Skip to content

Official: Lee to Phillies

The Tribe Board
100 12 7.3k
  • It seems more like you don't follow baseball enough.

    Are you trying to say our prospects never pan out?

    CC came up through our system and won over 100 games

    Cliff Lee came up through our system and won a Cy Young

    Grady Sizemore came up through our system and became a 30/30, gold glover

    Fausto came up through our system, won 19 games and carried us through the ALDS

    Victor came up through our system and turned into the best catcher in the game

    Betancourt came up through our system and had some great years for us in relief

    Choo, Hafner and Westbrook all came here as complete unknowns and turned into impact players

    Brandon Phillips never got his shot in Cleveland but has turned into a hell of player

    Now we have the best pool of prospects since the early 90s (who turned into Manny, Thome, et al) and everyone just assumes they'll fizzle out, yet I'm the naive one.

  • we've been hearing about reaping rewards from prospects acquired in trades for almost a decade. only one year did we come remotely close to reaping anything. Yes we got some good players, but what difference does it make when we lose 90 games and trade them away? obviously they are doing something wrong.

    we've also been hearing that the indians have the best pool of prospects since god knows when for almost a decade. I remember Dolan/ Shap talking about winning the world Series in two years after breaking up the team we had in the nineties. We see how that worked out.

  • It seems more like you don't follow baseball enough.

    Are you trying to say our prospects never pan out?

    CC came up through our system and won over 100 games

    Cliff Lee came up through our system and won a Cy Young

    Grady Sizemore came up through our system and became a 30/30, gold glover

    Fausto came up through our system, won 19 games and carried us through the ALDS

    Victor came up through our system and turned into the best catcher in the game

    Betancourt came up through our system and had some great years for us in relief

    Choo, Hafner and Westbrook all came here as complete unknowns and turned into impact players

    Brandon Phillips never got his shot in Cleveland but has turned into a hell of player

    Now we have the best pool of prospects since the early 90s (who turned into Manny, Thome, et al) and everyone just assumes they'll fizzle out, yet I'm the naive one.

    @cimo. said:

    It seems more like you don't follow baseball enough.

    Are you trying to say our prospects never pan out?

    CC came up through our system and won over 100 games

    Cliff Lee came up through our system and won a Cy Young

    Grady Sizemore came up through our system and became a 30/30, gold glover

    Fausto came up through our system, won 19 games and carried us through the ALDS

    Victor came up through our system and turned into the best catcher in the game

    Betancourt came up through our system and had some great years for us in relief

    Choo, Hafner and Westbrook all came here as complete unknowns and turned into impact players

    Brandon Phillips never got his shot in Cleveland but has turned into a hell of player

    Now we have the best pool of prospects since the early 90s (who turned into Manny, Thome, et al) and everyone just assumes they'll fizzle out, yet I'm the naive one.

    Sweet and ZERO trips to the World Series. Next time you drive to downtown Cleveland, pay $20 for parking, $60 to get in the game and $10 for a beer and watch them get shelled, let me know. Until then, you need to stick in Texas my friend, Ummm K.

  • @cimo. said:

    Now it's clear the season wasn't going anywhere, so Shapiro decided to cut bait and get what he could to make sure we're not in the same position for 5 more years.

    I call BS on this. This was the same team who almost made it to the World Series. Why aren't they preforming? I think they need to address that issue before getting rid of a CY Young pitcher signed through 2010. I could see some sense in the trade if this was 2010 and Lee was leaving. What does this tell me, the team, and the city, there is no chance of you winning next year or for the next 3 years for that matter.

    We are now in Pirate territory in every sense of the word. Payroll, talent, pride. All gone.

    @kosar_for_president said:

    I call BS on this. This was the same team who almost made it to the World Series. Why aren't they preforming? I think they need to address that issue before getting rid of a CY Young pitcher signed through 2010. I could see some sense in the trade if this was 2010 and Lee was leaving. What does this tell me, the team, and the city, there is no chance of you winning next year or for the next 3 years for that matter.

    We are now in Pirate territory in every sense of the word. Payroll, talent, pride. All gone.

    I agree. We are becoming like the Pirates in a sense we bring up these kids and trade them away when they are in their prime. We are becoming the top two contending Farm Clubs for the rest of the league.

  • Not to add fuel to the fire, but according to Yahoo today, The Tribe's looking to get rid of Victor and the Red Sox, Rays, and Giants seem to all three want him? What should we settle on getting for him? I'm thinking Shapiro will do it for essentially what equates to a Single A pitcher that MAY do something 3 years from now, but is on the injury report now, and a bucket of sunflower seeds! That seems to be the going rate for a repeat All-Star catcher right?

