Trades and Their Emotional Tolls

Every year, in one sport or another, there is a trade or a free agent signing that breaks my heart.  This year, there have been a few.  One was the Jordan Staal trade to the Carolina Hurricanes.  I understand the need to trade him because he was going to be a free agent and the Penguins were probably going to lose him all together in just a year.  It is still strange to see him playing somewhere else.  Another was David Ross signing with the Red Sox.  Don’t get me wrong, I am very excited for him.  He got a two year, 6.2 million dollar deal.  The Braves are going to miss him greatly.  He did a great job backing up Brian McCann; which unfortunately he had to do a lot.  I am concerned about McCann's health and our need for a great back up catcher.  When was the last time McCann went a full season with injury?  Yeah I can’t remember either.  Not to take anything away from Evan Gattis or Gerald Laird.  I am sure they are great too.  In fact, Gattis has been very impressive offensively right out of the gate.  David Ross was just proven to be invaluable.  He seemed to always come up with a hit when needed.  He was also Tim Hudson’s catcher.  He caught for him when they played together at Auburn (just another reason to love both of them) and they have great chemistry.  When Ross was doing more and more catching toward the end of last year, the rotation got mixed up and he didn’t always catch for Huddy.  It may just be my imagination, I do not have any numbers to back it up, but those games did not seem to go as well as when the two were paired together.  I just know we are going to miss David Ross, but I wish him the best and I look forward to continue following his career.

Another guy that will be greatly missed is Martin Prado.  He was pretty much my favorite Brave.  I understand the business side of things and why he was traded.  With just one year left on his contract, the negotiations were not getting done and we were more than likely going to lose him next year to free agency.  I am excited about acquiring Justin Upton, who has also been very (VERY!) impressive thus far; I just wish it had not been at the expense of Martin Prado.  Martin Prado can do anything.  He seemingly can play any infield position.  He regularly started at third base on Chipper’s off days last year and has also played first base and second base.  Last year he regularly played left field, but he is expected to start at third base for the Arizona Diamondbacks this year.  Prado is also a very reliable batter.  He has a career batting average of .295.  His yearly batting average has been over 300 four of his seven years in MLB and he has a career on base percentage of .345.  He also appeared to have great chemistry with all of the guys and was fun to watch.   

I have read that women traditionally do not fair well in fantasy sports because they get too emotionally connected and are not as good at making trades or sitting out players who are slumping.  I have never played fantasy baseball, but I know this would definitely apply to me.  First of all, if at all possible, my team would be made up of my favorite players; with little or no regard to their actual ability.  You know those people who just know their team is going to do great and truly believe that anything in baseball is possible?  I am one of them.  I would pick my guys because I just know they are going to do well and if they got in a slump I know I would stick with them because I would just know that any minute they are going to break out of it.  But that is part of what makes baseball so great; the believing and the faith.

Can anyone relate?  Any trades that broke your heart?  Or fantasy baseball stories?