Recent Rant from my pal Rik on the Sabathia trade

I think they should have traded Shapiro and Wedge as well.......while I wasn't a huge CC fan, I'm tired of these geniuses growing great, even Hall of Fame prospects and letting them go. They can't be that stupid to think that big players don't get big bucks but that also brings big dollars back to the organization and city ) as well as other players wanting to join).

I think all owners should be required to take a psychology/sociology course on community dynamics. Especially in Cleveland, where I am more convinced than ever, that sports is the heart of the city. It colors the attitude of the environment (and those who were exposed to the C Town gene as kids). There is just some depressing component there that can only be over shadowed by successful sports franchises.

It's the Prozac of Northeastern Ohio. I don't see it recovering as an industrial base anytime in the foreseeable future so what's left to give the area a lift? Michael Stanley? There hasn't been a GOOD band to come out of there since the Raspberries, who never got the acclaim they deserved in town (even from me). So it's back to sports for a remedy...."it's not just entertainment".

Hey, think we could package that slogan and sell it to one of the teams (probably the Browns) or a newly formed "city sports council" to oversee all that's wrong with their professional sports teams.....?

And 40 years later, the Tribe dumps its ace again

Sabathia was traded today. I guess it had to happen, what with last place, free agency looming, his weight problems, lack of chemistry.

But... in 1968 the Tribe had a pitching rotation teams only dream of: Tiant, Siebert, McDowell, Hargan, Stan Williams. By mid-1969, Tiant and Siebert were gone.

Tiant would win 154 games post-trade, Siebert 67. The team collapsed as a direct result of those trades. Williams went in the Tiant trade, and had a spectacular 1969 and a decent 1970 before he called it quits.

The Tribe did receive Graig Nettles in the Tiant deal, but didn't keep him long enough to savor the trade. Siebert went for threee over-the-hill vets (Harrelson, Ellsworth and Pizarro) and caught a second wind at age 32.

The Tribe just sucked wind after 1968. Hopefully, Sabathia will be the only pitcher to go this time. The others are a good group, better than most clubs have today. Get some hitters, you guys, and leave the pitchers alone!