So long, Sammy
Mike Downey of the Chicago Tribune does a nice job of summing up my thoughts on the apparently imminent departure of Sammy Sosa- one of the game's biggest stars only a couple of years ago- from my Cubs to my American League team, the Baltimore Orioles, for infielder/outfielder Jerry Hairston, Jr. and a couple of minor leaguers.
Sammy had to go. He had become a distraction, a clubhouse cancer. His skills are fast deterriorating, and on balance he had become a liability rather than an asset on a team with World Series ambitions. His incredible decision to go home without permission near the start of the Cubs' last game of the season was icing on the cake. He leaves in his wake countless fans both grateful for the thrills, and saddened and hurt by their hero's pattern of childish, self-centered behavior.
In exchange, the Cubs will apparently at least get the lead-off hitter they so badly need. They have plenty of power in their lineup, what with Aramis Ramirez, Corey Patterson, Derrek Lee, and Nomar Garciaparra. In addition to a closer, their one need going into this deal was somebody to get on base ahead of them in the order. Apparently they have him in Hairston, who will presumably play one of the corner outfield positions. Todd Walker will likely be the Cubs' full-time second baseman this year.
The Cubs are reportedly in the hunt to sign Jeromy Burnitz- a mistake, in my opinion- and also have a promising young rookie outfielder coming up in Jason Dubois.
Downey is right, though, in saying that neither is likely to be an improvement even on the diminished Sosa. Still, with the Cardinals' juggernaught disintegrating both in terms of personnel and in view of the slight prospect of so many players having career seasons two years in a row, and the Astros losing Carlos Beltran, I have to like the Cubs' chances in the NL Central this year.
A great deal depends on Dubois or somebody picking up the slack in right field, though- and the Cubs coming up with a dependable closer.
It's a sad day for Cubdom, but one that we all knew was coming. And it's just possible that, on balance, the Cubs might actually be stronger for Sammy's departure- a classic case of addition by subtraction.
Sammy had to go. He had become a distraction, a clubhouse cancer. His skills are fast deterriorating, and on balance he had become a liability rather than an asset on a team with World Series ambitions. His incredible decision to go home without permission near the start of the Cubs' last game of the season was icing on the cake. He leaves in his wake countless fans both grateful for the thrills, and saddened and hurt by their hero's pattern of childish, self-centered behavior.
In exchange, the Cubs will apparently at least get the lead-off hitter they so badly need. They have plenty of power in their lineup, what with Aramis Ramirez, Corey Patterson, Derrek Lee, and Nomar Garciaparra. In addition to a closer, their one need going into this deal was somebody to get on base ahead of them in the order. Apparently they have him in Hairston, who will presumably play one of the corner outfield positions. Todd Walker will likely be the Cubs' full-time second baseman this year.
The Cubs are reportedly in the hunt to sign Jeromy Burnitz- a mistake, in my opinion- and also have a promising young rookie outfielder coming up in Jason Dubois.
Downey is right, though, in saying that neither is likely to be an improvement even on the diminished Sosa. Still, with the Cardinals' juggernaught disintegrating both in terms of personnel and in view of the slight prospect of so many players having career seasons two years in a row, and the Astros losing Carlos Beltran, I have to like the Cubs' chances in the NL Central this year.
A great deal depends on Dubois or somebody picking up the slack in right field, though- and the Cubs coming up with a dependable closer.
It's a sad day for Cubdom, but one that we all knew was coming. And it's just possible that, on balance, the Cubs might actually be stronger for Sammy's departure- a classic case of addition by subtraction.
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