  • Not to add fuel to the fire, but according to Yahoo today, The Tribe's looking to get rid of Victor and the Red Sox, Rays, and Giants seem to all three want him? What should we settle on getting for him? I'm thinking Shapiro will do it for essentially what equates to a Single A pitcher that MAY do something 3 years from now, but is on the injury report now, and a bucket of sunflower seeds! That seems to be the going rate for a repeat All-Star catcher right?

    @lcdawgfan13 said:

    Not to add fuel to the fire, but according to Yahoo today, The Tribe's looking to get rid of Victor and the Red Sox, Rays, and Giants seem to all three want him? What should we settle on getting for him? I'm thinking Shapiro will do it for essentially what equates to a Single A pitcher that MAY do something 3 years from now, but is on the injury report now, and a bucket of sunflower seeds! That seems to be the going rate for a repeat All-Star catcher right?

    They are trying to get Clay Buchhol for him. And if his girlfriend comes with the deal, so be it.

    erica_ellyson.jpg

  • Not to add fuel to the fire, but according to Yahoo today, The Tribe's looking to get rid of Victor and the Red Sox, Rays, and Giants seem to all three want him? What should we settle on getting for him? I'm thinking Shapiro will do it for essentially what equates to a Single A pitcher that MAY do something 3 years from now, but is on the injury report now, and a bucket of sunflower seeds! That seems to be the going rate for a repeat All-Star catcher right?

    @lcdawgfan13 said:

    Not to add fuel to the fire, but according to Yahoo today, The Tribe's looking to get rid of Victor and the Red Sox, Rays, and Giants seem to all three want him? What should we settle on getting for him? I'm thinking Shapiro will do it for essentially what equates to a Single A pitcher that MAY do something 3 years from now, but is on the injury report now, and a bucket of sunflower seeds! That seems to be the going rate for a repeat All-Star catcher right?

    Shaprio would never make such a trade. Throw in a third round pick in next year's draft and he'll pull the trigger.

  • @lcdawgfan13 said:

    Not to add fuel to the fire, but according to Yahoo today, The Tribe's looking to get rid of Victor and the Red Sox, Rays, and Giants seem to all three want him? What should we settle on getting for him? I'm thinking Shapiro will do it for essentially what equates to a Single A pitcher that MAY do something 3 years from now, but is on the injury report now, and a bucket of sunflower seeds! That seems to be the going rate for a repeat All-Star catcher right?

    Shaprio would never make such a trade. Throw in a third round pick in next year's draft and he'll pull the trigger.

    @pumpkin-eater said:

    Shaprio would never make such a trade. Throw in a third round pick in next year's draft and he'll pull the trigger.

    Clay Buchhol or bust.

  • @cimo. said:

    It seems more like you don't follow baseball enough.

    Are you trying to say our prospects never pan out?

    CC came up through our system and won over 100 games

    Cliff Lee came up through our system and won a Cy Young

    Grady Sizemore came up through our system and became a 30/30, gold glover

    Fausto came up through our system, won 19 games and carried us through the ALDS

    Victor came up through our system and turned into the best catcher in the game

    Betancourt came up through our system and had some great years for us in relief

    Choo, Hafner and Westbrook all came here as complete unknowns and turned into impact players

    Brandon Phillips never got his shot in Cleveland but has turned into a hell of player

    Now we have the best pool of prospects since the early 90s (who turned into Manny, Thome, et al) and everyone just assumes they'll fizzle out, yet I'm the naive one.

    Sweet and ZERO trips to the World Series. Next time you drive to downtown Cleveland, pay $20 for parking, $60 to get in the game and $10 for a beer and watch them get shelled, let me know. Until then, you need to stick in Texas my friend, Ummm K.

    @kosar_for_president said:

    Sweet and ZERO trips to the World Series. Next time you drive to downtown Cleveland, pay $20 for parking, $60 to get in the game and $10 for a beer and watch them get shelled, let me know. Until then, you need to stick in Texas my friend, Ummm K.

    The Browns haven't been to a Super Bowl in their entire history and the fans are happy to sell out every game.

    The Cavs got swept in their only trip to the finals and they're selling out every game.

    But since the Indians aren't as good as they were in the 90s, they should be boycotted. Gotcha.

