Spinning the Truth: This is What We Do

Things are beginning to look bleak.

The Rays continue to slide in the Wild Card race. BJ Upton sprained his ankle tonight in a collision. Former face of the franchise Scott Kazmir pitches well in his first start...for another team. If Mudville were real, it would be Tampa Bay.

Where can we, as fans, turns to find the comforting support we need? Look no further than principal owner Stuart Sternberg.

"I feel very good about that deal and the rationale that went into it."

That quote was in this morning's St. Pete Times, where Sternberg tried to convince the public that trading Scott Kazmir was not a salary dump. Seriously.

I understand that maybe getting rid of Kaz was inevitable, but why now? Why in the middle of a pennant race? You could have netted the same package for him in the offseason. Do not try to convince me this is anything other than a salary dump, because I am not buying it.

And then the kicker.

"This is what we do. This is who we are and this is what we do and people better get used to it because it's going to continue.''

Let that sink in Rays fans.

This is what we do? We trade away talent in September when we're five games out? I thought this wasn't a salary dump. If it's not, then why "do" it? Are you trying to tell me that the Rays brand of baseball is waiving the white flag?

Listen, I understand the way small market baseball works. The Rays are never going to be able to shell out the type of contracts that some of the bigger market teams can. But do not try and spin this into some type of good guy act. Be straight with your fans.

The fans of the Tampa Bay Rays are not a bunch of morons. They are hard working, intelligent people who want to see their baseball team succeed. Shoot straight for once.

Honesty. That should be what the Rays "do."

-s