Hey everyone.  I think it's fair to say that the exodus of perennial trade-bait Scott Linebrink -- regardless of your feelings toward him -- has caused at least some kind of stir on this site.  Perhaps I'm misconstruing my own mixed emotions about his departure, but doesn't it feel like something is in the works?  Like the wheels have been set in motion for something big?  Even if over the next 5 days none of the Milwaukee prospects become trade-bait in their own right, I feel like the Friars are ready to pull themselves out of the funk that is called July Baseball.*

How do we do it?  Well, since none of us is either Kevin Towers nor wonder boy Paul DePodesta we have little power over building the 40-man roster.  And since none of us is Bud Black we have little power over managing the lineup.  However, what we do have in our arsenal is enough unicorns, rainbows and magical robots, enough unconditional love for our team, and enough Wiggins to write the kind of weird and wonderful folklore that will make you shit your pants.

Is it premature or are we ready to bust out the big guns?  Is it time to ban Johnny Dub's cats, at least temporarily (I kind of want to see the final installment of his trilogy)? Should we dissuade Dex from posting first comment on the open thread?  Is that even a superstition?  Are reverse jinxes your thing?  Maybe you think the answer is to help Lindsay Lohan get some coke during her stay at Passages Rehab Center.  Well, even if it is too early for the big guns, I'd like to hear what your superstitions are regardless. Personally, I can't look at our pitcher's pitch count unless our team is at bat.  This has ended disastrously before, whether I take a glance at MLB Gameday or at the wall in left center field.  Also, I'm considering wiping the dust off my #8 Mark Loretta jersey for the Houston series, but I don't have the clairvoyance to see whether or not this is a smart move.  What do all of you have up your sleeves?

* We're 8-13 and we've lost 5 of the last 6.  Chris Young is injured for sure, Peavy is injured and won't tell anyone, Maddux has been crucified by our bullpen so many times that he's grown a beard and now wears sandals when he pitches.  Germano is apparently not the real deal, and Wells -- well, he's been pitching like he has gout.  And then there's our offense.  Actually, forget our offense.