Is the weeping over yet? My God, there was a grown man crying on the air yesterday with regard to the Victor Martinez trade. Yeah, it's a bad week when you trade your two best players. However, let's take a look at what the Indians have actually done.

Listen, I empathize with everyone and their feelings toward Victor. My God, we signed the kid when he was 16 and was clearly a great hitter from the time he started moving up in the minor leagues. The thing I took away from watching him when he came up was that he was pretty raw behind the plate. And then there were questions of his ability to call a game, throw out runners, etc. But all you had to see was the aftermath of winning games back then, especially in 2005. It was obviously clear after a save that Bob Wickman LOVED having Victor behind the plate. The Old Fart Seal of Approval, if you will. It was as if Wicky Wicky Bob was announcing to the world, "The kid stays in the picture."

But he and CC Sabathia were the last two players who arrived young and performed well after being Indians signees. Many of the current players have come from other organizations and I think this is why not only these trades were made, but it resulted in a concerted effort to get pitching, young pitching at that. In some respects, it's a mea culpa by the front office that they suck at the draft and can't wait until their own guys are 26 or 27 to start producing in the majors. We are beyond the Steroid Era (allegedly) and guys overproducing well into their late 30's. So, the career window is shorter. Hence, someone like a Ben Francisco moving on. At his age, do we see him possibly getting any better? I doubt it.

But the Victor trade had to be made this year. I can only reference the past deal of Johan Santana and any sort of deal this time forward for Roy Halladay, a total fuckup by Blue Jays management, I may add. It's been proven, the longer you wait and teams know you are in dumping mode, you are not going to get anywhere near the haul of talent the Indians got in these two trades this week. Both Lee and Martinez had decent options for 2010, which allowed teams not only a two-month rental, but an additional season, as well. They can also flip them at next year's deadline, if desired.

That's not to say either of these trades are the best work Shapiro has ever done. But the best comment I have seen on trades in the last few days is this one.

How to evaluate a trade:

1-Compare it to other packages offered. (Impossible)

2-Compare it to similar trades for similar players. (Impossible)

3-Wait and see how the players actually play. (Try this.)

And on a cheery note, Carlos Santana's minor league numbers are Martinez-like, but with more power. As of now, he is the best everyday-lineup prospect we have. Hector Rondon could be our best pitching prospect.

Clearly, the Indians have made a philosophical shift to obtain talent instead of letting potential free agents (who will not re-sign here) leave and obtain draft picks. Because, quite frankly, with their draft record, that has not worked. Additionally, they are now taking a chance with younger power arms (i.e., Justin Masterson in the mid-to-upper 90's on the gun tonight) in the hope they can make a quicker rise to the majors. This shift became evident in the amateur draft at the beginning of June and continued with these trades.

So, it's a new era for the Wahoos. One in which payroll will be significantly lower, the age of the players significantly lower (now second youngest in MLB behind the Pirates) and attendance significantly lower.

Let's see how it shakes out.

Meal of Links

A "Seinfeld" reunion. Sort of.

Whoops.

The East German secret police feared that one man could end communism. His name? Michael Jackson!

Robert Downey, Jr...er...Tony Stark is hiring.

Two new movie trailers are out. The first by the Coen Brothers. The second by Wes Anderson.

"A Serious Man" Trailer



"Fantastic Mr. Fox" Trailer



Exercise Yard

When Big Papi and Manny are said to be on the now infamous list of 100 steroid cheats, it's easy to call for the list to be made public. However, it is still illegal to leak that list.

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