out there and he keeps delivering, almost daring the rest of the league to not take him.

Padres started the night with some Wood and ended it with a Hand

— Patrick Brewer (@patrickbrewer93) July 29, 2017

Sure, he’s not pitching in high pressure situations, but I think they can get a haul. We know how these playoff series play out. It becomes so much about the bullpen and how managers navigate those low scoring high pressure games.

Also, Pirates fans need to remember that 6burgh doesn’t apply to baseball. Calm down.

PADRES HAIKU – Sat, Jul 29, 2017 at 11:19 AM

I guess AJ was taking calls and walking around the field last night [tweets] Hand might still be on the move but he pitched three nights in a row. Do you think he pitches again before the deadline?

And …. that's it for AJ's stroll. He just went into the #Padres' dugout.
Peace, out.

— Bernie Wilson (@berniewilson) July 29, 2017

NICHOLAS MCCANN – Sat, Jul 29, 2017 at 3:15 PM

He shouldn’t pitch tonight just because we don’t want to over work him. Andy Green has made his point. I think Hand might go in on Sunday, but that’s it. The case has already been made. He’s an asset and this could go to the wire.

Monday will be fun. After the deadline the San Diego sports conversation will be centered on whether or not media and twitter heads should talk about the LA Chargers. SAD!

PADRES HAIKU – Sat, Jul 29, 2017 at 7:29 PM

Oh for sure local media centers it’s coverage on the Chargers. San Diego still loves Rivers and Gates, but it’s not that weird to support an LA team (see Lakers/Clippers/Kings/etc) and local honks need the content to fill time. It’s gonna be weird. Radio guys will convince you that you’re still Chargers fans and watching Gates break that record will help make their point. It’s gonna feel really really weird-get used to it.

I don’t think Hand pitches again at all. Unless he stays put, he’s done in a Padres uniform. The Nationals made an early move and might want a second helping from the deadline pool. With all the chatter I’d be surprised if Hand DOESN’T get moved.

Travis Wood was pretty good last night; we should try to flip him. That would be amazing. I’d make t-shirts.

NICHOLAS MCCANN – Sun, Jul 30, 2017 at 1:55 PM

I had fun last night at Sycamore Den. Thanks for inviting me out. That place is hella Mumford and Sons. I wish we could transcribe what we talked about, but it was mostly yelling over loud music between well whiskey shots and High Life (the way geniuses drink). The Dodgers fan at our table needs to get over Verdugo.

#Dodgers talking about Yu Darvish, obviously. But they're also in the mix for the three big lefty relievers — Britton, Wilson and Hand.

— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) July 30, 2017

24 hours left and we can all exhale. The Padres are finishing their series with the Pirates and our good (possibly great) reliever Brad Hand is still a Padre.

This time tomorrow it will all be over. What do you think we’ve learned so far? For me, the anxiety of the fan base being ramped up is probably more fun than we realize. After the deadline the Padres will fade away into what they’ve been all along: just another bad baseball team

Chargers training camp started. I’ll get mad about that next week. This is Brad’s time.

PADRES HAIKU – Sun, Jul 30, 2017 at 6:24 PM

Thanks for coming out. I’m pretty sure A Bourbon with a Beer-Back was Einstein’s order.

I get that people fall in love with prospects but our friend having “Verdugo” tattooed across his knuckles was…unsettling.

Midnight deal for Hand is still on the table. Never doubt Preller. Once the deadline is done we’re gonna see the tank in full force. It’s gonna be ugly. Those players that thought they could get traded are gonna stop caring. They weren’t that good before and they’re gonna be worse now.

Less than 24 hours before the trade deadline, the Padres still have a high asking price on Brad Hand. https://t.co/AsaiLWFltP

— Dennis Lin (@sdutdennislin) July 31, 2017

Once the Padres are buyers the feeling this time of year will be more intense. I remember getting excited when Tejada and Ludwick got added to the team. I want that again. What I don’t want again is a night of drinking Rusty Nails and the Champagne of beers.

NICHOLAS MCCANN – Mon, Jul 31, 2017 at 8:03 AM

We’re coming in hot this morning. Will AJ wait for the winter to deal Hand? We’ll find out soon. Astros might be in I guess. Mets got three good prospects for Addison Reed!

PADRES HAIKU – Mon, Jul 31, 2017 at 8:45 AM

That’s a lot of arms for a Reed rental. If that’s the market, Hand should bring back a number of quality prospects. Feeling cautiously optimistic about this…

NICHOLAS MCCANN – Mon, Jul 31, 2017 at 9:20 AM

The team is definitely trying hard to make it look they’re totally fine waiting for the winter. I don’t know what to believe. Nothing is real.

