PS> I'm not as sure as you are that Cleveland would have been wise to outbid
 PS> the WSox for Belle.
They didn't have to outbid them, they had to make HIS bid. HIS numbers were 
at $9 mil and has been that way for the whole season. Chicago gave him more 
than he asked from Cleveland and if Cleveland would have came up a bit, they 
would have signed him (Chicago had the inside track over Miami because Belle 
wanted to stay in the AL but Cleveland had the inside track over Chicago IF 
they would have given him $9 mil).
 PS> He's likely had his best years and has now locked up $10+ M a year
 PS> for 5 years.
Barry Bonds is two years older than him and in the two years that he's played 
since HIS 30th birthday, I don't think anyone can say that he's short-changed 
his team with his bat.
 PS> good a hitter as Belle and considering that Cleveland had a whopping
 PS> offer on the table for Belle *after* they'd already traded for Williams,
 PS> it doesn't look like they were trying to lose Belle.
The offer was on the table BEFORE they traded for Williams. The trade was a 
take it or leave it statement.
 PS> somewhere that Williams' injuries were of the non-recurring type.
 PS> nything to this?
If he continues to play third, he's going to be like Bob Horner. Bob couldn't 
stay in the lineup until they moved him to first.
 PS> And let's see what else Cleveland does in the off-season.  Belle is a
 PS> huge loss but they still have quite a few good players.
The team lost its heart, Murray and its soul, Belle. They've most likely lost 
its ignition, Lofton, because of his close relationship to Belle and the 
feeling that the team will do the same to him when its his time.
--- TrekEd 1.00
---------------