BY STEVE DUNN
People who follow my blogs, but especially my FACEBOOK page know that I am a diehard Detroit Tigers fan; as well as a lover of baseball in general. It IS America's game no matter what the NFL and NASCAR try to proclaim.
There is one aspect of the "game" in America that I do not like. Major League Baseball is a business. I do understand that it needs to be a business and businesses must be profitable to survive' but the "fan" in me hates the reality of many baseball business decisions.
July 31st is the Major League trading deadline and between now and then, teams will begin to sell off or trade away "assets" (i.e., players) in order to to build for the future. That means they are basically writing off this season as a loss. And teams who still believe they have a solid chance of winning are opening their pocketbooks and the doors of their minor league system (whose prospects reflect their long term future) to win today.
Last year my beloved Tigers were buyers--trading for 2013 Cy Young winner David Price--to win the "arms" race with their frequent post season opponent, the Oakland A's (who got Boston's John Lester on a one-year deal to match Detroit). The Tigers didn't count on the Kansas City Royals, playing .500 ball at the Allstar Break going into overdrive to win the American League Championship.
But as the Tigers, still awaiting the return of Miguel Cabrera from the DL, lost yet another game; it looks like Price may be gone (leaving only Sanchez as a starter who can win consistently).
In addition, Yoenes Cespedes (who the A's traded to Boston to get Lester), who had come to the Tigers to beef up what appeared to be a killer batting lineup, may also be gone-leaving only suddenly resurgent Ian Kinsler and home run king, JD Martinez (and Victor Martinez, if he can stop hitting into double plays) to hold the fort until Cabrera is back.
If these two go, even this diehard Tiger fan, may have to find someone else to root for unto October.
Arghhhh!!!!!!
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