Lamenting the loss of the 'Lifer.'

Having watched this year's über-hot hot stove churn and burn, and seeing what Charlie Steiner aptly called the weirdest January ever ($Quote: "Aren't we supposed to be resting?") we're again reminded about the sad state of player portability.

Likely forever gone, the era when players were the franchise, dedicated to and emblimatic of a team's ups and downs. Now, they move freely from team to team without being tagged as "journeymen." In fact, despite the comforts of "staying home," it takes a bigger effort, and financial sacrifice to stay in one city. As Jeff Bagwell said "You can always find a higher bidder. But there are a lot of good things that come with being at home. Your family is in one place, the fans know you and love you. It makes everything easier."

A great overview of this trend can be found in a recent article at mlb.com, where author Alyson Footer points out that Reality is another word for the business side of baseball, and in reality, it's not always the player's intention to stick with one team for the duration. They're pulled in all directions, absorbing pressure from either their agents, the Players Association or families, and sometimes, all three. Only a special few have resisted the outside elements.

Being in the heart of Rangers country, we've seen so much transition it has become a running joke: the Texas Rangers are simply a high-dollar farm team for all successful mlb teams. We bring them up, pay them handsomely, set them up for real success and promptly trade them away.

Or find a way to insult their pride and loyalty, i.e. Michael Young.

To read more, we suggest you take a stroll through these related blogs and articles.
The Baseball Think Factory
Inform
St. Petersburg Times

My son Avery Sullivan, has a remarkably keen sense of the game and knowledge of the players. It's not due to studying incoming teams and knowing who belongs to whom, however. His smarts come from hours playing various baseball video games and building his dream teams in a PlayStation. He notes movement amongst players by comparing and contrasting his efforts from year to year as he upgrades the game.

Perhaps the only remedy we'll see to this springs from the newly harsh economic climate. As teams get squeezed w/ reduced attendance and product sales, there may be less heat in the hot stove, and an inclination amongst players, agents and teams to embrace fan loyalty, and work harder to keep a nucleus together for the survival of all parties.