What do I think of the trade of Kevin Youkilis? As strategy, it's ambiguous to bad. Purely as a fan who knows about the odd synergy between the fans, their team, and its special players, this is idiotic. This is the Red Sox equivalent of the Cardinals trading Willie McGee. [They did, you idiot.--ed.] And it was dumb. But he came back. And he could have played 5 more years and hit .203 and no Cardinals fan would have uttered a peep. The 3 most untouchable, revered, and beloved Cardinals of all time are: 1. Stan The Man, 2. Ozzie, and 3. Willie. That's just the way these things are. I utterly hate the Red Sox, and I don't know a great deal about that "unwritten" fans' history, but I do know that Youkilis is one of those guys. He'll be back. They might have to fire Bobby Valentine first, but "Youk" will be back with Boston, mark my words.
As of now, the front office has ruptured the bond between the team and its fans, and probably increased the incidence of depression among 10-12 year-old boys in New England. And frankly, I hope you're not dreaming of the postseason up there, because it's not happening. Baseball seasons are brutal. There's more up and down in a season than the streets of San Francisco. To make it through, you need to: 1. Win more than you lose, 2. Have team chemistry, and 3. Have the support of the fans. Boston just fouled up the last two. Good luck. If you've got a guy better at the same position, have the veteran do something else. Of course, the manager ruined this plan by shaming Youkilis in spring training. What a maroon. There might have been a tense time as he adjusts to the new role, but a couple outs--even a game--usually doesn't matter, in the end.
Which reminds me: There are 3 reasons Albert Pujols made the idiotic choice to leave St. Louis, in reverse order: 3. He thinks he is impervious to time, 2. He started to get jealous of what other players who played less well were paid, and 1. He didn't understand how much the fans loved him. Didn't get it at all. He said he did, but no. He could have hit into more double plays than an all-night Shakespeare festival and hit .117 until 2020, and they'd still have loved him. I'm telling you. See "James, Lebron" and "Cleveland" for a cross-sport proof. You don't have to be the greatest to be someone's favorite player. Take me, for example. My favorite baseball player (non-pitcher) of all time is Gary Gaetti. Gaetti was a very good--sometimes great--baseball player for a long time. He played a few years with the Cardinals at the end, and was the definition of professional. He understood very well what the Cardinals mean to St. Louis, what the bond means. If you played hard and were successful at all, Cards fans have a saying: "Once a Cardinal, always a Cardinal." We remember, and we say 'thank you.' If the barbarians in the front office trade you, OK. But you better have a good reason to leave that isn't "$." That's the story.
As of now, the front office has ruptured the bond between the team and its fans, and probably increased the incidence of depression among 10-12 year-old boys in New England. And frankly, I hope you're not dreaming of the postseason up there, because it's not happening. Baseball seasons are brutal. There's more up and down in a season than the streets of San Francisco. To make it through, you need to: 1. Win more than you lose, 2. Have team chemistry, and 3. Have the support of the fans. Boston just fouled up the last two. Good luck. If you've got a guy better at the same position, have the veteran do something else. Of course, the manager ruined this plan by shaming Youkilis in spring training. What a maroon. There might have been a tense time as he adjusts to the new role, but a couple outs--even a game--usually doesn't matter, in the end.
Which reminds me: There are 3 reasons Albert Pujols made the idiotic choice to leave St. Louis, in reverse order: 3. He thinks he is impervious to time, 2. He started to get jealous of what other players who played less well were paid, and 1. He didn't understand how much the fans loved him. Didn't get it at all. He said he did, but no. He could have hit into more double plays than an all-night Shakespeare festival and hit .117 until 2020, and they'd still have loved him. I'm telling you. See "James, Lebron" and "Cleveland" for a cross-sport proof. You don't have to be the greatest to be someone's favorite player. Take me, for example. My favorite baseball player (non-pitcher) of all time is Gary Gaetti. Gaetti was a very good--sometimes great--baseball player for a long time. He played a few years with the Cardinals at the end, and was the definition of professional. He understood very well what the Cardinals mean to St. Louis, what the bond means. If you played hard and were successful at all, Cards fans have a saying: "Once a Cardinal, always a Cardinal." We remember, and we say 'thank you.' If the barbarians in the front office trade you, OK. But you better have a good reason to leave that isn't "$." That's the story.
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