Big things happened this weekend in Major league Baseball and in the end the Twins lost a fan favorite in Doug Mientkiewicz.Mientkiewicz was part of a complicated four team trade that goes something like this; Minnesota got left hand pitcher Justin Jones from the Chicago Cubs, the Montreal Expos got short stop Alex Gonzalez, right hand pitcher Francis Beltran and infielder Brendan Harris from the Cubs, the Boston Red Sox got short stop Orlando Cabrera from the Expos and Mientkiewicz, and the Cubs got shortstop Nomar Gerciaparra and outfielder Matt Murton from the Red Sox.
I understand who got who and where the players came from, but it still confuses me how it all works out.
From the Twins stand point, I can understand why they dealt Mientkiewicz. Mientkiewicz has been plagued by injuries the past two seasons, limiting his playing time. In his absence, Justin Morneau has filled in and played first base quite well while producing at the plate when needed.
From a financial standpoint, the trade makes sense as Mientkiewicz was making $2.8 million a year while Morneau is making considerably less. The savings will allow the Twins to spend extra money in the off season if they choose to, but at the same time, they are getting a young talented firstbaseman to step in at a fraction of Mientkiewiczís price.
To many fans who liked Mientkiewicz though that doesnít matter. All they know is a player they liked is now wearing another uniform.
Mientkiewicz just happened to be my seven-year-old nephewís favorite Twins player. When I told him of the trade he asked what team he went to. His reaction was, ìGreat now I have to follow the Red Sox. When do they play?î
To a kid, itís hard to understand trades in pro sports. To them their favorite player is part of that team and always will be. I donít quite remember the first time a player I idolized as a kid was traded, but I am sure I was somewhat confused and devastated.
I think a lot of times fans get upset with the trade of a fan favorite, but forget about what it must be like for the player. In Mientkiewiczís instance he not only had to join a new team, but his first game was the same day as the trade against his former team at his former home ballpark.
Whenever a player is traded itís almost always an emotional ìhomecomingî when they return to their former teamís ballpark, or so the media builds it up to be. I would think the hardest part for the players is the fact that they have to move to another city on a moments notice. If the player decides to keep his home in the city he used to play in, then he has to rent a place in his new teamís city.
Basically as hard as the fans may take a trade, it is unarguably harder on the player who was traded.
In an act of appreciation Twins fans let Mientkiewicz know they appreciated all he did for the team with a standing ovation when he came to the plate Saturday wearing a Red Sox uniform shortly after he was traded.
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