  • @kosar_for_president said:

    Sweet and ZERO trips to the World Series. Next time you drive to downtown Cleveland, pay $20 for parking, $60 to get in the game and $10 for a beer and watch them get shelled, let me know. Until then, you need to stick in Texas my friend, Ummm K.

    The Browns haven't been to a Super Bowl in their entire history and the fans are happy to sell out every game.

    The Cavs got swept in their only trip to the finals and they're selling out every game.

    But since the Indians aren't as good as they were in the 90s, they should be boycotted. Gotcha.

    @cimo. said:

    The Browns haven't been to a Super Bowl in their entire history and the fans are happy to sell out every game.

    The Cavs got swept in their only trip to the finals and they're selling out every game.

    But since the Indians aren't as good as they were in the 90s, they should be boycotted. Gotcha.

    I can only speak for myself, not send generalizations of a whole city from down yonder.

  • @kosar_for_president said:

    Sweet and ZERO trips to the World Series. Next time you drive to downtown Cleveland, pay $20 for parking, $60 to get in the game and $10 for a beer and watch them get shelled, let me know. Until then, you need to stick in Texas my friend, Ummm K.

    The Browns haven't been to a Super Bowl in their entire history and the fans are happy to sell out every game.

    The Cavs got swept in their only trip to the finals and they're selling out every game.

    But since the Indians aren't as good as they were in the 90s, they should be boycotted. Gotcha.

    @cimo. said:

    The Browns haven't been to a Super Bowl in their entire history and the fans are happy to sell out every game.

    The Cavs got swept in their only trip to the finals and they're selling out every game.

    But since the Indians aren't as good as they were in the 90s, they should be boycotted. Gotcha.

    It has nothing to do with the Indians of the 90's. Different owners. Neither the Cavs or the Browns blew up a good team, they added talent, not traded it away. Those owners made honest decisions about what are the best chances of winning now. Dolan is doing just the opposite. You have to admit that?

  • @kosar_for_president said:

    Sweet and ZERO trips to the World Series. Next time you drive to downtown Cleveland, pay $20 for parking, $60 to get in the game and $10 for a beer and watch them get shelled, let me know. Until then, you need to stick in Texas my friend, Ummm K.

    The Browns haven't been to a Super Bowl in their entire history and the fans are happy to sell out every game.

    The Cavs got swept in their only trip to the finals and they're selling out every game.

    But since the Indians aren't as good as they were in the 90s, they should be boycotted. Gotcha.

    @cimo. said:

    The Browns haven't been to a Super Bowl in their entire history and the fans are happy to sell out every game.

    The Cavs got swept in their only trip to the finals and they're selling out every game.

    But since the Indians aren't as good as they were in the 90s, they should be boycotted. Gotcha.

    Lerner and Gilbert are not the owners that have repeatedly stated that in order for them to spend money to bring a good team to Cleveland, they need to see the teams sell out every game. Dolan has stated that he will spend the money but not until the fans do. Huge difference. Especially when you look at the fact that there was a winning team in place when Dolan bought the tribe and the attendance was still up. He took over in 2000. In 1999, the Indians were 97-65 with an attendance of 3,468,436. In 2000, they were 90-72 with an attendance of 3,456,278. Even in 2001, they were 91-71 with the attendance at 3,175,523. So, we were funding the team just fine, even under Dolan. Now we all understand that most teams, not named the Yankees and Red Sox, have to rebuild at some time. Since 2002, the club has had 2 seasons over .500 and one right at .500 and 4 losing seasons...oh wait...5 losing seasons counting '09. '02, '03, '06, and now '09 were absolutely abysmal. Dolan hasn't held up his end. If he had, then we would not going through a complete rebuild again.

  • @cimo. said:

    The Browns haven't been to a Super Bowl in their entire history and the fans are happy to sell out every game.

    The Cavs got swept in their only trip to the finals and they're selling out every game.

    But since the Indians aren't as good as they were in the 90s, they should be boycotted. Gotcha.

    Lerner and Gilbert are not the owners that have repeatedly stated that in order for them to spend money to bring a good team to Cleveland, they need to see the teams sell out every game. Dolan has stated that he will spend the money but not until the fans do. Huge difference. Especially when you look at the fact that there was a winning team in place when Dolan bought the tribe and the attendance was still up. He took over in 2000. In 1999, the Indians were 97-65 with an attendance of 3,468,436. In 2000, they were 90-72 with an attendance of 3,456,278. Even in 2001, they were 91-71 with the attendance at 3,175,523. So, we were funding the team just fine, even under Dolan. Now we all understand that most teams, not named the Yankees and Red Sox, have to rebuild at some time. Since 2002, the club has had 2 seasons over .500 and one right at .500 and 4 losing seasons...oh wait...5 losing seasons counting '09. '02, '03, '06, and now '09 were absolutely abysmal. Dolan hasn't held up his end. If he had, then we would not going through a complete rebuild again.

