The Fish pay dick and they still get results. The Lerners aren't innocent in this, but I am more inclined to blame the spineless players we have because ultimately, they are the ones that I am paying to see and paying to see do well. I'm not paying to rant, rave, and look at some krusty old men in suits who are as elusive as a parasite in a rectum.
They do pay. They paid for guys who were legit and then dealt them for top prospects. People look at their overall payroll, but it doesn't matter what the payroll is if it all on the top young pitching and hitting prospects in the game that are on par or better than guys getting paid 10 times as much by the Yanks and Sox.
This is about investment from top to bottom to be agressive about identifying, acquiring, and stockpiling talent. We don't do that. We had Jim Bowden, a scam in the DR, one hype of a draft, a bunch of dumpster-diving ofseason pickups, trades for ex-Reds, etc. Spending money is about spending it properly. When was the last time this organization invested where it counts - pitching? Even the Soriano trade forfeited Armando Gallaraga. Imagine him on our staff.
