Cliff Lee went relatively cheap. We didn't get what we needed most-- a starting pitcher. Theo did his ******** menage a trois three way deadline trade which flops more often than it succeeds. He came up empty. If we got Halladay this year and won the series, no I would not give him a pass the following year. Why do you assume that criticizing a particular move or non-move is a condemnation of Theo. On balance the whole FO has done a good job over the last several seasons, but they could've done much better at this trading deadline. I didn't grade them an F. I gave them a B-, which in retrospect was too high. The B- was the result of getting a big name, but I don't think the essential needs were addressed. I'd go with a C+.
As for not wanting to see Smoltz vs. the Yankees, I would have taken my wife to the concert regardless of the matchup. However, I'm glad that I will be missing Smoltz' game if I had to mis one of the games. I have a very bad feeling about that game and teh CC vs. Buchholz matchup.