    @lcdawgfan13 said:

    Lerner and Gilbert are not the owners that have repeatedly stated that in order for them to spend money to bring a good team to Cleveland, they need to see the teams sell out every game. Dolan has stated that he will spend the money but not until the fans do. Huge difference. Especially when you look at the fact that there was a winning team in place when Dolan bought the tribe and the attendance was still up. He took over in 2000. In 1999, the Indians were 97-65 with an attendance of 3,468,436. In 2000, they were 90-72 with an attendance of 3,456,278. Even in 2001, they were 91-71 with the attendance at 3,175,523. So, we were funding the team just fine, even under Dolan. Now we all understand that most teams, not named the Yankees and Red Sox, have to rebuild at some time. Since 2002, the club has had 2 seasons over .500 and one right at .500 and 4 losing seasons...oh wait...5 losing seasons counting '09. '02, '03, '06, and now '09 were absolutely abysmal. Dolan hasn't held up his end. If he had, then we would not going through a complete rebuild again.

    LCD, perfectly said bro. We made him a bunch of money, and now he's not making it and didn't put some of that aside for the future, the fans are paying the price. It stinks of business. With Lerner and Gilbert it feels like a team or even a family, not a business.

  • It's starting to seem like people would rather have an enormous payroll than a winning season.

    We paid Hafner. We paid Wood. We paid Westbrook. We locked up Carmona and Sizemore. We've had Victor for over a decade.

    The market for starting pitching is absolutely insane now. We weren't going anywhere last year with CC, and we had no chance to sign him. The Brewers decided to ride him to the end, and how did that turn out? A first round exit and nothing in return.

    Cleveland is far, far from the only team who can't afford to pay Cy Young winners market value. The Marlins couldn't keep Beckett. The Twins couldn't keep Santana. The A's couldn't keep anyone, but let's just say Dan Haren. The Blue Jays won't be able to keep Halladay.

    When you look at it realistically, we weren't going anywhere with Cliff. There aren't enough moves we could've made to contend next year, and we don't have the money to re-sign him. Before you blame Dolan, look around the league and blame baseball for the lack of a salary cap.

    We didn't get fair value for Cliff, but no team is going to give up young, major league ready aces for a rental. Getting two solid position players at premium positions, a front of the rotation starter near the bigs, and one potential horse...well, I'll take it.

    So I was right?

    @cimo. said:

    It's starting to seem like people would rather have an enormous payroll than a winning season.

    I'll agree that Gilbert puts his money where his mouth is, but the Cavs aren't some well oiled machine. They won the powerball lottery when they got LeBron, stole Mo Williams from Milwaukee (who just gave up Jefferson and Villanueva for nothing), their best draft acquistion since '03 was Anderson Varejao, they haven't gotten a single impact free agent, and blew it at the trade deadline last year, have won nothing, yet everyone is happy to shower them with praises because they're willing to pay Larry Hughes, Wally Szczerbiak and Ben Wallace 15 million a year.

    I have no idea what the Browns payroll looks like, but it's pretty obvious, even for a slack-jawed southerner like me, that they've gotten away with a lot of shit. I shouldn't even have to say more than one sentence. The Browns we grew up with now play in Baltimore. But who have the new Browns thrown money at? Eric Steinbach? Reuben Droughns? They haven't given away talent because until a couple years ago they didn't have any. Now Sean Jones and Kellen Winslow are gone, Cribbs is wanting a new deal, and everyone seems to expect Braylon Edwards to be gone when his deal runs up. So with that money they're saving, are they going after Albert Haynesworth? Houshmandzadeh? No. They'll take Eric Barton and Abe Elam and the best fans in the NFL are fine to sit through another rebuilding season because it's the Browns.

    And I don't know, I haven't really heard anyone say we'd be a good team in 2010 with Cliff, just that we should've kept him because he's fun to watch and now our payroll is going to be too low. Myself, I'd rather get the most I can for him and make sure your future isn't as bad as disappointing as your present.

  • @cimo. said:

    The Browns haven't been to a Super Bowl in their entire history and the fans are happy to sell out every game.