PADRES HAIKU – Mon, Jul 31, 2017 at 9:59 AM

Outwardly I’m fine waiting for a winter deal. Inwardly, this is pure torture. If Cersei Lannister was going to kill me, she’s just stack the Padres with lefty relievers and make the trade deadline last until my mind finally crumbled before her.

Source: 4 teams are still in on Brad Hand. Less than 3 hours to go 'til the Deadline. Could come down to the wire.

— AJ Cassavell (@AJCassavell) July 31, 2017

NICHOLAS MCCANN – Mon, Jul 31, 2017 at 10:24 AM

I’m really feeling her hair this season.

If Hand stays the reaction will be mild. If he then has elbow tightness next week, I’m deleting my Twitter app.

NICHOLAS MCCANN – Mon, Jul 31, 2017 at 12:39 PM

I need a cigarette.

PADRES HAIKU – Mon, Jul 31, 2017 at 12:48 PM

My. Heart. Is. Beating. So. Fast. Right. Now.

NICHOLAS MCCANN – Mon, Jul 31, 2017 at 12:55 PM

Let’s savor this time when Hand could still get traded.

Sources: #Padres holding Brad Hand.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 31, 2017

((((DEADLINE PASSES))))

PADRES HAIKU –  Mon, Jul 31, 2017 at 1:11 PM

Welp…

NICHOLAS MCCANN – Mon, Jul 31, 2017 at 1:51 PM

Darvish is a Dodger. If Dave Roberts doesn’t take them to the World Series he should be fired.

The Padres didn’t do anything with Brad Hand, but if Esteury Ruiz works out this could be a good deadline. I can’t look at Padres Twitter right now. People want to fight about things they can’t control. Oh well, I guess we just have to watch this team now.

PADRES HAIKU – Mon, Jul 31, 2017 at 4:19 PM

UGH! Darvish as a dodger seems scary. They’d have to go to the World Series for this to be a successful season. Maybe someone makes a move at the waiver wire. If Chacin gets moved I bet it’s on waivers. Did the Cubs make a move? I can’t remember. This has really been…something. I know I said I’d fine with an off season move of Hand but now I’m less sure. I wanted it now. I need to not care about football for another week. I hate life.

I wonder if we need to look at the Hand non-deal in relation to other trades this year. Would you rather have gotten very little back like the Sonny Gray trade? Beane kinda blew that one didn’t he? Is no deal better than a really bad one?

I guess I can understand the shitty argument behind keeping Brad Hand, but there was no reason not to accept any prospect for Chacin.

— Change the Padres (@ChangeThePadres) July 31, 2017

NICHOLAS MCCANN – Mon, Jul 31, 2017 at 5:49 PM

I think if Hand finishes strong and healthy it’s all going to be fine. It’s also possible they just want to keep Hand and start competing for real next year. The next two months are going to be big for the franchise. If they get to 75ish wins, what will that mean for ownership moving forward?

PADRES HAIKU – Mon, Jul 31, 2017 at 5:52

No move at deadline/ action-less activity/ no one is happy

"With Brad, there's a lot of things we can do. I see him as a guy that fits the short term and the medium and long term." -A.J. Preller

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) July 31, 2017

The MLB Trade Deadline is a difficult time for all baseball fans. Nicholas McCann and Nick Burmeister AKA Padres Haiku wrote to each other all week about it. Here is part one.

NICHOLAS MCCANN – Mon, Jul 24, 2017 at 8:17 AM

Dear Haiku,

I’ve missed your letters. Having just returned from the east, I’m thinking a lot about Pandas. Few things will ever bring me more joy than listening to Boston sports talk radio the day Pablo Sandoval was DFA’d. The entire region will hate him forever and he doesn’t care. A big deal was made about how close the Padres were on signing Sandoval. He could have been part of the sizzle this ownership felt pressured to try and sell us. This week the team is under pressure as well. It feels like they have to attain assets before the trade deadline to keep the hope of the rebuild alive. This will be a long week. It won’t be a Sandoval sized splash, but we need something to get excited about before the team likely really starts tanking in August and September.

If they do nothing, how will you feel?

