Let's review. A four game sweep at the hands of the Dodgers, not even
the best team in the NL West. A pitching staff in ruins. An infield
comprised of a castoff, an aging vet trying to stage a comeback, a kinda-sorta
could be maybe future star, and a scrappy kid without the power for his
position. A catching core that is hurt, young, and old, all at the same
time, and an outfield made up of a soon to be under the knife star, a soon to be
on his way to San Diego player having the season of his career, and guy having a
great season while he says goodbye to Arizona and hello to the free agent
market.
This was not the way it was supposed to be. We're sorry Randy. We
really are. Gonzo put off surgery because he thought we could win.
Finley is having the best season of his career, mashing the ball without
protection in the lineup. Sexson was here to hit 50. Alomar was a
steal at $1 million, ready to reestablish himself among the best second basemen
in the game. Mantai's velocity was back.
And the West was weak. The Dodgers swapped Brown for Weaver, the Giants
were still just Bonds and Schmidt, and the Padres were...the Padres. We
really thought we could do it. Give you one more run, let you do it
without Curt, prove that you were the key.
But it didn't work out that way, and now we need your help.
Go.
Go to Boston, let them send Nomar to the Cubs, and we'll take all those
prospects. Let us retool. Do you really think it'll be different
next year? Fins will be gone. Alomar could head with you to Boston,
they'd probably like his bat, but he'll be somewhere other than Arizona
regardless. Even Gonzo isn't 100% to be back after surgery. Bautista
might be in St. Louis, but he'll probably demand more than Mr. Colangelo is
comfortable paying. We're not even positive that Sexson, the only guy you
can talk to without getting a crick in your neck, will resign here.
Go.
Accept the trade. Become a hero all over again. Become a bigger
hero than you ever could be here. Flip the script on Schilling. Now
YOU can be the missing piece in a puzzle no one's been able to solve in more
than 80 years. Think about it, you win the World Series for Boston, maybe
even coming out of the pen in Game 7, and forget statues, they'll build whole
buildings that look like you. They'll rename streets, they'll rename
companies, they'll rename children. Forget Nolan Ryan, or Cy Young, or
Steve Carlton, Roger Clemens, Sandy Koufax. It'll be you...and the
Babe. You who lifts the curse.
And don't worry about us.
Because you'll be our hero again too. You, and only you, can really put
us right back where we want to be. As bad as we've been, the NL West isn't
that much better. Pitching. That's what we need, and you know
it. You've seen your leads go away because of a weak bullpen. You've
been told again and again, first by Bob Brenley, then by Al Pedrique, that you must
go seven, because none of the other four starters have been able to since you
went seven in your last start.
We've got the position players, at least we think we do. Scott Hairston
looks like the real deal. Chad Tracy is trying to become the poor man's
Wade Boggs. Luis Terrero needs to keep his head on straight, but if he
does you'll be watching him in All-Star Games. Carlos Quentin and Conor
Jackson and Jesus Cota and Erik Schindewolf are young, but they'll be ready soon
enough.
We need the Cubs' pitchers.
None of them will ever be you. Couldn't be if they tried, wouldn't be
if they wanted to. But frankly, four of them, really is going to be better
than you. Think about the name on the front of the jersey, even if the
name on the back is the only one the fans care about. Help us out.
Please.