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!