PADRES HAIKU- Mon, Jul 24, 2017 at 9:54 AM

Nick,

I’m always thinking about pandas–so I get it. Boston sports talk sounds like a nightmare and that’s coming from someone who has split time between Philly and NYC sports media. I remember the big story about how Sandoval turned down more San Diego money to play in Boston. Joke’s on all of us ‘cuz the Padres ended up with Middlebrooks & Panda still got a multi-generational payday. Boston fans put unrealistic expectations on their players but with Sandoval that ire seems warranted. Padre fans are losing minds because nothing has happened yet at the trading deadline, but it’s still a week away. Then there’s the waiver wire after that. A.J. has a long time to move Kirby Yates or Brad Hand or anyone else.

I think we’re just bored. We don’t want to think about football yet and actually watching the team feels like peeling Greyscale off our bodies. Honestly, Hand might not get traded this deadline, which is fine. There really is no rush. There are always buyers for good lefties out of the pen. A trade might happen during the off-season and if Hand continues to excel his value will go up. Of course that means betting on Brad Hand, but that’s a risk that’s worth it. The return on Brad Hand isn’t going to be so overwhelming that I wouldn’t be willing to try to improve it. I’ll say this though. If the Padres just on Hand and aren’t “feeling it,” it’s called “The Stranger.

What do you think Clayton Kershaw being hurt does the overall trading market?

Clayton Kershaw missed 12 weeks last year with the back injury and made 5 starts in September before the postseason. No need to panic.

— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) July 24, 2017

NICHOLAS MCCANN – Mon, Jul 24, 2017 at 5:46 PM

The Dodgers might be more aggressive with going for a Sonny Gray or Verlander or somebody like that. Kershaw is going to come back for the postseason and blow up another year. That’s what he does. I hate the Dodgers.

TRADE ALERT!!!!!

We have acquired pitchers Trevor Cahill, Brandon Maurer and Ryan Buchter from the San Diego Padres. Welcome to the #Royals! pic.twitter.com/ZfgFAwnNtG

— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) July 24, 2017

The Royals have officially been Prelled!

The Padres trade away Maurer, Cahill, and Buchter for Travis Wood, Matt Strahm, and Esteury Ruiz. I like this trade. The Royals will pay Wood’s salary and it adds more prospects to the soup our front office is slow cooking. I wonder if it makes it more likely that they keep Brad Hand now. Nobody could say they weren’t active at this crucial time of year for a rebuilding club. What do you think?

P.S. Maton for closer. Maybe that girl he likes will finally go to prom with him.

PADRES HAIKU – Mon, Jul 24, 2017 at 7:27 PM

The Dodgers plus Darvish could be a gross combo. The Royals!! I figured that if Cahill or Maurer were getting moved they’d go to a fringy team looking for a bargain like the Brewers or the Rays, but the Royals are legit AL Wild Card contenders. AJ has to prove his trustworthiness to rest of the league following last year’s brouhaha. If all goes well it might pave the way for a better deal for Hand in the off-season. I’ve never heard of Esteury Ruiz but that’s an A+ baseball name so I’m on board. Getting Wood for free is cool. That’s the kind of guy Darren Balsley turns into an asset. Strahm is super young so well have to see, but it’s not like a team can have too much pitching. A lefty at that… I’m super looking forward to Padres Twitter hating the trade in 12 hrs, loving it in 24, and then hating it again by next week. It’s hard to grade it before we’ve seen how all these guys do in their new roles.

Does this mean Between Two Bases is over? Are there unaired episodes getting locked in a vault somewhere? Can we see those tapes, Wayne? Wayne!!! We need the tapes!! Wayne?!?!?!

First I was sad because we are losing Between Two Bases and now I'm sad that we didn't even get the joy of #HugWatch Thanks Preller

— Ashley Rodrigues (@sandiegogirlie) July 24, 2017

Who replaces Cahill in the rotation? Bummed we didn’t get televised hugs.

Quack for closer. Really let that tank settle in.

NICHOLAS MCCANN – Tue, Jul 25, 2017 at 3:13 PM

I’ve had some time to think about the loss of Maurer Power in my life. Essentially he closed for a year and never made an impression. Buchter was finding his voice on Padres POV and I’ve basically already forgotten Trevor Cahill’s face. It seems there is some chatter that the Padres might have sacrificed getting a better prospect for the cash considerations tied to the Travis Wood salary that the Royals are eating. We’ll never know. And more importantly, who is really clamoring for the inside details of this trade? The Padres shuffled some things around and added more projects. The Hand deal is still out there though. Do you think he’ll pitch much in this Mets series?

