While I fully believe in the youth movement and the job Ned Colletti has done to preserve our core, we do not have a big bat.  Manny obviously can provide that, but at what price and at what cost?  And, where is our team without some type of power?

All off season I felt Adam Dunn was the better answer from a long term on the field perspective– and in the pocket book.  At 30 he has several more productive National League years left than Ramirez.  He also would cost the organization much less, something we need to be concern about as Russell, Kemp, Eithier, Loney and Billingsley go further into their arbitration years and march towards Free Agency.  Dunn would not have brought the marketing opportunities to the team and I don’t see fake half-goutee’s selling like dreadlocks– but it makes more long term sense.

Even if Colletti and the Front Office feel Manny is the better answer we have waited so long that Dunn is now with the Nationals. Our leverage has disappeared.  So, we need to either pay the piper his enormous contract or feel comfortable with Juan Pierre in Left.