Don’t Quit on the Marlins
December 4, 2007
Today’s trade was a significant modification of our team. Not only were two players traded, but the two were fan favorites and the last remaining pieces of our 2003 championship team. A trade like that will sting for awhile no matter who the players coming back are. On paper it looks like another firesale, upon further review it still resembles one but it was inevitable just because of the way this team operates. We can not pay a player upwards of 15-20 million dollars a season. This means that when Cabrera and Willis hit the open market in the future, we would have lost them for nothing. Yes, I know other teams are able to keep their players. I wish the Marlins could as well but the fact is they wouldn’t have so at least now we were able to secure key pieces for now and the future.
Hopefully when the day comes that these new players are in a similar situation to Cabrera/Willis– the Marlins will be in a more secure financial state and able to afford long term deals with them. Am I an eternal optimist? Probably but to say that this is impossible is just being a pessimist. I’m going to miss Cabrera and Willis as much as anyone here. They were tremendous assets and their loss will be felt on and off the field. However, I’m a Florida Marlins fan. I’m not only a Dontrelle Willis fan, or only a Miguel Cabrera fan. I root for the team on the field no matter who is wearing the jersey that day. I believe the majority of you are the same way. That’s my team, that’s our team. No matter what you think of the current ownership or financial plan, this is the team you have supported for years and there’s no reason that should change. I don’t want to preach, but it is important that everyone steps back and thinks about what they are saying. How can you walk away from a team you obviously are so passionate about? To say you won’t attend or watch the games on TV in 2008 just because of this trade isn’t hurting anyone but yourself. To those of you who have completely cut ties with the franchise today as well, you’ll be missing out on the excitement that is the Florida Marlins.
One thing has remained consistent over the years for me, watching that team is a thrill no matter who takes the field. I’ll be there next season cheering them on. I’ll watch the games on TV and I’ll be here discussing the team every day. I hope you all will be as well. This is not meant to say look at me I’m a better fan than you — on the contrary I’m trying to say you are all the same way and it is tough to see some of you deny it. This is your team, don’t let one trade make you think differently.
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