Friday, September 05, 2003
Can Anyone Spare A Prospect?
The Expos start their second Puerto Rican homestand tonight. Of course, home depends on the way you define it. "I wish we had more games at home," manager Frank Robinson said when asked about the latest trip to the island. Home being Montreal, where they've averaged over 12,000 fans per home date this year. It's not Pac Bell Park or Dodger Stadium numbers, but it's a far cry from the 9,000 they drew per home date last season. The fact is this team is very solid and currently reside just on the outskirts of the Wild Card race, thanks to strong pitching and the return of Vladimir Guerrero.
Since September 1st is here, you'd expect the team to load up with minor league prospects and useful spare parts against teams like Florida and the Cubs. Not if you're on the Planet of the Expos. The team apparently can't add a Peter Bergeron (who had a solid season in Ottawa), or Terrmel Sledge (.322 avg, 22 HR in AAA). The team is in a pennant race, so why not add a couple guys? Well, apparently the Expos don't have the cash.
So not only do the Expos have another asinine road trip instead of a homestand against two contenders, they also must do it with less players than the Marlins and Cubs. At some point and time this fiasco of Major League Baseball "owning" a franchise must end.
The Expos start their second Puerto Rican homestand tonight. Of course, home depends on the way you define it. "I wish we had more games at home," manager Frank Robinson said when asked about the latest trip to the island. Home being Montreal, where they've averaged over 12,000 fans per home date this year. It's not Pac Bell Park or Dodger Stadium numbers, but it's a far cry from the 9,000 they drew per home date last season. The fact is this team is very solid and currently reside just on the outskirts of the Wild Card race, thanks to strong pitching and the return of Vladimir Guerrero.
Since September 1st is here, you'd expect the team to load up with minor league prospects and useful spare parts against teams like Florida and the Cubs. Not if you're on the Planet of the Expos. The team apparently can't add a Peter Bergeron (who had a solid season in Ottawa), or Terrmel Sledge (.322 avg, 22 HR in AAA). The team is in a pennant race, so why not add a couple guys? Well, apparently the Expos don't have the cash.
So not only do the Expos have another asinine road trip instead of a homestand against two contenders, they also must do it with less players than the Marlins and Cubs. At some point and time this fiasco of Major League Baseball "owning" a franchise must end.
Thursday, September 04, 2003
Two words:
Go Cubs!!!!