    The Cavs got swept in their only trip to the finals and they're selling out every game.

    But since the Indians aren't as good as they were in the 90s, they should be boycotted. Gotcha.

    It has nothing to do with the Indians of the 90's. Different owners. Neither the Cavs or the Browns blew up a good team, they added talent, not traded it away. Those owners made honest decisions about what are the best chances of winning now. Dolan is doing just the opposite. You have to admit that?

    @kosar_for_president said:

    It has nothing to do with the Indians of the 90's. Different owners. Neither the Cavs or the Browns blew up a good team, they added talent, not traded it away. Those owners made honest decisions about what are the best chances of winning now. Dolan is doing just the opposite. You have to admit that?

    I don't like what we got in return for Lee at all, and I definitely think we should have waited for a Halladay type deal or wait.

    But to say that this was a good team? That's crazy.

    We are 18 or so games under .500.

    Our only good pitcher was Lee with thin young pitching in the system before the series of trades.

    Martinez is only a luxury right now with Shoppach, Giminez, Torregas, Santana, etc.

    We were pretty good in the second half last year and added pretty good parts this off-season but it was clear our pitching wasn't good enough to contend in the next couple years.

    Our offense is deep enough that it should be good for a long time, but our pitching was so thin, that we got to the point we were in desperate need of young arms in the bullpen and the rotation.

    I don't like the trade, but I think if anything, we have turned a weakness into a strength in terms of young pitching prospects.

  • @kosar_for_president said:

    It has nothing to do with the Indians of the 90's. Different owners. Neither the Cavs or the Browns blew up a good team, they added talent, not traded it away. Those owners made honest decisions about what are the best chances of winning now. Dolan is doing just the opposite. You have to admit that?

    I don't like what we got in return for Lee at all, and I definitely think we should have waited for a Halladay type deal or wait.

    But to say that this was a good team? That's crazy.

    We are 18 or so games under .500.

    Our only good pitcher was Lee with thin young pitching in the system before the series of trades.

    Martinez is only a luxury right now with Shoppach, Giminez, Torregas, Santana, etc.

    We were pretty good in the second half last year and added pretty good parts this off-season but it was clear our pitching wasn't good enough to contend in the next couple years.

    Our offense is deep enough that it should be good for a long time, but our pitching was so thin, that we got to the point we were in desperate need of young arms in the bullpen and the rotation.

    I don't like the trade, but I think if anything, we have turned a weakness into a strength in terms of young pitching prospects.

    @lebrent said:

    We were pretty good in the second half last year

    We were the best team in baseball.

  • So I was right?

    @cimo. said:

    It's starting to seem like people would rather have an enormous payroll than a winning season.

    I'll agree that Gilbert puts his money where his mouth is, but the Cavs aren't some well oiled machine. They won the powerball lottery when they got LeBron, stole Mo Williams from Milwaukee (who just gave up Jefferson and Villanueva for nothing), their best draft acquistion since '03 was Anderson Varejao, they haven't gotten a single impact free agent, and blew it at the trade deadline last year, have won nothing, yet everyone is happy to shower them with praises because they're willing to pay Larry Hughes, Wally Szczerbiak and Ben Wallace 15 million a year.

    I have no idea what the Browns payroll looks like, but it's pretty obvious, even for a slack-jawed southerner like me, that they've gotten away with a lot of shit. I shouldn't even have to say more than one sentence. The Browns we grew up with now play in Baltimore. But who have the new Browns thrown money at? Eric Steinbach? Reuben Droughns? They haven't given away talent because until a couple years ago they didn't have any. Now Sean Jones and Kellen Winslow are gone, Cribbs is wanting a new deal, and everyone seems to expect Braylon Edwards to be gone when his deal runs up. So with that money they're saving, are they going after Albert Haynesworth? Houshmandzadeh? No. They'll take Eric Barton and Abe Elam and the best fans in the NFL are fine to sit through another rebuilding season because it's the Browns.

    And I don't know, I haven't really heard anyone say we'd be a good team in 2010 with Cliff, just that we should've kept him because he's fun to watch and now our payroll is going to be too low. Myself, I'd rather get the most I can for him and make sure your future isn't as bad as disappointing as your present.

    @cimo. said:

    So I was right?

