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I'm still trying to sort out this trade. Manny Ramirez goes to LA, Jason Bay to Boston, and four players (including Andy LaRoche) to Pittsburgh. The Marlins had also been in the rumor mill all day, but somehow that part of the deal didn't work out.

I heard Bay was going to TB at one point this afternoon.  Certainly one of the more entertaining trade deadlines in recent years. 

I am truly interested in the Griffey move though, he must feel the ChiSox are his best shot at winning without moving from the general area.  How far is Cincy from Chicago, anyhow?

ORIGINAL: GNDN

How far is Cincy from Chicago, anyhow?

250 miles. The question about Griffey will be his defensive capabilities in CF. The White Sox will probably use him both in CF and as a DH.

Personally, I'm excited about the prospects the Pirates picked up in the Bay and Nady/Marte trades. They have potentially revamped their starting rotation and have certainly strengthened themselves in their current rebuilding program. I won't expect miracles in 2008/2009 but look for them to be a contender in 2010.

I'm excited about the prospects the Pirates picked up in the Bay and Nady/Marte trades...look for them to be a contender...

But the frustrating thing about the modern-era Pirates is.............

Andy Van Slyke
Barry Bonds
Bobby Bonillia
Jay Bell
Sid Bream
Jason Kendall

...........They'll trade 'em before they reach their peak.

Crash

All of that happened during a previous GM's administration, Crash. Dave Littlefield let a championship team get away from him due to financial constraints and short-sightedness.

By contrast, Neal Huntington knows what needs to be done, and it WILL take some time. He's shopping short-term players at their highest value and loading up the minors with prospects. A Pure-Simmer knows this strategy. It goes back to the Branch Rickey days.

It works like this -- you stock the farm system with high-caliber prospects, develop them, and keep them at the major-league level until you can trade them for another group of prospects. This makes the system self-perpetuating.

Yes, it's gonna take a couple of years, but I think the investments will pay off. This is how a championship-caliber team is built from the inside in the modern era. Huntington knows the score. The Pirates cannot afford short-term rentals from expensive FAs. They are NOT a quick-fix team. I fully support his strategic vision.

Did Bobby Bonillia have a peak ??? [:D]

KG,
 
I can honestly say, without a deceptive bone in my body, that I am truly happy the Marlins did not receive Manny Ramirez. I find nothing positive that the team would have gained from him that would have been worth all the trouble. To me, it would have been like the Piazza trade back in... what was it... '98? The only difference is that he would have played about 50-something games while Piazza played 5.
 
To me, it would have truly wasted, stomped on and spit over all the work they have done this year to earn some respect. Having lived in Miami for 29 years before moving to California I can tell you this- Marlin game attendance would have increased a negligible, pointless and probably insignificant amount. Do you really think that South Florida sports fans have gone so long without Marino that they would be THAT desperate to go and see another ego-maniac?
 
Sorry.
 
No Sale.