BN Trade Deadline Blogathon: Hour 26

July 31, 2014, by Brett Taylor Chicago Cubs

I am currently blogging – here, on Facebook, and on Twitter (hash tag #BNBlogathon for those who want to jump into the fray themselves) – for 37 hours straight, until slightly past MLB’s July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline, thanks to your generous donations (more than $16,000 after an impending $1,000 donation) to Make-A-Wish. I’ll be doing recaps on the process throughout the day, but you’ll also see normal posting (Bullets, news, Pre-Gamin’, EBS), as well as a significant uptick in rumor/trade posts.

Ah, the morning has arrived. As it has for millennia, the sun provides invigoration and the energy necessary to carry on. Mostly it’s been doing that for plants. But today, it’s there for me.

I’m a little tingly, but hopefully that will fade as soon as my brain convinces the rest of my nervous system that it’s just like any other morning. Time to work.

Total Posts So Far:

34.

News and Rumors Since the Last Recap:

We talked about the “non-waiver” part of the Non-Waiver Trade Deadline, which is just a brief primer type thing. I also wrote about the possibility that the Cubs could get a private workout with Cuban outfielder Rusney Castillo.

Most Interesting Tidbit Since the Last Recap:

The Castillo stuff is not expressly related to the Trade Deadline (though it’s conceivable that teams that miss out on an upgrade today could swing a little harder for Castillo in the hopes that he can step in and play right away (kind of a tough ask for a guy who hasn’t played games in months, and has never played in the States)), but it’s still interesting.

Current Thoughts About the Chicago Cubs’ Trade Deadline Strategy/Execution:

I’m wondering how many irons the Cubs have in the fire, and what happened overnight. We know something will happen with Emilio Bonifacio, but will that be everything? Wright? Russell? Villanueva? Schierholtz? Ruggiano? Coghlan? Sweeney? Jackson? Wada? Baker? Valbuena? I really don’t think too many of those guys are in play today, but a few could be.

Current Beverage/Stimulant of Choice:

A mocha frappuccino, on ice.

Hat Status:

Uh oh. It’s growing on me. Like a weed.

Now I know I must be sleep deprived. #BNBlogathon https://t.co/KcuR3Xdq6n

— Brett Taylor (@BleacherNation) July 31, 2014

Strangest Thought Passing Through My Mind:

Will the tingles all over my body subside at some point? They can’t possibly persist another 12 hours, right? Oh, shit. There are 12 hours left.

A Selection of #BNBlogathon Tweets:

Here @BleacherNation thought this might be a good read for you right now… http://t.co/WsJQs47Jrb

— ⚾Skip Bauer⚾ (@skipbauer22) July 31, 2014

https://twitter.com/ConwayTweetiee/status/494781027588390912

Up early to take over the MLB Trade Deadline LIVE for @VAVEL_USA can't even imagine what @BleacherNation is going through! #BNBlogathon

— Dan Schmelzer (@DSchmelzerFS) July 31, 2014

So @BleacherNation #BNBlogathon I'm guessing is now starting to see stuff and feel ants crawling on him. The next live chat should be fun.

— MichiganGoat (@MichiganGoat) July 31, 2014

@BleacherNation I would have donated for a Brett Taylor nap over a hat. #BNBlogathon

— StapleGunner (@Massdotgov) July 31, 2014

@BleacherNation Good morning from Stockholm! Stay strong, Brett! #BNBlogathon pic.twitter.com/EkiUAWL4VR

— Gabriel (@inkastad) July 31, 2014

Welp, I'm up. Stay strong @BleacherNation. It's probably going to get a little weird in what's left of your brain.

— Brett DiNovi (@BEldenD) July 31, 2014

5:25 am & I have things to do after being at last night's Cubs game. But what's sleep? Right, @BleacherNation? #BNBlogathon #SleepIsACrutch

— Luis M. (@lcm1986) July 31, 2014

Good morning from Brasil, #BNBlogathon and #GoCubsGo

— Fabio Ferreira (@xaxinho) July 31, 2014

@BleacherNation Australian Cub fans are proud of you Brett! Keep pushing brother! #marathonman #gocubsgo

— Boris Kilpatrick (@BorisABLBuzz) July 31, 2014