What were they thinking?

The core of the Indians team, a catcher with a live bat, gone for an untested middle reliever and some magic beans.

We argue whether Pete Rose should be admitted to the Hall of Fame because of what it says about the integrity of the game and then watch the Indians hand over Victor Martinez, who had a year left on his contract after this season, to the Boston RedSox for a whole lot of nothing.

Will the Indians complete this season or just shut down now?  After letting two consecutive Cy Young Award winners (Sabathia and Lee) go they are "rebuilding".

With what?

Justin Masterson?  A middle reliever who will be converted to a starter.

Nick Hagadone?  Who has only pitched 25 innings this season because he's coming off Tommy John surgery in 2008.  Why not just sign Tommy John?  Sure he's sixty-six years old, but that ligament they put in hasn't even turned forty yet.

Bryan Price?  Who is getting knocked around in A ball?  When will Price be ready?  Sometime during the second term of the Obama administration?

And how about the integrity of the pennant race?  I know it's been done before, but when does it stop?  How much is enough?

Why did the Indians need to trade Martinez?  Because they had to replace Lee.  Why did they get rid of Lee?  They're rebuilding.

What exactly are the Indians rebuilding into?  The San Diego Padres of Ohio?

And how is that Sabathia deal working out?

Well, Matt LaPorta was hitting .190 the last anyone looked.  Robert Bryson, who was a 31st round draft pick, has pitched two games this year in Rookie ball and blew out a few scoreboard lights (and not in a good way).  Then there is Zach Jackson, he of the 9.35 ERA.  And Mike Brantley, who is a centurion with the bat.

He hits a home run once every one hundred plate appearances.

Bud Selig can't fix this problem.  The Major League Players Association won't.  They'll go on strike before we ever see a salary cap in baseball.

There is only one way to end this trade deadline gutting of mid and small market teams.

Punish the owners. 

If you are an Indians fan, don't be.  Stay home.  Watch the games on TV if you must, but don't darken the gates at Progressive Field until they bring major league baseball back to Cleveland.

Enough is enough.