If you are a local sports fan, the dial was turned up today to DEFCON 1. For Cliff Lee was traded today to the Phillies. My initial reaction was great, who'd we get for him? When I found out, the tsunami of emotions took over. After thinking about it a while, this is what I think is happening: The current financial state of the Indians has taken a marked turn for the worse. Let's hope Victor Martinez, at least, survives the next two days and remains an Indian (until his eventual departure next year).

I know that Lee said it was "extremely unlikely" he would re-sign with the Indians after 2010. I realize he was actually a better deal for a team this year and why should the Indians wait for the inevitable next year. But my fear is that they could not actually afford Lee's $9 million option for 2010. And that's the scary part. I think we may be looking at a payroll of (gulp!) $50 million next year.

And think about where the bulk of that money goes. Wood, Westbrook, Hafner are three guys you got not much out of this season. Sizemore and Peralta are two guys that underperformed this year, one with injury (Sizemore) and one in a coma (Peralta). The other, Martinez, is gone after next year, if not sooner. The rest is sure to be "the kids". It's funny. Fans always bitch about major leaguers and say, "I'd rather watch a bunch of young kids who still have fundamentals, try hard, etc." Well, here's your chance. I think it's so bad, the Indians will not even afford the "luxuries" of a Jamey Carroll or a Kelly Shoppach.

Unless there are other trades coming, the catcher we got, Marson, is probably here soon and is the bridge to Carlos Santana. The shortstop, Donald, will be next year's Jamey Carroll at $2 million less. Carrasco, the AAA pitcher, should be in the rotation immediately. Knapp, the A pitcher, looks like he may be the real deal, but no one is willing to wait 2-3 years for him. In fairness to the newcomers, it's tough at these levels to focus on ERA and won-loss record for the pitchers. You have to look at the strikeout and walk ratios and their ability to keep the ball in the park. (An FYI, Knapp's career stats of 116 IP, 4 HR, 51 BB, 149 K, 3.64 ERA are eerily similar to CC Sabathia's stats of 86 IP, 5 HR, 44 BB, 111 K, 3.54 ERA at the same age.) Some of these low minor leagues are considered hitter's leagues, so you have to dive deep beyond the numbers. I trust the front office has done their due diligence on these guys with talent and injury concerns, but the burning question of the day is, why didn't we pry at least one of the seemingly universally revered prospects from the Phillies?

If these guys all fail, this will be considered a colossal blunder. I think it's rather amusing when some folks look back and say this is a repeat of the '60s and '70s. But it's not, because back then, no one cared. Everyone knew they were bad, no one showed up, and it was a collective yawn when someone was traded.

These days, however, the mood has changed completely. The dial has been hovering in the red for most of this season and it got pushed to the limit today. I've never seen the fanbase this angry. I've seen them in their apathetic state, nervous state and questioning state before. But I've never seen "torches and pitchfork" mode and that's where we lie today.

And if Eric Wedge comes back next year, what are we looking at? We can't possibly contend in 2010 with the projected roster and the way this clown incorporates younger players into a lineup, what good will that do? One crowd on Opening Day and averaging perhaps 10,000 the rest of the way?

They may be able to survive that financially, but the smoldering anger that's been there for a while has now boiled over into "I'll never attend another game." and "Sell the team." and "Kill them." Good luck trying to recoup that crowd.

Meal of Links

Whatever happened to the cast of "Night Court"? My favorite line, "Those are new."

LG tackles the bane of watching sports in HD. Motion blur!

Very conflicted. NBC is going to remake "The Rockford Files". "Jimmy, old buddy, buddy. It's Angel! You know they allow you one phone call? Well, this is it."

Exercise Yard

Pot. It does a body good.

Visitor

42 Across: Former wrestling star ____ Brazil (4 letters) Answer: Bobo The Coco Butt. Hah!