BenMaller.com - Ben's Takes

Teams Should Learn From Montreal

By Ben Maller

Hats off to the Montreal Expos for, of all things, trying to win. Everyone I know was stunned that the major-league-baseball-run Expos would acquire an ace Bartolo Colon from the Indians. While 99% of teams in smaller markets throw in the white flag to the big money teams in April, Montreal is going for the pennant. Who said the French were soft? A team that is drawing crowds that would only make the WNBA proud is trying to win!

Could Bud-Selig's-run team be sending a message to other small market teams? That message is something that many in the game have forgotten, fans don't like 10 year rebuilding plans, they like winning.

Montreal's best chance to make the playoffs would be to win the NL East. The Dodgers and D'Backs (Whoever's 2nd in the West) are looking strong for the wild card. I opened up one of the minor league guides and it looks like Brandon Phillips and the other prospects that Cleveland got are of the highest value. One thing about prospects, as the Dodgers can tell you with Billy Ashley, the Red Sox with Sam Horn and the Angels with Todd Greene, they don't always make it. Not every trade turns out like the Randy Johnson deal. That was when the Astros gave up three future big leaguers to the Mariners for the Big Unit. Remember that the A's got nothing for Mark McGwire and the Rangers got squat from the Tigers for Juan Gonzalez.

It's Ironic that the Indians who have a jewel of a ballpark in Jacobs Field with large crowds everynight would throw in the towel while Montreal with no fan base is trying to win.

Some people in baseball seem to think that this trade means that baseball has decided not to contract next season and will instead sell and relocate the Expos.

I can't totally rip the Tribe for trading Colon because he's one of those guys who's been a bust up until the first three months of this season. Now when the Indians trade the franchise, Jim (Mr. Indian) Thome, that's when Cleveland will yet again regain the nickname: "Mistake by the Lake." permalink

Wednesday, June 26, 2002

Butler's Rap Sheet

Here's the background on Caron Butler, who will go between four and six on Wednesday: He was arrested 15 times before the age of 15, and incarcerated for 13 months at the age of 14 on charges of cocaine possession and bringing a gun to school. Remarkably, he has avoided trouble ever since.

And no, he doesn't think that is an issue with any of the teams interested in taking him. "I think they will say, 'This kid really changed his life around. This kid hasn't gotten anything, even a parking ticket, since 1992,'" Butler said. "I have never taken a step back. Being in confinement, that was the worst thing that ever happened to me, and it turned out to be the best thing in my life."

Source: The Star-Ledger

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Monday, June 24, 2002

BRONCOS SUE 40 SEASON-TICKET HOLDERS

The Denver Broncos are taking 40 season-ticket holders to court for not following through on the purchase of several hundred expensive club seats.

Never mind that the economy is struggling or that the Broncos have a lengthy waiting list and seemingly would have no trouble selling those seats at Invesco Field to other eager fans.

No, the Broncos decided to hire lawyers instead. The reaction from fans and media has not been pleasant, especially after the club is going after one recently unemployed fan with a $4,500 unpaid tab.

"The Broncos could avoid all this by having discussions with their patrons," said Chuck Brown, one of the fans sued by the team. "Right now, I don't care if I never see another game."

Added Paul Kelly, another ticket holder served with papers by the Broncos: "It's a shoddy, shabby unprofessional way of taking care of business."

The Broncos' defense? Business is business, and a contract is a contract.

"We regret being put in the position of having to do this," said Rick Nichols, the team's vice president in charge of ticket operations.

Source: Florida Times-Union permalink