Yes I know the Indians suck now but I thought these trades were SUPOSED TO:

Roberto Alomar - take Mets to the promised land.

Manny Ramirez - take Boston to WS champs

Bartolo Colon - take Montreal, now Chisox to the top.

Jim Thome - take Phills to the promised land.

Brian Giles - take Pittsburgh to the top.

Juan Gonzalez - take Texas back to the playoffs ?

Richie Sexon - take Milwaukee to the playoffs

Sandy Alomar - take Chisox to playoffs

Kennie Lofton - take Giants all the way; ok so that almost happened, but now he's with Pirates

SO FAR none of these things have happened - what's up ?????

To take these two... both have performed just fine for their current teams. If you really think ONE star can carry a team to a World Series, I suggest you stop listening to ex-jock pinhead sportscasters.

However, jettisoning big-name aging stars like Thome at peak market value was a wise strategy for the Indians. The money is better spent developing kids (following the Oakland model), and that approach will probably bear fruit by 2005.

Well, for one thing, it's June. No one's reached the promised land yet.

I think with the exception of the Alomars, all these guys are performing pretty well. Thome is struggling a bit I suppose, but as Bill W said, one person isn't going to win a pennant.

How many rings did this All Star group win when they, or at least most of them, were all playing together? Sure they won the division, but they kind of underachieved in the postseason, didn't they?

I guess they may have under-achieved. Cleveland fans were very remorse to lose these guys and other teams were sooooo excited to get them but it just seems like things are status quo among all the teams involved; nothing has really changed.

For the Phillies things are definitely NOT status quo.

Last year after 70 games they were 31-39 and already playing out the string. This year they're 37-33 and thinking playoffs. Attendance is up. Interest in the team is up (though I think there'd be more interest if they were hitting more). They even get talked about some on the sportstalk radio, which is normally all Eagles all the time.