PADRES HAIKU – Tue, Jul 25, 2017 at 5:29 PM

Well the Padres *are* debuting Kyle Lloyd tonight and if things go the way most think, they’re going to have to use every arm in the bullpen tonight. So yeah, after we make him spin the Virgin Wheel of Doom & throw some bagels and toilet paper at him, I think we might see Hand for a batter or three.

I’ll be at the game tonight with my friend Ben the Mets fan. If you have any heckles send them my way. I suspect the Padres might get waxed tonight. They can still hit. The “Prospect vs Money” thing from the Gwynntelligence Podcast today was interesting. They basically said, “The team could have picked up a fourth player instead of getting Wood for free.” There might be something there, but it might not have even been on the table. So far the narrative around AJ Preller is that his asking prices are too high. Another prospect from their organization would have been asking too much. AJ didn’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good and he made a deal. Padres got a prospect, a lottery ticket, and a warm body to fill a rotation spot for the rest for the year for three guys that aren’t going to help them any time in the near future. (I.e. Tank) It’s fine. Might be great-unlikely bad. You think Hand still gets moved? I’m not sure he does.

People are already declaring winners and losers in this trade. It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

Kyle Lloyd is pitching for the Padres and it's Christmas in July at the ballpark. #LloydChristmas

— Gaslamp Ball (@gaslampball) July 26, 2017

NICHOLAS MCCANN – Wed, Jul 26, 2017 at 8:51 PM

Today has been interesting. Ron Fowler got on the radio and made it sound like they probably wouldn’t trade Brad Hand. Now is Ron being smart and trying to not give any leverage to other teams who are interested? I don’t know. As far as public perception, the Buchter, Maurer, and Cahill deal gives them cover to be able to say they did something.

The Padres Have This Deadline’s Potential Andrew Miller https://t.co/rUQvUSKKNB

— FanGraphs Baseball (@fangraphs) July 26, 2017

PADRES HAIKU – Thu, Jul 27, 2017 at 12:13 AM

Not trading Hand is only a problem if he gets hurt, which is so Padres it smells like Eric Show’s jock strap. The deadline is still a loooong ways away.

I talked to a bunch of Mets fans at Petco last night. Now there is a fan base in no-mans-land. Almost all of them (Not my friend) still think the Mets are going to the playoffs and that they should be buyers, which is crazy. At the same time none of them (including my friend) have any faith in anybody in their organization to do anything right, which is reasonable. I know they went to the World Series a few years ago, but it’s a real circus act of an organization led by our old friend Sandy Alderson. I’d never investigate, but I suspect Mets Twitter is just like Padres Twitter: Defeatist and optimistic at the same time. They have a haiku account and everything. I’m shocked at how many people think Wil Myers could get traded. There’s no way that happens, even if he wasn’t slumping.

NICHOLAS MCCANN – Thu, Jul 27, 2017 at 9:33 PM

Alex Verdugo not in OKC lineup tonight and Yadier Alvarez not listed as Fri. starter for Tulsa. Both LAD prospects rumored trade pieces.

— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) July 28, 2017

Before the final game of the Mets series tonight (Padres won and Brad Hand got the save)reports came down that Verdugo, one of the top Dodgers prospects, had been sat for his game tonight. I’ll admit I got excited that this meant the Brad Hand deal would go through and this entire deadline heighten anxiety period would be over. Then I remembered that the Dodgers are going after a starting pitcher and wouldn’t pay that much for Hand.

So we wait.

brad hand is really good. dominates mets to save win for pads, 7-5. can see why asking price is high.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 28, 2017

I want more prospects. I want to believe.

Haiku, I need a haiku. A strong one to take me into the weekend…

PADRES HAIKU – Thu, Jul 27, 2017 at 10:43 PM

Worthy candidates/ from one hand for another / Peoria bound

The second half of the Padres 2017 season has started and the guys got together to take the temperature of where they’re at as fans, especially when it comes to the development of the rebuilding organization. Even though the Friars lost the series against Colorado, they’ve been playing well lately and the players are overachieving. Is this a positive that fans should be excited about, or is it dangerously jeopardizing the team’s chances of reloading with top level talent through the draft? They discuss the upcoming trade deadline and the chances of the team getting the haul they want for the players that are catching the eyes of the contending clubs. Then they call AJ Cassavell from mlb.com and talk about the pressure the team is under to come away with good prospects during this complicated period in the schedule, the future of Wil Myers and his contract, and the health of Austin Hedges. SPOILER ALERT: They close out the episode with some dragon chat and talk about the season seven premiere of Game of Thrones.

