Add new comment

I understand the oft-mentioned plan to be high-sellers this season in the hopes of acquiring many young pieces for the future. But, this strategy, if taken to the extreme of 'sell 'em all for young prospects' may damage the M's in the one area where they can least afford it -- emotional connection with their fans.
I _can_ agree with trading most of these players, and it does seem necessary to make an effort to upgrade the club. But I would suggest that trading Branyan would be a mistake -- for a couple of reasons.
Reason 1: Value. He _is_ a relatively low-mileage, well-kept, detailed and service-records-provided 'muscle-car' that has that 'showroom new' shine. This ride has been covered and garaged for years and only taken out for the blue-moon ride, followed by prompt lubrication, vacuuming and a polish before re-storage.
When you find one of these, especially with the extra-option package and the high-rise intake manifold and tuned cam, you don't buy it and turn it over to another to make a quick buck. You drive it everywhere. And you revel in the blessing of acquiring such an amazing value at such a reasonable price -- knowing that it's lack of hard-use portends a long future of reliable and powerful service in your care. Russell Branyon is like this kind of car.
Reason 2: Pride of ownership. When you find the above, especially in a model that fits your fancy, you develop an emotional attachment beyond it's perceived value as a transportation device. This is all about satisfaction.
Most of us remember owning a car that was, to us, a mere conveyance. A way to get from point A to B. It may have even had one of those "Please steal this car!" bumper stickers on the back. We didn't love it. We didn't car. Heck -- if it was stolen, we might have used the insurance money to purchase something else that was infinitely more satisfying. Russell is not like this kind of car.
Most of us also remember the first car that really 'turned our crank.' When it became ours we almost 'killed the fatted' calf in celebration. We rubbed it weekly with paste wax. We spritzed it regularly with pleasing scent. We shampooed it's carpet 4x a year. Why? Because it got us from point A to B? No -- any car could do that. But because we thought it was cool. We cared about it. It meant something to us. We would sit in the driveway with the stereo playing, just enjoying the fact that it was ours. It was a source of pride. Branyon is like that kind of car.
Seattle went shopping for a first baseman. In a crowded lot full of travel-worn sedans with bald tires and cracked vinyl -- we found a pristine low-mileage pony car with an amazingly low price tag -- and brought it home. Upon further inspection we giddily found that the options list included power windows, power brakes and power steering, as well as every high-horsepower upgrade imaginable -- and that the paint was original. That what we thought was too good to be true really is true. RB is like this car.
High-value. Great pride-of-ownership. I am loathe to give up this vehicle to anyone, even if they give 2 newer vehicles of unknown promise in return.
*vroom* *vroom* *squeeeeeeeeeeeel* {leaves in a cloud of vaporized rubber}