    I'll agree that Gilbert puts his money where his mouth is, but the Cavs aren't some well oiled machine. They won the powerball lottery when they got LeBron, stole Mo Williams from Milwaukee (who just gave up Jefferson and Villanueva for nothing), their best draft acquistion since '03 was Anderson Varejao, they haven't gotten a single impact free agent, and blew it at the trade deadline last year, have won nothing, yet everyone is happy to shower them with praises because they're willing to pay Larry Hughes, Wally Szczerbiak and Ben Wallace 15 million a year.

    I have no idea what the Browns payroll looks like, but it's pretty obvious, even for a slack-jawed southerner like me, that they've gotten away with a lot of shit. I shouldn't even have to say more than one sentence. The Browns we grew up with now play in Baltimore. But who have the new Browns thrown money at? Eric Steinbach? Reuben Droughns? They haven't given away talent because until a couple years ago they didn't have any. Now Sean Jones and Kellen Winslow are gone, Cribbs is wanting a new deal, and everyone seems to expect Braylon Edwards to be gone when his deal runs up. So with that money they're saving, are they going after Albert Haynesworth? Houshmandzadeh? No. They'll take Eric Barton and Abe Elam and the best fans in the NFL are fine to sit through another rebuilding season because it's the Browns.

    And I don't know, I haven't really heard anyone say we'd be a good team in 2010 with Cliff, just that we should've kept him because he's fun to watch and now our payroll is going to be too low. Myself, I'd rather get the most I can for him and make sure your future isn't as bad as disappointing as your present.

    Do I really have to point out to you that the Browns and the Cavs are, at least, making changes in attempt to get better NOW. When it comes to payroll, Mankok is limited with the Browns and the NFL's salary cap. And they are a little handcuffed because of the previous regime. But they are out there making moves and doing what they can to make the team better.

    When it comes to the Cavs, do I really agree with every contract they give? Nope. But, I cannot fault Ferry and Gilbert for doing whatever they can to shake the team up and try to build a better team around their star. They went to the finals for the first time ever. Then went out and tried to improve the team. They finished with the best record in the NBA and had the league MVP. Then they made every attempt to get better. They want to win a championship. Anything less is not good enough!

    Neither of those organizations has told fans that they had to buy tickets and spend money before they were going to put out the cash to provide a quality and competititve team! Dolan did! Even after there was more than enough proof of support for the Tribe! What part of that do you not understand!

    Could we be better with Cliff? Yes. Could we be good with Cliff? Yes. Could we be good without Cliff? Yes...but not by looking to compete 2 or 3 or 4 years down the road. Shapiro and Dolan are the ultimate procrastinators. They keep pushing winning off on tomorrow and tomorrow ends up never arriving! Just like the Indians. They will never arrive fully under the current ownership!

  • @kosar_for_president said:

    It has nothing to do with the Indians of the 90's. Different owners. Neither the Cavs or the Browns blew up a good team, they added talent, not traded it away. Those owners made honest decisions about what are the best chances of winning now. Dolan is doing just the opposite. You have to admit that?

    I don't like what we got in return for Lee at all, and I definitely think we should have waited for a Halladay type deal or wait.

    But to say that this was a good team? That's crazy.

    We are 18 or so games under .500.

    Our only good pitcher was Lee with thin young pitching in the system before the series of trades.

    Martinez is only a luxury right now with Shoppach, Giminez, Torregas, Santana, etc.

    We were pretty good in the second half last year and added pretty good parts this off-season but it was clear our pitching wasn't good enough to contend in the next couple years.

    Our offense is deep enough that it should be good for a long time, but our pitching was so thin, that we got to the point we were in desperate need of young arms in the bullpen and the rotation.

    I don't like the trade, but I think if anything, we have turned a weakness into a strength in terms of young pitching prospects.

    @lebrent said:

    We should have waited for a Halladay type deal or wait.

    What seems to be forgotten is that the Blue Jays are getting laughed out of every proposal they make. We got a pretty good haul for Lee while the Jays might walk away with nothing and/or basically commit suicide by dealing Halladay to a team in their division.

  • What part of that do you not understand!

    The part about not trying to get better. Our biggest weaknesses after 2008 were the thin rotation, no one at 3rd base (while Peralta was at short), the weak bullpen and lack of a closer.

    So we got Carl Pavano as a low risk/decent reward for the rotation, Mark DeRosa who can play 2nd, 3rd, and the outfield, Valbuena who could take over at 2nd when Cabrera and Peralta shift, Joe Smith for the bullpen and our $10M closer Kerry Wood.

  • There's an old saying in baseball

    "You can't fire the whole team....So you fire the manager"

    Obviously Shapiro didn't get the memo