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As feelings go, few are better than when you’re naked with someone for the first time and become pleasantly surprised that they’re bringing more to the table than what was expected. Your initial assessment was slightly off. Their clothes were a lie. When our expectations are exceeded and attached to the possibility of a future, it’s exciting. Austin Hedges emerged through the ranks of the Padres organization with the promise that he would always be a wizard behind the plate. Even though AJ Preller didn’t draft him, his loud tool was always clear. Compounded with his devastating good looks, no matter what happened he would at least be an elite defender. Everything Hedges has done offensively this year beyond that simple baseline of expectation has been thrilling and Padres fans are swooning. It’s not that we merely want to have sex with our new starting catcher. That would be too easy. We want to believe he will stand up to our past with his burgeoning skill set and grow the future that’s been promised.

We want Austin inside us. #SWOON

Last week, Cubs first basemen and former Padre Anthony Rizzo knocked Hedges out of a game in what was clearly an avoidable home plate collision. This sparked a huge debate about old baseball rules, the toughness of Padres manager Andy Green, and overall masculinity on the field and online. The Padres didn’t retaliate and lost the series in Chicago 1-2. Regardless of what the team’s response was, Padres fans felt something that was uniquely heightened in those few days. Anthony Rizzo was traded away from San Diego shortly after coming over from Boston in the Adrian Gonzalez deal during a time of great uncertainty for the franchise. As it turns out, Rizzo is on his way to having a better career than the player he replaced. When he illegally crashed into Hedges, we lost our minds and wanted blood. The Cubs are who we want the Padres to be and the anchor of their undeniably successful rebuild tried to take out the beginning of our foundation.

The ideal narrative for Hedges is that he refines his skills as a major league catcher with this short term veteran staff. Then when Adrian Morejon, Anderson Espinoza, Cal Quantril, and the other waves of pitching talent come to the major league level, their seasoned battery mate will be ready to take them through the maturation process. A confidence-gaining Austin now will make the rebuild go smoothly later. It’s not the same for other young Padres finding their way this year. Hunter Renfroe might be a nice piece in the outfield, but he’s just a baseball player. With the tank in full swing, Austin is a bridge that provides safe passage to somewhere we as fans need to go.

When Careless Whisper, the greatest musical choice a Padre has made since Trevor Hoffman with ACDC’s Hells Bells, pours through the speakers at Petco Park the feeling that it brings is that of knowing there’s hope. Sure, it’s exciting because it’s Austin’s time to hit, but it’s also comforting because he knew it was the perfect walk up song to pick. That was his choice. He saw that we needed a sensual ‘80s sax line to ease us through this process. Austin’s growing connection with fans has always felt very direct. However, recently the team has become keenly aware of the feeling he provides. They’ve pinpointed a response from the public and they’re playing with it. When Hedges returned to the lineup in the Detroit series, the Padres put out a video that was well produced and came from a place of confidence that it was in on the romance. This is all fine if the Padres become the Cubs. If they don’t, this video will be held against us.

As feelings go, few are worse than realizing you’ve seen the person you’re naked with for too long. Their body is exactly what you expect and their jokes aren’t funny anymore. To get through the day you have to focus on whatever good qualities you can make yourself believe they still have and swoon towards them. Austin Hedges is the clearest example that the system the San Diego Padres have in place can do something right. If the organization wants to be in on the fun they should be careful. Even though Austin is dreamy, they can still destroy the Hedges dream. Where it goes from here is up to them.

Follow on Twitter @Nicholas_McCann

Other 2017 Posts:

Tanking Fun

Margot Leading Off

This week the guys weigh in on “The Rizzo Slide”, an unfortunate play that happened last week and tore a hole through every facet of media and fan attention surrounding the Padres. Last Monday, Austin Hedges was taken out by a collision at the plate in a dirty play by the Chicago Cubs First basemen (and former Padre) Anthony Rizzo and a week later fans are questioning the hardness of Padres second year manager Andy Green’s character because he didn’t retaliate with an equal level of baseball violence. Is this crazy? Sure, but there isn’t a whole lot else to talk about with the team in 2017. To help hash out the different sides of the controversy, the guys get soft with friend of the pod David Marver from gwynntelligence.com, who wrote a piece shortly after everything played out. They talk about whether or not the Green criticism is fair or if it even matters if he is or is not a traditional baseball tough guy. Then they look at the overall direction of the franchise and whether or not the tanking philosophy is being implemented correctly.

Download the episode here:

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Follow us on Twitter: @thekeptfaith